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• The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking a historic expansion of the tournament. • For the first time in the competition's history, the field will grow to include 48 teams, making it the largest World Cup ever. • The event is considered the most prestigious competition on the global football calendar, drawing massive international viewership.

• South Korean stocks plummeted 4% on Friday, driven by a sharp decline in tech heavyweights following a sell-off of AI-linked names on Wall Street. • The downturn extended across Asia-Pacific markets, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dropping 0.46% and the CSI 300 declining 0.29%. • This shift reflects a broader market rotation away from chip stocks, which paradoxically helped the Dow Jones Industrial Average reach a record close.

• FIFA has announced a new broadcasting agreement for the 2026 World Cup, featuring multi-platform distribution in India. • The tournament will be broadcast via linear television through UNITE8 Sports and digitally via the Zee5 streaming platform. • This marks a significant shift from the 2022 cycle, which was previously handled by Viacom18 through Sports18 and JioCinema.

• A new report from Check Point identifies misinformation and targeted phishing attacks as primary threats to election security. • The analysis warns that attackers are leveraging stolen credentials from previously hacked campaign and election websites to launch these attacks. • While highlighting these systemic vulnerabilities, the report notably declines to name the specific entities or actors responsible for the misinformation.

Silenced, a documentary about violence against women, opened the Sydney Film Festival on WednesdayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBrittany Higgins says she decided not to change her name when she got married in 2024 because she is proud to be Brittany Higgins, the former Liberal staffer has revealed in Silenced, a documentary about violence against women which opened the Sydney Film Festival.“When I got married I had this opportunity to change my name but I didn’t because I’m really proud to be Brittany Higgins,” she said in a highly emotional interview in the film. “Hopefully, this is just a footnote in my story and it’s not the headliner any more.” Continue reading...

• Manchester City has set a new record for the most players from a single club participating in a World Cup, surpassing Barcelona's previous mark of 17 players. • The record-breaking number of City players was facilitated by the tournament's expansion from 32 to 48 teams for the 2026 edition. • Key Manchester City representatives include Rodri, who will play for Spain, and Tijjani Reinders, who will represent the Netherlands.

• Specialist Risk Group (SRG) has appointed Zong Wen Lee as the head of its principal, credit and political risk division in Asia. • The appointment became effective on 6 July, bringing Lee's extensive market expertise and a professional track record from previous roles at JLT, Markel, and WTW. • This strategic hire allows SRG to strengthen its leadership and specialized brokerage capabilities within the Asian credit and political risk markets.

‘Completely unnecessary’ hybrid cans are not easily recycled or accepted by container refund schemes, and are already banned in WAGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA single-use plastic and metal drinking vessel dubbed a “franken-can” has been given the dubious honour of the nation’s worst plastic packaging.The plastic-metal hybrid can, which is not accepted by container refund schemes or easily recycled – has won the inaugural Unpackit award for Australia’s worst packaging. Continue reading...

• The Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir, a group assembled by Jeremy Clarkson, has been named the winner of Britain’s Got Talent for 2026. • This victory marks a historic milestone as the choir is the first group of its kind to win the popular ITV talent competition. • The win highlights the success of Clarkson's initiative to bring together local farmers for a musical performance.

Oregon man with extensive criminal record fired at three officers while speeding away from a traffic stop in 2025A man with the unusual name Loony Toon and a lengthy rap sheet has been given 20 years in prison after admitting that he shot at police officers in Oregon, according to authorities.The 43-year-old whose name calls to mind the classic television cartoon franchise Looney Tunes – as well as a colloquial term some invoke when describing an eccentric or irrational person – fired a gun at three officers while speeding away from a 20 June 2025 traffic stop in the community of Milwaukie, local prosecutors said in a statement on Thursday. Continue reading...

Minister spares 700kg beast after security concerns around the unusual level of public interest in the animalA rare albino buffalo in Bangladesh nicknamed “Donald Trump” for its distinctive blond tuft has been spared from Eid al-Adha sacrifice after a last-minute government intervention, according to a home ministry official.The nearly 700kg (1,543lb) animal had already been sold for ritual slaughter when authorities stepped in, citing security concerns after a surge of public interest before Thursday’s festival. Continue reading...

• Meta Platforms shares surged 3.7% following the launch of a new subscription service, while Arm Holdings tumbled 5.8% due to manufacturing constraints delaying revenue from its AGI CPU. • The broader semiconductor sector felt the impact, with the SOXX index falling 1.1%, and cybersecurity stocks slid after Zscaler provided soft fiscal fourth-quarter guidance. • MongoDB's Atlas cloud database has reached a $2 billion annualized revenue run rate, yet the stock remains down 26.3% year-to-date as investors await a more constructive outlook from management.

• Filipino tennis star Alexandra “Alex” Eala has been named to the 2026 Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30 list for entertainment and sports. • Eala joins a diverse group of regional talent, including singer-songwriter Zack Tabudlo, Japanese baseball player Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Olympic gold medalist Hamish Kerr. • The list recognizes the most influential young leaders and athletes across Asia, highlighting Eala's rising prominence in the global sports arena.

• Trend Micro said its enterprise cybersecurity unit TrendAI was recognized as a Leader in Gartner’s 2026 Magic Quadrant for Endpoint Protection Platforms on May 27, 2026 in Dallas. • The company said this is its 21st consecutive Leader recognition, highlighting sustained strength in endpoint security as ransomware and malware threats continue to evolve. • The announcement matters because endpoint protection remains a core spending category for U.S. enterprises and public-sector buyers defending distributed workforces and cloud-connected devices.

• Virginia Sports announced that Kevin Cassese has been named Virginia’s head men’s lacrosse coach, a major staff move for one of college lacrosse’s most prominent programs. • The hiring is significant because Virginia’s lacrosse team is a national power and coaching changes there can affect recruiting, tactics, and postseason expectations. • The announcement comes alongside other football and postseason updates on the school’s athletics site, but the Cassese hire is the headline personnel change.

• Skanska has been ranked as Europe's Best Employer 2026 in a prestigious list published by the Financial Times in partnership with Statista. • The company maintains a diverse business model, with 90.5% of net sales coming from building and infrastructure construction and 9.3% from real estate development. • Geographically, Skanska's operations are led by the United States (48.3%), followed by Sweden (18.5%), Norway (13%), and the United Kingdom (9.6%).

• Several high-profile football stars are expected to miss the 2026 World Cup in North America, including veteran Polish striker Robert Lewandowski. • Italy's failure to qualify for the tournament for a third consecutive time ensures that top talents like goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and midfielder Sandro Tonali will be absent. • The absence of these players is significant given their impact; Lewandowski holds a record 89 goals for Poland, while Donnarumma and Tonali are key figures for their respective clubs and national team.

• National teams have begun announcing their 26-man squads for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico. • Belgium's roster features veterans Kevin De Bruyne, Axel Witsel, and Thibaut Courtois, alongside new addition Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who recently committed to his birth country over Spain. • The tournament marks a significant expansion, featuring a total of 48 competing teams.

• Germany has announced its World Cup squad, highlighted by the surprise return of 40-year-old veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from retirement. • The roster includes key players such as Joshua Kimmich and Florian Wirtz, while Kai Havertz has been selected and Serge Gnabry and Chris Fuhrich have been left out. • The team's success is expected to hinge on critical tactical decisions, specifically regarding the positioning of Joshua Kimmich, who is likely to start at full-back following a record Bundesliga season with Bayern Munich.

Forecast came amid warning that US was unprepared for storms with staffing cuts under Trump administrationSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailThe US will see a below-normal hurricane season in 2026, federal government scientists said on Thursday, predicting eight to 14 named storms with winds at 39mph or more.The season has a “55% chance of being below normal, 35% chance of near normal and a 10% chance of above normal,” said Neil Jacobs, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) administrator, at a press conference. Continue reading...

Ministry of Defence names soldier who fell from her horse as Lance Bombardier Ciara Sullivan, 24, part of the King’s Troop, Royal Horse ArtilleryA soldier who died after falling from her horse at the Royal Windsor Horse Show was named as Lance Bombardier Ciara Sullivan, 24 – an “exceptional jockey” with an “infectious energy”, her commanding officer said.Sullivan, part of the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, fell at around 7pm on Friday after exiting the arena. Continue reading...

• South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo named a 26-man squad on Saturday, with Son Heung-min set for his fourth World Cup appearance as the team’s leading star. • ESPN reported that the veteran forward will again anchor South Korea’s attack, underlining his central role in the national side’s tournament plans. • The squad announcement matters because South Korea are expected to rely heavily on experienced players as they prepare for the global showpiece.

Steven Mattaboni, 38, was a ‘one-of-a-kind gentleman’ and devoted father of two young daughters, his wife Shirene said A father of two young daughters, husband and avid fisher has been identified as the victim of a fatal shark attack at Rottnest Island in Western Australia.Steven Mattaboni, 38, a surveyor from Perth, was in the water at Horseshoe Reef on Rottnest Island about 9.55am on Saturday when he was believed to have been bitten by a shark, police said. Continue reading...

• Washington-based Sublime Security said on May 15, 2026, that it was named to Rising in Cyber 2026, Notable Capital's annual list of the 30 most promising private cybersecurity startups. • The company said the cohort has collectively raised more than $6.9 billion, according to PitchBook, highlighting the scale of investor interest in security startups. • The recognition matters because email security remains a major attack vector for enterprises, and inclusion on the list can boost visibility with customers and investors.

Students from Reading Blue Coat school, and Highdown secondary school and Sixth Form Centre receiving treatmentTwo schools attended by pupils receiving treatment for meningitis have been named amid an outbreak of the infection in Berkshire which has caused the death of a student.The patients attend Reading Blue Coat school and Highdown secondary school and Sixth Form Centre, according to the UK Health Security Agency. Their close contacts have been offered antibiotics as a precaution. Continue reading...

• The Department of Homeland Security appointed a new acting director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, marking a leadership change during the administration's ongoing immigration policy overhaul. • The appointment comes as the administration pursues significant changes to immigration enforcement and detention practices, including closure of the 'Alligator Alcatraz' migrant detention center. • The move reflects broader reorganization at DHS as the agency implements new detention and deportation protocols.

Exclusive: Where parties fielded multiple candidates in last week’s vote, those at top of list were more likely to be pickedFancy your chances in politics? Then perhaps you should change your name to Aaron Aaronson or Aaliyah Aardvark, figures from last week’s local elections in England suggest.A Guardian analysis of election results compiled by the website Democracy Club points to a striking alphabet effect. In wards where a party fielded three candidates, those listed nearer the top of the ballot paper – with a surname nearer the start of the alphabet – finished ahead of their party colleagues in 2,200 cases, or 65% of the time. Continue reading...

• Abstract has been selected for Notable Capital's Rising in Cyber 2026 report, recognizing it among top emerging cybersecurity firms. • The report is based on CISO survey data and market analysis, highlighting industry shifts from AI agents transforming security operations. • Inclusion signals Abstract's innovative approach in a competitive landscape, drawing attention from enterprise buyers and investors.