Fifth seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool capped their remarkable summer by claiming the Wimbledon crown and their inaugural Grand Slam title as a pair on Saturday, defeating Rinky Hijikata and David Pel 6-2, 7-6(3) in the men’s doubles final. Cash and Glasspool, who are also Queen’s Club and Eastbourne champions, became the first all-British pairing to win the All England Club trophy since 1936, when Pat Hughes and Raymond Tuckey triumphed over their compatriots Charles Hare and Frank Wilde in the final.
“When you say it, it sounds incredible,” said Glasspool. “We’ve had a Brit win it last year [Henry Patten], the year before that (Neal Skupski) so I didn’t think too much of it, but now we needed to give you two so we did our best.”
The local favourites started strong, securing an early break due to a poor service game from Pel, and swiftly navigated through the opening set with minimal effort, leaving the Centre Court crowd energized on a sunny day. The Australian-Dutch duo of Hijikata and Pel managed to save a break point at the beginning of the second set and applied pressure in the fourth game, but their opponents were up to the challenge and moved a step closer to the title when they went up 4-2.
Hijikata and Pel, who entered the tournament as alternates and narrowly survived match points in their first two rounds, managed to level the score after eight games before Cash and Glasspool raised their game in the tiebreak to prevail, sparking huge celebrations.
“We’ve played a crazy amount of tennis on the grass, every match we possibly could,” said Cash. “So a lot of people were talking, coming into this event. There was a lot of pressure on our shoulders. And the fact we’ve been able to do what everyone was talking about is surreal.”
The runners-up maintained cheerful demeanours despite the loss. “We didn’t even meet before the tournament,” the 34-year-old Pel said. “I mean, it was our first time speaking on the day the tournament started.” Hijikata, who won the 2023 Australian Open title with Jason Kubler, referred to his All England Club experience as a “crazy ride.”
“It’s been so much fun playing with David,” Hijikata said. “He’s brought such great energy on the court. He’s made it very easy for me out there. It’s a dream come true to be playing on Centre Court. A bit shattered, but it was a lot of fun.”
President Donald Trump’s Use of Football as ‘Soft Power’; Attendance at FIFA Club World Cup Final and Personal Connection
President Donald Trump is set to exhibit his unexpected connection to a sport on Sunday, where “America First” currently remains an aspiration. The US president is attending the final of the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup, utilizing the beautiful game as a political soft power instrument.
His presence at MetLife stadium in New Jersey, where Paris Saint-Germain faces Chelsea, is effectively a trial run for the World Cup final, scheduled to take place at the same venue next year. Trump has made it clear that he views both tournaments, along with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, as key events for showcasing what he terms the “Golden Age of America” during his second term.
The billionaire Republican’s close rapport with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a frequent visitor to the White House, is also a factor in his appearance. Trump has kept the Club World Cup trophy next to his desk in the Oval Office since Infantino stopped by in March.
Trump’s embrace of football, or soccer as he would say, is also a personal matter. The president’s 19-year-old son, Barron, is a fan, as Infantino highlighted during a press conference at the new FIFA office in Trump Tower in New York on Saturday.
When asked if Trump liked the game, Infantino responded: “Well I think he does. In his first term as president of the United States there was a soccer goal in the garden of the White House.”
“He then explained to me that his son loved football, and that he loved the game. And of course when you are a parent, you love what your children love, so I think that he loves it.” As a student at the New York Military Academy, Trump himself reportedly played the game for one season.
‘Go Home’
Trump’s apparent fondness for football may seem unusual for a country where, despite increasing popularity, the sport still lags behind American football, basketball, and baseball. However, the former reality TV star has always possessed a keen sense for popularity, power, and influence. And football provides all three in its own way.
Trump noted during Infantino’s visit to the White House in March that the United States secured the right to host the 2026 World Cup in 2018, during his first presidential term. He mentioned he was “so sad” because he assumed he would not be president when the tournament arrived—but his 2020 election loss meant he would be after all.
Meanwhile, the FIFA Club World Cup has proven more successful than its critics anticipated, with approximately 2.5 million people attending games across the country and featuring some gripping matches. Infantino, who is accustomed to dealing with hard-nosed leaders globally, thanked Trump for his support on Saturday. He said Trump “embraced immediately the importance of the FIFA Club World Cup, and of course of the World Cup next year.” Infantino also joked that Trump “certainly loves as well the trophy”—whose gold-plated curves align with the gilded makeover the president has given the Oval Office.
However, in typical fashion, Trump has also intertwined political controversy with his football fandom. While hosting the Italian side Juventus in the Oval Office in June, he delivered a diatribe on transgender people in sports before asking the players: “Could a woman make your team, fellas?” Most players appeared confused before Juventus general manager Damien Comolli replied: “We have a very good women’s team.” “He’s being very diplomatic,” said Trump.
Trump’s stringent immigration crackdown—part of his “America First” policy—has meanwhile raised concerns that football fans will be discouraged from traveling to the United States. In May, Vice President JD Vance stated that 2026 World Cup fans were “welcome to come… but when the time is up they will have to go home.”
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad Hospitalized for Fatigue
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was hospitalized due to fatigue, his office confirmed Sunday, following media reports that he departed a picnic celebrating his 100th birthday ahead of schedule.
Mahathir, who led the Southeast Asian country for over two decades, has a history of cardiovascular issues and has had bypass operations. He has been repeatedly hospitalized recently, including for a respiratory infection last October.
His office stated he is currently under observation at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur for fatigue-related concerns. A statement noted, “He is resting, but we anticipate he will return home by this evening.”
Local media reported that Mahathir, a physician and former member of parliament until 2022, drove himself to the Sunday celebration, which also commemorated the 99th birthday of his wife, Hasmah Mohd Ali, held the previous day. The reports indicated he cycled for an hour before showing signs of fatigue. His birthday was Thursday.
Mahathir served as prime minister for 22 years until 2003. He made a comeback as premier in 2018 following a historic victory for the opposition coalition, but his administration dissolved in under two years due to internal disputes.
Tajik Singer and Social Media Star Abdu Rozik Arrested at Dubai Airport
According to his management, who verified the information with the Khaleej Times, Tajik singer and social media personality Abdu Rozik was apprehended at Dubai International Airport on Saturday. The 21-year-old was detained at approximately 5 am following his arrival from Montenegro. Authorities have not disclosed the reasons for the arrest, and no formal announcement has been issued.
A company representative informed the Khaleej Times that, “All we can say is that we are aware he has been taken into custody on allegations of theft,” while refusing to offer additional information.
Rozik, whose height is slightly over three feet due to a growth hormone deficiency, is a prominent young celebrity in the region. He holds a UAE Golden Visa and has resided in Dubai for several years. His fame stems from his music, viral videos, and reality television appearances, notably Bigg Boss 16.
In 2024, Rozik participated in his boxing debut at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena and introduced his restaurant brand, Habibi, in the UK. During that year, he was also interrogated by India’s Enforcement Directorate regarding a money laundering investigation involving a hospitality firm, though he was not identified as a suspect.
North Korea Pledges ‘Unconditional Support’ for Russia in Ukraine Conflict; Kim Jong Un Meets Russian Foreign Minister
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un informed Russia’s top diplomat that his country is prepared to “unconditionally support” all actions undertaken by Moscow to resolve the Ukraine conflict, state media reported on Sunday. This statement came during high-level strategic talks between the two nations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is currently on a three-day visit to North Korea, a country that has provided troops and arms for Russia’s war with Ukraine and pledged further military assistance as Moscow seeks advancements in the conflict.
Kim met with Lavrov in the eastern coastal city of Wonsan, where the foreign ministers held their second strategic dialogue. They committed to enhanced cooperation under a partnership treaty signed last year, which includes a mutual defense pact.
North Korea’s state news agency KCNA reported that Kim Jong Un told Lavrov that the steps taken by the allies in response to rapidly evolving global geopolitics will significantly contribute to securing peace and security worldwide. “Kim Jong Un reaffirmed the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) is ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by the Russian leadership as regards the tackling of the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis,” KCNA stated.
Lavrov earlier held discussions with his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son Hui, also in Wonsan. KCNA said they issued a joint statement pledging mutual support to safeguard the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of their respective countries. On Saturday, Russian media reported that during his meeting with Kim, Lavrov described the ties between the two nations as “an invincible fighting brotherhood” and extended gratitude for the troops deployed to Russia.
Relations between Russia and North Korea have dramatically deepened during the last two years of the war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022. Pyongyang has deployed more than 10,000 troops and arms to Russia to support Moscow’s military campaign. Kim’s government has also pledged to send approximately 6,000 military engineers and builders to assist with reconstruction efforts in Russia’s Kursk region.
California Farm Worker Dies Amid Immigration Raid; Federal Judge Halts Aggressive Tactics
A California agricultural worker died on Friday following a raid by US immigration agents on a cannabis nursery, where hundreds of laborers were arrested, according to a worker advocacy group. This occurred as a federal judge issued a temporary order requiring the Trump administration to halt some of its most aggressive methods for rounding up undocumented immigrants.
Dozens of migrant-rights activists confronted federal agents in rural Southern California on Thursday during the operation, marking the latest escalation in President Donald Trump’s initiative for mass deportations of immigrants residing illegally in the US.
A California judge on Friday prohibited the Trump administration from engaging in racial profiling of immigrants seeking deportation targets and from denying detained immigrants access to legal counsel during their confinement.
The Trump administration has issued contradictory statements regarding whether immigration agents will focus on the farm labor workforce, roughly half of which, by government estimates, is unauthorized to work in the US.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that approximately 200 individuals illegally in the country were detained during the raid, which targeted two locations of the cannabis operation, Glass House Farms. The department confirmed via an emailed statement that agents also found 10 migrant minors at the farm. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott posted on X that the facility is under investigation for child labor violations.
The company did not immediately respond to a comment request.
The scene at the farm on Thursday was chaotic, with federal agents wearing helmets and face masks using tear gas and smoke canisters against angry protesters, as shown in photos and videos from the scene.
Elizabeth Strater, national vice president of the United Farm Workers (UFW), reported that several farm workers were injured and one died on Friday from injuries sustained after a 30-foot (9-meter) fall from a building during the raid.
The deceased worker was identified as Jaime Alanis on a verified GoFundMe page created by his family, who are raising funds for his burial in Mexico and to support his family. “He was his family’s provider. They took one of our family members. We need justice,” Alanis’ family wrote.
Strater said US citizens were detained during the raid, and some remain unaccounted for.
DHS denied responsibility for the man’s death, stating that “although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a green house and fell 30 feet.” DHS said agents immediately called for a medical evacuation.
‘Mountain of Evidence’ Halts Aggressive Tactics
The confrontation in southern California occurred as the Trump administration faces numerous lawsuits nationwide over its controversial methods for tracking down undocumented immigrants for deportation.
US District Court Judge Maame Frimpong issued two temporary restraining orders, blocking the administration from detaining immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally based on racial profiling and from denying detained individuals the right to speak with a lawyer.
The ruling, a response to a lawsuit by immigration advocacy groups, asserts that the administration is violating the Fourth and Fifth Amendments by conducting “roving patrols” to sweep up suspected undocumented immigrants based on their being Latinos, and subsequently denying them legal access.
“What the federal government would have this Court believe -in the face of a mountain of evidence presented in this case – is that none of this is actually happening,” Frimpong wrote in her decision.
California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA), which offers legal services to farm workers, is assisting in retrieving checks for detained Glass House workers, according to directing attorney Angelica Preciado. Preciado stated that some detained Glass House workers were only able to call family after signing voluntary deportation orders, and were told they could face life imprisonment for working at a cannabis facility.
DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin rejected these claims, stating in an email that “allegations that ICE or CBP agents denied detainees from calling legal assistance are unequivocally false.”
UFW President Teresa Romero said in a statement that some detained citizen workers reported only being released after deleting photos and videos of the raid from their phones. “These violent and cruel federal actions terrorise American communities, disrupt the American food supply chain, threaten lives and separate families,” Romero said.
Farm groups have warned that mass deportation of agricultural workers would jeopardize the country’s food supply chain. In her most recent comments, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated there would be “no amnesty” from deportation for farm workers. Trump, however, has said migrant workers should be permitted to remain on farms.
Iran Announces “New Form” of Nuclear Cooperation, Expresses Desire for Diplomatic Solution
Iran said on Saturday that its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) “will take on a new form,” signaling a desire for a diplomatic resolution to concerns regarding its nuclear program. Iran’s 12-day war with Israel last month, triggered by an Israeli bombing campaign that targeted military and nuclear sites as well as residential areas, rattled its already shaky relationship with the UN nuclear watchdog. The attacks began days before a planned meeting between Tehran and Washington aimed at reviving nuclear negotiations, which have since stalled.
Cooperation with the IAEA and Israeli Strikes
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA “has not stopped, but will take on a new form,” following the Islamic republic’s formal cessation of cooperation with the UN watchdog in early July. Iran has blamed the IAEA in part for the June attacks on its nuclear facilities, which Israel says it launched to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon—an ambition Tehran has repeatedly denied.
The United States, which had been in talks with Iran since April 12, joined Israel in carrying out its own strikes on June 22, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz. Araghchi said requests to monitor nuclear sites “will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis… taking into account safety and security issues,” and will be managed by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Negotiations and Uranium Enrichment
In early July, a team of IAEA inspectors left Iran to return to the organization’s headquarters in Vienna after Tehran suspended cooperation. The talks were aimed at regulating Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
Before agreeing to any new meeting, “we are examining its timing, its location, its form, its ingredients, the assurances it requires,” said Araghchi, who also serves as Iran’s lead negotiator. He stressed that any talks would focus only on Iran’s nuclear activities, not its military capabilities.
“If negotiations are held… the subject of the negotiations will be only nuclear and creating confidence in Iran’s nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions,” he told diplomats in Tehran. “No other issues will be subject to negotiation.”
Araghchi also warned that reimposing UN sanctions could eliminate Europe’s role in the process. “Such measures would signify the end of Europe’s role in the Iranian nuclear dossier,” Araghchi said. A clause in the 2015 nuclear agreement, which US President Donald Trump withdrew from during his first term, allows for UN sanctions to be reimposed if Iran is found to be in breach of the deal.
Respect for Rights and Russian Support
Araghchi stressed that any new nuclear deal must uphold Iran’s right under the Non-Proliferation Treaty to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. “I would like to emphasise that in any negotiated solution, the rights of the Iranian people on the nuclear issue, including the right to enrichment, must be respected,” he said. “We will not have any agreement in which enrichment is not included.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at the BRICS summit in Rio on Monday that Moscow would remain a committed ally of Iran and support its nuclear programme. “Russia has technological solutions for uranium depletion and is ready to work with Iran in this field,” Lavrov said, as reported by Russian state news outlet TASS.
Musk’s xAI Apologizes for Racist Posts, Blames ‘Human-Like’ Software Update for Grok
Elon Musk’s startup xAI apologized on Saturday for offensive posts made by its artificial intelligence assistant, Grok, this week. The company attributed the issue to a software update intended to make the AI function more like a human.
Following the Tuesday upgrade, Grok published posts on the social media platform X praising Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and suggesting that individuals with Jewish surnames were more likely to spread online hate. X removed some of these posts several hours later amid widespread outrage.
“We deeply apologize for the horrific behavior that many experienced,” the company posted on X Saturday, adding that it had modified the system “to prevent further abuse.”
The company explained the change occurred after the chatbot was prompted to “reply to the post just like a human” and “tell like it is and you are not afraid to offend people who are politically correct.”
As a result, Grok became susceptible to users’ “extremist views,” causing it to produce “responses containing unethical or controversial opinions to engage the user.”
Grok’s Controversies and xAI’s Acquisition of X
Grok, which Musk promised would be an “edgy” truthteller following its launch in 2023, has been mired in controversy.
In March, xAI acquired X in a $33 billion deal, allowing the company to integrate the platform’s data resources with the chatbot’s development.
In May, Grok sparked controversy by generating posts with unbacked right-wing propaganda concerning the purported oppression of white South Africans, which it termed “white genocide.”
On Wednesday, Musk unveiled a new version of the assistant, Grok 4, which was unrelated to the July 7 update.
WhatsApp Rolls Out New Typing Indicator for Group Chats Showing Number of Active Typists
WhatsApp is introducing a new version of the typing indicator that displays how many people are typing a message in a group chat, providing users with a better sense of real-time group activity. According to WABetaInfo, the new feature is currently accessible to some beta testers in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.20.17 update, available on the Google Play Store.
Feature Functionality and Benefits
Previously, when multiple participants were typing in a group chat simultaneously, the popular Meta-owned instant messaging app only showed the name of a single user in the chat list. This meant users couldn’t determine if others were also active in the conversation unless they opened the group chat.
WhatsApp has now replaced the single name display with a new version of the typing indicator that appears in the chat list. This minor change introduces a dynamic string indicating the number of participants currently typing, such as “2 people typing.”
The new feature adds transparency to group activity without requiring users to enter the chat. This updated indicator is particularly useful in busy groups, where several individuals might be composing messages at once. This enhanced visibility can help users decide whether to open the chat immediately or check back later, understanding when the conversation is especially active or rapidly unfolding.
Limitations and Future Availability
It is important to note, however, that this enhanced feedback applies only to typing activity. If multiple users are recording voice messages concurrently, WhatsApp will still display only one participant’s name in the chat list, just as before.
The new feature will be rolled out to more people over the coming weeks.
US Appeals Court Revokes 9/11 Mastermind’s Plea Deal, Reinstating Death Penalty Possibility
A US appeals court on Friday vacated the plea agreement for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, nullifying a deal that would have removed the death penalty as a possibility and potentially concluded the lengthy legal proceedings.
The decision follows a move by former US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who canceled the agreement last year amid widespread anger from some relatives of the 2001 attack victims. Austin argued that both the American public and the victims’ families deserved to see the defendants face trial.
Judges Patricia Millett and Neomi Rao affirmed Austin’s authority, writing that he “acted within the bounds of his legal authority, and we decline to second-guess his judgment.”
The Legal Saga and Torture Concerns
Plea deals for Mohammed and two alleged accomplices—Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi—were announced in late July of last year. These agreements seemed poised to resolve their cases, which had been bogged down for years in pre-trial maneuvers while the defendants remained incarcerated at the Guantanamo Bay military base in Cuba.
Austin withdrew the agreements just two days after their announcement, asserting that, given the significance of the cases, the final decision rested with him. He emphasized that the affected families, service members, and the American public merited the opportunity for military commission trials.
Though a military judge had ruled in November that the deals were valid and binding, the government appealed the decision. The appeals court judges on Friday vacated the military judge’s order and prohibited him from conducting hearings where the defendants would enter guilty pleas or take any other action based on the withdrawn agreements.
Much of the legal maneuvering in the 9/11 defendants’ cases has centered on whether they could receive a fair trial after enduring torture at the hands of the CIA. The plea agreements would have bypassed this complex issue.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s Background
Mohammed was considered one of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden’s most trusted deputies before his capture in Pakistan in March 2003. He was subsequently held in secret CIA prisons for three years before being transferred to Guantanamo in 2006.
A trained engineer, Mohammed has claimed to have masterminded the 9/11 attacks “from A to Z” and was involved in several major plots against the United States, where he had attended university.
The Guantanamo facility, an isolated naval base, was established by the US to detain militants captured during the “War on Terror” following the September 11 attacks, aiming to prevent defendants from claiming rights under US law. While the facility once held roughly 800 prisoners, a small fraction of that number remains today.
