Home Blog Page 23

Barcelona, Stunted Growth And The Napkin: The Oral History Of How A Medical Condition, A Charity Photoshoot And One Improvised Contract Created Lionel Messi

By
Simeon Bateren
-
0

In December 2000, a Barcelona sporting director sat at a tennis club with no paper to hand, grabbed a restaurant napkin, and scribbled a few lines in blue ink that would change the history of football. Twenty-five years later, that napkin sold at auction for nearly one million dollars, and the boy whose future it secured is preparing to play in what may be his final World Cup final on Sunday in New Jersey.

The story of how Lionel Messi came to Barcelona is not simply a story about football. It is a story about a child whose body refused to grow, a family that could not afford the medicine to fix it, a club that was nearly bankrupt, and one man who grabbed a napkin rather than let the greatest talent he had ever seen walk out the door.

The Beginning: A Boy Who Could Not Grow

Messi was diagnosed with Growth Hormone Deficiency at age 10 while playing for Newell’s Old Boys in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina. Standing just four feet two inches tall, doctors determined that without treatment he would plateau at an adult height of roughly four feet seven inches. 

The synthetic hormone therapy required to allow his bones and muscles to develop normally cost between $900 and $1,500 per month, a sum his family could not sustain.

Argentine clubs that learned of his talent were put off by his condition. River Plate passed. Newell’s Old Boys declined to fund the treatment. The injections were expensive. There was no guarantee they would work. And the boy, for all his extraordinary gifts with a football, was tiny.

What nobody understood yet was that his condition was simultaneously shaping the tools that would eventually make him incomparable.

Medical experts and football analysts who have studied Messi’s development note that the growth delay created an unusually low center of gravity, because his torso developed ahead of his limbs during critical growth phases. That physical characteristic gave him balance and directional change that taller players could not replicate. 

His shorter stride length meant he could take more touches per second than most opponents, keeping the ball so close to his foot that defenders found it nearly impossible to steal. The condition that threatened to end his career before it began instead forged the physical foundation for the most distinctive playing style the game has produced.

The injections he administered to his own legs each night during his early years at Barcelona became part of his daily routine. He carried a medical cooler. He administered the hormones quietly, often in La Masia locker rooms or his residence, before his teammates fully understood what he was undergoing. He was so small, and so shy, that his peers initially assumed he was unable to speak and gave him the nickname El Mudo, the mute.

What We Know So Far: The Discovery

News of Messi’s talent did not travel quickly. He was playing for Newell’s youth team in Rosario when Argentine agent Horacio Gaggioli, based in Barcelona, received a call in 1998 from two contacts who ran a football school in the city.

“Messi was 11 when they first called me to speak about him,” Gaggioli told ESPN in the oral history of the transfer. “My idea was to wait a little, until he was 12 or 13, because he was very little at the time. They never hid that he would need injections to aid his growth.”

Gaggioli waited. He watched videos. And he became convinced.

Josep Minguella, a transfer advisor who had worked with Barcelona on previous deals including the signing of Diego Maradona, was equally struck by the footage he received. “When I saw him, I almost couldn’t believe it,” Minguella told ESPN. “He was a very small player, but with an exceptional talent, who headed straight for the goal with the ball glued to his foot.”

By February 2000, Gaggioli had arranged for the Messi family to travel to Barcelona for a trial. Carles Rexach, Barcelona’s sporting director, was away when they arrived and did not see Messi immediately. When he finally watched him play one afternoon on the pitches next to the training ground, the response was immediate and unambiguous.

“A walk of three to four minutes took me 15 minutes because I was stunned watching him,” Rexach told ESPN. “He was the smallest on the pitch by a long way and I could see something very different in him. I got to the bench, sat down and I told the coaches: Sign him. Don’t even think about it. And if anyone asks, tell them it is my decision.”

What Authorities And Insiders Were Saying

Barcelona’s board of directors was not immediately persuaded. The club was in serious financial difficulty, close to what Rexach described to ESPN as bankruptcy. There were directors who worried about Messi’s stature. Others questioned the wisdom of committing resources to fund a 13-year-old’s hormone treatment. The formal signing process stalled through the autumn of 2000.

Messi’s father Jorge grew anxious. The family traveled between Barcelona and Buenos Aires. Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were mentioned as alternatives. The prospect of losing the player prompted Rexach to act.

“Jorge thought Barcelona were stalling,” Rexach told ESPN. “When I met with him I realised he wasn’t clear on anything. He seemed desperate. He told me, ‘If this is not sorted soon, we are going. I do not see anything happening.’ That was when, thinking on my feet, I decided everything.”

On the evening of December 14, 2000, Rexach met Minguella and Gaggioli at the Pompeia Tennis Club in Barcelona. He asked a waiter for paper. He was given a napkin.

“Why a napkin? Because it was the only thing I had available,” Rexach told ESPN. “I saw the only way to relax Jorge was signing something, giving him some proof.”

What he wrote, in blue ballpoint pen on a 6.5 by 6.5 inch restaurant napkin, read: “In Barcelona, on December 14, 2000, in the presence of Mssrs. Minguella and Horacio, Carles Rexach, technical secretary of FC Barcelona, hereby agrees under his responsibility and against some dissenting opinions to sign the player Lionel Messi, provided that we keep to the amounts agreed.”

All three men signed it. Later that night, Barcelona’s then-president Joan Gaspart confirmed and sealed the arrangement.

Gaggioli told ESPN the napkin was legally valid according to his lawyers. It is now kept in a bank vault in Andorra. In 2024, it was sold at auction by British auction house Bonhams for 762,400 pounds, the equivalent of approximately $965,000, against a starting price of 300,000 pounds, NBC confirmed. The napkin was sold on behalf of Gaggioli himself.

“Yes, it is a paper napkin, but it is the famous napkin that was at the inception of Lionel Messi’s career,” Ian Ehling, head of fine books and manuscripts at Bonhams, said. “It changed the life of Messi, the future of FC Barcelona, and was instrumental in giving some of the most glorious moments of football to billions of fans around the globe.”

Why This Matters

What makes the napkin story more than a charming anecdote is what it reflects about the institutional conditions that nearly prevented Messi from becoming Messi.

An Argentine child with exceptional talent and a treatable medical condition was passed over by multiple clubs because the treatment cost money and the outcome was uncertain. Barcelona nearly missed him for the same reasons. The greatest player in the history of the game came within days of being lost to a bureaucratic stalemate, rescued only by one man’s decision to grab a restaurant napkin and write a commitment in his own name rather than wait for the club’s administration to act.

Barcelona paid for Messi’s hormone treatment. Joan Lacueva, a club official, funded the initial phase. The full cost was reported to be approximately one thousand euros per month, though neither the club nor Messi has ever confirmed the figure. Messi administered the injections himself, into his own legs, every night, for years.

He remained at Barcelona for 17 seasons. He made his first-team debut in 2004, aged 16. He scored 672 goals in 778 appearances, won 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies, and became the club’s all-time leading scorer. He left in 2021 when the club’s financial difficulties, the very same difficulties that had once made the board hesitate to sign a 13-year-old, made his contract renewal impossible.

Two years after Messi left, Lamine Yamal arrived.

The Photograph And The Full Circle

The connection between the two players who will contest Sunday’s World Cup final is not simply a matter of shared football philosophy or shared institutions. In 2007, when Messi was 20 and newly established as a Barcelona first-team regular, photographer Joan Monfort organized a charity shoot for a UNICEF calendar produced in collaboration with the FC Barcelona Foundation. Families in the city of Mataro near Barcelona entered a raffle to have their baby photographed at Camp Nou with a Barcelona first-team player.

Lamine Yamal’s family won the raffle. On the day they arrived, they were paired with Messi by chance.

Monfort told the Associated Press on Friday that he never thought much of the photos until Yamal’s father posted one on social media during the 2024 European Championship, when the teenager led Spain to the title. “Messi is a pretty introverted guy, he’s shy,” Monfort recalled. “He was coming out of the locker room and suddenly he finds himself in another locker room with a plastic tub full of water and a baby in it. He didn’t even know how to hold him at first.”

The photographs show a young Messi with soap-covered hands apparently bathing the infant who would grow up to follow him through La Masia, wear his number at Barcelona, and face him in a World Cup final.

“I have never been a believer or thought that anything was destined to occur, but I am beginning to have my doubts,” Monfort told the Associated Press on Friday. “This is beyond all reasonable explanations.”

Messi, for his part, addressed the photograph and the occasion with characteristic simplicity. “That picture, it was crazy. Him as a baby, and now we are facing each other. What a crazy picture. I just wish him the best of luck,” Messi said in Spanish on Friday.

What Happens Next

Sunday’s World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at 3 p.m. Eastern time, will bring together a 39-year-old man who survived a growth hormone disorder, a near-miss with institutional bureaucracy, a napkin contract, and 20 years of the most decorated club career in the sport’s history, against a 19-year-old who was held in that man’s soap-covered hands before he was old enough to walk.

Yamal has spoken about the match with the confidence of someone who has no reason to be intimidated. “I would love to face Messi in a World Cup final,” he told a reporter after Spain’s semifinal victory. That wish is now reality.

Rexach, who grabbed the napkin at the tennis club a quarter century ago, has described his decision as the most important of his career. Messi has described Barcelona as the club that gave him his life. And Monfort, the photographer who almost missed the chance to document the moment two legends first met, put it simply.

“It is better than any film script,” he told the Associated Press.

BBC/ESPN/NBC/AP/CNN

Orphanage Fire in Algeria Kills 11 Children as Investigation Begins

By
Zipporah Njoki
-
0

A devastating fire tore through a government run child care institution in the Algerian capital before dawn Thursday, killing 11 children and leaving 19 others injured as investigators worked to determine what sparked the tragedy.

The blaze erupted at about 3:30 a.m. inside the Childhood Relief Institution in Mohammadia, an eastern suburb of Algiers. The residential facility provides shelter, medical care and social services for orphans, abandoned children and young people with special needs.

Emergency responders battled heavy smoke while evacuating residents from the two story building. Rescue teams completed search operations several hours later, confirming the deaths of 11 children.

The tragedy unfolded as Algeria continues to battle an intense heat wave that has fueled hundreds of fires across the country in recent days.

What we know so far

Civil Protection officials said firefighters rescued several children while containing the flames that spread through sections of the institution.

Among the 19 injured:

  • Ten people suffered burns ranging from moderate to severe.
  • Two were treated for serious smoke inhalation.
  • Seven others received medical attention after experiencing severe psychological trauma.
  • Five children with disabilities were safely evacuated from the building.

Several of the most seriously injured victims were transferred to specialist burn treatment hospitals after receiving emergency care at the scene.

Witnesses described desperate rescue efforts as neighbors rushed toward the orphanage after hearing cries for help.

Resident Yassin Ibrize said he entered the burning building in an effort to save trapped children despite suffering injuries himself.

“I did everything I could to save as many people as possible,” he said, adding that he managed to rescue three girls before being overcome by smoke and flames.

His son, Amir Ibrize, also attempted to reach children inside but said the smoke became too dense to continue.

Official photographs released by Algeria’s Civil Protection service showed firefighters working through smoke filled corridors while evacuating children from the damaged facility.

What authorities are saying

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed condolences to the victims’ families, saying he received the heartbreaking news of children losing their lives and others being injured in the fire.

Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb later visited injured survivors receiving treatment at Mustapha Pacha University Hospital in Algiers, where he monitored their condition and reviewed emergency medical care.

Civil Protection spokesperson Lt. Col. Nassim Bernaoui confirmed that rescue crews safely evacuated five children with reduced mobility during the operation.

Security officials have sealed off the orphanage while judicial authorities and fire investigators examine the scene to determine the cause of the blaze.

Authorities have not released the ages or identities of the victims.

Why this matters

The fire has renewed attention on fire safety standards at residential care institutions, particularly facilities housing vulnerable children who may have limited ability to evacuate during emergencies.

The disaster also comes during one of Algeria’s most challenging wildfire seasons in recent years. Civil Protection authorities said emergency crews have responded to more than 900 fires nationwide since July 8 as exceptionally high temperatures continue to strain emergency services.

Although officials have not linked the orphanage fire to the ongoing heat wave, experts note that prolonged extreme temperatures can increase fire risks by placing additional stress on electrical systems and infrastructure.

The incident has also highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness in facilities caring for children with disabilities and other vulnerable residents who require additional assistance during evacuations.

What happens next

Fire investigators and judicial authorities are expected to conduct forensic examinations of the building, interview witnesses and review the institution’s safety systems to establish the cause of the fire.

Officials are also expected to assess whether safety regulations were fully observed and whether any preventive measures could have reduced the scale of the tragedy.

As families mourn the victims, attention is likely to shift toward strengthening fire prevention measures and emergency response procedures at child welfare institutions across Algeria.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Xinhua, Reuters, The Associated Press.

Messi Bathed Baby Yamal In A 2007 Charity Photoshoot. Now They Meet In The World Cup Final In Football’s Greatest Story

By
Omonigho Daibo
-
0

When photographer Joan Monfort arranged for a shy 20-year-old Lionel Messi to bathe a five-month-old baby in a plastic tub inside the away dressing room at Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium in 2007, nobody in the room could have imagined what Sunday would bring.

Nineteen years later, that baby is Lamine Yamal, 19-year-old superstar of the Spanish national team, and the man who bathed him is the greatest footballer the world has ever seen, preparing to face each other in the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Football, as millions of fans have noted this week, has a remarkable way of coming full circle.

What We Know So Far

The photographs were taken in the fall of 2007 as part of a charity calendar produced in collaboration with the FC Barcelona Foundation to benefit UNICEF, which at the time was the official shirt sponsor of the club. Monfort, the Catalan photographer who organized the shoot, told the Associated Press that parents in the Rocafonda neighborhood of Mataro, a working-class area 20 miles north of Barcelona, were given the chance to enter a raffle run by Catalan newspaper Sport to have their baby photographed at Camp Nou with a first-team Barcelona player.

Yamal’s parents, Mounir Nasraoui and Sheila Ebana, entered. They won. And on the day they arrived, they were paired with Messi entirely by chance.

“UNICEF did a raffle in the neighbourhood of Roca Fonda in Mataro where Lamine’s family lived,” Monfort told the Associated Press. “They signed up for the raffle to have their picture taken at the Camp Nou with a Barca player. And they won the raffle.”

The resulting photographs show a long-haired Messi holding and appearing to bathe a chubby, smiling infant who would grow up to follow in his footsteps more closely than anyone could have anticipated. Monfort recalled the complications of the session with evident warmth.

“Messi is a pretty introverted guy, he’s shy,” Monfort said. “He was coming out of the locker room and suddenly he finds himself in another locker room with a plastic tub full of water and a baby in it. It was complicated. He didn’t even know how to hold him at first.”

The photographs were published in the UNICEF calendar in 2008, with 50 percent of sales going to projects promoting children’s rights. Other Barcelona players who participated in the calendar that year included Xavi Hernandez, Ronaldinho, Carles Puyol, and Samuel Eto’o, ABC confirmed.

The images were largely forgotten for nearly two decades until July 2024, when Yamal’s father posted one of them on Instagram during the European Championship, captioning it “The beginning of two legends.” The post spread rapidly across social media as Yamal, then 16, became the youngest goalscorer in European Championship history and helped Spain win the title. By the time the World Cup arrived, the photograph had become one of the most discussed images in football.

What The Photographer And Players Are Saying

Monfort, now 58, described the improbability of what destiny had produced in terms that resisted straightforward journalistic framing.

“It is a true miracle of destiny,” he told BBC Sport. “It is serendipity, when you find something extra special, so much bigger than you ever thought. If you wrote this in a film it would not seem possible.”

He added that the photograph had become the defining work of his career. “It’s the most famous photo I’ve taken in my life, by a long way. So many people have been interested, again during this World Cup now. I’m just really happy it happened. It’s especially nice in today’s football, when so much is to do with money and power.”

Messi himself acknowledged Yamal’s extraordinary trajectory when asked in December 2024 which young player reminded him of himself. “If I have to choose someone, because of the age and because of the future that he has, I’ve heard that they have chosen Lamine Yamal, and without doubt it’s him for me too,” Messi said, ABC confirmed. “He’s the present and without a doubt has a huge future.”

Yamal, whose full name is Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana, was shown a photograph from the original shoot after Spain’s semifinal victory. He grinned. “I hope to face him in a final,” he said. That wish is now reality.

Why This Matters

The story of the photograph is irresistible on its own terms as a piece of sporting coincidence. But its deeper resonance comes from the parallel paths the two players have traveled since that afternoon in a Barcelona dressing room.

Both came up through La Masia, Barcelona’s celebrated youth academy. Both wore the number 19 for the club before switching to the number 10. Both are left-footed forwards who broke into professional football at an unusually young age. Both have built their games around intelligence, creativity, and a natural capacity to influence matches that their respective generations have rarely seen equaled.

The BBC drew the appropriate historical comparison: it is as if a photograph existed of Muhammad Ali holding a baby Mike Tyson.

Yamal’s numbers at 19 are extraordinary. By his birthday Monday he had already scored 56 career goals and won La Liga three times, the Copa del Rey once, and Euro 2024. At the same age, Messi had scored 11 goals and won La Liga and the Champions League once each. Yamal is, on the raw statistics, already ahead of the trajectory that made Messi the greatest player in history.

The personal background that shaped Yamal is equally compelling. He grew up in Rocafonda, the same working-class neighborhood of Mataro where his family won the raffle that produced the famous photographs. His parents had little money when he was born, and Yamal has spoken publicly about the sacrifices they made to support his football. He has said he could never fully repay them. He wears his name, rather than his surname, on the back of his shirts for Barcelona and Spain as a tribute to two friends who helped his family financially when times were difficult, BBC confirmed.

“If you don’t have money, it’s very hard to help your child play football,” Yamal told El Pais during the tournament. “And my parents managed to make all that happen. It’s something I’ll never be able to repay them for.”

For Messi, Sunday’s final carries a weight that extends beyond football. At 39, this is almost certainly his last World Cup. He has won everything the game offers at club and international level, with the 2022 World Cup title completing the collection that had eluded him for most of his career. A second consecutive World Cup title would cement a legacy that most analysts already consider unreachable.

The match itself will be the first World Cup final between the reigning champions of Europe and South America, and the first time the two top-ranked teams in the world have contested the sport’s ultimate game since FIFA rankings were introduced in 1992, ESPN confirmed.

What Happens Next

The FIFA World Cup final takes place Sunday, July 19 at 3 p.m. Eastern time at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Monfort will be watching the match with feelings he struggled to put into ordinary words. “I think we are closing the cycle of their story,” he told BBC Sport. “It is a happy end. For Messi it is perfect if he can finish his career winning the World Cup for the second time. I think he deserves it. And for Lamine he has a lot of time to win trophies like the World Cup. But if he wins it now, it would be worth more than his other titles.”

Whatever the result, Sunday will produce the second photograph of these two players together. The first was taken in 2007, when one of them was a shy young man who did not know how to hold a baby and the other was a baby who did not know he would one day stand on the same pitch as a legend at the sport’s greatest occasion.

The chances of all this happening, as Monfort told USA Today, were like winning the lottery.

USAToday/BBC/ABC/TheWashingtonPost

More than 500 feared dead after Rohingya refugee boats reportedly sink off Myanmar coast

By
Zipporah Njoki
-
0

More than 500 people are feared dead after two boats believed to be carrying Rohingya refugees reportedly capsized in the Bay of Bengal during separate voyages from Myanmar, marking what could become one of the deadliest maritime disasters involving the persecuted minority in recent years.

The International Organization for Migration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said Thursday that preliminary information indicates the vessels departed Myanmar’s Rakhine State in late June carrying mostly Rohingya refugees, including some who had traveled from refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh.

The reported disaster comes as increasing numbers of Rohingya continue risking dangerous sea crossings in search of safety and better living conditions while conflict, displacement and shrinking humanitarian aid deepen their humanitarian crisis.

United Nations agencies are investigating reports that two refugee boats carrying more than 500 Rohingya passengers capsized off Myanmar’s coast. While authorities have not officially confirmed the incidents or casualty figures, humanitarian agencies say the potential loss of life highlights the growing dangers facing refugees fleeing violence, persecution and worsening conditions in camps across the region.

What we know so far

Preliminary information released jointly by the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations refugee agency indicates that one vessel carrying approximately 250 people lost contact shortly after leaving Myanmar’s Rakhine State in late June.

A second boat, carrying an estimated 280 passengers, is believed to have sunk off Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.

The United Nations agencies stressed that official confirmation of the incidents and the number of casualties is still pending, but expressed grave concern over what could be a devastating humanitarian tragedy.

Officials from Myanmar’s military-led administration have not publicly confirmed the reported sinkings. Acting police Brigadier General Soe Lin Aung, spokesperson for the Ministry of Home Affairs, declined to comment, while representatives for the president’s office and the Ayeyarwady regional government did not respond to requests for comment.

The voyages reportedly took place during the annual monsoon season, when severe weather, rough seas and flooding significantly increase the dangers for overcrowded wooden boats commonly used by refugee smugglers.

What authorities are saying

The International Organization for Migration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees warned that the reported sinkings demonstrate the urgent need for stronger regional cooperation to protect refugees attempting dangerous sea crossings.

The agencies called for expanded search and rescue operations, greater access to asylum, stronger international protection measures and increased efforts to dismantle human trafficking and migrant smuggling networks operating throughout the region.

The Associated Press noted that humanitarian agencies continue to warn that the absence of long term solutions has forced many Rohingya families to undertake increasingly dangerous maritime journeys despite the high risk of death.

Reuters also cited United Nations figures showing that nearly 900 Rohingya refugees died or disappeared while attempting sea crossings last year, making the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea the deadliest maritime migration route for refugees worldwide.

Why this matters

The reported tragedy reflects the worsening humanitarian emergency confronting the Rohingya, one of the world’s largest stateless populations.

More than 1.2 million Rohingya refugees remain in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh after fleeing Myanmar following the military crackdown in 2017, an operation the United States has described as genocide. Myanmar’s military government continues to deny wrongdoing and does not recognize the Rohingya as citizens.

At the same time, conflict inside Myanmar has intensified following the military takeover in 2021. Fighting between government forces and ethnic armed groups has expanded into Rakhine State, leaving many Rohingya trapped between armed factions with limited access to humanitarian assistance.

International funding shortages have further worsened living conditions inside Bangladesh’s refugee settlements. Reductions in foreign assistance have led to food ration cuts and fewer essential services, prompting more refugees to seek dangerous alternatives despite the known risks.

The continuing maritime exodus also underscores broader regional challenges. Countries bordering the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea have frequently struggled to coordinate rescue efforts, while human trafficking networks continue exploiting desperate families seeking safety and economic opportunity.

What happens next

United Nations agencies are expected to continue gathering information to verify the reported sinkings and determine the exact number of casualties.

Search efforts may be limited by severe weather conditions and the remoteness of the reported locations, making confirmation difficult.

Humanitarian organizations are expected to renew calls for greater international support for Rohingya refugees, increased funding for relief operations in Bangladesh and stronger regional cooperation to improve maritime rescue capabilities.

The reported disaster is also likely to intensify international scrutiny of the continuing humanitarian crisis facing the Rohingya, whose prospects for safe return to Myanmar remain uncertain amid ongoing conflict and political instability.

If confirmed, the loss of more than 500 lives would rank among the deadliest maritime tragedies involving Rohingya refugees in recent years and reinforce warnings from humanitarian organizations that current regional policies have failed to provide safe and legal pathways for displaced populations.

The combination of armed conflict inside Myanmar, declining humanitarian assistance, statelessness and limited resettlement opportunities has created conditions that leave many Rohingya families believing that dangerous sea journeys offer their only chance for survival.

Without sustained international engagement, improved refugee protection and greater cooperation among countries bordering the Bay of Bengal, experts warn that similar tragedies are likely to continue as desperate migrants turn to increasingly hazardous routes controlled by criminal smuggling networks.

Sources: Associated Press, Reuters

Argentina Beat England 2-1 With Two Stoppage-Time Goals To Reach World Cup Final Against Spain As Messi Provides Both Assists

By
Simeon Bateren
-
0

Lionel Messi delivered two decisive assists in the final minutes to send Argentina into the World Cup final with a stunning 2-1 comeback victory over England on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, breaking English hearts once again and setting up a blockbuster Sunday showpiece against Spain in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Trailing with five minutes of normal time remaining, Argentina scored twice in seven extraordinary minutes. Enzo Fernandez leveled in the 85th minute and substitute Lautaro Martinez headed the winner two minutes into stoppage time, with Messi the architect of both goals in what may be the final World Cup appearance of the greatest career the sport has ever produced.

What We Know So Far

England had frustrated Argentina for most of the match, scoring through Anthony Gordon in the 55th minute and defending with increasing determination as the clock wound down. Gordon arrived at the back post to guide a Morgan Rogers cross past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez with his instep, sending England’s players and supporters into celebration that lasted well over half an hour before Argentina began dismantling it.

Thomas Tuchel’s tactical decision after the goal to drop deeper and absorb pressure rather than push for a second gave Argentina the territorial dominance they needed, though converting it proved elusive for long stretches. Jordan Pickford made two crucial saves to maintain England’s lead. He denied Nico Gonzalez from a Messi cross in the 69th minute and kept out an Alexis Mac Allister effort moments after the Liverpool midfielder had struck the post with another attempt, ESPN confirmed.

Argentina’s persistence finally broke through in the 85th minute. Messi found Fernandez in space at the edge of the penalty area and the midfielder drove a precise shot from 20 meters past Pickford into the corner to level the match.

The winner arrived two minutes into stoppage time. Mac Allister struck the post with a shot. Messi collected the rebound, drove down the right flank with purpose, and delivered a precise cross to the far post that Martinez, introduced as a substitute in the 81st minute, met with a decisive header from close range, Reuters confirmed.

The statistics captured England’s defensive strategy in blunt terms. England finished with 36 percent possession and produced an expected goals figure of just 0.53. The Three Lions managed five shots in total with only two on target. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who had combined to score 12 goals at the tournament entering Wednesday’s match, contributed a single combined shot across the entire 90 minutes, NBC confirmed.

What The Coaches And Players Are Saying

The match renewed one of international football’s deepest rivalries, and the atmosphere inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium before kickoff reflected that weight, with both sets of supporters attempting to drown out the opposing national anthem as the teams lined up.

Messi’s performance without a goal still dominated the post-match narrative. He now has 10 assists in the World Cup knockout stage across his career, at least six more than any other player in the same period dating back at least 60 years, ESPN confirmed. He has also recorded a goal or an assist in 11 consecutive World Cup matches stretching back to the 2022 tournament, the longest such streak since records of comparable depth began in 1966.

For England, the defeat was devastating in its timing and its historical context. The 1966 champions have now waited 59 years without appearing in another World Cup final. Wednesday’s exit, surrendered in the final minutes after coming so close, extends that wait further.

Why This Matters

Argentina’s victory is not simply another result. It is a confirmation that this team’s capacity for late comebacks has become one of the defining features of the 2026 World Cup, a tournament that has repeatedly produced moments where the defending champions seemed finished before finding something to reverse the outcome.

They trailed Egypt 2-0 with minutes remaining in the round of 16 and scored three times to win. They trailed England with five minutes left and scored twice to win. Each time, Messi has been central to the moments that matter most.

The statistical profile of Wednesday’s match tells the story of how Argentina win when they are not at their best. England’s decision to sacrifice possession and attacking intent after Gordon’s goal effectively invited Argentina to surround them. The expected goals figures, 0.53 for England against a higher figure for Argentina, reflected a match where the team that had the lead made a conscious choice to stop creating chances and relied instead on defensive resilience that ultimately gave way under sustained pressure.

Sunday’s final pits Argentina against Spain in what ESPN confirmed will be the first World Cup final between the reigning champions of Europe and South America, and the first occasion since FIFA rankings were introduced in 1992 that the two top-ranked teams in the world have contested the showpiece match.

Argentina will be chasing their fourth World Cup title and attempting to become only the third country to win the tournament in consecutive editions, joining Italy in 1934 and 1938 and Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Spain will be seeking their second title after winning in South Africa in 2010, a tournament in which they beat Argentina in the quarterfinals en route to the trophy.

It will be Argentina’s seventh World Cup final appearance. And at 39 years old, for Messi, every match at this tournament carries the unspoken weight of what is almost certainly his last.

What Happens Next

Argentina face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Spain eliminated Morocco in the quarterfinals and advanced through the semifinal bracket to set up what promises to be one of the most anticipated finals in the tournament’s history.

On the individual awards front, Messi enters the final tied with Kylian Mbappe at the top of the Golden Boot standings. France’s Mbappe faces Spain in Sunday’s final on the opposing side, meaning the world’s two most decorated active players will compete in the same match for the game’s ultimate prize, adding a personal dimension to a team rivalry that already carries enormous historical weight.

For England, the journey is over and the questions begin. A talented squad that reached the final four of the World Cup will be measured against the standard of what happened when the moment came, and the answer on Wednesday was a goal defended, a deeper defensive shape that invited pressure, and two headers that shattered a dream that had been building since 1966.

ESPN/AP/Reuters/Flashscoreusa/NBC

1 Dead, 3 Missing After Memorial Boat Sinks Near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay

By
Simeon Bateren
-
0

One person was killed and three others remained missing Tuesday after a boat carrying family members participating in a memorial gathering sank near Alcatraz Island, prompting a large-scale rescue operation in the cold and fast moving waters of San Francisco Bay, California, USA.

Emergency crews rescued 16 people after the three deck pontoon vessel went down near the historic island Tuesday afternoon. Authorities said the search for the missing would continue through the night using helicopters, rescue boats and dive teams.

The vessel, carrying about 20 people, was taking part in a memorial service when it encountered trouble in the bay.

What we know so far

The San Francisco Fire Department said the emergency call came in shortly after 3:30 p.m. near Alcatraz Island.

When rescue crews arrived, they found the boat almost completely submerged, with its engine still running and fuel leaking into the water. Some passengers had already fallen into the bay while others remained aboard the sinking vessel.

One victim was pulled from the frigid water alive but later died despite emergency medical treatment. Officials also confirmed that a dog aboard the vessel did not survive.

Sixteen people were rescued. Three were transported to local hospitals with injuries that authorities described as non life threatening and were expected to be released later Tuesday.

Officials initially believed two people were missing but later increased the number to three after interviewing survivors and witnesses.

The search focused on the waters west of the Golden Gate Bridge, where strong tidal currents and wind driven waves complicated rescue efforts.

What authorities are saying

San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen said emergency responders remain fully committed to locating the missing.

“We are in full rescue mode,” Crispen said, adding that rescue crews would continue searching as long as conditions remained safe.

Crispen said investigators found no evidence supporting initial reports that the vessel had caught fire before sinking.

Fire Lieutenant Mariano Elias identified the vessel as a recreational pontoon boat that launched from the vicinity of the St. Francis Yacht Club before heading into San Francisco Bay.

The United States Coast Guard joined firefighters, San Francisco police, Oakland police and other agencies in the search operation.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie described the response as an “all hands on deck” effort, saying every available resource was being deployed in hopes of finding the missing passengers.

Why this matters

Although San Francisco Bay is a popular destination for recreational boating, its waters present significant hazards even during fair weather. Powerful tidal currents, cold Pacific temperatures and sudden wind driven waves can quickly turn routine outings into life threatening emergencies.

The area surrounding Alcatraz Island is especially challenging for boaters because of rapidly changing currents and heavy marine traffic. The same conditions that once made the former federal prison notorious for preventing escapes continue to create dangerous conditions for vessels today.

The incident also serves as a reminder of the importance of life jackets, emergency communication equipment and close monitoring of marine weather forecasts during recreational trips.

What happens next

Rescue teams will continue searching by air, water and underwater throughout the night in hopes of locating the three missing passengers.

Marine investigators are expected to examine the submerged vessel once it is recovered to determine what caused it to sink. Authorities will also review weather conditions, vessel maintenance records and witness statements as part of the investigation.

Officials have not indicated whether rough water, mechanical failure or another factor caused the accident.

While the cause of the sinking remains unknown, maritime accidents in San Francisco Bay often involve multiple contributing factors rather than a single event. Strong afternoon winds, cold water shock and swift tidal currents can rapidly overwhelm passengers once they enter the water, reducing survival time even during well coordinated rescue operations.

If investigators determine that weather or vessel stability contributed to the sinking, the findings could prompt renewed emphasis on boating safety measures for recreational operators navigating one of the nation’s busiest waterways.

Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, NBC News

Spain Beats France 2-0 to Reach First FIFA World Cup Final Since 2010

By
Simeon Bateren
-
0

Spain returned to the FIFA World Cup final for the first time since its historic 2010 triumph after defeating France 2 to 0 on Tuesday, combining clinical finishing with an outstanding defensive performance to end the hopes of one of the tournament favorites.

Mikel Oyarzabal converted an early penalty before Pedro Porro doubled Spain’s advantage in the second half as La Roja frustrated France’s star studded attack throughout the semifinal at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA.

The victory sends Spain into Sunday’s championship match against either defending champion Argentina or England, who meet in the second semifinal on Wednesday in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

France, ranked No. 1 by FIFA entering the tournament, will instead compete in Saturday’s third place playoff in Miami Gardens.

What we know so far

Spain seized control in the 22nd minute after teenage star Lamine Yamal forced a defensive mistake inside the penalty area. The 18 year old won a penalty when France defender Lucas Digne fouled him while attempting to clear the ball.

Oyarzabal calmly converted the spot kick for his fifth goal of the tournament, giving Spain the first lead either side had surrendered during their seven World Cup matches.

Spain doubled its advantage in the 58th minute through Pedro Porro. After exchanging passes with Dani Olmo, the defender finished confidently past goalkeeper Mike Maignan to score his second international goal.

Moments later, Yamal believed he had added a third goal, but video review ruled the effort out for a marginal offside decision.

France created few clear opportunities despite featuring attacking stars Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola. Spain’s disciplined defensive structure limited Les Bleus to minimal scoring chances and secured its sixth clean sheet in seven matches during the tournament.

The result also marked Spain’s third consecutive victory over France in a major tournament semifinal, following wins at the 2024 European Championship and the Nations League.

What authorities are saying

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente praised his squad’s balance between attacking creativity and defensive discipline after another composed knockout performance.

France coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged Spain’s efficiency after his tactical adjustments, including second half substitutions, failed to change the course of the match.

The defeat denied Deschamps the opportunity to guide France into a third consecutive World Cup final, a feat achieved by only two nations previously.

Why this matters

Spain’s return to the World Cup final represents the latest milestone in the country’s remarkable resurgence. After years of rebuilding following its golden generation, Spain has once again emerged as one of international football’s dominant forces by blending experienced leaders with a new wave of young talent.

Lamine Yamal continues to symbolize that transition. Although he did not score, his intelligence, composure and creativity proved decisive in earning the opening penalty and unsettling one of Europe’s most experienced defenses.

For France, the defeat ends an impressive campaign in which the team entered the semifinal with one of the tournament’s most prolific attacks. Spain’s defensive organization exposed the importance of controlling midfield possession and limiting space against elite forwards.

What happens next

Spain will attempt to capture its second FIFA World Cup title when it faces either Argentina or England in Sunday’s final.

France will look to finish the tournament on a positive note when it meets the loser of Wednesday’s semifinal in the third place match.

Attention will now turn to whether Spain can complete one of the nation’s most successful international football cycles by adding another World Cup crown to its recent European Championship and Nations League successes.

Spain’s victory was built on far more than goals. Its tactical discipline, patient possession and organized defending prevented France from establishing any attacking rhythm. Rather than engaging in an open contest against one of the world’s most dangerous forward lines, Spain controlled the tempo and forced France into low quality opportunities.

The emergence of players such as Yamal alongside experienced performers like Oyarzabal demonstrates how effectively Spain has refreshed its squad without abandoning the possession based identity that brought global success in the past. If Spain reproduces this level of defensive organization in the final, it will enter the championship match with a strong chance of lifting the World Cup for the second time.

Sources: Associated Press, Flashscore USA, NBC Sports

Brussels Construction Site Fire Leaves 6 Dead After Elevator Shaft Tragedy

By
Simeon Bateren
-
0

Six workers were killed after a fire swept through a building under construction in central Brussels on Tuesday, trapping them inside an elevator shaft in one of Belgium’s deadliest workplace accidents in recent years.

Emergency crews recovered the victims after a lengthy rescue operation at the Oxy Tower project, a major redevelopment near Brussels’ Grand Place. Firefighters battled difficult conditions for several hours before reaching an elevator that had become trapped inside a smoke-filled shaft, where the bodies were discovered.

The fire broke out shortly before 8 a.m. local time on the second floor of the building. Although firefighters quickly brought the initial blaze under control, flames spread through the elevator shafts, creating an extremely dangerous environment for workers inside.

Authorities initially said six workers were missing while rescue teams searched the building. As operations continued, officials confirmed that all six missing workers had died inside one of the elevators.

What we know so far

The Brussels Labour Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that six bodies were recovered from a trapped elevator after rescue crews gained access to the shaft.

The victims were among roughly 250 construction workers who were at the site when the fire erupted. Two additional workers suffered serious burns and were transported to hospital, while a firefighter received treatment after being exposed to extreme heat during rescue efforts.

The cause of the fire has not yet been established, and investigators are examining the scene to determine how the blaze spread so rapidly into the elevator system.

The Oxy Tower project involves the conversion of a former commercial building into a mixed use complex featuring residential apartments, office space, a luxury hotel, restaurants and rooftop entertainment facilities.

What authorities are saying

Brussels Mayor Philippe Close praised firefighters, police officers and rescue personnel for their response, describing their work as exceptional under extremely difficult conditions. He expressed sympathy for the victims, their families and fellow workers affected by the tragedy.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and King Philippe visited the site later Tuesday to receive briefings from emergency officials and thank first responders.

Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said he was deeply shocked by the loss of life and extended condolences to the victims’ families while commending emergency services for their efforts.

Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden also expressed sympathy for those affected and praised rescue teams for their swift response.

The developers behind the Oxy Tower project, Immobel and Whitewood, issued statements expressing profound sorrow over the deaths and said they were cooperating fully with investigators. Main contractor Cordeel said its immediate priority was supporting victims’ families, employees and everyone affected by the disaster.

Why this matters

The tragedy has renewed attention on construction site safety across Belgium, particularly at large urban redevelopment projects where hundreds of workers operate in confined spaces with temporary infrastructure. Fires involving elevator shafts are especially hazardous because they can rapidly channel smoke and intense heat throughout a building, limiting escape routes and complicating rescue operations.

The incident also underscores the importance of emergency evacuation procedures, fire prevention measures and ongoing safety inspections at major construction sites. As cities across Europe continue investing in large scale redevelopment projects, workplace safety remains a critical concern for regulators and the construction industry.

What happens next

Labour inspectors, fire investigators and prosecutors are expected to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the origin of the blaze and assess whether workplace safety regulations were properly followed.

Investigators will examine construction materials, fire protection systems, elevator operations and emergency response procedures to determine whether negligence or technical failures contributed to the disaster.

The findings could influence future construction safety standards and regulatory oversight for similar high rise development projects throughout Belgium.

While investigators have not identified the cause of the fire, the deaths highlight the elevated risks associated with large scale renovation projects, where temporary electrical systems, construction equipment and incomplete safety infrastructure can increase the likelihood of serious incidents. 

The outcome of the investigation may shape stricter fire safety requirements for construction sites, particularly those involving high rise buildings and enclosed elevator systems. The incident is also likely to prompt renewed scrutiny of emergency preparedness and worker protection measures across Belgium’s construction sector.

Sources: The Associated Press, Reuters, Cyprus Mail, The Brussels Times

Trump pays more than $5.6 million to E. Jean Carroll after court ordered sexual abuse verdict

By
Zipporah Njoki
-
0

President Donald Trump has officially paid more than $5.6 million to writer E. Jean Carroll after exhausting legal efforts to block the release of damages awarded in her sexual abuse and defamation lawsuit, bringing one phase of the closely watched legal battle to a close.

Court records show the payment of $5,625,005.48, including accrued interest, was transferred on July 9 from a court supervised escrow account where the money had remained since a New York jury delivered its verdict in 2023. The Independent first highlighted the payment, while court filings reviewed by The Associated Press and Reuters confirmed the transfer.

Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said the payment fulfills the damages awarded after a unanimous nine member jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll.

“We are pleased to report that she has received the damages payment the jury awarded her,” Kaplan said in a statement.

The payment comes after the US Supreme Court declined to review Trump’s appeal, allowing US District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan to authorize the release of the escrowed funds. Trump later sought emergency relief from a federal appeals court, but that request was denied.

Carroll acknowledged receiving the money in a post on her Substack page, writing that “the eagle has landed.”

The dispute stems from Carroll’s allegation that Trump sexually assaulted her inside a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan during the mid 1990s. Trump consistently denied the accusation, maintained that he never assaulted Carroll and argued she fabricated the claim to promote her memoir and damage him politically.

Following a civil trial in 2023, jurors concluded that the evidence supported a finding that Trump sexually abused Carroll and later defamed her through public statements denying her allegations. While the jury did not find Trump liable for rape under New York law, it awarded Carroll $5 million in damages, which increased to more than $5.6 million after interest accrued.

Trump did not testify during that trial, and his legal team did not call any witnesses in his defense.

The litigation did not end with the first verdict. A separate Manhattan jury in 2024 awarded Carroll $83.3 million after finding Trump continued to defame her through additional public statements made after the first lawsuit. Trump continues to challenge that judgment through the appeals process and is expected to seek review by the US Supreme Court.

Trump’s legal team has indicated it will continue pursuing further appeals in the first case despite the release of the money. Attorneys argued the president could suffer irreparable harm if Carroll spent or donated the funds before the appeal process concluded. Carroll’s lawyers responded that she intended to place the money in an interest bearing retirement account, though the court ultimately rejected Trump’s request to prevent payment.

The payment represents the first time Trump has been required to satisfy a financial judgment in Carroll’s lawsuits. Combined with the separate $83.3 million verdict that remains under appeal, Carroll has secured civil judgments totaling more than $88 million against the president.

The case has become one of the most prominent civil legal challenges involving a sitting US president. It also reflects the broader legal impact of New York’s temporary law allowing survivors of alleged sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits over decades old claims that otherwise would have been barred by statutes of limitation.

Legal analysts note that while the payment resolves the financial obligation arising from the first verdict, it does not conclude the broader litigation between the two parties. The pending appeal over the separate $83.3 million defamation judgment could shape future legal standards involving public figures, defamation claims and the limits of presidential legal immunity in civil cases.

With the first judgment now satisfied, attention is expected to shift to the remaining appeal, which could determine whether Trump faces an additional multimillion dollar financial liability.

Sources: The Independent, The Associated Press, Reuters

U.S. Launches Third Consecutive Night Of Strikes On Iran As Trump Reinstates Blockade And Claims Control Of Strait Of Hormuz

By
Zipporah Njoki
-
0

The United States carried out its third consecutive night of military strikes against Iran on Monday, hitting dozens of targets across multiple locations along Iran’s Persian Gulf coast as President Donald Trump reinstated a naval blockade of Iranian ports, proposed charging a 20 percent tariff on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and declared that Washington intends to run the waterway itself, escalating a conflict that has already killed thousands and sent global energy markets into renewed turmoil.

U.S. Central Command confirmed the strikes were completed at 10:15 p.m. Eastern time after a five-hour mission that struck targets in Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas, CNN confirmed.

What We Know So Far

Central Command announced the third night of strikes began at 4:45 p.m. Eastern time at Trump’s direct order. The mission targeted Iranian coastal defense systems, missile and drone sites, and maritime capabilities using fighter planes, naval vessels, one-way attack aerial drones, and for the first time, one-way attack sea drones, the New York Post confirmed.

“These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM said in its statement on X.

Explosions were reported across several cities along Iran’s Persian Gulf coast, including Jam, Konarak, Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, and Bandar Kangan, according to Iranian state media and unconfirmed social media accounts. Targets on the islands of Kish, Qeshm, and Abu Musa were also believed to have been struck. Iranian state media reported at least one person killed and several wounded. Semi-official Fars News Agency confirmed explosions in Bushehr and Choghadak. Iran’s official IRNA news agency, citing a provincial official, reported four areas of Bushehr city were hit by American projectiles.

The Sunday night mission that preceded Monday’s strikes hit approximately 140 Iranian military sites in an overnight aerial assault, Central Command confirmed. Sunday’s operation also employed the new one-way attack sea drones for the first time in the conflict.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard responded by launching strikes toward U.S. bases across the region. The Guard separately accused the United States of endangering global oil and gas supplies by interfering in the strait, with spokesperson Hossein Mohebi saying Washington had “seriously endangered the security of the world’s oil and gas supply and must be held accountable” and adding that Tehran would “continue to exercise sovereignty over and management of the strait of Hormuz.”

The United Arab Emirates, which had not been targeted since early May, confirmed its air defenses engaged Iranian missiles and drones. The UAE also disclosed that two of its national tankers were struck by Iranian cruise missiles in the southern lane of the strait in Omani territorial waters, killing one Indian crew member and wounding eight others, including four seriously, the Guardian confirmed.

Iran’s strikes on Sunday extended to Qatar, a ceasefire mediator that had not been attacked since April, the Guardian noted. Brent crude oil rose 7.8 percent to $81.92 a barrel Monday, reflecting the market’s sharpening anxiety about energy supply disruptions.

The U.S. Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center announced Monday evening that the blockade of Iran would resume enforcement Tuesday night at 4 p.m. Eastern time, covering all Iranian ports, oil terminals, and coastal areas. “Any vessel suspected of entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization is subject to interception, diversion and capture. Noncompliant vessels may be legally compelled with force,” the center said, adding that neutral transit through the strait to non-Iranian destinations would not be impeded.

What Trump And U.S. Officials Are Saying

Trump was direct and expansive in describing Monday’s operations and his intentions. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office shortly after Central Command announced the strikes, the president said: “We’re hitting them very heavily tonight. 

We have tremendous amounts of ammunition. We have numbers that we haven’t had in years, and we’re hitting them very hard and it’ll continue. We’re knocking out all of their offensive capability, and we’re controlling the straits.”

Earlier in the day, Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt: “We’re going to hit them very hard tonight and we’re going to hit them hard tomorrow, and there’s not a damn thing they can do about it. They have nothing going, other than they have big mouths.”

Trump also raised the prospect of striking what he called Pickaxe Mountain, a facility he described as a hidden fortress potentially housing Iranian uranium stockpiles. “We’re going to take out Pickaxe Mountain. Tell the Iranians to be ready,” he told Hewitt. “We’ll probably give Pickaxe a shot relatively soon.”

The president proposed on Truth Social that the United States should be recognized as the “guardian of the strait of Hormuz” and said Washington intended to charge a 20 percent tariff on all cargoes passing through the waterway. In a subsequent Fox News phone interview, he went further. “We’re going to keep the strait, and we’ll probably run it,” Trump said.

The tariff proposal represents a significant and legally contested policy shift. Until Monday, the United States had insisted no country had the right to charge fees for transit through a strait used for international navigation, a position Secretary of State Marco Rubio articulated as recently as last month. “No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That’s existing international law,” Rubio had said. Trump’s tariff announcement appeared to directly contradict that position.

Trump also disclosed that he had formally notified Congress on Friday that the United States resumed conducting what he described as limited and measured kinetic strikes in Iran on July 7, a notification his administration characterized as opening a new 60-day window to conduct military operations without congressional approval under the War Powers Act.

Democrats and some Republican opponents of the war accused the administration of misinterpreting the law, the Guardian confirmed.

What Iran And Others Are Saying

Iran’s top negotiator and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted on social media Sunday with a message directed at Washington. “The era of one-sided deals is over. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking,” Ghalibaf wrote.

The International Maritime Organization, the United Nations agency overseeing international shipping safety, pushed back firmly against Trump’s tariff proposal. “IMO stands firmly against charging fees for passage through straits used for international navigation. There is no legal basis through which to introduce mandatory tolls simply to transit through a strait,” the organization said in a statement, the Guardian confirmed.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard framed its ongoing strikes as a defense of sovereignty rather than aggression, characterizing U.S. interference in the strait as a threat to the global economy that Washington would be held accountable for.

Why This Matters

Monday’s developments represent a qualitative shift in the character of the U.S.-Iran confrontation that goes beyond military exchange.

Trump’s claim that the United States intends to “run” the Strait of Hormuz and charge a 20 percent tariff on cargo passing through it amounts to a unilateral assertion of American control over one of the world’s most consequential waterways, a claim with no precedent in modern international law and one that contradicts the legal framework Washington itself has cited repeatedly in condemning Iran’s attempts to do precisely the same thing.

The Strait of Hormuz is not simply a strategic chokepoint. It is the passage through which roughly 20 percent of globally traded oil and natural gas normally flows. If the United States imposes a tariff on that traffic, it would represent a tax on energy supplies reaching Asia, Europe, and developing nations alike, generating diplomatic friction far beyond the immediate conflict zone. 

Countries that have supported or tolerated the American military campaign against Iran on the basis of its stated commitment to free navigation will face a far more complicated calculation if Washington begins collecting fees in the same waterway it entered to protect.

The use of one-way attack sea drones for the first time also signals a continuing expansion of the military tools being deployed, suggesting that the operational capacity of U.S. forces in the region remains substantial and that the Pentagon has not yet exhausted its tactical options.

The formal notification to Congress, framing July 7 as the restart date for hostilities, suggests the administration is positioning itself for a sustained military campaign rather than a series of limited retaliatory strikes. A new 60-day window, if that framing holds legally, would extend American military authority in the region through early September.

The economic dimensions are worsening. Oil prices rose nearly eight percent on Monday despite remaining well below their wartime peak. Global inflation, already elevated by months of energy supply disruption, faces further pressure each day the conflict continues without a genuine diplomatic resolution.

Iran’s strikes extending to Qatar, which has served as a key mediator throughout the conflict, and renewed targeting of the UAE, are particularly destabilizing. Both countries have played constructive roles in the negotiations and their targeting reduces the diplomatic space available for the back-channel conversations that any eventual settlement will require.

What Happens Next

Central Command confirmed that more than 50,000 U.S. service members remain deployed across the Middle East, described as vigilant and ready for further operations.

Trump said a negotiated settlement with Iran remained possible despite the current intensity of exchanges. He claimed Washington had reached a deal with Tehran two days earlier but that Iran backed out, a characterization Iranian officials did not immediately address.

The reimposition of the naval blockade from Tuesday evening will be the next immediate flashpoint. Iran has threatened to contest any U.S. moves in the strait, and the practical challenge of enforcing a blockade while simultaneously conducting airstrikes and protecting commercial shipping will test the operational bandwidth of U.S. forces in the region.

Iran and the United States are nominally still within the 60-day window established by last month’s interim memorandum of understanding, though the Guardian noted that in reality the deal has devolved into a series of attacks over the strait of Hormuz resulting in the near-total collapse of the ceasefire. 

Whether any negotiating framework survives Monday’s developments will depend on whether third-party mediators, particularly Pakistan and Qatar, can find a formula acceptable to both sides before the military exchanges foreclose the diplomatic space entirely.

For the world beyond the conflict zone, the question is how much longer a global economy already absorbing the costs of months of disrupted energy supply can sustain an escalating military confrontation in the waterway through which so much of that supply must pass.

Sources: CNN, Reuters, The Guardian, The Associated Press, The New York Post

1...222324...995Page 23 of 995