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Reuters

  • Trump vows to target mail-in ballots ahead of 2026 midterm election

    Trump vows to target mail-in ballots ahead of 2026 midterm election

    U.S. President Donald Trump pledged on Monday to issue an executive order to end the use of mail-in ballots and voting machines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, a move likely to spark legal challenges by the states.

    “I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly ‘Inaccurate,’ Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES,” he wrote in a social media post.

    Trump, who has promoted the false narrative that he, not Democrat Joe Biden, won the 2020 election, has long cast doubt on the security of mail-in ballots and urged his fellow Republicans to try harder to overhaul the U.S. voting system.

    Some Republican states, such as Florida, however, have embraced mail-in voting as a safe, convenient way to expand voter participation. Trump voted by mail in some previous elections and urged his supporters to do so for the 2024 presidential election.

    Mail-in ballots hit record highs in the U.S. in 2020 amid the pandemic as states expanded options for voters, but the numbers dropped in 2024, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

    More than two-thirds of voters in the 2024 general election cast their ballots in person, while about three in 10 ballots were cast through mail voting, according to the commission.

    Trump’s comments follow his meeting with his Russian counterpart on Friday, after which Trump said Vladimir Putin agreed with him on ending mail-in balloting.

    Each of the 50 U.S. states runs elections separately, but Trump warned them to comply.

    “Remember, the States are merely an ‘agent’ for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes. They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do,” Trump wrote.

    Trump repeated the false claim on Monday that the U.S. is the only country that permits mail-in balloting.

    Nearly three dozen countries from Canada to Germany and South Korea allow some form of postal vote, though more than half of them place some restrictions on which voters qualify, according to the Sweden-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, an intergovernmental advocacy group.

    Trump previously signed a March 25 executive order targeting elections that has been blocked by the courts after Democrat-led states sued.

  • Pakistan tell Babar to improve strike rate for T20 comeback

    Pakistan tell Babar to improve strike rate for T20 comeback

    Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been told to improve his batting against spin and boost his overall strike rate to be considered for Twenty20 Internationals, coach Mike Hesson said.

    The 30-year-old is Pakistan’s batting mainstay in other formats but has not played a T20 International since their tour of South Africa late last year.

    Babar Azam could not find a place in the Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup next month as the team management showed faith in rising players such as Sahibzada Farhan.

    “There’s no doubt Babar’s been asked to improve in some areas around taking on spin and in terms of his strike rate,” Hesson said of the top-order batter who has a modest strike rate of 129 in T20 Internationals.

    “Those are things he’s working really hard on. But at the moment the players we have, have done exceptionally well.

    “Sahibzada Farhan has played six games and won three player-of-the-match awards.”

    Babar Azam should use the Big Bash League in Australia to improve his 20-overs batting and stage a comeback, Hesson said.

    Read more: Kamran Akmal urges Babar, Rizwan’s inclusion in squad for Asia Cup

    “A player like Babar has an opportunity to play in the BBL and show he’s improving in those areas in T20s. He’s too good a player not to consider,” he said.

    Pakistan will begin their Asia Cup Group A campaign against Oman in Dubai on September 12 before meeting arch-rivals India at the same venue two days later.

    Pakistan squad for Tri-Series and Asia Cup 2025:

    Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sufiyan Muqeem.

  • Oil falls on easing Russia supply concerns after Trump-Putin meet

    Oil falls on easing Russia supply concerns after Trump-Putin meet

    Oil prices slipped on Monday as the US did not exert more pressure on Russia to end the Ukraine war by implementing further measures to disrupt Russian oil exports after the presidents from both countries met on Friday.

    Brent crude futures dropped 26 cents, or 0.39%, to $65.59 a barrel by 0028 GMT while US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $62.62 a barrel, down 18 cents, or 0.29%.

    US President Donald Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday and emerged more aligned with Moscow on seeking a peace deal instead of a ceasefire first.

    Trump will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European leaders on Monday to strike a quick peace deal to end Europe’s deadliest war in 80 years.

    The US president said on Friday he did not immediately need to consider retaliatory tariffs on countries such as China for buying Russian oil but might have to “in two or three weeks”, cooling concerns about a disruption in Russian supply.

    China, the world’s biggest oil importer is the largest Russian oil buyer followed by India.

    Read more: Oil gains as US-China tariff pause extension boosts trade hopes

    “What was primarily in play were the secondary tariffs targeting the key importers of Russian energy, and President Trump has indeed indicated that he will pause pursuing incremental action on this front, at least for China,” RBC Capital analyst Helima Croft said in a note.

    “The status quo remains largely intact for now,” Croft said, adding that Moscow will not walk back on territorial demands while Ukraine and some European leaders will balk at the land-for-peace deal.

    Investors are also watching Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s comments at the Jackson Hole meeting this week to search for clues on the path of interest rate cuts that could boost stocks to more record highs.

    “It’s likely he will remain non-committal and data-dependent, especially with one more payroll and CPI (Consumer Price Index) report before the September 17th FOMC meeting,” IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said in a note.

  • Actor Terence Stamp, star of Superman films, dies aged 87

    Actor Terence Stamp, star of Superman films, dies aged 87

    LONDON: Terence Stamp, who made his name as an actor in 1960s London and went on to play the arch-villain General Zod in the Hollywood hits “Superman” and “Superman II”, has died aged 87, his family said on Sunday.

    The Oscar-nominated actor starred in films ranging from Pier Paolo Pasolini’s “Theorem” in 1968 and “A Season in Hell” in 1971 to “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” in 1994 in which he played a transgender woman.

    The family said in a statement to Reuters that Terence Stamp died on Sunday morning.

    “He leaves behind an extraordinary body of work, both as an actor and as a writer that will continue to touch and inspire people for years to come,” the family said. “We ask for privacy at this sad time.”

    Born in London’s East End in 1938, the son of a tugboat stoker, he endured the bombing of the city during World War Two before leaving school to work initially in advertising, eventually winning a scholarship to go to drama school.

    Famous for his good looks and impeccable dress sense, Terence Stamp formed one of Britain’s most glamorous couples with Julie Christie, with whom he starred in “Far From the Madding Crowd” in 1967. He also dated the model Jean Shrimpton and was chosen as a muse by photographer David Bailey.

    Read more: James Gunn explains decision behind ‘Superman’ early digital release

    After failing to land the role of James Bond to succeed Sean Connery, he appeared in Italian films and worked with Federico Fellini in the late 1960s.

    He dropped out of the limelight and studied yoga in India before landing his most high-profile role – as General Zod, the megalomaniacal leader of the Kryptonians, in “Superman” in 1978 and its sequel in 1980.

    Terence Stamp went on to appear in a string of other films, including “Valkyrie” with Tom Cruise in 2008, “The Adjustment Bureau” with Matt Damon in 2011 and movies directed by Tim Burton.

  • Hamas rejects Israel’s Gaza relocation plan

    Hamas rejects Israel’s Gaza relocation plan

    CAIRO: Palestinian group Hamas said on Sunday that Israel’s plan to relocate residents from Gaza City constitutes a “new wave of genocide and displacement” for hundreds of thousands of residents in the area.

    The group said the planned deployment of tents and other shelter equipment by Israel into southern Gaza was a “blatant deception”.

    The Israeli military has said it is preparing to provide tents and other equipment starting from Sunday ahead of its plan to relocate residents from combat zones to the south of the enclave “to ensure their safety”.

    Hamas said in a statement that the deployment of tents under the guise of humanitarian purposes is a blatant deception intended to “cover up a brutal crime that the occupation forces prepare to execute”.

    Israel said earlier this month that it intended to launch a new offensive to seize control of northern Gaza City, the enclave’s largest urban centre. The plan has raised international alarm over the fate of the demolished strip, which is home to about 2.2 million people.

    Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. About 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to be still alive.

    Read More: Netanyahu has become a ‘problem’, says Danish PM

    Israel’s military assault has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, Gaza’s health ministry says. It has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced most of Gaza’s population and left much of the enclave in ruins.

  • Spain battles 20 major wildfires amid scorching heat, deploys more troops

    Spain battles 20 major wildfires amid scorching heat, deploys more troops

    Scorching heat hampered efforts to contain 20 major wildfires across Spain on Sunday, prompting the government to deploy an additional 500 troops from the military emergency unit to support firefighting operations.

    In the northwestern region of Galicia, several fires have converged to form a large blaze, forcing the closure of highways and rail services to the region.

    Southern Europe is experiencing one of its worst wildfire seasons in two decades, with Spain among the hardest-hit countries.

    In the past week alone, fires there have claimed three lives and burned more than 115,000 hectares, while neighbouring Portugal also battles widespread blazes.

    Temperatures are expected to reach up to 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) in some areas on Sunday, Spanish national weather agency AEMET said.

    “There are still some challenging days ahead and, unfortunately, the weather is not on our side,” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told a news conference in Ourense, one of the most affected areas.

    He announced an increase in military reinforcements, bringing the total number of troops deployed across Spain to 1,900.

    Virginia Barcones, director general of emergency services, told Spanish public TV temperatures were expected to drop from Tuesday, but for now the weather conditions were “very adverse”.

    “Today there are extremely high temperatures with an extreme risk of fires, which complicates the firefighting efforts,” Barcones said.

    VILLAGERS RESORT TO BUCKETS

    In the village of Villardevos in Galicia, desperate neighbours have organised to fight the flames on their own with water buckets as the area was left without electricity to power water pumps.

    “The fireplanes come in from all sides, but they don’t come here,” Basilio Rodriguez, a resident, told Reuters on Saturday.

    Added Lorea Pascual, another local resident: “It’s insurmountable, it couldn’t be worse”.
    Interior ministry data show 27 people have been arrested and 92 were under investigation for suspected arson since June.

    In neighbouring Portugal, wildfires have burnt some 155,000 hectares of vegetation so far this year, according to provisional data from the ICNF forestry protection institute – three times the average for this period between 2006 to 2024. About half of that area burned just in the past three days.

    Thousands of firefighters were battling eight large blazes in central and northern Portugal, the largest of them near Piodao, a scenic, mountainous area popular with tourists.
    Another blaze in Trancoso, further north, has now been raging for eight days. A smaller fire a few miles east claimed a local resident’s life on Friday – the first this season.

  • Premier League chief warns racist abuse to face ban, possible prosecution

    Premier League chief warns racist abuse to face ban, possible prosecution

    Premier League chief executive Richard Masters issued a warning on Saturday that anyone guilty of racist abuse would be banned from stadiums and could face prosecution.

    His comments came a day after Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo was the target of racist abuse during his side’s 4-2 loss to Liverpool at Anfield.

    “No Premier League footballer should ever have to, in their workplace or online, suffer that sort of abuse. It is important that we keep saying that,” Masters told BBC Sport.

    “It is a problem for society. It leaks into football and it shouldn’t happen in a football stadium. It shouldn’t happen online.

    “It makes people like me and other football people in charge of the game think twice about what else we can do to ensure that these things don’t happen in the future.

    “If you are found to be using discriminatory language inside a football ground you will be ejected, second you will be banned and third you may face criminal charges.”

    Friday’s game was briefly halted in the 29th minute to address the incident, with referee Anthony Taylor summoning both managers to the touchline for a briefing.

    Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Bournemouth counterpart Adam Smith were then called over to the benches for further instructions before play resumed four minutes later.

    Ghana international Semenyo went on to score twice after play resumed.

    Merseyside Police confirmed that the 47-year-old man from Liverpool who was ejected after the incident had been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and taken into custody to be interviewed.

    Semenyo thanked his teammates, Liverpool, match officials and the “entire football family” for their support in a statement on Saturday.

    “Last night at Anfield will stay with me forever — not because of one person’s words, but because of how the entire football family stood together,” Semenyo wrote on Instagram.

    The incident at Anfield followed reports of Tottenham Hotspur’s French forward Mathys Tel being subjected to racist abuse on social media after missing a penalty in his side’s UEFA Super Cup defeat by Paris St Germain on Wednesday.

  • Lionel Messi, Inter Miami add to Galaxy’s rough season

    Lionel Messi, Inter Miami add to Galaxy’s rough season

    Lionel Messi returned from injury Saturday night and finished with a goal and an assist to propel host Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

    Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba also scored to help Inter Miami (13-5-6, 45 points) bounce back following a 4-1 loss last Sunday against host Orlando City SC and secure a much-needed three points in the chase for the Supporter’s Shield.

    Messi, who had missed Miami’s previous three matches across all competitions with a thigh injury, did not start but entered the game at the start of the second half.

    With the match knotted 1-1 in the 84th minute, Messi took a ball at the top of the box and delivered one of his signature individual efforts to put Miami ahead for good.

    Messi juked past the Galaxy’s Lucas Sanabria and dribbled past another defender before firing a shot on target from distance past Galaxy goalkeeper Novak Micovic.

    Five minutes later, another rush upfield ended with Messi delivering a beautiful back heel to Suarez, who knocked another ball home to secure the club’s first league win since July 19.

    It was Suarez’s first goal in run of play in his past nine matches across all competitions and sixth in league play this season.

    A rough campaign following an MLS Cup championship last year continued for the Galaxy (3-16-7, 16 points), who are winless in their past four league matches — although LA will play Pachuca of Mexico in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday.

    Despite Messi’s presence, the Galaxy gave themselves a chance to secure at least a point when Joseph Paintsil equalized the match in the 59th minute on his own brilliant individual effort.

    Paintsil dribbled past two defenders and ripped a shot that bounced off Inter Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari and into the net.

    But Messi answered in the clutch with his MLS-leading 19th goal.

    Despite outshooting LA 28-5 and 8-3 on shots on goal, Inter Miami didn’t find the back of the net until Alba scored in the 43rd minute off a great through ball by Sergio Busquets.

    Suarez hit the post on a strong attempt early in the match, and Miami had a goal by Telasco Segovia disallowed after a review determined he was offside.

  • Tottenham need to use ‘exceptional’ Richarlison smartly, says Frank

    Tottenham need to use ‘exceptional’ Richarlison smartly, says Frank

    Richarlison demonstrated how crucial he is to Tottenham Hotspur with a sublime brace in their 3-0 Premier League win over Burnley, with manager Thomas Frank saying it was vital to manage the Brazilian smartly to continue getting the best out of him.

    The forward struck in the 10th minute, converting a cross from Mohammed Kudus, before the pair combined again on the hour mark for a spectacular second goal, as Richarlison showcased his aerial prowess with an acrobatic effort.

    “To have a striker who takes those two chances helps us to win the game. He deserves a lot of praise… Today, he was exceptional,” Frank told reporters.

    “His work rate, driving the team, link-up play, hold-up play, just dominating. And then the two finishes. I’m so happy for him. Again, the performance department and medical department have done a top job to build him up…

    “I’m a little bit disappointed that it’s so early that we’ve had the goal of the season, but it must be a contender!”

    In just one match, Richarlison has netted half as many league goals as he managed in the 2024-25 season, when he made only 15 league appearances and spent extended spells on the sidelines due to calf and hamstring injuries.

    “I think it’s fair to say that he hasn’t played every game in the last three or four seasons because of injuries, so I think we need to be smart with him,” said Frank, who was appointed Tottenham manager in June.

    “What is the right answer to that? I don’t know. That can be getting out earlier, that can be coming from the bench, that can be various ways, that can be playing five games in a row.

    “We need to get to know him as well. That’s the next thing. I don’t know him.”

    Tottenham next travel to Manchester City for a league clash on August 23.

  • FIFA’s Players’ Voice Panel to aid Bournemouth’s Semenyo after racist abuse

    FIFA’s Players’ Voice Panel to aid Bournemouth’s Semenyo after racist abuse

    FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned racist abuse directed at Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo during a Premier League match against Liverpool, saying the world soccer governing body would reach out to the Ghana international to offer their support.

    Semenyo was targeted by a man in the crowd at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium during the first half on Friday, with referee Anthony Taylor stopping play to address the incident. Taylor spoke to both managers and captains before play resumed.

    Merseyside Police said a 47-year-old man had been ejected from Anfield. On Saturday, they confirmed the man from Liverpool had been arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and taken into custody to be interviewed.

    On Saturday, Semenyo thanked his teammates, Liverpool, match officials and the “entire football family” for their support.

    “Football has no place for racism or any form of discrimination – Antoine’s courage and performance on the pitch, despite such adversity, is a powerful example of strength and dignity for players worldwide,” Infantino said in a statement.

    “The Players’ Voice Panel, established as part of the five pillars against racism adopted by FIFA Congress in 2024, will be in touch with Antoine and is monitoring these situations closely.

    “We are committed to ensuring that players are respected and protected, and that competition organisers and law enforcement authorities take appropriate action.”

    Semenyo revealed that he had been racially abused online after the game.

    Premier League chief executive Richard Masters also issued a warning on Saturday that anyone guilty of racist abuse would be banned from stadiums and could face prosecution.