Honours

Kim marked one year since North Korean troops deployed to fight against Ukraine with the opening of a museum.

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has hailed his country’s “invincible” alliance with Russia, as he marked one year since his troops deployed to fight in Moscow’s war against Ukraine with the opening of a museum honouring soldiers who died in battle.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in the capital Pyongyang on Thursday, Kim addressed the families of North Korean soldiers who “fought in the operations for liberating Kursk”, as he said their deployment to Russia “marked the beginning of a new history of militant solidarity” with Moscow.

“The years of militant fraternity, in which a guarantee has been provided for the long-term development of the bilateral friendship at the cost of precious blood, will advance nonstop,” Kim said, according to state news agency KCNA.

Challenges of “domination and tyranny” cannot hinder ties between Russia and North Korea, Kim added.

The event attended by Kim was the latest public honouring of North Korean troops who fought to repel an incursion by Ukrainian forces into Russia’s Kursk region in 2024.

Kim said the museum – which will feature a cemetery, a memorial hall and a monument – dedicated to soldiers in overseas detachments, was the “first of its kind” in North Korean history.

“Today we are holding the groundbreaking ceremony of the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats that will hand down forever the shining life of the heroes and fallen soldiers of the overseas operations units, excellent sons of the Korean people and defenders of justice,” he said.

In October 2024, NATO, the United States and South Korean intelligence agencies said they had evidence that North Korean troops had been deployed to fight alongside the Russian military.

A month later, Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin officially ratified a mutual defence pact, raising international concern over growing military cooperation between the nuclear-armed states.

The Treaty of Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships obliges both countries to provide immediate military assistance to each other using “all means” necessary if either faces “aggression”.

In April, North Korea confirmed for the first time it had deployed a contingent of soldiers to the front line to fight alongside Russian troops, and its forces had contributed to taking back Russian territory held by Ukraine.

The soldiers were deployed to “annihilate and wipe out the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers and liberate the Kursk area in cooperation with the Russian armed forces”, Kim said at the time, according to KCNA.

Kyiv and Seoul estimate that North Korea deployed more than 10,000 troops in return for economic and military technology assistance from Russia.

Estimates of the casualty rate among North Korean forces have varied widely.

In September, South Korea’s intelligence agency said some 2,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed. In January, Ukraine said North Korean troops were withdrawn from battle after suffering heavy casualties. It was unclear how many North Koreans remain fighting alongside Russian forces.

Earlier this month, Ukraine claimed North Korean troops based in Russia were operating drones across the border on reconnaissance missions, providing the first report in months of North Korean soldiers engaging in battlefield roles.

“The Defence Forces of Ukraine have intercepted communications between North Korean drone operators and personnel of the Russian army,” the Ukrainian General Staff said.

The same week, South Korea’s defence minister said North Korea had likely received technical help from Russia for its submarine development in return for its military efforts against Ukraine.

The Thursday Murder Club star Helen Mirren had a throwback moment in the Netflix film as it paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from The Thursday Murder Club.

Helen Mirren experienced a nostalgic moment in The Thursday Murder Club as the Netflix film honoured the late Queen.

The legendary actress has graced screens in countless acclaimed productions throughout her career, including Prime Suspect, Hitchcock, The Madness of King George, Gosford Park and the Fast and Furious franchise.

However, it was her 2006 Academy Award-winning performance as the late Queen Elizabeth II that truly cemented her legacy, portraying the monarch who tragically died aged 96 in September 2022.

The film, penned by The Crown mastermind Peter Morgan, explores the Royal Family’s response following Princess Diana’s tragic death, as mounting public pressure from newly appointed Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) forces their hand.

It proved a delightful throwback when the 80-year-old star adopted a remarkably similar appearance in Netflix’s newest big-screen offering The Thursday Murder Club.

As the investigative team begins examining a property developer’s murder, pensioner Elizabeth Best (portrayed by Helen Mirren) decides to go “undercover” at the local police station.

Emerging from her bedroom, Elizabeth sports a lengthy checked skirt, cardigan, headscarf, oversized spectacles and walking stick.

She informs her husband: “I’m going out for the day, if you need me, just call me”, whilst Stephen Best (Jonathan Pryce) assures her he’ll manage perfectly well.

He then chuckles: “What on earth are you wearing? You look like the Queen.

“Do I?” Elizabeth questions, a smile playing on her lips.

Stephen, who is living with dementia, then comments: “That was a sad day. The funeral.”

Elizabeth enquires: “Do you remember that?”, to which he responds: “Of course I do. September 19, 2022. We watched it on the telly. You were obsessed with the security arrangements.”

She chuckles and concurs when Elizabeth informs him she’s “got a plan”, leading him to gently caress her face and say: “Oh my darling Elizabeth, you’ve always got a plan.”

Pryce, who plays Stephen, also has a Royal link as he portrayed Prince Philip in the final two series of The Crown on Netflix.

The Thursday Murder Club will premiere on Thursday, August 28, on Netflix.

The country bid farewell to Buhari with military honours and honorific chants of ‘Sai Baba’.

Nigeria’s former President Muhammadu Buhari was buried in the backyard of his home in Daura, a town in the northern Katsina state, as supporters climbed trees and shouted “Sai Baba” to bid farewell to the 82-year-old.

A military parade and 21-gun salute honoured the former president on Tuesday at the airport before his body was transported 80km (50 miles) to Daura, where crowds surged to catch a final glimpse as the casket was lowered into the ground.

Buhari died on Sunday in a London hospital following an undisclosed illness. His coffin, wrapped in Nigeria’s green and white flag, was flown into Katsina and met by President Bola Tinubu, senior government officials, and mourners.

Buhari, who first seized power in a 1983 military coup and ruled for less than two years, returned to lead Africa’s most populous country as a civilian after defeating Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election. He served two terms until stepping down in 2023.

President Tinubu declared seven days of national mourning and a public holiday to honour Buhari’s legacy.

While Buhari’s presidency saw some achievements in infrastructure and anti-corruption efforts, his time in office was also marked by economic downturns, worsening insecurity, and a prolonged crisis in Nigeria’s oil sector.

Still, many in northern Nigeria viewed him as a principled and austere leader who tried to steer the country through turbulent times.

Supporters, some in tears, chanted as the casket disappeared from view, marking the end of an era for a man both revered and criticised.

Buhari leaves behind a mixed legacy

Known for his austere style and fiery rhetoric against corruption, Buhari was seen by his supporters as a reformer. “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody,” he often declared, seeking to position himself above Nigeria’s entrenched political factions.

Yet his presidency struggled to contain rising insecurity. While he promised to defeat Boko Haram and restore order, armed violence spread far beyond the northeast. Gunmen, separatists, and criminal groups operated with impunity across large parts of the country by the end of his tenure.

Still, Buhari leaves behind a legacy as a symbol of democratic change in Nigeria, even if the transformation he promised remained incomplete.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from London following Buhari’s death over the weekend, Alexis Akwagyiram, managing editor at Semafor Africa and a longtime observer of Nigerian politics, said Buhari will be remembered for achieving what many thought impossible: winning power as an opposition candidate.

“He was the first opposition candidate since the return to civilian rule to win at the ballot box,” Akwagyiram said, referencing Buhari’s 2015 victory over Jonathan. “History will remember him favourably for that.”

Yet Akwagyiram was blunt about the failings that marked Buhari’s time in office. He described the former general as “very ineffective” in managing Nigeria’s economy, citing his insistence on maintaining a strong naira, which led to a convoluted system of multiple exchange rates and two recessions during his tenure.

Despite the criticisms, Akwagyiram highlighted why Buhari resonated so strongly with many Nigerians. “He had the personal brand of integrity and honesty,” he said. “In a political climate renowned for corruption, that was appealing.”

Buhari’s austere image and northern support base helped him build a national coalition that twice propelled him to the presidency, a rare feat in Nigerian politics.

“He didn’t try to enrich himself,” Akwagyiram said. “That’s something history will look on favourably.”

Beckham’s knighthood marks the completion of a reputational rebuild for arguably the UK’s most famous living sports star.

Despite his stellar footballing career, charity work and support of the London 2012 Olympic bid, for years there has been speculation that controversy may explain why he kept being overlooked for the honour.

In 2017 leaked emails that Beckham had allegedly written appeared to reveal his frustration at missing out on a knighthood.

A spokesman for the star at the time said the story was based on “outdated material taken out of context”.

In the same year he was among a number of celebrities embroiled in a tax case having invested in the Ingenious film financing scheme.

However, in 2021 it was reported, external he was deemed eligible for a knighthood after having his finances cleared.

Yet still his wait continued. In 2022 Beckham was widely criticised for his decision to accept millions of pounds from the Qatari regime as a World Cup ambassador, and associating himself with a country accused of human rights abuses and where same-sex relationships are illegal. Beckham had posed for the cover of Attitude magazine in 2002, saying he was honoured to be called a gay icon.

Comedian Joe Lycett appeared to destroy £10,000 of his own money in a protest against Beckham’s role with the tournament.

Beckham later defended himself, saying he was “proud” to be part of the event, and a spokesman added that it was “a positive that debate about the key issues has been stimulated. We hope that these conversations will lead to greater understanding and empathy towards all people, and that progress will be achieved”.

Later that year however, the patriotism for which Beckham had become known was praised after queuing for 12 hours to see the Queen lying in state, with other celebrities criticised for skipping the long wait.

Since then, the father of four appears to have forged a close friendship with the royals, especially King Charles after becoming an ambassador for the monarch’s charitable foundation last year, even bonding with him over their shared interest in gardening. It was notable that Beckham and his wife Victoria attended a state banquet for the Emir of Qatar at Buckingham Palace in December.

With a popular 2023 Netflix documentary testament to the enduring interest in his life, accompanying all this has been continued commercial success for the 50-year-old’s personal brand. Indeed, he was recently estimated to be the eighth highest-paid athlete, external of all time.

With a range of companies still lining up to be linked with him, the co-owner of Inter Miami continues to enjoy an international profile like no other British athlete, even in retirement.

CRYSTAL PALACE are taking on Manchester City in a stunning FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium!

The Eagles headed into the match on the back of a mixed season in the league, but have ended the campaign in good form.

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Palace boss Oliver Glasner has had a huge impact on the side since his arrival at Selhurst Park in February 2024.

Glasner said ahead of the FA Cup final: “I’m very pleased. Not just with the improvements, but I think with the environment we have created here at the training ground and also in the club.

“We are very ambitious, everyone is working very hard to progress, and this is the main reason why we are where we are now at the end of the season.

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“We are really settled in mid-table and looking at the teams in front of us more than looking at the teams who are behind us.

“We are also playing the FA Cup final and very pleased with what has happened in the last 15-16 months.”

Have Crystal Palace ever won a trophy?

Crystal Palace won the Second Division twice in their history – in 1979 and in 1994.

They have also been promoted via the playoffs four times – 1989, 1997, 2004 and in 2013.

However, what is considered a top-flight honour has eluded the club so far.

While the club have now reached three FA Cup finals, including taking Manchester United to a replay in 1990.

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United won 1-0 in the replay after the original clash ended in a 3-3 draw.

Before their final in 2025, the last time Palace were in an FA Cup final was in 2016.

Palace also played United that day, but lost 2-1 after extra-time in a match famed for manager Alan Pardew’s dance with the side 1-0 up.

Winning the FA Cup today will send The Eagles into the Europe.

The last and only time they played in Europe was the 1998 UEFA Intertoto Cup, but were knocked out in the third round to Turkish side Samsunspor.