DUTCH REFEREE ROB DIEPERINK DIES WEEKS AFTER REMOVAL FROM WORLD CUP OFFICIATING LIST. (PHOTO).

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 Dutch referee Rob Dieperink dies weeks after removal from World Cup officiating list Dutch referee Rob Dieperink has died at the age of 38, weeks after FIFA removed him from its list of officials for the World Cup. The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) confirmed his death in a statement, saying it was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the news. His cause of death has not been disclosed. Dieperink was arrested in April by the Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom following a report of an alleged sexual assault involving a teenage boy in London. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said officers responded on April 9 to a report of sexual assault at an address in Croydon and arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of the offence. Police later said that after reviewing available evidence, including CCTV footage and digital devices, the investigation had concluded that “the evidential threshold had not been met” and no further action would be taken. Following the investigation, FIFA co...

TRUMP, XI TO DISCUSS TIKTOK DEAL AND US-CHINA RELATIONS. (PHOTO).


 Trump, Xi to discuss TikTok deal and US-China relations

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday to advance a deal allowing TikTok to continue operating in the United States. The call may also signal whether the two leaders could meet in person to finalize broader trade agreements and clarify the direction of U.S.-China relations.

This would be their second call since Trump returned to the White House and resumed high tariffs on China, which have sparked reciprocal trade restrictions. Trump has signaled willingness to negotiate, particularly regarding TikTok, whose U.S. operations face a potential ban unless its Chinese parent, ByteDance, sells its controlling stake. The leaders previously spoke in June to ease tensions over China’s export limits on rare earth elements critical to electronics and military hardware.

Trump told reporters Thursday, “I’m speaking with President Xi, as you know, on Friday, having to do with TikTok and also trade. And we’re very close to deals on all of it.” He described his relationship with China as “very good” while commenting on global tensions, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, without confirming whether additional tariffs on Beijing were under consideration.

Chinese officials did not confirm the call, but a spokesperson noted that “heads-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance for China-U.S. relations.” Analysts expect the discussion to be constructive, with the focus on preparing a potential leadership summit and finalizing trade terms.

The TikTok deal follows a U.S.-China trade meeting in Madrid earlier this week, where Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the two sides agreed on a framework regarding TikTok’s ownership. Trump, who has cited the app as influential in his political success, has repeatedly extended deadlines for ByteDance to spin off the U.S. operations, which is required to comply with a law addressing data privacy and national security concerns. The agreement would ensure that U.S. user data and TikTok’s algorithm are managed domestically.

Beyond TikTok, U.S.-China trade talks have addressed tariffs, export controls, and agricultural purchases, though many issues remain unresolved. Trump is expected to emphasize U.S. leverage in negotiations, while Xi may highlight China’s economic influence and push for easing U.S. tariffs and sanctions. The ongoing trade tensions have severely affected American farmers, with exports to China falling sharply in 2025, including a 97% drop in U.S. sorghum sales. Agricultural groups are closely watching the outcome of the Friday call, hoping it will restore some market access.

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