News

Bill Cody, one of the most celebrated personalities in American country radio and a long-serving announcer for the Grand Ole Opry, has died in Nashville, Variety reports. He was 67.

The veteran broadcaster passed away on Tuesday following a period of severe illness. In late May, his daughter revealed that he was in critical condition and required both heart and kidney transplants to survive. The country music community had rallied around the family with calls for prayer in his final days.

Announcing the news on Facebook on Tuesday evening, his son David thanked the public for their overwhelming support...

Referees officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup are in line for record-breaking earnings, with some match officials expected to receive more than $100,000 in fees and bonuses during the tournament.

According to reports, referees will receive a substantial participation payment for being selected for the World Cup, in addition to match fees for every game they officiate. Those chosen for knockout-stage matches will earn significantly more than officials limited to the group stage.

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg said FIFA’s compensation model rewards officials based on the number and importance of matches they oversee. Referees appointed...

McDonald’s has launched a special FIFA World Cup 2026 menu, introducing new burgers, limited-edition collectibles and themed Happy Meals as football fans prepare for the start of the tournament.

Among the new additions are the Mexican Chipotle Chicken burger and the Sweet Carolina BBQ Stack, alongside Mozzarella and Gouda Crunchy Cheesy Bites. The menu also brings back several customer favourites, including Big Mac Sauce dipping pots and the Galaxy McFlurry range.

A major feature of the promotion is the FIFA World Cup Meal, which includes a Big Mac, McPlant or Chicken McNuggets meal paired with a randomly allocated...

Families affected by the Air India Flight 171 crash have reportedly been asked to return to the disaster site in Ahmedabad as authorities continue recovery and identification efforts following the tragedy that claimed 260 lives. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off on June 12, 2025, killing 241 people on board and 19 on the ground.

According to reports, some relatives have been asked to help identify personal belongings recovered from the wreckage and assist officials as the clean-up operation continues. The request has prompted criticism from grieving families, who argue that returning to the crash site...

FIFA is facing growing criticism from environmental groups and researchers after new studies suggested the 2026 World Cup could become the most polluting tournament in football history. Estimates indicate the competition may generate between 7.8 mln and 9 mln tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, more than double the footprint of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, will feature a record 48 teams and 104 matches spread across 16 cities. Experts say the vast distances between venues will make air travel the biggest source of emissions...

FIFA has confirmed that Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will not officiate at the 2026 World Cup after being denied entry into the United States just days before the tournament begins.

Artan, who was due to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a men’s World Cup, was stopped upon arrival at Miami International Airport despite reportedly holding a valid visa. US authorities later determined that he was inadmissible following additional screening procedures.

FIFA said it had no authority over immigration decisions made by host countries and confirmed that Artan would be unable to take part in...

British actor Idris Elba has addressed long-running rumours linking him to the role of James Bond, saying he never considered the prospect realistic despite years of speculation.

In a recent interview with British GQ, the 53-year-old star said the rumours were “never legit” and explained that he believed some audiences around the world would not accept a Black actor portraying the iconic British spy.

Elba said he was flattered to be associated with the role but argued that James Bond was created in a specific way and should remain an escapist character rather than being reshaped to satisfy...

The European Union is preparing a new round of sanctions against Russia while stepping up political and economic support for Armenia, underscoring the widening divide between Moscow and one of its traditional allies. Recent EU measures target Russia’s banking sector, energy revenues and sanctions-evasion networks as Brussels seeks to increase pressure over the war in Ukraine.

At the same time, the EU has pledged more than €50 mln in emergency assistance to Armenia after Russia imposed new restrictions on Armenian exports. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described Moscow’s actions as “economic coercion” and vowed support for...

FIFA has announced a star-studded roster of international artists set to perform and contribute music for the 2026 World Cup, as the organisation expands its entertainment offering ahead of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The lineup includes global stars such as Shakira, Burna Boy, LISA, Tyla, Anitta, Future, J Balvin and Rema, with several artists contributing tracks to the official 18-song World Cup album.

According to FIFA, the soundtrack has been designed to reflect the diversity of the tournament, bringing together performers from different continents, languages and musical genres. FIFA President Gianni Infantino described...

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is facing growing controversy ahead of its opening matches as visa problems threaten to prevent several referees, officials and supporters from attending the tournament in the United States.

One of the most high-profile cases involves Somali referee Omar Artan, who was reportedly denied entry to the US despite holding a valid visa. The decision has sparked concern within football circles and renewed debate over immigration procedures linked to the tournament.

Iran has also been affected by visa restrictions. Several members of the country’s football delegation were reportedly unable to obtain travel authorisation, forcing...

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to begin this week, but the tournament is already facing controversy over visa restrictions and ticketing disputes affecting teams, officials and supporters.

One of the biggest flashpoints involves Iran, whose football federation claims FIFA revoked its allocation of tickets for group-stage matches in the United States just days before the tournament. The federation said the decision left many supporters unable to attend games despite having made travel arrangements and accused organisers of discriminatory treatment.

Visa issues have also affected several participants. Somali referee Omar Artan was reportedly denied entry to the...

Liverpool teenager Rio Ngumoha has been ruled out of England’s 2026 World Cup squad due to FIFA regulations, despite impressing during the Three Lions’ preparations for the tournament.

The 17-year-old winger made a memorable senior debut in England’s warm-up victory over New Zealand, earning widespread praise and being named Player of the Match after a standout performance.

However, FIFA rules state that any player added to a World Cup squad before the tournament must have been included in the country’s provisional list of up to 55 players submitted in advance. Ngumoha was not named on England’s provisional squad...

Uzbekistan’s solar and wind power plants generated 5 bn kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity since the beginning of 2026. This represents a 28% increase compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Energy.

As of June 8, solar infrastructure contributed 3 bn kWh to the national grid while wind farms accounted for 1.9 bn kWh.

The surge in renewable energy generation has substantially lowered the country’s reliance on fossil fuels. The clean electricity produced by solar and wind facilities allowed Uzbekistan to reduce its natural gas consumption by 1.3 bn cubic metres.

Furthermore...

Apple’s highly anticipated WWDC 2026 concluded, bringing with it a tidal wave of software innovations. While hardware took a backseat this year, the tech giant delivered massive artificial intelligence integrations, robust safety tools and significant design tweaks across its entire ecosystem.

The arrival of Siri AI

The undisputed star of the keynote was Siri AI. Apple has completely rebuilt its voice assistant from the ground up, transforming it into a context-aware powerhouse capable of holding natural conversations.

For the first time, Siri AI gets its own dedicated application. Conversations sync seamlessly via iCloud across your iPhone, iPad, Mac...

American media reports indicate that Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater have ended their relationship after nearly three years together.

According to U.S. magazine People, the couple separated quietly and amicably several months ago. A source stated that the pair made the decision to part ways after careful consideration but remain supportive friends.

Representatives for both actors have been approached for comment.

Romance on set of Wicked

The 32-year-old pop star and the 34-year-old actor first met in 2023 while filming the two-part cinematic adaptation of Wicked in the UK. Grande starred as Glinda in the Wizard of Oz...

Just days before the World Cup kicks off, the Iranian football federation (FFIRI) has revealed that its official ticket allocation has been unexpectedly withdrawn. The last-minute decision has left countless supporters who had already finalised their travel plans completely unable to attend their national team’s fixtures.

The tournament commences on Thursday, with Iran scheduled to navigate a challenging group stage in the United States.

Iran’s Group G fixtures:

Outrage over “political interference“

Under standard tournament regulations, every participating...

Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have agreed to strengthen political, economic and cultural cooperation following a high-profile summit in Pyongyang, Reuters reports.

Marking his first visit to North Korea in seven years, Xi was welcomed with a lavish ceremony to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the historic friendship treaty between the two nations. According to Pyongyang’s state news agency KCNA, the meeting has opened a new chapter in bilateral relations and aims to bolster strategic communication through high-level government exchanges.

During the discussions, Kim reiterated his unwavering support for the “One China principle...

Personnel from the Mississippi National Guard, backed by U.S. Central Command, have concluded a series of emergency preparedness and response drills alongside staff from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The collaborative training sessions took place in the city of Almalyk between May 18 and 21. The bilateral initiative aimed to bolster the capabilities of local first responders when handling large-scale natural disasters.

A major focus of the command and staff exercises involved developing robust action plans to manage the devastating aftermath of severe earthquakes. Uzbek rescue teams participated in practical simulations designed to test their operational readiness under extreme...

Jensen Huang, the chief executive of the American microchip giant Nvidia, has made his inaugural television appearance in South Korea. The tech billionaire featured on the hit tvN talk programme “You Quiz on the Block”, which is fronted by the well-known comedian Yoo Jae-suk.

Preview clips released on Monday revealed Huang sporting his trademark black leather jacket while dancing to the immensely popular track “Golden”. The song is part of the original soundtrack for the Netflix animated feature “KPop Demon Hunters”. Filmed against the backdrop of traditional Korean houses known as hanok, the CEO enthusiastically remarked:

New York City’s most famous landmarks, from the Empire State Building to One World Trade Center, were illuminated in orange and blue to celebrate the Knicks’ highly anticipated first home game of the series. However, the electric atmosphere was complicated by exorbitant ticket costs, recent street chaos and a high-profile visit from Donald Trump, BBC reports.

Securing a seat for the milestone match proved impossible for the average supporter. Online resale markets saw the cheapest available tickets soar past $10,000 (£7,500), with premium spots demanding upwards of $100,000. While regular-season Knicks fixtures are traditionally among the NBA’s most expensive...

The death tool from the powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on June 8 has risen to 37. Search and rescue operations continue as authorities report that more than 450 people have been injured and four individuals remain missing.

The natural disaster has affected over 17,600 families, translating to roughly 77,000 people. The city of General Santos and Sarangani province are the hardest-hit areas, where search and rescue teams are currently concentrated.

Displacement and temporary shelters

Many residents refuse to return to their homes due to ongoing aftershocks and fears regarding...

Uzbekistan lost 2-1 to the Netherlands in an international friendly in New York. Fabio Cannavaro’s team equalised in the 92nd minute through Igor Sergeev but conceded a late penalty to lose the match.

The Netherlands controlled possession early in the game and created several chances against goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov. In the 30th minute, the referee awarded a penalty after Jakhongir Urozov fouled Crysencio Summerville. Cody Gakpo took the penalty and scored to give the Netherlands the lead.

Following the goal, Uzbekistan increased their attacking efforts through Abbosbek Fayzullaev and Eldor Shomurodov but entered half-time trailing 1-0.

Second half and...

As part of a working visit to Zurich, Switzerland, Uzbekinvest Insurance Company held a series of high-level meetings with leading Swiss insurance and reinsurance institutions and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Swiss Export Risk Insurance (SERV), Switzerland’s official export credit agency.

During the discussions, SERV Director Cristina Schulze-Bergmann highly praised the economic reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. She also highlighted the growing interest of leading Swiss companies in pursuing investment projects in Uzbekistan across key sectors, including energy, pharmaceuticals, engineering, electrical manufacturing, tourism and other industries.

The parties also noted that a...

TV personality Katie Price has fuelled speculation about the future of her marriage following a trip to Dubai to visit her husband, Lee Andrews, who remains in prison over what authorities have described as a private civil matter.

According to reports, Price travelled to Dubai in an effort to help secure Andrews’ release and has spent several days visiting courts, police stations and Al Awir prison. She has described the situation as emotionally and physically exhausting, admitting that “time is running out” as efforts continue to resolve the case.

Rumours of a possible split intensified after sources claimed...