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Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds Watch Him Nearly Wipe Out During Show Published July 24, 2026 2:50 PM PDT Play video content Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds nearly took a nasty tumble ... almost wiping out
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McLaren's British driver Lando Norris celebrates winning the pole position after the qualifying session at the Hungaroring racetrack in Mogyorod near Budapest, Hungary, on July 25, 2026 ahead of the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix.
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US President Donald Trump throws a "Trump 2028" cap during mentalist Oz Pearlman's performance at the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) Dinner, which was rescheduled from April after it was interrupted when a man tried
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Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC. (AFP) A deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia to equip the kingdom with a civilian nuclear programme has provoked a flood of questions about the risks of nuclear proliferation.Although the text has not been made public, US media has reported the agreement would allow Washington to export technology without the usual safeguards preventing future military use.Bilateral co-operation agreements signed by the United States are generally subject to safeguards against proliferation, sometimes obliging the partner country not to enrich uranium domestically.In Riyadh’s case, this does not seem to be the case, although the deal has yet to be approved by Congress and there is no word from Saudi Arabia on US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would condition the agreement on Riyadh normalising ties with Israel.Trump said Thursday there would be “no enrichment of material” in Saudi Arabia after the Wall Street Journal reported a provision that could allow US companies to build an enrichment facility there.“If Riyadh had wanted to just have US backing for a civilian programme, it would have done so years ago... the goal is to get US support for a deal that doesn’t fully exclude a pathway” to a weapons programme, analyst Michael Horowitz wrote, in a post on X.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stressed there are safeguards against proliferation.“This is destabilising... because it sends a message of an American double standard,” Heloise Fayet, a specialist at French research centre IFRI told AFP.This potential double standard points most obviously at Iran, which the US and Israel attacked at the end of February, in part citing the goal of preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.Iran has long denied seeking a weapon and defended its right to enrich uranium for nuclear energy.Washington “can hardly emphasise its desire to maintain a nuclear counter-proliferation policy on the one hand and, on the other, accept such a deal with the Saudis,” David Khalfa, a Middle East specialist at the Paris-based Jean-Jaures Foundation think tank, told AFP.“Saudi Arabia is not supposed to be an exception” otherwise “the entire security architecture built since 1945 collapses,” he said.For Fayet, the US is sacrificing its non-proliferation role “on the altar of profitability and a good Saudi-American relationship”.“This appears to be a way for the United States to seek forgiveness” for the impact of its war with Iran, which has led to reprisals against Gulf states.For Rosemary Kelanic of the Washington-based think tank Defense Priorities, writing on X, potentially giving Saudi Arabia enrichment capabilities means giving them “huge leverage to extract US security guarantees down the road by threatening to obtain nuclear weapons”.But some observers see these concerns being trumped by America’s ambition to counter Chinese influence. “The credibility of the US security umbrella has weakened” since the war against Iran, and the Gulf monarchies are diversifying their partnerships, Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a US think tank, wrote on Substack.“Washington had to offer substantially more to try to keep Saudi from drifting further toward China, while getting substantially less in return.”
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San Diego Comic Con 2026 Check Out These Cutie Cosplayers!!! Published July 24, 2026 2:00 PM PDT Comic-Con is in full swing ... and as is nerd tradition, the San Diego Convention Center is awash
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Luis De La Fuente, head coach of Spain, looks on during the World Cup quarter-final against Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California. (AFP) Spain head coach Luis De la Fuente has blasted the "unacceptable" behaviour of several Argentina players and their coaching staff after losing the World Cup final.Some Argentina players and staff confronted their Spanish rivals after the final whistle of last Sunday's game in New York which Spain won 1-0 after extra time.Argentina players including Atletico Madrid defender Nahuel Molina and former Paris Saint-Germain player Leandro Paredes were involved in the incidents."At the time, I didn't realise it. I was celebrating, hugging teammates," De La Fuente told Spanish television."But in any case, it is intolerable, unacceptable, it cannot be allowed. Players of that stature, whom I praised in the days leading up to the match and continue to praise, who are great players with a tremendous coach, surely they must have felt just as bad as we did seeing those reactions."De La Fuente praised the exemplary behaviour of his own players faced with these "acts of aggression" and "provocations" which he believes could have escalated into more serious incidents.Although the scenes were filmed and widely shared on social media, they have not yet resulted in any sanctions against the Argentina players.FIFA has opened an investigation into the incidents to determine whether there may have been violations of the world football governing body's disciplinary code. Related Story
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Tyson Fury edged closer to a blockbuster heavyweight clash with Anthony Joshua after defeating Poland's Mariusz Wach by technical knock-out on Friday, but said he was "not convinced" his fellow Briton would face him.Fury, 37, outclassed Wach in front of 1,500 spectators in the Thai resort city of Pattaya in a bout that was not broadcast live on television.Former two-time world heavyweight champion Fury chipped away relentlessly at the 46-year-old until he was pulled out by his corner in the seventh round.It was Fury's second win in as many contests this year as he returns from a 16-month lay-off.Attentions now turn to fellow two-time heavyweight champion Joshua's bout on Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, against Albania's Kristian Prenga.Should the 36-year-old triumph, as he is expected to, it will set up a long-awaited clash with his compatriot Fury."I got through my test. Let's see if (Joshua) gets through his test," Fury said."In Tottenham in front of 70,000 people, he never had the guts to get in the ring and face me. Let's see if he ever does. I'm not convinced."Hopefully the next big fight is signed next week," he added.Fury quashed rumours that he would travel to Jeddah to face off with Joshua and potentially announce their long-awaited showdown, saying he was instead "going home to my wife and kids".Joshua's meeting with Prenga will be his first professional fight since being involved in a car crash in Nigeria in December that killed two of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.His last competitive appearance in the ring was his knockout loss to IBF world champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024. Related Story
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Pakistan is exploring a path towards a resumption of stalled US-Iran talks over ending their nearly five-month-old war, three Pakistani sources said, following a push initiated by China.Exploratory discussions took place during a visit by Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni to Islamabad this week – his second within the last 10 days, the sources said.Momeni, who is considered close to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, met with Pakistani government leaders and army chief Asim Munir this week, according to Pakistani government statements.All three sources cautioned that the obstacles to any talks with the US remain high.Pakistan has found itself in an increasingly complicated situation as a potential future mediator.Earlier this week, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, a close ally of Islamabad that signed a mutual defence treaty with Pakistan last year.On Thursday the Houthis said they struck two Saudi oil tankers as part of their naval blockade, threatening to create a second chokepoint for global oil supplies alongside the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz.Pakistan relies on Saudi financial support, and Islamabad has firmly condemned recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.However, Islamabad is similarly dependent on Beijing, which has also been a key financial backer of Islamabad, and which has economic interests in finding a diplomatic solution to reopening key Middle Eastern trade routes.Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also discussed the new Middle East effort with Chinese officials when he visited China last week, all three Pakistani sources said.They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the issue publicly."The Chinese are unhappy because Iran's attacks on other Gulf states and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are hitting their interests," a Pakistani government official said.Disruptions in the Red Sea would hit another key trade route Beijing relies on.Dar and the Pakistani military's public relations wing did not respond to requests for comment.In a statement, China's foreign ministry said that "China supports the mediation efforts made by Pakistan and other parties”.It added that China will continue to "play an active role in restoring peace and tranquillity in the Middle East Gulf region as soon as possible”.Beijing is Iran's largest trading partner and primary buyer of its exported crude oil despite international sanctions on Tehran, benefiting from a steep discount on the energy source.A Houthi spokesman said yesterday that the rebels were not blocking traffic through the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait."There is no closure of Bab al-Mandab as some are suggesting," said Mohammed Abdusalam, who is also a top Houthi negotiator, adding that the rebel position was "limited to a maritime blockade that only affects the Saudi side".The rebels warned in a radio message to ships on Monday that they would target ships "belonging to (the) Saudi enemy" that do not comply with their blockade.According to data analysed by AFP on Wednesday, nine ships made a U-turn after the rebels announced their naval blockade, though some have resumed course.Despite the Houthi threats and course changes, traffic continues in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which has been key to Saudi exports after passage through Hormuz became fraught.After the Middle East war broke out, Saudi seaborne crude exports via the Bab el-Mandeb strait surged eightfold between March and mid-July 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, according to data from maritime tracker Kpler.The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in June to move towards ending the war after mediation by Pakistan and Qatar.It was intended to provide a 60-day window for negotiations on a permanent agreement.However, indirect talks yielded no progress.Both sides blamed each other for violations, and the conflict resumed.The escalation has raised both the stakes and the hurdles for Pakistan's latest diplomatic efforts.A halt in attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations would now be a "pre-requisite for any talks to resume," said a Pakistani official.It's a message that Pakistan has conveyed to Iran, the official added.
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Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro, holds dolls depicting US President Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro during an interview with Reuters in Brasilia, Brazil December 19, 2025. REUTERS/File picture Battered by a string of political crises, Flavio Bolsonaro was supposed to formally launch his candidacy for Brazil's October presidential election Saturday, seeking to follow in the footsteps of his father, Jair Bolsonaro.Far-right firebrand Jair Bolsonaro anointed his eldest son as his successor after being sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup in response to his defeat by leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brazil's 2022 election.The Liberal Party (PL) will officially name senator Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, as its candidate at a convention in Sao Paulo, with Argentina's libertarian President Javier Milei as a guest of honor.Flavio is promising change: he wants to "free" Brazil of crime, inflation, high taxes and Lula, who is seeking a fourth term in office."We are on a plane without a pilot," he said last week.The senator was neck-and-neck with Lula in the polls until he was hit by a series of scandals: ties to a disgraced banker, a family feud, and new tariffs from ally US President Donald Trump.Pollster Datafolha published a survey Friday showing that in a runoff election Lula would win 48 % of votes to Flavio's 43 %."It is a moment of weakening for Flavio...there is uncertainty over the viability of his candidacy because rejection of him has increased," Marco Teixeira, a political science professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, told AFP.A wave of scandals Flavio's troubles began in May when an audio recording leaked of him asking banker Daniel Vorcaro — accused in a multi-million dollar fraud case — to finance a film about his father.Flavio had denied any contact with Vorcaro and, just hours before the recording was published, told a reporter that the accusation was "a lie." He now maintains their relationship was limited to the movie.On Thursday, a Supreme Court justice ordered an investigation into the financing of the film.A second crisis hit Flavio's campaign when his stepmother, Michelle Bolsonaro posted an Instagram video saying he had "disrespected me and mistreated me... he said I didn't understand anything about politics."The former first lady is key to the right-wing movement's appeal among Brazil's large female and evangelical electorate.With divisions growing, Flavio read out a letter on social media from Jair Bolsonaro urging unity — contravening the terms of his father's house arrest.A Supreme Court justice then blocked Flavio from visiting his father until after the first round of voting.In a bid to unite the right before the convention, Flavio this week posted a video apologizing to Michelle, who quickly accepted the gesture of reconciliation.Flavio Bolsonaro has cast himself as the more moderate version of his father, but is a hardliner on crime and this week echoed his father in raising debunked concerns about Brazil's electronic voting system.The senator has struggled to seal alliances with Brazil's influential centrist bloc, with key parties announcing they will remain neutral in the October 4 election.Flavio Bolsonaro has also faced backlash after US President Donald Trump's administration imposed two new sets of tariffs on Brazil this month.The Bolsonaro family last year backed tariffs on Brazil introduced in retaliation for the trial against the former president — an ally of Trump.These duties were partly reversed after talks between Brasilia and Washington.Flavio Bolsonaro unsuccessfully urged the Trump administration to "postpone" new tariffs until after the election so as not to hand Lula a "political victory."Lula has made tensions with the US a central campaign issue and has accused his rival of being a "traitor" and putting political interests above economic interests. Related
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Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a shot during the Wimbledon semi-final against Jannik Sinner of Italy. (Imagn Images) Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic have pulled out of next month's ATP Montreal Masters, organizers Tennis Canada said Friday.In a packed schedule, world number one Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic both had deep runs at Wimbledon earlier this month, where Italian Sinner won the men's title and Serbian Djokovic reached the semi-finals."After carefully considering all the factors together with my team, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw from Montreal," Sinner said in a statement."It is never easy to miss such an important event, but we believe this is the right decision to prioritize my health."The Montreal men's event, which takes place August 1-13, is an ATP Masters 1000 tournament, and a key pre-US Open stopping point.The parallel women's WTA 1000 tournament takes place this year in Toronto, with the two competitions switching between the cities on alternate years.Organizers expressed disappointment at the last-minute withdrawals, noting that the two men also pulled out of last year's event in Toronto."We respect their decisions and understand that, with such a demanding schedule, players' health must remain the priority," tournament director Valerie Tetreault said in a statement."That said, we believe the frequency of these last-minute withdrawals in the last few years raises a broader issue for our sport.""Masters 1000 events are among the flagship tournaments on the tour, and fans rightfully expect to see the world's best compete."Tetreault said organizers are in discussions with the ATP over "adjustments" that are "needed in the near future to better protect the integrity of our Masters 1000 events while remaining mindful of the realities players face."World number two Alexander Zverev - this year's French Open champion and Wimbledon finalist - is now expected to be the Montreal top seed, followed by Quebec native Felix Auger-Aliassime.Third-ranked Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz had already withdrawn from Montreal over a lingering wrist injury.He is targeting a return at the Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000 tournament, which begins immediately after Montreal.The US Open, the year's final Grand Slam, starts on August 30 in New York. Related Story
