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Italy’s national team confirmed that head coach Gennaro Gattuso has left his post "by mutual consent" after the Azzurri failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in North America.The Italian Football Federation issued a statement on Friday, thanking Gattuso for his "dedication and passion" during the nine months he oversaw the side.Italy’s hopes were dashed on Tuesday when a penalty‑shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the qualifying playoff ended their tournament aspirations.In his farewell note, Gattuso wrote, "With a heavy heart, having failed to achieve the goal we set for ourselves, I consider my time in charge of the national team to be over." He added that the Azzurri shirt is "the most precious asset in football," and that an immediate technical review was warranted.Appointed in June on a one‑year contract, Gattuso replaced Luciano Spalletti after Italy’s 3‑0 opening defeat to Norway. Under Gattuso, Italy won five consecutive group matches, but Norway’s superior goal difference forced a playoff route.Historically, Italy has stumbled at the playoff stage for the past two World Cups, losing to Sweden and North Macedonia. This campaign seemed promising after a 2‑0 semifinal victory over Northern Ireland, yet the team surrendered a 1‑0 lead in the Bosnia match and ultimately fell in the shootout.The coaching change follows a turbulent week for Italian football leadership: federation president Gabriele Gravina resigned, and former goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon stepped down as the national team’s delegation chief.Analysts note that Gattuso’s exit underscores the pressure on Italy to restore its status among Europe’s elite. The federation now faces the task of appointing a successor capable of rebuilding a squad that has missed three consecutive World Cups.

The United States has reaffirmed that it is still prepared to engage Tehran in diplomatic talks, despite the ongoing US‑Israel war against Iran and President Donald Trump’s renewed threats to target the country’s civilian infrastructure. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott told Al Jazeera that President Trump had pursued negotiations with Iran before the conflict erupted, but accused the Iranian regime of persisting in its quest for a nuclear weapon. "The president is always open to diplomacy, but he’s also clear that we will see our objectives fulfilled here," Pigott said, underscoring the administration’s dual track of diplomatic engagement and military pressure. In a primetime address aired on Wednesday, Trump echoed his earlier claims that the United States is winning the war, yet offered no concrete roadmap for ending the hostilities or reopening the Strait of Hormuz – a chokepoint whose closure by Tehran has driven global energy prices higher. The conflict began on February 28, shortly after a round of Geneva talks that Omani mediators and Iranian officials described as “positive.” Last year, Israel struck Iran’s three primary nuclear facilities in an operation the White House dubbed “Midnight Hammer.” Iran continues to deny any intention to develop a nuclear weapon, while Israel is widely believed to possess an undeclared nuclear arsenal. Former intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard testified to Congress that Iran was not rebuilding enrichment capacity before the June 2025 attacks, and later reiterated that there have been no efforts to restore its nuclear program since the strikes. Nevertheless, Tehran insists on the right to enrich uranium domestically and has ruled out negotiations over its missile program and support for groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas. Pigott emphasized that the United States is maintaining high‑level diplomatic contacts across the region, stating, "We see diplomatic engagement at the highest levels of this administration, with our partners in the region, to pursue our interests and explore what can happen here." The spokesperson also accused Iran of targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, describing the threat of a nuclear‑armed Tehran as "intolerable." In response, Iran has launched missile and drone attacks against U.S. and Israeli assets, as well as energy facilities, hotels, and airports throughout the Middle East. Trump later posted footage of a U.S. strike on a major Iranian bridge, warning that similar attacks could follow. He wrote on social media, "IT IS TIME FOR IRAN TO MAKE A DEAL BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, and there is nothing left of what could become a great country." In the same speech, he threatened to destroy Iran’s power plants and, earlier in the week, suggested the United States could also target water desalination stations – actions that legal experts say would constitute collective punishment under international law. Barbara Slavin, a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center, told Al Jazeera that Trump appears to be "scrambling" to intensify the war in hopes of forcing a resolution before the conflict turns into a definitive failure.

When Hurricane Beryl devastated Union Island in St Vincent and the Grenadines in July 2024, 61-year-old Tedica Alexander found refuge at the Ashton community center, which her grandchildren called 'Final Destination.' As the storm intensified, the shelter quickly filled to capacity with 47 children and 147 adults, including three people using wheelchairs, while windows shattered and floodwaters rose above ankle height. Alexander's experience mirrors a broader pattern revealed across the Caribbean: women often take on caretaker roles during natural disasters, yet studies show this responsibility can make their experiences more difficult. UN Women reported in 2022 that pre-existing social and cultural demands on women as primary caregivers increase their vulnerability during disasters, with gendered roles making women and girls more likely to be killed in such events. While emergency shelters provide critical protection from storms, they often fail to address gender-based violence risks. A 2021 systematic review published in BMJ Global Health found that post-disaster environments frequently heighten risks for women and girls, with inadequate shelter infrastructure—such as lack of doors, walls, and locks—contributing to increased violence in Haiti, Japan, and Nepal. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has been working to address these challenges, according to Loyce Pace, the organization's Americas regional director. The federation publishes manuals providing guidance to agencies working during natural disasters, focusing on ensuring governments understand their roles in emergencies and have access to necessary resources. Despite these efforts, significant challenges remain. In the Bahamas, emergency shelter capacity accommodates only 3% of the population, according to Aarone Sargent, managing director of the Disaster Risk Management Authority. During Hurricane Melissa in 2025, approximately 1,800 people from the southern islands were evacuated to New Providence and accommodated in six or seven shelters. The recovery phase presents particular difficulties for women. As Pace notes, while immediate response has improved attention to vulnerable populations, the recovery period often proves more challenging, especially for single women seeking loans or rebuilding businesses. Alexander, whose home and livelihood were destroyed in Hurricane Beryl, continues to live without electricity or water, struggling to regain stability months after the disaster. As the Caribbean region faces increasingly frequent and intense storms, experts emphasize the need for gender-responsive disaster planning and adequate shelter infrastructure that addresses the specific vulnerabilities women and girls face before, during, and after natural disasters.