A surveillance camera caught a brutal assault by an Israeli soldier and settlers on two young Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Video shows them slamming the victims onto the ground and repeatedly beating them, including with a plank of wood, leaving them motionless on the ground.
Dua Lipa and Callum Turner have said I Do in an extravagant Italian ceremony in front of family and friendsMusic icon Elton John serenaded Dua and Callum with a live rendition of his hit Your SongCredit: AFP
Dua, 30, and Callum, 36, said ‘I Do’ to one another in an outdoor ceremony adorned with high trees at the magnificent 18th century Villa Valguarnera with A-list pals Charli XCX, Mark Ronson and Tame Impala in attendance.
The Sun can exclusively reveal that bride Dua, 30, walked down the aisle with a bridal bouquet made up of lily-of-the-valley, peonies and hyacinths from a local florist.
Amid the vow renewal, music legend Elton John serenaded the couple with a rendition of his smash hit ‘Your Song’ in an incredibly emotional and touching moment.
The special performance prompted tears all round as the 79-year-old belted out the classic love song for his beloved pal and her new husband.
Elton and Dua have been friends for years and previously collaborated on 2021 song Cold Heart (remix) togetherCredit: GettyThe happy couple said their vows in an outdoor ceremony at Villa Valguarnera, in BagheriaCredit: instagramWedding guests have shared glimpses of the special day including these keepsakes, which has Dua and Callum’s initials embroidered onCredit: instagram/lauravandallA-lists guests including Charli XCX, Mark Ronson and Tame Impala are in attendance at the lavish nuptialsCredit: Instagram
Elton, 79, and the Be The One singer have a firm friendship with the two previously collaborating on single Cold Heart back in 2021, a remix of his iconic song Rocket Man (1972).
The ceremony kicked off at 5pm and lasted for around an hour with guests arriving from 3:30pm in a whopping 60 minivans.
The bride and groom turned up in a luxury Mercedes Maybach Class V at 3pm prompt to greet their guests ahead of the nuptials.
Post-ceremony, a posh dinner is expected to be laid on by a two Michelin star chef from Rome, and speeches, before the celebrities dance the night away with a party set to go well into the early hours.
The evening is split into three moments: ceremony in the courtyard, a dinner, followed by an outdoor DJ set by four prominent names on the international music scene.
A huge amp system has been set up in anticipation, with diffusers positioned towards the estate and the villa park to limit sound waves travelling into the Bagheria town
Dua’s wedding dress – a well-kept secret – is rumoured to have been designed by Donatella Versace, who attended a pre-wedding drinks reception last night as she and Callum kicked off their celebrations.
They shut down two city centre squares in Palermo as famous music pals gathered to celebrate the couple.
Dua stunned in a white, backless Bottega Veneta dress and also had a £2580 Bottega Anidamo leather clutch bag and Bulgari jewels – including a classic £185,000 Manchette watch.
Dua and Callum kicked off their wedding weekend with a pre-party in the villa’s courtyardCredit: Nick EdwardsThe two shared a kiss as they partied with palsCredit: BackGrid
She was seen dancing to Le Freak and Kylie Minogue’s Spinning Around.
Waiters later bought out Margarita pizza for guests on silver trays.
A ring of steel was put around the Piazza Sant’Anna and Piazza Croce dei Vespri with police and private security blocking off access to the public.
The Sun revealed that Dua paid £5,000 to residents who live around the Piaza Croce dei Vespri, where the party was held, to thank them.
But she faced a battle against some protestors who stuck up posters in nearby streets accusing the singer of making their public space a “living room for the rich”, insisting: “Palermo is not for rent.”
Dua and Callum are staying in a £6,000 a night suite at the five-star Villa Igiea.
Their Donna Franca suite has stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and is described as the hotel’s crowning jewel.
Around 7 a.m. Saturday, in a lot beside the shuttered Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, a strange set of cars and trucks began to gather. Three Model A’s. A couple of ’60 convertibles. A 1964 Chevrolet Impala station wagon. Also, a big bull on trailer wheels.
“Am I in the right place?” asked a man in one of the Model A’s.
“Going to Chicago?” asked a guy in a white Denali.
“I wish I could do the whole thing,” said Joe Hernandez of Pasadena, wistfully standing by.
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This was the starting line for roughly 70 drivers who gathered to celebrate the centennial of Route 66 with a 2,448-mile, 20-day caravan to Chicago. Most had come from outside California to share an adventure with fellow “roadies” and boost awareness of the classic scenery and independent businesses along the eight-state route.
But soaring gas prices and hesitant international travelers have added uncertainty to a trip that was always going to be a logistical challenge. Day 1 alone might terrify an L.A. commuter: From the Pacific to Pasadena by surface streets, including miles on Santa Monica and Colorado boulevards.
“I don’t know how it’s all going to happen,” said Gary Daggett, president of the Old Route 66 Assn. of Texas. But he and his wife, Stephanie, have more than a little Route 66 experience to draw upon.
Mike and Lisa Visket of Prescott, Ariz., pose in Santa Monica at the pier in their Route 66 clothing on June 6, 2026.
“This is our 30th trip over 20 years,” Daggett said. “You can’t see everything. There’s so much…. You start meeting the people, you get hooked on the people.”
Shortly before their 8:30 departure time, organizer Rhys Martin called drivers together.
“Leaving here is going to be a little complicated,” he said.
Martin, who is part of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, is president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Assn., and serves as manager of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preserve Route 66 initiative. For the journey, he is driving a ’64 Chevy Impala station wagon with a GPS unit inside so that armchair travelers can follow his journey on the web.
“It’s going to be impossible to keep everybody together,” he said during preparations. “We’re encouraging people to spread out and support independent businesses rather than all going to one place and demolishing the kitchen.”
William Cooke of Pinon Hills participates in a caravan from Santa Monica Pier to Chicago, celebrating the centennial of Route 66.
In song and literature, the route is celebrated as an east-to-west journey. This caravan, running in the opposite direction, will travel from California through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri to Illinois.
From Santa Monica, the Day 1 schedule took drivers to Beverly Hills City Hall, Grand Central Market downtown for lunch, the Chicken Boy statue and Galco’s Soda Pop Stop in Highland Park, then an overnight in Pasadena.
Day 2 takes the group from Pasadena to Barstow. Day 3, from Barstow to Needles. On June 25, the caravan is due to arrive in downtown Chicago.
The loose procession was led by a core group of 15 cars, including representatives of all eight states on the route. Since anyone can join or leave the caravan at any time, the number of vehicles will vary by the hour.
Through the decades, the road has grown from an American artifact into a global symbol of small-town Americana. Many merchants, restaurateurs and hoteliers along 66 now say that their summer customers are mostly travelers from abroad, especially Europe. One of the caravan’s drivers, in a rented pickup truck, was Dries Bessels, co-founder of the Dutch Route 66 Assn.
Brady Wilson of Amarillo, Texas, displays an assortment of Route 66 pins on his cowboy hat. Wilson is part of a caravan of Route 66 enthusiasts who set out from Santa Monica Pier on June 6, 2026, for Chicago.
Though the Model A’s will surely raise eyebrows on the road, the caravan’s most startling element is the fiberglass bull representing the Amarillo-based Big Texan Steak Ranch restaurant, one of the event’s sponsors.
“It’s the same one my dad brought home in ’71. His name is Big Moo,” said Danny Lee, who co-owns the restaurant with his brother, Bobby Lee. “He’s 12 and a half feet high. About 500 pounds. It’s all fiberglass.”
In 21 cities along the drive, the Big Texan team aims to stage nightly steak-eating contests, giving free dinners to anyone who can eat 72 ounces of steak, a baked potato, three shrimp, a side salad and a roll in 60 minutes.
The caravan’s first challenge came at the Santa Monica Pier, where there was no room for the cars due to a construction project, World Cup preparations and a Children’s Hospital fundraiser. Instead, the caravan gathered by the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Drivers strolled over the pier for a photo op, then returned to their cars.
“Herding cats,” said George Kulakowski of Huntington Beach, at the wheel of a 1931 Ford Model A Panel Delivery truck.
Participants in a Route 66 centennial caravan pose for a photo before they depart from Santa Monica Pier on June 2, 2026, for Chicago along the historic highway.
Another challenge awaited in West Hollywood, where Santa Monica Boulevard (aka Route 66) was busy with crowds for the city’s WeHo Pride Street Fair. By plans laid ahead of time, most caravan vehicles detoured around the party while select caravan cars followed a police escort through the action.
This way, Martin said, “another community along Route 66 gets to share its identity with the community at large.”
Allison Lehn of Boston participates in a caravan from Santa Monica Pier to Chicago, celebrating the centennial of Route 66.
By 11:15 a.m., Martin’s car had reached Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake. Meanwhile, assorted other parades and caravans are traveling Route 66 in other states this year; most of them concentrate on short segments.
By 12:45 p.m., caravaners had met the mayor of Beverly Hills and rolled through West Hollywood’s Pride festivities, arriving at Grand Central Market, running slightly ahead of time.
On May 30, an estimated 3,596 classic cars joined a “Capital Cruise” on Route 66 in Tulsa, Okla., becoming a Guinness Book of World Records holder for the largest parade of classic cars, drawing an estimated 100,000 spectators and overwhelming local traffic.
In Arizona, the Williams Historic Route 66 Car Show was set for Friday and Saturday. In Texas, the Amarillo-based Texas Route 66 Festival is running Thursday through June 13.
William Cooke of Pinon Hills, left, and Sarah Jane Woodall of Tecopa, Calif., drive along Wilshire Boulevard in a 1960 Edsel Ranger Convertible as part of a Route 66 centennial caravan.
In those states and beyond, the caravan from Santa Monica will find hotels and motels in every kind of condition, vintage neon, road food, blue states, red states and purple states.
As a package of Times stories described in May, some landmarks date to the highway’s days as a scene of Depression desperation in the 1930s, others to its giddy postwar years in the late 1940s and ‘50s.
Route 66 was created in 1926 as a highway stitching together hundreds of local roads. Nicknamed “the Main Street of America” by its boosters and “the Mother Road” by John Steinbeck in “The Grapes of Wrath,” the highway inspired Bobby Troup’s song “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66” in 1946.
But economic life along Route 66 has been precarious since the late 1960s, when interstate highways and chain hotels began stealing traffic away from the older, slower road. After Route 66 was decommissioned as a highway in 1985, about 85% of the old route remained in use, often as small-town thoroughfares, country highways and frontage roads alongside Interstate 40.
Efforts to save and rebuild the route as a historic resource began in the late 1980s and gained ground after the 2006 release of the Pixar/Disney animated features “Cars,” which tells the story of the highway’s rise and fall. In small towns such as Tucumcari, N.M., and Seligman, Ariz., the highway remains central to local identity and economy.
A vehicle in the Route 66 caravan is photographed June 6, 2026.
This year’s centennial improvements along the route “are things that are going to go into the future,” Martin said. “The real impact is going to be next year and the years after.”
WASHINGTON — Several FBI analysts tied to the creation of a 2023 memo warning of a potential threat from Catholic “violent extremists” were fired Friday, according to their lawyer, the latest wave of terminations under Director Kash Patel.
The fired employees included four intelligence analysts and a supervisory analyst. The FBI declined to comment.
“This action is manifestly unjust, completely unsupported by the facts, and subverts standard FBI policy and procedure,” their lawyer, David Laufman, said in a statement. “These individuals deserved far better for the exceptional and faithful public service they rendered to protect our country.”
The January 2023 intelligence product produced by analysts in the FBI’s Richmond, Va., field office emerged as a political focal point after it was issued, with Republicans in Congress citing it as part of their broader claim that the FBI during the Biden administration was targeting conservatives.
Then-FBI Director Chris Wray denied that allegation and the agency has said the document was quickly retracted and an internal review was launched. Merrick Garland, the attorney general under President Biden, has said he was “appalled” by the memo.
Earlier Justice Department investigations into the memo challenged the analytical tradecraft but did not find intentional misconduct by the analysts involved.
The firings are part of a broader personnel purge under Patel, a President Trump loyalist who over the last year has pushed out dozens of employees who either contributed to investigations of the president or who were perceived as not in alignment with the administration’s agenda. The Justice Department has engaged in similarly sweeping firings of prosecutors since Trump took office last year.
In February, for instance, the FBI fired a group of counterintelligence agents who participated in the investigation into Trump over his retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla.
Critics including former federal officials say the purge has transformed federal law enforcement agencies into politically motivated extensions of the Trump White House. The classified documents investigation resulted in a federal indictment against Trump, but the case was dismissed after his 2024 election.
The Richmond memo, which emerged from a domestic terrorism investigation, sought to examine a potential link between what it called “Radical Traditionalist Catholic” ideology and racially and ethnically motivated extremists. It warned of the potential for violence and also highlighted what the authors described as “new avenues for tripwire and source development.” FBI leadership quickly condemned those findings once the document became public.
An internal FBI review described in a 2023 letter to Congress and based on interviews with 26 people “found that all individuals involved in the creation, review and approval of the product failed to adhere to analytic tradecraft standards and failed to recognize that the product, as drafted, equated the subjects’ interest in their self-described form of religion with racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist (RMVE) ideology without sufficient evidence or articulable support.”
The failure to adhere to standards, including on proper domestic terrorism terminology, “created the appearance that the FBI conducts investigative activity based on religious affiliation,” the letter said. “One of the FBI’s most fundamental principles is that investigative activity may not be based solely on the exercise of rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.”
A Justice Department inspector general report in 2024 summarized the earlier FBI review by saying that though there were departures from proper analytic tradecraft, “no evidence of a malicious intent or an improper purpose” were found.
MS NOW earlier reported the firings.
Tucker and Richer write for the Associated Press and reported from Los Angeles and Washington, respectively.
Maja Chwalinska’s French Open ended almost three weeks after it started – but her journey to the brink of a first Grand Slam title began long before that.
A former Australian Open junior doubles finalist alongside fellow Pole Iga Swiatek, Chwalinska has spoken openly about the depression that led her to take a break from tennis early in her professional career.
In the build-up to Roland Garros, she was playing events on the second tier of the women’s tour across Europe.
Her French Open campaign began in the first round of qualifying on Monday, 18 May. Nine wins later, only teenager Mirra Andreeva stood in the way of Chwalinska becoming just the second qualifier to win a Grand Slam singles title in the Open era.
It was not to be for Chwalinska, who fell 6-3 6-2 to Andreeva on Saturday, but finishing runner-up will have a profound effect on her life and career.
She will climb from 114th in the world to a new high of 21st on Monday, while her Roland Garros prize money of 1.4m euros (£1.21m) is almost double what she had previously earned in her entire career.
“It’s been 18 years of hard work, patience and perseverance,” said 24-year-old Chwalinska, who took up tennis as a young girl.
“I had to go through so much to be in this position. Life is weird sometimes and you’ve just got to do your thing and believe it will click someday, and I’m happy that it did.
“It is definitely an unforgettable three weeks for me. I’ll never forget it.”
Saturday is the last day of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s St. Petersburt International Economic Forum. Ukraine struck military targets near the city overnight Friday. Photo by Anatoly Maltsev/EPA
June 6 (UPI) — A drone attack launched by Ukraine hit St. Petersburg, Russia, overnight as Russian President Vladimir Putin wraps up an economic forum there.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelinsky had asked Putin to meet face to face and discuss peace talks, but Putin responded that there was no point.
“It is time to end this war. But Russia’s ruler wants to keep fighting,” Zelensky wrote on X early Saturday. “That is why Ukrainian sanctions against this aggression are working. Last night, our drones covered a distance of about 1,000 kilometers to the St. Petersburg region — to the enemy navy’s arsenals and a base in Kronstadt. Our long-range sanctions also reached about 500 kilometers into the Krasnodar region — and hit an oil depot.”
It is time to end this war. But Russia’s ruler wants to keep fighting. That is why Ukrainian sanctions against this aggression are working. Last night, our drones covered a distance of about 1,000 kilometers to the St. Petersburg region – to the enemy navy’s arsenals and a base… pic.twitter.com/IkdN8UE3QD— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 6, 2026
Kronstadt is home to a naval academy and is the main base, repair and supply hub for the Russian navy in the Eastern Baltic.
Leningrad Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said more than 140 drones were shot down in his region. St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov told residents to stay indoors, CNN reported. He also said three people were injured.
Drozdenko said more than 600 people were evacuated from Bolshaya Izhora, a village on the Gulf of Finland near St. Petersburg, as efforts continued to put out a fire. The area is also home to a Russian naval arsenal, CNN reported.
St. Petersburg is Russia’s second-largest city, behind Moscow.
The New York Times reported that St. Petersburg’s main airport, Pulkovo, suspended operations for almost five hours, according to Rosaviatsia, the Russian aviation authority. Residents reported smoke in the sky and roaring noises and bangs, according to Fontanka, a local news website.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X Saturday that “Things will only get worse for Russia. Battlefield losses will continue to grow. Failures will get more humiliating. … “The international pressure will not ease. It will only get stronger. Including the use of frozen assets, travel bans and inevitable accountability for crimes,” Sybiha said.
Zelensky is scheduled to meet with leaders of France, Germany and Great Britain in London Sunday to discuss support for Ukraine and peace talks, Politico reported.
President Donald Trump discusses renovations to the Lincoln Reflecting Pool and makes an announcement on coal in the Oval Office at the White House on Thursday. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo
Lokacin Ramadan ne, kuma Bintu Suleiman, wata uwa kuma ‘yar kasuwa mai shekaru 55 daga Ngoshe a Jihar Borno, Arewa maso Gabashin Najeriya, tana shirin buɗe baki tare da iyalanta.
Sai harbe-harbe ya fara, kuma cikin awa guda gidanta ya kama da wuta. Yayin da ‘yan ta’adda ke tattara mutane, ta samu damar tserewa tare da wasu daga cikin ‘ya’yanta da jikokinta zuwa cikin daji. Daga baya, ta gane cewa mutum huɗu daga cikinsu ba su tsere tare da ita ba. Suna wani wuri a cikin duwatsu.
A wannan shirin na #BIRBISHINRIKICI, mun ga yadda bayan harin, Bintu, wadda yanzu ta rasa matsuguninta, ke samun mafaka a wata makarantar firamare ta gwamnati a Pulka, yayin da har yanzu ba ta san halin da ‘ya’yanta da jikokinta suke ciki ba.
Love Island’s Maura Higgins is reportedly in talks to host the new Blind Date reboot on Disney+
19:20, 06 Jun 2026Updated 19:28, 06 Jun 2026
Maura Higgins is reportedly in the running to host the reboot of Blind Date(Image: Getty)
Maura Higgins could be poised to transition from seeking romance on television to assisting other singletons in finding “the one”.
The former Love Island contestant is said to be in advanced discussions to become the face of the reboot of Blind Date with streaming behemoth Disney+ reportedly preparing to commence filming later this year.
Maura, 35, initially rose to prominence on Love Island in 2019 before establishing an impressive television career on both sides of the Atlantic.
Now sources suggest producers are convinced she represents the ideal candidate to follow in the footsteps of legendary presenter Cilla Black.
A TV insider told The Sun: “Discussions are at an advanced stage, with the show’s producers convinced Maura’s the perfect choice for the job.”, reports the Daily Star.
“Not only did she shoot to fame on a TV dating contest, she is now an internationally famous face which is what a global service like Disney need for one of their shows.
“Maura also has an unquestionable glamour combined with cheeky charm which has echoes of Blind Date’s most famous host.” Daily Mirror has reached out to Disney and Maura’s representative for a comment.
The original Blind Date became one of Britain’s most successful television programmes after launching in 1985, with Cilla Black at the helm. At its height, the show drew audiences of up to 17 million viewers before ultimately being axed by ITV in 2003.
A subsequent Channel 5 revival presented by Cilla’s dear friend Paul O’Grady aired between 2017 and 2019 but struggled to capture the original’s sparkle.
Reports of a fresh comeback initially surfaced last year, with executives said to be determined to secure a female presenter who could deliver a contemporary twist while maintaining its sentimental appeal.
It is understood the iconic wall dividing contestants from their prospective dates will be retained, though other aspects of the format may be modernised for today’s audience.
The development would represent another significant career achievement for Maura, whose public profile has continued to rise since her reality television debut.
The Irish star has established herself as one of the most prominent figures to emerge from Love Island and remains a consistent presence on television, red carpets and high-profile entertainment occasions.
Disney+ is anticipated to premiere the reboot at some point next year, with an official confirmation still to be announced.
WASHINGTON — President Trump has issued a pardon to Stephen Buyer, a Republican former congressman from Indiana who served nearly two years in prison for making illegal stock trades based on inside information after he left office.
Buyer was sentenced to 22 months in prison in 2023 for trades made while working as a consultant and lobbyist. He was ordered to forfeit more than $350,000, representing the amount of the illegal gains, and pay a $10,000 fine. He was released in 2025.
The Supreme Court in May rejected Buyer’s appeal without comment or noted dissent.
In granting “a full, complete, and unconditional pardon,” Trump cited Buyer’s career as a judge advocate general in the Army and in the House that was “distinguished and highly productive.” The pardon was dated Thursday and released by the White House late Friday.
Buyer asserted that the pardon “corrects a politically motivated prosecution” and that it was “horrific to be imprisoned for a crime that I did not commit.”
Trump used his social media platform May 31 to share a pair of letters requesting a presidential pardon for Buyer, a lawyer and Persian Gulf War veteran who left office in 2011. He was a House prosecutor at President Clinton’s 1999 impeachment trial and in 2016 he served on Trump’s transition team focusing on veterans issues.
A letter signed by more than 40 Republican former members of Congress said Buyer was “targeted by the deep state” because of his involvement in Clinton’s trial a generation ago.
A second letter, from five current House Republicans, including Ken Calvert of Corona, said pardoning Buyer would bring justice to his case. The June 2025 letter was also signed by Tom Cole of Oklahoma, Marlin Stutzman of Indiana, Jack Bergman of Michigan and Pete Sessions of Texas.
Buyer, 67, was convicted in connection with insider trading involving the $26.5-billion merger of T-Mobile and Sprint, announced in April 2018, and illegal trades in the management consulting company Navigant when his client Guidehouse was set to acquire it in a deal publicly disclosed weeks later.
The Constitution gives a president broad power to grant pardons for federal crimes. The pardons do not erase a recipient’s criminal record but can be seen as an act of mercy or justice.
Demi Vollering claimed victory on a shortened queen stage of the women’s Giro d’Italia on Saturday but admitted it was the “weirdest finish line of my life”.
A summit finish in Sestriere had been scheduled for the eighth and penultimate stage, but organisers reduced the route by 28 kilometres as an unstable slab of ice was threatening to fall on to the route.
Ice had already been cleared from an avalanche shortly before the riders passed through the Italian Alps.
Instead the line was hastily moved to one kilometre below the Colle delle Finestre, where Vollering, of FDJ United–Suez, prevailed in a four-way sprint finish.
The pre-race favourite edged out Isabella Holmgren, Antonia Niedermaier and fellow Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen to claim her second stage win of this year’s race.
“It was strange because the Finestre was suddenly the final climb,” said the 29-year-old Vollering. “It was the weirdest finish line of my life, but I’m very happy to take the win.”
Team SD Worx–Protime rider Van der Breggen retains the pink jersey for the final stage, over 145km around Saluzzo at the foot of the Alps, with Vollering having cut the four-time winner’s lead slightly to 49 seconds.
“We hoped that we could get closer to the maglia rosa today,” said Vollering. “Tomorrow’s stage is not as hard as today’s, but we will make a plan and think about how to try to win the Giro.”
Heo Cheol-hoon, secretary general of the National Election Commission, issues a public apology after a shortage of ballot papers prompted the temporary suspension of voting in the local elections at some polling stations in southern Seoul, South Korea, 03 June 2026. South Koreans voted on 03 June to elect mayors, governors, local council members and regional education chiefs in nationwide local elections. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
June 5 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s election chief said Friday he will resign to take responsibility for ballot shortages that disrupted voting during the June 3 local elections.
Roh Tae-ak, chairman of the National Election Commission, made the announcement during a public apology at the commission’s headquarters in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. NEC Secretary-General Huh Chul-hoon also offered to resign.
“The high public interest in local autonomy and the active expression of the people’s will through voting were damaged by the ballot shortage,” Roh said. “As chairman of the National Election Commission, I feel devastated and bear unlimited responsibility for the situation, which has damaged public trust in election management and led to distrust in the election process.”
The commission said ballot shortages occurred at 50 polling stations nationwide, including 14 in Seoul’s Songpa district. Voting was temporarily halted at 22 polling stations, the commission said. Outside reports also said the shortages caused delays and protests in parts of Seoul.
The commission said the shortages were linked to a decision to print ballots for at least 50% of eligible voters in some areas, reflecting internal discussions about reducing unused ballots as early voting rates have risen in recent elections.
Yoon Jae-soo, head of the commission’s election policy office, said the minimum number of ballots was set at 50% of eligible voters but could be adjusted depending on local conditions.
“In Songpa district, when the early voting rate of 23.3% was included, ballots equal to 73.3% of eligible voters were secured,” Yoon said. “But shortages occurred because there were differences among individual polling stations.”
The commission said it will create a fact-finding committee made up of outside experts to examine the cause of the shortages, identify problems in the response and prepare measures to prevent a recurrence.
Roh said the commission will cooperate fully with any process to determine responsibility, including a possible National Assembly investigation.
“We will sincerely take part in all procedures to confirm the commission’s responsibility for this incident and will not avoid responsibility depending on the results,” Roh said.
On Wednesday, voters at some polling stations in Seoul’s Gangnam, Gwangjin and Songpa districts had to wait because of ballot shortages. The disruption has drawn criticism from political parties, civic groups and universities over the commission’s election management.
Oh Min-seok, chairman of the Seoul Election Commission, also issued a public apology Friday.
“This was the commission’s fault, with no excuse,” Oh said. “We deeply feel responsibility for damaging public trust through poor election management that ran counter to common sense.”
Israeli forces reportedly killed a seven-month-old Palestinian baby, Sam Fahd Abu Haikal, and injured his parents in the Tel Rumeida area near Hebron on Friday evening, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The baby’s grandmother described how the family stopped their car after seeing Israeli military vehicles when shots were fired at them. She recounted that a bullet hit the baby in the face and lodged in his mother’s cheek, while also grazing the father’s finger. The parents were treated for their gunshot wounds.
The Israeli military stated that during operations in Hebron, soldiers fired shots at a vehicle they thought was approaching them quickly. They acknowledged that three Palestinians, later determined to be “uninvolved civilians,” were injured, and the incident is under investigation. Tel Rumeida has a history of violence as Israeli settlers live with military protection among the Palestinian community. Recent EU data indicates over 700,000 settlers reside in East Jerusalem and the West Bank while more than 3 million Palestinians live there.
Netflix have updated their viewing figures and it makes for a compelling list of what you should binge next
The Boroughs official Netflix trailer
If you’re looking for the next binge watch to see you through the weekend, Netflix already has you covered.
The streamer has updated its latest viewing figures and it pretty much reads as the new list of recommendations you need. So rather than scrolling through for hours on end, you can make your way through at least one of these titles and it will most likely only take you one sitting.
Not only that but there is something for everyone, including a sci-fi hit, a tense crime thriller and also a heart warming laugh out loud comedy.
The Boroughs
Website Collider call the series a ‘sci-fi masterpiece’ and compare it to a Steven Spielberg movie. They also report that the title managed to accumulate 15 million views in its first 10 days of being available.
It is the most watched Netflix series globally over the last couple of weeks and remains in the UK top 10 at the time of writing. It is set in the sun-drenched expanse of the New Mexico desert and a picturesque retirement community which promises its residents the time of their lives.
But for new arrival Sam Cooper, paradise feels more like a prison. Everything changes when a terrifying night time encounter reveals that something monstrous is stalking the manicured cul-de-sacs.
One review said it is “Stranger Things Meets Thursday Murder Club”. Meanwhile many viewers say they watch it in one sitting. A fan added it “has everything that your next binge-watch needs.”
Nemesis
Coming from the creator of Power, the eight-part series follows two rivals from opposite sides of the law who are at each other’s throats when a daring heist in Los Angeles opens up old wounds. What follows is an exhilarating game of cat-and-mouse as an LAPD cop desperately tries to hunt down a criminal mastermind behind a string of robberies.
One viewer claimed: “Kept me engaged and not sure whose side I was on. Binge watched twice. I need season 2.” Another said: ““Binged in one sitting- very authentic catchy story line. I hope there is a season two.”
While someone else contributed: “This was a masterpiece! The rollercoaster, amount of cliffhangers, and overall writing was top notch!” It has spent three weeks in the global top 10 charts also claiming more than 15 million views on the streamer.
The Four Seasons
One of the more recent additions, the series has just returned for its second season. Co-created by 30 Rock’s Tina Fey and based on the 1980s movie of the same name.
A group of married couples who regularly vacation together throughout the year reunite once again after one of the most difficult times in their relationships. They have new members of the group to contend with as well as some old problems.
It has immediately become the third most watched series across the world among Netflix users. Many fans admit to becoming ‘obsessed’ with it.
One person simply shared on social media: “The Four Seasons” is a must-watch series on Netflix.” Someone else added: “I binged it the day it came out with my man. We’re obsessed!” Another admitted: “I literally started it last night and I’m already on season two. I love it.”
The Witness
This is Netflix’s latest true crime thriller. While the platform have yet to release the official viewing figures, it has immediately surged to the number one spot among UK subscribers.
As a result, it’s expected to compete with the numbers of all the titles already mentioned. Consisting of only three episodes and based on a gripping but horrifying true story, it is bound to keep viewers captivated and watching all the way through in one go.
It follows the experiences of Alex and André Hanscombe as they deal with the devastating impact of a brutal act of violence. When Rachel Nickell was killed on Wimbledon Common in 1992, André became a single parent overnight. Putting his own grief to one side, he made his son Alex – the only eyewitness to the attack – the centre of his world.
This is the story of how a father and son moved through the aftermath of unimaginable tragedy, from darkness into light. Fans sharing their thoughts on the series include one who posted: “15 mins into The Witness on Netflix and I’m already broken.” Someone else said: “The Witness on Netflix will give you the chills.”
A few hours after Lionel Messi and the Argentine World Cup team checked into their training base in Kansas City, a series of thunderstorms pounded the area, knocking out power, felling trees and bringing flood and tornado warnings.
Hardly ideal conditions for the world’s biggest soccer tournament. Yet that’s likely just the opening salvo of a disruptive weather system that could affect the 38-day competition, which kicks off next week with games in Mexico, Canada and the U.S.
“It’s pretty safe to say climate change is going to have a mark on this World Cup,” said Kaitlyn Trudeau, a senior research associate of climate science for Sacramento-based Climate Central. “With climate change we know it’s not just going to be hotter, but it’s also going to increase the humidity as well.”
And that could make this summer’s World Cup one of the last of its kind. Tournament soccer in June and July has been a tradition dating to the first World Cup in 1930, but since then global temperatures in June have warmed by 1.89 degrees, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That may not sound like a lot, but it takes many days and nights of extreme heat to move the needle that much.
“It can be a very dangerous situation,” Trudeau said.
As a result, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has already begun discussions on moving the start of the tournament from June to March or October after 2030. In the meantime, early kickoffs, cooling breaks, air-conditioned stadiums and regular weather-related delays will necessarily become common features of the tournament, according to “Pitches in Peril,” a detailed report on the impact of climate change on global soccer, released in the run-up to the World Cup.
“Football’s all of a sudden starting to reckon with the new climate realities,” said Elliot Arthur-Worsop, founding director of Football For Future, a pioneering U.K. nonprofit and co-publisher of “Pitches in Peril.”
“Extreme weather events are becoming more unpredictable,” he said. “The players, the spectators and the officials, they’re all at risk here, especially when it comes to extreme heat. How can we future-proof the game?
“Adaptation looks like moving the entire tournament to another time of year to deal with the extreme weather. Short term it could be moving the kickoff times, it could be introducing more drink breaks, having more heat protocols and safety regulations.”
Some climatologists fear summer events like the World Cup and Olympic Games are just one heatwave away from a major weather-related tragedy. In fact, Arthur-Worsop said his group’s study found that this men’s World Cup, the first held in North America in 32 years, will likely be the last played here.
“By the time the cycle of awarding the hosting rights would possibly come back, our climate projections show that the tournament in its current form would be unplayable due to extreme weather events,” he said. “Not only heat, but other compounding threats such as extreme wind and flooding and wildfires.”
Trudeau worries that whatever adaptations are eventually adopted won’t keep pace with a rapidly warming planet.
“We are basically pushing ourselves to a limit,” she said. “I’m not saying we’re going to absolutely lose the World Cup. But we are making it so much harder to find time to safely enjoy these kinds of events.
“This is not a safe environment and we should not be putting people’s lives at risk just to watch a game.”
FIFA did move the 2022 World Cup, pushing the start of the tournament in Qatar from June to November. Even then the games had to be played in air-conditioned stadiums, though. Three of the 16 venues to be used this summer — in Atlanta, Houston and Arlington, Texas — are domed and climate-controlled.
But the next World Cup, to be held in 2030, will be played mostly in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, where June and July temperatures frequently top 95 degrees. And just one of the likely venues is climate-controlled.
As for this summer’s tournament, a 2025 study published in the International Journal of Biometeorology found that conditions in 14 of the 16 World Cup host cities are likely to exceed the extreme Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) threshold, an advanced index used to measure how the human body experiences heat stress.
A weather delay interrupts a Club World Cup match between Auckland City FC and Boca Juniors in Nashville in June 2025.
(Alex Grimm / Getty Images)
But you don’t have to do complicated math to know it’s hot because there’s also the “feels like” index, which registers how your body feels the heat. That can be vastly different from the reading on a thermometer. In Miami, for example, where seven World Cup games will be played, humidity will make an air temperature of 90 degrees “feel like” 109 degrees.
Under those conditions, it becomes more difficult for the body to cool itself.
“We talk about temperatures all the time, but that is only one part of the equation. It’s not including the amount of heat that you might feel from humidity,” Trudeau said. “It’s so important because once it gets too humid, then our body’s main cooling mechanism, sweating, is no longer possible.
“These are the kinds of situations where you have to be really careful. Not just players, but also people who maybe work at the stadiums, people who are watching the matches. It can be a very dangerous situation.”
Playing games in the cooler evening hours could alleviate that but FIFA, in a nod to TV viewers in Europe, scheduled 40 of the tournament’s 104 games, including the majority of games in the knockout rounds, to kick off at 3 p.m. or earlier local time. And though mandatory three-minute hydration breaks midway through each half have been added, Trudeau questions their impact.
“That’s kind of silly to be like, ‘Oh, we’re going to give an extra water break. But we’re going to be doing it at the hottest time of the day,’” she said. “It kind of sends mixed messages, right? What is the main priority of FIFA here? Is it to get the most views and the most revenue and the most whatever? Or is it to actually protect these players?
“We should not be having these in the hottest parts of the world at the hottest times of day,” she continued. “It’s just common sense.”
Chelsea’s Benoit Badiashile puts water on his face before a Club World Cup match against Esperance de Tunis in Philadelphia in June 2025.
(Francois Nel / Getty Images)
FIFA defended the schedule, saying in a statement that climate-related risks are assessed as part of overall tournament planning and managed in close coordination with the host cities, stadium authorities and national agencies.
“Building on experience from recent tournaments, a tiered heat-mitigation model will apply,” the statement continued. “When forecasts indicate elevated temperatures, venues will activate additional cooling capacity, including shaded areas, misting systems, cooling buses and expanded water distribution. Work-rest cycles for staff and volunteers are adapted accordingly, and first-aid readiness is reinforced with clear triage and escalation pathways for suspected heat illness. These measures scale dynamically based on real-time conditions before and during each event.”
Last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, a 63-game tournament played in the U.S. as a kind of dress rehearsal for this year’s event, gives an indication of the problems ahead. That tournament was plagued not just by high heat and humidity, but also by thunderstorms and lightning that paused or delayed a half-dozen matches in Orlando, Fla.; Nashville; Cincinnati; Charlotte, N.C.; and East Rutherford, N.J.
“The heat is incredible,” said Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who played in last summer’s tournament with Chelsea. “I got a bit dizzy during a play. I had to lie down on the ground because I was really dizzy.
“Playing in this temperature is very dangerous.”
But if health risks are the primary concern of summer sporting events on a warming planet, they aren’t the only ones. The weather also affects the quality of play, said Norwegian defender Julian Ryerson, who played for Borussia Dortmund in last summer’s club tournament.
“Football is different when you play in this humidity and heat,” he said. “It is really tough. You take some precautions. That’s the only way to go about it.”
As the planet continues to bake, there are also increasingly fewer ways of going about staging a World Cup. You can play it nontraditional times and in nontraditional places. You can play it indoors in air-conditioned stadiums.
Or you can not play it at all.
“We’re running out of options,” Trudeau said. “We have to understand that unless we are going to address human-caused climate change, you’re going to start losing these things that are culturally important to us or economically important.
“We cannot keep doing these things at the rate we’re doing them and the times that we’re doing them in the ways that we’re doing them while we also continue to warm the planet.”
June 6 (UPI) — The United States said it intercepted several Iranian ballistic missiles and drones shot toward the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, Bahrain and Kuwait Friday night.
The U.S. Central Command said seven missiles were fired toward Kuwait and Bahrain Friday after it shot down four Iranian drones headed toward the strait. It said six of the missiles were intercepted and one didn’t reach its target.
Bahrain and Kuwait said there were no injuries, but Kuwait said there was some “material damage.”
The Kuwaiti Army, attributed to the official spokesperson for its defense ministry Brigadier General Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi, posted on X: “The armed forces detected and responded at dawn today to 7 hostile ballistic missiles within Kuwaiti airspace, which were intercepted over several residential areas, resulting in the fall of some debris.
“The Iranian criminal aggression caused material damage with no human casualties.”
CENTCOM also said there were no American casualties.
“There are currently no reports of harm to U.S. personnel, and Iranian claims of damaging U.S. 5th fleet headquarters in Bahrain are false,” CENTCOM said in a press release.
Kuwait and Bahrain called the strikes a violation of their sovereignty and a threat to regional security. Egypt, Jordan and Qatar also condemned the strikes Saturday.
Iran said it launched the strikes against U.S. military bases in the region after the United States struck Iran. CENTCOM said it hit coastal surveillance radar sites in Goruk and Queshm Island “to defend against further maritime attacks.”
Iran called the U.S. attacks a “flagrant” violation of the cease-fire, which has been in place since April. It said the American side “not only lacks the will to reduce tensions,” but “seriously endangers the security of the region.”
“These facilities are tasked with safeguarding the country’s border security and ensuring the security of navigation in international waterways,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “The attack constitutes a clear violation of the April 8 ceasefire and an act of military aggression against the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Iran said the U.S. strikes violate international law.
“This action, which comes as a continuation of the hostile and provocative conduct of the U.S. regime against the Islamic Republic of Iran, demonstrates the complete disregard of the U.S. ruling establishment for the fundamental principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations,” the foreign ministry said.
Tehran also said the U.S. is responsible for “all the effects and consequences of these illegal actions, as well as any possible escalation of tension.”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed the clash started when the U.S. military tried to “illegally” escort oil tankers through the waterway, which Iran has largely closed off during the war.
The Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the Iranian missile attacks Saturday.
“These treacherous Iranian terrorist acts represent a dangerous and irresponsible escalation, a blatant violation of all international laws and norms, and a direct threat to regional stability,” Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, said in a statement.
The Gulf Cooperation Council, formed in the 1980s, is an economic pact that includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
“The Council countries stand in a united and steadfast position alongside the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Kuwait, fully supporting all measures and steps they undertake to protect their security, safeguard their sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as ensure the safety of their peoples,” Albudaiwi said.
Africa’s performance at World Cups peaked at Qatar 2022 when Morocco became the first side from the continent to reach the semifinal stage.
Even their quarterfinal appearance was noteworthy – the Atlas Lions were only the fourth African nation to get there.
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Although Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana are the three other African teams to reach the quarterfinals, North Africa has dominated the continent’s success overall at the World Cup and at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Egypt are the record seven-time winners of AFCON, while three of the top five African qualifiers for World Cup finals are Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria.
Al Jazeera breaks down the chances of the sub-Saharan nations looking to outshine their neighbours from the north at the tournament which kicks off on June 11:
SENEGAL
World Cup Appearances: Four – 2002, 2018, 2022 and 2026 Best finish: Quarterfinals Overall record: P12 W5 D3 L4 F16 A17 FIFA ranking: 14 Prediction: Eliminated at quarterfinal stage
Senegal head to World Cup 2026 with a burning sense of injustice firing their campaign. The Lions of Teranga were stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which decided the mid-game walk-off by the Senegalese players and staff voided January’s final – which was later awarded to Morocco, along with the trophy, as a 3-0 win.
In 2002, Senegal upset the odds and reached the quarter-finals in their World Cup debut at the tournament co-hosted by Japan and South Korea.
More than two decades later, expectations are running high – perhaps carrying the greatest expectation on all African teams, including Morocco.
The depth of the 26-man squad is seen as their greatest strength over continental neighbours, but their star power is also envied by rivals.
Sadio Mane remains the country’s greatest export. Although midfield kingpin Pape Gueye, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and captain Kalidou Koulibaly would grace almost any side at the tournament.
All three are French-born and another shot at the two-time winners of the competition is in their sights.
A 1-0 win against then defending champions France at the 2002 edition announced Senegal as a rising footballing powerhouse. Their first Group I encounter this time around is against Didier Deschamps side in New York on June 16.
“It’s always a pleasure to play against France. It’s a country we know well,” said Senegal coach Pape Bouna Thiaw, who moved to France aged 17.
“If I lose even a second of my belief that I can win the World Cup with Senegal, I will step down,” he added.
Senegal’s group is completed by Iraq and Norway.
Sadio Mane remains the star name for Senegal [Bob Donnan/Reuters]
GHANA
World Cup Appearances: Five – 2006, 2010, 2014, 2022 and 2026 Best finish: Quarterfinals Overall record: P15 W5 D3 L7 F18 A23 FIFA ranking: 74 Prediction: Eliminated at quarterfinal stage
Ghana have only missed one World Cup since their 2006 debut.
Four years after their global bow they became the third African side to reach the quarterfinal stage at Germany 2010.
Their run-up to this tournament has not been smooth, with a late change of coach as veteran Portuguese Carlos Queiroz replaced Otto Addo following a run of poor results.
The German-born former Ghana international led his nation at Qatar 2022, but the failure to qualify for the last AFCON and comprehensive losses in their four high-profile games in November and March saw him fired in early April.
It will be a fifth successive World Cup for the 73-year-old Queiroz, whose past African experience has been with South Africa and Egypt, and who managed Real Madrid, and was Alex Ferguson’s right-hand man at Manchester United.
Group L, against Panama, England and Croatia, appears to be the ‘group of death’ in the opening stage of the competition, but with Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo leading a strong attack, Ghana will fully expect to progress.
“I think that this country has a huge, enormous potential. This is a country of footballers,” Queiroz said.
The Black Stars will, however, be without the injured Tottenham forward Mohammed Kudus, who has become the team’s talisman and key factor in their last two successful qualifying campaigns.
Ghana have only missed one World Cup since their 2006 debut [Paul Childs/Reuters]
IVORY COAST
World Cup Appearances: Four – 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2026 Best finish: Group Stage Overall record: P9 W3 D1 L5 F13 A14 FIFA ranking: 34 Prediction: Eliminated at quarterfinal stage
The Ivory Coast return to the global stage after a 12-year absence – one that was hard-felt following the retirement of some of their greatest players in Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba.
It has been a long rebuild for the Ivorians, but they have won two AFCON titles since their last World Cup appearance.
Their youthful attack led by teenager attacker Yan Diomande, alongside Simon Adingra and Amad Diallo of Manchester United, will be key to their chances.
When hosting AFCON two years ago, Ivory Coast were nearly eliminated in the group stage, but they promoted Emerse Fae from assistant manager for their final game of the opening phase and went on to win the title.
“I believe Ivory Coast has the potential to achieve something exceptional – why not aim for the final?” Fae said ahead of the tournament, that will begin with matches against Curacao, Ecuador and former world champions Germany.
Manchester United’s Amad Diallo has become one of Ivory Coast’s stars [Jason Cairnduff/Reuters]
CAPE VERDE
World Cup Appearances: One – 2026 Best finish: NA Overall record: NA FIFA ranking: 69 Prediction: Eliminated at group stage
One of the debutants, Cape Verde – with a population of about 600,000 – is the third smallest nation to qualify in the tournament’s long history.
They only debuted at AFCON in 2013, but did go on to reach the quarterfinals – a feat repeated in 2023.
The task before them now – which will be led by their diaspora of players in the main – is daunting, with Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and European champions Spain, lying in wait in the group stage.
“We’ve always been aware of our talent but we haven’t always believed that it could take us much further than we had achieved up to that point,” said manager Bubista, named African Coach of the Year in 2025.
“Therefore, it took courage to face any opponent. The first step in our success was truly believing in our potential. In other words, we changed the players’ mindset.”
Cape Verde’s Benchimol celebrates scoring in a pre-World Cup friendly against Serbia [Rodrigo Antunes/Reuters]
SOUTH AFRICA
World Cup Appearances: Four – 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2026 Best finish: Group stage Overall record: P9 W2 D4 L3 F11 A16 FIFA ranking: 60 Prediction: Eliminated at round of 32 stage
After a burgeoning beginning to their return to the international fold, with qualification for the 1998 World Cup, South Africa’s fortunes have taken a downtown in the last 16 years.
A first appearance in the finals since 2010 feels long overdue for a nation hoping to reap the rewards of strong domestic growth as they head to North America.
South African club Mamelodi Sundowns are the newly crowned African Champions League winners and eight of their players are in Bafana Bafana’s squad. There are also eight players from Orlando Pirates – the domestic league champions, who pipped Sundowns to the title by a point.
“We can say that we have players of the best teams of the season. Those guys have much experience at a high level,” South Africa’s Belgian-born coach Hugo Broos said of his 26-man selection.
“I’m certainly happy that Sundowns won the Champions League, because I was afraid that if they should lose, I would get players who would be very disappointed. So now they all have that boost of confidence, and that helps a lot.”
South Africa are in the other so-called ‘group of death’ as they take on Czech Republic, South Korea and co-hosts Mexico, who they face in the opening game of the tournament
South Africa’s squad includes eight players who won this season’s African Champions League [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters]
DR CONGO
World Cup Appearances: Two – 1974 and 2026 Best finish: Group stage Overall record: P3 W0 D0 L3 F0 A14 FIFA ranking: 46 Prediction: Eliminated at quarterfinal stage
DRC’s only previous appearance was when it was still known as Zaire, competing at the 1974 finals in West Germany – the first African side from south of the Sahara to go to the World Cup.
As reigning continental champions, their 9-0 thumping by Yugoslavia did little to raise the flag for Africa at the time.
Much has changed since then for the continent and in its second-largest country. The Congolese players will arrive in North America with a FIFA ranking that outstrips three of the other five sub-Saharan qualifiers.
It did take two playoffs to reach this edition – the African legs saw the Congolese eliminate Cameroon and Nigeria, before edging Jamaica in extra time in their intercontinental playoff
Most of the squad are European-born, either in Belgium, France or Switzerland, plus the London-born Aaron Wan-Bissaka, previously called up by England but who missed out on a cap through injury.
“We are extremely proud because a whole generation hasn’t been able to see its national team in the World Cup but now they will see them there,” said their French coach, Sebastien Desabre.
Democratic Republic of Congo return to the World Cup after 52 years [Nicolas Economou/Reuters]
Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein has denied he is dating his Office Romance co-star Jennifer Lopez, but what do we know about his love life?
Office Romance fans want to know if Brett Goldstein is married
The Office Romance leads have quashed speculation following their chemistry-filled promotional appearances.
Brett Goldstein has dismissed talk of a romance with Office Romance co-star Jennifer Lopez, leaving admirers wondering about his actual relationship status.
The Sutton-born Ted Lasso actor plays Daniel, a bumbling solicitor alongside JLo’s formidable airline boss Jackie in Netflix’s latest rom-com destined for success.
When the corporation becomes embroiled in legal action from a fearsome competitor, Daniel and Jackie are thrust into close proximity, though the firm’s strict no-dating policy throws a spanner in the works as their attraction intensifies.
Speculation about an off-screen relationship between the leads gained momentum throughout the film’s publicity campaign, fuelled by their undeniable on-screen rapport, reports the Express.
Yet during an appearance with Savannah Guthrie on The Today Show, the duo cleared up the confusion by confirming they’re not an item.
“There’s never a time when I’m seen with somebody or working with somebody where they don’t try to put me with the person,” Jennifer quipped.
Brett added with a laugh: “If you stand near her, that’s what happens.”
Jennifer’s marital history includes four marriages, with her most recent being a rekindled relationship with Hollywood A-lister Ben Affleck. The couple wed in 2022 before divorcing last year.
Regarding Brett’s romantic situation, inquisitive supporters will find little satisfaction as, similar to his Office Romance alter-ego Daniel, he maintains strict privacy around his personal affairs. Details about his love life remain largely under wraps, though he previously had a relationship with fellow comic Beth Rylance.
During his Emmy acceptance speech for Ted Lasso, he gave her a shout-out, quipping: “I was very, very specifically told I’m not allowed to swear, so this speech is going to be f****** short. Beth, I love you.”
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Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan. This lets customers watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes the new season of Beef.
Beth herself responded in a since-deleted tweet: “Today is the day that my boyfriend goes to the Emmy’s as a Best Supporting Actor nominee and I am at home on my second load of laundry. Just to confirm, my boyfriend is Kenan Thompson off of SNL.”
The timeline of Brett and Beth’s romance remains unclear, as does when they parted ways. Currently, Brett is thought to be unattached. He is almost certainly unmarried as he has not been spotted wearing a wedding ring.
He’s recently been contemplating the notion of soulmates, particularly after starring in his 2025 Apple TV sci-fi romance All of You, which delves into the concept.
Speaking to InStyle, he pondered: “Do I believe in soulmates? I change my mind,” adding: “I honestly don’t know. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I’m not sure there’s one person for everyone. I think there’s 50 people for everyone.”
He elaborated: “I think in your lifetime there are probably 50 people that you should have met. That doesn’t mean you’ll have sex with, but there’s some karmic connection, over millennia. You know what I mean?”
PARIS — Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva was already a tennis phenom at age 15.
At 19, she’s a Grand Slam champion.
The eighth-ranked Andreeva ended the run of 114th-ranked Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska by 6-3, 6-2 in the French Open final on Saturday.
Andreeva became the youngest player to win the women’s singles title since Monica Seles, who was 18 when she landed her third straight French Open in 1992.
“You’re so young and talented. It’s so annoying,” Chwalinska told Andreeva during the awards ceremony.
When Andreeva executed a backhand cross-court winner on her first match point, she threw her racket into the air and dropped on her knees to the clay to celebrate.
Mirra Andreeva returns a shot against Maja Chwalinska during the French Open women’s final on Saturday.
(Thibault Camus / Associated Press)
During the trophy presentation, Andreeva took the unusual step of thanking herself “for believing in myself, always giving my 100%, even when it’s tough, trying every day to be better as a person and as a player, believing that I can do this, fighting so many demons inside of me.
“Only I know how tough it was for me,” Andreeva added. “How nervous I was throughout these two weeks.”
Chwalinska was attempting to become the first qualifier to capture the Roland Garros title.
Andreeva was born in Siberia and moved to Sochi and eventually France to develop her tennis career.
She drew loud applause from the crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier when she spoke a few words of French during the trophy presentation.
“Thanks for your support today and over these past two marvelous weeks here in Paris,” Andreeva said. “It was very important for me.”
Alexander Zverev plays Flavio Cobolli in the men’s final on Sunday to conclude the wildest Grand Slam in recent memory.
Andreeva has been considered a Grand Slam contender since she burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old at the 2023 Madrid Open, where she became the third-youngest player to win a main draw match at a WTA 1000 tournament and made the quarterfinals.
Lately, Andreeva has had to contend with playing under neutral status and without her country’s flag due to the war with Ukraine.
When she beat Marta Kostyuk in the semifinals, Kostyuk refused to shake her hand, as has been the custom for Ukrainian players facing Russians ever since the war started in 2022.
Andreeva has gone a step further than her coach, Conchita Martinez, who lost the 2000 French Open final to Mary Pierce.
Pierce presented the winner’s trophy to Andreeva.
The final was played under mostly sunny skies but wind was a factor in the first Grand Slam final for both players.
Chwalinska double-faulted on the opening point of the match but she was the first player to hold serve in the fifth game for a 3-2 lead.
But then Andreeva won nine straight games to take control as she found a way to hit through the wind and answer Chwalinska’s array of spins and drop shots.
Andreeva produced 25 winners to Chwalinska’s 10 and also had fewer unforced errors: 26 to 29.
There was a strong Polish presence in the crowd.
When Chwalinska was introduced, fans held aloft red-and-white Polish flags and chanted her name: “Ma-ja, Ma-ja.”
Andreeva had little support from the crowd, although there was a shout of “Davai Mirra!” (“Go Mirra”) in Russian late in the match.
In men’s doubles, top-seeded Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos retained their title with a 6-4, 6-2 win against Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.
Dampf writes for the Associated Press. Samuel Petrequin contributed to this report.
June 6 (UPI) — Democrat Xavier Becerra is advancing to the November election in the California governor’s race, while Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Tom Steyer battle for the second spot.
California’s primary is nonpartisan, so the top two finishers advance, regardless of party.
If elected, Becerra, 68, would be California’s first Latino governor since 1875. The state’s population is about 41% Latino.
“The people of the great state of California, in the greatest nation on Earth, have spoken — loudly and proudly,” Becerra said in a statement. “We will not be bought. We will not be bullied. And we are never backing down.”
Becerra was the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary under President Joe Biden and is a former California attorney general.
No Republican has won statewide office since 2006. Hilton has also been endorsed by President Donald Trump, who is unpopular in the state. California Gov. Gavin Newsom can’t run for re-election because of term limits.
The vote count has taken several days because California has mail-in voting. It’s not unusual for California’s elections to take a long time to count. Trump-endorsed Hilton led early, but it’s likely that’s because Republicans voted early, while Democrats waited because they had many more contenders from which to choose, The New York Times reported.
Hilton, 56, is a British-born former Fox News host who once worked for Prime Minister David Cameron. Steyer, 68, is a New York-born billionaire philanthropist and climate activist who ran for president in 2020.
On Friday, the Department of Justice sent a federal prosecutor to observe ballot counting in Los Angeles after Trump claimed that the count was being rigged by Democrats.
The Los Angeles County registrar-recorder said in a statement Friday: “Our office was notified late yesterday that the U.S. attorney’s office would send an assistant U.S. attorney to the Ballot Processing Center to observe ballot processing activities.”
“The individual arrived this morning, was provided an overview of the public observation program and participated in a walkthrough of the ballot processing operations,” spokesperson Mike Sanchez said in an email to CNN.
Sanchez noted that ballot processing is open to the public.
California law gives election officials 30 days to complete the counting and certification process, California Secretary of State Shirley Weber said in a statement.
“Our commitment is immediate: in California, every ballot is counted properly and every ballot is accounted for,” Weber said.
President Donald Trump discusses renovations to the Lincoln Reflecting Pool and makes an announcement on coal in the Oval Office at the White House on Thursday. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo
Pro-Palestine activists interrupted an army recruitment event during German Armed Forces Day. They climbed onto a tank and unfurled a banner reading ‘Genocide with German weapons’ and named Rheinmetall, a key arms supplier to Israel’s military.
ED Sheeran has been dealt another blow in his ongoing struggle to build a rehearsal space near his mega estate “Sheeranville”.
The Shape of You singer faces painfully slow construction on his new rehearsal studio due to eco-rules.
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Ed’s new rehearsal space is being held back by protected newts living nearbyCredit: Deadline via Getty ImagesThe rehearsal space is set to be near his 16-acre ‘Sheeranville’ estate (pictured)Credit: SplashNews.com
Builders having to begin construction by hand because of the prescence of endangered newts.
And they will be given special “toolbox talks” on what to do if they come across the tiny 15cm critters.
Planning bosses say the tiny 15cm critters could be disturbed by his plans to knock down a historic but dilapidated barn and turn it into a personal rehearsal space.
Council chiefs said the measures were normal for any countryside development – and not “unreasonable”.
Ed’s builders will have to use hand tools instead of machinery, remove all debris by hand.
The popstar’s problems with amphibians date back as far as 2018 0 when protected great crested newts were found near his Suffolk estate.
Planning permission for the project was granted, but with a string of conditions to protect the species.
Sheeran bought the £1million farm in 20245 – which included a 19th century dilapidated piggery.
Mid-Suffolk Council have forced the pop-star to put a range of measures in place to protect the newtsCredit: sandra standbridgeEach builder will be given a “tool box talk” explaining how to protect the newtsCredit: Laszlo Bokor
The brick and wood debris will also be entirely removed by hand to stop the newts from accessing it.
The ‘Great Crested Newt Method Statement’ filed with Mid-Suffolk District Council states: “The removal of any debris e.g. rubble, wood, will be undertaken by hand as far as possible, and with care, checking beneath all removed items for newts.
“Careful use of machinery will be necessary to lift large debris and to remove the existing concrete building base, with the area beneath checked for the presence of GCN as each section is lifted.”
The method statement also gives a time limit restricting project work to March, April and May when most newts will be in ponds away from construction.
Other eco measures Ed’s having to put in place include creating a “species rich, flowering lawn” with 19 different species of flowers.
Plus he’s got to plant 12 fruit trees, two bat boxes and a triple-house sparrow tower.
A spokesperson for Mid-Suffolk District Council told The Sun: “This is certainly NOT a case of any unreasonable ‘eco-friendly measures’ being demanded by our council – simply normal requirements that would be expected of any countryside developers.”
They explained there had been no conflict between Ed Sheeran and the council at any stage and that he had not complained about the restrictions.
