Opening

• The Athletic is providing live updates and analysis as the 2026 World Cup approaches its opening game this week. • Historical data highlights the 1954 tournament as the highest-scoring edition with 5.38 goals per game, featuring a notable 7-5 quarter-final between Austria and Switzerland. • In contrast, the 1990 tournament in Italy recorded the lowest scoring average at 2.21 goals per game, which eventually led to the implementation of the backpass rule.

• Diplomatic efforts are underway to reopen the Strait of Hormuz following closures linked to the 2026 Israel/US-Iran conflict. • The strait serves as a critical global maritime chokepoint, essential for the transport of oil, gas, and other vital supplies. • Restoring access is a priority to stabilize global energy markets and prevent widespread economic disruption caused by supply shortages.

Commission also told NSW police declined to provide static police presence at Hanukah by the Sea but four officers at event when attack beganWithin 30 seconds of opening fire at Bondi beach on 14 December, two gunmen targeting Jewish Australians had shot 11 people, killing 10 of them, the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion has heard.The second block of public hearings opened in Sydney on Monday morning, taking evidence about what was known about the two shooters.The Jewish organisation, the Community Security Group, asked NSW police to provide a static police presence at the Hanukah by the Sea event for the entirety of the celebration;NSW police declined to provide a static police presence for the entire event, instead allocating a “mobile tasking, that is police officers were instructed to attend the event from time to time during the evening”;At the time the two gunmen opened fire on Jewish community members, there were four police at Archer Park;Within 29 seconds of the start of the shooting, eleven people had been shot, 10 of them fatally;Three police officers were shot and injured in the court of the attack;Within five minutes, there were 11 police officers on the scene;The first shooter was shot and killed and the second shooter was shot and apprehended within seven minutes and 41 seconds after the start of the shooting. Continue reading...

Film starring Pedro Pascal next to ‘Baby Yoda’ took $165m globally on opening weekend, failing to surpass the opening of 2018 flop SoloThe Mandalorian and Grogu may have blasted into first place at the box office – but its launch was far, far away from impressive, having the lowest opening weekend for a Star Wars film since Disney took over the franchise.The film, which stars Pedro Pascal as the titular helmeted warrior who travels the galaxy with a tiny companion better known as “Baby Yoda”, made $102m at the domestic box office (North America and Canada) over the US’s four-day Memorial day weekend, contributing to a total $165m global box office. Continue reading...

Ceremonial event marks start of new parliamentary year, and outlines government policies and proposed legislationUK politics live – latest updates Continue reading...

• Southeast Asian nations are warming to the idea of easing Myanmar's international isolation following the 2021 military coup, with diplomats signaling a potential diplomatic opening to reintegrate the crisis-affected nation. • Regional sentiment has shifted as some countries explore conditions for Myanmar's return to normal diplomatic relations and potential participation in regional forums. • The thaw reflects changing geopolitical calculations in Southeast Asia and could affect ASEAN's cohesion and approach to Myanmar's political crisis.

CEO of Danish shipping group says increased costs due to higher fuel bills passed on to customersBusiness live – latest updatesThe boss of the shipping company Maersk has said the reopening of the strait of Hormuz would have a “limited impact” on cargo flows, as the industry grapples with a sharp rise in energy costs.Vincent Clerc, chief executive of the Danish shipping group, said its fuel bill had nearly doubled since the start of the conflict, adding as much as $500m (£367m) in costs per month, but it had passed this on to its customers through higher freight rates. Continue reading...

• Defending champions Lahore Qalandars will face tournament debutants Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen in the PSL 2026 opening game. • The Pakistan Super League introduced a new logo and opened a player transfer window to refresh team rosters. • Tournament expected to utilize six venues, expanding its footprint for the upcoming season.

• The sequel to The Devil Wears Prada earned USD 233 million globally in its opening weekend, with USD 77 million from the US and Canada and USD 156.6 million internationally. • Michael Jackson biopic Michael took second place with USD 54 million in its second North American weekend, pushing its worldwide total to USD 423.9 million on 3,955 screens. • The film's success, driven largely by female audiences, marks Hollywood's second-biggest opening weekend of 2026, surpassing Project Hail Mary at USD 141 million.

The prime minister is backing the deal as it would allow British firms to access the contracts funded by the loanGood morning. In the UK many MPs will be spending the bank holiday campaigning for the elections on Thursday, but Keir Starmer is in Armenia, where he has announced that he wants the UK to join the EU’s €90bn (£78bn) loan for Ukraine.Starmer is attending a European Political Community summit in Yerevan. The EPC is the group set up four years ago comprising all the EU countries, plus almost all the other European countries that are not EU members. Mark Carney, the Canadian PM, is also attending (on the grounds, presumably, that in the light of the geopolitical upheavel caused by Donald Trump, the Canadians now count as honorary Europeans.)In relation to the EU loan that we are discussing participating in, that is very good for Ukraine, because it will give Ukraine capability that is desperately needs in year five of this conflict.It’s very good for the UK, because of the capability that leads to jobs in the United Kingdom.The extra funding to Ukraine could unlock opportunity for British businesses to fill urgent capability needs for Ukraine as part of the initiative and give British defence industry access to major contracts.The move is a significant step towards a new ambitious relationship between the UK and EU – building on the prime minister’s calls at the Munich Security Conference in February to deepen defence and security cooperation to match the rapidly evolving threats faced by both sides. It also comes ahead of the UK – EU summit, expected to be held this summer, where both sides will discuss further economic and security cooperation. Continue reading...

Sequel a rare example of female-skewing movie leading the North American summer offerings – and highest opening weekend yet for a Meryl Streep filmGird your loins: The Devil Wears Prada 2 has had a huge opening weekend at the box office, making $233m (£171m, A$323m) worldwide from an overwhelmingly female audience.The Devil Wears Prada 2 earned $77m at the North American box office, and $156.6m internationally. In the US and Canada, the sequel bumped Michael to second place, though the musical biopic held on in its second weekend to earn $54m, falling only 44%. Continue reading...

Decision follows pressure from lawmakers and families as investigations continue into response to deadly disasterThe embattled Camp Mystic organization on Thursday halted plans to reopen this summer in a decision that followed months of intensifying outrage by political leaders in Texas and the families of 27 young campers killed last July when massive floodwaters swept through the all-girls Christian camp in the middle of the night.The decision comes after days of pointed questioning by Texas lawmakers who are investigating camp officials’ response to the devastating flood on July 4 that claimed the lives of the campers and two teenage counselors. The camp’s owner, Dick Eastland, also died in the flooding. Continue reading...

Trial is culmination of a years-long feud between Musk and Altman that has become increasingly viciousThe trial pitting Elon Musk against Sam Altman and OpenAI began in earnest on Tuesday with opening arguments, as lawyers for the two tech moguls seek to convince a California jury of their client’s version of the AI company’s history. The trial is set to feature testimony from both billionaires, as well as some of the most powerful executives in the tech industry.Musk argues that Altman, OpenAI and its president Greg Brockman broke a foundational agreement to better humanity when the non-profit pivoted towards a for-profit structure. Musk, who left OpenAI in 2018 after co-founding it with Altman and Brockman three years earlier, also alleges that his co-founders unjustly enriched themselves as the company raised billions of dollars and grew into the AI behemoth it is today. Continue reading...

Michael Jackson biopic debuted with £11.6m at the UK box office – almost double achieved by next-best Bohemian RhapsodyMichael, Antoine Fuqua’s authorised biopic of Michael Jackson’s life until 1988, before allegations of child sexual assault began to emerge against the singer, has performed marginally less impressively in the UK than the US.In the US, Michael outperformed the opening for Bohemian Rhapsody – the highest grossing music biopic of all time, with which Michael shares a producer in Graham King – by 90%, taking $97m (£72m) to its $51m (£38m). Continue reading...

• The Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' launched with a massive $97 million opening in U.S. and Canada theaters, breaking the previous music biopic record of $60.2 million set by 'Straight Outta Compton' in 2015. • Co-produced by the Jackson estate and distributed by Lionsgate, the film overcame negative reviews and production troubles to achieve strong international performance with $120.4 million overseas. • The film's $217.4 million global opening marks a new high-water mark for music biopics, significantly outpacing 'Bohemian Rhapsody' which earned $51 million in its 2018 debut.

Michael Jackson biopic has shrugged off controversy, bad reviews and a troubled production to take $217m worldwide, including $97m in North AmericaMichael, the big-budget Michael Jackson biopic, has shrugged off bad reviews and a troubled production to launch with a $97m opening in North American theaters, contributing to its enormous $217m (£160m, A$303m) worldwide box office and shattering the record for the biggest biopic opening of all time.The film, a highly authorised portrayal of the “king of pop” that was co-produced by the Jackson estate and stars Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, took $120.4m internationally and $97m domestic – combining to surpass Oppenheimer’s $180.4m worldwide opening weekend in 2023 and Bohemian Rhapsody’s $124m in 2018. Continue reading...

• Iran's military command announced it has reasserted control of the Strait of Hormuz under 'strict management and control of the armed forces' just hours after the first tankers passed through following the U.S. blockade. • The swift reversal came after President Trump declared the critical waterway open due to American naval presence and rejected NATO assistance. • The escalating situation highlights intensifying Middle East tensions and challenges to U.S. maritime control efforts in the strategically vital shipping lane.

Campaigners organise open letter to director demanding ‘fair day’s wage’ for all workers at V&A museumsA row over pay has broken out at the V&A before the opening of its newest site , with thousands of people calling for it to become a living wage employer.On Saturday, V&A East will open its doors in Stratford, east London, showcasing stunning fabrics, photos and black British music. It joins a wider group of V&A museums including its original site in South Kensington, Young V&A in Bethnal Green and V&A Dundee. The V&A describes its latest opening as one of the most significant new museum projects in the UK. Continue reading...

Senior climate figures warn North Sea drilling would encourage fossil fuel exploitation by developing countriesOpening new oil and gas fields in the North Sea would “send a shock wave around the world”, imperilling international climate targets, undermining the UK’s climate leadership and encouraging developing countries to exploit their own fossil fuel reserves, experts have warned.The UK government is under stiff pressure from the oil industry, the Conservatives, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, some trade unions and parts of the Treasury to give the green light to new oil and gas fields, despite clear evidence that doing so would not cut prices and would have almost no effect on imports. Continue reading...

State upper house MP runs unopposed after initially being dropped during a preselection challenge. Follow today’s news liveGood morning, and happy Monday. Nick Visser here to take you through the day’s news. Let’s dive in. Continue reading...

• France's defense ministry announced 35 countries participating in military discussions for a defensive mission to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. • The talks address Iran's threats to toll or block the vital waterway, critical for global energy flows. • Initiative gains traction amid US pressure on allies, potentially easing oil price spikes affecting US consumers.

• Cincinnati Reds face the Boston Red Sox on Opening Day March 26, 2026, at Great American Ball Park, starting at 3:40 PM airtime on 103.9 WRBI. • All-Star left-handers Andrew Abbott for Reds and Garrett Crochet for Boston headline the matchup; Reds reliever Caleb Ferguson placed on 15-day IL retroactive to Sunday due to oblique strain. • This season opener marks the start of the 2026 MLB campaign in Cincinnati, drawing local excitement for the homestand.

• The Cincinnati Reds lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 4-1 in their final exhibition game of spring training on March 24, 2026. • The Reds will open their regular season on March 26, 2026, against the Boston Red Sox in downtown Cincinnati. • In related news, Joe Flacco is returning for his 19th NFL season as backup quarterback to Joe Burrow with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Defence chiefs have been discussing how to unblock the conduit for about a fifth of the world’s oil suppliesThe UK has offered to host an international security summit to draw up a “viable, collective plan” to reopen the strait of Hormuz as economic fallout from the Iran conflict continues.Defence chiefs have been discussing how they could unblock the vital shipping lane, through which about 20% of global oil supplies usually pass, amid the Middle East crisis unleashed by the US and Israel. Continue reading...

• Project Hail Mary debuted with $80.6 million at the US box office this weekend, marking the biggest opening of 2026 so far. • Starring Ryan Gosling and Sandra Hüller, the film achieved the largest opening ever for distributor Amazon MGM Studios. • The sci-fi adaptation of Andy Weir's novel highlights strong audience interest in major studio releases amid competitive weekend performance.

• The sci-fi epic 'Project Hail Mary' starring Ryan Gosling earned $80.5 million in its opening weekend, representing approximately 5 million ticket buyers across North America and marking Amazon MGM Studios' largest opening ever. • The film's performance puts it in 'rarefied air' alongside 'Oppenheimer,' achieving success for a non-franchise film that the industry hasn't seen since that blockbuster, with strong overindexing in markets like Salt Lake City, Denver, and Portland. • 'Ready or Not 2: Here I Come' opened in fourth place with $9.1 million, while Disney's 'Hoppers' earned $18 million and the Bollywood sequel 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' made $9.6 million in their respective positions.

• Amazon MGM's 'Project Hail Mary,' starring Ryan Gosling, debuted at number one with $80.5 million in North American ticket sales, marking the best opening for a non-franchise film since 'Oppenheimer.' • The sci-fi epic, centered on Gosling's amnesiac astronaut racing to save the sun, drew about 5 million ticket buyers, with premium large format screens accounting for 56% of the gross and IMAX at 24%. • Amazon MGM Studios head Kevin Wilson stated, 'What we’re seeing in theaters — the energy, the exit scores, the word-of-mouth — is everything we believed this film would deliver.'

• West Texas Intermediate crude topped $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022 in early Monday trading, while Brent held above $102, driven by ongoing Middle East conflict in the Strait of Hormuz entering its third week. • Several tankers successfully transited the waterway over the weekend, lifting market sentiment; however, WTI pulled back to $95 by late trading, down over 3%, as President Trump pressured NATO allies to help break Iran's blockade. • The Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq rose as investors weighed the dual impact of potential Hormuz reopening against inflation concerns; Federal Reserve officials begin a two-day policy meeting this week amid uncertainty over rate path decisions.