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• The 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered the knockout stages, featuring high-profile stars like Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, and Lamine Yamal competing for a spot in the Round of 16. • Key upcoming matches include Belgium vs. Senegal on July 1 at 4 p.m. ET in Seattle, and Spain vs. Austria on July 2 at 3 p.m. ET in Los Angeles. • Additional matchups scheduled for July 2 include Portugal vs. Croatia at 7 p.m. ET in Toronto and a game featuring Switzerland at 11 p.m. ET.

• The Netherlands and Morocco are set to face each other in a highly anticipated Round of 32 match during the 2026 World Cup in Monterrey. • Both teams enter the fixture in strong form, with Morocco maintaining a 32-game unbeaten streak and the Netherlands losing only once in their last 19 matches. • The Netherlands secured their spot in the knockout stage by winning Group F unbeaten, recording victories against Sweden (5-1) and Tunisia (3-1).

• The 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered the knockout rounds, with top stars like Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi competing for a spot in the Round of 16. • Key upcoming matches on June 30 include Côte d'Ivoire vs. Norway at 1 p.m. ET in Dallas and France vs. Sweden at 5 p.m. ET at the New York New Jersey Stadium. • Viewers can access the games via various streaming services or VPNs to watch the matches live, including those featuring Team USA.

Critics say the new focus could reshape LGBTQ+ healthcare, abortion access and vaccine policyThe Trump administration is moving religious freedom to the forefront of its health policies, a move that will likely affect reproductive health, LGBTQ+ healthcare, and vaccine policy.“They are very much putting religious freedom front and center,” said Dorit Reiss, a professor at UC Law San Francisco. But “it tends to privilege a conservative form of Christianity and, for example, protect discrimination against LGBTQ people.” Continue reading...

Twelve countries with a free trade agreement with Brussels have their quota reduced by just one-thirdBusiness live – latest updatesThe EU has halved the amount of duty-free steel it will accept from abroad, but has agreed to higher levels of imports for 12 trading partners including the UK.The curbs are designed to reduce cheap Chinese steel coming into the bloc. However, 12 countries with a free trade agreement (FTA) with Brussels, including the UK, have had their quota reduced by just one-third. Continue reading...

• CNET reports that viewers can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to access streams for every FIFA World Cup 2026 elimination game. • By masking their location, users can potentially bypass regional blackouts or access international broadcasters that offer the matches for free. • This method is significant for fans who want to avoid expensive cable subscriptions or official streaming fees to watch the tournament.

• The 2026 World Cup will feature high-profile matchups, including a highly anticipated clash between France's Kylian Mbappe and Norway's Erling Haaland. • Other key fixtures highlighted include a tactical battle between Spain and Uruguay, alongside matches featuring England and Scotland. • The tournament will focus on both team success and individual accolades, specifically the race for the Golden Boot award for the top scorer.

• Norway and France are scheduled to face off in a World Cup match, with viewing options available via cable and live streaming services. • The game is part of the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will feature a total of 48 teams and 104 matches across the group and knockout stages. • This tournament marks a significant shift in the competition's scale, including participants such as the United States, Argentina, and Uzbekistan.

Show at Martin Gropius Bau gallery in Berlin is biggest ever celebration of an East German female artist in a state museumGabriele Stötzer remembers the days when she had to decide: “Am I buying a sausage, or film for my Super 8 camera?”Stötzer was one of the most radical artists in communist East Germany, and her desire to create was born in defiance of and in spite of the material conditions and oppressive restrictions of the GDR regime. Continue reading...

• The 2026 BET Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 28, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. • The event will celebrate achievements in music, acting, sports, and other creative fields, with options for viewers to watch the ceremony live online. • This annual celebration remains a significant cultural milestone in recognizing Black excellence and influence across the global entertainment industry.

• The 2026 BET Awards will celebrate 25 years of honoring Black excellence across the music, entertainment, and sports industries. • The event will feature high-profile stars and a hosting presence from comedian and content creator Druski. • Viewers are being provided with guidance on how to stream the ceremony live from any location, including options for free trials.

• The 2026 BET Awards are scheduled to take place on June 28, 2026, celebrating global achievements in music, entertainment, and culture. • The event will feature a gathering of influential Black artists, performers, and public figures to recognize outstanding creative contributions. • This annual ceremony matters as it serves as a premier platform for honoring Black excellence and delivering high-profile performances.

• Traders are increasingly adding Upwork (UPWK) to their buy lists, viewing it as a "value name" likely to benefit from safety flows into lower-priced equities. • Market sentiment remains measured, as there are currently no major catalysts driving a significant surge in stock activity. • Investors are drawing parallels between Upwork's business model and emerging AI agent platforms, sparking debate on how AI will evolve the freelance market.

• SPH Media's Chinese Media Group is offering free screenings of the popular film *Dear You* for a limited time. • The event will take place from July 2 to July 5, specifically targeting eligible readers and listeners of the group's publications. • This initiative serves as a promotional reward for the media group's loyal audience, enhancing reader engagement through exclusive cinematic access.

• France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium have reached a political agreement to reform EU air passenger rights. • The landmark reform introduces free cabin bags for travelers and establishes stronger protections and easier processes for obtaining flight compensation. • This agreement matters as it aims to standardize passenger treatment across Europe and reduce the financial burden of basic luggage on travelers.

• The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has identified Turkey as one of the top 10 global perpetrators of transnational repression. • An accompanying report details alleged operations by Turkish intelligence targeting exiled journalists and individuals associated with the faith-based Gülen movement. • This designation highlights a systemic pattern of Turkey extending its domestic security apparatus to harass and attack dissidents living outside its borders.

Sarah B Rogers speech at conference in London included far-right memes and conspiracy theories about ‘Da Yookay’ Claims by a senior official in the Trump administration that British police were making thousands of “freedom of speech” arrests have been rejected by the UK government.Sarah B Rogers, who has become the public face of the US state department’s hostility to European liberal democracies, was accused by MPs of echoing far-right memes and conspiracy theories during a speech at an international rightwing conference in London. She also referenced the death of Henry Nowak and a recent incident in which a child was thrown into a zoo’s crocodile pit. Continue reading...

City’s mayor has consistently argued that rising housing costs have made it increasingly unaffordableA New York City housing board has voted to freeze rent for approximately 1m apartments.In a major victory for Zohran Mamdani, the mayor who campaigned on a pledge to freeze rent, the Rent Guidelines Board voted 7-1 on Thursday to freeze increases on one- and two-year leases. The decision will provide relief to tenants in more than one million rent-stabilized apartments, representing over 40% of the city’s rental housing. Continue reading...

• Scotland and Brazil are facing off today in a match as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. • Viewers can access the game via an ad-supported Peacock subscription, which costs $11 per month. • The streaming service provides live coverage of sports and events airing on NBC, including Spanish-language broadcasts for all tournament games.

Blocking of proposal backed by Oman signals new threat to free passage through strait vital to world economyIran has rejected UN-backed plans for the mass evacuation of ships through the strait of Hormuz , creating a new threat to the free passage of commercial ships through the strait.The proposal, backed by Oman, was potentially the first phase of a broader Omani proposal to consult on setting up a new management of the strait based on voluntary fees and modelled on the Malacca and Singapore strait mechanism. Continue reading...

Duty on imports outside new quota will double in move echoed by similar changes in EU limitsBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK government will halve the amount of tariff-free steel imports allowed in an attempt to counter a global oversupply of cheap Chinese metal and boost its beleaguered local industry.New “safeguards” will be introduced on 1 July and will coincide with similar new limits being introduced by the EU for the same purposes. Continue reading...

• KBS reporters have filed a constitutional petition seeking to overturn final defamation judgments and damages awarded after they reported on a businessperson's prior convictions. • The Constitutional Court of Korea has decided to conduct a full review of the case to determine if the rulings violated the reporters' freedom of the press. • This case tests the boundaries of journalistic accountability versus the right to report on public interest information, specifically regarding the disclosure of criminal records.

• ABC is urging fans of "The View" to submit public comments to the FCC by July 6 to support the program's commitment to free speech. • The call for public support comes as the network faces investigations by the FCC regarding the show's content and broadcasting standards. • This effort highlights the ongoing tension between regulatory oversight and the protection of editorial freedom for daytime talk shows.

• The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) is scheduled to face Australia on Friday, June 19, as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. • The match is set to kick off at 3 p.m., with viewing options available through local NBC affiliates. • Fans can access the game via a paid subscription service for $17 per month, which offers an ad-free experience and live local channel access.

• Viewers are seeking ways to stream Germany's matches during the 2026 World Cup using free-to-air broadcasters and VPN services. • MagentaTV, owned by Deutsche Telekom, holds the master rights to the tournament and is the only platform in Germany broadcasting all 104 matches live. • This information is critical for fans wanting to bypass regional restrictions to access specific on-demand platforms and live coverage.

• Five international documentary films are competing for the prestigious Golden Goblet Award at the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival. • The nominated films explore diverse and poignant themes, including memory, freedom, and music. • Creative teams from all five nominees recently gathered for a press meeting to share insights into their filmmaking processes and stories.

US defence secretary addresses allies in latest attempt to get Europe to raise military budgetsPete Hegseth has announced a review of US military presence across Europe, in a combative address to Nato allies where he threatened to cut force numbers in countries spending the least on defence.The US defence secretary, speaking at a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels, accused some countries of “free riding” and others of being shameful for not allowing their airbases to be used by US jets bombing Iran in the spring. Continue reading...