BBC News World

Brad Paisley criticizes the data center planned near Nashville Zoo

Brad Paisley is a Grammy Award winning American country music singer-songwriter. He urged his fans to sign a data center that would be 50 yards from the Nashville Zoo petition to stop construction of the 69,000 square-foot Instagram Reel, which he described as “an absolute nightmare situation” in a

“First, they don’t have the energy to build it. They don’t even have water. It’s not right there. Paisley’s video, which was posted in collaboration with the zoo on Saturday, said that it would be an absolute eyesore and detract from not only this zoo but also that area. Nashville Zoo has more than 3,700 animals representing over 350 species. It had 1.4m visitors last year. Paisley, in his post, said that the Nashville Zoo is “one of top zoos around the world”. The zoo released the video a few days ago and it was promoted on social media. This brought national attention to this dispute. By Monday afternoon, the video had 331,824 names and 126,599 likes. Rick Schwartz, the president and CEO of the zoo, said he was concerned about the impact the video would have on the rare and vulnerable animals at the zoo, including the clouded leopard, whose population is being conserved by the zoo. Paisley, who is a Nashville resident, has so far been the most well-known person to speak out against the project. “Nobody has shared any environmental impact assessments or studies. Just their words. Nashville Zoo asks the community “to join us in opposing the proposed Data Center being built adjacent to our Zoo”, according to the petition. According to

the proposed data centre is being built by DC BLOX. The Atlanta-based company specializes building and operating data centres as a services to “hyperscalers and enterprises, communication providers and technology companies.” DC BLOX wants to expand its data center network across the nation with created a petition. said in an interview Friday: “More Data Centers are Needed Outside the Major Cities Nearer to Edge Markets to House the Necessary Technology to Run Services Closer to Data Producers and Consumers” A DC BLOX representative told NBC News Friday that he was not sure what the data centre would be used for and whether AI companies will be its customers. A spokesperson for DC BLOX said that it was not an AI factory, which would put a strain on local resources. It is also proposed on a location where a previous data center operated. It is fighting against the data center because of this concern.

In a statement to NBC News, the zoo said: “As we continue forward, we’ve taken the next steps in our fight against this proposed data center.” Bill Herbert, former Metro Codes director and our Land Use attorney, filed a zoning plication with the city. This peal is intended to overturn permits that DC BLOX submitted and that were proved. Julie Oaks Smith is the chief communications officer of Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s office. She wrote NBC News a comment in which she stated that Nashville residents expressed their concern. O’Connell “is working with our Department of Law, and Metro departments, to ensure that large-scale data centres don’t hurt our local communities.” We are examining the options available to the Metro government and Mayor Freddie O’Connell to ensure that our air, water and ratepayers are protected, as well as our neighborhoods and residents, from negative impacts of these facilities.

Paisley is known for weaving social commentary, complex issues, and cultural issues into his songs. He also remains involved in philanthropic and cultural issues outside his music career. His wife and he helped establish a nonprofit in Nashville in 2020 called the

organization. It is a referral-based, free grocery store which fights food security. Paisley joined U-24 in January 2023, which was founded by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to raise funds and support Ukraine. Nashville Zoo is overwhelmed by the community support in our fight to stop the data center. The zoo would like to express its gratitude to Brad Paisley for publicly speaking on behalf of the Zoo. its website

BBC News World

Biggest news websites in the world for 2026 (any language)

Biggest news websites in 2026 (any language). Exclusive top-50 ranking based on Similarweb data including: South Korea, Jan, UK and US.

The BBC is the most-visited news website in the world in any language, according to Press Gazette’s new ranking of the world’s top online newsbrands.
The UK broadcaster saw 894.7 million visits in May 2026 according to Similarweb, ranking it ahead of Jan’s Yahoo News with 815.4 million visits.
The BBC has overtaken several publishers in the ranking since Press Gazette’s coverage in May 2025.
The US has the most news sites in the top 50, with 13 entries featuring. Its highest-ranking site was The New York Times, which listed in fourth place with 592.6 million visits in May 2026.
The US was followed by India, with eight, and then Jan with four.
Poland, Germany and the UK all have three news sites to feature in the top 50.
Most news sites lost traffic year on year in May 2026, with 37 recording declines in visits (compared to 34 in 2025). Some 15 sites saw visits fall by at least 20% year on year.
India’s Hindustan Times posted the biggest drop, down 54% to 122.2 million visits. It was followed by Poland-based Onet, said to be the largest online news source in the country, which was down 41% to 176.8 million.
Indian Express posted the third-biggest decline in traffic year on year, down 40% to 88.9 million.
Eight of the 13 US sites in the top 50 saw traffic decline both month on month and year on year. Google traffic has declined at a faster rate in the US compared to European publishers as AI Mode and AI Overviews were rolled out earlier there, causing the effects to pear sooner.
Qatar’s 24-hour news network Al Jazeera saw the biggest increase in traffic year on year, up 69% to 86.7 million. As seen repeatedly in Press Gazette’s top 50 monthly ranking of news sites, Al Jazeera has sustained year-on-year traffic growth in recent months, a reflection of increased interest in Middle East news after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on 28 February.
Some 30 of 50 sites saw traffic decline month on month, with Al Jazeera’s traffic dropping the fastest (down 38%), followed by India’s ABP Live (down 22% to 101.3 million) and CNN (down 22% to 357.7 million).
Several major newsbrands from other countries missed the top 50 altogether: France’s daily newsper Le Figaro fell short by around three million visits, ranking 52nd with 80.3 million, while Le Monde ranked in 71st place with 70 million visits in May. Finnish tabloid per Iltalehti trailed just behind Le Monde with 69.5 million visits.
More Press Gazette website rankings:
Top 50 news websites in the UK
Top 50 news websites in the USA
Top 50 English-language news websites in the world
Similarweb generates its traffic data by plying machine learning and modelling to the statistically representative datasets that the company collects. Datasets are based on direct measurement (i.e. websites and ps that choose to share first-party with Similarweb); contributory networks that aggregate device data; partnerships and public data extraction from websites and ps. The sites in the list are based on Similarweb’s classification of news and media publishers, although Press Gazette refines the list to exclude some sites with a less journalistic focus.

Source: Press Gazette

Published: June 9, 2026 9:24 AM

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World Cup 2026 LIVE: Latest news and updates as referee denied entry

World Cup fever is building with tournament’s opening game just days away

Sport | Football
World Cup 2026 LIVE: Latest news and updates as referee Omar Artan denied entry to United States
World Cup fever is building with tournament’s opening game just days away
Alex Young, Senior Sport Editor @ alexwsyoung
2 minutes ago
World Cup 2026 LIVE!
The biggest sporting competition the world has ever seen begins this week as United States, Mexico and Canada welcome 45 other nations to their shores for the 2026 World Cup. A record-breaking tournament will see the most matches ever – 104 games across 16 host cities – and, organisers’ claim, the biggest attendances.
England have been in Florida for a week, and beat New Zealand in Tampa on Saturday in their first of two warm-up friendlies ahead of their opening game against Croatia next week. Harry Kane scored the only goal in an unconvincing 1-0 win, and head coach Thomas Tuchel spoke afterwards at his displeasure at his players’ freestyle proach to the game in the first half, before improving after the break.
Up next for the Three Lions is Costa Rica at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, which should include the four late-arriving Arsenal stars, before the squad fly out to their World Cup base in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 13. You can follow all the latest news and updates from across the tournament – including insight and analysis from Dom Smith in the States – with our rolling news live blog below!
World Cup 2026 latest news
3 minutes ago
Somali referee Omar Artan to miss World Cup after being denied US entry visa
A Somali referee who was set to become the first from his country to officiate at a World Cup has been denied entry to the United States.
World governing body FIFA confirmed Omar Artan, who was selected as one of 52 referees for the tournament, will now be removed from its roster.
A FIFA spokesperson said: 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.
FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present.
In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country.
Read more here.
Omar Artan
NurPhoto via
23 minutes ago
Arsenal star ruled out of World Cup
In the big news overnight, Jurrien Timber, the Arsenal defender, has been ruled out of the World Cup.
The Dutchman had been called up by Ronald Koeman for this summer’s tournament, and he made his return from a long injury lay-off in the Champions League final for Arsenal, coming off the bench against Paris Saint-Germain.
Mikel Arteta had said that he was back fit again after niggling ankle and groin issues, but it is the latter that has seemingly ended his World Cup dreams, with the Oranje confirmed he had pulled out of the squad. Lutsharel Geertruida, the Sunderland defender, has replaced him.
Read more here!
Getty
8 hours ago
Neymar injury latest
Neymar’s World Cup hopes have been given a boost after Brazil announced he was making good progress in his recovery from a calf injury.
Brazil’s all-time leading scorer was expected to be sidelined for between two to three weeks after scans last month revealed a grade two muscle tear.
The 34-year-old had a further scan on Monday and the Brazilian Football Confederation said in a brief statement: The exam showed good progress in his treatment, within expected parameters.
He will continue the recovery and physical preparation process planned by the Brazilian National Team’s medical staff.
Neymar has missed Brazil’s two warm-up friendlies, last month’s 6-2 win against Panama and Saturday’s 2-1 victory against Egypt, and faces a race to be fit in time for their opening World Cup group game against Morocco on June 13.
The former Barcelona and Paris St Germain playmaker, who returned to his boyhood club Santos in early 2025, has been dogged by injury issues in recent seasons. (PA Media)
Getty
8 hours ago
France 3-1 Northern Ireland: Michael Olise hits stunning hat-trick as Les Bleus send World Cup warning shot
Northern Ireland were undone by a superb Michael Olise hat-trick as France jetted off to the World Cup with a 3-1 friendly win, but another spirited performance from Michael O’Neill’s young side was rewarded with Patrick Kelly’s first international goal.
Olise struck either side of half-time, both goals unerring finishes on the rebound, and after Kelly pulled one back the Bayern Munich man delivered a superb curling strike to settle it in the 75th minute.
But France, among the favourites to lift the World Cup this summer, hardly had things all their own way as Northern Ireland – whose starting XI had an average age of just 22.6 – dug in to produce another determined display showing maturity beyond their years.
And that was rewarded in the 64th minute when Kelly, the 21-year-old making only his second international start, turned in a Shea Charles cross, silencing the crowd to deliver on O’Neill’s plea for his players to act as badly-behaved guests at France’s going-away party.
READ MORE HERE!
via
9 hours ago
Ngumoha reflects on England debut
Rio Ngumoha made his senior England debut in Saturday’s friendly win over New Zealand, and he has reflected on the experience in an interview with the Three Lions p.
I’ll say it was a crazy feeling. I was hpy, I was buzzing.
I knew from when we had the meeting before that it was a first-half team and a second-half team so I was preparing.
It’s good that I didn’t have much time to think about it, but I wasn’t too nervous, to be fair. I just wanted to play and just show everyone what I could do. And yeah, I just had fun.
Getty
10 hours ago
Timber ruled out
Jurrien Timber has been ruled out of the World Cup with a groin injury, the Dutch national team has confirmed.
The Arsenal right-back missed much of Premier League run-in through injury as the Gunners clinched the title for the first time since 2004.
A national team statement read: Jurriën Timber misses the 2026 World Cup. The 24-year-old defender has not recovered sufficiently from a groin injury to take part in the World Cup in a medically responsible manner.
Sunderland’s Lutsharel Geertruida has been called up in place of Timber, who has 23 cs for Der Oranje.
Read more here!
Getty
11 hours ago
McGinn weighs in on Scotland friendly row
John McGinn said Scotland must ‘look after No1’ after they came under fire for cancelling a planned friendly with Norway.
Scotland had been due to face Norway in an hour-long training-ground friendly this week, but Steve Clarke’s side backed out at short notice after his squad picked up one or two niggles in training and decided it wasn’t worth the risk.
They were subsequently branded unprofessional by Norway boss Stale Solbakken.
But McGinn is adamant Scotland made the right move: “Our job is to look after Scotland, Norway’s job is to look after Norway.
“If they done their research, they’d know we lost a key part of our team recently, and we don’t want to lose anyone else.
“We’ve got to look after number one.”
READ MORE HERE!
PA
12 hours ago
England already facing weather delay
A thunderstorm is forecast to hit Orlando right around the time Englands’ friendly against Costa Rica is due to kick-off.
It may give supporters an early taste of the weather delays which will likely disrupt plenty of matches throughout this World Cup.

13 hours ago
Morocco face double injury blow
Morocco were left with an injury doubt over Real Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli following a 1-1 World Cup warm-up draw against Norway.
The former Barcelona player went off at half-time with a leg injury and is set to undergo scans.
Noussair Mazraoui was also forced off with a shoulder knock but head coach Mohamed Ouahbi allayed fears the Manchester United defender could miss his team’s opener against Brazil on Saturday.
Scotland’s Group C rivals were already facing doubts over the fitness of first-choice centre-back Nayef Aguerd. The Marseille player has been out for three months with a groin problem.
Morocco took an early lead against Norway through Brahim Diaz but Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard levelled in the 75th minute. (Via PA Media)
Getty
14 hours ago
Chicago ‘turned down chance to host World Cup’
Chicago turned down the opportunity to be one of the World Cup’s host cities.
Rahm Emanuel, who served as mayor of Chicago from 2011 to 2019, told The Athletic that he could not make peace with the strain the tournament could put on Chicago residents and taxpayers.
He said: [FIFA] said in the contract that they had the right to request a dome being built over Soldier Field (the venue is open). So I said: ‘You have got to take that out.’
They go, ‘We never exercise it, but it’s something we ask everybody to include.’ I said, ‘I don’t care if you’ve never exercised it. There will always be a first. Take it out and we can work through the other issues.’ They said, ‘We can’t take it out.’
So I said there is not a chance I am going to have you directing me on a $50 million-$100 million expense to the taxpayers. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. You can’t have something in there that leaves the city and the taxpayers exposed, where (FIFA) gets to decide it and I have no vote in it.
Getty
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BREAKING England’s World Cup camp struck by huge earthquake rocking entire state

This is a breaking news story and is being constantly updated by our reporters as the breaking news story develops

This is a breaking news story and is being constantly updated by our reporters as the breaking news story develops
England’s training camp has been rocked by a terrifying earthquake just before their final World Cup warm up game.
A 6.1-magnitude quake was felt in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Thomas Tuchel’s squad are training ahead of Wednesday’s friendly against Costa Rica. It was the strongest the region has seen in 150 years.
The epicentre of the earthquake was located off the west coast of Cuba, about 400 miles away from Central Florida, and was recorded at 2pm local time on Tuesday.
This is a breaking news story and is being constantly updated. Please refresh the page regularly with the latest news, pictures and videos.
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BBC News World

Super PAC supported by Donald Trump to host $1M per person fundraiser day before White House UFC match

On Saturday, before Donald Trump hosts Ultimate Fighting Championship matches at the White House grounds, his top super PAC will hold a fundraiser of $1 million per person. Subscribe to this story to enjoy it ad free

UFC tickets are free. However,

sponsorship packages including cageside seating were sold for more than $1 million last month. One person from the company stated that sponsorship revenue would “help offset UFC’s cost to put the event on” and that none will go to Trump’s political or business interests. The White House has planned activities to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. This UFC event, which will take place on Trump’s birthday (which is also his 80th), is one of them. Trump is close with Dana White, the UFC’s president and CEO. Trump has been to three UFC matches in his second term. He also attended two UFC events as part of his campaign for 2024. White has always been a Trump supporter and spoke in his support at previous Republican presidential conventions.

Trump has promoted the event at the South Lawn of the White House in public pearances. On Saturday, the fighters are scheduled to participate in a ceremony weigh-in just south from the White House. Zac Brown Band is scheduled to perform. The fights on Sunday are scheduled to start at 8 pm. ET and finish after midnight. Trump told reporters in a statement last week that the 600-ton fighting arena, which stands 92 feet tall and is 92 feet wide, would be attractive to many people. The spectacle faces a lawsuit. The Public Integrity Project filed a lawsuit on Saturday to stop the event. It claims that the UFC will profit from the event by using the White House grounds in an improper manner. “This plan,

is deeply corrupt,” The lawsuit states that “the event will probably be profitable for UFC as well as its partners.” The White House said to NBC News that it considers the lawsuit “obstructionist and dilatory”. The fundraising event, which is held at least six times a year by Trump-aligned political groups to raise money for midterm elections, has raised $1 million per participant. Republicans have an advantage of cash in midterm elections at almost all levels. Democrats are likely to be financially outpaced by Republicans, especially when it comes to key House and Senate race. NBC News reported One notable exception is the Senate race of Texas, where Ken Paxton, the Trump-endorsed state Attorney General, defeated Republican Senator John Cornyn during the primary. Cornyn, who has a large fundraising network, would have likely been able raise most of his money himself and kept pressure off national GOP group. Paxton is facing Democrat James Talarico and is expected need more financial support. MAGA Inc. will play a major role in filling this void.

BBC News World

After days of emotional testimony, the defense rests after Karmelo Antony’s murder trial

McKINNEY (Texas) — The defense rested on Monday in the murder trial of Karmelo Anthony, following a short day of testimony about the fatal stabbing Austin Metcalf. Subscribe to this story to enjoy it ad free

, and also after there were no Black jurors selected for the case. During the trial a number of witnesses, mostly classmates and team-mates of Metcalf gave their accounts. Their testimony described a rainy afternoon dispute between Metcalf, a student at Memorial High School and Anthony, who was an athlete from Centennial High School. Anthony’s coach said that his team had not brought its own tent for the track event at David Kuykendall Stadium. It is an athletic facility which serves all Frisco schools. The majority of prosecution witnesses testified that Anthony was the aggressor during the fight before the stabbing. However, their accounts were not consistent. Some witnesses said Metcalf pushed Anthony hard with both hands before stabbing him, while others claimed it was a one-handed jab, or t. Witnesses said that things became heated when Metcalf, or other people, ordered Anthony to leave the tent. They disagreed, however, on whether Metcalf, along with others, such as his twin brother and other family members, were also involved in the attempt to force Anthony out of the tent. Edwin Parra was the 18-year old athlete who was in the tent with Anthony. Prosecutors called Parra the “common thread” between Anthony, Memorial High School, and the athlete. Parra, who tried to distance himself with Anthony during his testimony on Saturday, was shown by the defense photos and social media messages between Anthony and Parra. Roach, Roach’s court, issued a court ruling prohibiting the use of minors as witnesses. In his testimony Monday, Anthony’s 17-year old teammate said that they had sought shelter under the baseball dugout to esce the rain, but were soon told to leave by the baseball coach. It briefly stopped raining. The witness, a rising senior at Centennial High School, said that when the rain started again, Anthony went to the Memorial tent. The trial heard testimony from a number of witnesses who described the events leading up to Austin Metcalf’s fatal stabbing. Meghan Metcalf

According to the witness, while he was attempting to test his spiked track shoes on the field, the teen became aware of the sudden yelling.

When I looked up,… He said, “I heard a noise, not like yelling but louder voices, and when I turned around, I saw people looking back. It caught my attention.” The commotion was enough to make him tell police that his friend may need assistance. He walked slowly closer and saw people pushing each other, arms flailing and yelling louder. He thought that someone was stung by bees, which caused the chaos. He claimed that when he returned to Anthony’s side, the coach was comforting and holding him. The witness overheard Anthony saying, “I told her not to touch him.”

At a previous trial, other witnesses said Anthony warned Metcalf in a similar way before the situation escalated.

The past few days of testimony were often emotional, The witness acknowledged that his prior belief that Anthony was surrounded by people when the stabbing occurred was incorrect. Social media has circulated this narrative. On cross-examination the teen agreed that there were people sitting around Anthony in the tent. When he was re-questioned by the defence, he also admitted that he had not seen a lot of what occurred and didn’t know if Anthony’s actions are justified. Prosecutors argued that Anthony could have stayed under the bleachers if it had started to rain and should have been warming-up with his teammates. Bill Wirskye, the state prosecutor, said that the Centennial team members obeyed the coach’s instructions to leave the track due to the rain. Wirskye asked

, “When someone asks you to go, you do it, right?” The witness teen replied “yes, sir.” A 17-year old Frisco High School student, who is also in his senior year, said earlier that track and field athletes are more social. It’s not unusual for students to enter the tent of another team.

The scene at Frisco High School after the stabbing on ril 2, 2020. NBC Dallas Fort Worth NBC Dallas Fort Worth NBC Dallas Fort Worth NBC Dallas Fort Worth NBC Dallas Fort Worth NBC Dallas Fort Worth NBC Dallas Fort worth

After the witness said he didn’t recall seeing anyone pushed or struck, defense attorney Mike Howard pointed out that the witness made a statement after the stabbing saying “the kid who got hit does a’swinging-like motion’.” The teen witness acknowledged he’d said that, but on Monday he said he could Roach told the jurors to not discuss the case with anyone outside of the deliberations. He also warned them to not look anything up online, such as social media. They “don’t know anything.” Suzanne Gamboa and Maria Guerrero reported from McKinney, while Meredith Yeomans and Suzanne Gamboa were in Austin, Texas. protests outside the courthouse