Global Pulse

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  • What to know about new rules and technology behind the World Cup’s most contentious calls

    What to know about new rules and technology behind the World Cup’s most contentious calls

    The 20XX World Cup has become defined not just by on-pitch brilliance and historic underdog runs, but by a string of controversial officiating decisions enabled by new rules and video technology that have directly altered the outcome of knockout-stage matches, leaving ousted teams furious and sparking widespread debate about the role of technology in soccer.

    The latest flashpoint came in Saturday’s quarterfinal clash between Argentina and Switzerland, where Swiss forward Breel Embolo was sent off just five minutes after his side had leveled the score at 1-1. The incident, which swung the momentum firmly in Argentina’s favor, has centered on a newly implemented regulation often called the “mistaken identity” rule – a name that has added to widespread confusion among fans and teams alike.

    In the moment of the challenge, on-field referee Joao Pinheiro did not catch Embolo’s simulation of a foul by Argentina’s Leandro Paredes, and initially issued a yellow card to Paredes instead. Under existing FIFA protocols, when a card is issued to the wrong player for an offense, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is permitted to intervene and ask the on-field official to review the play on the sideline monitor. After reviewing the replay, Pinheiro ruled Embolo had committed clear simulation, issued him a second yellow card, and dismissed him from the match. Argentina went on to secure a 3-1 victory in extra time, advancing to the semifinal.

    Switzerland’s head coach Murat Yakin did not mince words after the elimination, saying, “The referee made the wrong decision. I know they will protect their referee but this rule destroyed our game today, and it’s very painful, and to be eliminated in that way hurts a lot.”

    This incident is far from an isolated case at this tournament. Multiple high-profile exits have been tied to strict applications of new regulations and VAR checks, leaving eliminated sides and their fans questioning consistency and fairness.

    Germany became one of the first major teams to exit under controversial circumstances, ousted in the round of 32 following a disallowed game-winning goal. Jonathan Tah’s late extra-time strike against Paraguay was chalked off after VAR ruled a foul by German defender Waldemar Anton on Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill. Replays showed only minimal contact between the two players, drawing sharp criticism of the decision. FIFA’s referees chief Pierluigi Collina defended the call, noting that officials had been instructed to penalize any contact where players block opponents without making an attempt to play the ball, particularly when goalkeepers are involved. Germany ultimately lost the match in a penalty shootout, with Tah missing the decisive spot kick. The early exit has already triggered major upheaval in German soccer: head coach Julian Nagelsmann has resigned, with former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp widely tipped to take over the role.

    Elsewhere, cutting-edge connected ball technology – fitted with advanced sensors that capture ball movement data 500 times per second – has already changed the course of one nation’s tournament. The high-tech system cost Croatia a dramatic late equalizer against Portugal in the round of 32, when Josko Gvardiol’s 90th-minute strike to level the score at 2-2 was ruled out for offside. The sensors detected the slightest touch from Croatia’s Igor Mantanovic in the build-up to the goal – a contact too subtle to be seen by the naked eye or even standard video replays. FIFA has defended the technology, saying it provides officials with an unprecedented level of accurate data to make faster, more precise calls. But Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić, who stepped down from his role after the tournament exit, pushed back on the change, saying “All these decisions take the joy out of football.”

    A similar VAR-related controversy saw Egypt fall short of a historic upset against defending champion Argentina in the round of 16. The African side held a 1-0 lead in the second half and looked set to extend their advantage when Mostafa Zico finished off a sweeping counter-attack to score. Wild celebrations were cut short when VAR confirmed a foul on Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez earlier in the build-up – deep in Egypt’s own half, hundreds of yards from the goal – and disallowed the strike. Argentina went on to stage a stunning late comeback, winning 3-2 and eliminating Egypt. Egyptian head coach Hossam Hassan launched a fierce attack on the officiating, saying “We have suffered injustice.” The Egyptian Football Association released a formal statement echoing that anger, noting “Several key incidents raised serious concerns and left profound questions about the consistency and fairness of decisions that directly influenced the course of the game.” Collina responded to the criticism by confirming that FIFA does not set any limit on how far back an incident can be reviewed to overturn a goal, and defended the integrity of match officials at the tournament.

    The high-tech in-ball sensor was called into question again during England’s 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Norway. Norwegian players and staff insisted that Jude Bellingham’s first-half equalizer came after the ball hit an overhead camera suspension cable, which would have resulted in a stopped play and disallowed goal. But FIFA released a statement saying the sensor showed no change in the ball’s trajectory that would indicate contact, leaving Norway’s claim unaddressed. The side also had a late equalizer ruled out after VAR spotted a foul by Erling Haaland on England’s Elliot Anderson before a corner was taken. Under new rules designed to curb pre-corner fouls by attacking teams, VAR is permitted to intervene on incidents that occur before the ball is even put into play, a regulation that Norway’s camp has criticized as overly harsh.

    As the tournament advances to the semifinal stage, the debate over how technology and new rules shape the outcome of matches is only expected to intensify, with fans and stakeholders divided on whether the changes improve officiating accuracy or erode the spontaneous, human element that has defined soccer for more than a century.

  • China strongly deplores Japanese FM’s statement on South China Sea: spokesperson

    China strongly deplores Japanese FM’s statement on South China Sea: spokesperson

    BEIJING – On Sunday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson issued a firm rebuke of recent remarks by Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi regarding the 2016 so-called South China Sea Arbitral Award, marking the tenth anniversary of that widely disputed ruling. The spokesperson confirmed that China strongly deplores and categorically opposes the Japanese foreign minister’s statement, which openly backs the illegal “award”, misrepresents China’s long-standing legal claims in the region, and frames Japan as a so-called “legitimate stakeholder” with rights to weigh in on South China Sea affairs.

    The spokesperson emphasized that Japan holds no standing to intervene in disputes over the South China Sea, as it is not a coastal or involved party to the region’s territorial and maritime issues. Japan has no legitimate right to pass judgment on China’s inherent territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the area.

    Drawing on historical context, the spokesperson recalled that during World War II, Japanese forces occupied numerous islands and reefs in the South China Sea through illegal force, leaving a legacy of profound suffering for China and the Chinese people. Decades later, the spokesperson noted, Japan is once again seeking to insert itself into South China Sea matters under the guise of being a stakeholder – a move that evokes memories of Japan’s history of imperial aggression and expansion, and raises justified global vigilance about the growth of Japanese neo-militarism.

    China’s sovereignty over the Nanhai Zhudai (South China Sea Islands) and its accompanying rights and interests in the region were built over centuries of historical activity, and have a firm, unassailable foundation under international law, the spokesperson confirmed. All of China’s activities in the South China Sea are fully consistent with international law and legitimate sovereignty, and cannot be invalidated by the ad hoc, improperly constituted “arbitral tribunal” that issued the 2016 ruling.

    The spokesperson further explained that the 2016 tribunal overstepped its authorized jurisdiction and abused procedural power in producing the “award”, making the ruling inherently illegal, null and void, and completely without binding legal force. The flawed ruling also severely undermined the integrity and authority of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), delivering a major blow to the foundations of the international rule of law. China has never accepted and will never recognize the “award”, and rejects any claims or actions based on it.

    By openly endorsing the illegal award while ignoring its clear procedural and substantive flaws, Japan has exposed its own hypocrisy and deliberate double standards on South China Sea issues, the spokesperson argued. The ruling infamously classified Taiping Island, the largest island in the Nansha Islands which spans 500,000 square meters, supports permanent human habitation with natural fresh water and local agricultural production, as not a full island, disqualifying it from generating an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or continental shelf rights. Japan’s own claim to an EEZ and continental shelf surrounding Okinotori, a pair of tiny rocky outcrops totaling less than 10 square meters in the Pacific Ocean, would fail under the same flawed standard applied to Taiping Island. If the 2016 arbitral standard is accepted, Japan has no legitimate basis for its own expansive maritime claims linked to Okinotori, the spokesperson noted. Given Japan’s open endorsement of the award, China is fully justified in concluding that Japan accepts the arbitral standard and has voluntarily surrendered its corresponding maritime claims to Okinotori.

    The spokesperson made clear that Japan’s true goal in the South China Sea is not upholding the international rule of law, but inserting itself into the region to undermine stability and advance its own strategic interests. In recent years, Japan has deepened military collaboration with the Philippines, expanded exports of offensive weapons and military equipment to the country, increased overseas military deployments, and pursued development of long-range offensive strike missiles. These actions far exceed the bounds of legitimate self-defense, break free of constraints imposed by Japan’s post-war constitution and core international law norms, and directly challenge the post-WWII international order that has maintained regional peace for decades. This pattern of activity leaves the international community with a pressing question: what are Japan’s actual strategic intentions in the South China Sea and broader East Asia?

    China has formally called on Japan to immediately end its campaign of false accusations against China, cease spreading disinformation about South China Sea issues, and stop acting to undermine regional peace and stability. The spokesperson reaffirmed that China will continue to take all necessary measures to firmly defend its territorial sovereignty and lawful maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, and any attempt to challenge China’s legitimate interests or destabilize the region is destined to end in failure.

  • Several people killed in Chile after car driven by navy officer crashes into an open-air market

    Several people killed in Chile after car driven by navy officer crashes into an open-air market

    On a crowded Sunday in the popular Chilean coastal resort city of Vina del Mar, a devastating traffic incident left the nation in mourning: an off-duty Chilean Navy member driving a private vehicle plowed into the city’s iconic Caupolican open-air market, leaving multiple people dead and dozens more injured. The Chilean Navy confirmed the crash in an official statement shortly after the incident unfolded, confirming the driver’s affiliation with the service.

    Security camera footage shared widely across social media captured the harrowing moment the vehicle crashed through crowded market stalls, while subsequent clips showed onlookers chasing and shouting at the driver as authorities transported him to a nearby police vehicle for processing. The Navy’s initial statement confirmed the crash caused multiple fatalities and a range of injuries among those affected, and said the branch was fully cooperating with local law enforcement and government investigators to unpack the full sequence of events leading to the tragedy. While official Navy communications did not release an exact fatality count early on, local Chilean media outlets have reported at least six people were killed in the incident.

    Medical officials at Vina del Mar’s Gustavo Fricke Hospital confirmed that five injured people — including two infants — were admitted for treatment of traumatic injuries that are not considered life-threatening. Two additional injured people were treated and released from the facility shortly after the crash. Emergency first responders including local police, fire crews, and paramedics provided on-site triage and treatment to dozens of affected market-goers. “At this stage of the evaluation, they are stable and out of life-threatening danger, but of course they are still awaiting the completion of all the examinations required in these cases,” said Denise Cataldo, the hospital’s deputy director, in a press briefing.

    Interior Undersecretary Máximo Pavez confirmed that the driver, who remains the only person detained in connection with the incident, tested negative for alcohol consumption in a mandatory breathalyzer test. Vina del Mar Police Prefect Col. Jorge Guaita told reporters that the driver claims he has no memory of the incident, and that the root cause of the crash remains undetermined as of Sunday evening.

    Initial witness accounts paint a clearer picture of the incident’s sequence: Col. Guaita shared that witness statements confirm the vehicle was traveling in the correct traffic lane at a high rate of speed before mounting the adjacent sidewalk and spinning out of control. “Fortunately, the bus stop brought it to a halt. Otherwise, it might have continued forward and caused even more damage,” Guaita told reporters. Other witnesses told local media the driver may have lost control after a minor prior collision with another vehicle.

    Chilean President José Antonio Kast shared his reaction to the tragedy on the social platform X, writing that the incident had plunged “the entire country in mourning.” Kast also confirmed that all state institutions were coordinating to support affected families and clarify full accountability for the crash: “All state institutions are working to assist those affected and to establish with complete clarity the responsibilities for this painful event,” he said.

    The Caupolican open-air market, where the crash occurred, is a longstanding weekly fixture in Vina del Mar, operating every Thursday and Sunday on the city’s upper outskirts. The market hosts more than 1,000 registered stalls alongside hundreds of informal vendors in surrounding blocks, and regularly draws large crowds of both local residents and tourists visiting the coastal city.

  • Bunnings launches PowerPass Pro Rewards with fuel discounts, store credits and Qantas Points for tradies

    Bunnings launches PowerPass Pro Rewards with fuel discounts, store credits and Qantas Points for tradies

    In an aggressive push to capture a larger share of the business customer market, Australian and New Zealand hardware retail giant Bunnings has launched PowerPass Pro Rewards, the most comprehensive update to its trade-focused PowerPass loyalty program since 2011. The new tiered rewards scheme, tailored specifically for tradies and small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), introduces a multi-layered benefits package including in-store credits, fuel rebates, and access to Qantas frequent flyer points for qualifying members. The rollout marks one of the most substantial retail loyalty expansions targeting trade customers in the region in recent years.

    The program is structured around six ascending membership tiers: Member, Essential, Plus, Elite, Ultimate, and Black, with increasingly valuable benefits unlocked as members’ annual spending increases. Under the core earning structure, members collect Pro Rewards Dollars that can be redeemed for future purchases at Bunnings: customers who spend $2,000 receive $100 in store credit, with an additional $50 awarded for every extra $1,000 spent. Eligible members also gain access to discounted fuel rates via the Shell Card Lite platform, plus exclusive offers from program partners and a suite of digital business tools.

    Qantas Points, one of the program’s most high-value perks, are reserved for members in the top three tiers (Elite, Ultimate, Black), who can earn points through their existing Qantas Business Rewards memberships. A host of additional launch partners have signed on to the scheme beyond Qantas and Shell, including Commonwealth Bank, Ultra Tune, Zeller, Beaumont Tiles, InstantScripts, PointsBuild, and MYOB, expanding the range of extra benefits available to participating businesses.

    Bunnings Managing Director Mike Schneider explained that the full program redesign was driven by direct feedback from trade customers, who sought more than just point-of-sale discounts. “PowerPass Pro Rewards is about delivering greater value for our customers today, while creating a platform that allows us to better support them into the future,” Schneider said. “We’ve listened closely to our customers, who told us they wanted more than a discount at the register – they wanted to be recognised for their loyalty and rewarded in ways that genuinely support their business.” He added that the program is designed to deliver value that extends beyond on-the-job expenses: “With fuel discounts, travel rewards, Pro Rewards Dollars and benefits that grow over time, the program will help customers unlock more value from every dollar they spend and use it well beyond the job site.”

    The launch also introduces upgraded digital functionality within the existing PowerPass mobile app, allowing members to track their reward progress, spending, and available benefits in real time. Andrew Glance, Chief Executive of Qantas Loyalty and Customer, noted that trade and business customers in construction, repair, and maintenance are already among the most engaged users of Qantas Business Rewards. These groups typically earn 30% more Qantas Points on average than other business users, with most points accumulated through partnered on-the-ground spending like retail purchases. “Our member base is incredibly diverse, ranging from tech start-ups to family-owned construction companies, all looking for ways to reduce their operating costs,” Glance said. “We expect most business members will use the points earned at Bunnings to offset future travel costs, or to reward their hardworking employees.”

    To celebrate the nationwide launch, Bunnings will host the PowerPass Pro Challenge event at its Alexandria location in Sydney on Saturday, July 25. Around 60 participants will compete in a series of practical, trade-focused challenges – including a Scan & Go Sprint, toolbox and power tool assessment, paint race, Qantas travel challenge, and Shell Card obstacle course – with progressive eliminations leading to a final head-to-head round. Prizes include three $10,000 fuel vouchers and a collective pool of 900,000 Qantas Points for top competitors.

  • At least 27 killed in Bangkok bar fire, Thai media report

    At least 27 killed in Bangkok bar fire, Thai media report

    A devastating overnight fire tore through a popular bar in central Bangkok early Friday, leaving at least 27 people dead and multiple others hospitalized, according to local Thai media reports.

    Emergency responders were dispatched to the entertainment venue shortly after midnight, when witnesses first reported flames spreading rapidly through the building. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they encountered dozens of panicked patrons scrambling to escape through the establishment’s smoke-choked, flame-covered main entrance, with many suffering from smoke inhalation and minor burns during their exit.

    Unverified user-shared footage circulating on social media captures the intensity of the blaze, with thick orange flames billowing out of the bar’s front entrance. The video shows one woman stumble and fall to the pavement just outside the venue before she manages to regain her footing and flee to safety.

    Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul traveled to the fire site to coordinate response efforts and speak with reporters. During his on-site press briefing, Anutin confirmed the current death toll of 27 and noted that injured survivors had been transported to nearby hospitals for urgent treatment. The prime minister emphasized that authorities have launched a full investigation into the origin and cause of the fire, and no official conclusions have been reached at this early stage.

    This is an ongoing developing news story, and additional details and updates will be released as more information becomes available to the public.

  • Anthony Zurcher: From Trump critic to ally, Lindsey Graham was a political survivor of the Maga era

    Anthony Zurcher: From Trump critic to ally, Lindsey Graham was a political survivor of the Maga era

    Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican senator whose 23-year congressional career became a defining case study of the seismic political shift that reshaped the U.S. Republican Party during the rise of Donald Trump, has died at the age of 71. Widely remembered as a skilled political survivor, Graham’s ideological and tactical trajectory over decades traced the growing influence of populist conservatism that upended traditional GOP politics. Throughout his tenure, he retained a set of core policy positions: a staunchly hawkish foreign policy centered on containing Russian expansion, unwavering support for Israel, and a longstanding call for regime change in Iran. Yet what marked his career most profoundly was his willingness to adapt to the shifting partisan currents that accompanied Trump’s takeover of the Republican Party.

    Graham launched his Senate career in 2002, quickly emerging as a close ally to legendary Arizona Republican senator John McCain, a staunch conservative who built a national reputation for his willingness to buck party orthodoxy and work across the aisle. When Graham launched his own 2016 presidential bid, bipartisan cooperation and de-escalating partisan tensions sat at the heart of his campaign platform. “If I get to be president, we’re going to open up a bar in the White House,” he once joked. “We’re going to get liquored up and solve problems.”

    His early relationship with Trump was defined by open, ferocious hostility. When Trump infamously mocked McCain’s status as a Vietnam War prisoner of war — declaring at a rally “He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured” — Graham hit back, calling the New York real estate developer a “jackass” unfit for the presidency. Trump retaliated by publicizing Graham’s personal phone number at a rally, flooding the senator’s phone with thousands of angry messages, a confrontation that ended with Graham posting a viral stunt video destroying a stack of his own phones in protest.

    As Graham’s presidential campaign collapsed in 2015, he doubled down on his criticism, labeling Trump a “race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot.” In a viral May 2016 tweet that would later be repeatedly cited by his critics, Graham warned that nominating Trump for president would lead to electoral disaster, writing “if the Republican Party chooses Trump as its nominee it ‘will get destroyed … and we will deserve it.’” Graham remained openly opposed to Trump through the 2016 general election against Hillary Clinton, refusing to back either major party nominee and instead supporting independent conservative candidate Evan McMullin.

    But once Trump secured an upset victory in 2016, Graham dramatically shifted his stance. As Trump consolidated total control over the Republican Party during his first term, Graham evolved from a fierce critic into one of Trump’s most vocal congressional allies and close personal friends. The pair regularly golfed together, and Graham, a staple of cable news political programming, used his platform to repeatedly defend Trump and his policy agenda. His most high-profile intervention on Trump’s behalf came during the 2018 Supreme Court confirmation battle for Brett Kavanaugh, when Graham aggressively pushed back against sexual assault allegations against the nominee (who denied all wrongdoing), helping to push through confirmation by the narrowest possible margin.

    Graham’s only major break from Trump came after the 2020 presidential election, when Trump lost to Joe Biden — a former Senate colleague of Graham’s, whom Graham once described as “the nicest person I’ve ever met in politics.” When a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, disrupting the certification of Biden’s victory and forcing Graham and other lawmakers to evacuate for safety, Graham announced he was cutting all political ties with the outgoing president. “Trump and I had a hell of a journey,” he said at the time. “I hate it to end this way… All I can say is count me out. Enough is enough.”

    Yet the break proved temporary. Just weeks later, Graham voted to acquit Trump in his second Senate impeachment trial over the Capitol attack. As Trump began building his 2024 comeback campaign for the Republican nomination, Graham once again lined up behind his former rival, framing his earlier break as a reaction to a singular moment rather than a long-term rejection. “He was a very good president from my point of view,” Graham explained in a 2023 interview with the BBC. “I am judging him by what he did as president.” After Trump won re-election in 2024, Graham returned to his role as a reliable ally, consistently backing Trump’s cabinet and judicial nominees, supporting his legislative agenda, and praising Trump’s military actions in the Middle East, even as he encouraged Trump to continue U.S. strikes until the Iranian regime collapsed. Though he publicly pushed for greater U.S. military support for Ukraine amid its war against Russia, he softened his criticism of Trump’s friendly overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin and refused to back new Russian sanctions without Trump’s explicit approval.

    Despite his deep alignment with Trump, Graham retained longstanding personal friendships with Democratic lawmakers across the aisle, a fact reflected in the widespread cross-partisan condolences that poured out after his death, even from outspoken Trump critics including California’s Adam Schiff and Massachusetts’ Elizabeth Warren. Trump himself acknowledged Graham’s unique cross-party ability during a Sunday morning television interview: “He was able to deal with Democrats. If I had a problem with a Democrat, he could work it out.”

    Graham’s relationship with anti-Trump Republicans was far more complicated, however. “Before Trump, we were friends,” former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who served on the bipartisan committee investigating the January 6 attack, posted on X. “I choose to remember the man I knew before our paths diverged — the one who cared deeply about America’s role in the world and wasn’t afraid to see suffering up close.”

    Graham’s sudden death has created immediate upheaval for congressional Republicans and South Carolina’s GOP establishment. Graham, who had already secured the Republican nomination unopposed for a new six-year Senate term in the upcoming 2026 general election, was seeking re-election, leaving the party scrambling to fill the vacant spot. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, a Republican, will appoint an interim replacement to serve the remainder of 2026, and the state party will hold a new primary to select a general election candidate for November. While South Carolina is a deeply reliable red state, political analysts note that if Trump’s approval ratings remain stagnant and Republicans face strong national headwinds this cycle, the party will be forced to divert extra resources to defend the now-open seat, a race that was previously considered safe. Whoever wins the nomination will enter Congress as a junior senator, lacking the decades of seniority, institutional influence, and access to power that Graham built over his tenure through one of the most tumultuous eras in modern American political history.

  • Irrepressible Sinner outlasts Zverev to win second straight Wimbledon title

    Irrepressible Sinner outlasts Zverev to win second straight Wimbledon title

    On a sun-baked Centre Court Sunday, world number one Jannik Sinner delivered a masterclass in grit and clinical precision to defend his Wimbledon gentlemen’s singles title, outlasting French Open champion Alexander Zverev in a bruising four-set final that stretched three hours and 46 minutes.

    Sinner’s 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 6-4 victory capped a remarkable run at the All England Club, where the 24-year-old Italian overcame early scares and a determined challenge from Zverev to lift his fifth career Grand Slam trophy. The match, defined by dominant serving from both competitors, saw Sinner drop the opening set in a tight tiebreak before clawing his way back to wear down his opponent, ending Zverev’s 13-match Grand Slam winning streak.

    Entering the final, Sinner carried the pressure of defending a major title for the first time in his career, fresh off a shocking second-round exit at the 2025 French Open where he squandered a two-set lead against Juan Manuel Cerundolo. His Wimbledon campaign got off to a rocky start too, requiring a five-set comeback against Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round to avoid an early exit. From that point forward, however, Sinner found his rhythm on grass, cementing his status as one of the most formidable players on the surface.

    The final opened with a tight first set, with neither player ceding a break point through 12 games. In a tense tiebreak, Zverev—who had never advanced past the quarterfinals in nine previous Wimbledon appearances—clinched the set with a blistering forehand winner, becoming the first player to take a set off Sinner in seven head-to-head meetings. The second set again went to a tiebreak, but this time Sinner raised his level, dominating the breaker to level the match.

    A pivotal moment came in the third set, when Zverev created his first break point of the match but slipped on the Centre Court turf while chasing a Sinner drop shot. After Sinner checked on his fallen opponent, Zverev returned to play but saw his serve break in the very next game, allowing Sinner to seize control of the set. Zverev, frustrated by the missed opportunity, threw his racket across the grass after netting a forehand, and Sinner closed out the set with a love service game capped by an ace.

    In the fourth set, Sinner broke Zverev to take a 4-3 lead, and closed out the championship on his own serve. A dramatic final game featuring two of the match’s best rallies ended with Sinner slamming a forehand winner on his first match point, collapsing to the grass in celebration of his second straight Wimbledon title.

    Sinner finished the match with 58 winners and only 25 unforced errors, and saved the only break point he faced all afternoon on Centre Court. The victory marked his 100th career win at Grand Slam events, pushes his 2025 season record to a staggering 44-3, and gives him his sixth title of the year. He will take home £3.6 million ($4.8 million) in winner’s prize money for the victory.

    Reflecting on the win after the match, Sinner emphasized the weight of the moment and the quality of his opponent’s play. “You can feel the nerves on Sunday morning, it is a very special place,” he said. “You never know how many times you are going to come back. I never take it for granted. It has been an amazing final once again. It takes two players. I’m very happy about the win but I’m mostly very happy about the level we played.”

    For Zverev, the 29-year-old second seed, the result brings frustration but also a career milestone: he will climb above injured reigning world number two Carlos Alcaraz to claim second place in the ATP rankings when the new standings are released Monday. Zverev, bidding to become the first German man to win Wimbledon since Michael Stich in 1991, said the run left him believing he can claim a first Grand Slam on grass in future years. “At 29 years old, it’s the first time I actually believe I can win this trophy,” he said. Zverev’s 10-match losing streak against Sinner remains intact, with the German unable to snap his drought against the world number one despite his best performance at Wimbledon to date.

    With the victory, Sinner now has five Grand Slam titles, just two behind Alcaraz’s career major haul, and cements his position as the undisputed top men’s player in the world heading into the North American hard court swing this summer.

  • Wales U20s edge out Australia after late drama

    Wales U20s edge out Australia after late drama

    In a rollercoaster, edge-of-your-seat clash at Tbilisi’s Avchala Stadium, Wales Under-20s pulled off a landmark 38-36 victory over Australia’s Junior Wallabies at the World Rugby Junior Championship, booking a fifth-place playoff against Scotland on July 17. This result marks Wales’ first win over Australia at the youth global tournament since 2018, and their first victory over a top-tier southern hemisphere nation at this level since downing New Zealand in the 2019 edition.

    Wales maintained their tournament-long trend of fast starts, extending their streak of opening-quarter tries across all four matches of the campaign, even after squandering three clear scoring chances in the first six minutes of play. The deadlock was broken in the 14th minute, when flying wing Rhys Cummings showcased sharp athletic awareness to keep Steffan Emanuel’s floating kick in play along the right touchline before diving over for the opening score.

    Disaster struck early for Australia, who lost three players to injury before the 15-minute mark, and found themselves further behind when center Osian Darwin-Lewis crossed the line after a blistering break from number eight Evan Minto. Carwyn Leggatt-Jones converted both tries to push Wales 14-0 up, but a costly yellow card for a deliberate knock-on shifted momentum Australia’s way. The infringement came during Australia’s attacking build-up, allowing Tom Farr-Jones to cross for his first try, and the speed winger added a second after scrum-half Sam Blank sniped over from close range, putting Australia up 17-14 by halftime.

    Wales reclaimed the lead just 60 seconds into the second half, when Cummings chased his own two hacked kicks to gather the loose ball and score his second of the game. Leggatt-Jones converted and slotted a long-range penalty to stretch the lead to 24-17, before captain Deian Gwynne – who has earned regular senior caps for Gloucester this season – crashed over from a short-range ruck to put Wales in a commanding position.

    Australia rallied back, with wing Riley Whitfeld finishing an acrobatic try in the left corner to cut the deficit to 31-22 in the 55th minute. When Wales lock Luke Evans was issued a 20-minute red card for a high tackle, the Junior Wallabies capitalized on the man advantage, with prop Edwin Langi scoring a close-range try to bring the sides even closer. Down to 14 players, Wales held firm and earned a penalty try after choosing to kick for a corner instead of taking a shot at goal, extending their lead to 38-29 while Australia’s Toby Brial was sent to the sin bin.

    Australia hit back once again, with John Greenfell sneaking over to cut the gap to just two points. In the 79th minute, Jonty Fowler raced down the left flank to score what Australian players and fans thought was a match-winning try, and the conversion was completed before Television Match Officials reviewed the play. The TMO spotted an earlier knock-on in the build-up, disallowing the try and confirming Wales’ narrow victory.

    Richard Whiffin’s young Welsh side will now face Scotland, who secured a 44-26 win over Argentina earlier in the tournament, in the fifth-place decider with a 17:30 BST kickoff on July 17. A repeat of Wales’ Six Nations victory over Scotland would secure the nation’s best finish at the Junior World Championship since they finished runners-up in 2013.

  • Irrepressible Sinner outlasts Zverev to win second straight Wimbledon title

    Irrepressible Sinner outlasts Zverev to win second straight Wimbledon title

    On a tense Sunday afternoon at the All England Club, world number one Jannik Sinner etched his name into Wimbledon history once again, edging out French Open champion Alexander Zverev in a bruising, four-set final to claim his second consecutive gentlemen’s singles title.

    The match, defined by relentless serving and grueling baseline rallies, pushed both athletes to their physical limits over three hours and 46 minutes of Centre Court action. After dropping a tightly contested opening set tiebreak 7-9, Sinner dug deep to level the match with a dominant 7-2 tiebreak win in the second set, before breaking Zverev’s resistance in the closing two sets to seal a 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 6-4 victory.

    This title marks Sinner’s fifth career Grand Slam crown, pulling him just two major titles behind injured Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz, and caps off a remarkable comeback from his shocking second-round exit at the 2025 French Open, where he squandered a two-set lead against Argentine underdog Juan Manuel Cerundolo. The 24-year-old Italian also notched his 100th career win at Grand Slam events with Sunday’s result, extending his extraordinary 2025 season record to 44 wins and just three losses, with six titles already claimed this year.

    Sinner’s path to the final was far from smooth. He was pushed all the way to a five-set, come-from-behind win against Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round, the closest he came to an early exit from the tournament. From that point onward, however, Sinner found his rhythm on the grass courts of southwest London, evolving into an unstoppable force that no opponent could derail. His clinical performance in the final spoke to his champion mentality: he hit 58 winners alongside a mere 25 unforced errors, refusing to cave against a red-hot Zverev who entered the championship match on a 13-match Grand Slam winning streak.

    For Zverev, Sunday’s final marked a career-best run at Wimbledon, a tournament where he had never advanced past the quarter-finals in nine previous attempts. The German, who claimed his first ever Grand Slam title at this year’s French Open, entered the final with renewed confidence, and became the first player in seven meetings with Sinner to take a set off the Italian world number one. Despite the breakthrough, Zverev could not end his 10-match losing streak against Sinner, falling just short of becoming the first German man to lift the Wimbledon singles trophy since Michael Stich in 1991. He will, however, climb to second in the ATP rankings when the new standings are released on Monday, overtaking the injured Alcaraz.

    The first set unfolded as a masterclass in serving, with neither player facing a break point until the tiebreak. After 15 consecutive holds in the tiebreak, with both men saving set points, Zverev clinched the set with a blistering forehand winner. The second set followed a similar script, with no break opportunities for either competitor, but Sinner stepped up his aggression in the tiebreak to level the match at one set apiece.

    A dramatic turning point came in the seventh game of the third set, when Zverev created his first break point of the match but slipped while chasing a Sinner drop shot. The Italian immediately crossed the net to check on his injured opponent, who was able to continue after shaking off the knock. Sinner broke Zverev’s serve in the very next game, and closed out the set with an unblemished love service game, sealed with an ace to take a two-sets-to-one lead. A frustrated Zverev smashed his racquet into the grass after surrendering the break, a visible sign of his disappointment.

    Zverev fought gamely to extend the contest, but Sinner secured a decisive break to go up 4-3 in the fourth set. The Italian closed out the title on his own serve, wrapping up the win on his first match point with a forehand winner after two of the most thrilling rallies of the entire match, before collapsing to the Centre Court turf in celebration.

  • Fire breaks out at a pub in Bangkok, killing at least 27 people, officials say

    Fire breaks out at a pub in Bangkok, killing at least 27 people, officials say

    In the early hours of Monday, a massive out-of-control fire tore through a popular pub in northern Bangkok, leaving at least 27 people dead and multiple others injured, Thai officials confirmed. Emergency responders were alerted to the blaze at the Na Ladprao pub shortly after midnight, according to rescue authorities.

    Graphic footage shared publicly by first responders captures the full scale of the disaster: towering orange flames roar from the venue’s front entrance, sending thick, toxic plumes of black smoke billowing into the night sky, while panicked patrons scramble to escape the rapidly spreading inferno.

    It took firefighting crews approximately 30 minutes to fully contain the blaze and secure the site. Post-fire images from the scene reveal a gutted interior, with charred furniture, blackened walls, and extensive structural damage throughout the venue.

    Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul traveled to the disaster site shortly after the fire was contained to speak with reporters and coordinate response efforts. He confirmed the death toll of 27, noting that multiple injured victims have been transported to nearby hospitals for urgent medical care. As of Monday, the exact cause of the fire remains under official investigation.

    The Prime Minister shared preliminary details from an on-site witness: a musician who was performing on stage during the fire told investigators he first noticed smoke emanating from a circuit breaker positioned near the stage moments before the venue lost all power. Seconds later, an explosion rang out, and dense smoke rapidly filled every section of the pub, trapping dozens of people inside.

    Anutin added that most of the fatalities were recovered from the pub’s rear restrooms, where many people had fled in a desperate attempt to escape the smoke and flames.

    This tragedy marks the latest in a series of deadly venue fires in Thailand that have raised ongoing questions about public safety and fire code enforcement in the country. In 2022, a fire at another music pub in eastern Thailand killed 14 people. The deadliest such incident in modern Thai history dates back to New Year’s Eve 2009, when an indoor fireworks display sparked a massive blaze at Bangkok’s Santika nightclub, killing 66 people and injuring more than 200 others.