Iran women's football team cross Turkish border to head home: AFP

Deutsche Tageszeitung - Iran women's football team cross Turkish border to head home: AFP

Iran women's football team cross Turkish border to head home: AFP / Photo: © AFP

Seven members of the delegation had sought sanctuary in Australia last week after being branded "traitors" in Iran for refusing to sing the national anthem before their opening game at the Women's Asian Cup.

But five later changed their minds, including captain Zahra Ghanbari.

The team arrived in Istanbul on Tuesday evening from Oman, then flew to the eastern city of Igdir before travelling home overland.

Wearing Iranian national team tracksuits, the women could be seen leaving the airport for the Gurbulak-Bazargan crossing about 100 kilometres (60 miles) to the southeast.

The players arrived in Turkey via Oman and Kuala Lumpur, having left Australia where they were competing in the Asian Cup.

"I am missing my family," one of them told AFP on Monday at Kuala Lumpur airport.

In a post on X, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the players and their support team were "children of the homeland, and the people of Iran embrace them".

He said by returning, they had "disappointed the enemies (of Iran) and did not surrender to deception and intimidation by anti-Iran elements".

In the end, only two of the players remained in Australia.

Rights groups have accused Tehran of pressuring athletes abroad by threatening relatives with the seizure of property if they defect or make statements against the Islamic republic.

Iranian authorities had in turn accused Australia of pressuring the players to stay.

(Y.Ignatiev--DTZ)

Florida AG Investigates DSA Politicians Over Suspected Chinese and Cuban Funding

Florida Attorney-General James Uthmeier has initiated a formal investigation into the financial activities of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) politicians, focusing on allegations of foreign funding. The probe examines whether tens of thousands of dollars provided by China and Cuba were used to finance official travel for DSA delegates in 2025.

Qatar Leads Diplomatic Push to Bridge US-Iran Divide Amid Regional Tensions

Qatar is advancing a comprehensive diplomatic campaign aimed at reducing tensions between the United States and Iran and promoting regional stability. Following high-level meetings in Washington with US leadership, Qatari officials reported sustained consultations with international partners to prevent escalation and support peace efforts across the Middle East and beyond.

Eli Crane Defeats Jonathan Nez in Tight Arizona Congressional Race

Incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Eli Crane has retained his seat in Arizona’s second congressional district after defeating former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez in an unexpectedly close election. The Associated Press called the race on Monday, confirming Crane’s narrow victory following nearly a week of vote counting.

Economist Testifies Canada Has Limited Power to Alter Global Climate

An environmental economist testifying at Canada’s first youth-led climate trial stated Monday that the federal government has limited power to alter the climate within its borders because global warming is largely driven by the choices of other nations. Professor David Anthoff, appearing as the first witness for the federal government in Vancouver, emphasized that while domestic policy matters, it cannot solve the problem in isolation.