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We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
In Gainesville, Florida, a bizarre incident unfolded yesterday when a man was taken into custody for allegedly resisting an officer’s instructions. The man in question, 38-year-old Braja Mandala Sanchez, drew attention after a fast-food employee reported that he had been brandishing what appeared to be a firearm inside the restaurant. Upon closer inspection, the weapon was identified as an airsoft or toy gun, recognizable by its distinctive orange tip.
The incident occurred at approximately 4:49 p.m. on June 5, when a Gainesville Police Department officer was dispatched to the Chick-fil-A on West University Avenue. A staff member recounted how Sanchez entered the establishment, settling at a table with multiple open bottles of alcohol in front of him. As she approached to request his departure, she noticed his shirt was raised, revealing the handle of what she believed to be a gun tucked into his waistband. Concerned for her safety, she refrained from confronting him directly and instead alerted her manager.
The situation escalated when the employee later returned to find Sanchez waving the gun around, prompting further alarm. Shortly after this unsettling display, Sanchez exited the premises.
A police officer soon arrived at a nearby bus stop where Sanchez was located. The officer attempted to engage with him, issuing directives that Sanchez reportedly chose to ignore, opting instead to gather his alcohol bottles, seemingly intent on leaving the scene. This led to his subsequent arrest for resisting an officer.
A GPD officer responded a short time later and saw Sanchez at a nearby bus stop. The officer gave instructions to Sanchez, who allegedly ignored the officer and started packing up his bottles of alcohol.
A second officer arrived and ordered Sanchez to stop, but Sanchez allegedly gathered his belongings and walked back toward the Chick-fil-A. The second officer tackled Sanchez, who allegedly resisted being placed in handcuffs.
A search incident to arrest reportedly produced a “black plastic airsoft or similar toy gun” with an orange tip.
The officer reported that Sanchez seemed to be mentally unwell or under the influence of a substance at the time of his arrest, and he was sedated by EMS before being transported to a local hospital. As a result, he did not provide any statements.
Sanchez has been charged with resisting an officer without violence. He has two felony convictions (one violent) and seven misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he served a nine-month jail sentence in 2025 for battery on a victim over 65 years old. He was arrested in April 2026 for threatening a maintenance worker while holding a hatchet, but that charge was later dropped. Judge Julie Johnson set bail at $10,000 on the new charge.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
In a pointed statement, former Vice President Mike Pence has made it clear that individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol attack, particularly those who assaulted police officers, damaged property, or attempted to hinder the certification of the 2020 presidential election results, should not be granted pardons. Speaking on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” Pence emphasized that such actions should not be forgiven, nor should offenders receive any form of financial compensation.
The discussion arose during an interview with host Bill Maher, who pressed Pence on the motives of the rioters at the Capitol. This included those who infamously chanted threats against Pence himself. According to reports shared with the House committee investigating the incident, President Trump allegedly reacted with approval to these chants as the chaos unfolded.
Pence distinguished between those who may have been swept up in the events of that day and those who committed violent acts. “I had no problem with the president pardoning people who got caught up in that day,” he noted. However, he drew a firm line against extending clemency to those involved in violent crimes, asserting, “For anyone who assaulted a police officer, anybody that violated and vandalized the seat of our government and sought to disrupt the counting of electoral college votes, those people never should have been pardoned and they should never get a dime.”
On the other hand, former President Trump, at the onset of his second term, had issued broad pardons to several January 6 defendants, which included individuals convicted of assaulting law enforcement. Trump defended these actions, citing perceived unfair treatment by the judicial system as a primary reason for his decision to issue the pardons.
On the first day of his second term, Trump issued mass pardons to Jan. 6 defendants, including individuals convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers. Trump has listed a number of reasons for pardoning rioters, namely their treatment by the prosecution and the justice system.
The Trump administration recently abandoned plans for a $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund that was part of a settlement between Trump and the IRS in a $10 billion lawsuit over the leak of his tax returns.
The fund, which was designed to compensate those who believe they were unfairly targeted by the federal government during previous administrations, faced sharp criticism from lawmakers in both parties over concerns that the money would benefit Jan. 6 rioters.
Two law enforcement officials that were injured during the riots sued to block payouts from the fund, arguing that it could settle claims brought on by any Jan. 6 rioters who committed acts of violence.
Pence has been publicly critical of efforts to “rewrite” the history of what happened at the Capitol riot.
“I’ve certainly seen evidence of that, particularly, I was offended on the anniversary of January 6 when the White House put out a timeline that literally blamed Capitol Hill police for the riot that took place that day,” the former vice president said in an interview.
MADRID – A vibrant tapestry of human spirit and devotion unfolded in the heart of Madrid on Sunday as over a million faithful gathered for Pope Leo XIV’s principal Mass. The event, a cornerstone of his visit, was adorned with the breathtaking floral carpets that are quintessential to Spanish religious celebrations.
The atmosphere was electric as the crowd, filled with enthusiasm, chanted “This is the youth of the pope!” Their cheers resonated through the plaza as Pope Leo made his entrance, gracefully navigating the streets in his popemobile, greeted by throngs of well-wishers who lined up several rows deep along the barriers.
This Mass coincided with the Catholic feast of Corpus Domini, a day marked by solemn processions where a priest leads the faithful through cities and towns, bearing the Eucharist. In Spain, these processions are traditionally celebrated with intricate floral carpets, a vibrant expression of the country’s deep-rooted Catholic heritage.
Pope Leo’s weeklong visit to Spain, which commenced on Saturday, underscores his commitment to revitalize Catholic traditions and engage with the nation’s youth. His aim is to inspire a renewed sense of faith among younger generations in a country known for its secular leanings.
In a poignant moment of communion, about 600,000 young Spaniards joined Pope Leo in a vigil service on Saturday night. They knelt together in silent prayer, a powerful testament to the enduring interest and faith among Spain’s young population, despite the prevailing secular culture.
“Let me take the opportunity to tell all of you: Don’t ever be afraid of thinking about a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, or other services in the church!” Leo told the crowd.
Irati Valda and Javier Hormazal, a young couple, held up a cardboard sign announcing they are going to get married on June 13 and were ushered up close to receive Leo’s blessing during the vigil.
“To see so many young people together, it’s incredible. Half a million people in silence, this is something you will only live once,” Valda said.
A form of popular piety dating back centuries
For Sunday’s Mass and procession, local organizers said 1.2 million people had turned out on a brilliant spring morning at the central Plaza Cibeles and surrounding streets, with more trying to get in.
The tradition of laying flower carpets — and destroying them when the procession tramples them — dates back two centuries and is popular also in Latin America, where elaborate sand designs are also made. The painstaking displays are considered an offering to the Eucharist.
Poland has already had its tradition of Corpus Domini flower carpets recognized by UNESCO, and Spain’s Galicia region is trying to have its tradition listed along with other countries as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.
According to Spanish organizers, the 16 flower carpets decorating the half-kilometer (mile) procession route were prepared by a Spanish florists association from Galicia. Florists used more than 30,000 flowers, most the yellow and white colors of the Holy See flag, for the carpets that feature decorations such as the Holy See keys.
Wildly popular religious processions, pilgrimages and feasts continue to be held in most Spanish regions. The most recognizable are Holy Week processions during the final week of Lent where brotherhoods and robed penitents parade ornate statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary through cities, towns and villages alongside marching bands. Such processions draw the faithful as well as droves of non-believers and tourists.
Spanish towns and cities also regularly honor local patron saints with fiestas. Religious pilgrimages to local shrines mix piety with communal festivities and music. In Andalusia, the El Rocío pilgrimage fetches a million people that make a long, dusty journey over the Pentecost weekend on horseback and decorated covered wagons to venerate an icon of the Virgin Mary.
Leo arrived in Spain on Saturday and urged its people to put an end to polarization and work for unity. Later Sunday he is to meet privately with members of his Augustinian religious order and address cultural leaders.
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AP visual journalist Helena Alves contributed.
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
On Sunday, ZAKA, the emergency response group, reported a series of suspected drive-by shootings occurring between Kochav Yair and Tzur Natan. These incidents tragically resulted in one fatality and injuries to five individuals. Of those injured, two were in serious condition, while three sustained moderate injuries, as per early assessments from the incident site.
Medical teams from Magen David Adom (MDA) confirmed the death of a man in his thirties who had suffered gunshot wounds. The paramedics attended to the injured before transporting them to Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba and Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah for further care.
The Israel Police noted that a shooting took place at a gas station in Kochav Yair. This incident left two people injured, as confirmed by medical responders.
Magen David Adom emergency vehicles at the scene of an attack near Tzur Natan in central Israel, June 7, 2026. Magen David Adom
Responding paramedics from MDA found a man, roughly 30 years old, who showed no vital signs due to severe injuries and was declared deceased at the scene. They also treated and rushed another individual, around 40 years of age, in critical and unstable condition with similar penetrating injuries, to Meir Medical Center.
They were also providing medical treatment and evacuating to Meir Medical Center a man approximately 40 years old in serious and unstable condition, with penetrating injuries.
The Israel Defense Forces said troops were dispatched alongside other security personnel to the areas of Sal’it and Tzur Yitzhak following reports of multiple shooting incidents, where they neutralized the terrorist at the scene.
Soldiers and medical teams were conducting searches for additional terrorists and providing treatment to the wounded, while reinforcements were en route, the IDF said.
Police from the Central District, including Tira station officers, were at the scene gathering evidence and searching for suspects.
Magen David Adom medics head to the scene of an attack near Tzur Yitzhak in central Israel, June 7, 2026 Magen David Adom/X
The circumstances are under investigation.
Magen David Adom said a report was received at 10:40 a.m. of two men wounded on Route 5533 near Tzur Natan, where medics are treating two casualties, including one who is unconscious.
In a separate incident nearby, MDA said a report was received at 10:37 a.m. of a man wounded at the entrance to Tzur Yitzhak, with medics evacuating a 31-year-old man in moderate condition with a penetrating injury to Beilinson Hospital.
The Prime Minister’s Office said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a situational assessment and “is monitoring the deadly shooting attack along the seam line.”
Background: A section of Chinquapin Road in Travelers Rest, S.C. (Google Maps). Inset left: Nancy Dianne West (Greenville County Detention Center). Inset middle: Cassie Cheryl Ann Owens (Mountain View Funerals and Cremations). Inset right: Bradley Kyle Craig (Greenville County Detention Center).
An investigation into the tragic death of a child in South Carolina has led to the arrest of her guardians, who are now facing charges for allegedly abusing her before she went into cardiac arrest.
The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office has charged Nancy Dianne West, 42, and Bradley Kyle Craig, 46, with homicide by child abuse, according to an official announcement on their Facebook page.
The young victim has been identified as 4-year-old Cassie Cheryl Ann Owens, as reported by regional outlet Fox affiliate WHNS.
On April 24, deputies responded to a distress call at a residence on the 1300 block of Chinquapin Road in Travelers Rest, a community situated roughly 10 miles north of Greenville.
Authorities arrived after receiving a 911 call about an unresponsive child. Cassie was transported to a nearby hospital, where, tragically, she was pronounced dead.
Authorities investigated the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. She reportedly was in cardiac arrest when she was brought to the hospital, and investigators claimed West and Craig had “deprived the child of proper nutrition.”
Though the sheriff’s office did not state whether or how the defendants were related to the girl, they said they were her legal guardians at the time.
Deputies arrested West and Craig this week at their home. They were booked into the Greenville County Detention Center ahead of a bond hearing.
According to the local outlet, there had been allegations of abuse at the home before. On March 28, 2025, deputies investigated an alleged assault.
Craig had reportedly hit a child “in the back of the head twice with his hand” and later admitted to doing so. It is unclear whether that child was Cassie.
Amanda Frances responded to Bozoma “Boz” Saint John after she criticized Andy Cohen for his inquiries about her entrepreneurial endeavors on Wednesday’s episode of Nick Viall‘s podcast. Amanda hinted that the scrutiny surrounding Boz’s career might be “karma.”
Credit: Bravo
During their conversation, Amanda addressed several topics, including the rumored “housewives curse” on marriages, speculation about her role in the end of her husband Eddie Tsivislavsky‘s first marriage, and the way her co-stars portray her business on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The 41-year-old also reflected on a regret from season 15 and shared insights into her wedding planning process.
On the June 3rd episode of The Viall Files, Amanda clarified Andy’s reaction during the reunion, stating, “The expression on [Andy’s] face when he said, ‘Really,’ was one of confusion, not doubt about her achievements as a woman. I believe he was simply puzzled, but he likely doesn’t mind the attention since it ultimately benefits the show, which is his main focus.”
Andy, 59, seemed to take the criticism in stride, later acknowledging Boz’s professional life on social media. However, Amanda speculated that Boz’s situation might be a fitting response to her previous comments about Amanda’s business.
While Andy, 59, took the call-out in stride, expressing his understanding of her professional life on social media after the fact, Amanda suggested that Boz got what she deserved after questioning her business.
“That’s karma in its truest form. Any energy you direct is going to be directed back at you so I don’t think it’s shocking that she tried to find things out about me and it in turn made people be like, ‘What about you?,’” she reasoned. “I’ve seen a lot of like, ‘Why does Amanda trigger her so bad? What is this really about?’”
Moving on to the housewives curse, Amanda said that you have to have “really thick skin” to bring your marriage onto a reality show.
“I think it’s really hard on relationships because even though we’ve been basically fine, there was a chunk of time when I was processing what it was for me, and [Eddie was] processing what it was for [him], and it wasn’t like, easy on us,” she admitted.
During Amanda’s debut season of RHOBH, she faced a rumor suggesting she’d come between Eddie, whom she married months ago in a courthouse ceremony with their kids, and his ex-wife.
“Can we tell humanity that I didn’t break up [his] marriage, cuz I’m so tired of that one … [his] ex was in a full relationship when [we met] … [But they] weren’t divorced yet because COVID delayed the paperwork … [I’m] not a home wrecker. Not even close,” Amanda insisted.
Meanwhile, Eddie also spoke out, confirming, “She did not break up my marriage … we were separated … she’s not a home wrecker but the timing didn’t make sense to some people because we were already dating and the divorce paperwork finally became final.”
Then addressing the speculation around her online money-making course business, Amanda said she didn’t realize the narrative that was being created until weeks into filming.
“We’re all filming interviews after we haven’t seen each other for months. Everyone’s more emboldened in their interviews, but that’s weird to see people you hung out with have these really strong opinions, but also, the narrative about my business, for example, I didn’t know it was happening until Italy,” she explained.
Looking back at potential regrets, Amanda first said she had “no regrets [about] how [she behaved].”
“Listen, had I researched castmates the way I was being researched and gone that avenue and then gone to dinner with them to try to take them down, I wouldn’t feel good about myself because that wouldn’t be true to me. I don’t care if it’s the way it normally goes on the show. I couldn’t live with it, so I didn’t do anything I can’t live with,” she explained.
That said, she did admit to having second thoughts about bragging about her designer duds.
“I would’ve done that differently, but that’s kind of like you don’t know until you know. I think those things were cute and funny,” she reasoned.
Also during the interview, after confirming a wedding date of October 10, 2026, Amanda said there was still “a lot to be done with wedding planning.”
“I’m honestly very behind. I don’t even have my dress,” she added.
In a picturesque Sicilian setting, singer Dua Lipa and her new husband Callum Turner celebrated their nuptials on Saturday, creating a memorable occasion with a touch of musical magic from Sir Elton John.
The couple chose the historic Villa Valguarnera in Bagheria, located just east of Palermo, as the backdrop for their lavish celebration. This event followed their official marriage ceremony held six days prior at Marylebone Town Hall.
Adding a special and heartfelt note to the day, Sir Elton John, who shares a close friendship with the bride, delivered an emotional performance of his classic hit, “Your Song.”
Dua, at 30, reportedly dazzled in a gown adorned with diamonds. The stunning piece was the creation of none other than fashion icon Donatella Versace, who joined the couple for their cocktail party on Friday night, further elevating the glamour of the event.
Culminating a three-day celebration, Dua made a grand entrance at around 6 PM local time, as she gracefully walked down a 650-foot drive beautifully lined with bougainvillea trees, marking the highlight of the festivities.
Sources said a semi-circle of chairs had been set up in front of Villa Valguarnera with a gazebo in the centre.
Singer Dua Lipa and her new husband Callum Turner were serenaded by Sir Elton John during their Sicilian ceremony (Dua Lipa is seen here with Elton in March of this year)
Close friend of Dua Lipa’s, Elton flew out at the last minute to perform his hit Your Song in a ‘very emotional’ moment (Lipa and Turner pictured on Friday)
The newlyweds laid on a lavish party at the historic Villa Valguarnera in Bagheria, east of Palermo, where they exchanged vows six days after their official do in London
An insider said: ‘Dua and Callum sat on a stage under the gazebo and a simple exchange of vows took place.’
The bride and groom’s families were driven from Palermo to the villa – though the trip nearly ended in disaster for Dua’s mum, Anesa, when a driver admitted to leaving her shoes in his car.
Inside, the villa was decorated with peonies and hyacinths, with photo booths set up for souvenir pictures to be taken.
Cigarettes were provided and on the chairs outside attendees were given handkerchiefs that were embroidered with the slogan: ‘Stay mad with me forever.’
Just before 11.30pm, a spectacular 10-minute firework display lit up the night sky above Villa Valguanera.
Locals pulled over in their cars to watch and beeped their horns shouting in Italian: ‘Viva gli appal’ – long live the bride and groom.
Dua and James Bond favourite Callum arrived in Palermo on Thursday, and were joined by singer Charli XCX as well as the singer’s parents Dugi and Anesa and Mr Turner’s mother Rose.
On Thursday night guests, who were staying at the £1,000-a-night Igiea hotel in the city, were treated to a yacht party. And on Friday the couple hosted a party at Galleria Moderna.
The bride stunned in a custom-made Bottega Veneta dress. Her handbag was also by the designer, with feathers added to the £2,580 Andiamo clutch.
Elton flew by private jet from Farnborough, Hampshire.
He was whisked in a blacked-out car from Palermo airport and arrived just in time to perform for the ceremony.
Music was also provided by four DJs including Carl Cox, Martin Garrix, David Guetta and Peggy Gou.
However, Palermo locals were not impressed by the festivities. They put posters up saying: ‘Palermo is not for rent. Public spaces belong to everyone.’
Another read: ‘Our square is not your living room,’ and ‘Palermo is not for the rich.’
Photos posted by guests at Saturday’s bash showed photobooths had been set up inside the villa for souvenir pictures to be taken
On the gold chairs outside on the grounds of the villa attendees were given handkerchiefs embroidered with the slogan: ‘Stay mad with me forever’
All the linen was personalised with ‘Dua & Callum’ to mark the celebrations
Just before 11.30pm, a spectacular 10-minute firework display lit up the night sky above Villa Valguanera
The ceremony was attended by 200 guests, with multiple vans ferrying the wedding party seen arriving at the villa
A no drone fly zone was set up and the only prospect of seeing the couple and their guests was when cars arriving slowed down to go through the villa’s imposing iron gates
A ring of steel was thrown up around the Sicilian villa, made famous by the hit series The White Lotus, with metal barriers put up on side roads leading to the venue
The band were seen heading to the venue as they walked in the sun
Standing on the pavement they began playing their trombones and trumpets
Meanwhile police and security were seen arriving ahead of the starry event, with road closures in force
Villa Valguanera was formerly a Mafia lair but has since been taken over by Vittoria Alliata Di Villafranca who still lives in the magnificent 18th Century baroque residence.
The party is expected to be held in the gardens in front of the double colonnade villa which provided the exteriors opening shots for series two of The White Lotus.
In the 1980s the local mob briefly controlled the property and had plans to convert it into a casino and famously stole a statue of Cyclops using a helicopter.
On the villa’s website, the Princess wrote: ‘I never imagined I’d have to defend, tooth and nail, this priceless cultural heritage from the deadly incursions of politicians and Mafiosi.’
A mountaineering ranger with the National Park Service tragically lost her life on Thursday after falling into a crevasse on Mount McKinley, a well-known yet perilous peak in Alaska.
The ranger has been identified as Robin Pendery from Enumclaw, Washington, as stated by the National Park Service (NPS).
Officials reported that Pendery was on a climbing patrol when she experienced a fatal fall near the mountain’s 14,000-foot camp around 2 p.m. local time.
According to an earlier update from the park, Pendery was actively involved in managing the operations at the 14,200-foot camp alongside another ranger.
Despite a swift rescue effort by NPS personnel, Pendery did not survive the fall.
Authorities said the exact circumstances of the fatal fall are under investigation.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of a member of our Denali family,” Denali National Park superintendent Brooke Merrell wrote in a statement. “Our mountaineering rangers dedicate themselves to serving visitors and helping others in one of the most challenging environments in the world. Today, we mourn the loss of a valued colleague, friend and teammate.”
Pendery had been working as a seasonal mountaineering ranger at Denali National Park and Preserve since 2024, dedicating her time to emergency response, climber safety and high-altitude operations, according to the agency.
Pendery’s death at Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, comes just one week after a separate disaster claimed the lives of three Latvian climbers.
During the prior incident, four members of a seven-person expedition plummeted near Denali Pass, which is known as one of the most hazardous stretches of the mountain.
Three climbers — Inese Puceka, Vija Olte and Renars Kunigs-Salaks — died in the fall, while a fourth survived in critical condition, Fox News Digital previously reported.
Rescuers had to use a complex long-line helicopter extraction to save the survivor from a basin at 17,200 feet, as brutal weather conditions and rugged terrain prevented a standard landing.
Towering 20,310 feet above sea level, Denali is considered one of the most challenging climbs in North America.
Each year, only about 1,000 to 1,200 climbers attempt to summit the mountain, typically during the peak May and June season.
Fewer than half of those who made the attempt last year successfully reached the top.
Throughout the national park’s history, more than 130 people have died on the mountain.
Fox News Digital’s Kelly McGreal contributed to this report.
Catch Dateline’s latest installment, Tiny Island Miracle, for an inside look at Curaçao and its World Cup aspirations. Watch it on Tuesday, June 9, at 9:30 p.m. AEST on SBS and SBS On Demand.
Last November, excitement filled the air at a football stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. A sea of fans clad in the national team’s vibrant yellow attire cheered passionately, hoping to see their team clinch a spot in the FIFA World Cup.
In contrast, a small but spirited group of supporters dressed in blue was determined to make their voices heard. They had traveled from the small Caribbean island of Curaçao, off Venezuela’s coast, with the same dream for their ‘Blue Wave’ team.
On paper, the odds seemed stacked. Jamaica, with nearly three million residents, faced Curaçao, a nation of about 150,000—comparable to the population of Darwin or Cairns.
Yet for Curaçao’s loyal fans, the journey proved worthwhile. In a thrilling showdown, Curaçao managed a 0-0 draw, topping their qualifying group and making history as the smallest nation ever, by both size and population, to qualify for the World Cup.
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Back home on the island, the party got started, and it hasn’t really stopped.
What it means to represent Curaçao on the world stage
Until now, those who have heard of Curaçao might know it because of the drink Blue Curaçao or its beautiful beaches (one of which is famous for its small pigs).
Now people have another reason to recognise the name, as ‘Blue Wave’ midfielder Juninho Bacuna told SBS Dateline.
“It’s crazy,” he said.
“Since we qualified for the World Cup, you see some people thinking, like, ‘Who is Curaçao?’, and then they’re going to look it up and see, like, ‘Oh, okay. Curaçao is quite nice’.”
Locals call the island ‘Dushi Korsou’, which means ‘sweet Curaçao’. Credit: Unsplash / Vanessa Leggard
Fellow player Tahith Chong agrees.
“It’s an amazing feeling. I think for all of us, everyone’s been proud,” he said.
“The World Cup, I don’t think the island has stopped talking about the World Cup.”
Chong has a unique perspective because he’s the only member of the squad born on the island.
Midfielder Tahith Chong, seen here playing for Curaçao against Scotland in a World Cup warm-up match in late May, is the only player in the squad born on the island. Source: PA / Andrew Milligan
Curaçao is one of four countries that make up the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The other islands are Aruba and Sint Maarten, also in the Caribbean.
It’s also the poorest island in the kingdom — around 30 per cent of its inhabitants live below the poverty line.
All of Chong’s teammates were born and grew up in the Netherlands.
Their parents moved for better opportunities, reflecting a ‘brain drain’ that has been a constant theme in Curaçao’s modern history, with most students completing their university education in the Netherlands or the US. It can raise questions about what it means to be Curaçaoan.
Bacuna’s older brother Leandro is the team captain. He is from the Dutch city of Groningen but says his identity has never been in doubt.
“I grew up in the Netherlands. I was born in the Netherlands,” he said.
“And my father, the first thing he said to me is that ‘you’re not from the Netherlands. You are pure Curaçao’.”
Leandro Bacuna is Curaçao’s team captain. He’ll be competing alongside his brother Juninho. Source: PA / Andrew Milligan
The influence of Curaçao’s history
National teams taking advantage of historic ties to call up players is fairly common — many of this year’s Senegalese World Cup team were born in France, while the Indonesian team has players born in the Netherlands. Senegal and Indonesia were under colonial rule for 300 years by France and the Netherlands respectively.
The difference here is Curaçao remains a part of the Netherlands, meaning the European nation, and three-time World Cup runner-up, effectively has two teams at the World Cup.
But for Curaçao ‘super fan’ Brenton ‘Blueface’ Balentian, there’s only one team to support.
Balentian earned his nickname from painting his face blue in support of his team.
Brenton, known as ‘captain Blueface’, is arguably the Curaçao football team’s biggest fan. Credit: SBS Dateline / Jordan Osborne
He was in the crowd in Kingston when Curaçao qualified and was overcome with emotion at the final whistle.
“It brought everybody together,” he said.
“They were supporting Curaçao and that was for me the biggest and prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
The colonial legacy of Curaçao
Curaçao is something of a cultural melting pot, born of a turbulent history.
Curaçao was first colonised by the Spanish in the late 1400s, who largely enslaved or expelled the Indigenous Arawak population. The Dutch then took control of the island in the 1630s and established it as a hub for the Atlantic slave trade.
Over more than 150 years, around 500,000 slaves passed through the island. An estimated 12,000 worked on the island’s plantations and constructed many of its buildings.
In 1795, a slave called Tula led an island-wide revolt that was eventually brutally suppressed. Tula was tortured and beheaded, and that revolt is now commemorated each August on Tula Day.
This memorial commemorates the 1795 slave uprising led by Tula. Credit: Wikimedia Commons / JvL From Netherlands
The Dutch established an oil refinery on Curaçao in 1918, attracting workers from countries including the Netherlands, Portugal, China, Lebanon and Syria. An estimated 40 per cent of people on the island are descended from those workers.
Over the years, the island’s economic fortunes continued to fluctuate, and in the mid to late 1970s and early to mid 1980s, economic downturns led to large waves of migration away from the island, mostly to the Netherlands.
Tourism is now a key driver of the Curaçaoan economy and makes up an estimated 23 per cent of the island’s GDP, according to Centrale Bank Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
Curaçao’s tourism divide
According to the Curaçao tourist board, 1.7 million people, mostly from the Netherlands or the US, visited the island last year by plane or cruise ship.
That boom has boosted the local economy — but not everyone benefits.
Dateline spoke to young footballer Braven, a school student, whose parents work three jobs to make ends meet.
His father Fabian says he feels there is something of a divide on the island.
“The part the tourists see, like the hotels, they’re separated from the rest of us,” he said.
The capital of Curaçao, Willemstad, is UNESCO heritage-listed and a popular site for tourists. Source: Getty / AAP Photos / Matias Delacroix
He said the fact that many locals don’t get to experience the luxury that tourists do “leaves a bit of a bitter taste in your mouth, but this is the reality”.
Both parents recognise their son may have to leave Curaçao to get ahead, either in his football career or his education.
Fabian would prefer that he stay.
“I don’t want to leave. But if we have to, then we have to. But, if it were up to me, we would make it happen here on Curaçao,” he says.
“Because we also want to see Curaçao prosper. We want to help achieve that.”
But his mother Naomi believes a life in the Netherlands will mean Braven can ” achieve things quicker than here on Curaçao.”
The World Cup for children
Away from the tourist hot spots, youth gangs and gun violence are an issue on the island. For some young people, football could be a path out.
Former national team coach Remko Bicentini is trying to give children the confidence to chase their dreams, through his foundation Fundashon Bicentini, which is running a World Cup for Children on Curaçao.
Remko believes empowering children through football can help them achieve their dreams beyond the sport. Credit: SBS Dateline / Jordan Osborne
Youth teams from across the island are representing each of the teams in the real World Cup — Braven is playing for Mexico — in a tournament that will mirror the real one.
“The goal, that they learn to live the dream that they have in football. And at school or at home,” Bicentini says.
As for the national team players, they are heading to the World Cup — where they face Germany, Ecuador and the Ivory Coast in the opening rounds — full of hope.
“Don’t think that we are less than the team we are playing against,” captain Leandro Bacuna said.
“We want to achieve something, we want to show the world we can do something.”
You can watch all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ live, free and exclusive on SBS, SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.
Kylie Jenner captivated her Instagram followers on Saturday with a series of captivating mirror selfies, showcasing her stunning style and confidence.
The 28-year-old beauty entrepreneur recently returned to Los Angeles after enjoying a getaway with friends in Turks and Caicos, a tropical hotspot frequently visited by the Kardashian-Jenner clan.
Joining Kylie on this sun-soaked retreat were her close companions Victoria Villarroel, Maguire Grace Amundsen, Anastasia ‘Stassie Baby’ Karanikolaou, and Yris Palmer.
Throughout their trip, the group actively shared glimpses of their vacation, often seen in vibrant bikinis and featuring Kylie Cosmetics products, blending leisure with brand promotion.
Back in Los Angeles, Jenner continued to engage her audience by flaunting her style and confidence in her latest Instagram post, expressing her excitement to be “back in LA.”
Dressed in a floral crop top from her apparel line KHY, she flaunted her enviably chiseled midriff and surgically enhanced cleavage to her 382 million followers.
Kylie Jenner was a sizzling sensation as she flashed the flesh in a suite of mirror selfies she posted to Instagram on Saturday
The 28-year-old lip kit mogul has just returned to Los Angeles from a girls’ trip to Turks and Caicos, a favorite destination among her family
Aiming her best smoldering come-hither stare at her phone, she ran a hand luxuriantly through her mane of wavy raven hair.
While she was frolicking around Turks and Caicos with her gal pals, her movie star boyfriend was glimpsed in New York watching his beloved Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs in front of an audience that also included Ben Stiller.
The Daily Mail has discovered that Jenner and her friends were constantly posting from their Caribbean trip in order to plug Kylie Cosmetics to Generation Z.
‘Kylie is presenting a carefree, fun image to help sell her new Kylie Cosmetic Lip Butter flavors,’ an insider exclusively informed the Daily Mail.
‘The truth is she doesn’t really drink or party much. Most days she wakes up early to exercise and is in her office by 7am or 8am and then goes home to her kids to cook. She is very much a CEO type who is on top of her game.’
Jenner, the source explained, ‘loves making people think she has a wild side,’ but the truth remains that ‘while she likes to party with her old friends once in a while, she is very much a business boss babe who has business on her mind.’
Indeed, her trip came on the heels of an Insta Stories update in late May in which she boasted to her followers about pulling a 12-hour workday.
Uploading a selfie in which she sipped a Dunkin’ beverage while relaxing in a bathrobe at 7:16pm, the reality star wrote: ‘7 to 7 honey. she’s going home now.’
They posted vigorously from their holiday, sharing images of themselves gamboling about in bikinis – while wearing products from the Kylie Cosmetics empire
The Daily Mail has discovered that Jenner and her friends were constantly posting from their Caribbean trip in order to plug Kylie Cosmetics to Generation Z
The daughter of Kris Jenner stands at the helm of a variety of businesses including Kylie Cosmetics, KHY and the canned cocktail brand Sprinter.
Along with the makeup offerings that made Kylie Cosmetics world famous – particularly the lip kits – the firm includes the offshoots Kylie Skin and Kylie Baby.
Her various ventures have proven to be so successful that a few years ago she was at the center of disputed claims that she is a billionaire.
The influencer made headlines all over the world in 2019 when Forbes controversially declared her the world’s youngest ‘self-made’ billionaire at the age of 21.
Later that year, she sold a 51 percent controlling stake in her company for $600 million to Coty, the subsidiaries of which include Rimmel, ghd and CoverGirl.
She was later yanked from the Forbes billionaire list after the magazine accused the Kardashian-Jenners of exaggerating her makeup empire’s value.
Although Chalamet was excluded from his girlfriend’s latest trip, she had left her fans reeling shortly beforehand with a flirty comment she left on a video of him.
Chalamet was filmed walking into a game by his beloved New York Knicks, in a snatch of footage posted to TikTok by Page Six.
After losing the Oscar in March, Chalamet had found comfort in Jenner’s affections at the Vanity Fair afterparty, where he was seen wrapping his arms around her
Jenner leapt into the comments and wrote: ‘Daddy,’ sending other observers into a tailspin of excitement as they posted breathless reactions of their own.
‘Daddy? What is Kylie trying to say exactly? I am shocked,’ one tweeted with a baby emoji as another wrote: ‘Who’s your daddy Kylie? Timmy? C’mon girl.’
Jenner and Chalamet went public as a couple by kissing passionately in the stands of a Beyonce concert they attended in September 2023.
She was a steadfast presence at his side during his failed Oscars campaign for best actor for his new movie Marty Supreme, directed by Josh Safdie.
He was an early Oscars favorite for his turn as a character based on a real underground ping-pong player in 1950s New York.
However, his pomposity in interviews eventually led to a souring of public opinion about him, with sources exclusively telling the Daily Mail about a ‘Stop Timmy’ campaign gathering steam ahead of the Academy Awards.
Chalamet, whose mother and sister both trained in ballet, then poured fuel on the backlash by remarking that ‘no one cares about’ opera and ballet.
Oscar night turned into a humiliation for Chalamet, who was repeatedly mocked over the comment and then lost best actor to Michael B. Jordan for Sinners.
He found comfort in his girlfriend’s affections at the Vanity Fair afterparty, where he was seen wrapping his arms around her and planting a kiss on her cheek.
