Will Smith discussed the impact of his public incident at the Oscars when he slapped Chris Rock. He has taken time to reflect on his actions and returned to music after three years, releasing a new album. Smith expressed that the experience led to personal growth and creative inspiration.
Key Facts
Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars after a joke about Smith's wife, Jada.
Jada Pinkett Smith has a condition called alopecia, leading to hair loss.
After the incident, Smith was banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years.
He resigned from the Oscars Academy, calling his actions "inexcusable."
Smith's experience drove him to self-reflection and led to his return to music.
In 2023, he released his first album in 20 years, called "Based On A True Story."
Smith sought advice from musicians Jay Z and Kendrick Lamar before making his album.
The album received negative reviews from some music critics but was a personal project for Smith.
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The US Supreme Court decided not to hear an appeal regarding Ed Sheeran's song "Thinking Out Loud," ending a 10-year legal case. Structured Asset Sales, which claimed the song copied Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On," had taken Sheeran to court, but previous rulings favored Sheeran, concluding that the songs were not substantially similar.
Key Facts
The US Supreme Court rejected an appeal regarding Ed Sheeran's song "Thinking Out Loud."
The appeal was related to claims that the song copied Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On."
The legal case spanned about 10 years and included multiple plagiarism trials.
Previous court rulings found in favor of Sheeran, stating the songs were not substantially similar.
Structured Asset Sales, associated with the copyright of Marvin Gaye's song, initiated the appeal.
The legal decision was partly based on the similarity of chord patterns that are common in many songs.
Ed Sheeran's song "Thinking Out Loud" was a major hit, winning the Grammy for song of the year in 2016.
Amy Wadge, the co-writer, expressed relief at the end of the legal battle, which had been a significant burden for her.
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Al-Hilal's chief executive stated that acquiring Cristiano Ronaldo from their rival Al-Nassr did not make sense. The Saudi club is cautious about making quick decisions before the Club World Cup and aims to sign players who are genuinely interested in joining, not just for financial reasons.
Key Facts
Cristiano Ronaldo is out of contract with Al-Nassr at the end of June.
Al-Hilal's chief executive said a move for Ronaldo was not logical since he plays for their rival, Al-Nassr.
Both Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr are owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
FIFA introduced an extra transfer window for the newly revamped Club World Cup.
Al-Hilal is focusing on long-term team strengthening beyond the tournament.
Al-Hilal appointed Simone Inzaghi as their new head coach.
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes claimed he turned down an offer from Al-Hilal.
Al-Hilal is interested in signing top players like Darwin Nunez and Victor Osimhen but wants deals to be mutually beneficial.
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The fixtures for the 2025-26 Premier League soccer season are being announced on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. The new season will start on August 16, 2025, featuring 33 weekends of games and five midweek rounds. Newly promoted teams include Sunderland, Leeds, and Burnley, who aim to stay in the top flight.
Key Facts
Premier League fixtures for the 2025-26 season will be released at 09:00 BST on June 18, 2025.
The new season will start on Saturday, August 16, 2025, after an 83-day break.
Liverpool, the defending champions, aim for their third league title in six years.
Sunderland returns to the Premier League for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
Leeds and Burnley have also been promoted to the Premier League.
The season will have 33 weekends of games, plus five rounds of midweek matches.
Everton will play in their new 52,888-seat stadium for the first time.
This season is between two World Cups, with the Club World Cup in the summer and the international tournament in 2026.
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Chris Woakes is an important player for England's cricket team. He is close to achieving 2,000 runs and 200 wickets in Test matches. Woakes is preparing to play in the upcoming series against India, even as he recovers from an ankle issue.
Key Facts
Chris Woakes is nearing 2,000 runs and 200 wickets in Test cricket, a feat achieved by only six English players.
Woakes returned to the England team when they were struggling in the Ashes and helped secure a series draw.
He plays a key role as an experienced bowler for England, especially under new captain Gill, despite recent injuries.
Woakes has been part of the team for England's recent successes, winning 10 out of 12 Tests he played.
He experienced a career concern due to a knee injury in 2022 but successfully returned to Test cricket.
Since his return, Woakes has taken 51 wickets at an average of 21.88, a performance comparable to top global bowlers.
Woakes will bowl the first over for England against India, bringing his accuracy and experience in English conditions.
The player has had ankle issues possibly from changed footwear but has managed to come back into the team.
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The Mayor of London plans to ban traffic on a section of Oxford Street to make it a pedestrian-only area as soon as possible. The decision involves rerouting 16 bus lines and will be discussed further this year. The plan needs approval from the government's Deputy Prime Minister to move forward.
Key Facts
The pedestrian zone would stretch 0.7 miles between Oxford Circus and Marble Arch.
Two-thirds of people surveyed support the idea of banning traffic on Oxford Street.
The plan involves changing the paths of 16 bus routes.
Westminster City Council's leader expressed concerns but supports moving forward for Oxford Street's future.
The plan could increase problems in nearby areas due to bus rerouting.
The proposal still needs approval from the government to establish new planning authority.
Previous attempts to pedestrianize Oxford Street were blocked by the local council in 2018.
The street is a major shopping area, visited by about half a million people each day.
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Katie Boulter, a British tennis player, received threatening messages online after a match at the French Open. She shared these messages to highlight the abuse athletes face on social media, especially from people who bet on their games. Boulter emphasized the emotional toll this can have on players, particularly younger ones.
Key Facts
Katie Boulter received death threats and abusive messages after a French Open match.
The messages included threats against her family and harmful wishes.
Boulter shared these messages with BBC Sport to show the extent of online abuse players face.
She mentioned that such abuse has become common and is especially concerning for younger players.
Boulter believes much of the abuse comes from people who bet on tennis matches.
She pointed out the difficulty in knowing which threats pose actual danger.
Despite receiving messages after winning or losing, she tries to move on or avoid her direct messages.
Statistics have been shared with BBC Sport to show the amount of abuse athletes receive online.
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England is predicted to face a serious water shortage by 2055, needing a reduction in daily water usage. The Environment Agency suggests implementing more hosepipe bans and smart water meters. Population growth and climate change are major reasons for this potential shortage.
Key Facts
England is expected to have a water shortage of over six billion liters a day by 2055 if no action is taken.
The Environment Agency recommends using hosepipe bans and smart water meters to help reduce water consumption.
England currently uses 14 billion liters of water each day.
People in England need to cut their water use from 140 liters to 110 liters per person per day by 2055.
Water shortages are already limiting growth opportunities in parts of Sussex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk.
England’s population is expected to increase by 8 million people by 2055.
Climate change is causing more extreme weather, with winters getting wetter and summers getting hotter and drier.
Water companies aim to reduce leaks by half by 2050, potentially saving 900 million liters daily.
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A report by Baroness Louise Casey about grooming gangs in the UK found that police and officials did not act on the problem due to fears of being labeled as racist. In other news, Israel has been striking targets in Iran and has issued warnings for Iranians to leave some areas.
Key Facts
Baroness Louise Casey conducted an audit on grooming gangs in the UK.
The report states that a "generation of girls" was let down by police, councils, and Members of Parliament (MPs).
Authorities did not focus on the ethnicity of offenders to avoid raising racial tensions.
The report says asylum seekers and foreign nationals are part of many ongoing police investigations.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper apologized to victims and pledged to review over 1,000 cases.
Israel launched strikes against Iran, targeting locations like Tehran's state TV headquarters.
Israel claims control over Tehran's airspace and has issued withdrawal warnings to Iranians.
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The UK and US have reached a tariffs deal during the G7 summit, which removes tariffs on aerospace and imposes a 10% levy on cars. However, a 25% tariff on steel remains while talks continue. This deal allows trade in beef between the two countries and aims to protect UK jobs in industries like automotive.
Key Facts
The UK and US finalized a deal on tariffs during the G7 summit.
Tariffs on the aerospace industry are completely removed.
A 10% tariff on cars has been agreed upon.
There remains a 25% tariff on UK steel; negotiations are ongoing.
The UK is the only country exempt from a global 50% tariff on steel and aluminium.
There is a new trade agreement for beef, allowing 13,000 metric tonnes of beef to be traded between the UK and US.
The deal is meant to prevent job losses in UK industries like the automotive sector.
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The UK plans to introduce new sanctions against Russia to increase economic pressure and limit funds for Russia's military actions in Ukraine. However, former US President Donald Trump expressed skepticism about the cost of such sanctions and indicated he would wait for potential peace talks before supporting them.
Key Facts
The UK plans to announce new sanctions against Russia with the help of other countries supporting Ukraine.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the sanctions aim to put economic pressure on Russia.
The US, under former President Donald Trump, may not join the sanctions due to concerns about their cost.
Trump called for patience to see if peace talks between Russia and Ukraine could happen before agreeing to sanctions.
Ukrainian officials reported that a recent attack killed 14 people in Kyiv.
The new UK sanctions aim to limit Russia's income from energy and military spending.
Details of the sanctions are still being finalized at a summit in Canada.
Russia was removed from the G7 group after annexing Crimea in 2014.
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MPs in the UK will discuss changes to abortion laws, focusing on decriminalizing the act. Two Labour MPs, Tonia Antoniazzi and Stella Creasy, have suggested different changes, each aiming to reduce investigations into women who end their pregnancies.
Key Facts
Two Labour MPs proposed different changes to existing abortion laws.
The current law in England and Wales allows abortions up to 24 weeks, with some exceptions.
The proposed amendments will be part of the Crime and Policing Bill debate.
MPs are expected to vote freely, without party instructions, on this issue.
Tonia Antoniazzi's amendment seeks to prevent investigations and legal actions against women ending pregnancies.
Stella Creasy's amendment aims to make abortion access a human right, protecting all involved in providing abortions.
In recent years, there has been an increase in police investigations related to abortion.
Last year, several women in England were charged with violating abortion laws.
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A recent survey suggests that more children aged 11-17 are aware of nicotine pouches, rising to 43% from 38% last year. Nearly 4% in this age group have tried them. A charity, Ash, is urging the UK government to push forward a bill to ban marketing these pouches and selling them to minors.
Key Facts
A survey shows 43% of young people aged 11-17 know about nicotine pouches, up from 38% last year.
Nearly 4% of children in this age group have tried using nicotine pouches.
Nicotine pouches are small, tea-bag-like items that release nicotine when placed under the lip.
The pouches do not contain tobacco and are sometimes used to help quit smoking, though not officially recommended by the NHS.
There are currently no age limits for purchasing nicotine pouches in the UK.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to ban marketing and sales of nicotine pouches to under 18s.
The bill is currently being reviewed in the UK Parliament's House of Lords.
A survey also found more adults aged 18-34 are using nicotine pouches, with 2.6% reporting use in 2025, up from 1.2% in 2023.
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A young Indian cricket team, led by new captain Shubman Gill, will face England in a five-match series starting at Headingley. This series marks the beginning of the fourth World Test Championship cycle and introduces the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy. India faces significant challenges due to recent retirements of key players and will adapt to the different playing conditions in England.
Key Facts
Shubman Gill is the new captain of the Indian Test cricket team.
India will play a five-match series against England starting at Headingley.
This series is part of the fourth World Test Championship cycle and for the new Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy.
India has lost several key players to recent retirements, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Pace bowler Mohammed Shami is out due to fitness issues after surgery.
England's team, under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, has been strong at home since 2022.
India has won only three series in England since their first tour in 1932.
New players in the Indian squad include Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, and Abhimanyu Easwaran.
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Patients filming their medical treatments for social media could pose risks to both themselves and NHS staff, according to the Society of Radiographers. The increase in unauthorized filming might lead to staff feeling distracted and anxious, and also risks exposing other patients' private information.
Key Facts
Some patients are using their phones to film medical treatments without permission.
Filming might distract or make hospital staff uncomfortable during procedures.
Videos taken without consent can accidentally share other patients' private information.
Hospital staff have reported feeling worried after being filmed without knowing.
The Society of Radiographers wants NHS trusts to have clear rules about filming.
Patients are advised to discuss and keep any recordings for personal use only.
Filming without permission might break patient confidentiality rules.
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The Church of England has apologized to sisters Jenny, Wendy, and Christina Read for its inadequate response to their reports of childhood sexual abuse. An independent review found that the Church and Cleveland Police failed to properly investigate the sisters' allegations, compounding their trauma. The Church acknowledges that its past response fell below current standards.
Key Facts
The Read sisters reported being abused as children by their father, a female church warden, and a male curate.
The abuse allegedly happened during night-time rituals at a church in north-east England.
The Church of England apologized for not taking action on the sisters' abuse claims.
An independent review found the Church's failure increased the sisters' trauma.
Cleveland Police admitted they missed opportunities to investigate but are willing to reopen the case with new evidence.
Wendy, one of the sisters, reported the abuse to church officials multiple times without a proper response.
Dr. Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, expressed regret about how the allegations were handled during his tenure.
The sisters have documented communication with the Church since the early 1990s regarding their attempts to get their claims investigated.
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Research shows that more people in the United States now get their news from social media and video platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube than from traditional TV and news websites. Popular personalities, like podcaster Joe Rogan, have a growing influence on news consumption, although these influencers are also seen as major sources of false information.
Key Facts
Over half (54%) of people in the US use social media and video networks as their main news source.
Traditional TV and news sites/apps are used by 50% and 48% of people, respectively.
Joe Rogan was the most-seen news personality, with coverage reaching nearly a quarter (22%) of the US population.
The report mentions that some politicians prefer speaking to friendly online hosts rather than traditional journalists.
Almost half (47%) of people globally say online influencers spread false or misleading information.
The use of the social network X for news is steady or growing, especially among conservatives in the US.
TikTok is now the fastest-growing platform for news globally, with 17% usage.
The survey involved almost 100,000 people across 48 countries.
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Israeli aircraft bombed the headquarters of Iran's state TV in Tehran. This attack followed Israeli military warnings for residents to leave the area. Iranian media reported one death at the site, while tensions rise due to recent missile exchanges causing casualties in both Iran and Israel.
Key Facts
Israeli planes bombed the headquarters of Iran's state TV in Tehran.
The strike interrupted a live broadcast on Iran's state TV.
One TV staff member died in the attack, as reported by Iranian media.
The Israeli military claimed the target was a key communications center for Iran's military operations.
Israel warned residents in the area to evacuate before the strike.
The Israeli air campaign targets Iran's nuclear and missile facilities.
Iran had previously launched missiles hitting parts of northern and central Israel.
Recent hostilities have caused numerous casualties in both countries.
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Chelsea began their Club World Cup journey with a match against Los Angeles FC, played in front of a mostly empty Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Despite the stadium having a capacity of 71,000, only 22,137 people attended, partly due to the game being scheduled at 3 p.m. on a working Monday. The tournament serves as a preview for the upcoming World Cup to be held in North America.
Key Facts
Chelsea won 2-0 against Los Angeles FC.
The match took place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, which can hold 71,000 people.
Only 22,137 people attended the game, with the top tier of the stadium closed.
The match started at 3 p.m. local time on a Monday, impacting attendance.
Tickets were available for as low as £26 during the game, but sales were slow.
Los Angeles is over 2,000 miles away from Atlanta.
The Club World Cup is being held in the USA as a practice run for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Atlanta United, a local MLS team, typically has an average attendance of 44,037.
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