Trump admin puts alleged ‘birth tourism’ scheme on notice as expert delivers warning to hospitals
The Trump administration is using visa enforcement to target “birth tourism,” an alleged scheme utilized by foreign nationals to obtain visitor visas for the primary purpose of giving birth in the U.S. and securing American citizenship for their children. The Trump administration recently announced that it disrupted “a sophisticated birth tourism network” in West Africa involving more than 100 foreign nationals utilizing false documents and, what the State Department described as “fixers,” to get themselves visas to go to the United States to give birth so their children would be born on U.S. soil and treated as American citizens. But that was just one of the networks the State Department indicated it had uncovered. The agency’s announcement said U.S. officials identified more than 400 suspected birth tourism cases emanating from Europe since 2024, and tied to at least six companies that helped coach applicants on what to say during their visa interview, arranged housing and set-up delivery plans. “We shut it down, revoked these foreign nationals’ visas, and are coordinating with local authorities to systematically identify and cut off any similar operations,” the State Department said in its announcement. “A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. The State Department is taking action around the world to stop this abuse, dismantle birth tourism networks, and hold accountable those who try to scam our system.” SEN. BLACKBURN TARGETS BIRTH TOURISM, ‘BUYING AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP’ IN SUPPORT OF TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION AGENDA The effort comes as Trump has renewed his long-running criticism of birthright citizenship, including through a 2025 executive order seeking to narrow who is automatically treated as a U.S. citizen at birth. It also builds on a first-term Trump administration rule from 2020 that instructed consular officers to deny visitor visas to foreign nationals believed to be traveling to the U.S. primarily to give birth and obtain American citizenship for their children. “President Trump will always put the American people first. Uninhibited birth tourism poses a tremendous cost to taxpayers and threatens our national security,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told Fox News Digital. “The Trump administration is effectively ending this practice, which brings the United States in line with the policy of most countries around the world.” TRUMP LOCKS IN ICE FUNDING THROUGH END OF PRESIDENCY AFTER HOUSE PASSES $70B PACKAGE Federation for American Immigration Reform’s Ira Mehlman noted to Fox News Digital that visa fraud is “a significant issue,” pointing out it is a problem even outside the framework of birth tourism. “The prospect of birthright citizenship is undeniably an inducement for people to commit visa fraud,” Mehlman said. “Birth tourism would not exist otherwise.” “Obviously, any woman who does not disclose her intention to have her baby in the U.S. when she applies for a visa is committing fraud. Remove the incentive of automatic birthright citizenship for people who are not citizens and legal permanent residents, and the reason for committing this sort of fraud goes away,” he continued. Birth tourism has surfaced repeatedly in the U.S. in recent years, particularly through operations accused of coaching foreign nationals to obscure the purpose of their travel. In California, federal prosecutors secured convictions against the operators of USA Happy Baby, a company accused of helping Chinese women travel to the U.S. to give birth to American-citizen children, while a separate operator from a business called You Win USA pleaded guilty in another case stemming from a broader federal crackdown. More recently, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued a Houston-area postpartum center accused of facilitating more than 1,000 births for primarily Chinese clients, while House Oversight Republicans launched an inquiry into several U.S.-based companies allegedly advertising birth-tourism services. Mehlman urged Congress to do more to enhance vetting of visa applicants, prosecute those who commit fraud and put an end to birth tourism. He said there were avenues for legal action against the entities allegedly facilitating the scheme. “To the extent that we can take legal action against companies that are outside the United States, we should, much like we prosecute other types of transnational crime and fraud operations,” Mehlman told Fox News Digital. “But each one of these companies works with service providers here in the U.S., including hospitals.”
Same-name candidate disqualified from key Senate race over alleged Dem scheme to confuse voters
A top Alaska election official booted a same-name Republican challenger to Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, from the primary ballot Monday, ruling the campaign appeared designed to confuse voters. Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher disqualified Dan J. Sullivan from the state’s hotly-contested Senate race over concerns that his candidacy was “filed with a purpose to confuse or mislead and to thereby compromise the ballot’s fairness or neutrality,” in a letter published Monday. Dan J. Sullivan, a retired schoolteacher who filed as a Republican Senate candidate despite having no prior affiliation with the GOP, can appeal the ruling, Beecher wrote. The letter caps weeks of outrage from the GOP, who argued the political newcomer’s entry into the race just days before the filing deadline was a covert attempt by Democrats to recruit a “sham” candidate into the race to confuse voters. GOP FIGHTS TO STOP MULTIPLE DAN SULLIVANS FROM APPEARING ON ALASKA BALLOT, CALLS CANDIDACY A ‘SHAM’ Under Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system, if Dan J. Sullivan had been allowed to remain on the August primary ballot, both he and Dan S. Sullivan, the incumbent, could have advanced to the general election among the top four vote-getters. Democrats are eying Alaska as a potential flip opportunity as the party mounts a longshot bid to retake control of the upper chamber during the midterms. The incumbent Sullivan is running for a third Senate term against former Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, who was recruited by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., into the battleground contest. Beecher cited several details about Dan J. Sullivan’s campaign that led to her conclusion that it was not filed in “good-faith.” The political newcomer requested to appear on the ballot as “Dan Sullivan” despite registering to vote under the name “Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr.,” according to the letter. The longshot candidate also attempted to register with the incumbent’s initial on one occasion, according to Beecher’s letter. “‘S’ is Senator Sullivan’s middle initial, not yours,” Beecher wrote. The election official also noted that Dan J. Sullivan had not registered as a Republican before launching his Senate campaign and that his new website used a “color scheme and overall theme” similar to the incumbent’s campaign materials. Additionally, Beecher discussed Dan J. Sullivan’s connection to Amber Lee, an Alaska Democratic consultant who has previously supported Peltola. Metadata from the campaign’s launch identified the Democratic operative as its author, Fox News Digital previously reported. FORMER DEM REP. MARY PELTOLA ANNOUNCES U.S. SENATE RUN: “PUT ALASKA FIRST” “This consultant’s work on your behalf is, in isolation, innocuous,” Beecher wrote. “Alongside the other facts I have catalogued in this letter, however, it suggests a determined effort and a deliberate attempt to use the similarity of your name to confuse Alaska voters in the upcoming primary election.” Dan J. Sullivan’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The incumbent Sullivan previously blasted his same-name challenger as a “far-left liberal” who was complicit in Democrats’ efforts to “rig” the election. “Is Schumer or Gillibrand and their staffs or the DSCC or the staff at the DSCC — were they aware? Were they coordinating, orchestrating? I mean, if that’s the case, that would be a huge scandal,” Sullivan told Fox News Digital last week. Democrats have denied any involvement with Dan J. Sullivan’s campaign. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, took a victory lap after urging Beecher to investigate the same-name challenger’s candidacy. “Alaskans saw right through Chuck Schumer and Mary Peltola’s tricks to confuse and deceive them with a sham candidate,” NRSC Regional Press Secretary Nick Puglia said in a statement. “Nobody delivers for Alaskans like Senator Dan Sullivan, which is why Alaska Last Democrats like Mary Peltola are stooping so low.” Dan J. Sullivans’ attempt to qualify for the primary ballot also sparked sharp criticism from Senate Republicans, who are expected to aggressively campaign to defend Sullivan’s seat. “Even by Chuck Schumer’s low standards, this was an outrageous attempt to trick Alaska voters and rig the election,” Senate Republican Conference Chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said Monday.
US won’t move troops despite ‘signed’ Iran deal, as doubts linger over Tehran’s next move
The Trump administration will keep its military buildup in the Middle East in place despite signing a new agreement with Iran, underscoring Washington’s continued distrust of Iran as the two sides enter a 60-day negotiating period. “The plan is to keep the current force posture during the 60-day negotiations,” a senior U.S. official told reporters on a call Monday. “We hope to draw them down, but we’re not doing that yet.” “The agreement contemplates the reduction of military forces in the region upon the agreement of a final deal,” the official added. Officials said President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf already have signed the memorandum, and that the details of the agreement will be released publicly within the next 24 to 48 hours. A formal signing ceremony is expected later in the week. BUILT FOR WEEKS OF WAR: INSIDE THE FIREPOWER THE US HAS POSITIONED IN THE MIDDLE EAST The decision means the Pentagon will maintain a military posture that recently included roughly 50,000 troops deployed across the Middle East, one of the largest U.S. force concentrations in the region in more than two decades. Publicly available fleet tracking data indicate at least two carrier strike groups remain in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Officials repeatedly stressed that any sanctions relief, asset releases or future concessions would be tied to verification and Iranian performance, not promises alone, with one senior official acknowledging the two sides remain in the early stages of “building trust.” That lack of trust was evident in the administration’s description of the agreement, which differs in key respects from accounts published by Iranian officials and state-linked media. VANCE SAYS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S KEY OBJECTIVES HAVE BEEN REACHED IN US-IRAN DEAL White House officials insisted Monday that no frozen Iranian assets have been released and said any sanctions relief would be conditioned on Iranian performance during the upcoming negotiations. “The very simple fact is, $0 of unfrozen assets have been released by the United States or any other country,” one official said. Iranian officials and state-linked media, meanwhile, have described the framework as paving the way for the release of roughly $24 billion in frozen Iranian funds and broader economic relief during the negotiation period. White House officials disputed reports that any funds have already been released and repeatedly emphasized that future economic concessions would be earned through compliance rather than granted upfront. IRAN’S REGIME SPINS NUCLEAR AND STRAIT OF HORMUZ DEAL WITH TRUMP AS VICTORY OVER US, ISRAEL “We’ll do some small gestures of that in the beginning, if they make some small gestures to us,” an official said. While Trump has portrayed the agreement as a potential turning point in U.S.–Iran relations, the memorandum itself is narrower in scope. The framework extends the ceasefire, establishes a 60-day negotiating window and seeks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments normally pass. The reopening of the Strait may prove to be the agreement’s most immediate and economically significant effect. White House officials said the memorandum provides for the opening of the waterway and the lifting of the naval blockade, though they cautioned that commercial shipping could take days or weeks to return to normal levels as mines are cleared and shipping companies regain confidence in the route. Officials also said the agreement requires the Strait to remain open toll-free during the 60-day negotiating period. The administration expects shipping traffic to increase significantly over the coming days, easing pressure on global energy markets. The deal, officials said, creates a framework under which Iran could eventually receive sanctions relief and broader access to the global economy in exchange for verifiable steps to ensure it does not rebuild its nuclear program and curbs support for terrorism and regional instability. “If they’re willing to behave like a normal country, then we’re willing to treat them like a normal country,” one official said. The prospect of renewed traffic through the Strait has already reverberated through global markets. Oil prices fell following news of the agreement as traders bet that one of the world’s most important energy choke points could soon return to normal operations.
SEE IT: UFC legend denies posting alleged Eric Trump DMs, claims he was hacked
Former UFC champion Daniel Cormier told Fox News Digital that he did not post viral screenshots alleging an exchange with Eric Trump in which the president’s son asked for inside intel about fighter injuries and whether any fights were “rigged” ahead of UFC Freedom 250 at the White House. The now-deleted post from Cormier showed screenshots of what appeared to be direct messages between himself and Eric Trump, with Trump reaching out to Cormier ahead of Sunday’s spectacle asking who he had winning, if any fighters were injured and “cutting to the chase” if any of the fights are rigged. “They’re not real,” Cormier told Fox News Digital when asked what happened with the posts showing the alleged messages with Trump. “I can’t believe you guys believed that. Like, who believes that?” he said. JAKE PAUL’S MOST VALUABLE PRODUCTIONS RIPS RIGGED FIGHT CLAIMS IN MIKE TYSON BOUT: ‘ILLOGICAL AND INANE’ The conversation caught national attention as a potential cheating scandal as it appears to show Trump trying to leverage inside information that could be used toward advancing his own bets. The account that is labeled as Trump in the screenshots shows a message saying, “I’ll just cut to the chase…are any of the fights tomorrow rigged? I’ve been eyeing the Lopes fight and I think an upset wouldn’t be too unrealistic. $$.” The exchange ends with an alleged reply from Cormier to Trump saying, “No none of our fights rigged and honestly I am appalled you would even ask me something like that.” DANA WHITE DENIES AMERICA 250 UFC FIGHT AT WHITE HOUSE WILL BE ‘POLITICAL,’ ‘NOT AT ALL’ ABOUT POLITICS Both Cormier and Trump posted on X Sunday evening, leading up to the main event of the night, claiming the post was fake. Cormier asked if “people were really that dumb,” while Trump posted that the whole thing was “completely fake.” In another post, Trump referred to the screenshots as “fake, AI-generated screenshots” and said he has never even spoken to Cormier. UFC’S DANA WHITE CONFIRMS FBI TALKS OVER UNUSUAL BETTING ACTIVITY ON FIGHTER ISAAC DULGARIAN MATCH Cormier told Fox News Digital that he was hacked and he was not the one to post the alleged interaction to social media. “I got hacked or something,” he said when asked if he was denying posting it to his social media. He continued, “Who believes stuff like that? That’s crazy.” Cormier also told Fox News Digital that the reporting that he posted this is wrong. “Yeah, absolutely,” he said when asked if the journalists claiming he posted it to social media are wrong.
Reporter’s Notebook: Lawmakers scramble as FISA fight comes at the worst possible time
There’s the World Cup. America’s 250th birthday. And the conflict with Iran. It’s all a nightmare national security hat trick. “It’s the highest we’ve ever seen,” said Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Fox News Sunday about the terrorism threat level. “When I say we arrest terrorists every single week, I’m not exaggerating. Those aren’t the individuals that are coming across our border, those are individuals that are still inside this country.” But lawmakers are scared now that the nation’s premier anti-terrorism tool — called FISA Section 702 — expired over the weekend. EXPIRING SPY LAW SPARKS WARNINGS OF ‘FATAL’ CONSEQUENCES AHEAD OF WORLD CUP “I hope and pray to God that nothing happens in this country where an American is killed,” said Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio. “We want to prevent the next 9/11 from happening,” said Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., on Fox. “This program goes dark at a time when there are literally hundreds of thousands of people coming to this country for the World Cup,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. Well, not quite. “FISA is operative until next March. That’s the legislation,” said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Confused? You’re not the only one. Let me explain. SPY PROGRAM CREDITED WITH STOPPING TAYLOR SWIFT TERROR PLOT BARRELS TOWARD EXPIRATION Legal authority sanctioned by Congress for this powerful intelligence-gathering weapon to foil terrorism expired at 11:59:59 p.m. ET Friday night. If nearly any other statute other than FISA Section 702 expired, the government couldn’t continue to rely on the program. “It’s a very inopportune time to allow the authorizing statute for 702 to lapse,” conceded George Croner, a former National Security Agency counsel. “It has proven to be the most useful by far of any of the intelligence programs that the community has available to it.” That’s why there’s worry about unprecedented vulnerabilities with the program expiring. Especially right now. “I think that it’s completely irresponsible to have FISA go dark at the beginning of the World Cup,” said Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., on FOX Business. A bipartisan coalition tanked an emergency FISA extension in both bodies of Congress last week. “It should have been voted down,” said Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo. “And I don’t say that lightly.” “We don’t have the guts to fix it. And I’m tired of hearing people are going to die,” said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., scoffing at potential consequences from a program which ran its statutory course. The House rejected a three-week patch to paper over an imminent lapse in the program on Thursday. “Anybody who votes no on this bill is voting to undermine America’s national security,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. CONSERVATIVE FISA REVOLT POSES FRESH TEST FOR SPEAKER JOHNSON But the GOP House majority failed to muster even 200 yeas for the bill. Nineteen Republicans bolted. They have privacy concerns and raised questions about illegal searches and seizures. “The Fourth Amendment is not a suggestion. We have to have a warrant,” said Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas. Still, Republican leaders claimed that it was Democratic resistance which put the country at risk. “(Democrats) are willing to jeopardize the safety and the security of the American people to make a cheap political point,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. But there was a reason Democrats balked. Congress punted renewing FISA Section 702 on multiple occasions over the past few months, repeatedly approving stopgap measures. Finally, Democrats and Republicans painstakingly negotiated a compromise which would install reforms. But Democrats withdrew their support for the deal once President Trump announced that housing czar Bill Pulte would take over on a temporary basis for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Democrats noted that Pulte lacked any national security or intelligence experience. Moreover, they believed he could weaponize intelligence programs like Section 702 against political opponents. TULSI GABBARD CHANGES TUNE ON CONTROVERSIAL INTELLIGENCE TOOL FOLLOWING GOP LOBBYING Ironically, both sides thought this was ironed out before Memorial Day. But Senate Democrats pulled their votes to advance the FISA measure in a pre-dawn vote late last month. Still, there’s concern about the consequences of not having FISA Section 702 fully in place. “Do Democrats not sleep at night if, God forbid, there’s something that happens with FISA turned off?” yours truly asked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. “Donald Trump should lose sleep,” countered Jeffries. “Because Donald Trump decided he wants to elevate Bill Pulte, who is nothing more than a malignant political hack.” Here’s how the program works: FISA siphons the calls, emails and texts of foreign intelligence targets that the U.S. tracks. A special, secret court oversees FISA. But it ruled that the intelligence services can still track suspect communications through well into 2026 – despite a break in the law. “Data can still be collected for a year after it expires. So I don’t think it’s as dire as some think it is,” said Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo. She’s not the only one. “(FISA) will not lapse. I try to make this clear. The statute makes it clear that the authorities of FISA are going to be positive and enforceable for the remainder of this year. We think, until March of next year,” said Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill. TRUMP SIGNS STOPGAP FISA EXTENSION AFTER SENATE BLOCKS LONG-TERM RENEWAL However, it’s unclear if telecommunications companies will provide digital breadcrumbs to the government, lacking a Congressional safeguard. “That is a gray area and it’s one of the things that we’re going to have to work through,” said Jeffries. Croner, the former NSA counsel, says people shouldn’t worry about the government lacking a FISA Section 702 law. But he offered a caveat. “The carriers are going to become, in my view, increasingly uncomfortable with not having statutory protection for their part in 702 collection,” said Croner. When reporting on Congress, you’re only as good as your sources. And the same can be said in spy craft. The government’s digital spooks can’t track possible
Left-wing distraction of Trump’s UFC event falls flat as bitter celebrities mocked online
The political left’s attempt to counter-program President Donald Trump’s UFC event on the White House lawn Sunday night ended in widespread online mockery as celebrities and media personalities who have publicly complained for a decade about President Donald Trump offered more of the same. The event, called “Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert for the First Amendment,” was hosted by far-left activist and actress Jane Fonda, nicknamed “Hanoi Jane,” and the Committee for the First Amendment in New York City. Participants spent three hours railing against Trump, recycling talking points about “fascism” and “authoritarianism” that have been repeatedly levied against the president since he first took office in 2016. The event was streamed on numerous left-wing YouTube channels, and also aired on C-SPAN. Bette Midler, an 80-year-old actress and activist, took center stage to perform her own rendition of Woody Guthrie’s “All You Fascists Bound to Lose,” backed by four other singers. She changed some of the lyrics to the song to make it anti-ICE themed. PARTY POOPERS’ FIGHT CARD: JANE FONDA, ‘NO KINGS,’ COMMUNISTS ROLL OUT RIVAL SPECTACLE TO TRUMP’S 250TH “All you fascists bound to lose,” the song began. “Lose, you fascists bound to lose.” “We’ll battle ICE together, until they cut and run, just like in Minneapolis, and when the midterms come you’re bound to lose, you fascists bound to lose,” it continued. The song also made reference to the Jeffrey Epstein files and claims that Republicans are “protecting pedophiles.” BETTE MIDLER LATEST TO ASSAULT PEOPLE’S EARS WITH TERRIBLE PROTEST SONG Midler was mocked for her performance. “Shew! I just saw a bunch of literal fascists getting ready to take down the country, BUT LUCKILY, Bette Midler and her super powerful squad stopped them at the gate… lol,” one popular X user needled. Another post criticized Midler as another one of the “dusty relics who peaked decades ago” who performed at the anti-Trump show. DEMOCRATIC PROTESTS DURING PRESIDENT TRUMP’S SPEECH MOCKED BY LIBERAL MEDIA FIGURES “These people aren’t just out of touch. They’re clinically insane,” the post added. Ex-MSNBC host Joe Reid used her platform at the event to blame the Trump administration for her own firing and the firings of other former television personalities. “The threat is not coming, friends. It is here,” she warned. “Brendan Carr, the man who wrote the blueprint to dismantle the FCC and Project 2025 is now running it. He is weaponizing the agency to bully and control the press and suppress the wider televised media.” WHITE HOUSE FIRES BACK AFTER ROBERT DE NIRO, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN TAKE TRUMP SWIPES AMID COLBERT’S FAREWELL WEEK “Don Lemon arrested, Georgia Fort arrested, Terry Moran fired from ABC, Scott Pelley fired from CBS by the clack of far-right ideologues who bought it and handed it over to a zealot named Bari Weiss who may soon also control CNN. Jim Acosta out at CNN. Karen Attiah fired from the Washington Post and me, more than a year ago,” she listed. “All of us shown the door for just doing our jobs, standing up to the administration and in my case, also for speaking out against the genocide.” Right-wing commentator Stephen Miller, not to be confused with the top Trump aide of the same name, didn’t take kindly to Reid’s comments. “Nothing she says here is true but she has the right friends in media so they will all applaud. Joy Reid is a bat s— crazy conspiracy theorist who they all accept because of the right politics,” he said on X. GREEN DAY FRONTMAN TELLS ICE AGENTS TO ‘QUIT THAT S—-Y JOB’ AT SUPER BOWL PARTY PERFORMANCE Soon thereafter, children’s singer and entertainer known as Ms. Rachel, who has been protesting outside the ICE detention facility Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, joined several children on stage to complain about federal officers enforcing U.S. law. Later, about 40 people in a group called Singing Resistance New York performed an amateurish jingle while screaming: “No one is getting left behind this time.” TURNING POINT USA’S PATRIOTIC SUPER BOWL ALTERNATIVE EARNS PRAISE AS MILLIONS TUNE IN OVER BAD BUNNY “It is impossible to describe how much worse this is than Kid Rock doing an alternative Super Bowl halftime show,” said Ian Miller, a writer at Outkick. “‘No one is getting left behind this time’ from what?” conservative personality Libby Emmons asked. “And who are they singing about? And how are they so off-key? Rise Up Sing Out looks like a total bust.” Actor Robert De Niro also took the stage over the weekend to say he couldn’t love America while it’s led by Trump, and compared supporters to those in an abusive relationship. “I hate to say it, but loving our country is starting to sound like an abused spouse saying they love their abuser,” he said. “I can’t love a country that’s led by a racist, misogynist, xenophobic tyrant.” DE NIRO GETS EMOTIONAL, TEARY-EYED AS HE CALLS ON PEOPLE TO ‘RESIST, RESIST, RESIST’ TRUMP DURING INTERVIEW The multi-millionaire film star then started a “Go f–k yourself” chant with the crowd, aimed at the 47th president. He, too, drew heat from observers. “Oh no, I’m being abused by the country that made me rich and famous beyond my wildest dreams! Help, help! I’m being oppressed!” one commentator said in response. “‘I only love America when we’re in charge’” great message Bob,” said another.
Tunisia sack boss Sabri Lamouchi after World Cup thrashing by Sweden
Tunisia coach Sabri Lamouchi pays the price for 5-1 football defeat to Sweden in Group F opener at World Cup 2026. Published On 15 Jun 202615 Jun 2026 Sabri Lamouchi has been sacked by Tunisia after just one game of World Cup 2026. The 54-year-old former France international was sacked the day after Tunisia’s 5-1 trouncing by Sweden in their opening Group F football game in Monterrey, Mexico, on Sunday night. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Tunisian officials have installed Mondher Kebaier, who led the national team from 2019 to 2022 and has been in a technical director role since last year, as interim boss ahead of the second group game against Japan in the early hours of Sunday, also in Monterrey. The 56-year-old previously guided the Eagles of Carthage to the final of the Arab Cup in 2021, losing to Algeria, before a quarterfinal exit in AFCON the following year. Speaking before his departure, Lamouchi said his side had been punished for a string of costly mistakes and after the game admitted: “It’s a difficult loss. It’s painful. Starting the competition with this bad of a loss is indeed difficult. “We made way too many mistakes.” Lamouchi was already under pressure after a 5-0 defeat to Belgium in the team’s final warm-up game, while he has been forced to defend the presence of his son during their training camp in the media despite him not being an official member of the party. Tunisia will face Japan and the Netherlands, who played out a pulsating 2-2 draw in their opening match in Dallas on Sunday, in their final two group fixtures, and Lamouchi said: “We have our pride. We need to react. We need to give a better image.” Lamouchi, who holds dual Tunisian and French citizenship, represented clubs including Auxerre, Monaco, Parma, Inter and Marseille during his playing career before his first role in management saw him guide Ivory Coast to the 2014 World Cup, beating Japan in their first game only to exit in the group stage after a dramatic late defeat against Greece in their final game. Advertisement It was a second chapter of World Cup heartache for Lamouchi, who was cut from the final France squad for World Cup 1998 by coach Aime Jacquet, missing out on a place in history as Les Bleus claimed their first title on home soil. He went on to manage Rennes and Nottingham Forest before short stints in Qatar, with Cardiff City and in Saudi Arabia before being appointed by Tunisia in January on a two-and-a-half-year contract following a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign. Adblock test (Why?)
France vs Senegal: World Cup 2026 – Mbappe, teams, lineups, start, Dembele
The 2026 World Cup has 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 SenegalWhat: FIFA World Cup 2026Where: New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, United StatesWhen: Tuesday, June 16 , 3pm local time (19:00 GMT)How to follow: Catch all live updates on Al Jazeera Sport Senegal against France has to be one of the most memorable fixtures in World Cup history, and for all the wrong reasons for Les Bleus. Tournament debutants Senegal stunned the defending champions, plagued by off-field issues, in the opening game of the 2002 edition in Seoul, South Korea, winning 1-0 thanks to Papa Bouba Diop’s goal after half -an -hour – watched from the bench by current Lions of Teranga boss, Pape Thiaw. It remains the only meeting of two nations bonded by 300 years of history, but a repeat in New York New Jersey on Tuesday would not only send new shockwaves throughout the football world, it would be extra -special for the 10 members of the Senegal squad who were born in France. Michael Olise celebrates scoring France’s first goal against Northern Ireland with Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe [Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters] Deschamps aiming to end on a golden note Spain might be the narrow favourites to win World Cup 2026 but is there a more settled and talented squad than France? Didier Deschamps will seek to end his glorious 14-year tenure as France coach by leading Les Bleus to a third World Cup success. Advertisement Deschamps lifted the trophy as captain at home in 1998, then masterminded their 2018 success in Russia, while only a penalty shootout defeat to Argentina in the 2022 final prevented him from becoming just the second coach to win two World Cups. With his contract set to end in July and with Zinedine Zidane waiting in the wings, Deschamps – the longest serving coach at the tournament by five years – will seek to go out on a high with a third straight final appearance back in East Rutherford on July 19 . Three wins here would make him the most successful World Cup coach of all time with 17 tournament victories. Despite a slightly underwhelming performance at Euro 2024, when they suffered semi-final defeat against Spain after scoring just four goals in six games, including a penalty and two own -goals, France dropped only two points in qualification for this tournament by drawing in Iceland. They possess surely the most talented attacking arsenal in the game today, with Kylian Mbappe supported by Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and the likes of Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue. While Mbappe hasn’t had the happiest of years with Real Madrid, he still managed 42 goals in all competitions and nobody has scored more than his 12 goals in the past two World Cups – including a hat-trick on his last appearance, the 2022 final. He is one goal away from matching Olivier Giroud’s record of 57 goals for France. Olise has shone for Bayern Munich, providing 26 assists, and after the disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Ivory Coast, he scored a hat-trick in the final warm-up against Northern Ireland, while Dembele averaged 1.4 goals and assists per 90 minutes in Ligue 1, helping Paris Saint Germain to back-to-back Champions League crowns. Senegal coach Pape Thiaw and Kalidou Koulibaly celebrate with the trophy after the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco in January (Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters) (Reuters) Senegal seek to make deep run Whether you consider them African champions or not, Senegal are not at the World Cup just to make up the numbers. Their status as AFCON winners remains undecided after they appealed the decision of the Confederation of African Football to remove the title after their controversial final against Morocco in January. The Lions of Teranga walked off the pitch after Morocco were awarded a last-ditch penalty with the scores level. Though Brahim Diaz missed the penalty in the 24th minute of added time, after a long delay, and Papa Gueye scored an extra-time winner for Senegal, they were subsequently stripped of the title and have lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Advertisement Pape Thiaw’s men went undefeated in qualifying to top their group with seven wins in 10 matches, conceding only three times, and will fancy their chances of making a deep run into the knockout stages, despite being handed a testing group of France and Norway, as well as Iraq. Their last competitive defeat – if you don’t count the AFCON Final – came in the last 16 against England in Qatar in 2022 – they are unbeaten in 30 since then and though they lost a warm-up match to the USA and played out a stalemate with Saudi Arabia, their talented squad features 20 players playing in Europe’s top-five leagues. France’s William Saliba, Ngolo Kante, Ibrahima Konate and Desire Doue during training [Peter Cziborra/Reuters] France team news Both sides should be at full strength for the game with France defender William Saliba back in full training after aggravating a back injury in Arsenal’s Champions League Final defeat to PSG, while Jules Kounde has shaken off a knock picked up against Northern Ireland. Senegal team news Sadio Mane endured a nightmare Qatar 2022 campaign, hampered by injury, but is fit to start while Everton midfielder, Idrissa Gueye, should be fine, despite leaving training early on Saturday. Adblock test (Why?)
EU fails to agree on sanctions for far-right Israeli minister Ben-Gvir
Published On 15 Jun 202615 Jun 2026 European Union member states have failed to agree on proposals to sanction Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. Speaking at a media conference on Monday, Kallas said that while “many” EU states had proposed economic restrictions, “no consensus on that was reached today”. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list Far-right minister Ben-Gvir has been criticised by several individual EU states for his treatment of activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla who were detained by Israeli soldiers as they tried to reach Gaza last month. However, efforts to impose sanctions on Ben-Gvir at EU level have met resistance. With unanimity required, the bid has failed to win full approval, Kallas said. The EU’s chief diplomat did not outline which states had refused to agree to the proposal. However, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic are understood to be among those in opposition. Israel’s Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir provoked outrage in some EU states as he was shown mocking detained Gaza flotilla activists (File: Getty) Kallas added that “many” member states also called for proposals from the EU Commission to prepare options on how to limit trade with illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank. “I will convey this request and ask the Commission to prepare, ahead of the next Foreign Affairs Council, a list of options for possible trade measures, including measures aimed at preventing imports of goods originating from illegal settlements,” she said. Advertisement Last month, the EU moved for the first time to impose economic restrictions on violent settlers responsible for human rights abuses in the West Bank. Following the raid by Israeli forces on the flotilla, a widely shared video showed Ben-Gvir mocking activists kneeling on the floor with their hands tied behind their backs. The international outcry saw a number of countries, including Israel’s long-time ally Italy, seek to impose restrictions on the Israeli minister. Italy has opened an investigation into allegations of kidnapping and torture involving Italian citizens who were among the activists. French prosecutors have launched an investigation into allegations of war crimes and torture. Those developments came as EU pressure on Israel has grown in recent months. In April, Italy suspended a bilateral defence agreement, while last month the EU moved for the first time to impose economic restrictions on violent settlers accused of human rights abuses in the occupied West Bank. The EU is Israel’s biggest trading partner, accounting last year for more than 30 percent of Israel’s total trade in goods with the world Adblock test (Why?)
Why was Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman’s adviser detained at Delhi airport for over two hours?
Dr Zahed Ur Rahman, senior adviser to the Bangladeshi PM, was on Sunday stopped by immigration authorities after his name was flagged during a routine security check, reports said. The official was traveling to India to attend a meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association.