fifa pushes ahead
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FIFA pushes ahead with controversial commercial investment plan despite opposition from UEFA and Concacaf

ByJustpaste.in

FIFA has insisted that “nobody is selling football” whilst reaffirming its intention to proceed with a plan to sell minority stakes in its commercial operations to private investors, despite a fierce backlash from major regional governing bodies. UEFA voted to boycott future World Cups if the initiative moves forward, whilst Concacaf confirmed its 41 member associations also rejected the proposal put forward by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Under the proposal, FIFA intends to establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to manage the commercial rights of major tournaments including the men’s World Cup. Private equity firm Thrive Eternal, founded by venture capitalist Joshua Kushner, is expected to lead the investor group purchasing a minority stake in the new entity, which carries an initial valuation of $20 billion.

To secure the necessary 106 votes from FIFA’s 211 member associations, Infantino has offered an immediate $20 million payout to federations that back the proposal before a 19 September deadline. FIFA maintains the initiative will significantly increase development funding for smaller footballing nations without compromising the sport’s governance.

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    Dar calls for Muslim unity to protect Al-Aqsa

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    Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has urged Arab and Islamic countries to stand together to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque and defend the rights of the Palestinian people amid the worsening situation in occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank. Speaking at a ministerial meeting on Jerusalem in Amman, Jordan, Dar said Muslim nations must adopt a united and coordinated approach to preserve the sanctity of Jerusalem’s holy sites. He stressed that immediate action is needed to stop violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque and maintain the site’s historical and legal status. Dar said the international community must ensure unrestricted access to Jerusalem’s holy places and prevent any attempts to alter their religious or historical character. He added that continued Israeli actions threaten regional stability and undermine prospects for a lasting peace. The foreign minister strongly opposed Israeli settlement expansion, annexation efforts, forced displacement of Palestinians and demographic changes in the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem. He said such measures violate international law and several United Nations Security Council resolutions. He also called for the complete implementation of the Gaza peace plan and all relevant UN resolutions. Dar welcomed diplomatic efforts by the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye, expressing hope that all parties would honour their commitments and move the peace process forward. Referring to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Dar said the ceasefire had brought limited relief, but conditions remained critical. He noted that millions of Palestinians continue to face severe food shortages, displacement and insecurity despite recent progress. Dar urged Muslim countries to strengthen diplomatic efforts to ensure international protection for Palestinians and hold those responsible for violations of international law accountable. He said justice and respect for international law are essential for achieving sustainable peace. Reaffirming Pakistan’s longstanding support for Palestine, Dar said Israel has no sovereignty over occupied East Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites. He reiterated Pakistan’s support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. The minister also warned that continued attacks on religious sites could inflame tensions across the Muslim world and increase the risk of wider regional conflict. The ministerial meeting concluded with a joint declaration by Arab and Muslim foreign ministers announcing the creation of a permanent mechanism to document Israeli violations in Jerusalem and at its Islamic and Christian holy sites. The mechanism will include a media platform to record incidents involving worshippers and religious sites and present documented evidence before international organisations and the global community. The declaration reaffirmed that East Jerusalem remains an occupied territory and rejected all unilateral measures aimed at changing its legal or demographic status. It also stressed that a two-state solution remains the only viable path to lasting peace in the region. On the sidelines of the meeting, Dar held separate discussions with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Türkiye, Jordan and Somalia. The meetings focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, reviewing regional developments and coordinating diplomatic efforts on the Palestinian issue.

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    England fast bowler John Turner retires at just 25

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    England fast bowler John Turner has announced his shock retirement from professional cricket at the age of 25, bringing the curtain down on a promising five-year career. Turner, who represented England in two ODIs and two T20Is in 2024, made the difficult decision after a prolonged battle with injuries kept him away from professional cricket since June last year. The Hampshire fast bowler suffered a stress fracture in his back, an injury that forced him to spend more than a year on the sidelines. Despite having two years remaining on his Hampshire contract and holding an England and Wales Cricket Board development contract until the end of last year, Turner decided that it was time to move on. Explaining his decision, Turner said the repeated injuries had made him think seriously about his future both as a cricketer and beyond the sport. “Playing professional and international cricket was always my dream,” Turner said, describing representing Hampshire and England as the fulfilment of childhood ambitions. He admitted that retirement was one of the toughest decisions of his life but said he believed it was the right moment to take on a new challenge. Turner made his first-class debut for Hampshire in 2021 and described his five years with the club as the best period of his life. He also thanked Hampshire’s management, coaches, teammates and supporters for their unwavering backing. His retirement brings a surprisingly early end to the career of a bowler who had once earned an international opportunity at just 23.

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    Toxic faces disappointing reactions from audiences nationwide

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    Yash and Kiara Advani’s much-awaited film Toxic has officially arrived in cinemas, but its opening-day response from audiences has been far from the excitement that surrounded the project before its release. The film hit theatres on August 26, marking Yash’s return to the big screen after a four-year gap following the success of the K.G.F franchise. With a star-studded cast featuring Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Tara Sutaria and Huma Qureshi, Toxic had generated considerable anticipation among fans. The film has been directed by Geetu Mohandas and revolves around a powerful mafia group, promising an intense and visually striking cinematic experience. However, after watching the film on its first day, several moviegoers took to social media to share their disappointment. While expectations were high because of Yash’s popularity and the film’s ambitious scale, a section of viewers felt that the final product failed to live up to the hype. One viewer described Toxic as a “huge disappointment,” criticizing its storytelling, pacing and overall execution. According to the audience member, the film felt boring and failed to make an impact despite the expectations surrounding it. The viewer rated the movie 2 out of 5 and suggested that much more was expected from a project featuring such a major star. Another viewer was even more critical of the film, calling it a major disappointment and describing the experience as extremely frustrating. The reaction also focused on the film’s lengthy runtime and Yash’s portrayal, with the viewer questioning why a major star’s comeback had been presented in such a manner. The negative reactions have particularly focused on the contrast between the film’s massive pre-release buzz and the experience some audiences reported after watching it. Yash’s return had been eagerly awaited since his last appearance in K.G.F: Chapter 2, and fans had expected Toxic to deliver another memorable performance from the actor. Instead, some viewers have described the comeback as loud but lacking substance. For them, the film’s scale, star power and promotional build-up were not enough to compensate for what they considered weak storytelling and execution. The reactions have also sparked discussions about whether Toxic was able to make effective use of its impressive ensemble cast. With actors such as Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Tara Sutaria and Huma Qureshi sharing the screen with Yash, expectations were naturally high. However, early audience feedback suggests that some viewers felt the characters and performances did not make the desired impact. Despite the criticism, the film’s opening-day response on social media represents only the initial reaction, and its overall reception could change as more audiences watch it in the coming days. Box-office performance, word of mouth and reviews from a wider section of viewers will ultimately determine how Toxic fares during its theatrical run. For now, however, the film appears to have left a section of moviegoers underwhelmed, particularly those who had been waiting years to see Yash make his return to the big screen. With such high expectations attached to the project, Toxic now faces the challenge of convincing audiences that the film has more to offer beyond its star power and grand presentation.

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    Ocean Winner sinks off India, 22 crew missing as r…

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    NEW DELHI: A major search-and-rescue operation was underway off eastern India on Sunday after a Panama-flagged bulk carrier sank in the Bay of Bengal, leaving 22 of its 24 crew members unaccounted for. The vessel, Ocean Winner, was carrying 24 crew members, including 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi, when communication with the ship was lost, according to the Indian Coast Guard. Two people have so far been rescued from life rafts. The vessel was transporting iron ore to Singapore after leaving India’s eastern Paradip port on Thursday. It sank about 240 nautical miles from the port, far from the Odisha coastline, prompting Indian authorities to mobilise ships for the rescue mission. The Coast Guard dispatched vessels from Sri Vijaya Puram, formerly known as Port Blair, to search the waters and locate other survivors. Nearby commercial vessels were also alerted and asked to assist in the operation as authorities raced against time to find the missing seafarers. The sinking has raised concerns for the safety of the remaining crew, particularly because the incident occurred in open waters. The cause of the vessel’s sinking was not immediately known, and officials had not provided an explanation for why communication with the ship was lost. The two rescued crew members were found in life rafts, providing a small but significant breakthrough in the search. Authorities continued to scan the surrounding waters for additional rafts, debris or signs of other survivors. The incident also highlighted the risks faced by seafarers travelling along busy international shipping routes in the Bay of Bengal. The Ocean Winner had departed Paradip carrying a commercial cargo of iron ore and was bound for Singapore when the voyage ended abruptly. Captain Alekha Charan Sahoo, deputy conservator of the Paradip Port Authority, expressed hope for the safety of those still missing and said he was praying for the crew. Indian authorities have continued coordinating the operation, with the Coast Guard and other vessels involved in the search. The focus remained on locating the missing sailors and bringing them to safety. For families and colleagues waiting for news, every hour of the operation carries enormous significance. With two crew members already rescued, authorities are hoping the ongoing search will lead to more survivors as teams continue combing the waters around the sunken vessel.

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    Azad Kashmir enters final counting phase

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    Polling has ended in the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections. The vote-counting process has now begun. Polling was held in four constituencies of Bagh and Haveli. These included LA-14 Bagh-1, LA-15 Bagh-2, LA-16 Bagh-3 and LA-17 Bagh-4 Haveli. The polling process started at 8am and continued until 5pm. Voters were allowed to cast their ballots throughout the scheduled polling hours. With polling now concluded, election officials have started counting the votes. The results will determine the outcome of the remaining constituencies in the third phase. The first two phases had already produced a lead for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. In the first phase, polling was held for 13 seats in the Mirpur Division. The PML-N won nine of these seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party secured four. The second phase covered nine seats in the Muzaffarabad Division and 12 seats reserved for refugees. The PML-N won 15 seats in the second phase, while the PPP secured six seats. The third phase is being closely watched as the counting process will complete the voting process across the remaining constituencies. Election authorities are expected to announce results after the completion of counting and the required verification process. The outcome of the third phase will also determine the final balance of seats and pave the way for the formation of the next government in Azad Kashmir.

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    Stray SpaceX rocket believed to have struck Moon

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    A discarded section of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is believed to have crashed into the Moon, giving scientists a rare opportunity to study the effects of a known impact on the lunar surface. The object, a 4,000-kilogram upper stage left in space after a January 2025 mission, was expected to strike the Moon at around 07:35 BST after spending more than a year drifting through space. Scientists say the rocket stage gradually shifted onto a collision course due to the combined gravitational pull of the Earth, Moon and Sun. The impact is not considered dangerous to Earth, according to NASA, which plans to analyse the event to improve its understanding of lunar geology and refine methods for tracking objects in space. Although the collision itself was too faint to be seen with the naked eye, astronomers using powerful telescopes are monitoring the Moon for signs of a fresh crater and a plume of dust created by the impact. Researchers are now comparing before-and-after images of the lunar surface to identify the exact location of the strike. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and South Korea’s Danuri lunar spacecraft are expected to capture images of the impact site in the coming days. Scientists say processing and analysing the data could take several days or even weeks before the first confirmed images are released. Experts describe the incident as a valuable scientific experiment because the size, speed and mass of the object were known in advance. Unlike natural meteor impacts, the predictable nature of the collision allows researchers to better understand how craters form and how lunar material behaves after a high-speed impact. However, astronomers also say the incident highlights the growing problem of space debris. Thousands of human-made objects now remain on or around the Moon, and experts warn that increasing congestion in space could pose challenges for future exploration missions if debris is not managed more effectively. Meanwhile, SpaceX continues its regular launch operations. The company successfully launched another Falcon 9 rocket from Florida on a separate mission carrying satellites into orbit, underscoring the growing pace of space activity as agencies and private companies expand their exploration programmes.

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