Ranked 198th in the world, Pakistan has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. Now, in a complicated and unexpected way, they have a connection to it.
Aymen Hussein, the 30-year-old striker, scored Iraq’s only goal against Norway on Wednesday. He outjumped Norwegian defenders to place the ball in the net with a sublime header.
Historically, football has been used as a lens through which political anger, identity, and resistance come into focus. From Mohun Bagan to Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast, this claim can be easily cemented.
The 2025 election reveals a crisis deeper than disillusionment. Iraq’s problem is the internalised belief that nothing will ever change. Psychologists call this state ‘learned helplessness’.
For India, the strategic ripples are significant. The immediate concern is Pakistan’s diplomatic gain as it embeds itself deeper into the defence framework of the Middle East.
Iranian armed forces target Al-Udeid Airbase in Qatar. US air defence system is reported to have been activated at Ain Al-Assad Airbase in Western Iraq as well.
Death sentences were used in some Middle East countries to silence human rights defenders, dissidents, protesters, political opponents & ethnic minorities, Amnesty report adds.
Move follows warnings issued privately by US officials since Trump came to power, according to Reuters. Groups fear American airstrikes & now have Revolutionary Guard's blessing to disband.
For Colombia, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is about participating after almost a decade. But, for Falcao, it’s a reminder of a World Cup moment that might just have belonged to him.
Supply-control orders, imposed in response to West Asia crisis, enabled govt to monitor fuel supplies, prioritise domestic gas allocation, curb hoarding to ensure uninterrupted availability of fuels.
Under the agreement, the loitering munitions will be offered to the Indian Army as part of efforts to address what the companies described as an ‘urgent requirement’.
It’s a perfectly reasonable presumption that Modi will be around for a significant enough time for us to reflect on the challenges that lie ahead. I will list five.
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