Spinner Abrar Ahmed was snapped up by Sunrisers Leeds — a Hundred franchise with links to the Indian Premier League — on Thursday despite fears Pakistani players would be frozen out due to political tensions.

The England and Wales Cricket Board last month issued a statement saying all eight of the city-based franchises in the 100-ball-a-side competition were committed to selection based solely on performances.

A longstanding political stand-off between India and Pakistan mean the two nations only play each other in major global cricket events.

Read: England skipper Harry Brook says a ‘shame’ if Pakistan players snubbed for Hundred competition

Cricketers from Pakistan have not featured in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2009 because of diplomatic tensions.

The only two Pakistan players in Wednesday’s women’s auction, Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal, went unsold.

Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi withdrew from the men’s sale and fellow paceman Haris Rauf failed to attract an offer when put up for his reserve price of £100,000 ($134,000) at the auction in London on Thursday.

But Sunrisers bought 27-year-old Ahmed for £190,000, while fellow Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq, 28, was snapped up by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000.

Sunrisers are owned in full by the group behind IPL outfit Sunrisers Hyderabad.

London Spirit paid £390,000 for uncapped English all-rounder James Cole while Welsh fire spent a combined £540,000 on batsman Jordan Cox and former England captain Joe Root.

The Hundred is staging the first auction of its kind in a major British sport after previously using a draft system to select players.

Stakes in the eight franchises were sold last year to private investors, raising huge sums for cricket in England and Wales.

Four of the franchises — MI London, Manchester Super Giants, Sunrisers Leeds and Southern Brave — are at least part-owned by companies that control IPL teams.

The 2026 edition of the Hundred, featuring men’s and women’s competitions, starts on July 21 and runs for four weeks.

PERTH:

North Korea pledged Thursday there will be no more sideline protests during their Women’s Asian Cup quarter-final with Australia after causing a stir against China.

An incensed North Korea refused to play for several minutes in their 2-1 loss to the Chinese during a group game on Monday.

They were left fuming when former Tottenham attacker Wang Shuang scored in first-half stoppage time, demanding the referee look at the pitchside monitor.

The three-time champions refused to resume the game for four minutes as boos rang out.

“If that kind of situation happens again in tomorrow’s match, we will follow the referees, the match official’s decision, and respect it,” coach Ri Song Ho told reporters in Perth through an interpreter.

Ri was yellow-carded for his part in the fracas.

North Korea are set to face a partisan full house at Perth Rectangular Stadium on Friday against the hosts, who beat them on penalties in the 2010 final after it ended 1-1.

Australia’s Sam Kerr is the only player left from the match, with North Korea now boasting a young and physical side.

They are looking to build on defending their Women’s U17 World Cup title in Morocco last year, which came on the heels of winning the U20 World Cup in Colombia in 2024.

Talented striker Choe Il Son played in both those triumphs before transitioning to the full national side.

“We know Australia are a formidable team, so tomorrow we will give our best to support each other and perform at our highest level,” she said.

“We have talent on our side and we’ve been preparing carefully for the match. We’re excited to show what our team can do on the pitch.”

Not only is a semi-final berth at stake, but also 2027 World Cup qualification with the top six finishers booking their tickets to the Brazil showpiece.

Sydney:

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen said Thursday he was not having much fun driving the new era of Formula One cars, joking he was “practising with Mario Kart” because it was more realistic than his simulator.

The Red Bull driver crashed in qualifying in the season-opener in Australia last weekend before having to carve his way from 20th on the grid to finish a creditable sixth.

The new cars require battery management and energy harvesting with a 50-50 split between conventional and electrical power.

They also have features such as straight-line mode, active aero, overtake and boost buttons, which Verstappen reckons are nearer to a video game.

“I swapped the simulator for my Nintendo Switch. I’m practising with Mario Kart, actually. Finding the mushrooms is going quite well, the blue shells are a bit more difficult.”

Verstappen announced this week that he would be driving in the Nurburgring 24-hour race this year.

“I wish I had a bit more fun for sure,” he said of Formula One at the moment.

“I mean, I get to race the Nordschleife (Nurburgring) and I hope in the coming years I can do Spa and hopefully Le Mans.

“So I’m combining stuff and I’m also doing other stuff that is a lot of fun.

“It’s a bit conflicted because I don’t really enjoy to drive the car, but I do enjoy working with all the people in the team and from the engine department as well.”

He did express optimism that things would improve as the new rules and regulations were adjusted and said drivers were already in discussions over changes.

“I hope, of course, that it gets better,” said the Dutchman.

“I’ve had discussions with F1 and the FIA and I think we are working towards something that will improve everything.”

Primark is partnering with Coleen Rooney on an exclusive new collection of stylish everyday essentials. Rooted in a shared belief that looking good shouldn’t mean spending more, ‘By Coleen’ brings together Coleen’s style and Primark’s commitment to offering great fashion at affordable prices.

With a life-long love for fashion and pulling together looks that that work for whatever the day has in store – whether the school run, the office or brunch with friends, ‘By Coleen’ has been designed to be stylish and versatile. Focusing on quality pieces that feel good to wear, are easy to style and can be worn again and again.

The new collection features clean silhouettes, soft-touch fabrics and calm, wearable colour palettes with thoughtful details to make getting dressed feel even simpler. From layering up to dressing down or styling for something in between, every piece can be worn on repeat.

Primark has partnered with Coleen Rooney to launch the ‘By Coleen’ collection of versatile everyday womenswear.
The range includes modern leisurewear, barrel-fit denim, lace-detailed styles and contemporary outerwear.
Designed for comfort and effortless styling, the collection is available across 16 international markets.

Hero items include leisurewear with a modern structure, and barrel fit denim. Romantic lace elevates both satin and jersey, while outerwear leans contemporary with a crisp white funnel neck jacket and an essential longline mac. Classics return through white and blue stripe shirting, balanced by refined utilitarian tailoring in a sleek utility shirt and trouser combo, with prices starting from £7 (~ $9.34).

Commenting on the partnership and new collection, Coleen said: “Primark has been part of my life for years I remember travelling to Manchester to shop there as a teenager and even visiting Penneys in Ireland when I was younger. Working with Primark feels like such a natural fit because I’ve always believed you don’t need to spend more to look great. I’m constantly on the move from the school run to meetings, lunch or football training, so I need clothes that work across all of it. With this collection, I wanted to create everyday pieces that are wearable, comfortable and made from lovely fabrics, but still feel polished and stylish. I hope that women can wear this collection and feel confident, put-together and like the best version of themselves.”

Mary Lucas, Womenswear Trading Director at Primarkadded: “We’re thrilled to be working with Coleen and bringing this collection to the high street. We both feel passionately that you don’t need to spend more to look and feel great in what you’re wearing and that ethos is at the heart of this collaboration. This first collection is designed to be versatile, and we’ve worked hard to ensure that the looks are considered and stylish and wearable for whatever the day holds.”

Prices start from £7 (~ $9.34) for the shoulder pad tee and up to £34 (~$45.37) for the must-have mac coat. The collection is available in 16 international markets and customers can browse the full range online and check availability of their favourite products using the stock checker before heading to their local store. In Great Britain, customers will also be able to shop the collection via Click & Collect.

Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (JP)

Tax season is stressful enough, but avoidable mistakes can turn a routine filing into an expensive headache.

With Tax Day approaching, here are five common filing missteps that could mean a smaller refund, a bigger bill or delays getting your return processed.

1. Choosing the wrong filing status

Your filing status is one of the most important choices on your tax return because it helps determine your tax rate, your standard deduction and which credits you may be eligible to claim. Pick the wrong one, and you could end up paying more than you owe, getting a smaller refund or triggering delays if the IRS flags the return for review.

For many taxpayers, the confusion comes from life changes that happened during the year, like getting married or divorced, having a child, moving in with a partner, supporting an aging parent or sharing custody. Even if your situation feels straightforward, the IRS rules can be less intuitive, especially for taxpayers who aren’t sure whether they qualify as “head of household” or whether they can still file as “qualifying surviving spouse” after a spouse has died.

Head of household, in particular, can be costly to get wrong. It typically comes with a larger standard deduction and more favorable tax brackets than filing as single – but it has strict requirements tied to paying more than half the cost of keeping up a home and having a qualifying dependent. If you don’t meet the rules and claim it anyway, you may have to pay back tax benefits later, plus penalties and interest.

When in doubt, the IRS has an online filing-status tooland many tax software programs will walk you through the questions to help you choose the right category.

2. Leaving credits on the table

One of the biggest and most expensive tax-season mistakes is failing to claim every credit or deduction you qualify for. That can mean a smaller refund or a higher bill.

“I think the top mistake people make is not fully understanding or taking the time to really research what are all the different deductions and the ways that you can put a little bit of extra money in your pocket that are available to you,” said Bill Sweeney, senior vice president of government affairs at AARP.

AVERAGE TAX REFUND TOPS $3,700 MIDWAY THROUGH FILING SEASON, TREASURY SAYS

Sweeney also warned taxpayers not to rely on last year’s return as a blueprint for filing because of recent changes to the tax code from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

“This would be a good year given that there are these changes to the tax code, to make sure not to assume that what you did last year will convey over to this year. Really take a fresh look at your tax situation and see if there’s money that you’re leaving on the table,” he said.

3. Missing key deadlines

An extension can buy you time to file your paperwork, but it doesn’t give you extra time to pay. For most taxpayers, the IRS deadline to pay what you owe is April 15, 2026 – even if you request an extension to file later.

“Remember that even if you claim an extension, the money is owed on April 15,” said Mike Faulkender, co-chair of American Prosperity at the America First Policy Institute.

WHAT TRUMP’S NEXT PICK TO LEAD THE FEDERAL RESERVE MEANS FOR YOUR WALLET

Faulkender, a former Treasury official and IRS commissioner, said taxpayers who need more time should still estimate their bill and pay by the filing deadline to help avoid added costs.

“You have to actually send in a check or have the payment deducted from your account by the filing deadline,” he said.

If you can’t pay in full by April 15, pay what you can to help limit penalties and interest on top of your tax bill.

4. Entering bank account details incorrectly

If you choose direct deposit for your refund, the IRS relies on the routing and account numbers you provide. One wrong digit can lead to delays.

If you pay what you owe by direct debit, incorrect banking details can also lead to a rejected payment and potentially result in penalties and interest.

5. Filing before all your tax forms arrive

Timing matters when it comes to filing your taxes. Submitting your return before you’ve received all your key paperwork, like W-2s or 1099s, can lead to errors, missing income or a return you have to amend later.

Faulkender said there’s a simple way to double-check what’s been reported under your name before you file.

“One of the things that I learned last year when I was IRS commissioner, was that if you create an account on irs.gov, you can see everything that’s been filed under your tax ID,” he said.

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“We’re supposed to receive all of our W-2s and our 1099 forms in the mail in January and February. But if you’re missing one, or you misplaced it rather than requesting it again, you can actually go and see what was filed under your taxpayer identification number if you create an account on IRS.gov.”

Filing late can also cost you extra money, especially if you owe. The goal is to wait until you have what you need, then file as soon as you’re ready.

Papa John’s International is reportedly reviewing a new proposal to take the company private in a potential $1.5 billion acquisition, according to Reuters.

Irth Capital Management, a Qatari-backed investment fund supported by Brookfield Asset Management, reportedly submitted the proposal on Wednesday, offering $47 per share, a 44% premium over the stock’s most recent closing price.

Following the announcement, the stock surged by a significant 15%, closing around $38.86.

The bid comes after Papa John’s has been pursuing a turnaround strategy following years of weak demand under multiple CEOs.

BAHAMA BREEZE TO CLOSE ALL ITS RESTAURANTS

Irth Capital, a relatively new firm founded in 2024 and backed by a member of the Qatari royal family, reportedly already holds about a 10% stake in Papa John’s.

Led by co-founders Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulla Al-Thani and Matthew Bradshaw, the firm is working alongside Brookfield Asset Management on a high-stakes offer that, if successful, would mark one of Irth’s first major transactions, Reuters said.

Ticker	Security	Last	Change	Change %
PIZZA	PAPA JOHN’S INTERNATIONAL INC.	38.86	+6.32	+19.42%

The potential acquisition would become one of the firm’s first major deals, following a period of financial recovery and previous failed buyout attempts by other investors, including Apollo Global, which had partnered with Irth last year on a joint offer exceeding $60 per share.

RESTAURANT GIANT FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY UNDER MASSIVE DEBT SHORTLY AFTER TOUTING MAJOR EXPANSION

Mounting speculation about the company’s future has also prompted activist investor Irenic Capital Management to build a stake in the pizza chain, according to the outlet.

While the bid is significant, there is no guarantee of an agreement as the pizza giant remains open to other potential buyers.

CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO

Papa John’s has previously struggled with weak consumer spending and tough competition in the pizza industry, specifically among North American restaurants.

In the last quarter, the company reported a 5.4% drop in North American same-store sales. To improve profitability, it announced plans to close roughly 300 underperforming restaurants in the region by the end of 2027.

Reuters contributed to this report.

‘Narendra is also missing, cylinder is also missing…’ Opposition protest outside Parliament, Rahul Gandhi gives notice for discussion in the House on LPG shortage

Calvin Klein Inc., which is part of PVH Corp. (NYSE:PVH), unveils its Spring 2026 campaign starring internationally recognized footballer Raphinha in the brand’s signature underwear. Captured by Daniel Sannwald, the campaign unites athleticism and underwear innovation through Raphinha’s unmatched confidence and skill.

Shot with a focus on movement and strength, the creative brings the footballer’s elite skills to life alongside the newest Calvin Klein underwear styles. Elevated fits and advanced fabrications are made to move with the body, delivering comfort and control. Dynamic visuals explore multiple dimensions of performance, embodying the season’s theme of living in the moment. The accompanying campaign film, set to an up-tempo rhythm, captures Raphinha’s raw athletic energy through the brand’s distinctive visual language.

Calvin Klein, part of PVH Corp., has launched its Spring 2026 campaign starring Brazilian footballer Raphinha.
Shot by Daniel Sannwald, the campaign highlights movement and performance while introducing new underwear styles, including Icon Active Mesh with ventilated panels and Icon Cotton Stretch with an Infinity Bond waistband and moisture-wicking finish.

Designed for a life in motion, underwear innovation drives the season. New ‘Icon Active Mesh’ is engineered with reinforced construction and ventilated mesh panels for enhanced airflow. ‘Icon Cotton Stretch’ elevates the brand’s iconic logo waistband with an innovative stitch-free Infinity Bond waistband and a moisture-wicking finish to deliver performance and premium comfort.

“As an athlete, I’m always focused on how I move and how I feel, and Calvin Klein underwear is designed for performance,” said Raphinha. “This campaign was particularly special as it allowed me to channel my love of music, which had a huge influence on how I grew up, and my love of football.”

Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (JP)