BAGHDAD — U.S. military forces withdrew from bases in Iraq on Wednesday following two decades of American involvement that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians and thousands of U.S. troops, and now leaves a battered but increasingly influential Iran at the center of the region’s future. Source link
NAGOYA, Japan, Sept 27 : Qatar’s former world champion and Olympic gold medallist Mutaz Barshim has withdrawn from the men’s high jump final at the Asian Games, the Qatar Athletics Federation said on X on Sunday, without providing further details. “An injury has ruled our champion Mutaz Barshim out of the men’s high jump final at the Asian Games. Wishing you a speedy recovery, champion. Come back stronger,” the federation said. The withdrawal is another setback for the three-time world champion, who also pulled out of the World Championships in 2025 after a foot injury disrupted his preparations despite travelling to Japan with the Qatar team. His most celebrated achievement came at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where he shared the gold medal with Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi after both athletes cleared 2.37 metres. Source link
SEOUL: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s nominee for justice minister withdrew from consideration on Saturday (Sep 19), the second of Lee’s cabinet picks to step aside this month as his approval ratings slump. Kim Seung-won’s exit follows the withdrawal of Yong Hye-in as nominee for gender-equality minister on Sunday, in the latest fallout from Lee’s cabinet reshuffle in late August. Kim, who said he did not want to add any burden to Lee’s administration, criticised a conservative lawmaker who had accused him of lobbying regulators over a drug trial and of financial irregularities. Kim has denied the allegations. “I gravely accept that I did not meet the public’s expectations, and I will deeply reflect on my shortcomings,” Kim told a press conference. A Gallup Korea poll released on Friday put Lee’s public approval at 37 per cent, the lowest since he took office in June 2025, a decline pollsters have partly linked to criticism over his personnel appointments. At a press conference on Friday, Lee acknowledged shortcomings in his administration’s screening of nominees. “We …
The White House withdrew President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead ICE, former Oklahoma state trooper Lance Schroyer, according to a notice published Thursday. The White House did not say in the notice why Schroyer’s nomination was withdrawn. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately provide a response about the withdrawal, but a spokesperson said a statement from the agency is forthcoming. Schroyer’s nomination was blocked by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., the chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, according to a person familiar with the decision, because Paul was unsatisfied with how much information he obtained from the White House about the shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota by federal agents. The White House has not responded to a request for comment. ICE has not responded to a request for comment about Paul. Schroyer is a senior adviser to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, and he was the secretary’s top pick to take over as director of ICE after Todd Lyons’ exit from the position in April. Lance Schroyer.Department of Homeland Security Mullin was …
People close to Prince Harry have blamed a letter sent on behalf of King Charles for Uganda’s withdrawal from the Invictus Games. Uganda has pulled out of the Games, stating that it will not participate in any event without King Charles’s approval. A source close to Harry told ITV: “Intended or unintended, this is clearly a consequence of the Lord Chamberlain’s guidance regarding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that was rushed out without consultation on Monday. “Sadly, the only people who will suffer are the Invictus Games competitors,” they added. In the early hours of Wednesday (September 9), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba wrote on X that “Uganda hereby withdraws from the Invictus Games” because he did not want the country’s participation to be “construed as being opposed to His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom, whom we deeply revere”. “We shall not participate in anything that does not have His Majesty’s approval,” General Kainerugaba, the son of the Ugandan president and head of the country’s armed forces, added. The east African country’s U-turn …
Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Jonathan Bailey has withdrawn from the London revival of Sunday In The Park With George following the recent departure of his co-star Ariana Grande. A month ago, it was announced that Grande, 33, was taking a step back from public life, prompting her exit from the staging of the Stephen Sondheim musical. The singer was due to perform alongside her Wicked castmate in the show, directed by Marianne Elliott and scheduled to run at the Barbican in 2027. Organisers had initially intended for the production to go ahead with Bailey while searching for a replacement actor for Grande, but he has now confirmed his own decision to leave the cast as well. In a statement shared on social media, the 38-year-old wrote: “Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering. Marianne is extraordinary and one …
LOS ANGELES — D4vd and his legal team parted ways, with the singer opting instead to be represented by public defenders in his high-profile murder case, he told a stunned courtroom Monday. After lawyers had met with Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo in chambers, defense attorney Blair Berk emerged and told the court that her client, whose real name is David Burke, wants the public defender. “Is that your wish, Mr. Burke?” Olmedo asked. Burke responded, “Yes.” The surprising turnaround came during what normally would have been a routine pretrial hearing in this case, in which Burke is accused of killing a 14-year-old girl, whose decaying remains were found in the trunk of his abandoned car. Burke’s new attorney, Walid Fouad Kandeel, had been seated in the gallery until Berk disclosed the change of legal teams. Olmedo then asked Kandeel to step forward and introduce himself to the court. Kandeel asked for Monday’s arraignment to be continued to give him more time to study the case. Olmedo denied the request and entered …
Councillor Simon Fawthrop, Bromley council’s executive councillor for transport and highways, said, “We have already raised concerns with Lime that they appear to be operating without our consent in part of our borough, with their map allowing hiring use in Penge in the last few weeks. Source link
The United States will not join South Korea in large-scale amphibious landing exercises next month because of demands in the Middle East, the South Korean military said Monday — raising further questions about the sustainability of U.S. military commitments in Asia as the Iran war strains resources. Source link
The Netherlands will not participate in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, its broadcaster said on Monday, saying the event can “no longer be considered neutral” given divisions over the Gaza war. “It is undeniable that international conflicts are increasingly affecting the Contest, undermining its neutral character. The Eurovision Song Contest has therefore become a platform for division,” said Taco Zimmerman, Director-General of AVROTROS, in a statement from the broadcaster. The contest has recently been hit by a wave of boycotts over Israel’s participation. Earlier this month, organisers announced they were excluding any country involved in an armed conflict from hosting the competition. “However, the recently announced changes…do not provide sufficient confidence that the independent and neutral character of the Eurovision Song Contest has been restored,” said the AVROTROS statement. Israel came close to winning the competition in both 2025 and 2026, ultimately finishing second on each occasion. Dara from Bulgaria holds up the trophy after winning the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, 17 May, 2026 – AP Photo Next year’s …
