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MADRID: Real Madrid have moved to secure one of Spain’s promising young midfielders, signing 19-year-old Sergio Martinez from Racing Santander as part of their long-term plan to develop the next generation of talent. Martinez had attracted interest from several major clubs, with Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal among those monitoring the midfielder. A number of Premier League clubs and teams from Saudi Arabia were also reportedly interested in securing his services. Real Madrid ultimately won the race, agreeing a deal worth slightly more than $3.5 million for the teenager. The agreement will keep Martinez at the Spanish giants until 2030. The youngster is not expected to become part of Real Madrid’s senior squad immediately. Instead, the club plans to develop him through Castilla, its reserve side, where he will gain regular competitive experience and continue adapting to the demands of elite-level football. There are also plans for Martinez to divide his time during the curr...

DHAKA: Shafiq Rehman, editor of JaiJaiDin , has been elected president of the National Editors Council (NEC), while Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman has been chosen as its general secretary. The appointments were made at the NEC’s first general meeting, held on Monday at a hotel in the capital, where editors representing 29 daily newspapers from Dhaka and different parts of Bangladesh took part. Shafiqul Alam, editor of Wada , was elected treasurer. The meeting also approved the council’s proposed constitution after incorporating several amendments. The newly formed organisation said its primary focus would include protecting press freedom, strengthening professional journalism and creating greater cooperation and communication among newspaper editors across the country. Speaking at the meeting, General Secretary Mahmudur Rahman said the NEC should gradually expand its membership and bring more editors and newspapers under a common platform. He stressed the importance of closer commu...

ISTANBUL — Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are set to hold the first committee meeting under their newly signed Mecca Joint Defense Pact , bringing senior diplomatic and military officials from the three countries together in Istanbul on Monday. The meeting comes after the three countries signed the defense agreement on August 7, establishing a new framework for closer military and security cooperation amid growing tensions across the Middle East. Focus on Collective Defense A central objective of the agreement is to strengthen the three countries’ collective deterrence and defense capabilities against potential external aggression. Under the pact, an armed attack against any one of the three member states is to be treated as an attack against all three. The principle has drawn comparisons with NATO’s collective-defense framework , although the precise mechanisms for military coordination and response remain to be developed. The Istanbul meeting is expected to provide an initial op...

LONDON — Pakistan are facing a difficult battle to save the Test against England at Lord’s after a dramatic collapse in their first innings left them chasing a formidable target of 389 runs. By the time of reporting, Pakistan had reached 115 for four in their second innings after 32 overs, leaving them 274 runs short of victory with six wickets still in hand. The tourists, however, have shown signs of resistance through Saud Shakeel, who remained unbeaten on 67 and completed a composed half-century while attempting to keep Pakistan’s hopes alive. Pakistan’s Top Order Under Pressure Chasing 389, Pakistan suffered an early setback as England’s bowlers immediately put pressure on the visitors. Ollie Robinson claimed three wickets while Jofra Archer added another, reducing Pakistan to 111 for four. The early strikes left the visitors in serious trouble before Shakeel attempted to stabilize the innings. Captain Shan Masood contributed 26 , sharing a fourth-wicket partnership with Shakee...

DHAKA — Bangladesh is moving to strengthen its defense cooperation with China and Pakistan as part of a broader effort to modernize its military capabilities, with plans reportedly advancing for the acquisition of Chinese-made fighter jets, helicopters and drones. The developments could mark a significant upgrade for Bangladesh's air force and come amid a changing strategic environment in South Asia. Expanding Military Cooperation with Pakistan Bangladesh and Pakistan have also stepped up military-to-military contacts. In January, the chiefs of the two countries' air forces held talks on expanding cooperation in areas including military training, space technology and possible defense procurement. The discussions reportedly included the potential acquisition of Pakistan-China jointly developed JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft, as well as greater cooperation in training and technological capabilities. The growing engagement represents a notable expansion of defense contacts betwe...

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes has criticised the 10-match suspension imposed on him by FIFA following a confrontation after the World Cup final, describing the punishment as excessive. The Boca Juniors midfielder also questioned the disparity between his sanction and the one handed to Spain midfielder Gavi, who received a one-match ban over the same incident. Speaking after Boca Juniors' match against Lanus, Paredes expressed his frustration with the length of his suspension. “I think it is excessive,” Paredes said, while pointing to what he considered an inconsistency in FIFA's disciplinary decisions. He also referred to Gavi's punishment, claiming that the Spanish midfielder had struck him in the chest during the confrontation. FIFA hands down multiple suspensions FIFA imposed lengthy sanctions on several members of the Argentina delegation following the post-match confrontation. Paredes received the most severe punishment, with a 10-match suspension...

LONDON/MADRID: Arsenal's hopes of signing Julian Alvarez appear to have suffered a setback, with the Argentina forward reportedly reluctant to move to the north London club and instead keeping Barcelona as his preferred destination. Transfer specialist David Ornstein has reported that Alvarez spoke directly with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta about the possibility of joining the Premier League club. During their conversation, the forward reportedly made clear that he was not keen on making the move. According to Ornstein, Alvarez's preference for Barcelona is currently a major obstacle to any potential transfer to Arsenal. However, the situation could still change before the transfer window closes. Barcelona interest continues Alvarez has been at the centre of transfer speculation throughout the summer, with Barcelona repeatedly exploring the possibility of bringing the former Manchester City forward to Camp Nou. Atletico Madrid, however, have resisted Barcelona's approaches...