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Indigenous Papuans and university students take part in a protest against the government’s National Strategic Projects (PSN) and increased military presence in Papua, which demonstrators say threaten traditional lands and the rights of Indigenous Papuans,
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The program featured a number of recognized Paralympic sports and competitions, including wheelchair basketball, boccia, goalball, and sitting volleyball, in addition to handcycling simulations and blindfold races. The Qatar Olympic Committee organised the Paralympic Challenge Day for people with disabilities on Wednesday in cooperation with Awsaj Academy, part of Qatar Foundation’s Pre University Education, at the academy’s sports hall, in a sporting and educational atmosphere aimed at promoting the values of challenge and social inclusion.The program featured a number of recognized Paralympic sports and competitions, including wheelchair basketball, boccia, goalball, and sitting volleyball, in addition to handcycling simulations and blindfold races. These activities provided students with an opportunity to learn about Paralympic sports while fostering teamwork and positive interaction among participants. These activities provided students with an opportunity
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A North Korean soldier stands guard at his guard post inside North Korean territory, in this picture taken from Paju, Republic of Korea. (Reuters/File Picture) Republic of Korea and the US discussed potential changes in how parts of the heavily fortified border with North Korea are managed at recent defence talks in Washington, Seoul's defence ministry said Thursday.The issue was discussed at a bilateral integrated defence consultative body, a ministry spokesperson said, adding there had been "progress". She denied reports that it could result in joint or divided control of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ)."It is not joint management. Nor is it divided management," the spokesperson told a briefing. "It (is) making DMZ management in some sections more realistic."The DMZ marks a buffer zone along the line where the 1950-53 Korean War — when China and North Korea battled UN forces led by the US — ended with an armistice, not a treaty.The UN Command oversees the DMZ under the armistice agreement, and the defence ministry spokesperson said Seoul respected its authority while consulting with Washington on technical arrangements for some areas.The comments come as Republic of Korean President Lee Jae-myung has said his country would seek to reclaim wartime operational control from the US during his term, which runs through to 2030.The US currently would command allied troops in the event of war on the Korean peninsula, but successive Republic of Korea governments have sought to regain wartime operational control. Republic of Korea's Unification Ministry has also recently shifted language on North Korea. Its 2026 white paper said Republic of Korea and North Korea effectively exist as two states, while Seoul still seeks eventual unification. Related Story
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Italy's Jannik Sinner, the red-hot men's title favourite in the absence of injured rival Carlos Alcaraz, will start his bid for a maiden Roland Garros crown against French wildcard Clement Tabur, the world number 165.
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Taiwan President Lai Ching-te speaks at a news conference on the second anniversary of his taking office, at the presidential building in Taipei. (Reuters/File Picture) Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te said Thursday he would be "happy" to talk to US leader Donald Trump, a conversation that would break more than four decades of diplomatic protocol and drew pre-emptive ire from China.Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he would speak to Lai, as the White House weighs arms sales to the democratic island.It was the second time since a summit in Beijing last week that Trump has said he would call the Taiwanese leader.Such communication would be the first time since Washington switched diplomatic relations from Taipei to Beijing in 1979 that serving presidents of Taiwan and the US would speak to each other.Lai said Taiwan was "committed to maintaining the stable status quo in the Taiwan Strait" and that "China is the disruptor of peace and stability", the Taiwanese foreign ministry said in a statement.China 'firmly opposes' call Lai would be "happy to discuss these matters with President Trump", the statement said."I'll speak to him. I speak to everybody," Trump said, adding that he had a great meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his state visit to Beijing last week."We'll work on that, the Taiwan problem," Trump said.China's foreign ministry said Thursday it "firmly opposes official exchanges" between the US and Taiwan, as well as US arms sales to the island."China urges the US to implement the important consensus reached during the meeting between the Chinese and US heads of state, honour its commitments and statements, handle the Taiwan question with the utmost prudence," ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a press briefing.He added that Washington should "stop sending wrong signals" to Taiwan.After wrapping up his trip to Beijing, Trump suggested arms sales to Taiwan could be used as a bargaining chip with China, which claims the island is part of its territory and has threatened to seize it by force.Since then, Lai's government has been on the offensive, insisting that US policy on Taiwan has not changed and that Trump made no commitments to China on arms sales to the island.Taiwan relies heavily on US support to deter any potential Chinese attack, and has been under intense pressure to increase its spending through investment in American firms.In 2016, shortly after his first election victory, president-elect Trump accepted a phone call from then Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen, angering Beijing and stunning diplomats, world leaders and China watchers. Related Story
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Senegal had a turbulent start to the year when they won the Africa Cup of Nations final in January, a victory later awarded on appeal in March to opponents and tournament hosts Morocco. (Reuters) Senegal have "big dreams" to "achieve great things" at the 2026 World Cup, coach Pape Thiaw said Thursday as he unveiled an expanded 28-man squad for next month's tournament.Key players include Sadio Mane, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Edouard Mendy and captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who has been sidelined since April 8 with a thigh injury.Emerging stars Monaco's Lamine Camara, PSG forward Ibrahima Mbaye and Bayern Munich midfielder Bara Sapoko Ndiaye have also been included with striker Bamba Dieng, rewarded for his impressive end to the season with French club Lorient."It's a balanced and well thought out group to meet the demands of this World Cup, which is an intense competition," former Senegal international Thiaw told a press conference.The Lions of Teranga will begin their campaign on June 16 against Kylian Mbappe's France in New Jersey. Group I also includes Norway and Iraq. The two teams previously met in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup, their only encounter, which Senegal won and went on to reach the quarter-finals."Senegal have three opponents. Why focus on France?" he added. "Norway and Iraq are there. We have a historical connection with France. But for me, it's not a special match."Senegal had a turbulent start to the year when they won the Africa Cup of Nations final in January, a victory later awarded on appeal in March to opponents and tournament hosts Morocco.CAF cited regulations about leaving the field: during the match Senegalese players, coach Thiaw and his staff walked off the pitch in Rabat after Morocco were awarded an added-time penalty, which forward Brahim Diaz ultimately missed.The Senegalese Football Federation has appealed CAF's decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Senegal squadGoalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Al Ahly/RSA), Mory Diaw (Le Havre/FRA), Yehvann Diouf (Nice/FRA)Defenders: Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal/RSA), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa/ISR), Moussa Niakhate (Lyon/FRA), Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray/TUR, Mamadou Sarr (Strasbourg/FRA), Antoine Mendy (Nice/FRA), Ilay Camara (Anderlecht/BEL), El Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham/ENG), Krepin Diatta (Monaco/FRA), Moustapha Mbow (Paris FC/FRA)Midfielders: Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton/ENG), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham/ENG), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano/ESP), Pape Gueye (Villarreal/ESP), Lamine Camara (Monaco/FRA), Habib Diarra (Sunderland/ENG), Bara Sapoko Ndiaye (Bayern Munich/GER)Forwards: Sadio Mane (Al Nassr/RSA), Bamba Dieng (Lorient/FRA), Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich/GER), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton/ENG), Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace/ENG), Cherif Ndiaye (Samsunspor/TUR), Cheikh Sabaly (Metz/FRA), Ibrahima Mbaye (Paris SG/FRA), Assane Diao (Como/ITA)
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Bianca Adler, 18, who claims to be the youngest Australian to climb Mount Everest, poses for a picture along with her mother Fiona Adler and father Paul Adler, upon her arrival after climbing Mount Everest
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Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer retired from international duty in 2024 but coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed the World Cup winner will play ahead of Oliver Baumann at this summer's tournament in the United States, Canada and
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said winning the Premier League trophy after six-and-a-half years at the helm was "one of the best feelings that I have ever had". (Reuters) Mikel Arteta said he was barbecuing alone in his garden when Arsenal ended their 22-year wait to win the Premier League this week. Manchester City's 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on Tuesday confirmed the Gunners as English league champions for the first time since 2004. Arsenal boss Arteta said winning the trophy after six-and-a-half years at the helm was "one of the best feelings that I have ever had". But the Spaniard, speaking at his first press conference since the title win, admitted he did not see any of the match involving closest challengers City at the Vitality Stadium after leaving his players at the club's training ground to return home. Pep Guardiola's team had to win to take the race into a final day this weekend but fell short. "I was supposed to be here at Colney (the training ground), watching the game with the boys and certain staff because that's what they wanted – but I couldn't," Arteta said on Thursday. "I think 20 minutes later, before the game, I had to leave. I couldn't bring the energy that I wanted, and ultimately it was their moment as well to watch it together, to be themselves and just see what the outcome would be. I went home, I went outside to the garden and I started to build some fire and started to do some barbecue. I didn't watch any of it. I was just hearing some noises in the background, in the living room and suddenly the magic happened. My oldest son opened the garden door, he started to run towards me, he started to cry, he gave me a hug and said: 'We are champions, daddy'." The Spaniard added: "It was magical." Arsenal players returned to training Thursday
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FILE PHOTO: Cuba's former President Raul Castro claps during a ceremony marking the 69th anniversary of the July 26, 1953 rebel assault which late Cuban leader Fidel Castro led on the Moncada army barracks, in
