Colombia’s De La Espriella claims victory on preliminary results
NewsFeed Right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella has claimed victory in Colombia’s presidential election after securing a narrow lead over left-wing rival Iván Cepeda in preliminary results. Supporters celebrated in the streets of Barranquilla, as Cepeda said his campaign is challenging results from some 33,000 ballot boxes. Published On 22 Jun 202622 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Japanese fans clean up stands after celebrating World Cup win
NewsFeed Many Japanese fans stayed behind after celebrating their 4-0 victory over Tunisia, by collecting rubbish from the stands. The practice is known in Japan as gomi hiroi, which emphasises on taking responsibility for shared spaces. Published On 22 Jun 202622 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Crimea halts fuel sales after Ukraine strikes cause shortages
NewsFeed Gas sales in Russian-controlled Crimea have halted after Ukrainian drone strikes on the peninsula’s supply route. Drivers are now looking for other modes of transport. Published On 22 Jun 202622 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
‘A truly global celebration’: PM Modi marks 12th International Day of Yoga
The 12th edition of the International Day of Yoga was celebrated across the country and around the world on Sunday (June 21) under the theme ‘Yoga for Healthy Ageing’, highlighting the role of yoga in promoting healthy and active living across all stages of life.
Has Uddhav Thackeray lost 6 MPs? Eknath Shinde camp claims ‘Operation Tiger’ success, merger likely set today
6 of Uddhav Thackeray’s 9 UBT Lok Sabha MPs are set to join the Shinde-led Shiv Sena at 3 pm today, according to reports. UBT holds an emergency MLA-MLC meet at 2.30 pm.
Trump’s Iran gamble divides GOP hawks and ‘America First’ conservatives over what victory looks like
President Donald Trump may have united Republicans behind military action against Iran, but his push to formalize peace is proving far more divisive. As details of a memorandum of understanding emerge, GOP hawks are questioning whether the administration gave up too much, while Trump allies argue the president achieved a historic objective that crippled Iran’s military capabilities without dragging the U.S. into another prolonged war. The disagreement is about more than Iran. It has exposed a growing divide inside the GOP over what Trump’s “America First” foreign policy should look like in practice — and what victory should mean once a military campaign ends. At its core, the debate centers on competing visions of American power. One camp views military success as leverage to extract maximum concessions from adversaries and secure lasting strategic gains. The other sees it as a tool to neutralize threats and end conflicts before they become another Iraq or Afghanistan. Trump’s Iran agreement has forced those competing philosophies into a rare public collision. That divide is already playing out among some of the party’s most prominent national security voices. TOP SENATE REPUBLICAN RIPS INTO TRUMP’S IRAN DEAL, SAYS $300 BILLION MAKES OBAMA DEAL LOOK LIKE ‘A PITTANCE’ The deal’s fiercest Republican critics argue Trump is giving away leverage at the very moment Iran is most vulnerable. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., has blasted the agreement on X as the “worst foreign policy blunder in decades,” while Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., has warned it appears “out of step” with the goals of the military campaign. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has questioned the concessions offered to Tehran and former U.N. Ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has criticized proposals that could help rebuild Iran. Former Vice President Mike Pence has gone even further, calling the agreement a potential “lifeline” for the regime and warning it “smacks of appeasement.” VANCE SAYS ‘UNITED STATES WINS EITHER WAY’ AS HE DEFENDS TRUMP’S IRAN DEAL AGAINST GOP SKEPTICS Trump’s allies, however, argue critics are overlooking the sweeping military campaign that preceded the agreement. Vice President JD Vance and other administration officials contend the president achieved his core objective after U.S. and allied forces struck key Iranian military and nuclear sites, eliminated senior commanders and inflicted significant damage on Tehran’s military infrastructure. Supporters say those operations crippled Iran’s ability to project power, restored deterrence and ultimately brought the regime to the negotiating table without requiring a large-scale deployment of American ground troops. They argue victory is defined by achieving U.S. objectives and ending the conflict on favorable terms — not by risking another prolonged war in the Middle East. The clash highlights a foreign policy debate that has been simmering inside the Republican Party for years. NEW SATELLITE IMAGES SHOW FIRES, NAVAL BASE DAMAGE ACROSS IRAN AFTER US-ISRAELI STRIKES While Republicans have largely rallied around Trump’s use of military force against Iran, the disagreement over what comes next reflects a deeper tension inside the party. For traditional hawks, military victories create opportunities to reshape adversaries and secure lasting concessions. For many America First conservatives, the objective is narrower: neutralize threats, avoid nation-building and keep U.S. troops out of prolonged conflicts. As lawmakers and conservative leaders continue debating the memorandum of understanding’s merits, the fight may ultimately be less about the details of the Iran deal than about the future direction of Republican foreign policy — and what victory should mean in the Middle East.
College sports sees pivotal moment as Senate looks to move legislation on NIL, transfers across goal line
Congress could determine the future of college sports. Thursday was a seminal day as to whether Congress can either salvage – or potentially ruin – intercollegiate athletics. It’s a congressional Hail Mary as senators address name, image and likeness (NIL) deals for athletes, compensation packages and transfers between schools. “College sports is in crisis,” declared Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas. “There’s a sense of urgency in that room you can feel it, right? You’ve got to do something rapidly,” said Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo. TED CRUZ, MARIA CANTWELL UNVEIL BIPARTISAN COLLEGE ATHLETICS BILL AMID NIL CHAOS, LAWSUITS, ‘LANE KIFFIN RULE’ The Commerce Committee approved a bipartisan gameplan to fundamentally alter college sports. The full Senate plans to debate the bill in July. “We have put something on the table that’s going to bring more certainty and predictability to the system,” said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., the top Democrat on the panel. Establishing a nationwide payout framework is a key aspect of the deal. Lawmakers know that inaction could mean that monied, major programs will simply outbid smaller schools. Perhaps even for a future NFL MVP. “I’m worried that we’ll never see a Josh Allen again at the University of Wyoming,” said Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., referring to the Buffalo Bills standout quarterback. “It leaves those of us who don’t really have a donor base [to struggle to] pay for players of that caliber.” The bill also restricts athletes to one transfer between schools during a five-year period without a penalty. “Now we have this unbelievable number of players that get in the (transfer) portal every year and we have nothing to control the agents,” said former Alabama head football coach Nick Saban to a Senate panel earlier this month. UCLA QUARTERBACK ATTEMPTS TO EXPLOIT LOOPHOLE IN TRANSFER PORTAL WINDOW WITH UNIQUE TACTIC Lawmakers believe this plan will curb the constant roster chaos. Advocates of the legislation believe it protects student-athletes. “It definitely makes sure that predatory contracting done by agents or universities or conferences or shill organizations, don’t get students stuck in binding arbitration,” said Cantwell. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., is the only former Division I college athlete in the Senate. He played tight end for Stanford’s football team. Booker opposes the bill. SENS MARSHA BLACKBURN, MARIA CANTWELL HUSTLING TO PROTECT COLLEGE ATHLETES’ FINANCES IN MURKY NIL WORLD “I’ve seen decade after decade, how the NCAA has screwed athletes. And so we need to make sure there’s firm athletic protections and not trust the NCAA to do it,” said Booker. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., is the only former Division I football head coach in the Senate. He led programs at Auburn, Ole Miss, Texas Tech and Cincinnati. He joins Booker in condemning the legislation. “They’re trying to turn college sports into the same situation we got in with Obamacare,” said Tuberville on Fox News Radio. “We can’t get the federal government involved in college sports.” During a floor speech, Tuberville argued that “Congress should not decide how much money student athletes can earn.” Yet Tuberville conceded that “college sports is facing a five-alarm fire. It’s getting ready to be over with as we know it.” That’s why Cruz believes Congress should intervene. “If the alternative is do nothing and allow chaos to continue in college sports to be destroyed, I think that alternative is unacceptable,” said Cruz. Congress struggles to do lots of things right. That’s why some observers doubt that Congress is a good substitute for the NCAA. Matt Mackowiak is a former GOP Senate aide who’s written about Brendan Sorsby, his gambling scandal and the saga involving Texas Tech megabooster Cody Campbell. Big money lured Sorsby to the school for a hot minute. Mackowiak says the Cruz/Cantwell bill fails to prevent another Sorsby situation. But Mackowiak’s biggest concern is congressional willingness to undercut the NCAA. “I don’t know why you need to create some new system and make it overly complicated. You have a governing body. They haven’t had a lot of teeth in their enforcement in recent years.” Some of that is because super conferences like the Big Ten and SEC wield more power than the NCAA. Notably, neither of those conferences endorsed the Senate bill. But it was the NCAA which demanded congressional intervention. The NCAA has told lawmakers it can’t address NIL on its own and pushed for a national standard set by Capitol Hill. But Booker isn’t enamored with the NCAA. “The NCAA, which can’t be trusted, has shown decade after decade, (of) failing college athletes,” he said. There’s concern the bill could undercut current sports broadcasters by diversifying the number of streamers and outlets carrying games. That could complicate viewing. Additional options aren’t necessarily good for fans if they struggle to find their games. “Then the fans get hurt because all the content is behind a paywall,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. “I suspect everyone in this room has heard about frustrations from their constituents in trying to watch their favorite professional sports teams play. They are met with blackouts and paywalls,” said Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis. The House of Representatives stumbled in two previous efforts to regulate college sports. The House Republican leadership had to yank completely different college sports regulation bills off the floor in December and this spring because they lacked the votes. So, now it’s the Senate’s turn to try. There are lots of questions about whether the Senate, like the House, can command the votes for this bill. Moreover, what bandwidth does the Senate even have for serious legislating in July? The Senate is trying to figure out what’s next about the nomination of Jay Clayton to serve as director of national intelligence. The future of FISA Section 702 – the nation’s top program to fight terrorism – is up in the air after authorization expired a few weeks ago. And some Republicans are optimistic the Senate can advance a third “reconciliation package” to pay for the war in Iran, cut taxes and reduce fraud. It
Iran-U.S. launch historic peace talks with 60-day roadmap
NewsFeed Historic negotiations between Iran and the United States are officially underway, marking the start of what mediators describe as a crucial 60-day process. Published On 21 Jun 202621 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
US-Iran negotiations in Switzerland kick off
NewsFeed US-Iran talks opened in Switzerland with mediators Qatar and Pakistan hailing a ‘historic’ opportunity for regional stability. Discussions aim to build on recent de-escalation efforts, secure implementation of the interim deal and advance diplomacy. Published On 21 Jun 202621 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Mbappe, France play Iraq in World Cup match: prediction, team news, lineups
The 2026 World Cup will have 13 different kickoff times. You can use the Al Jazeera Sport widget to find out exactly when your team is playing in your local time. Who: France vs IraqWhat: FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I matchWhere: Philadelphia Stadium, Pennsylvania, USWhen: Monday, 5pm (21:00 GMT)How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 18:00 GMT in advance of our live text commentary stream. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list France are one win away from safely navigating the World Cup “group of death,” with Les Bleus looking to take all three points to secure Round of 32 qualification against Iraq in Boston. Two goals from Kylian Mbappe helped France recover from a shaky first half in their opening match against Senegal in New Jersey, with Didier Deschamps’ side eventually running out 3-1 winners. Iraq, featuring at the World Cup for the first time since 1986, are looking to bounce back from a heavy 4-1 defeat in their opening group game against Norway. All you need to know before France vs Iraq: Superstar Kylian Mbappe (#10) celebrates scoring France’s third goal against Senegal [Dylan Martinez/Reuters] France go through the gears It’s hard to avoid reaching for the “game of two halves” cliche to describe France’s win over Senegal on Tuesday. Les Bleus were a shadow of themselves in the first half, with a number of star players failing to perform up to expectations on the pitch. But the Qatar 2022 finalists were in another league in the second half, with Real Madrid’s Mbappe scoring two brilliant goals as he became France’s all-time top scorer. Advertisement Substitute Bradley Barcola made an instant impact off the bench, scoring his first-ever World Cup goal just two minutes after coming on, highlighting the depth of star talent available to Deschamps. France may tweak, not tinker, for Iraq clash Deschamps has often favoured stability at major tournaments and is unlikely to deviate from that approach, despite an enviable range of options in his playing squad. The most likely changes are expected on the left flank, with Barcola set to replace Desire Doue in attack and Lucas Digne in line to come in for Theo Hernandez at left back. Another adjustment could come in midfield. Deschamps has held lengthy discussions with Manu Kone in recent days and the 25-year-old was paired with Adrien Rabiot during training this week, suggesting he could be handed a starting role. Iraq’s Aymen Hussein (#18) looks dejected after scoring Norway’s fourth with an own goal at Boston Stadium on June 16 [Winslow Townson/Imagn Images via Reuters] Iraq face another huge challenge The Lions of Mesopotamia were the final team to book their place at the 2026 World Cup, following a gruelling campaign which saw them play a record number of qualifiers. Their reward was a spot in Group I, which many experts believe is the most difficult of the 12 at the tournament. After a 4-1 humbling against Norway, Iraq now face Qatar 2022 runners-up France before their final group game against African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finalists Senegal. To avoid elimination, Graham Arnold’s side face a monumental task: a draw or a win against a French side that has reached the last two World Cup finals. France vs Iraq prediction Les Bleus are the overwhelming favourites, according to Stats provider Opta’s supercomputer. France have an 88.5 percent chance of victory, compared to Iraq who have just a three percent chance of pulling off a stunning win, according to Opta. Their supercomputer sees just an 8.5 percent chance of a draw at Boston Stadium on Monday. Opta now predicts that France has the best chance of winning the World Cup, moving them ahead of Spain who were the pre-tournament favourites. (Al Jazeera) France vs Iraq: Livestream, kickoff time France: beIN Sports and Groupe M6 (11pm, Central European Summer Time) Iraq: beIN Sports (12am on Tuesday, Arabia Standard Time) United Kingdom: BBC One and BBC iPlayer (10pm, British Summer Time) United States: Universo, FOX, FOX One, Telemundo App, Telemundo Network, Peacock (5pm, Eastern Daylight Time) How does Group I stand? Norway sit top of Group I on goal difference after hammering Iraq 4-1 in Boston. Advertisement France are second, also on three points, with Senegal and Iraq both with no points and sitting third and fourth respectively. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups – along with the eight best third-placed teams – proceed to the next phase, the round of 32, which has been introduced at the World Cup for the first time. Form guide (Last five games, latest result first) France: W-W-L-W-W Iraq: L-L-D-W-W The French have won five of their last six matches, with their only slip-up coming against Ivory Coast in a shock defeat in a World Cup warm-up. Iraq, meanwhile, have no wins in their last three matches after suffering back-to-back defeats to Norway and Venezuela. Their last win came in a pre-World Cup friendly against Andorra in May. France vs Iraq: Head-to-head This is the first time that the two sides have ever met in an international match. Team news: France Deschamps is set to make a few small tweaks for this game, with Barcola set to start after coming off the bench against Senegal. Digne and Kone are also tipped to start for France on Monday. Team news: Iraq Ali Jasim is available to start for Iraq after coming off against Norway with a knock. Ahmed Basil could start in goal in place of Jalal Hassan. France predicted lineup: Mike Maignan (goalkeeper); Jules Kounde, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Digne; Adrien Rabiot, Manu Kone; Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola; Kylian Mbappe. Iraq predicted lineup: Ahmed Basil (goalkeeper); Hussein Ali, Zaid Tahseen, Akam Hashem, Merchas Doski; Ibrahim Bayesh, Amir Al-Ammari, Zidane Iqbal, Ali Jasim; Aymen Hussein, Ali Al-Hamadi. Adblock test (Why?)