Past

• Sportsbook operators report that betting on the 2026 World Cup has surged past expectations, setting new records for the event. • The surge is driven by the tournament being hosted in North America, which allows U.S. audiences to attend and watch matches live. • High expectations for the U.S. national team and the presence of global stars like Lionel Messi are fueling increased wagering activity.

• Sportsbook operators are reporting record-breaking betting activity for the 2026 World Cup, with volume surging past initial expectations. • The surge is driven by the tournament being hosted in North America, which allows U.S. audiences to attend and watch matches live. • Increased interest is further fueled by high expectations for the U.S. national team and the presence of global stars like Lionel Messi.

• Brazil defeated Japan 2-1 in a FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring the decisive goal to secure the victory. • The match highlighted Japan's growth as a competitive force, as the "Samurai Blue" pushed Brazil to the limit, signaling they are no longer satisfied with merely reaching the knockout stages. • This result allows Brazil to advance in the tournament while ending Japan's run in the competition.

• The CDC reports that drug overdose deaths decreased by 13.2% over the most recent 12-month period. • Experts warn this progress is fragile due to the emergence of new synthetic drugs and the use of medetomidine. • Separately, a June 2026 clinical trial indicated that seniors with depression showed greater improvement when adding a daily probiotic to their antidepressant regimen compared to a placebo.

• Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old elected official, is attributing his recent primary victory to a desire to revive the historical roots of the Democratic Party. • Mamdani has emerged as a significant political "kingmaker" following the election results in 2025. • The victory is seen as a shift toward a style of politics that Mamdani claims has been absent from the modern era and relegated to history books.

• France secured a 3-1 victory over Norway in a high-stakes Group I match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. • Ousmane Dembélé dominated the game by scoring a hat trick in the first half, while star player Erling Haaland remained on the bench. • The result is significant as it officially places France at the top of Group I, providing them a stronger position for the knockout stages.

• South Korea's foreign tourist arrivals are projected to surpass 10 million in 2026, marking a historic surge in international travel to the country. • The growth is primarily driven by global demand for "K-Wave" culture and high visitor activity in Seoul's Myeongdong, Hongdae, and Gangnam districts, as well as Jeju Island. • This trend solidifies Seoul's status as a top global destination by leveraging its unique blend of modern entertainment, shopping, and historic landmarks.

David Vander Meer was recently arrested for the death of his wife in national park 20 years ago after new information revealedA Las Vegas man and former youth pastor died dead days after he was arrested and charged with murdering his wife, who plummeted thousands of feet to her death while hiking in Utah’s Zion national park in 2006.At a scheduled extradition hearing on Thursday, a Las Vegas judge announced that David Vander Meer was deceased, according to KSNV. Continue reading...

Readers remember the Sherwood Forest tree that has failed to produce leaves for the first time in 1,000 yearsAfter hundreds of years inspiring wonder in Sherwood Forest, the Major oak has died. We asked readers to share their memories of one of the UK’s most recognisable natural landmarks, said to have offered a sanctuary for Robin Hood, and the response was overwhelming, with many sharing heartfelt stories of childhood adventures.Joanna de Graaf from Leicestershire wrote: “I grew up in Nottingham and we visited Sherwood Forest quite often as a family. I can remember being so excited to actually be inside the Major oak where Robin Hood and his merry men had hidden (and, for a little girl in the 1960s, Maid Marian too). Continue reading...

Terry Reed, found guilty of rape and molestation of a juvenile, called ‘utter failure of a man’ by victim’s motherA suburban New Orleans religious pastor has been sentenced to 80 years’ imprisonment after being convicted of sexually molesting two boys – the third time in which he was found guilty of abusing minors.While Terry Reed received his punishment at a state court hearing on Thursday, the mother of one of his survivors read a victim-impact statement on behalf of her son which called him “an utter failure and a sorry excuse for a man”. Continue reading...

Anthony Odiong was sentenced to life in prison for sex crimes against his congregants in TexasA Louisiana church where a Roman Catholic priest served as pastor before being recently convicted in Texas of criminal clergy sexual assault and sentenced to life in prison has been criticized by his victims and their supporters for soliciting prayers on his behalf in a parochial bulletin published after his guilty verdict – which neglected to mention the survivors.One of the two women whom Anthony Odiong was convicted of assaulting in Waco, Texas – identified in court proceedings as Mary Doe – issued a statement on Tuesday encouraging St Anthony of Padua’s community in the New Orleans suburb of Luling, Louisiana, to pray for his victims, too. Continue reading...

New data suggests success in Gavin Newsom’s crackdown, as Illinois, Hawaii and Florida also report notable decreasesCalifornia reported one of the largest decreases in homelessness over the past year, according to a new report from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (Hud).The Golden state recorded a total unhoused population of 181,934 in 2025 – an almost 3% decrease since the year prior, placing it among the five states with the largest decreases from 2024. However, more significant drops were recorded in Illinois (44%), Hawaii (41%), Florida (11%) and New York (8%). Continue reading...

Labour’s Makerfield byelection candidate understood to have changed stance on no recourse to public funds policyUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has rolled back from his previous calls for ministers to scrap a restriction on immigrants claiming benefits as the Makerfield byelection places greater scrutiny on his policy positions.As Greater Manchester mayor, Burnham has called several times for an end to the rule known as no recourse to public funds (NRPF), which since 1999 has prevented new arrivals getting access to benefits or public housing before they are granted settled status. Continue reading...

When an Inner Mongolia farmer sought two herders to tend his 3,000 sheep, he was swamped with applicants including graduates, factory labourers and white-collar workersA Chinese farm owner’s recruitment drive for shepherds has ended in success after his job advert seeking people to work on his Inner Mongolia ranch went viral, drawing the attention of city dwellers struggling to find work and highlighting growing strains in China’s labour market.Zuo Xiaoyong posted an advert on Chinese social media in late April seeking two shepherds, preferably a couple, to take 3,000 sheep out to graze on a 2,000ha pasture in the summer. The shepherds would also undertake indoor feeding and cleaning during the winter when temperatures can drop below -30C at his ranch roughly 300km from Xilinhot city, near the Mongolian border. Continue reading...

Crude rises after US strikes on Iran dampen hopes of peace deal, with experts saying talks appear stuck in ‘endless loop’Business live – latest updatesOil has again touched $100 a barrel after fresh US strikes on Iran dashed hopes of a Middle East breakthrough, with experts saying that whatever the outcome of peace talks the global energy market may now be past the “point of no return”.News of the US attacks on missile launch sites and mine-laying vessels pushed the price of Brent crude past the key threshold on Tuesday, before it later eased back to about $99. Continue reading...

• Japan's Nikkei 225 index surged over 2.8% to surpass the 65,000 mark for the first time in history. • The record rally was driven by strong technology sector earnings and growing optimism surrounding U.S.-Iran peace negotiations. • This surge reflects a broader improvement in global risk sentiment, with positive gains also seen in China's Shanghai Composite and Australia's S&P/ASX 200.

• Japan's Nikkei stock index surged past the 65,000 mark for the first time in history, driven by investor optimism surrounding diplomatic talks with Iran. • The broader Topix index also saw significant gains, climbing 1.39% to reach 3,946.67. • This milestone reflects a positive shift in market sentiment as geopolitical tensions ease, potentially stabilizing regional trade and energy outlooks.

• Japan's Nikkei share average surged past the 65,000 mark for the first time on Monday. • The rally was driven by increased demand for risk assets following optimism regarding potential deals to end the war in Iran. • This milestone reflects a significant boost in investor confidence and market sentiment toward Japanese equities.

Labour has launched an urgent review into the deaths, which one expert described as ‘unspeakably tragic’More than 100 young people have died after leaving the care of social services in England in the past year, according to data released by the government.In the year to April 2026 there were 106 reported deaths of care leavers, with 91 deaths reported in the 12 months before. The majority of those who died were aged 16 to 21.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123. In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...

Many analysts view company’s financial performance as a broader referendum on AI buildoutNvidia continued its years-long streak of beating Wall Street’s expectations for growth on Wednesday, reassuring most investors that the AI boom, particularly the global explosion of datacenters, will continue apace.“The buildout of AI factories – the largest infrastructure expansion in human history – is accelerating at extraordinary speed,” said Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, in a statement. “Agentic AI has arrived, doing productive work, generating real value, and scaling rapidly across companies and industries.” Continue reading...

Addendum quietly slipped into widely criticized agreement creating a $1.7bn fund to compensate president’s alliesThe justice department quietly added a provision barring the IRS from auditing Donald Trump’s tax returns on Tuesday, amending a widely criticized agreement that creates a secretive and loosely controlled $1.776bn fund to compensate allies of the president.The addendum, signed by Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, says the government is “forever barred” and “precluded” from examining the tax returns of Trump, his family, company and “related companies”. The agreement applies to anything filed before the agreement was reached. It was posted on the justice department website on Tuesday morning, a day after the department announced creation of the fund. Continue reading...

• Greens are increasingly conflicted but starting to benefit from embracing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 'Make America Healthy Again' movement. • Environmental groups publicly rejected Kennedy during his presidential run, but some are now quietly aligning with the longtime environmental attorney. • The shift matters as it bridges divides between traditional greens and MAHA's health-focused agenda, potentially amplifying influence on policy.

Terry Reed, who had previously been convicted for sexually abusing two other minors, could be imprisoned for 40 yearsSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email A suburban New Orleans religious pastor has been convicted of sexually molesting two minors in what is the third instance of a man called “the worst kind of predator” being found guilty of abusing teen boys.Terry Reed, 66, cited biblical verses and scripture to “manipulate, normalize and justify his sexual behavior” with the two victims at the center of the newest case against him, according to a statement from Louisiana state prosecutors. Continue reading...

• Oil prices jumped above $100 per barrel and broke through $115 as Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, with Brent crude rising 6% amid U.S. efforts to free up shipping lanes. • The S&P 500 fell with all 11 sectors declining except energy (+0.9%); Dow Jones dropped approximately 1%, while Asia ex-Japan surged 2.8% led by KOSPI's 5% gain to new highs. • U.S. Treasury yields climbed across the curve by 7-10 basis points, with the 30-year Treasury clearing 5.0% as inflation pressures mount and the USD index moved higher above 98.

• U.S. startups in applied enterprise AI secured over $500 million in funding rounds announced May 4, 2026, focusing on workflow automation and analytics. • Key deals include a $120M Series B for an AI platform optimizing supply chains and $80M for defense-oriented machine learning tools. • Surge underscores investor shift toward practical AI deployments, with returns projected at 5x in three years amid 25% market growth.

• India's foreign exchange reserves increased to over $703 billion, reflecting strengthened economic buffers amid global uncertainties. • The buildup supports rupee stability despite foreign investor outflows and rising oil prices in recent weeks. • This reserve growth enhances India's capacity to manage import costs and external shocks, boosting investor confidence in emerging markets.

Analysts say Americans have now paid $21.7bn more to fill their tanks since the start of the US war on IranExxon and Chevron quarterly earnings fall despite soaring oil pricesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailThe average price for a gallon of gas in California rose to $6 this week as fuel prices across the US reached their highest level in almost four years.The American Automobile Association reported on Friday that California consumers were paying an average of $6.06, while the national average hit $4.39. The Golden state is the most expensive US market for gas but costs have also risen nationally with a 27-cent rise this week following two weeks of falling prices, AAA said in a statement. Continue reading...

Company reported $111.2bn in revenue in first earnings report after announcement of Cook’s pending departureApple blew past Wall Street expectations in its first earnings report since it announced CEO Tim Cook would be stepping down.Cook reported Apple’s “best March quarter ever” and “double-digit growth across every geographic segment”. He also noted “extraordinary demand for the iPhone17 lineup”. Continue reading...