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World Cup

A MAN wearing a jersey declaring “Women, Life, Freedom” support for anti-government protesters in Iran was escorted away by security officers at the stadium where the national team was due to play a World Cup match against Wales on Friday, a witness said.

Fifa’s media liaison at the stadium did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while the stadium media manager was not aware of the incident but would respond later.

Another anti-government Iranian fan said she had sneaked a T-shirt past security but that her friends had been turned away because of their protest T-shirts.

The rules ban items with “political, offensive, or discriminatory messages”.

Iran’s players, pictured, did not sing their national anthem before their first World Cup game against England on Monday in apparent support for antigovernment protesters in their homeland. | Reuters and AFP

Ukraine

UKRAINE battled on Friday to get water and power to millions of people cut off after Russia launched dozens of cruise missiles that battered the country’s already crippled electricity grid.

The energy system in Ukraine is on the brink of collapse and millions have endured emergency blackouts in recent weeks.

The World Health Organization has warned of “life-threatening” consequences and estimated that millions could leave their homes as a result.

After Russian strikes hit Kyiv, mayor Vitali Klitschko said late this week that 60% of homes in the capital were affected by power outages, although water services had been restored. |

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin relieved Mikhail Galuzin, pictured, of his duties as Ambassador to Japan and appointed him Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, the corresponding document was published on the official legal information portal, Sputnik reported on Friday. Galuzin,

62, has been serving as the Russian Ambassador to Japan since January 2018.

Meanwhile, Russia’s justice ministry added Facebook-owner Meta Platforms to its register of extremist organisations, the Kommersant newspaper reported.

A Russian court earlier this year ruled Meta had engaged in “extremist activity”. Moscow has restricted access to Facebook and Instagram. |

Reuters

India

INDIA’S top court has decided to proceed with a case weighing legal recognition of same-sex marriages, four years after the same institution struck down a colonialera ban on gay sex.

The case, brought by a gay couple who informally exchanged vows last year, could pave the way for India to become the second jurisdiction in Asia to recognise same-sex marriage after Taiwan.

Petitioners Abhay Dange and Supriyo Chakraborty told the New Indian Express newspaper after their wedding ceremony that they hoped “to live in a world with no closets”. They are now asking the Supreme Court for the same marital rights as straight couples. | AFP

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