Happened

• England has called up Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah to the squad after Tino Livramento was ruled out due to an injury sustained during training. • Ghana is currently seeking to overturn a ban on Thomas Partey, while Iran faces logistical challenges regarding an expiring player visa. • In group stage action, Sweden is poised to face the Netherlands this Saturday, a match that could force the Dutch into a difficult fight to qualify.

This blog is now closed – see our full report on the US-Iran agreement and an analysis of what it meansThe agreement between the United ⁠States and Iran should allow for the “immediate reopening” ⁠of the ⁠Strait ​of Hormuz, EU Commission President Ursula von ⁠der Leyen said on Monday.“The priority now is ⁠its swift and full implementation ​by all parties,” ‌von der ‌Leyen said about the ‌announced deal. Continue reading...

• President Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately targeting the Pechersk Lavra monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Kyiv, resulting in 11 confirmed deaths. • The Ukrainian leader dismissed Moscow's claims that the site was not targeted, highlighting the ongoing destruction of cultural landmarks. • This escalation occurs as G7 leaders prepare to meet in France to discuss international support and strategic responses to the conflict.

• Co-hosts Canada and the USA have officially begun their campaigns for the 2026 World Cup, which will feature an expanded 48-team format. • Former Australia international coach, hired in September 2024, has successfully led the Socceroos to qualification for the tournament. • Australia is set to compete in Group D, where they will face off against Turkey, the United States, and Paraguay.

• The US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire on April 8 following weeks of intense conflict and retaliatory attacks. • The agreement aims to halt hostilities and initiate protracted negotiations between the two nations. • Key diplomatic priorities include reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and resolving long-standing disputes over Iran’s nuclear program.

• NASA instructed astronauts to return to their normal duties on the International Space Station after pausing "safe haven procedures." • The emergency measures were implemented for two hours while the Russian crew attempted to repair an air leak on the station. • This incident highlights the critical nature of pressure maintenance and the interdependence of the five partner agencies, including NASA and Roscosmos, in managing orbital safety.

• The US economy added 172,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in May, significantly exceeding previous forecasts according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. • Employment growth was primarily driven by gains in health care, local government, and the leisure and hospitality sectors, while financial activities saw a decline. • This stronger-than-expected job growth is fueling market bets that the Federal Reserve may implement further interest rate hikes to combat inflation.

• The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) admitted during Senate estimates that it holds eight active contracts with KPMG, including two initiated after an investigation into the firm began. • This revelation comes amid an ongoing audit scandal involving KPMG, raising questions about the regulator's decision to maintain professional ties with a company under scrutiny. • The news coincided with a downturn in the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), as markets lost ground throughout the trading day.

Rampant Bull needed a makeover after wear and tear from tourists, but refurbishment ‘castrated’ it, critics sayThe restoration of a floor mosaic in Milan called the Rampant Bull has been mocked after the works appear to have erased a crucial anatomical detail – its testicles.The 19th-century mosaic in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade needed a makeover because a small crater had formed in the tiny pink tiles featuring the bull’s testicles, due to the constant stream of tourists performing a heel-spinning gesture. Continue reading...

• Hong Kong has surpassed Switzerland to become the world's largest cross-border wealth hub for the first time. • The shift reflects a significant migration of global assets and wealth management services toward the Asia-Pacific region. • This transition highlights Hong Kong's growing competitiveness and appeal as a primary financial center for international investors.

Judith Alexander describes how Kentish Town house owned by the prime minister was targetedThe prime minister’s sister-in-law has said she feared what might have happened had she not woken up after her home was targeted in an arson attack, a court has heard.The incident is one of a series of arson attacks that took place in May last year on property linked to Keir Starmer, which three men with links to Ukraine are accused of targeting. They deny all the charges. Continue reading...

Iranian military said in a statement that oil and energy infrastructure belonging to firms that cooperated with the US would ‘immediately be destroyed’How have you been affected by the latest Middle East events?Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry is saying that two drones have been intercepted and destroyed in the eastern region.More now after reports of explosions in Dubai on Friday morning: thick black smoke rose over the financial hub’s skyline after what authorities described as a fire in an industrial area of the city-state. Continue reading...

This blog has now closed. Follow our Middle East blog hereBoth Pete Hegseth and Dan Caine were asked today about energy secretary Chris Wright’s comments to CNBC on Thursday, where he said that the US Navy cannot escort ships through the strait of Hormuz now but it was “quite likely” that could happen by the end of the month.Gen Caine appeared to agree with Wright’s assessment, calling the waterway a “tactically complex environment”. Continue reading...

This blog is now closedAustralia to release nearly 20% of fuel stockpile as Bowen insists country ‘nowhere near’ running outGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJoyce says surge in support for One Nation reflects will of the people, not political jostlingBarnaby Joyce spoke to RN Breakfast this morning about One Nation’s targets in the next federal election.We want to win seats wherever they are. We have no real target against National seats or Liberal seats, but we want to give people the option to vote for us in Labor seats, in National seats, and Liberal seats, and in teal seats.If people choose to vote for One Nation, then you must respect that choice. You must understand. You do not own their vote. You earn their vote. Continue reading...