Mirror

• Donald Trump has decided to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, which will be held at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in mid-July. • This decision follows a series of high-profile sporting appearances during his second term, including the Super Bowl, Daytona 500, and the NBA Finals. • The move highlights Trump's strategy of maintaining a visible presence at major cultural and athletic events to engage with diverse audiences.

• 14-year-old Harper Beckham attempted to visit her brother Brooklyn's home in the US to resolve an ongoing family feud. • The visit occurred while Harper, Victoria, Romeo, and Cruz were in town to celebrate Sir David Beckham receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. • This gesture highlights a personal effort by Harper to mend strained relationships within the family during a high-profile public event.

• Arsenal are attempting to finalize a £34 million transfer deal, while simultaneously competing with Manchester United for the signing of West Ham star Mateus Fernandes. • The Gunners are also targeting Real Sociedad's Ander Barrenetxea, though the club is reluctant to meet the player's full £65 million release clause. • Barrenetxea's availability and valuation are key focal points after he missed the Spain World Cup squad due to a late-season injury.

• Ukrainian forces launched a massive wave of hundreds of drones targeting Russian oil and gas facilities overnight and into Friday morning. • The strikes specifically targeted energy sites, aiming to disrupt the infrastructure that fuels the Kremlin's economy and military operations. • These attacks represent a strategic effort to deplete President Vladimir Putin's "war chest" by cutting off critical energy exports and revenue streams.

• Several Premier League clubs are actively pursuing new talent, with Bayern Munich targeting Ngumoha and Liverpool opening talks for Yan Diomande. • AC Milan's Rafael Leao has signaled a potential departure from Serie A, stating to Sport TV that he is seeking a "new challenge" this summer. • Manchester United is closely monitoring Leao's situation as a primary transfer target following his public admission of wanting a move.

• Actor James Handy, known for his role in *Top Gun: Maverick*, was brutally stabbed to death outside his home on Wednesday. • Police arrested 44-year-old Michael Gledhill, the son of Handy's girlfriend, after he allegedly confessed to officers that he was responsible for the killing. • The incident marks a violent tragedy involving a professional actor and a close family connection.

• The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 78 matches played across 11 selected stadiums in the United States over a 39-day period. • Several high-profile venues, including Las Vegas's Allegiant Stadium and New Orleans' Caesars Superdome, were excluded from the official host list. • These omitted stadiums are noted for their prestige and history, with Allegiant Stadium having hosted Super Bowl LVIII and the Superdome holding the record for the most Super Bowls hosted.

• NASA engineers have successfully completed the final inspection of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's primary mirror, which passed all tests. • Following this final check, the telescope is now being prepared for shipment to its designated launch site in Florida. • This milestone ensures the telescope's optical systems are fully operational before it begins its mission to study dark energy and exoplanets.

• Arsenal and Manchester City are both reportedly interested in signing 23-year-old Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento. • Despite their interest, Mikel Arteta and Arsenal have expressed reservations regarding Livramento's previous injury record. • The Gunners are also considering Sporting CP full-back Ivan Fresneda as a potential addition to their defensive line.

• Norway and Sweden will face each other in a World Cup warm-up match featuring star players such as Erling Haaland. • In the United States, the game will be broadcast on Fox Sports, with coverage starting at 12:50pm ET or 9:50am PT. • Fans can also access the match via the FOX Sports app or the FuboTV streaming service.

• Engineers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, have completed the final inspection of the primary mirror for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. • This critical phase ensures the telescope's optical components are precise and ready for deployment after the sunshade was successfully tested. • The Roman telescope is designed to provide wide-field infrared imaging to study dark energy, dark matter, and exoplanets.

Mirroring of each other’s attire may signal alignment – though the look wasn’t a huge departure for either leaderWhen Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met for a welcome ceremony in Tiananmen Square this week with the world’s gaze on them, they mirrored one another in strikingly similar suits.Both were blue, single-breasted with flap pockets. Both had two buttons with only the top one done up. Both wore red ties. Continue reading...

The defense secretary said his prayer drew on Ezekiel, but wording closely matches Quentin Tarantino dialogueIt was perhaps inevitable that a braggadocious Christian nationalist defense secretary elevated from his role as a weekend Fox News television host would pluck a fake Bible verse from a violent Hollywood blockbuster and present it at a Pentagon prayer session to rally the troops for the “holy war” in Iran.Certainly among a glut of stories swirling around Pete Hegseth this week, including articles of impeachment brought against him by a group of ambitious Democratic lawmakers, the bizarre allegation that the Bible-thumping Hegseth was passing off a fire-and-brimstone script by Quentin Tarantino, an Oscar-winning director, as the word of the Lord was far too compelling to ignore. Continue reading...

Letters to US agency raise concerns over tech firms’ plans to use reflective satellites and expand numbers in low Earth orbitProposals to deploy reflective mirrors and up to 1m more satellites in low Earth orbit could have far-reaching consequences for human health and ecosystems, leading sleep and circadian rhythm researchers have said.Presidents of four international scientific societies representing about 2,500 researchers from more than 30 countries are among those who have raised concerns in letters to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Continue reading...

• Republican legislators in Florida are advancing proof-of-citizenship voting laws as President Trump continues pushing the Senate to pass his SAVE America Act at the federal level. • The state-level legislation mirrors key provisions of Trump's federal SAVE Act, including requirements to prove citizenship before voting, reflecting alignment between state and federal Republican priorities on election security. • Florida's legislative action demonstrates coordinated effort across states to implement stricter voter identification and citizenship verification measures despite the federal SAVE Act facing significant opposition in the Senate.