
Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye announced his decision to step away from the national team as long as head coach Pape Thiaw and the current technical staff remain in charge. This announcement followed Senegal's elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 3-2 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16. Senegal had initially held a 2-0 lead with goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr, but Belgium staged a comeback with goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans, who also scored a penalty in extra time. Gueye, 27, stated on social media that he would address the team's elimination later but made it clear he would not play under the current coaching crew. Coach Thiaw defended his substitutions, which have drawn criticism, by stating they were due to player fatigue rather than tactical reasons.
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Basketball superstar LeBron James congratulated Folarin Balogun after the footballer scored for the United States in their World Cup victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Balogun, 24, emulated James's signature "Silencer" celebration after scoring, prompting James to post on X, "THE Silencer HAS Arrived at the World Cup! Helluva goal there, Young King!" The post garnered nearly four million views. Balogun, who was born in New York, raised in London, and plays in France, is a basketball enthusiast. American soccer scouts reportedly offered him NBA courtside tickets to persuade him to play for the US. Balogun has scored three goals in the current World Cup, helping the US reach the last-16, but will miss the upcoming match against Belgium due to a red card in the Bosnia game. James, 41, recently announced his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers to play an unprecedented 24th season with another franchise.
BreakingIran's chief negotiator and parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has urged a massive turnout at the funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Ghalibaf stated that the public presence at the ceremonies, which begin Saturday, should "write a glorious page in the history of Islamic Iran" and that "the nation's call for vengeance must ring in the ears of the whole world." Khamenei, 86, died on February 28 in US-Israeli strikes at the start of the war. His funeral, delayed during the Middle East conflict, will proceed as Iran and the United States observe a ceasefire. The ceremonies are expected to attract 15 to 20 million mourners, potentially making it the largest state funeral in Iran's history. Public holidays have been declared in Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad, with traffic and airspace restrictions in Tehran. After ceremonies in Tehran, Khamenei's body will be taken to Najaf and Karbala in Iraq before burial on July 9 in Mashhad. Representatives from approximately 30 countries are anticipated to attend.
Must ReadAuthorities reported that the pilot who died after crashing a small plane into Beijing's CITIC Tower, injuring 13 people, had mental health issues and had written about suicide in his diary. The 66-year-old pilot, surnamed Liu, flew a light aircraft into the 528-meter skyscraper in Beijing's Central Business District. The incident, which occurred at 5:55 pm, raised questions about aviation safety in Beijing, as the CITIC Tower is approximately seven kilometers from Zhongnanhai, the government compound for top Chinese leaders. Witnesses reported a hole in the windows of an upper floor, plane debris, and a small fire at the base of the tower. Liu, who was divorced and lived alone, had reportedly suffered from insomnia and anxiety, with his diary containing multiple references to "ending his life." The Chaoyang district government stated it was "an incident endangering public safety caused by personal reasons." Liu worked as a freelancer and obtained a sport pilot license in 2021 and a private pilot license in 2024. On the day of the crash, Liu took off from a general aviation airport in Pinggu district, conducting supervised and solo flights. During his final solo flight, he "deviated from the designated area and lost contact with the airport" before the crash. He was flying a two-seat propeller-driven light aircraft. Photos and videos of the crash were quickly removed from Chinese social media, and police prevented journalists and onlookers from taking pictures at the scene.