The England international’s brilliant brace gave Barcelona a 2-1 victory over Newcastle in the Champions League, Marcus Rashford’s first goals for the club.
Following his loan spell with Manchester United in July, Rashford made a memorable return to England on Thursday with two goals in nine minutes at St James’ Park.
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Fans of United, whose team hasn’t played any European football this season and is already struggling with a poor Premier League campaign, will be disappointed watching the 27-year-old’s first Champions League goals since 2021.
In the final stages of their Champions League group stage opener, Anthony Gordon scored one point for Newcastle, but it was too late.
Rashford and Ruben Amorim had a bad relationship last season, so he was let go by United and sent on loan to Aston Villa during the second half before being sent to Barcelona for the entire season.
Rashford’s career has slowed significantly in recent years because of claims he is no longer focused on his career, and he was once feted as the future of English football after graduating from United’s youth academy as a youngster.
However, Rashford’s energetic performance on Tyneside suggested that he might be about to start the long-awaited renaissance with Barcelona.
It was Rashford’s seventh career goal against the Magpies, a habit he has frequently made of tormenting Newcastle.
Lamine Yamal, who had a groin injury that prevented Barcelona from winning the La Liga game 6-0 against Valencia, was out for the team after a strong start to his campaign.
However, Rashford’s double made sure Hansi Flick’s team didn’t miss Yamal.
Barcelona reached the final since they last won the trophy in 2015 after being defeated by Inter Milan in the Champions League semifinals last year.
However, the five-time European champions are anticipated to be among the top contenders this year, and this was a strong start to their challenge.
Newcastle’s hopes of a strong start in the Champions League were dashed by the defeat, which had them lose in the 2023-24 group stage.
[Stu Forster/Getty Images] Marcus Rashford of Barcelona fires past Newcastle United’s Nick Pope for the team’s first goal.
When Newcastle defeated Barcelona 3-2 in the Champions League group stage in September 1997, Faustino Asprilla scored the winner with one of the best nights in their history.
Asprilla flew in from Colombia to watch Newcastle’s first game against Barcelona since 2003, almost 28 years after that remarkable evening at St James’ Park.
Rashford snuck into the area before striking into the side-netting to give Barcelona’s first glimpse of danger as a foreshadowing his powerful display.
Anthony Elanga’s pace caused Barcelona’s defense for the majority of the first half by directing a fierce cross past Harvey Barnes for a fierce strike that Joan Garcia palmed away.
Fabian Schar and Dan Burn threw themselves into last-ditch blocks to keep the Pole at bay, despite Robert Lewandowski’s attempts to lift Barcelona out of their agony.
Joelinton, a Newcastle midfielder, rose to meet a corner and fired a good-looking shot wide from six yards early in the second half.
Barcelona took the lead in the 58th minute despite that flimsy escape, but they were much more effective after the break.
A powerful header past Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope from 12 yards was easily eluded by Rashford as Jules Kounde whipped his cross into the area.
In stunning fashion, Rashford doubled Barcelona’s lead in the 67th minute.
Rashford unleashed a fierce strike that left Pope grasping in the air as it flashed into the top corner 25 yards from goal after passing Sandro Tonali.
As Israel launched its scorched-earth offensive on Gaza City, the United States vetoed a crucial UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire.
The resolution called for the immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all captives held by Hamas and other organizations, and the lifting of restrictions on humanitarian aid into Gaza, and was approved by 14 of the 15 council members on Thursday.
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The resolution, which was approved by the council’s 10 elected members, went further than previous iterations to highlight what diplomats have called the Gaza Strip’s nearly two-year war, which has resulted in the deaths of at least 65, 141 people, according to Palestinian health officials.
The effort was vetoed by the United States, as was expected. Morgan Ortagus, the US deputy special envoy to the Middle East, predicted that the US’s opposition to this resolution would come as no surprise.
It wrongly legitimises the false narratives benefiting Hamas, which have sadly found their way into this council, and it fails to condemn Hamas or acknowledge Israel’s right to defend itself.
Ortagus praised the efforts of the heavily militarized GHF hubs, where so many Palestinians have been killed while attempting to feed their families, as well as the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification’s official declaration of famine in the enclave last month.
The US veto, according to the Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour, was “deeply regrettable” and had prevented “the Security Council from playing its rightful role , in the face of these atrocities and to protect civilians in the face of genocide.”
The Council, Mansour continued, “maintains a low level of silence that threatens its credibility and authority.” The use of the veto should simply not be permitted when it comes to atrocity crimes, according to the statement.
Amar Bendjama, the UN ambassador to Algeria, also spoke passionately. He pleaded with “Palestinian brothers, Palestinian sisters, forgive us.”
“Forgive us because the world denies Palestinians the rights they do. Please forgive us because this wall of rejection was shattered by our efforts, our sincere efforts.
He noted that more than 18 000 children and 12 000 women were killed in the Gaza war, as were more than 250 journalists and more than 1,400 doctors and nurses. He continued, noting that Israel was “immune” because of the “bias of the international system,” but that it was “immune” rather than due to international law.
Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the UN, claimed that Israel needed “no justification” for its conflict with Gaza. He thanked Ortagus for enforcing its US veto.
On September 18, 2025, members of the UN Security Council voted on a draft resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. [Eduardo Munoz/Reuters]
The vote, according to James Bays, Al Jazeera’s diplomatic editor, was a “sombre” moment on the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, with many nations supporting “multilateral diplomacy” while the US insisted on an “America-first view of the world.”
He claimed that the United Nations had cut a significant portion of the humanitarian funding it provided, which had caused the organization to reach one of its lowest points in its 80-year history.
“Lost generation”
Israel appears to be trying to sabotage any chance of a ceasefire with its ground offensive in Gaza City, which started on Tuesday.
The Israeli military hasn’t provided a specific date for the offensive, though there are indications that it could take months. It has been stated numerous times that it wants to completely overthrow Hamas.
A team of independent experts released a report on Tuesday that Israel is planning a genocide in Gaza with the goal of “destroying” the Palestinians.
Prior to Thursday’s vote, Israel’s Danon had stated on X that the resolution would “not bring peace nor release the hostages.”
Israel, he said, would “continue to fight Hamas and protect its citizens, even if the Security Council prefers to ignore the terror.”
Christina Markus Lassen, the Danish ambassador to the UN, highlighted the magnitude of the man-made famine in Israel. She said, “Dad mothers are forced to boil leaves for their children, and fathers search the rubble for food.”
While a legal challenge is being resolved, a judge in the US has ordered the administration of President Donald Trump to refrain from deporting Guatemalan unaccompanied migrant children with active immigration cases.
Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee based in Washington, DC, sharply criticizes the administration’s unproven claim that the children’s parents demanded deportation.
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Surprise intervention by Trump’s administration’s surprise deportation of 76 Guatemalan minors led to a lawsuit and an unexpected hearing that temporarily halted the action.
The Justice Department later disputed the claim that the children’s parents had requested that they be returned home, but the department later revoked it.
A Guatemalan attorney general’s internal report that claimed the majority of the roughly 600 Guatemalan children in the US custody could not be reached was published following Reuters’ publication. Many of the people contacted stated in the report that they did not want their children to be brought back to Guatemala.
In light of the Guatemalan government report, Kelly claimed in a 43-page opinion that the Trump administration’s explanation “crumbled like a house of cards.”
According to Kelly, “There is no evidence before the Court that these children’s parents sought their return.”
Guatemalan unaccompanied children who have not received a final removal order or the US attorney general’s permission to leave while their cases are ongoing were quickly deported by the federal judge.
The children were unintentionally removed from their shelter beds in the middle of the night, driven to the airport, and sometimes even boarded airplanes, according to the judge’s ruling, leaving them worried and perplexed.
A young girl from McAllen, Texas, cited evidence from the case, wrote Kelly, citing the fact that she was so terrified that she vomited.
The US Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, claiming that the decision would prevent children from reuniting with their parents.
McLaughlin said, “These kids will now have to go to shelters,” calling it “disgraceful and immoral.”
Without a parent or guardian, unaccompanied migrants who cross US borders are treated like they’re being placed with a family member or foster family are subject to federal law’s guidelines.
Even though she misses her son, a Guatemalan mother informed Reuters that her son, 16, would like to stay in California despite the Trump administration’s deportation effort.
She said in a conversation with him earlier this month on the outskirts of Guatemala City, “This is what he wanted.”
Afghanistan, who is currently in the 2024 T20 World Cup semifinal, was eliminated from the Asia Cup thanks to Sri Lanka’s six-wicket victory in Abu Dhabi.
With two victories and a loss, Sri Lanka won Group B, leading Bangladesh, who also qualified for the Super 4.
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With more than an over to go, Sri Lanka’s authoritative run-chase of 171-4 against spin-heavy Afghanistan was anchored by Kusal Mendis’ unbeaten 74 off 52 balls.
Afghanistan had a chance with a final score of 169-8 against spinner Dunith Wellalage thanks to Mohammad Nabi’s (60) five big sixes in the final over, which was won by captain Rashid Khan.
With his skillfully executed sweep shots, Mendis effectively neutralized the spin trio. Noor Ahmad, a rare left-arm spinner, scored 1-37 off his three overs in a pricey T20. Ravishd returned with a score of 0-23 after four overs but couldn’t break through Mendis’ defenses in a quiet middle over.
In the powerplay, Nabi (1-20) took the wicket after Mendis and Kusal Perera (28) scored a 45-run stand to restore the lead.
In the death overs, Charith Asalanka made 17 of the team’s 12 balls before Kamindu Mendis (26 not out) and Kusal countercharged Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi (38).
Rashid remarked, “We did not bowl as well as we should have, and that is why we did not win.”
We did not chase 150 in the final game [versus Bangladesh], but we had a great chance. At the previous T20 World Cup, there was a semifinal, and we had a chance to advance to at least the following round. We’ll consider it, analyze it, and come back stronger.
With three wickets in the powerplay, which included two flawless inswingers that rattled Sediqullah Atal (18) and Karim Jannat (1), Nuwan Thushara (4-18) completed Afghanistan’s top-order with three wickets.
Afghanistan fell to 114-7 in 17.1 overs when Ibrahim Zadran struggled for 27 balls to score 24.
Up until the 18th over, Sri Lanka excelled in the fight against Afghanistan, with Kusal Perera making outstanding catchable passes for Rahmanullah Gurbaz and a juggling catch to dismiss Darwish Rasooli.
However, Sri Lanka became shaky after the innings’ final outing when Wellalage should have tapped Nabi for a 6 before the all-rounder’s late onslaught produced an incredible knock.
Nabi scored 46 of the 49 runs Afghanistan made in the final two overs, scoring first to Dushmantha Chameera (13-5) for three straight boundaries in the penultimate over, before unleashing powerful hitting against Wellalage when he smacked the spinner’s first five legitimate deliveries for sixes before getting run out off the final ball.
Taiwan has announced that a new subsidy program will help families with growing population by promoting family growth.
According to Focus Taiwan, Taiwan’s cabinet approved standardized cash payments for families for each newborn and the payment of a larger portion of infertility treatment costs.
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According to Taiwan News, families will receive $3, 320 per newborn under the new plan, with twins receiving nearly $7, 000. Depending on the mother’s employment status, the previous system offered payouts ranging from $1,300 to $2,300 per baby.
More than 20% of Taiwan’s population is 65 or older, making Taiwan a “super-aged society” in 2025. According to CNN last year, the island nation had one of the lowest birth rates overall in 2022, which was just.087.
To reach the “replacement level,” or “replacement level,” a nation must have a total fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman in order for a couple to have enough children to replace themselves in the population.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Interior, birth rates fell for the ninth year in a row in 2024.
Couples experiencing infertility will also benefit from the country’s advantages. Approximately 39-year-old women will be eligible for subsidies for up to six in-vitro fertilization (IVF) attempts. For their first three attempts, women between the ages of 39 and 45 will receive subsidies.
Nearly $5, 000 will be awarded to low- and middle-income households for each IVF attempt.
More than 120, 000 families are expected to receive subsidies, according to Minister without Portfolio Chen Shih-chung, according to Taiwan News.
Taiwan is attempting to implement the kind of program that other nations in the area have tried. According to CNN, parents in South Korea can receive more than $ 2,200 for each newborn, while parents in Hong Kong can receive more than $ 2,500 for each child.
