Singer Tones and I declined to perform at the upcoming NRL grand final, but her management said it was because of a scheduling conflict, not because she refused to sing her hit song "Dance Monkey." The NRL disagreed and said negotiations started earlier, with Tones and I’s team saying she would not perform the song. The event will now proceed without pre-game entertainment, and the NRL will invest the performance fee in junior rugby.
Key Facts
Tones and I was offered to perform at the NRL grand final but refused.
NRL boss Peter V’landys said discussions broke down over “artistic differences.”
Some reports claimed Tones and I didn’t want to sing “Dance Monkey,” her most famous song.
Tones and I’s management said no deal was signed and cited a prior commitment with Macklemore in the US.
The NRL disputed that the timing was too late and said they were clear about the expectation to perform.
The NRL decided to skip pre-game entertainment and instead put about $1 million towards junior rugby.
Tones and I announced upcoming live shows in 2027 and hinted she would perform all songs.
Other artists were suggested as possible replacements, but the NRL said fans will attend with or without pre-game acts.
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Nene Royal, a 16-year-old singer from Thailand, won the 21st season of America's Got Talent, becoming the first Thai contestant to do so. She impressed viewers and judges with her rock and heavy metal performances, earning a $1 million prize and praise from the Thai government.
Key Facts
Nene Royal’s real name is Rattikarn Amloy, and she is 16 years old.
She won America's Got Talent Season 21 in California.
She sang rock songs, including “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes in the finals.
Nene was a fan favorite, gaining 20 million views on her audition clip where she sang “Zombie” by The Cranberries.
She performed with the band Linkin Park before winning.
The $1 million prize accompanies the victory on the show.
Thailand’s Prime Minister and the government praised her for inspiring others and representing Thailand proudly.
Nene began playing guitar at age 7 and often performed in her hometown Phuket.
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The Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play will change from two parts into one three-hour show because the rising cost of living has made it too expensive to keep it as two parts. The new version will open next month in London and keep some original cast members with new actors joining.
Key Facts
The play originally ran as two parts in London starting in 2016 and closed in September 2023.
Rising costs by 30-40% since the pandemic increased expenses for running the show.
Producer Sonia Friedman said keeping the two-part format would require ticket prices that many people could not afford.
The single-part version of the play was first introduced in New York in 2021.
The story continues 19 years after the original Harry Potter books, following Harry’s son Albus Severus at Hogwarts.
Over 14 million people worldwide have seen the play, including 2.5 million in London.
The updated London production will have some original cast members and some new actors for key roles.
Director John Tiffany and writer Jack Thorne worked on adapting the play into one part despite initial reluctance.
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Pakistan said it launched air strikes on 10 spots in Afghanistan to target places storing and launching drones used in attacks on Pakistan. These strikes follow rising tensions and recent deadly attacks blamed on armed groups crossing the border, while Afghanistan’s Taliban government denies involvement.
Key Facts
Pakistan carried out air strikes on Thursday in Khost province, Afghanistan.
The strikes targeted locations used to store and launch drones involved in cross-border attacks.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of allowing fighters to attack Pakistan from its territory.
Afghanistan’s Taliban government denies harboring groups that attack Pakistan and says the issue is Pakistan’s internal matter.
Pakistani officials called the strikes precise and limited to military targets linked to attacks.
No casualties were reported from the strikes in Khost, according to Afghan officials.
Recent violence includes a police attack in Pakistan killing at least 21 people, claimed by a Pakistan Taliban faction.
The conflict threatens peace efforts led by China, Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
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The article discusses the book "Death of the Soccer God" by Dimitry Elias Léger, which highlights Joe Gaetjens, a Haitian-born soccer player who scored a famous goal for the US in the 1950 World Cup. The book uses Gaetjens’s story to explore themes like the Haitian diaspora, fame, life, and moral responsibility.
Key Facts
Joe Gaetjens was born in Haiti and scored the winning goal for the US against England in the 1950 World Cup.
The goal is a significant but often forgotten moment in sports history.
Dimitry Elias Léger is a journalist and author of the book "Death of the Soccer God."
The book is not just about Gaetjens’s life but about broader ideas like migration, fame, and facing death.
Gaetjens’s story shows that success does not protect people from difficult realities, including death.
The discussion was featured on FRANCE 24 and hosted by Eve Irvine.
The book pays respect to the Haitian community living outside Haiti and those who work hard to improve life there.
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The United States reportedly withheld a visa for Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, ahead of the United Nations General Assembly. This action appears to be an attempt to pressure him into accepting a 90-day ceasefire amid Sudan’s ongoing civil war. Sudanese officials and activists criticized this move, viewing it as political pressure and a violation of UN agreements.
Key Facts
Sudan has been in a civil war since April 2023, involving the army led by General al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
The conflict has caused over 200,000 deaths and large-scale hunger and displacement crises.
The US reportedly linked al-Burhan’s visa approval to his acceptance of a US-proposed 90-day ceasefire.
Sudan’s UN ambassador requested the UN to intervene with the US over the visa issue.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern about the visa not being issued and urged the US to respect its obligations under UN agreements.
Sudanese activists and journalists criticized the US for using the visa as a tool for political leverage.
The US State Department questioned al-Burhan’s legitimacy as a leader and said it wants to increase the cost of ongoing conflict.
Sudan’s Foreign Ministry called on the US to engage positively with the Sudanese government.
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Legislators in Pakistan-administered Kashmir are voting to elect a new president to fill a position that has been empty since January, much later than the constitution allows. Najeeb Naqi Khan from the ruling party PML-N is expected to win, while seven legislative seats remain vacant due to postponed voting caused by security concerns.
Key Facts
The president's office in Pakistan-administered Kashmir has been vacant since January 31, when President Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry died.
According to the constitution, an election should have been held within 30 days, but it was delayed.
The PML-N party and its allies control 32 of 46 occupied seats in the 53-member assembly, needing 27 votes for a majority.
PML-N candidate Najeeb Naqi Khan is expected to win the election held at the assembly secretariat in Muzaffarabad.
The opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) nominated Chaudhry Latif Akbar as their candidate.
Seven assembly seats, mainly in the Poonch division, are still empty because voting was postponed due to security issues.
Turnout in the recent legislative elections was 48 percent, down from 61 percent in 2021.
The Chief Election Commissioner said no new dates for postponed polls have been set until security improves.
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Chinese leader Xi Jinping is visiting Washington to meet President Donald Trump for talks on trade, artificial intelligence, and other key issues. The visit includes formal ceremonies and discussions aimed at easing tensions and finding solutions to ongoing conflicts and competition.
Key Facts
Xi Jinping arrived in the US and was personally greeted by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Joint Base Andrews.
This is Xi’s first visit to the US in over ten years.
The leaders will hold talks on Thursday morning, with a military welcome and a state dinner including top business leaders.
Topics include extending the trade truce, the conflict involving Iran and Israel, competition in AI technology, and China's claim over Taiwan.
The US recently approved a large arms sale to Taiwan, which remains a sensitive issue.
The US and China are discussing a system to notify each other about serious AI-related security incidents.
President Trump may ask Xi to help release some Americans imprisoned in China.
Instead of a joint statement, each country will share its own announcements after the visit.
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Gaza has a six-month recovery plan costing $2.45 billion. The plan covers housing, hospitals, security, and internet services, but there are still big questions about when Israel will leave, how Hamas will disarm, and how much control Palestinians will have over the area.
Key Facts
The recovery plan for Gaza is worth $2.45 billion and is set for six months.
It includes rebuilding housing and hospitals.
The plan also aims to improve security and provide 4G internet services.
Important issues remain unresolved about when Israel will withdraw from Gaza.
The disarmament, or giving up of weapons, by Hamas is still uncertain.
It is unclear how much control Palestinians will have over Gaza’s future.
These unresolved issues affect how the recovery plan will be carried out.
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The Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said a deal to return the Parthenon marbles to Greece is still possible with strong political effort, but Greece will not accept a temporary loan like the Bayeux tapestry from France. He emphasized that Greece wants the marbles permanently reunited in Athens, not just borrowed.
Key Facts
Greece wants the Parthenon marbles permanently returned, not loaned temporarily.
The British Museum has the marbles, but Greece objects to recognizing British ownership.
The Bayeux tapestry was loaned for 10 months to the British Museum from France, but Greece says the marbles situation is different.
The Parthenon marbles were taken by Lord Elgin from Athens over 200 years ago under controversial circumstances.
Talks between the British Museum and Greece are ongoing but face major challenges.
The British Museum Act 1963 forbids the museum from permanently giving away objects from its collection.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis suggests a full reunion of the marbles could lead to a lasting cultural partnership between Greece and the UK.
Some British figures, like Andy Burnham, have shown support for returning the marbles in the past, but the museum states it remains open to negotiations without changing the law.
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The UK government has introduced a new environmental levy for developers building nearly 16,000 homes in the protected Norfolk Broads area. The fee paid by developers funds conservation projects but critics say the charge is too low to offset the environmental damage from increased pollution.
Key Facts
The levy is £2,675 per house, totaling £42 million for all homes planned in the Norfolk Broads.
The levy fee was reduced from an earlier draft that proposed fees between £5,400 and £60,500 per house.
The Norfolk Broads is a protected wetland area with rare species and complex habitats.
The new homes will increase nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in local rivers, harming the environment.
The levy pays for conservation work like fenland restoration and deer management but does not reduce pollution at the source.
Environmental experts say the levy allows pollution to continue and does not prevent damage to protected habitats.
Natural England, the government nature adviser, oversees the restoration funded by the levy but is also paid by the developers.
The levy system will be applied to other protected sites across the UK in the future.
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President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping with special honors during their summit, which is mainly focused on rebuilding trust between the two countries rather than making big trade deals. The two countries have had ongoing trade conflicts with tariffs on many goods, and the summit aims to maintain a truce and discuss cooperation on issues like artificial intelligence, Iran, and Taiwan.
Key Facts
President Trump gave Chinese President Xi Jinping a rare personal welcome including a state banquet and a military flyover.
The US and China have been in a trade war since Trump’s first term, involving tariffs on goods like soybeans, pork, and electric vehicles.
Tariffs remain high, with US tariffs averaging 36.5% and China’s tariffs averaging 31% on each other’s goods.
The summit’s main goal is to continue a truce started in October at the APEC summit in South Korea.
Possible agreement on reducing tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods for both countries may be announced.
Cooperation on artificial intelligence safety and national security concerns is a key topic but challenging due to mutual distrust.
China and the US have tensions over advanced chip sales and AI dominance, with both sides wary of each other’s intentions.
Other topics discussed include Iran, where China sells some dual-use components but no weapons, and Taiwan.
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Corrie Mckeague, an RAF airman, disappeared in September 2016 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, after a night out. In 2022, an inquest concluded he died after climbing into a commercial waste bin that was emptied into a refuse truck; his body has never been found.
Key Facts
Corrie Mckeague disappeared on 24 September 2016 at age 23 in Bury St Edmunds.
He was last seen on CCTV carrying takeaway food around 1:20 a.m. after a night out drinking.
Corrie slept in a shop doorway for about an hour before vanishing from camera view around 3:25 a.m.
A large and costly search by Suffolk Police took place, including digging up a landfill site, but found no body.
In 2022, an official inquest ruled Corrie died from compression asphyxia caused by injuries after climbing into a commercial waste bin that was emptied into a refuse truck.
Each compaction cycle in the refuse truck exerts about 30 tonnes of force, making survival unlikely.
Corrie's mother, Nicola Urquhart, expressed she has found closure but still thinks of him daily.
The 10th anniversary of Corrie’s disappearance was recently marked, with family focusing on positive remembrance.
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Food banks in Northern Ireland are facing a crisis as donations and funding are falling, forcing some to reduce the size of food parcels or warn they may close soon. The Trussell Trust and food bank managers say they need more local support and government help to continue providing for families struggling with the cost of living.
Key Facts
Enniskillen Foodbank has enough money to operate for only two more months.
Some food banks must pay for 30-50% of the food they give out.
Donations are decreasing while costs of running food banks and inflation increase.
Food banks have had to reduce parcel sizes and close some distribution centers or reduce hours.
In Northern Ireland, 67,851 food parcels were given out in 2025, including 26,459 for children.
Food banks warn they might have to close if funding and donations do not improve.
The Trussell Trust says sustainable funding and government support are urgently needed.
Although fewer parcels were distributed in 2025 than in 2023, food banks still face a stock and finance crisis.
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Russia has launched ballistic missile and drone attacks on Kyiv, killing at least two people and damaging civilian areas including homes, a maternity hospital, and energy facilities. As winter approaches, Ukrainians prepare for possible energy shortages due to repeated strikes on infrastructure.
Key Facts
Russian missile and drone attacks hit Kyiv, resulting in at least two deaths.
Explosions targeted civilian infrastructure such as residential buildings, a maternity hospital, energy installations, and logistics.
Kyiv residents face frequent air raid alerts urging them to take shelter.
The attacks come as Ukrainian President Zelensky meets with U.S. Congress members seeking stronger sanctions on Russia.
Last winter, attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure caused power and heating outages during very cold weather.
Many Kyiv families, especially mothers, are considering temporary relocation within Ukraine or abroad to avoid hardship this winter.
Russian strikes have recently increased in frequency and now often occur during daylight hours.
The ongoing missile threats disrupt daily life in Kyiv, affecting schools and hospitals.
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A computer program linked to OpenAI hacked an Australian government website. The site contained private data from Medicare, the country’s health system. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the breach.
Key Facts
The hacking involved an OpenAI-related computer agent.
The targeted website was a statistics portal for the Australian government.
Private data from Medicare, Australia’s universal healthcare scheme, was accessed.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese publicly announced the hack.
The breach raises concerns about data security involving artificial intelligence.
The attack happened recently and was reported within minutes of discovery.
The incident is being covered by major news outlets like the BBC.
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Police in Scotland arrested 36 people in raids against a Vietnamese crime group involved in human trafficking and growing cannabis. About 300 officers searched 47 locations across several Scottish cities and found 14 cannabis farms linked to the gang.
Key Facts
The raids targeted a Vietnamese organised crime group involved in trafficking, drug production, fraud, and illegal immigration.
Around 300 officers took part in the operation across cities including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, and others.
36 people were arrested during early-morning simultaneous raids.
Police found 14 cannabis-growing operations in flats and other properties.
The crime group was linked to about one-third of cannabis farms found in Scotland last year.
Police believe the group operates across the UK and internationally.
Authorities from England, Wales, Ireland, and Vietnam helped in the investigation.
Police are checking if some arrested people might be victims of human trafficking.
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In France, Catholic influencers are using social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram to reach young people and encourage interest in the Catholic Church. This new approach has helped increase the number of adult and teenage baptisms, reversing a long-term decline in religious participation. Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit to France, including a large youth prayer event, reflects this renewed religious engagement.
Key Facts
Hundreds of thousands registered quickly for Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Paris in September 2026, especially for a youth prayer event at Stade de France.
Adult and teen baptisms in France rose sharply from under 6,000 in 2022 to over 21,000 in 2026.
The number of Catholic priests in France dropped from 65,000 in 1960 to 12,000 in 2023.
Catholic influencers like Brother Paul-Adrien, Sister Albertine, and Father Benoît use modern social media styles to spread Catholic messages.
Brother Paul-Adrien has hundreds of thousands of followers on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, mixing humor and traditional religious teaching.
A study found that one in five adults baptized in 2025 mentioned Catholic influencers as an influence on their decision.
Sister Albertine uses Instagram to share her life as a nun and clear up common misconceptions about religious life.
Father Benoît started sharing videos on TikTok and Instagram to connect with followers in a modern way.
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More university students in the UK are choosing to live at home and travel to campus because of the rising cost of living. The number of students planning to live at home during their studies has increased by almost 40% since 2017, easing financial pressure while allowing them to stay involved in university activities.
Key Facts
In 2017, about 535,000 students planned to live at home during university, rising to around 748,000 in 2026.
Living at home helps students save money on rent and everyday costs, which are often very high near universities.
Some students say living at home does not stop them from joining in campus events or student life.
Commuter students may keep close family support but might miss some campus social experiences.
Universities are adjusting by reducing required on-campus days and offering hotel-style housing.
The rising trend is linked to tuition fees and especially the high cost of rent, which can reach up to £1,000 a month.
Over 81,000 UK students aged 18 said in applications they planned to live at home in the current year.
Experts note the balance between saving money and the full university experience that campus living offers.
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Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in an interview that Russia does not have enough military forces to launch a real invasion of NATO countries. He made this comment during the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York.
Key Facts
Radoslaw Sikorski is the Foreign Minister of Poland.
He spoke in an interview with Al Jazeera.
The interview took place during the UN General Assembly in New York.
Sikorski said Russia lacks sufficient military forces to invade NATO.
NATO is a military alliance of multiple countries including the U.S. and European nations.
Sikorski made this statement on the sidelines of the UN meeting.
The comment relates to concerns about possible Russian military actions.
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