Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has become the most successful left-arm bowler in Test cricket history after claiming his 434th wicket against Bangladesh in Darwin. The 36-year-old reached the landmark on Thursday during the opening Test at Marrara Stadium. Starc dismissed Bangladesh opener Shadman Islam for 20 in the ninth over of the visitors’ first innings. Nathan Lyon completed the catch at cover point after Shadman sent a leading edge into the field. Starc entered the match level with former Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath on 433 Test wickets. His breakthrough moved him clear at the top among all left-arm bowlers to have played Test cricket. Starc moves alongside Kapil Dev The wicket took Starc to 434 scalps from 106 Tests. That also moved him level with Indian great Kapil Dev in joint 11th place among the leading wicket-takers in Test history. Kapil took 434 wickets across 131 Tests between 1978 and 1994. Starc now needs six more wickets to move beyond South African pace legend Dale Steyn and enter the all-time top 10. Steyn finished his Test career with 439 wickets from 93 matches. The Australian’s latest record further strengthens his standing among the finest fast bowlers of the modern era. Starc made his international debut against India in October 2010 at the age of 20. Cricket Australia says he announced himself early in his career with a four-wicket haul in only his second international appearance. Landmark arrives on difficult day for Australia Starc’s milestone provided Australia with one of the few highlights on a challenging opening day in Darwin. Bangladesh dismissed Australia for 198 after captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat. It was Australia’s lowest Test innings total against Bangladesh. Hasan Mahmud led the visitors’ attack with career-best figures of 6 for 55, while Steve Smith top-scored for Australia with 71. Bangladesh then reached 96 for one by stumps. Tanzid Hasan remained unbeaten on 32 and Mominul Haque finished on 35 not out. Their unbroken 60-run partnership left Bangladesh only 102 runs behind Australia’s first-innings total. The match is also Bangladesh’s first Test in Australia in 23 years. The two-match series continues with the second Test in Mackay from August 22. A decorated career across formats Starc has built an exceptional record across international cricket. In ODIs, he has taken 247 wickets from 130 matches at an average of 23.58. He was part of Australia’s ODI World Cup-winning teams in 2015 and 2023. Starc also helped Australia win the 2021 T20 World Cup and the 2023 World Test Championship, giving him winners’ medals from all three major ICC men’s global formats. Having already passed Herath, Starc’s next target is now clear. Another six wickets would take him to 440 and lift him past Steyn into the top 10 Test wicket-takers of all time.
1.4 Million Troop, 6,000 Tanks, 3,400 Aircraft: Inside the New Mecca Defence Alliance
Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan have created a formidable new defence grouping after their leaders signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the pact in Mecca. It pledges collective deterrence and treats an armed attack on one member as an attack on all three. Pakistan has stressed that the agreement is “purely defensive in nature” and is not directed against any particular country. Turkiye has made a similar clarification amid heightened tensions involving Iran and Israel. Read More: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye Sign Historic Defence Pact The three states bring very different strategic strengths. Saudi Arabia offers financial resources and regional influence. Turkiye has NATO’s second-largest military, while Pakistan is the only nuclear-armed Muslim country. Combined Military Strength Tops 1.4 Million Personnel According to the 2026 Global Firepower Index, the three countries have about 1.39 million active military personnel combined. Pakistan leads with 660,000 active personnel. Turkiye has 481,000 and Saudi Arabia has 247,000. Their air forces operate 3,415 aircraft in total. Pakistan has 1,397 aircraft, Turkiye 1,101 and Saudi Arabia 917. The three militaries also field about 6,046 tanks and more than 179,000 armoured vehicles. Pakistan has 2,677 tanks, followed by Turkiye with 2,284 and Saudi Arabia with 1,085. Their combined naval strength stands at 344 assets, including 33 frigates, 24 corvettes and 22 submarines. Combined defence spending reaches roughly $124.4 billion. Saudi Arabia accounts for about $63.99 billion, Turkiye $51.4 billion and Pakistan $9.1 billion, according to Global Firepower. Security analyst Andreas Krieg said their capabilities could complement each other. Read More: Turkiye to Begin Offshore Drilling in Pakistan for Oil and Gas “Saudi Arabia contributes capital, geography, infrastructure and political convening power. Turkiye contributes an increasingly sophisticated defence-industrial base, drones, missiles, sensors, electronic warfare, naval systems and NATO-derived military expertise,” he said. Pakistan, meanwhile, contributes manpower, operational experience, defence production and nuclear capability. Pact Could Expand Beyond Three Countries The agreement also creates opportunities for deeper defence-industrial cooperation. Saudi Arabia could gain alternative suppliers, while Pakistani and Turkish manufacturers could gain greater access to Saudi investment. Zaid M Belbagi of Hardcastle Advisory said: “Pakistan is a recipient of US aid, Saudi Arabia is the largest foreign buyer of US military equipment, and Turkiye is NATO’s second-largest army after the United States – so the spectre of the US within this agreement is quite interesting.” Krieg described the wider trend as a move towards stronger links among regional powers. “The old model was overwhelmingly hub-and-spokes, with Washington at the centre and individual states looking primarily to the United States for security. What is emerging now is horizontal connectivity between regional powers,” he said. Read More: Saudi Arabia Introduces One-Stop Tourist Visa for Seven Countries The pact may also expand. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has identified Egypt as a potential member once technical issues are resolved. Reuters reported that the agreement will establish a ministerial committee and a general secretariat in Saudi Arabia. However, analysts say Cairo may seek safeguards for its existing alliances. Karim Elgendy of Chatham House said Egypt could join only if the arrangement protects its ties with Washington and preserves its freedom over military decisions.
Ronaldo’s Family: Five Children, Irina Shayk and Georgina
Cristiano Ronaldo’s marriage to Georgina Rodríguez has renewed interest in the football star’s carefully guarded private life. The 41-year-old married Rodríguez in a private civil ceremony in Cascais, Portugal, on Tuesday, August 11. Reuters and AP confirmed it was Ronaldo’s first marriage after nearly a decade together. Their five children attended. Irina Shayk before Georgina Russian model Irina Shayk was Ronaldo’s longest public partner before Rodríguez. They dated from 2010 until January 2015 and drew intense media attention. Reports described their split as amicable. Shayk later had a daughter, Lea, with actor Bradley Cooper. Read More: Ronaldo Marries Georgina Rodriguez After 10 Years Together Ronaldo met Rodríguez in 2016 at a Gucci store in Madrid, where she worked as a sales assistant. They went public at the Best FIFA Football Awards in January 2017, with Cristiano Jr. alongside them. Ronaldo’s Five children and unanswered questions Ronaldo has five living children. He welcomed Cristiano Jr., now 16, in June 2010 in San Diego while dating Shayk. He has never publicly identified the boy’s mother. “It is with great joy and emotion that I inform I have recently become father to a baby boy,” Ronaldo said. “As agreed with the baby’s mother, who prefers to have her identity kept confidential, my son will be under my exclusive guardianship.” Asked about speculation on The Jonathan Ross Show in 2015, he said: “People speculate I was with this girl or another, or there was a surrogate mother.” He added: “Some points in life are private and people have to respect the privacy.” Ronaldo has said he will tell his son the truth privately. Read More: Ronaldo and Georgina Wedding This Weekend? What We Know Twins Eva Maria and Mateo, nine, arrived in the United States on June 8, 2017, via surrogate. Their mother remains unidentified. Portuguese media reported the births while Ronaldo stayed with Portugal at the Confederations Cup. The Portuguese Football Federation praised him for remaining with the squad. After Portugal’s exit, Ronaldo confirmed the births and wrote: “So happy to be able to hold the two new loves of my life.” Gulf News cited a Daily Mail report saying court documents from La Mesa, near San Diego, described laboratory conception and a surrogate birth. Ronaldo’s representatives declined to explain his decision. Georgina becomes mother to all five Rodríguez entered the family when Cristiano Jr. was six. Five months after the twins arrived, she gave birth to Alana Martina on November 12, 2017. The couple welcomed Bella Esmeralda in April 2022. Bella was a twin. Her brother Ángel died at birth, a loss the couple later discussed publicly. Rodríguez has described all five as her children. “Being a mother is the best thing that’s ever happened to me and my absolute priority,” she told Vogue Mexico in 2024. “Every moment I spend with my family is when I’m happiest and most realised.” Netflix launched I Am Georgina in 2022, documenting their family life. All five children attended the Cascais ceremony and, according to Gulf News, appeared to make up the entire guest list.
Govt Launches Youth Jobs Plan With AI, IT and Startup Focus
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has launched Pakistan’s first National Youth Employment Policy, introducing quotas for women and startups while expanding education, skills and technology programmes for young people. Speaking at an International Youth Day ceremony on Wednesday, Shehbaz said Pakistan must give talented and deserving students equal educational opportunities. He linked the goal to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision and said denying such opportunities would leave the sacrifices behind Pakistan’s creation unfulfilled. Women and startups get dedicated quotas Under the policy, 35 percent of the labour force quota will go to women. The government will also reserve 10 percent of the annual quota for young startups to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation. “Under the policy, there will be a mandatory 35 percent quota for women in the entire labor force,” Shehbaz said. “Therefore, I announce that every year we will allocate a 10 percent quota for startups,” he added. Read More; US Youth Turn to Digital Detox to Improve Sleep and Reduce Anxiety The prime minister said Pakistan could not compete with developed countries unless young people gained modern technical knowledge. He identified artificial intelligence, information technology and technology-driven skills as key priorities. “We will not let our youth lag behind in the journey of development,” he said. Education, China training and technology push Shehbaz pledged all available resources to support youth after quality education and training. He also called for ending disparities between wealthy and poor families in access to good education. He recalled launching Daanish Schools in Punjab as chief minister. The government is now expanding the network into backward and far-flung areas to serve talented, underprivileged students. The government has allocated substantial funds for youth in the current fiscal budget. Shehbaz said it had sent 1,000 agricultural graduates to China at government expense for modern technology training. More merit-based batches will go to China for AI and IT education. The government is also establishing a technology-focused Daanish University in Islamabad. It will begin its academic session next year and admit deserving and talented students on merit. Shehbaz said the government had distributed 700,000 laptops among students on merit. Another 250,000 high achievers will receive Chromebooks this year. “The future is not something you wait for, the future is something you build, now go and build it,” he told the youth. Digital employment platform targets new ideas Power Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said the initiative would create opportunities for young people with ideas that could benefit the power sector. He said Pakistan previously lacked institutional support to nurture useful innovation and research. The first National Employment Digital Platform will provide a springboard for such ideas. Leghari said Rs30 million would go to winning participants annually. The government has also set aside Rs1 billion over three years to adopt promising ideas. Read More: Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan highlighted the Daanish education system and Punjab Educational Endowment Fund. He said Shehbaz’s vision could lead Pakistan towards progress, prosperity and peace. The prime minister formally inaugurated the employment policy and presented awards to outstanding young people. He said the nation had high expectations from its youth and linked Pakistan’s future to education, skills and equal opportunity.
Total Solar Eclipse Plunges Parts of Europe Into Darkness
Millions of people across Europe turned their eyes skyward on Wednesday as a total solar eclipse swept across the continent, briefly plunging parts of Spain, Iceland and Portugal into darkness. The August 12 eclipse began over northern Russia before crossing Greenland, Iceland and the Atlantic. It later reached Spain shortly before sunset. NASA said the path of totality also touched a small corner of Portugal, while much of Europe experienced a partial eclipse. The path of totality stretched almost 300 kilometres wide. In Spain, it crossed the country from the northwest towards the Balearic Islands, including Mallorca. Spain Draws Huge Crowds for Rare Eclipse At Spain’s Ebro Observatory, hundreds watched as the moon completely covered the sun. The black lunar disc appeared surrounded by the glowing solar corona. Across Europe, spectators responded with applause, cheers, tears and stunned silence. ESA reserve astronaut Sara García Alonso told RTVE: “It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen in my life. It gave me goosebumps.” 🌒 The only total solar eclipse of 2026 swept across the Northern Hemisphere on Wednesday, Aug. 12, tracing a narrow path of totality from the Arctic across eastern Greenland, western Iceland, and northern Spain.Cities inside the path — A Coruña, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Valencia, and… pic.twitter.com/H2RMGy68HN— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) August 12, 2026 Another spectator at the Ebro Observatory described the eclipse as “very short, but indescribably beautiful.” A German tourist watching from Mallorca called the experience “absolutely magical” and “crazy to see.” Another visitor said the two-minute spectacle justified flying to Mallorca and driving another 90 minutes. Cloud and rain obscured much of the eclipse in Reykjavík. Spain enjoyed better conditions despite temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius in some areas. The event also triggered a major travel rush. Visitors arrived from countries including Japan and the United States. Spanish authorities had expected up to 1.5 million additional road journeys, while accommodation in prime viewing areas filled months earlier. Authorities had also prepared for wildfire risks. In Peñíscola, a vehicle caught fire near an eclipse viewing area and flames spread to 33 other vehicles before firefighters controlled the blaze. Germany witnessed a deep partial eclipse, with around 90% of the sun obscured in some areas. Crowds gathered in Berlin and on Feldberg mountain, while hot-air balloons floated above Dresden during the event. Perseid Meteor Shower Follows Eclipse The celestial show continued overnight as the Perseid meteor shower reached its annual peak. Viewing conditions were especially favourable because the peak coincided with a new moon. At dark locations, observers could see up to 100 meteors per hour. 🌑 BREAKING: Totality has arrived over Iceland.The Moon has completely covered the Sun, turning daylight into darkness as the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse reaches Iceland.The path of totality is sweeping across Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic and Spain, giving… pic.twitter.com/7fSTF575lV— Cosmos Europa (@CosmosEuropa) August 12, 2026 Even light-polluted Berlin recorded shooting stars before 11 pm. Zeiss Major Planetarium director Tim Florian Horn said: “Every shooting star is greeted with loud oohs and aahs.” The Perseids come from debris left by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Tiny particles burn as they enter Earth’s atmosphere, producing bright streaks across the sky. The shower remains active until August 24. Spain will see another total solar eclipse on August 2, 2027, which will also cross parts of North Africa. Germany, meanwhile, will have to wait until 2081 for its next total solar eclipse, visible only in the far southwest.
