Global Pulse

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  • He was a reality show villain. Can he be the mayor of one of America’s largest cities?

    He was a reality show villain. Can he be the mayor of one of America’s largest cities?

    Four decades after he first rose to infamy as one of reality television’s most iconic antagonists on 2000s MTV hit *The Hills*, 42-year-old Spencer Pratt is trading on-camera drama for city hall politics, mounting a surprisingly competitive bid to become the next mayor of Los Angeles – America’s second-largest city.

    A lifelong Republican and political outsider, Pratt launched his campaign in January 2026, and in the months since, his unexpected rise in pre-election polling has turned him from a novelty candidate into a serious contender ahead of Tuesday’s nonpartisan primary election. Under LA’s primary rules, all candidates appear on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation; any candidate who secures 50% plus one of the vote wins outright, while the top two finishers advance to a November general election if no candidate hits the majority threshold.

    A new UC Berkeley-Los Angeles Times poll released Thursday puts Pratt in a dead-heat three-way contest with the two leading Democratic incumbents: current mayor Karen Bass and city councilmember Nithya Raman. The poll of likely voters shows Bass holding a narrow 1% lead at 26% support, with Raman trailing at 25% and Pratt close behind at 22% – out of a field of more than 36 total candidates. What makes Pratt’s performance even more striking is his dominance in campaign fundraising: between April 19 and May 16, he raised $2.7 million (roughly £2 million), nearly 10 times Bass’s haul in the same window and seven times what Raman collected.

    Pratt’s rapid traction in the deep-blue city has been fueled by a savvy social media strategy that has turned his outsider brand into viral content. His TikTok rants, reposted AI-generated clips mocking his opponents, and attention-grabbing campaign adverts have earned him widespread mainstream attention far beyond his existing reality TV fanbase. His campaign has already moved to quash persistent rumors that a new reality show documenting his political run is in the works if he wins election. Echoing the “Make America Great Again” rhetoric that defined fellow reality star-turned-politician Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential run, Pratt’s campaign centers on a pledge to “get the golden age of Los Angeles back.”

    The catalyst for Pratt’s entry into the race came one year prior, when he lost his Pacific Palisades home in the 2025 LA wildfires – one of the most destructive and deadly wildfire seasons in the region’s history. Much of his campaign messaging centers on the city’s ongoing response to climate-driven disasters, where he has repeatedly accused Bass of mismanaging the 2025 fire crisis and failing to support affected residents. Beyond wildfire policy, Pratt has campaigned on a platform of fixing what he frames as a “broken Los Angeles,” highlighting public safety, urban cleanliness, and pushing for mandatory drug treatment programs as part of a broader plan to address the city’s ongoing homelessness crisis.

    Despite his strong polling and fundraising, political analysts warn Pratt faces a steep uphill climb to win the general election. Los Angeles has not been led by a Republican mayor since 2001, marking a 25-year streak of Democratic control of city hall. UCLA political psychology professor Efrén Pérez notes that Pratt’s base and policy platform remain narrow, rooted largely in the experience of the wealthy Pacific Palisades neighborhood where he resided before the 2025 fires. “That wealthy slice of LA is not representative of the entire city,” Pérez explained, though he acknowledged that Pratt’s advocacy for fire-affected communities holds inherent validity.

    Pratt’s leading opponents have launched sharp attacks on his lack of governing experience ahead of the primary. “It’s not just that he has no experience in city government. I don’t know that he’s ever held a job in his life other than to be a reality TV star,” Bass told supporters at a Monday campaign event, arguing that Pratt lacks understanding of city issues and is campaigning out of anger rather than a coherent policy vision. Raman has gone further, labeling Pratt an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist and arguing he “is not offering a realistic solution” to LA’s most pressing challenges.

    Pratt has pushed back on these criticisms, leaning into his outsider status. “I may not have the experience, but I have the common sense to say this is not working,” he said in a recent interview.

    Pratt first became a household name alongside his wife Heidi Montag, who he met during his time on *The Hills*, the hit MTV spin-off of Laguna Beach that catapulted both to fame in 2007. His on-screen persona – a dramatic, abrasive villain who fueled conflict and spread rumors – made him one of the show’s most talked-about cast members. After *The Hills* wrapped its original run in 2010, Pratt went on to appear on multiple other reality programs including *Celebrity Big Brother* and *I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!*, and launched an online e-commerce business selling crystals. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science, though he has never held public office.

    USC entertainment, media and society professor Marty Kaplan argues that Pratt’s background gives him a unique advantage in a modern political landscape that has increasingly blurred the line between entertainment and governance. California has a long history of celebrity politicians turning entertainment fame into electoral success, from actor Ronald Reagan who went on to become governor and president, to action star Arnold Schwarzenegger who served two terms as California governor. Donald Trump, the most recent high-profile example, parlayed *The Apprentice* fame into the presidency.

    “The audience has now been accustomed to want to be entertained,” Kaplan explained. “A candidate who can have a story that makes you want to know what happens next, and who delivers sure-fire twists and turns and thrills, that’s what we want.” By contrast, Kaplan noted, Bass – a longtime community organizer and seasoned politician with deep roots in LA – “is just not as entertaining” as Pratt. “What seems to matter now is almost exclusively, ‘will you promise not to bore me?’” he said.

    That entertainment background has earned Pratt a notable endorsement from the former president himself. When asked about Pratt’s campaign during a recent reporter Q&A, Trump said: “I’d like to see him do well. He’s a character. I heard he’s a big Maga person. He’s doing well.” Whether Trump’s backing will help or hurt Pratt in deep-blue Los Angeles, where nearly 65% of county voters backed Kamala Harris in the last presidential election, remains to be seen. Pratt himself has sought to distance his campaign from national partisan fights to appeal to cross-party voters.

    Like Trump’s first 2016 presidential bid, Pratt’s campaign is rooted in anti-establishment protest, Kaplan noted. As a political outsider who has never held office, he “therefore isn’t tainted by experience” – though that cuts both ways. “Unfortunately, that also may mean that he’s not tainted by competence, and voters may be more interested in casting a protest vote against the problems they see… it is a way of saying to the establishment ‘you’re fired,’” Kaplan said.

    Pérez added that Pratt’s celebrity status gives him an inherent advantage that lesser-known outsider candidates rarely get: immediate name recognition and the ability to draw large donations from supporters. Even so, he warns that campaigning is very different from governing. “There’s a big leap, massively, between running for office and campaigning, and all the glitter that comes with it, and then getting your hands dirty for the long haul,” he said.

    As voters head to the polls on Tuesday, all eyes will be on whether the former reality TV villain can pull off one of the biggest political upsets in recent California history.

  • After escaping the Taliban and years in exile, the Afghan women’s soccer team rises again

    After escaping the Taliban and years in exile, the Afghan women’s soccer team rises again

    AUCKLAND, New Zealand – For thousands of displaced Afghan women soccer players, the dream of representing their homeland on the international pitch seemed dead after the Taliban’s 2021 return to power, which immediately banned all women’s sports across the country and forced the entire national women’s squad into hiding. Today, that impossible dream is one step closer to reality, after FIFA granted the exiled team official eligibility to compete in global competitions – a milestone years in the making for a group of athletes who have refused to let displacement and oppression erase their passion.

    The journey began in 2021, when a urgent evacuation effort relocated 13 core members of the former Afghan national women’s team to Australia, where they spent the next five years rebuilding their lives, training relentlessly, and holding out hope that they would one day earn the right to wear their nation’s crest again. Today, the team’s roster has grown to 23 players through the Afghan Women United program, with members scattered across Australia, Europe, and the United States, all brought together for training camps and matches by head coach Pauline Hamill. This week, the full squad has gathered in Auckland, New Zealand for a intensive training camp ahead of an upcoming friendly match against a representative side from the Cook Islands.

    For the players, FIFA’s April recognition marks the end of a years-long fight that began long before the 2021 Taliban takeover. Even when the former Afghan government was in power, female players faced steep cultural barriers, constant threats of violence, and widespread pushback from conservative segments of society. Goalkeeper Fatima Yousufi, who now lives and studies in Melbourne, escaped Afghanistan with nothing but a single backpack, fleeing the threat of violence against women who dared to play sports. She recalled the crushing disappointment when the team was initially denied official status after their evacuation.

    “When we first arrived here, we had already lost everything: our families, our childhood homes, our connection to the country we loved,” Yousufi told reporters. “The only thing we had left was our identity as soccer players, as the Afghan national team. When we couldn’t play officially, it felt like we had lost the game before we even stepped onto the pitch. When we got the news from FIFA, it was the greatest thing that could have happened to us. We actually have a national team again.”

    Midfielder Mona Amini, another core team member who also resettled in Australia, called FIFA’s decision a vindication of the years of hard work and sacrifice the squad put in after their displacement. She pointed to a 2023 friendly tournament where the team defeated Libya, marking the first time the squad had played an official international match since the Taliban takeover – and the first time in three years the team heard the Afghan national anthem played before a game.

    “That moment was something I will never forget,” Amini said in a recent Zoom interview. “This recognition we have now is the result of four or five years of nonstop work, every single day. We never gave up.”

    For the team, the fight goes far beyond the soccer pitch. Back in Afghanistan, women and girls remain banned from all secondary education, public recreation, and most organized sports, with the Taliban barring women from leaving the country without a male guardian and restricting nearly all aspects of public life. The exiled players see themselves as representatives and voices for the millions of women and girls still trapped under Taliban rule, working to prove that Afghan women deserve equal access to education, sport, and public life.

    “We are here not just to play soccer,” Amini said. “We are here to be a voice for all the girls back home who cannot chase their dreams. We want to build a new generation of Afghan women soccer players, and show the whole world what we can do. The Taliban took our freedom, but they can never take our ambition or our right to do what we love.”

    Yousufi added that the team hopes to change global perceptions of Afghan women, and push for greater rights for those still living in the country. “Our team might be the one to change the way people think, and change the situation for girls and women in Afghanistan,” she said. “We all work every day to show that women and girls belong in every part of society – in education, in sport, everywhere. We have the same rights as anyone else to follow our dreams.”

  • Man, 40, raced to hospital after electrocution at Qld agricultural business

    Man, 40, raced to hospital after electrocution at Qld agricultural business

    Two separate electrocution incidents at Australian workplaces have occurred within 24 hours, leaving one worker dead and another fighting for recovery in a Queensland hospital, and reigniting long-running debates about national workplace safety standards. The most recent incident unfolded shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday at an agricultural worksite in Carole Park, a suburb of Ipswich, Queensland. A 40-year-old male employee of local industrial agricultural firm Dickson Ag suffered a severe electric shock while on the job. Emergency responders were dispatched immediately to the scene to provide urgent critical care, before transporting the injured worker to Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital. Queensland Police confirmed in a statement to NewsWire that the man remains in the facility in serious but stable condition as he receives ongoing treatment for his injuries. Joint investigations into the circumstances of the incident are now underway by Queensland Police and Work Safe Queensland. This non-fatal electrocution comes barely 24 hours after a fatal incident in a separate Australian state. In Melbourne, a 55-year-old male worker was killed on Monday when his scissor lift made contact with overhead power lines, resulting in an immediate fatal shock. Local workplace safety regulator WorkSafe has launched a probe into that fatal accident. These two back-to-back incidents come as new national data reveals Queensland already recorded the nation’s highest workplace fatality rate in 2024. The latest statistics, published by SafeWork Australia last October, show a total of 188 workplace fatalities across the country in 2024. Queensland alone accounted for 53 of those deaths, outpacing New South Wales which recorded 48, the second-highest total nationwide. Demographic breakdowns of the data also show men make up the overwhelming majority of workplace fatality victims, representing 96% of all work-related deaths recorded in 2024.

  • A bear injures 4 people in a residential area of Japan as the annual number of attacks rises

    A bear injures 4 people in a residential area of Japan as the annual number of attacks rises

    A brown bear has left four people injured after rampaging through a residential and industrial area of Fukushima, northeastern Japan, on Tuesday, marking the latest in a growing wave of dangerous human-bear encounters that have put communities across the country on high alert in recent years.

    This attack comes as Japan grapples with a record-breaking surge in bear-related violence: government data from 2025 shows 13 people killed in over 230 bear attacks across the nation, a total that surpasses the number of both fatalities and incidents recorded in any prior year.

    Emergency responders were dispatched immediately after the Fukushima Steel Works placed an emergency call reporting that two of its staff had been attacked by the animal. Surveillance camera footage captured the dramatic sequence of events: the black bear emerged unexpectedly near the factory entrance, chasing a male employee in his 20s, who was knocked to the ground as he attempted to escape. The bear then moved onto the factory grounds, where it wounded a second male worker in his 60s.

    After leaving the steel works property, the bear attacked two more people: another male employee in his 60s at a neighboring adjacent company, and an 80-year-old woman who lives in the surrounding residential area. According to the Fukushima City Fire Department, the three male victims suffered only minor injuries, while the elderly woman sustained moderate wounds. None of the injuries are classified as life-threatening.

    As of Tuesday afternoon, the bear remained at large. Authorities believe it is still trapped within the compound of the second company, which has been cordoned off by uniformed police officers equipped with specialized long bear control sticks. As a precautionary measure, two nearby schools including Noda Elementary School canceled in-person classes, shifting to remote learning and posting public warnings urging local residents to “avoid non-essential outings and stay safe.”

    The latest attack has reignited widespread public anxiety that first spread nationwide after a surge of deadly incidents in 2024, which prompted the Japanese government to deploy the self-defense force to Akita, a northern prefecture where more than 60 people were attacked and four killed by bears.

    Wildlife experts explain that the growing frequency of bear incursions into human settlements stems from a combination of demographic and ecological shifts: Japan’s bear population has expanded steadily, while rural human communities are shrinking and aging rapidly, leaving a critical shortage of trained hunters to manage bear numbers.

    In March of this year, the Japanese government estimated the total national bear population at approximately 57,800. Officials have already approved a comprehensive bear population management roadmap that includes systematic culling to reduce conflict risk. The plan outlines a threefold increase in municipal bear control staff, reaching 2,500 total personnel within five years, and a doubling of the number of active bear traps deployed across high-risk regions.

    Recent bear sightings have even spread to the outskirts of Japan’s capital, with multiple reports in western suburban Tokyo including the popular Okutama hiking area. Local park authorities have responded by placing additional traps and rolling out real-time bear alerts on social media platforms to warn visitors.

    Alongside expanded population control, the government has ramped up public education campaigns to help people stay safe. Officials urge hikers and wild foragers, who frequent bear habitats in search of mushrooms, to check recent sighting updates before heading out, and avoid outdoor activity during early morning and evening hours, when bears are most active.

    The Ministry of the Environment’s official safety manual outlines key steps for people who encounter a bear: do not panic, move slowly away, and never turn your back to run. If an attack is unavoidable, the manual advises people to lie face down, curl into a tight ball, and cover their neck to protect vital areas. “The core goal is to prevent a fatal wound,” the manual explains.

  • As Congo grapples with Ebola, volunteers cook up meals to support patients and health workers

    As Congo grapples with Ebola, volunteers cook up meals to support patients and health workers

    In the sweltering heat of Bunia, the epicenter of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s latest Ebola outbreak, one quiet act of service forms an unexpected backbone of the regional response effort. Arlette Basekawike, a volunteer with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), spends nearly every waking hour in a cramped open-air shed outside a local health facility, stirring large pots of food and planning menus for patients on the frontline of this public health crisis.

    Clad in a protective pink bonnet covering her hair, Basekawike starts each day early, preparing porridge, fluffy omelets, and fresh bread for patients admitted to the Evangelical Medical Center. For afternoon and evening meals, she serves up seasoned fresh fish paired with fufu — the region’s beloved starchy staple made from mashed plantains — followed by ripe seasonal fruit. On a recent Monday, as she diced vegetables, potatoes and goat meat for a large batch of stew, she explained the quiet purpose that drives her work.

    “Even though patients carry this terrible disease, a warm, good meal still lifts their spirits and helps them feel stronger,” Basekawike told the Associated Press. “And for the doctors and nurses working endless shifts, this food gives them the energy they need to treat patients and administer care. I’m here for them like a parent would be — I just want to make them feel as comfortable as possible through this.”

    On paper, Basekawike’s work may look like a simple, unremarkable task. But public health officials say her contributions, and the work of the entire WFP nutrition team here, have emerged as critical support for a region grappling with the fast-moving spread of Bundibugyo virus — the rare Ebola species confirmed in eastern Congo back in May.

    As of this week, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 321 total cases of Ebola disease across three eastern Congolese provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, with 48 recorded deaths. Neighboring Uganda has detected nine cases and one fatality, prompting authorities to close the entire shared border between the two countries to slow transmission.

    Long before this outbreak was declared, this already beleaguered region was grappling with one of the world’s most severe food insecurity crises. Years of ongoing armed conflict between government forces and rebel groups have displaced millions of people, leaving vast communities without reliable access to consistent, nutritious food. The emergence of Ebola has layered a new, deadly crisis on top of pre-existing fragility, creating a devastating cascade that the United Nations warns complicates every effort to contain the outbreak among a population already deeply strained by hardship.

    “We operate in a region where huge portions of the population already face acute food insecurity tied directly to war and displacement,” explained Olivier Nkakudulu, head of WFP’s Ituri province operations. “These needs already existed — Ebola is just an additional crisis stacked on top of a crisis.”

    Compounding these challenges, the already resource-strapped WFP now faces severe operational disruptions driven by major aid cuts from the United States and other key global donor partners. With global partners pulling back or reducing their funding pledges, the overall effort to contain the outbreak — which WHO has already classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern — has been severely hampered by the funding shortfall.

    On top of funding gaps, responders also face persistent threats: attacks on health care workers by local residents suspicious of the outbreak response, and constant delays to aid delivery caused by ongoing fighting in the region have both worked together to slow efforts to curb transmission.

    Even against these stacked obstacles, WFP and local health teams confirm they have managed to meet the basic nutritional needs of Ebola patients and frontline workers so far. Still, as case counts climb, that balance is becoming harder to maintain.

    “Today we need to increase the volume of food we provide, because the number of patients has gone up,” said Esther Bao, a nurse and volunteer on the response team. She added that many patients, weakened by the progression of Ebola, require specialized, tailored meals that cannot follow a one-size-fits-all menu.

    Unlike some more common Ebola species, the Bundibugyo virus has no approved vaccine or targeted treatment currently available. Care teams can only treat symptoms as they appear, but even that supportive care has yielded small victories: five patients have successfully recovered from the virus to date.

    The scope of the outbreak continues to expand at an alarming rate. According to Congo’s Ministry of Health, what began with transmission limited to just three initial health zones has now spread to 22 affected zones as of last weekend.

    To date, WFP has served 120 meals across four treatment facilities in a single recent Sunday, bringing the total number of meals provided since the nutrition program launched on May 28 to 404, according to Nkakudulu. But he stressed that the financial situation remains extremely precarious.

    “Without additional emergency funding, we won’t be able to prioritize every suspected case for nutritional support,” Nkakudulu said. “We might be forced to only provide for some patients, and leave others with no food to help them through their treatment.”

    This report was compiled by AP correspondents, with additional contribution from Adetayo reporting from Lagos, Nigeria.

  • Two people shot dead amid Kenya protests against US Ebola quarantine centre plan

    Two people shot dead amid Kenya protests against US Ebola quarantine centre plan

    Deadly violence has erupted in central Kenya over a controversial proposal to build a US-operated Ebola isolation facility, leaving two local residents dead and deepening public divisions over the public health and diplomatic initiative. The unrest unfolded in Nanyuki, a town adjacent to Laikipia Airbase, the planned site for the 50-bed treatment center, after hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets to oppose the project.

    According to preliminary reports, one fatality was shot near the perimeter of the airbase itself during peak protest activity. Friends transported the wounded individual to Nanyuki’s main hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. A second victim was already deceased when military personnel brought his body to the same medical facility. To date, no senior Kenyan official has released an official statement confirming the circumstances of the deaths or assigning responsibility for the gunfire that killed the two men.

    The unrest built on growing public anger that first emerged after details of the US plan were made public. The facility is designed to treat American citizens who contract Ebola during the ongoing outbreak in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo, and would be staffed entirely by US medical personnel. Kenya has not recorded any confirmed Ebola cases to date, but critics warn that bringing infected patients into the country creates unacceptable risks of cross-border transmission that could devastate local communities.

    Mass demonstrations first organized on Monday saw hundreds of protesters block major thoroughfares through Nanyuki and set burning tires across roads to draw attention to their opposition. In response, police deployed tear gas to clear the crowds and disperse the gathering. The controversy has already made its way through Kenya’s judicial system: last week, a local rights group filed a lawsuit arguing that the facility poses “grave and imminent risks” to Kenyan public health, prompting the High Court to issue an initial order halting all work on the project.

    In his first public comments on the dispute Monday evening, Kenyan President William Ruto defended his decision to approve the plan. Ruto framed the initiative as a gesture of long-standing friendship between Kenya and the United States, telling reporters that “When President [Donald] Trump asked Kenya to support them by having a centre in Laikipia Airbase I gave the ok because it was an agreement with friends who have walked with Kenya for 30, 40 years.” He added that the Kenyan government had “deployed every arsenal” to safeguard the country from Ebola risks, and urged opposition politicians not to politicize what he called a critically important public health matter. “We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing,” Ruto said.

    Despite the president’s defense of the plan, the High Court doubled down on its suspension on Tuesday, extending the pause on construction and opening and ordering the national government to release full documentation detailing the terms and specifications of the proposed facility. Even with the court order in place, however, independent observers and local experts confirm that military aircraft have continued making regular trips in and out of Laikipia Airbase, indicating that preparatory work for the center is still ongoing.

    The proposal has drawn widespread opposition from key Kenyan public health and accountability groups, including Kenya’s national doctors’ union and independent government watchdogs. Both groups reiterate that bringing Ebola patients into Kenya, even for treatment at a secured military facility, creates an unnecessary and avoidable risk of infection for local populations that the government has not adequately addressed.

  • Flintoff named Sydney Thunder men’s head coach

    Flintoff named Sydney Thunder men’s head coach

    One of English cricket’s most iconic former all-rounders, Andrew Flintoff, has secured a landmark new position: he will take the reins as men’s head coach of Australia’s Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL), marking his first senior coaching role in an overseas T20 competition. The 48-year-old, who has served as a full-time coach for England’s development side England Lions since 2024, will depart the team’s ongoing tour of South Africa earlier than scheduled to step into his new post with the Sydney-based franchise.

    While the full 2025-26 BBL fixture list has not yet been made public, England Lions are currently scheduled to remain in South Africa for a four-day match getting underway on December 18. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has given its full approval for Flintoff to take on the role, framing the opportunity as valuable professional development that will help him grow as a coaching leader. Flintoff has signed a two-season contract with Sydney Thunder, replacing outgoing former England national team head coach Trevor Bayliss in the position.

    In a statement following the announcement, Flintoff expressed his excitement for the new challenge: “I can’t wait to get over there and get started. I’m looking at this with a lot of optimism. You look at the franchise, you look at the players, you look at the support, and I think there’s something really big to build on.” The Thunder, who are captained by legendary former Australia opening batsman David Warner, finished as runners-up in last season’s BBL, falling just short of claiming the title in the final.

    Flintoff brings prior high-profile franchise coaching experience to his new role, having spent two seasons leading the Northern Superchargers men’s side in England’s domestic T20 competition The Hundred. During his tenure, he guided the Leeds-based team to consecutive top-four finishes, taking fourth place in his first season and third in his second. However, he was not retained for the 2026 edition of the tournament after the franchise was acquired by the ownership group of Indian Premier League side Sunrisers Hyderabad.

    Trent Copeland, general manager of Sydney Thunder, hailed Flintoff’s appointment as a transformative moment for the club, saying: “This is a huge day in the history of Sydney Thunder, and the BBL more broadly. Fred brings something truly unique to Sydney Thunder. He’s a global icon of the game, but more importantly he is a modern leader who understands how to build high-performance environments, connect with players as people, and set standards that last. His passion for the game, coaching itself and knowledge of Australian cricket and our Thunder program stood out during the process.”

  • Rayan Cherki’s magical skills could be just what France needs in tight games at the World Cup

    Rayan Cherki’s magical skills could be just what France needs in tight games at the World Cup

    As France prepares for its World Cup campaign, one rising star stands out as the secret weapon manager Didier Deschamps can turn to when opposing defenses lock down Les Bleus’ star-studded attacking line: 22-year-old playmaker Rayan Cherki. Fresh off a sensational debut season with Manchester City in the Premier League, the dynamic young talent has already cemented his reputation as one of the most creative and unpredictable players in modern soccer.

    In his first season in England’s top flight, Cherki dazzled crowds and coaches alike with his unorthodox skill, clinical vision, and pinpoint passing. He wrapped up the campaign ranked second in the league with 12 assists, finishing only behind established Premier League star Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United. Some of his setups have already gone down as moments of individual brilliance that left even his legendary manager in awe. In one standout match, Cherki dribbled across the 18-yard box with his right foot before delivering a blind left-footed pass — a pass played without looking toward his target — to teammate Marc Guéhi. After the play, City manager Pep Guardiola, who coached eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi during his time at Barcelona, admitted he never even saw that passing lane as an option, stunned by Cherki’s on-field creativity. Another memorable assist came via an audacious rabona pass, a cross kicked with the playing leg wrapped behind the standing leg, that set up Phil Foden for a goal.

    While Cherki is best known for his passing prowess, his finishing and close control when in front of goal are equally spectacular. On his City debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers, he opened his scoring account for the club with a stunning goal initiated by an outrageous backheel flick that showcased his flair. Like Messi, Cherki can dribble directly at opposition defenders at full speed with the ball practically glued to his feet, a skill that has drawn repeated comparisons to the Argentine great. He even notched a memorable volley on his senior debut for the French national team against Spain in last June’s Nations League, proving he can deliver at the highest international level.

    Guardiola, who has overseen some of the greatest attacking talents of the last three decades, has been unequivocal in his praise for the young Frenchman. “Rayan has something special,” he said. “He will become an extraordinary player with his mindset and mentality.”

    For Deschamps, Cherki’s greatest value ahead of the World Cup lies in his exceptional versatility, which opens up a wide range of tactical options for the French manager. Capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, right winger (his regular role at City), or advanced playmaker operating just behind the center forward, Cherki has thrived in every position Deschamps has tested him. In March’s 3-1 friendly win over Colombia, he played as a second striker behind Marcus Thuram and contributed directly to two goals. Last November, he occupied the same role behind Kylian Mbappé in a match against Ukraine. When he received his first senior France call-up in May of last year, Cherki called the moment “the beginning of a beautiful adventure” — and that adventure could well lead him to global stardom at the World Cup.

    Confidence is another defining trait of the 22-year-old, who has openly embraced his own unique skill set. When asked in a March interview with *France Football* to name Manchester City’s most technically gifted player, Cherki answered without hesitation: “Me.” He also describes himself as “one of the most unpredictable players on the planet” — exactly the kind of player a side needs to unlock a deep, organized defense that has shut down more predictable attacking threats. Like Messi, it is hard to identify Cherki’s stronger foot, with most of his most magical moments coming from his left, echoing the Argentine legend.

    Cherki is the latest standout talent to emerge from Olympique Lyonnais’ renowned youth academy, the same production line that produced 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema and gifted playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa. He made his Ligue 1 debut at just 16 years old in October 2019, and announced his talent to the world just weeks later in a French Cup match, where he scored two clinical goals, set up another with a spectacular midfield pass, drew a penalty (that his teammate missed), created a second assist, and nearly scored with an audacious lob that hit the crossbar. The mesmerizing performance for a player his age immediately put him on the scouting radar of Europe’s top clubs.

    In his final season with Lyon, Cherki led the entire league with 11 assists, and Manchester City secured his transfer last summer for just 36 million euros ($41 million) — a price that now looks like a major bargain, secured in large part due to Lyon’s severe financial struggles. Guardiola had his eye on Cherki for years before the transfer: the young Frenchman scored against City in a youth Champions League match just after turning 15, making him the youngest goalscorer in the competition’s history.

    Like Messi and the late Diego Maradona, who honed his craft on the streets of Buenos Aires, Cherki developed his exceptional balance and close control playing street soccer on the roads of Lyon in east-central France. After one season with local suburban club Saint-Priest, he joined Lyon’s academy at just seven years old, beginning the journey that has brought him to the cusp of World Cup selection.

    While Cherki is not expected to earn a starting spot in France’s opening World Cup lineups, that is a reflection of the incredible depth of talent Les Bleus possess in attack. Deschamps is expected to field a front line of Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, and prolific superstar Kylian Mbappé — the only player in history to score in both the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals, netting a hat trick in the 2022 final against Argentina.

    Deschamps will step down from his role as France manager after this World Cup, and former French captain Zinedine Zidane — the iconic midfield star who led France to victory at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, and also scored in two World Cup finals — is widely tipped to take over. Zidane, himself one of the most gifted midfielders in the history of the sport, is expected to build the future of French soccer around Cherki in the coming years. For now, Cherki heads into the tournament as the wildcard that could carry France all the way to glory.

  • EU strikes migration deal for more deportations and detention centers abroad

    EU strikes migration deal for more deportations and detention centers abroad

    BRUSSELS – After months of tense negotiations and heated political debate, the European Union has finalized a sweeping overhaul of its bloc-wide migration policy, a landmark legislative change that prioritizes accelerated deportations and authorizes controversial off-shore migrant detention centers – changes that human rights advocates warn mirror the hardline, restrictive immigration agenda pushed by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

    The provisional policy agreement was reached Monday evening during closed-door trilogue negotiations between the EU’s three core governing institutions: the European Commission, the European Council, and the European Parliament. Cyprus, which currently holds the bloc’s rotating presidency, has spearheaded the push for the new rules. Nicholas Ioannides, Cyprus’ deputy migration minister, framed the overhaul as a long-overdue correction to the EU’s fragmented existing migration framework, noting that “the new regulation will speed up the return process and increase returns of persons who have no legal right to stay in the EU.”

    The agreement will now move to full votes by the European Parliament and EU member state leaders, where swift approval is widely expected given the shifting political landscape across the bloc. Once enacted, the rules will allow individual EU countries to negotiate bilateral agreements with non-EU nations, primarily in Africa, to construct and operate off-shore “return hubs” – purpose-built detention centers for migrants facing deportation. At least five member states, including Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark and Greece, have already confirmed they are in early talks with potential third-party host countries, modeling the arrangements after Italy’s existing controversial migration detention deal with Albania.

    The policy shift comes after a marked rightward political shift across the EU, following far-right and anti-immigration parties gaining power in multiple member states in 2024. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, whose center-right European People’s Party has allied with anti-immigration factions to advance the reforms, has argued the new measures are necessary to prevent a repeat of the 2015 refugee crisis, when more than 1 million asylum seekers, most fleeing Syria’s civil war, arrived in the bloc. Ongoing irregular migration driven by conflict and poverty across Africa and the Middle East has fueled anti-immigrant sentiment across the continent, a political shift that mirrors the anti-immigration momentum that drove a conservative “red wave” in U.S. 2024 elections.

    Critics of the reform have been quick to condemn the changes, drawing direct comparisons to the Trump administration’s restrictive immigration strategy, which included secretive bilateral deals to deport migrants to third countries that were not their nations of origin. The United Kingdom’s similar plan to deport migrants to Rwanda was ultimately scrapped by the new ruling government after becoming tied up in protracted legal challenges, a precedent critics argue the EU is ignoring.

    Silvia Carter, a spokesperson for the Brussels-based Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants, called the new framework a purpose-built punitive system, stating that “the Regulation is going to create a draconian detention and deportation machine.” She added, “Across the Atlantic, we see the violence and fear created by ICE’s brutal immigration enforcement. Europe should be learning from the harms of that model, not building its own version of it.”

    French Green Party lawmaker Mélissa Camara, who opposed the agreement, described it as a devastating step backward for human rights in Europe. “Center-right political groups allied with the far-right to overcome opposition from centrist and left-wing parties,” Camara said. “The legalization of return hubs outside the European Union, the green light for the detention of minors, home visits inspired by ICE practices: the legal arsenal serving a xenophobic ideology is now complete.”

    Major international migrant advocacy groups have echoed these concerns, warning the new rules will erode long-standing human rights protections enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and expose vulnerable migrants to severe harm. Marta Welander, a spokesperson for the International Rescue Committee, outlined the far-reaching risks of the policy shift: “This deal will give governments much broader powers to detain and deport people. It looks set to normalize immigration raids, expand the use of detention in prison-like facilities outside EU territory that are essentially legal black holes, and increase the risk of people being deported to countries where they could face persecution, torture or worse.”

    Follow AP’s full coverage of global migration developments at https://apnews.com/hub/migration.

  • Border, peace, democracy: Myanmar president’s India visit is closely watched

    Border, peace, democracy: Myanmar president’s India visit is closely watched

    In a high-stakes diplomatic meeting that has drawn widespread international attention, Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing held official talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday, kicking off a five-day official visit focused on advancing bilateral cooperation across critical sectors ranging from trade and cross-border connectivity to border security and defense cooperation. This meeting marks a historic milestone: it is Min Aung Hlaing’s first foreign trip since he was sworn in as president in April 2026, following a military-backed election that sparked global criticism, and comes five years after the 2021 military coup that plunged Myanmar into a protracted civil conflict. Regional and global powers are closely watching the visit to gauge how key regional players will engage with Myanmar’s military-led administration amid ongoing domestic unrest.

    Geography has long bound the fates of India and Myanmar together: the two neighbors share a 1,643-kilometer land border, and political and security developments in Myanmar have direct and immediate impacts on India, particularly its vulnerable northeastern states, where local security, cross-border migration and informal trade are deeply interconnected with events across the border. The current crisis in Myanmar traces back to February 2021, when Min Aung Hlaing, then serving as commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces, ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, just weeks after her National League for Democracy secured a landslide victory in general elections. The military takeover triggered mass nationwide pro-democracy protests that quickly escalated into an organized armed resistance movement, igniting a civil conflict that has killed more than 10,000 people, displaced millions more, and left large swathes of Myanmar outside the control of the military government. The violence has spilled across the border into India, with thousands of refugees, most from Myanmar’s persecuted Chin ethnic minority, fleeing to the Indian states of Mizoram and Manipur to escape the fighting.

    Between December 2025 and January 2026, the military-backed government held a national election, which resulted in an overwhelming victory for pro-military parties. The vote was heavily criticized by the international community, as major opposition parties were barred from running, and millions of voters in conflict-affected regions were unable to cast ballots. Following the election, a military-dominated parliament elected Min Aung Hlaing to the presidency in April 2026. Myanmar’s authorities frame the election as a critical step toward a return to civilian rule, but opposition groups, Western governments and independent international observers have rejected the vote as unfair, arguing it does nothing to loosen the military’s stranglehold on power. Despite this, Min Aung Hlaing has maintained that the election was free and transparent. Before this post-inauguration visit to India, Min Aung Hlaing had traveled to China and Russia for diplomatic meetings in the period between the 2021 coup and his presidential election. The last official visit by an Indian prime minister to Myanmar took place in 2017.

    In a press briefing following the meeting, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that the talks between Modi and Min Aung Hlaing covered the full scope of Myanmar’s domestic political situation, alongside bilateral priorities. Misri noted that Prime Minister Modi raised broad concerns about democratic progress in Myanmar, and the two leaders also discussed the case of Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains under strict house arrest five years after the coup. Misri reaffirmed India’s long-standing position: Delhi remains committed to supporting lasting peace and an inclusive political dialogue that brings all of Myanmar’s stakeholders to the table, arguing that sustained diplomatic engagement, rather than international disengagement, is the only viable path to meaningful progress.

    A joint statement published by Myanmar’s state-run *Global New Light of Myanmar* newspaper outlined that both sides emphasized the urgent need to prevent the misuse of border territory for activities that threaten either nation’s security interests. Min Aung Hlaing reaffirmed Myanmar’s formal assurance that it would not allow its territory to be used to launch operations against India, while Modi reaffirmed India’s unwavering support for Myanmar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    The Myanmar leader arrived in India on May 30, and kicked off his visit with a trip to the sacred Buddhist site of Bodh Gaya, where he offered prayers at the Mahabodhi Temple, the site revered as the place where Buddha attained enlightenment. After the official talks in New Delhi, Min Aung Hlaing traveled to Mumbai to meet with Indian business leaders, with the goal of attracting new foreign investment and expanding bilateral trade between the two nations.

    Regional analysts widely view the visit as a landmark moment for Myanmar’s military leadership, which has sought to expand its diplomatic engagement after years of international isolation and criticism following the 2021 coup. Rajiv Bhatia, a former Indian ambassador to Myanmar, told reporters that the meeting represents a major diplomatic win for Nay Pyi Taw, as it grants formal validation to Min Aung Hlaing’s presidency from the world’s largest democracy. Gautam Mukhopadhaya, another former Indian ambassador to Myanmar, added that the visit is part of Min Aung Hlaing’s broader strategy to build greater regional and international legitimacy as a newly elected head of state.

    For India, the meeting underscores a long-standing strategic calculation: India’s core national interests in Myanmar outweigh any concerns about the character of the country’s military-led government. Analysts outline that India has three primary strategic priorities in its relationship with Myanmar: maintaining stability along its sensitive northeastern border, advancing its Act East Policy aimed at deepening economic and security ties with Southeast Asia, and balancing the growing influence of China in the country. Myanmar holds a unique place in India’s regional strategy: it is the only member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that shares a land border with India, making it a critical gateway for Indian engagement with the bloc. Bhatia notes that the visit could have a positive ripple effect across ASEAN, as member states work to develop a unified approach to the ongoing Myanmar crisis.

    The talks also come amid intensifying great power competition between India and China in the Indo-Pacific, with Myanmar emerging as a key strategic battleground. Myanmar provides China with direct access to the Bay of Bengal, allowing Beijing to reduce its reliance on the Strait of Malacca for critical trade and energy supplies. Mukhopadhaya notes that since 2017, China has steadily expanded its influence in Myanmar and has become increasingly open about its support for the country’s military leadership, in pursuit of its own strategic and economic goals.

    Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to India also takes place against a shifting backdrop of Myanmar’s relations with Western nations. After the 2021 coup, the United States and many of its allies imposed sweeping economic sanctions on Myanmar’s military leadership. But according to Mukhopadhaya, the second Trump administration has shown little interest in engaging with Myanmar, and has suspended most foreign assistance to the country, including funding for Myanmar refugees and pro-democracy opposition groups. Bhatia added that the Quad security grouping — made up of the United States, India, Japan and Australia — shares a common goal of restoring stability to Myanmar, creating an opening for engagement with the country’s new leadership.

    The ongoing civil conflict has already reshaped the security dynamic along the India-Myanmar border. In recent months, the Myanmar military has regained ground from resistance forces in the country’s eastern and northern regions, and has increasingly focused its attention on securing its western border with India. Mukhopadhaya argues that it is highly likely the Myanmar government will seek greater security cooperation with India to crack down on anti-military resistance groups operating near the border. Ultimately, Bhatia noted, India’s core goal is to see a stable, unified Myanmar emerge from the conflict, and a Myanmar that maintains its strategic independence amid great power competition. “Clearly, a more independent Myanmar is what India is looking for,” Bhatia added.