News

Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title has been dramatically halted following a brutal five-set defeat to Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca, Reuters reports.

The 39-year-old Serbian appeared to be cruising into the fourth round of the French Open before suffering a spectacular collapse on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Fonseca mounted a remarkable comeback to secure a 4-6 4-6 6-3 7-5 7-5 victory after nearly five hours of gruelling tennis.

The shock result means Djokovic remains tied with Margaret Court on 24 major singles titles. His departure also blows the men’s draw wide open. With world number one Jannik...

A collision between a passenger train and a school minibus in the northern Belgian town of Buggenhout has resulted in the deaths of four people, including two children aged 12 and 15, BBC reports.

The fatal crash occurred shortly after 08:00 local time (06:00 GMT). The vehicle was transporting seven secondary school children to a special educational needs facility, accompanied by a 49-year-old driver and a 27-year-old chaperone. Both adults also perished in the incident.

The sequence of events

According to federal police spokeswoman An Berger, the minibus had been travelling along a road parallel to the railway...

Australia is currently confronting its most severe diphtheria outbreak since 1991, a crisis tragically punctuated by the nation’s first death from the highly contagious bacterial infection in almost ten years, BBC reports.

Authorities confirmed on Tuesday that autopsy results from an international laboratory identified diphtheria as the cause of death for a man who passed away at Royal Darwin Hospital in April.

This fatality is the first of its kind recorded in the country since 2018. Across Australia, 245 infections have been logged this year alone, predominantly impacting remote Indigenous communities.

The Northern Territory (NT) officially declared an outbreak...

Despite some in the Formula 1 paddock dismissing Max Verstappen’s threat to walk away if regulations are not amended for next year as mere political posturing, sources close to the driver insist he is entirely serious, The Race reports.

Insiders maintain that the four-time world champion’s recent remarks in Montreal, where he stated it was “not mentally doable” to keep racing with the current cars, are completely genuine.

While Verstappen has been less vocal about his frustrations recently, this is simply because he sees no value in repeating himself endlessly. However, his core message has not wavered. Following qualifying...

AC Milan has officially dismissed head coach Massimiliano Allegri following a deeply underwhelming campaign in the Italian top flight. The decision was finalised after the Rossoneri suffered a frustrating 2-1 home defeat to Cagliari in the 38th and final round of the Serie A season.

The defeat served as a bitter conclusion to a difficult year for the club, which ultimately finished in fifth place. In contrast, fierce city rivals Inter Milan claimed the league title, followed by Napoli in second and Roma in third.

This marks the end of Allegri’s second stint in charge of the Milan squad...

For the first time in a quarter of a century, the New York Knicks are heading back to the NBA Finals, CNN reports.

The historic milestone was secured in ruthless fashion on Monday evening as New York dismantled the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 on their own court. The blowout victory cemented a clean 4-0 sweep in the Eastern Conference finals and extended the Knicks’ phenomenal postseason winning streak to 11 games, a feat last achieved by the Golden State Warriors during their 2017 championship run.

By the time the final buzzer sounded, the Cleveland arena had essentially transformed into a...

Italian luxury sports car manufacturer Ferrari has officially revealed its first fully electric vehicle. Named the Luce, which translates to “light” in Italian, the groundbreaking model comes with a hefty £474,320 ($640,000) price tag and marks a significant departure from the brand’s traditional aesthetic.

Notably, it is also the first five-seater ever produced by the historic Maranello marque.

A bold design collaboration

The Luce’s unconventional design is the result of a collaboration with LoveFrom, the creative agency founded by former Apple design chief Sir Jony Ive. The drastic visual shift has sparked intense debate online. While some social media...

The jazz world is mourning the loss of a true giant. Walter Theodore “Sonny” Rollins, the masterful tenor saxophonist widely hailed as the “Saxophone Colossus,” died on Monday at his home in Woodstock, New York, Variety reports. He was 95 years old.

The news was confirmed by his publicist, Terri Hinte, who stated that Rollins had been largely confined to his home in recent years due to declining health, including pulmonary fibrosis, which ultimately forced him to retire from playing in 2014.

Sonny Rollins leaves behind a towering legacy that spans more than six decades. He was one of...

Cryptocurrency mining companies operating in the region of Karakalpakstan could soon be permitted to extract low-yield oil and gas to generate their own electricity. This pioneering initiative is outlined in a draft order drawn up by the National Agency of Perspective Projects (NAPP) to establish a special crypto zone named Besqala Mining Valley.

Under the proposed regulations, this designated mining territory will encompass the entirety of Karakalpakstan. Operations within the valley will be strictly limited to legal entities registered in Uzbekistan that have obtained explicit authorisation from the NAPP and secured official resident status within the zone.

Innovative energy...

South Korean sensations BTS secured the coveted Artist of the Year title at the 52nd American Music Awards on Monday, marking their second triumph in the ceremony’s most prestigious category.

This accolade arrives on the heels of the septet’s highly anticipated reunion. All seven members recently completed their mandatory military service before releasing their fifth studio album, “Arirang”, earlier this year.

Cementing their enduring global dominance, the group beat a star-studded list of nominees that included Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga. This latest milestone mirrors their historic 2021 Artist of the Year win, a year they...

The Colombian national football team has confirmed its final 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup.

The South American heavyweights have been drawn into the same group as Uzbekistan, setting up a highly anticipated and unprecedented meeting between the two nations on the global stage.

Veteran playmaker James Rodriguez remains the talisman of the squad. He is flanked by a formidable array of top-flight talent, including Bayern Munich winger Luis Diaz, Krasnodar forward Jhon Cordoba and Crystal Palace midfielder Jefferson Lerma.

The coaching staff has opted for a highly balanced roster that seamlessly blends seasoned internationals with dynamic young...

At least 19 individuals have required medical treatment following a chemical scare at a high-end retail complex in the Japanese capital. The incident unfolded on Monday inside the Ginza Six shopping centre when a male suspect discharged a noxious substance near a ground-floor cash machine.

According to national broadcaster NHK, the perpetrator fled the area immediately after the attack and local police have launched an active manhunt to locate him.

The suspected substance and symptoms

Authorities believe the aerosol used in the attack was an irritant spray containing capsaicin, the active chemical compound that gives chilli peppers their...

The Spanish national football team has finalised its roster for the highly anticipated World Cup. Known affectionately as “La Roja” (The Red Fury), the squad will be aiming to secure their second world title following their historic victory in South Africa back in 2010.

Entering the tournament as a formidable contender, Spain currently holds the second spot in the FIFA world rankings as of May 25. They sit just behind the current leaders France and maintain a narrow lead over third-placed England.

To advance to the knockout phases, Spain will need to successfully navigate a diverse group. They...

Toshifumi Suzuki, the visionary widely celebrated as the founding father of Japan’s convenience store sector, has died at the age of 93, Reuters reports. Seven & i Holdings confirmed on Monday that the retail titan passed away from heart failure on May 18.

Born in Nagano in 1932, Suzuki began his professional life at a book wholesaler before securing a role at the retail firm Ito-Yokado in 1963. Facing considerable scepticism from industry observers, he forged a bold partnership with Southland Corp, the American operator of 7-Eleven, in 1973. This collaboration led to the creation of Seven-Eleven Japan, with...

According to sports outlet Championat.Asia, Pakhtakor has supplied the highest number of players from the Uzbekistan Super League to the national squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

The reigning champions have delegated four athletes to the tournament. Other domestic clubs are also well represented, with Neftchi providing three players, while Nasaf, Dinamo and Navbahor have each contributed two.

The official roster for the global showpiece was announced on May 25. Here is the complete breakdown of the team heading to the United States:

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Kyrgyzstan is now the third nation in Central Asia to gain access to Starlink’s satellite internet network. This development was recently confirmed by coverage maps on the company’s official website.

The expansion is set to continue across the region as both Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are slated to receive the service later this year.

Local news outlet Kaktus.Media reports that Kyrgyz subscribers are already successfully testing the network. Users are being allocated local IP addresses while their internet traffic is routed directly from space.

Elcat is acting as the exclusive operator for Starlink within the country. Representatives from the...

Kimi Antonelli has cemented his status as the man to beat in the 2026 Formula 1 season by taking his fourth consecutive victory at a breathless Canadian Grand Prix. The Mercedes teenager triumphed in a race defined by unpredictable weather, poor tyre gambles and an intensely fierce battle with his team mate George Russell.

The intra-team rivalry at the Silver Arrows completely ignited at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. After a clean start, Russell and Antonelli engaged in a sensational dogfight for the race lead that lasted for over 30 laps. The pair swapped positions multiple times, pushed each other to...

Following a fiery Sprint race that saw the Mercedes duo bang wheels in a bitter fight for victory, the tension carried straight into qualifying at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.

Q1: Home heartbreak for Stroll and Aston Martin

The opening 18 minutes of qualifying proved chaotic from the moment the green light illuminated at the end of the pit lane. Franco Colapinto was forced to brake hard to avoid Fernando Alonso in the fast lane while local hero Lance Stroll was noted by the stewards for an unsafe release involving a damaged wheel rim.

Pit lane shenanigans...

George Russell successfully converted his Sprint pole into a victory at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve but the 23-lap dash was defined by soaring tensions within the Mercedes camp.

Mercedes hold the advantage, and Hamilton makes his way through on Piastri! 😎

Here's how the start of the Sprint unfolded! 👀👇#F1Sprint #CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/JKGYmsj4Qb

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 23, 2026

The Silver Arrows locked out the front row and cleanly navigated the opening corners but Kimi Antonelli quickly applied immense pressure to his more experienced teammate. Riding a wave of confidence and armed with a...

At least 90 people have been killed following a catastrophic gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China. The tragedy in Shanxi province marks the country’s deadliest mining disaster in more than a decade, Reuters reports.

The blast occurred late on Friday evening at the Liushenyu coal mine situated in Qinyuan county. According to the state news agency Xinhua, a total of 247 workers were operating underground when the explosion tore through the facility.

Shanxi province is widely recognised as the industrial heartland of China’s coal mining sector, making it a critical but historically hazardous region for energy...

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella addressed the latest wave of Formula 1 speculation by denying that Oscar Piastri is destined for a move to Red Bull. Reports had recently suggested the Australian could switch camps if Max Verstappen decided to leave but Stella insists McLaren is perfectly content with its current driver pairing.

Speaking to the media ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, Stella brushed off the reports as typical paddock gossip. He emphasised that Piastri is currently performing at his absolute best and remains tied to a multi-year deal that keeps him at the Woking-based outfit until...

Uzbekistan’s grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov secured a victory in the seventh round of the Super Chess Classic Romania. The chess star defeated the tournament leader Vincent Keymer.

This result altered the tournament landscape with only two rounds remaining. Keymer’s defeat means he now shares the top spot in a tense three-way tie alongside Fabiano Caruana and Jorden van Foreest. All three leaders currently sit on 4.5 points.

Meanwhile, Sindarov has catapulted himself into the chasing pack. He now holds a 50% success rate and trails the frontrunners by a single point, placing him in a broader tie for fifth to...

Tom Hardy parted ways with the hit Paramount+ crime drama Mobland, Variety reports.

Sources have confirmed that the British actor will not be returning for the show’s third series. Production for series two recently wrapped in March but reports indicate that Hardy was not invited back for future episodes due to on-set friction. The alleged clashes reportedly involved executive producer Jez Butterworth, 101 Studios and various other members of the production team.

While representatives for Hardy, Butterworth, Paramount and 101 Studios have yet to publicly comment on the matter, the news was originally brought to light by the media...

Robert Ginyard, the visionary rapper universally known as Rob Base, has passed away at the age of 59. The Harlem-born musician died on May 22 surrounded by his loved ones following a deeply private battle with cancer. Tragically, his passing occurred just four days after he celebrated his 59th birthday.

A statement shared across his official social media channels confirmed the loss, describing him as a loving father, family man, friend and creative force. The tribute noted that his infectious energy brought joy to millions and provided the soundtrack to countless lives around the globe.

Bridging hip-hop and...