Iran warns fighting could restart as tensions remain high and Trump urges Israel to protect the fragile ceasefire.
San Antonio Spurs net first win in Game 3 of best-of-seven NBA Finals with crucial 115-111 victory at New York Knicks.
Israel pushes deeper into Gaza, killing Palestinians across the enclave.
Mikel Oyarzabal opens the scoring after two minutes as Spain comfortably win their final World Cup warm-up in Puebla.
President Xi Jinping is on a rare visit to North Korea, where he commits to deeper cooperation with Kim Jong Un.
A signed Polaroid photograph of Nigerian artist Ayra Starr posing in a black hoodie at the NPR studio with her signature at the bottom. Photo Credit: NPR Music/Instagram
If you’ve been waiting for Ayra Starr‘s Tiny Desk Concert, consider this your sign to stop everything and press play.
The Nigerian superstar finally made her debut behind NPR’s iconic desk, and she gave us a version of herself we don’t get to see every day. Gone were the statement heels, the mini skirts, and the full glam. Instead, Ayra showed up in a simple black sweatsuit and let her voice take centre stage.
And it worked.
From the moment she launched into “Birds Sing of Money,” it was clear this wasn’t going to be just another performance. Backed by a phenomenal live band, Ayra floated through fan favourites like “Gimme Dat,” “Who’s Dat Girl,” “Rush,” and “Commas,” giving each song a fresh energy that made them feel brand new.
Nigerian singer Ayra Starr singing into a microphone during her NPR Tiny Desk Concert performance in a black sweatsuit with her live band in the background.
As if that wasn’t enough, she also surprised fans with the debut of “Tornado,” a previously unheard track from her upcoming album, “Starrgirl.”
But it was the closing moments that really got us. Performing “Amin” and “Orun,” Ayra leaned into vulnerability, gratitude, and faith. The songs felt like a thank-you note wrapped in melody—a reflection on everything it took to get here.
Fun fact: Ayra has been dreaming about performing at Tiny Desk since she was 14 years old. Watching her finally step behind that famous desk felt like witnessing a full-circle moment in real time.
Watch below
The post Ayra Starr’s NPR Tiny Desk Debut Was Worth Every Bit of the Wait appeared first on BellaNaija – Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.
The migrant fishermen who waited nine years to give evidence about the company that exploited them.
The United States has denied entry to Omar Abdulkadir Artan, Africa’s reigning referee of the year and the first Somali selected to officiate at a FIFA World Cup, forcing him out of the tournament days before kickoff and raising fresh questions about whether U.S. immigration policies could complicate participation in football’s biggest event.
The United States has denied entry to Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, ruling him out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup days before kickoff.Artan, Africa’s reigning referee of the year, would have become the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup.The decision has sparked criticism from Somali officials and rights groups over fairness and travel restrictions.It also raises fresh concerns about how U.S. immigration policies could affect World Cup participants.
The decision has drawn criticism from Somali officials and added to growing concerns over travel restrictions affecting some World Cup participants, including members of Iran’s delegation and other visitors from countries subject to heightened U.S. scrutiny.
Artan, one of 52 referees selected by FIFA for the expanded 48-team World Cup, was turned away after arriving at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday. U.S. authorities said he was deemed inadmissible following additional screening, citing unspecified “vetting concerns”.
The Somali official had been set to make history as the first person from his country to referee a World Cup match.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Artan was denied entry after an inspection by Customs and Border Protection officers.
“Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security and immigration information available at the time of inspection,” the spokesperson said.
The department did not disclose the specific reasons behind the decision.
FIFA confirmed that Artan would no longer participate in the tournament, which begins this week across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
“FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States,” a FIFA spokesperson said.
The governing body added that immigration decisions remained the responsibility of host-country authorities.
Africa loses one of its most prominent officials
Artan’s exclusion is particularly significant for African football.
The Somali referee was named the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Referee of the Year in 2025 after overseeing some of the continent’s biggest matches, including Africa Cup of Nations fixtures and major CAF club competitions.
His appointment to the World Cup was celebrated across Somalia, a country that has never qualified for football’s biggest tournament and where decades of conflict have often overshadowed sporting achievements.
Artan had previously described his World Cup selection as a personal milestone and a source of pride for Somalia.
Speaking to Al Jazeera earlier this year, he recalled navigating security challenges and violence at home while pursuing a refereeing career.
“You have to continue, and you have to fight if you want to go to a place like the World Cup,” he said.
“You cannot give up as a referee. You have to have a target. I had this target, but it was not an easy job.”
Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser at Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and a former national team captain, condemned the decision.
“Denying him entry to the United States and preventing him from officiating scheduled matches harms not only him personally but also undermines football’s commitment to fairness, merit and the spirit of fair play,” he said.
Artan struck a more measured tone, thanking FIFA, CAF and supporters for their backing.
“I thank FIFA and CAF for their support and will maintain my refereeing standards as I look ahead,” he said.
FIFA confirmed that CAF Referee of the Year Omar Artan will not participate in the 2026 World Cup after U.S. authorities denied him entry.
Travel restrictions cast shadow over tournament
The incident comes as the Trump administration faces scrutiny over the potential impact of its immigration policies on the World Cup.
Somalia is among the countries affected by U.S. travel restrictions introduced as part of a broader immigration crackdown, although exemptions can be granted in some cases.
Artan’s case has raised questions about whether athletes, officials, journalists and support staff from affected countries could face additional barriers despite being accredited for the tournament.
The Somali referee’s exclusion is not the only immigration-related issue to emerge ahead of the competition.
Iran’s national team was forced to relocate its World Cup base camp to Tijuana, Mexico, after visa complications affected members of its delegation. Several Iranian officials were reportedly denied visas, while players and coaching staff will only be allowed into the United States on matchdays.
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei criticised the treatment of his team.
“Usually in these tournaments, before technical matters, ethical and human considerations must be respected, which I think for us it was not the case,” he said.
Iraq has also reported travel difficulties. Striker Aymen Hussein was questioned for several hours after arriving in the United States, while an Iraqi photographer travelling with the team was denied entry.
Civil rights organisations have warned that such incidents risk overshadowing a tournament intended to celebrate football’s global appeal.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) criticised the travel restrictions after Artan’s exclusion.
“Our nation should not ban anyone from our shores simply because of their race or their ethnicity,” CAIR deputy director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said.
An early challenge for FIFA
For FIFA, Artan’s removal presents an uncomfortable challenge before the first match has even been played.
The World Cup is being staged across three countries and will feature a record 48 teams, making it the largest tournament in the competition’s history.
Yet one of Africa’s most respected match officials, selected through FIFA’s own vetting and appointment process, will not take part because of a host-country immigration decision.
The episode highlights the growing tension between FIFA’s ambition to present football as a global sport without borders and the reality of increasingly restrictive immigration policies in some host nations.
For Somalia, meanwhile, the decision has ended what would have been a rare moment of representation on football’s biggest stage.
For the whole tournament, it has created an early controversy that organisers will hope does not become a recurring theme as teams, officials and supporters continue to arrive from around the world.
Rwanda has secured official approval for a new $250 million financing package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), providing a critical buffer for one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies as rising global uncertainty and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East threaten to slow growth and fuel inflation.
Rwanda has secured a $250 million, 38-month IMF Extended Credit Facility to help cushion its economy against global shocks and Middle East conflict impacts.The IMF approved an immediate disbursement of $35.7 million, with additional funds to be released following periodic reviews.Despite external challenges, Rwanda’s economy grew by 9.4% in 2025, reflecting strong investment and positive economic reforms.The financing will help Rwanda manage rising energy and agricultural costs, strengthen foreign reserves, and maintain social and development spending.
The IMF’s Executive Board approved the 38-month Extended Credit Facility on Monday and authorized an immediate disbursement of $35.7 million as per Reuters.
The funding comes at a time when Rwanda is navigating external shocks linked to higher energy and agricultural input costs.
Despite these challenges, Rwanda’s economy has remained remarkably resilient.
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The IMF also noted that the country’s economic growth reached 9.4% in 2025, significantly outperforming expectations.
The strong performance reflects Kigali’s continued investments in infrastructure, tourism, services, manufacturing, and digital transformation, as well as efforts to improve the business environment and attract foreign investment.
The IMF’s approval marks the culmination of a process that began earlier this year.
In April, Rwanda announced that it had reached a staff-level agreement with IMF officials on a 38-month financing program under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF), valued at Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) 185 million, equivalent to about $250 million.
Despite external challenges, Rwanda’s economy grew by 9.4% in 2025, reflecting strong investment and positive economic reforms.
At the time, Rwanda’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning said the agreement was designed to support the country’s economic reform agenda while helping it navigate an increasingly uncertain global environment.
However, the deal still required approval from IMF management and the lender’s Executive Board before any funds could be disbursed.
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Monday’s decision by the Executive Board effectively converts that preliminary agreement into an active financing program, unlocking immediate access to $35.7 million and paving the way for additional disbursements over the next 38 months, subject to periodic reviews.
The Middle East conflict has emerged as a major concern for Rwanda’s economic outlook. Rising global oil prices have increased transport and energy costs, while higher fertilizer prices threaten agricultural productivity and food affordability in a country where farming remains a key economic sector.
The new IMF facility is expected to help Rwanda manage these pressures by providing access to concessional financing, strengthening foreign exchange reserves, and creating fiscal space to protect social and development spending.
The support is also intended to help the government maintain critical investments while avoiding excessive borrowing costs during a period of tighter global financial conditions.
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The IMF expects Rwanda’s growth to moderate to below 6.8% in 2026 as the effects of the Middle East conflict ripple through global markets.
IMF Deputy Managing Director Bo Li warned that risks remain tilted to the downside and encouraged authorities to continue fiscal consolidation, broaden revenue collection, and strengthen oversight of public spending.
For Rwanda, the package represents more than emergency financing. It is a vote of confidence in the country’s economic management and provides additional resources to help shield households, businesses, and public services from global shocks while sustaining long-term development goals.
Aliko Dangote has further cemented his position as Africa’s richest person, with his net worth rising to an estimated $36.7
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Former Big Brother Naija reality star Leo DaSilva and his wife, Maryam Laushi, are celebrating their second wedding anniversary. Marking the special occasion, Maryam took to her X (formerly Twitter) page to share a loved-up
The post “Happy Anniversary to Me and My Big Lion”- Leo DaSilva and Wife Mark Two Years of Marriage With Sweet Messages appeared first on Gistlover.
Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh is celebrating her 41st birthday today, June 9, with a heartfelt message reflecting on her journey through life. Taking to her Instagram page, the actress shared a video of herself dressed
The post “41 Looks Good On Me”- Tonto Dikeh Shares Emotional Birthday Message, Says Her Best Days Are Ahead appeared first on Gistlover.
Victims from the Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, who regained their freedom after three months
Popular music executive and Mavin Records founder Don Jazzy has opened up about the emotional struggles he faced as a teenager, revealing how constant rejection from girls during his secondary school years affected his confidence
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Nollywood actress Peggy Ovire has publicly addressed her ongoing marital issues with estranged husband Fredrick Leonard, accusing him of having an affair with a married woman and urging him to appear in court for their
The post “You Asked For Divorce, Now Show Up” – Peggy Ovire Calls Out Fredrick Leonard, Alleges Affair With Married Woman appeared first on Gistlover.
Nollywood star Frederick Leonard has become a major topic of discussion on social media after videos surfaced showing him attending a public event alongside an unidentified woman. The actor, whose marriage to actress Peggy Ovire
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The Massachusetts legislature passed a bill that would remove “outdated and offensive language” used to describe people with disabilities in the state’s General Laws.
The measure would eliminate various terms, including “handicapped,” “disabled,” and the “r-word” in favor of language such as “persons with a disability” and “person with an intellectual or developmental disability.”
The bill, which was introduced by Democratic state Sen. Pat Jehlen and listed with 17 petitioners, now heads to Democrat Gov. Maura Healey’s desk.
The 61-page bill updates 346 sections of Massachusetts law.
“Language is constantly changing. And it’s changing because of the activism of people who were ignored and demeaned for too long,” Democrat state Sen. Pat Jehlen, the Senate’s primary sponsor of the legislation, said in a statement. “When people tell us they feel insulted and offended by the use of outdated words, we worked to change the legal language. It took a long time, because we kept finding more examples of offensive language. Language and activism will continue to evolve, and there’ll always be more work to do, but this is a gigantic step forward in respect.”
Some of the updated language featured in the bill includes replacing “disabled person” with “person with a disability,” “handicapped” with “disability” and “retarded” with phrases such as “person with an intellectual or developmental disability.”
The legislation also scraps terms such as “crippled” and “deformed” when referring to people with disabilities.
The term “hearing-impaired” was revised to “deaf or hard of hearing” and the “chronically ill” was changed to “persons who are chronically ill.”
Additionally, the bill amends specific legal definitions, including changing the current definition of “caretaker” — which describes an individual or entity responsible for a “disabled person” — to instead use the phrase “a person with a disability.”
“When dusty and dangerous relics of a bygone era darken our laws, it creates the potential for real harm to residents today,” Senate President Karen Spilka, a Democrat, said in a statement. “Thanks to the voices of advocates like former Senate staff member Melissa Reilly and the leadership of Senator Jehlen and Senator Kennedy, the Legislature has acted to make our laws better represent who we are in 21st-century Massachusetts.”
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“With a White House that glorifies, and seemingly longs for, the days when many Americans were discriminated against because of who they are, now is the time to make sure our state laws respect and support the rights and dignity of our residents,” she added.
The passage of this measure comes after a 2024 law that renamed the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission to MassAbility, which state officials argued was a display of a broader effort to modernize disability services and promote inclusion. That law also reflected a broader move away from terms state officials described as outdated or offensive.
“As lawmakers, we know that words matter,” said state Speaker of the House Ronald J. Mariano, a Democrat. “This legislation is our latest effort to ensure that our state laws do not use antiquated words that carry negative connotations, words that also serve as a reminder of past injustices.”
The bill passed with broad legislative support, including unanimous recorded votes in both chambers.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Massachusetts GOP for comment.
Victor Wembanyama’s aggression on the court was once again called into question as the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks played Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.
During the first half, Knicks All-Star guard Jalen Brunson was trying to guard Wembanyama near the free throw line when the 7-foot-4 center put his hand on the back of Brunson’s head and shoved him to the court.
However, Wembanyama was never called for the foul and play continued with the Knicks in possession of the ball.
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Brunson immediately got into Wembanyama’s face, and it appeared the Frenchman was smiling before the point guard got back to business.
The incident was similar to one that occurred in Game 2’s win for the Knicks on the road, when Brunson’s backup, Jose Alvarado, went to box out Wembanyama. Alvarado, who has comparable stature to Brunson, was wrapped up by Wembanyama and thrown away from the play.
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Once again, no foul call was made.
The Spurs are known for their physicality, but many believed that Wemby should’ve been called for fouls in these cases.
San Antonio started this game red-hot, owning an 11-point lead after the first quarter, 33-22. But these Knicks have consistently shown their ability to come back no matter the deficit.
After a second quarter run, the Knicks ended the locker room with a seven-point lead at halftime.
Brunson was a main reason why that was the case, going 5-of-11 from the field for 15 points with three assists and one rebound.
As for Wembanyama, he was an efficient 6-of-10 from the field for 15 points of his own, while hauling in four rebounds and dishing out three assists.
The Spurs are trying to avoid a brutal 3-0 deficit in the best-of-seven series, while the Knicks are hoping they can keep momentum in the second half to have the chance at a sweep in their own building on Wednesday night in Game 4.
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President Donald Trump is hosting his long-awaited UFC brawl on the South Lawn this weekend, and the main event is already spiraling into chaos.
UFC Freedom 250 goes down Sunday (June 14), marking the first time a major MMA pay-per-view will take place at The People’s House.
But the biggest storyline entering fight week is the growing bad blood between UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria and Interim Champion Justin Gaethje.
Topuria has spent recent months dealing with a messy divorce.
Gaethje let go of all dignity by targeting that personal drama into fight-week ammunition. The American targeted Topuria during an appearance on FOX Sports.
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“I can say this: I would leave him [too]. That’s all I’m saying. I would leave him. No way I would put up with his s—,” Gaethje said.
The comment didn’t sit well with Topuria.
The champion fired back with a response on X:
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“Justin crossed a line. What happened between my ex-wife and me is our business. We may no longer be together, but she is the mother of my daughter. To everyone insulting her or speaking about things they know nothing about: show some respect. You don’t have to respect our relationship. But respecting someone’s mother should be one of the most basic codes in life. Be better.
Gaethje wasted little time responding and brought his own father into the conversation.
“Proving my point. Insufferable little b**** boy. Never said a thing about your wife. You want to speak words to my father then act like I crossed some line. We already fighting buddy.”
Then Topuria delivered one final response … which was a scorcher.
“You should’ve kept your father out of this. He was the one calling me a short guy and saying you’d smash me, all while holding a beer in his hand. Then you started talking about my divorce and telling the world you wouldn’t want to be my roommate. Idiot.
“First, we’re fighting, not dating. Second, I’m not looking for a roommate. When I put you to sleep and you’re lying there next to the rose, I’ll look at your father and ask him one simple question: Who’s the short one now? I’m gonna break you Justin.”
Trump is expected to be cageside as one of the UFC’s most personal rivalries takes center stage on the White House lawn.
If the fight delivers even half the drama of the pre-fight trash talk, Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn could be a thing of legend.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
