Premier

• Several new TV series are premiering between August 24-30, 2026, including "NFL Hometown Eats," "Death of the Pastor's Wife," and "Totally '90s House." • Friday marks the busiest day of the week, featuring the debut of two new streaming series. • One highlighted premiere is the Spanish series "Toda la Verdad de Mis Mentiras," based on Elísabet Benavent's novel and starring Brays Efe and Daniel Ibáñez.

A day after suggesting other projects were more important to Victorians, Carroll has committed to pushing ahead on train lineGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Victorian premier, Ben Carroll, has made an about-face, committing to pushing ahead with the first stage of the Suburban Rail Loop while promising to reduce its total cost by about 6%.Carroll will on Tuesday announce changes to the scope of the first stage of the project, known as SRL East – a 26km stretch of tunnels between Cheltenham and Box Hill – estimated to save $1bn. Continue reading...

• Fulham and Chelsea faced off in the final match of the Premier League's opening weekend. • Joao Pedro scored an early goal in the first minute of the game, while Rogers made his professional debut. • The match featured a notable return for Xabi Alonso, who is now the Chelsea head coach 17 years after his final Premier League appearance with Liverpool.

• Brentford secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur during the opening Saturday of the 2026-27 Premier League season. • Despite the loss, Spurs debuted a "new-look" squad under manager Roberto De Zerbi, though Brentford managed the win even after missing a penalty. • In a separate development, Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris and player Granit Xhaka detailed their ambitious plans to compete on a European scale.

• Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada is entering a trade war with the U.S. after the Trump administration implemented a new wave of 50 per cent tariffs. • Canada plans a "concentrated" retaliatory response targeting U.S. sectors including steel, dairy, electronics, agricultural equipment, and pulp and paper. • The conflict highlights escalating trade tensions, with Carney criticizing the U.S. for inconsistently changing the rationale behind its tariff agenda.

• Premier League clubs are approaching a record-breaking summer spending spree, nearing the previous season's total of over $4 billion. • Everton have signed 32-year-old Danish international midfielder from Arsenal to replace Idrissa Gueye, who departed at the end of his contract. • The midfielder joins Everton after a limited role at Arsenal, where he contributed to the club ending a 22-year Premier League trophy drought.

• The Premier League has officially commenced its new season, with live coverage currently tracking the opening round of matches. • Manchester United have arrived at the MKM Stadium for their fixture, with Benjamin Sesko spotted on-site while Amad remains absent. • The start of the campaign coincides with an open transfer window, allowing clubs to continue fine-tuning their squads for the year ahead.

• Nottingham Forest is reportedly set to sign defender Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP in a deal valued at €40m. • The move is part of a broader wave of activity as Premier League and global clubs negotiate transfers before the summer window closes on September 1. • This acquisition highlights Forest's commitment to strengthening their squad with high-value talent to remain competitive in the top flight.

• Premier League clubs have spent £2.14bn on transfers this summer, surpassing previous spending totals from 2024, 2022, 2021, and 2020. • Data provided by Paul Macdonald of FootballTransfers.com indicates that a significant portion of these funds has been exchanged between top-flight rivals. • This surge in investment highlights the league's immense financial power and the ongoing trend of escalating player valuations.

• The Chaoshan-dialect film "Dear You" has expanded its overseas release, premiering in Thailand on August 6 and Indonesia on August 7. • The expansion follows the movie's previous box-office success in China and earlier screenings in Singapore and Malaysia. • The film is gaining significant traction and receiving warm responses from audiences across Southeast Asia.

Ben Carroll releases terms of reference for inquiry that will include examining allegations of CFMEU corruption on state government building sitesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast“Nothing is off limits” to Victoria’s royal commission into the construction sector, Ben Carroll has said, as he released the inquiry’s terms of reference and confirmed former premiers and ministers could be called to face public hearings.The Victorian premier on Thursday unveiled details of the inquiry while acknowledging there had been “grift”, “thuggery” and “violence” on taxpayer-funded building sites, after the letters patent formally establishing the commission were signed off by the governor following a cabinet meeting earlier in the morning. Continue reading...

• Premier League clubs have completed a series of player trades and roster adjustments in preparation for the 2026–27 campaign. • A notable move includes Harry Wilson transferring from Fulham to Leeds United as teams seek to optimize their squads. • These offseason superlatives highlight the best transfers and most improved rosters, reflecting the strategic shifts made by clubs to gain a competitive edge.

• Premier League clubs have spent a total of £2.14bn on player transfers this summer, with a significant portion of funds moving between domestic rivals. • The trend of high-value internal transfers is driven by a desire to reduce risk, as players with proven Premier League experience are seen as safer investments than overseas recruits. • These domestic deals provide substantial financial windfalls for selling clubs while ensuring buying clubs acquire talent capable of handling the league's intensity.

• The Athletic has highlighted 12 exciting new Premier League signings to watch this season, including high-potential young talents. • A key focus is 19-year-old Quenda, a versatile former Sporting CP player who has officially joined Chelsea after agreeing to a deal in 2025. • Quenda's athletic profile is significant, having recorded a match-high 78 sprints during Japan's World Cup last-32 loss to Brazil according to FIFA data.

• The 2026 Summer Transfer Window is underway, highlighted by four Premier League deals exceeding $100 million. • Tottenham Hotspur has focused on strategic free transfers, signing 32-year-old left back Andy Robertson and 29-year-old defender Marcos Senesi. • These additions are intended to provide leadership and experienced cover for a Spurs squad that has struggled with a poor recent injury record.

• Three Singaporean films have been selected for their North American premieres at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). • The selection aims to showcase local filmmaking talent and storytelling on a prestigious global cinematic stage. • This inclusion is significant as it provides Singaporean creators with critical international exposure and access to North American audiences and distributors.

Rio Tinto said in December it may cease operations at the Tomago aluminium smelter at the end of its current electricity supply contractAnthony Albanese and the New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, are preparing to mount a major bailout of Australia’s largest aluminium smelter, in a deal worth as much as $2.5bn.Resources giant Rio Tinto said in December it was contemplating ceasing operations at the Tomago aluminium smelter in NSW at the end of its current electricity supply contract. Continue reading...

• The Chaoshan-dialect film "Dear You" has expanded its overseas release, premiering in Thailand on August 6 and Indonesia on August 7, 2026. • This international rollout follows the movie's initial box-office success in China and previous screenings in Singapore and Malaysia. • The film is gaining significant traction and receiving warm responses from Southeast Asian audiences, highlighting the cross-border appeal of its cultural themes.

• CJ ENM and Japan's Nippon TV have co-produced "Merry Berry Love," a global TV series scheduled for a worldwide premiere in October. • The cross-border romance stars Ji Chang-wook as Yoo-bin, a Korean spatial designer, and Mio Imada as Karin, a Japanese farmer. • The project highlights a growing trend of international collaborations in the drama industry to navigate cultural and national boundaries.

Former PM says ousted Victorian premier was ‘courageous in combating misogyny’ and was a trailblazer for other women. Follow updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFormer union boss and former leader of the Labor party Bill Shorten has leant his support behind newly crowned Victorian premier Ben Carroll’s announcement he will call a royal commission into the construction sector.Shorten told 7.30 last night:He wants to act with integrity, and he wants to act in everyone’s interests.I think he understands [what] people will be assessing: is he serving the people or is he just playing politics? So I thought he was very straight. He’s in there for Victorians, not trying to just tick the box and get particular interest groups on side.I think the national mood or the state mood was there for it. I just think that the costs of construction … there may be exaggerations, but there is something rotten going on in construction, and people want to see it can be dealt with. This is public infrastructure, so it’s taxpayer money.There is no doubt that as the second woman to lead the state, she has been subjected to vile sexism.She has been courageous in calling it out and combating this misogyny. As a result, she has made it easier for the women that follow.I know how hard working he is and how much he cares about ensuring every child gets the best possible start in life. I wish him and his team well in the months to come. Continue reading...

Premier announces she is stepping down from the top job ahead of expected spill, says her deputy has her ‘unqualified support’ The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has announced her resignation from the top job, after a tumultuous 48 hours for Labor just four months out from the state election.Allan on Monday had vowed to challenge for the leadership after a group of MPs told her she no longer had the support of caucus and urged her to stand down, and the deputy premier, Ben Carroll, confirmed he would nominate for the Labor leadership. Continue reading...

Carroll, who has confirmed he will make a leadership challenge, was elected to parliament in 2012 and says he has always been ambitiousIn 2023, when then-public transport minister Ben Carroll failed in his surprising bid to secure the leadership of the Victorian Labor party, he told a press conference: “I was always very keen to rise.”The premier Daniel Andrews had resigned believing he had locked in his succession plan: his loyal deputy Jacinta Allan as premier, and treasurer Tim Pallas as deputy. Continue reading...

• The Premier League title race is shaping up to be highly competitive following a series of high-profile summer transfers. • British transfer records were broken twice with Manchester City signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million and Chelsea acquiring Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117 million. • These massive investments by top clubs signal an aggressive attempt to strengthen squads and shift the balance of power before the new season begins.

• The Premier League will host 20 opening weekend watch parties across 16 U.S. cities and Toronto, Canada, to engage North American fans. • These events are strategically timed to coincide with Ed Sheeran's tour, leveraging high-profile entertainment to attract larger crowds. • The initiative follows record-breaking viewership in the U.S., highlighted by the men's national team's opening World Cup match against Paraguay which drew 27.5 million viewers.

• Premier League teams remained active in the transfer market during the World Cup, conducting several low-profile player trades. • Aston Villa lost key players Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers, both of whom were instrumental in the club's return to the UEFA Champions League. • Rogers has completed a high-value transfer to Chelsea, while Tielemans has officially joined Manchester United.

• Deadline has released its annual comprehensive schedule of premiere dates for new and returning TV series across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms for 2026. • Key dates include May 10, featuring the BAFTA Television Awards on E! and Season 12 of 90 Day Fiancé on TLC, and May 11, with Netflix debuting Season 4 of Mark Rober's CrunchLabs. • The roster highlights a diverse range of content, including the new docuseries Last Train to North America on ESPN and the travelogue Tucci in Italy on National Geographic.

• The Korean series 'The East Palace,' starring Nam Joo Hyuk, Roh Yoon Seo, and Cho Seung Woo, climbed to No. 2 on Netflix's Top 10 Non-English Shows worldwide within three days of its release. • Since its July 17 premiere, the show has accumulated 4.9 million views and secured the No. 1 spot on the Top 10 list in South Korea. • The series has achieved significant international reach, entering the Top 10 charts in 27 different countries, including India, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.

• Morgan Rogers is set to move from Aston Villa to Chelsea in a deal valued at £117 million. • The transfer is poised to become one of the most expensive player acquisitions in Premier League history. • This high-value move highlights Chelsea's aggressive spending strategy to strengthen their squad with top talent.