attend

US president begins trip to Malaysia, Japan and South Korea, with international trade and China on the agenda.

Oct. 1 (UPI) — Homeland Security adviser Corey Lewandowski said Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will attend the Super Bowl’s halftime show featuring Bad Bunny.

Lewandowski, 52, appeared on “The Benny Show” podcast on Wednesday when he made his claim about ICE at the Super Bowl, according to The Hill.

“There is nowhere that you can provide a safe haven to the people in this country illegally,” Lewandowski said in response to a question from podcast host Benny Johnson.

“We will find you. We will apprehend you. We will put you in a detention facility, and we will deport you,” he claimed.

Lewandowski was President Donald Trump‘s campaign manager in 2016 and a senior adviser in 2020 and 2024.

The Super Bowl is the only U.S. performance scheduled so far in 2026 for Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, aka Bad Bunny, who is from Puerto Rico and has won three Grammy Awards.

The popular rapper last month said he was skipping performing in the United States due to his fear that ICE would raid his concert venues, Variety reported.

Bad Bunny on Sunday affirmed he is skipping dates in the United States, other than the Super Bowl, next year, according to Billboard.

“I’ve been thinking about it these days, and after discussing it with my team, I think I’ll do just one date in the United States,” he posted on X.

The popular rapper has a world tour scheduled from December through July, but said concerns that ICE might show up at U.S. shows caused him to skip performing here.

The Super Bowl is scheduled at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Feb. 8.

Sept. 28 (UPI) — President Donald Trump said Sunday that he will attend a meeting organized by Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth that aims to gather hundreds of senior military officers near Washington this week.

Trump confirmed his Tuesday attendance with NBC News.

“It’s really just a very nice meeting talking about how we’re all doing militarily, talking about being in great shape, talking about a lot of good, positive things. It’s just a good message,” Trump told NBC Sunday. “We have some great people coming in and it’s just an ‘esprit de corps.’ You know the expression ‘esprit de corps?’ That’s all it’s about. We’re talking about what we’re doing, what they’re doing and how we’re doing.”

Last week, Hegseth called on hundreds of military leaders, stationed all over the world, to travel for the meeting with top Pentagon officials.

The event is scheduled to be held at Quantico Marine Corps Base outside Washington. The base will host thousands of military members, top leaders, aides and security, The New York Times reported Sunday.

Senior military leaders were not informed about the purpose of the meeting, NBC reported.

The meeting is scheduled to happen just ahead of a looming budget deadline and potential government shutdown next week. The Trump administration has warned of mass layoffs and furloughs if the government stops operating if lawmakers cannot agree to a temporary spending plan to keep it operating.

The Congressional Research Service said that all 800 senior officers carrying the rank of brigadier general and above are required to attend the meeting.

The scheduled meeting has prompted heightened security concerns, The Washington Post reported.

Trump has said he plans to meet with Congressional leaders Monday in an attempt to overcome the budget impasse.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has summoned hundreds of generals and admirals to an urgent meeting in Virginia next week, but the reason is unknown to many who have been ordered to attend, The War Zone has learned.

Many of these high-ranking officers have been in contact with each other to find out why Hegseth has ordered such an unprecedented gathering that will upend the schedules of hundreds of them, a U.S. official told The War Zone.

“They know about this through scheduling, but they have no idea what this is all about,” the official added. “It is something everyone is wondering. There is no indication of what the topic is.”

The Pentagon confirmed the meeting but provided no details.

“The Secretary of War will be addressing his senior military leaders early next week,” Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.

The meeting, first reported by The Washington Post, comes as Hegseth is looking to trim the ranks of the military’s top commanders and reduce the number of headquarters.

“The directive was issued earlier this week…months after Hegseth’s team at the Pentagon announced plans to undertake a sweeping consolidation of top military commands,” according to The Post.

There are more than 800 admirals and generals, and the order about the meeting affects all the commanding officers, the publication noted.

In May, Hegseth directed that about 100 of those positions be slashed to make the Pentagon more efficient. He has also indicated he wants to reduce the number of military headquarters, including discussions of combining U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command into one.

Though Hegseth has indicated he wants to cut more than 12% of top officer billets, that is just one possible reason for this meeting.

Calling in all these leaders to one meeting is a potential logistical challenge, considering how many are deployed across the globe. The order does not affect staff officers, The Post noted. While there are many commanding generals already in Washington at the Pentagon and a few more who have traveled to the D.C. area to attend an annual Air Force conference, most are elsewhere in the country or located in the Middle East, Europe and the Pacific regions.

Admirals and generals travel with a retinue of support staff and secure communications systems that require a lot of airlift capacity. Considering that most large-scale meetings are conducted by secure teleconference as a result, making so many top officers travel with the resulting schedule disruptions and security issues has raised alarm bells.

“None of the people who spoke with The Post could recall a defense secretary ever ordering so many of the military’s generals and admirals to assemble like this,” the newspaper explained. “Several said it raised security concerns.”

This is a developing story.

Contact the author: [email protected]

MAYA Jama was a sheer delight in a see-through dress as she attended events as part of London Fashion Week.

The Love Island presenter stunned in a sheer look as she attended an exclusive event at London‘s Savoy Hotel.

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Maya, 31, wore a sheer skin-tight gown with a feathered fishtail at the bottom of the skirt.

Her modest areas were covered by sleek black undergarments as she put on a bold display in the figure-hugging striped ensemble.

The TV presenter attended the exclusive bash that was hosted by British Vogue and Audemars Piguet to celebrate London Fashion Week.

She opted for a super glam look with a Marilyn Monroe inspired bob hairdo that was giving old Hollywood glamour.

Lily Allen also followed suit in a mesh frock as she attended the exclusive runway show.

The singer also chose a black sheer gown as she flaunted her toned midriff.

Her under padding included a thin black bandeau with a black skirt that was held together by the thin see-through material.

The Hard Out Here singer styled her hair into her signature updo as she showed off her distinctive bangs.

She opted for a metallic makeup look as she was accompanied by former Radio 1 presenter Miquita Oliver who wore a strapless gold gown.

Meanwhile, actress and former TV & radio presenter Jameela Jamil also chose black as she stunned in a strapless gown.

The corseted floor-length dress came with stylish silver arches near her bosom area.

She wore pointed black heels as she chose a makeup look of bold eye-liner, a thick pink gloss and her black locks were styled into waves.

BRIT Award-winning star Raye also attended the event in a strapless black dress.

The bodice had looped chains that complimented her slim physique as the skirt was emblazoned with matching black ribbons.

Maya Jama will be a massive hit with viewers but can she replace iconic Rita Ora?

By Joshua Rom

IT’S CLEAR that The Masked Singer is a huge asset to the ITV schedule. From the reaction of viewers at home, it seems that the competition is the epitome of primetime Saturday night telly at it’s best.

Alongside the likes of Saturday Night Takeaway and Britain’s Got Talent, the guessing game is one of the top three entertainment shows for the broadcaster as up to seven million people tune in to watch.

When we look at the show, we have a real mix of personalities involved. Joel Dommett’s unique style as a host is carefully balanced by the sharp and witty panel of judges. We have singing star power in the form of Rita Ora, veterans of the business in the form of Davina McCall and Jonathan Ross and comedy value from Mo Gilligan.

The dynamics of the panel work perfectly as Jonathan would take sarcastic jibes at Rita as Davina and Mo would be in hysterics

Last series Rita was forced to take time of the show as she had other commitments across the pond. Huge names such as Nicole Scherzinger, Olly Murs and Jennifer Saunders took her place.

Rita’s star is only on the rise in Hollywood and she’s set to star in a new film alongside the likes of legends such as Robert De Niro and Jamie Foxx in Tin Soldier. This is alongside her marriage to Academy Award winner Taika Waititi.

Clearly not happy with a part-time panelist and a rotating roster of guest judges, ITV bosses have chosen another name to take her place as Love Island star Maya Jama will join the panel. We don’t need to be worried about Rita as she will still be on the US edition.

Maya is a clear favourite amongst telly fans as they love to see her front a show like Love Island and let’s be honest, she’s the perfect fit for it. She is stunning to watch, she’s always on-trend, and very much appeals to the young fan base that flocks to the ITV2 dating show.

But The Masked Singer is a different show on a different channel. Maya is no doubt well versed in the world of television, but she will be surrounded by stars on the panel with decades more experience on air and with more universal appeal. Rita also has huge star power thanks to all her work in the music industry with several hits under her name, something which – despite her undoubted recognition as a star presenter – Maya just does not have.

By some, this could be considered as a risky move for ITV. Especially as networks fight to retain the loyalty of viewers in an age of Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+. With such drastic replacement in the panel and the inevitable shift in dynamics, the show is clearly about to change.

She opted for neutral-toned paisley patterned shoes with ankle tassels to match her brunette bob hairdo.

In terms of accessories, the singer opted for a choker necklace and a black clutch with an arm-length chain strap.

Her bold red lip gloss was complemented by chunky black and gold earrings as she smiled for the cameras.

Also in red was chart-topping musician Maisie Peters who looked absolutely tiny in her slimming red gown.

The Good Witch hitmaker stunned in an ankle-length red lace gown with pastel coloured shoes.

She wore her signature circular rimmed glasses whilst she showed off her short blonde bob.

Love Island return?

While Maura Higgins is back on the box for her Love Island spin-off, Maya Jama has not yet renewed her contract.

The red hot Irish star, 34, squeezed into a latex dress to host America’s Love Island Games sister show Aftersun.

But back on home turf, question marks remain over whether Maya Jama will stay on as host of the dating show.

She has still not signed again with ITV to front the UK version when All Stars returns in January.

A source said: “Maya is in demand but she still enjoys presenting Love Island so everyone is hopeful contracts will be sorted soon.

“Talks have been delayed because of some logistics in Maya’s team.”

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Cofounder of anti-Islamist EDL says rally is for free speech, as protesters attack police and antiracism campaigners.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of London for a march organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, as support for the anti-immigrant Reform UK party soars across the country.

London’s Metropolitan Police estimated that Robinson’s “Unite the Kingdom” rally drew about 110,000 people on Saturday, crowds marching from two directions – Waterloo Bridge and Lambeth Bridge – and converging on Whitehall, next to the United Kingdom Parliament.

Al Jazeera witnessed people waving an assortment of flags – Union Jacks, the red and white St George’s Cross of England and the Israeli Star of David – chanting “[Keir] Starmer is a w*****” as they flocked to see famous far-right speakers next to the UK Prime Minister’s Downing Street residence, including Robinson, Katie Hopkins, and Steve Bannon.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon and is known for his anti-immigrant and anti-Islam views, billed the march as a demonstration for free speech, British heritage and culture, pumping up the crowd with claims that migrants now had more rights in court than the “British public, the people that built this nation”.

The Met deployed more than 1,600 officers to keep apart Robinson’s rally and a counter “Stand Up to Racism” protest attended by about 5,000 people, reporting on X that a number of officers were assaulted as they tried to stop the former breaching cordons delineating a buffer area between the two.

“We continue to see significant aggression directed at officers by Unite the Kingdom protesters,” said the force on X, which arrested nine protesters, adding that additional officers supported by police horses had been deployed in “multiple locations”.

Stand Up to Racism counterprotest held

At the counterprotest, attended by left-wing lawmakers Zarah Sultana and Diane Abbott, the crowd held signs saying “refugees welcome” and ”smash the far right,” and shouted “stand up, fight back”.

The “Stand Up to Racism” campaign group posted on X that its protesters had also been attacked by Robinson’s followers. “Are these the ‘concerned ordinary people’ we’ve heard so much about? Or are they far right thugs,” said one post.

Robinson’s rally comes at the tail end of a highly charged summer in the UK that featured several protests staged outside hotels housing asylum seekers in England, following the arrest of an Ethiopian man who was later convicted of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in a London suburb.

BREAKING: far right thugs attack anti-fascists in Whitehall. Are these the “concerned ordinary people” we’ve heard so much about? Or are they far right thugs. #StandUptoRacism pic.twitter.com/0rkMf5BxmM

— Stand Up To Racism (@AntiRacismDay) September 13, 2025

It also comes as the far-right, anti-immigrant Reform UK party establishes itself as a significant political force, with recent polls saying it would be the UK’s largest political party if a general election were held now.

People at the march displayed placards with slogans like “send them home” and “stop the boats”, the latter a reference to asylum seekers making the perilous journey over the English Channel in inflatable boats.

One woman who had travelled from Scotland for the march told Al Jazeera that she was sick of seeing homeless British people in the street while immigrants were receiving shelter and that empty buildings should be opened for both groups.

“Bad things are going to happen if things don’t change,” she said.

Robinson founded the nationalist and anti-Islamist English Defence League (EDL) and is one of the most influential far-right figures in the UK.

While the crowd attending the “Unite the Kingdom” was large, it fell far short of one of the biggest pro-Palestinian marches, which drew an estimated 300,000 people in November 2023.

President Trump is scheduled to dine with tech executives from Apple, Meta, Google and OpenAI on Thursday night at a White House event in the newly renovated Rose Garden.

The gathering is the latest example of how the world’s most powerful tech leaders are forging stronger ties with Trump’s second administration.

There’s one high-profile tech executive who won’t be at the gathering: Tesla and xAI Chief Executive Elon Musk, who backed Trump but then feuded with the president after temporarily leading an effort to slash government spending.

Musk posted on X that he “was invited, but unfortunately could not attend” and a representative would show up on his behalf.

The Hill first reported that roughly two dozen tech and business leaders, including Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai and OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman, are on the invite list. The gathering is scheduled to take place after First Lady Melania Trump hosts an event for the new Artificial Intelligence Education task force.

“The president looks forward to welcoming top business, political, and tech leaders for this dinner and the many dinners to come on the new, beautiful Rose Garden patio,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told the Hill.

Meta declined to comment. Apple and xAI didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ahead of the dinner, Microsoft and OpenAI announced ways the companies are supporting the White House’s efforts to expand AI literacy. As AI disrupts industries including entertainment and healthcare, workers have expressed anxiety about whether they will lose their jobs.

OpenAI said it’s working with businesses such as Walmart and John Deere to build a platform that will help employers find workers with AI skills. The San Francisco tech company, which also has a platform where people can learn about AI, plans to offer certifications so workers can showcase how much they know about the technology. OpenAI said it aims to to certify 10 million Americans by 2030.

Microsoft outlined several ways it’s trying to help students and workers learn more AI skills through its grants, partnerships and products, including offering a year of Microsoft 365 Personal — which includes the company’s AI assistant Copilot — free for all U.S. college students if they sign up before the end of October.

“AI is the defining technology of our time, and how we empower people to use it will shape our country’s future,” said Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella, who is also expected to attend the dinner, in a video. “That’s why we are so grateful to the President, First Lady and the entire administration for making it a national priority to prepare the next generation to harness AI’s power.”

Silicon Valley tech executives had a contentious relationship with Trump during his first term, sparring with the president over issues such as immigration.

They’ve struck a more friendly tone with the president during his second term as they push for a more hands-off approach to regulation while competing to dominate the artificial intelligence race.

In July, the Trump administration released an action plan that aimed to cut “red tape” so tech companies can quickly develop and deploy AI technology as they go head-to-head with firms in China and elsewhere. Trump tapped venture capitalist David Sacks, who is also expected to attend Thursday’s dinner, to guide the White House’s policy on AI and cryptocurrency.

As tech companies charge ahead, child safety and advocacy groups have raised concerns there aren’t enough guardrails in place to protect the mental health of young people as they spill their darkest thoughts to chatbots.

Trump has also publicly criticized many tech executives before striking deals with them. After Trump called for the resignation of Intel Chief Executive Lip-Bu Tan over alleged conflicts related to his reported investments in Chinese companies, tensions cooled after they met. Intel then announced in August that the U.S. government would take a roughly 10% stake in the semiconductor company.

Trump also struck an unusual deal with Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices that allows the companies to sell certain chips to China in exchange for giving the U.S. government a 15% cut of those sales.

This raised questions among politicians and legal experts about whether that agreement is legal. Nvidia previously said it would spend up to $500 billion over the next four years on AI infrastructure.

Other tech executives have shown support for building in the United States as they face the threat of tariffs from the Trump administration. They also donated to Trump’s inaugural fund after he won the presidential election and have been showing up at high-profile events.

Apple in August pledged to spend an additional $100 billion on domestic manufacturing, bringing its total U.S. investment commitment to $600 billion after Trump criticized the company for expanding iPhone manufacturing in India.

OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank announced this year that they planned to invest a total of $500 billion in U.S. AI infrastructure over the next four years.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, have arrived by train in Beijing to attend China’s largest-ever military parade marking Japan’s surrender in World War II. It will be Kim’s first major multilateral event during his 14-year rule.

Beijing says 26 world leaders will attend the event in Tiananmen Square, overseen by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be among world leaders attending an upcoming military parade in China to mark 80 years since the end of World War II.

Kim and Putin will participate in the “Victory Day” parade in Beijing next week, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday.

It will be held in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and will feature a cast of thousands and a showcase of China’s latest military technology.

The guest list also includes Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, the ministry said.

The parade coincides with the anniversary of September 3, 1945, the day that the Empire of Japan formally surrendered to Allied Forces in Tokyo.

South Korea will be represented by Woo Won-shik, the speaker of the National Assembly, while Robert Fico, the prime minister of Slovakia, will be the only Western leader in attendance.

It is unclear if Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the parade.

Modi will be in China that same week to attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a Beijing-led security alliance, in the Chinese city of Tianjin.

Indian and Chinese relations declined sharply in 2020 over a border dispute in the Himalayas, but they have thawed recently thanks to shared economic grievances with the United States and President Donald Trump’s tariff war.

Kim and Putin are expected to take centre stage at the parade alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping.

North Korea is a treaty ally of China, and Beijing provides Pyongyang with a crucial economic lifeline in the face of international sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme.

Beijing has also come to play a similar role to Russia since Putin’s unilateral invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

China has continued to buy Russian energy exports and supply it with “dual use” technology, electronics and parts that can be used for civilian but also military purposes.

Xi and Putin signed a “no limits partnership” in the weeks leading up to the invasion of Ukraine, while North Korea and Russia have also grown closer since the start of the war, with Pyongyang sending munitions and even soldiers to resupply Russian forces in their battle against Ukraine.

Putin last visited China in 2024, while Kim last visited in 2019.

The pay is nonexistent, but the perk could be viewing games in the U.S., Mexico and Canada for free during the FIFA World Cup next summer.

FIFA launched the application process for the World Cup volunteers Monday. How many are needed? A staggering 65,000 across the 16 cities that will host the expanded 48-team format over 39 days beginning June 11, the largest volunteer program FIFA has ever attempted.

“Volunteers are the heart, soul and smile of FIFA tournaments,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said. “They get to show off their local pride, gain a behind-the-scenes view of the tournament and make memories and friendships that can last a lifetime, while supporting a historic event.

“We hope interested individuals will join us as we welcome the world to North America in 2026.”

In addition to stadiums, volunteers will provide support across at training sites, airports and hotels.

FIFA estimates 6.5 million fans will attend the World Cup, with 3.7 million attending games in the U.S., 1.5 million in Mexico and 1.3 million in Canada. The 2022 final with Lionel Messi leading Argentina past Kylian Mbappé and France, drew a record 1.42 billion viewers, including 26 million in the U.S.

“The Super Bowl, which is fantastic, has what, 120-130 million viewers? The World Cup has 6 billion,” Infantino told Fox Sports in April. “A World Cup is 104 Super Bowls in one month.”

Volunteers in the past ranged from students to seniors. No experience is required but applicants must be at least 18 years old. Interested individuals can apply at fifaworldcup.com/volunteers.

Those whose applications are accepted will be invited to attend the Volunteer Team Tryouts, which are expected to begin in October. Training will take place in March 2026.

‘Volunteers are the heartbeat of FIFA events and champions of their host city — sharing their pride and passion with fans from all corners of the globe, welcoming visitors to experience the unique culture of their host city and supporting the extraordinary event that is a FIFA World Cup,” FIFA said in a statement.

Los Angeles is one of 11 U.S. host cities, with eight games scheduled at SoFi Stadium, including the U.S. team’s opener June 12. After playing its second match in Seattle on June 19, the U.S. will conclude group play at SoFi on June 25.

Included in the games to be played in Inglewood are two round-of-32 games and a quarterfinal. Only one venue — AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas — was awarded more games with nine.

“We’re happy with with how it turned out,” U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said. “We look forward to being in L.A. [and] probably one of the best stadiums in the world and to get to play there twice in the group stage.”

Other U.S. hosts cities include Seattle, Houston, Kansas City, Atlanta, Boston, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Miami and the San Francisco Bay area. Games in Mexico and Canada will be held in Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Toronto and Vancouver.

“FIFA changed my life,” longtime volunteer Craig Collins said on a video. “Why do I want to volunteer again? I can give back to an organization that has provided for me without knowing it.

Collins became the one-millionth person to join the FIFA volunteer community in April 2025.

“I’m excited to apply for the 2026 volunteer program and hope to show off my community to the world once more.”

HULK Hogan has been laid to rest in a private funeral with WWE legends, celebrities, and his family attending.

Mourners appeared to be wearing a touching nod to the wrestling icon as his casket was taken into a Clearwater, Florida, church on Tuesday.

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Hogan died on July 24 aged 71 from a heart attack, but medical records showed he had a history of leukaemia.

Wrestling icons like Triple H, Stephanie McMahon attended, while celebrities like singer Kid Rock and comedian Theo Von were also present.

His ex-wife Lina, who he was married to from 1983 to 2009, was the only member of his family seen going in or out of the service.

Photos from the funeral saw pallbearers wearing yellow boutonnieres – the same colour as Hulk’s iconic wrestling outfit.

The private service was held at the same church where Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was baptized in 2023.

The service was heavily patrolled by church security and Largo police officers, including K-9 dogs.

President Donald Trump paid tribute to the wrestler by posting a photo to his social media of the pair arm wrestling.

He said: “They are having the “Hulkster’s” funeral today, and I thought everybody would enjoy seeing this picture.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered flags flown at half-staff at all official buildings last Friday, which he declared Hulk Hogan Day in Florida.

Hogan was perhaps the biggest star in WWE’s long history, known for both his larger-than-life personality and his in-ring exploits.

He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even WWE co-founder Vince McMahon.

Hogan had been dealing with significant health issues for months when he went into cardiac arrest at his $11.5 million mansion in Clearwater.

He had a neck surgery in May, and was rushed to the hospital afterwards over complications with his recovery.

In June, he suffered a series of health issues that left him reportedly unable to feel his legs or walk with a cane.

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Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in numerous movies and television shows, including Hogan Knows Best, a reality show about his life on VH1.

Hogan’s body will be cremated.

His daughter Brooke Bollea Oleksy, better known by her stage name Brooke Hogan, memorialized her father in a recent social media post.

“I am so grateful I knew the real version of him. Not just the one the world viewed through a carefully curated lens, she wrote on Instagram.”

Just days before his death, Hogan and Brooke shared a short but emotional conversation, per the National Enquirer.

“It was a tearful conversation, albeit a short one,” a source told the outlet.

“Brooke told her dad how much she loved him, how much she missed him. Hulk said he loved her, and he was sorry.”

Instantly recognisable in trademark bandana and shaggy, blond handlebar moustache, Hogan had long been a larger-than-life icon for middle America.

Hogan became such a big star that he was able to transcend wrestling and starred in the movie The Rock III with Sylvester Stallone, as well as securing his own reality TV show, Hogan Knows Best.

Born Terry Gene Bollea in Augusta, Georgia, in 1953, his dad was a construction foreman father and his mum was a dance teacher.

At school, he was called a hippy because of his long hair, love of rock music and hatred of American football despite his physique.

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MEL B has shared the first look at her second wedding in Morocco.

The star – aka Scary Spice – tied the knot with hairdresser Rory McPhee, 37, at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on July 5 in a star-studded ceremony.

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However, the only other Spice Girl in attendance on her big day was Emma ‘Baby Spice’ Bunton.

It was previously reported that Mel’s second wedding in Morocco – which she described as “more informal, sexy and beautiful” – would give the other Spice Girls the opportunity to reunite and celebrate their band mates nuptials.

Now Mel, 50, has shared the first snap from her second big day, where she stunned in a strapless sheer gown covered in red beading.

Meanwhile Rory looked dapper in a short white tuxedo jacket, black trousers and bow tie.

The newlyweds beamed and danced in the snap in front of their Moroccan venue, and Mel caption the snap: “We got married!!! Again!

“A wedding so good we keep the celebration going with our closest and dearest in our fav place at @selmanmarrakech [three heart emojis] we had the time of our lives!!”

And it seems Mel C, who had missed the London ceremony, was in attendance as she commented: “What a weekend! So happy we got to share it with you [three heart emojis].”

Mel’s sister Danielle also shared pictures on her Instagram Stories of the celebrations.

July 1 (UPI) — U.S. State Department representatives met with nuclear forensic scientists from around the world Tuesday at this year’s annual Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group meeting in Italy.

The meeting, taking place in Bologna during record heat throughout much of Europe, comes nine days after the United States launched B-2 bomber airstrikes on three nuclear enrichment sites in Iran.

While President Donald Trump said the airstrikes “obliterated” the facilities, the U.N. nuclear watchdog chief said the damage only set back Iran’s nuclear program by a few months.

The State Department released a statement Tuesday, outlining the meeting with no specifics or reference to last month’s strikes.

“Nuclear forensics, the scientific analysis of nuclear materials, deters nuclear terrorism and ensures public safety by identifying the origin and history of nuclear materials,” the statement read.

The State Department’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation was involved in planning this week’s meeting after having co-chaired the full-working group and all five ITWG task groups.

The ITWG has met for nearly 30 years “to make the world safer through the advancement of nuclear forensics best practices.”

This year’s meeting involves more than 80 experts from 30 countries discussing new developments, in an effort to grow international cooperation “in nuclear forensics exercise and capability development.”

While U.S. airstrikes weakened Iran’s nuclear program, Iran is not the only country targeted for denuclearization. Last week, the State Department said it was committed to the “complete denuclearization” of North Korea.

“President Trump, in his first term, made significant outreach to North Korea,” said State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce.

“They’ve got their own nuclear program in North Korea and we remain committed to the complete denuclearization of North Korea,” she said. “That remains a commitment.”

MINNEAPOLIS — Democratic former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman was honored for her legislative accomplishments and her humanity during a funeral Saturday where former President Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris joined more than 1,000 mourners.

Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot to death in their home two weeks ago by a man posing as a police officer that Minnesota’s chief federal prosecutor has called an assassination. The assailant also shot and seriously wounded a Democratic state senator and his wife at their home.

“Melissa Hortman will be remembered as the most consequential speaker in Minnesota history. I get to remember her as a close friend, a mentor and the most talented legislator I have ever known,” Gov. Tim Walz said in his eulogy. ”For seven years, I have had the privilege of signing her agenda into law. I know millions of Minnesotans get to live their lives better because she and Mark chose public service and politics.”

Neither Biden nor Harris spoke, but they sat in the front row with the governor and his wife, Gwen. Biden also paid his respects Friday as the Hortmans and their golden retriever, Gilbert, lay in state in the Minnesota Capitol Rotunda in St. Paul. Biden also visited the wounded senator, John Hoffman, in a hospital.

Hortman was the first woman and one of fewer than 20 Minnesotans to lie in state at the Capitol. It was the first time a couple have been accorded the honor, and the first for a dog. Gilbert was seriously wounded in the attack and had to be euthanized.

Hortman, who was first elected in 2004, helped pass an expansive agenda of liberal initiatives including free lunches for public school students during a momentous 2023 session as the chamber’s speaker, along with expanded protections for abortion and trans rights. With the House split 67 to 67 between Democrats and Republicans this year, she yielded the gavel to a Republican under a power-sharing deal, took the title speaker emerita and helped break a budget impasse that threatened to shut down state government.

Walz said Hortman saw her mission as “to get as much good done for as many people as possible.” He said her focus on people was what made her so effective.

“She certainly knew how to get her way. No doubt about that,” Walz said. “But she never made anyone feel that they’d gotten rolled at a negotiating table. That wasn’t part of it for her, or a part of who she was. She didn’t need somebody else to lose” for her to win, he said.

The governor said the best way to honor the Hortmans would be by following their example.

“Maybe it is this moment where each of us can examine the way we work together, the way we talk about each other, the way we fight for things we care about,” Walz said. “A moment when each of us can recommit to engaging in politics and life the way Mark and Melissa did — fiercely, enthusiastically, heartily, but without ever losing sight of our common humanity.”

Dozens of state legislators who served with Hortman attended. The Rev. Daniel Griffith, pastor and rector of the Basilica, led the service. Other clergy present included Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Saint Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocese.

The man accused of killing the Hortmans at their home in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park and wounding Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their home in nearby Champlin on June 14 made a brief court appearance Friday. He’s due back in court Thursday.

Vance Boelter, 57, of Green Isle, Minn., surrendered near his home the night of June 15 after what authorities called the largest manhunt in Minnesota history.

Boelter has not entered a plea. Prosecutors need to secure a grand jury indictment first. His lawyers have declined to comment on the charges, which could carry the federal death penalty.

Friends have described Boelter as an evangelical Christian with politically conservative views and a supporter of President Trump. Prosecutors have declined to speculate on a motive.

Karnowski writes for the Associated Press.

According to Oxfam, nearly 150,000 people in the Netherlands called for the government to do more against the war in Gaza.

Tens of thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered in the Netherlands to oppose Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and to call on the government to take a stronger stance, as nearly 55,300 Palestinians have now been killed in the more than 20-month-long war.

On Saturday, huge crowds of people marched through the streets of The Hague for the second time in four weeks towards the International Court of Justice.

Rights groups, who were among the organisers of the rally, including Amnesty International and Oxfam, said the demonstration aimed to create a symbolic “red line” that they say the government has failed to set to halt Israel’s war on Gaza and its Palestinian population.

Demonstrators sang, delivered speeches and marched past the courthouse, which is hearing a case by South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide during its war on the besieged enclave.

Michiel Servaes, director of Oxfam Novib, said “more than 150,000 people” attended the protest calling for “concrete sanctions to stop the genocide in Gaza”.

Reporting from The Hague, Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen said that the large turnout was proof that more people in the Netherlands reject their government’s support for Israel.

“While there is much frustration about the lack of action, protesters here say the focus should remain on the continuing genocide in Gaza despite Israel’s efforts to distract attention,” Vaessen said, adding that protesters also called for Israel to stop its attacks on Iran.

Prime Minister Dick Schoof said that the “unprecedented” thousands of people in The Hague raised their voices with “concerns, anger and frustration”.

“The Netherlands remains committed to stopping the violence and ending the humanitarian blockade. We are constantly looking at how we can be most effective with our efforts, both in front of and behind the scenes, to improve the situation on the ground,” Schoof wrote on X.

“To all those people in The Hague, I say: ‘We see you and we hear you.’ Our goal is ultimately the same: to end the suffering in Gaza as soon as possible,” he added.

Salih el Saddy, a medical doctor protesting, told Al Jazeera that as a doctor, it’s “very painful to watch” the scenes from Gaza.

Pro-Palestine protests also were taking place in Belgium, Turkiye, Brazil, and Greece, all calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza.

Pope Leo XIV condemned hatred, prejudice and exploitation of the earth and poor, during his inauguration mass at the Vatican. World leaders were among the hundreds of thousands who attended, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who was seen shaking hands with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The first US pontiff arrived at St Peters Square riding his popemobile for the first time.

MEGHAN Markle and a beanie-clad Prince Harry have boasted about attending a hugely famous singer-songwriter’s gig – and even left with a signed book.

The pair, which included a beanie-wearing Harry, even took a photograph with the singer.

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The actress was pictured with music icon James Taylor – the hitmaker behind tracks including You’ve Got a Friend and Fire and Rain.

Meghan posted a picture with the singer which she captioned: “in my concert era. Thanks James!”

She included a snap of herself and Harry with James, alongside the singer’s brother Henry Taylor.

Meghan also posted a picture of the Prince and the singer standing together.

Harry wore a simple grey beanie, covering up his famous red hair, and an understated grey jacket.

In another picture, Meghan even revealed that she was given a signed book from the famous songster.

Entitled Sweet Baby James – which is also the title of one of the singer’s hit albums – the book contains illustrated pop-up designs and sells for $25.

James is currently on tour in the United States with his special guest Tiny Habits.

Meghan posted a picture from the crowd at his concert in Santa Barbara, California, on May 14 – one of the earliest dates on the tour.

The actress and her husband have made headlines in recent months, after rumours emerged which claimed they were embroiled in the Beckham’s widely reported feud.

According to an insider, Nicola Peltz and her husband Brooklyn Beckham dined at the Sussex’s home.

The source said: “Harry and Meghan were very empathetic and very kind to them both.

“Harry was fully aware of the situation and offered Brooklyn his unwavering support as someone who has been through similar.”

Inside Meghan Markle’s extravagant garden at £12million mansion – with private swimming pool & koi fish pond

By Becky Pemberton

MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry relocated from Britain to buy a swanky £12million mansion in California in 2020.

But while the nine-bedroom pad looks every inch an A-list retreat, their beautiful grounds are the true showstoppers of the property.

From a private swimming pool to a koi fish pond and tennis courts, it is clear to see why the Duke and Duchess of Sussex love their new Montecito bolthole.

There is even a chicken coop, a slip and slide, and playground for Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, three.

The outdoor adventure area has slides, swings, a climbing frame, climbing wall, helter skelter and other fun obstacle courses.

And we’ve already seen a sneak peek at their garden playhouse, when the Sussexes shared a painting of them outside for their 2020 Christmas card.

The Sussex brood have five acres of land surrounding their Santa Barbara mansion, so it looks perfect for Lilibet and Archie to enjoy.

Meghan and Prince Harry gave Oprah Winfrey the grand tour of their mansion and revealed they have rescue chickens from a factory farm.

The couple walked the talk show host to their coop – a home to rescued chickens.

Brooklyn had shunned all of David’s 50th birthday celebrations, sparking rumours of a feud.

David is said to be “heartbroken” by the rift with his son, which has been described as Victoria’s “worst nightmare”.

The Sussexes’ dinner with Brooklyn and his wife took place at their home in Montecito – where they live with Archie and Lilibet.

The home is valued at £12 million and has nine-bedrooms, as well as a whimsical koi fish pond.

Harry and Meghan’s house also has a lavish swimming pool and a tennis court, alongside a private playground for their children.

Home Improvement expert Justin Nielsen, from Wolf River Electric, estimates that the property will need around 10 to 15 staff members to keep it in tip top condition.

He added: “Given the array of features, including a swimming pool, tennis court, koi pond, children’s playhouse, and chicken coop, the annual upkeep costs could easily reach between £150,000 and £250,000.

“This estimate accounts for landscaping, utilities, specialised care for the koi fish, and general maintenance.”