Island nation in the southwestern Pacific, two main lands and 600+ islands
Serena Williams has accepted wildcards into Wimbledon singles and doubles and will play doubles with sister Venus. The 44-year-old has returned to competition this month after nearly four years away, has played doubles at Queen's and Berlin, and Wimbledon begins on June 29 with the draws announced today.
Cape Verde has earned a second World Cup point after a 2-2 draw with Uruguay in Miami. Kevin Pina opened the scoring, Uruguay answered with two quick goals, and Helio Varela levelled the score following a defensive error. The result keeps Cape Verde's knockout-round hopes alive ahead of their final group game.
Since late May, the EU and several Western allies have imposed travel bans, asset freezes and targeted national sanctions on Israeli settlers, settler organisations and some far-right ministers over record settlement expansion and rising settler violence in the West Bank. Britain, France, Canada, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and others are coordinating measures to disrupt financing for extremist settler groups.
Immigrant communities in the United States face heightened anxiety over ICE activity around World Cup venues. Officials say DHS has reassurances, while rights groups warn of risks to fans, players and visitors as the tournament unfolds.
Multiple reports confirm that Israeli officials have advanced plans to expand settlements in the West Bank, including thousands of new homes and infrastructure. The push is led by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and could reshape settlement footprint, raising tensions with Palestinians and drawing international condemnation.
Five Eyes intelligence partners have published a joint bulletin and U.S. prosecutors have seized 13 internet domains after identifying fake consultancies that advertised analyst jobs to current and former security‑clearance holders. Officials have said the websites used stolen identities and AI images, paid recruits in crypto and pressured applicants for non‑public information.
Iran’s World Cup participation has faced visa hurdles amid US-Iran tensions. Officials say players, coaches and some staff have visas, while some backroom staff remain visa-free. Iran moved training from Arizona to Tijuana and will play group games in the United States, Seattle and Los Angeles, with the federation pursuing FIFA-led resolution.
England has tightened its grip in a weather-impacted Test against New Zealand, but rain threatens a decisive finish. New Zealand is 55 for five chasing 199, with Phillips and Conway offering brief resistance in a day interrupted by showers.
Iran's national football team has landed in Tijuana after training in Turkey and has secured U.S. visas for players only. Fifteen technical and administrative staff have been denied U.S. entry. Under visa conditions the squad will operate from a Mexican base and will cross into the United States around match days for their Group G fixtures in Los Angeles and Seattle.
Iran has confronted the United States over visa denials affecting key staff as its World Cup squad departs Antalya for Mexico ahead of group games in the United States. Tehran says the move disrupts participation, while FIFA is expected to monitor the issue as the tournament opens.
England has based itself in Kansas City for the 2026 World Cup to cut travel and gain a home-from-home environment. The FA has installed recovery facilities and a basketball hoop at the Inn at Meadowbrook, aiming to keep players fresh and focused as they prepare for group games and the heat of North America.
Equipment, including boots and training balls, has been stolen from a vehicle transporting England's World Cup kit from Florida to their Kansas City base; two people have been taken into custody and most items have been recovered, police and local officials have said. England have arrived at Swope Soccer Village and will train ahead of their Group L opener against Croatia on Wednesday.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake has struck off Mindanao on Monday morning, killing dozens, injuring hundreds and displacing tens of thousands. General Santos City and nearby provinces have reported collapsed buildings, landslides and damaged infrastructure. Rescue teams are searching rubble while aftershocks and earlier tsunami alerts are complicating operations.
Kane Evans has publicly declared his homosexuality in a Channel Nine interview, becoming the second male NRL player to do so. He recalls struggles with addiction, suicidal thoughts, and homelessness, crediting mentors and clubs that supported his rehabilitation. Fellow players and coaches describe the moment as courageous and persuasive for others in sport.
Wellington faces a forecast of powerful swells and gusts. Authorities have declared a state of emergency in affected areas. Flights are disrupted, ferries are cancelled, and residents are urged to shelter and stay away from coastlines as the weather system approaches.
Iran’s football federation says its ticket allocation for World Cup matches in the United States has been withdrawn, leaving supporters unable to attend. The claim follows visa hurdles and broader US-Israel-Iran hostilities as the tournament opens, with Iran relocating its base to Mexico.
Britain, France, Canada, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and others have imposed coordinated sanctions on six settler-linked entities and one individual for financing and enabling violence in the occupied West Bank. France has also barred Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and several settlers from entry. Israel has rejected the measures as "disgraceful."
Amid rising settlement expansion in the West Bank, Israeli policy advances 69 new settlements with a total plan value of $388m, while a parallel UN-backed and Amnesty reports allege state-backed displacement of Palestinians. Western powers impose coordinated sanctions targeting settler networks; human rights groups call for broader accountability as violence intensifies.
Belgium has shifted its World Cup approach under coach Rudi Garcia, emphasising defence amid an attack-led setup as Doku and Lukaku headline a transformed squad. Iran faces geopolitical scrutiny and a grind-it-out approach as it eyes progress from a tough group.
A 7.8-magnitude offshore quake off Mindanao has left dozens dead, thousands displaced, and ongoing rescue and relief operations across southern Philippines as aftershocks hamper recovery and access to isolated communities.
Haiti's World Cup kit has been redesigned after FIFA ruled a depiction of the 1803 Battle of Vertieres and related symbols could be interpreted as political. Saeta has updated the design to comply; Haiti opens against Scotland in Foxborough this weekend.
Beijing has banned Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and his family from entering China, including Hong Kong and Macau, over remarks Beijing deems harmful to its interests. Manila calls the move unfounded and vows to defend territorial integrity as Manila tightens security ties with the United States and allies.
Authorities say a body wrapped in a black bag has been found in the trunk of a gray Toyota SUV with California plates in a supermarket parking lot opposite Tijuana’s Caliente Stadium. Iran’s national squad is using Tijuana as a base for World Cup preparations amid visa delays and travel restrictions. The city has a high murder rate, and the investigation continues as teams prepare for group-stage play.
Scotland fans have arrived in Boston for the World Cup, joining tens of thousands in celebrations and travel logistics. Reports describe adherence to fan zones, ticket availability shifts, and travel challenges, including visa/ESTA issues affecting some supporters as prices fluctuate and crowds navigate the pre-tournament atmosphere.
Australia has reached 200-plus in the Women’s T20 World Cup, posting 219-1 and defeating the Netherlands by 98 runs. India has defeated Pakistan by 64 runs, with Deepti Sharma taking 5-10 and Smriti Mandhana scoring a half-century. Bangladesh records a late chase against the Netherlands. New Zealand fights to stay alive in the tournament after a dramatic finish against Ireland.
Multiple suspects across states have been charged after foiled plots tied to accelerationist ideologies and online recruitment on platforms like TikTok. Investigations show how social networks and radical content can recruit and mobilize individuals toward violence.
Iran’s World Cup campaign in the United States has been shaped by visa restrictions and travel hurdles, with Tehran’s delegation facing limited access and diplomatic friction as it prepares for a Group G match against Belgium in Los Angeles.
England’s World Cup preparations are underway with Tuchel granting players rest while stressing loyalty and focus. Bellingham could operate as a No 9 as the squad shifts toward the group stage, and weather plus tempo will shape the first match’s approach.
Iran’s team has faced travel hurdles and political tensions as they prepare for their World Cup match schedule in the United States. Players report tension around visas, travel logistics, and protests, while coaches emphasize football as the focus despite the wider context.
Iran's World Cup opener in Los Angeles amid geopolitical tensions has intensified debate among Iranian-Americans. Some protest the regime by waving pre-revolution flags, while others focus on supporting Team Melli. Authorities warn against political displays; the diaspora remains divided between politics and sport.
Brendon McCullum has indicated Ben Stokes is likely to return as England captain for the third Test against New Zealand, after curfew-breach suspensions and ECB investigations. Stokes has been withdrawn from county duty while the ECB probes the incident, and Joe Root has captained in his absence. The team faces a pivotal moment as selection is announced ahead of Trent Bridge.
Egypt has rallied from an early deficit to beat New Zealand 3-1 at BC Place in Vancouver. Finn Surman gave New Zealand a 15th-minute lead, but Mostafa Zico equalised in the 59th minute, Mohamed Salah scored in the 67th and Trezeguet added a header in the 82nd. Egypt now top Group G with four points.
Iran has drawn 2-2 with New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium as more than 70,000 fans produced a politically charged atmosphere. Iran twice recovered from behind — goals from Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi — while protests and rival flags, including the pre-1979 lion-and-sun banner, created tensions outside and inside the ground.
Recent studies show California’s San Andreas and San Jacinto faults are under stress at levels not seen in a millennium, raising the risk of a large, multi-fault rupture. Cajon Pass could act as a bridge or barrier, and preparedness measures are urged as hazard models improve with physics-based simulations.
Cape Verde’s 0-0 draw with Spain has tested the expanded World Cup format, showing that emergent nations can compete at the highest level. Vozinha’s saves and a stubborn defense have elevated Cape Verde’s profile and sparked global attention.
The US Department of Homeland Security has allowed Iran’s national team to enter two days before its Seattle match on June 26 but has kept rules requiring the squad to leave the country the evening of each game. Iran has been basing itself in Tijuana, Mexico, and its coach has criticised the travel restrictions for disrupting training and recovery.
Iran fights back to draw 2-2 with New Zealand in Los Angeles as Iranian diaspora tensions shadow the World Cup match; fans split between pro-government chants and anti-regime protests, while the team navigates political frictions off the pitch.
A UK-based writer explains how side hustles—from Swagbucks to focus groups—have funded a first home. The piece outlines the daily methods, pay ranges, and practical notes on participation, highlighting how flexible gigs can supplement household finances.
Iranian supporters have defied FIFA’s flag ban at World Cup venues, displaying pre-revolutionary banners and symbols during matches in the United States, while demonstrators outside call for change in Tehran.
Declan Rice has been managing a nerve pain in his hamstring since Christmas, but has described himself as ready and fit for England’s next World Cup game. He was subbed off in the Croatia match due to discomfort, raising questions about England’s midfield depth as they prepare for the second group game against Ghana.
Jeremy Doku has returned to Belgium’s World Cup squad after attending the birth of his son, Praise, in London. He had left the team briefly due to illness and to be with his wife, then rejoined ahead of Belgium’s final group game against New Zealand. Teammates have shown support, while a French pundit’s comments about childbirth have drawn apologies from L’Equipe.
Iran has drawn Belgium 0-0 in Los Angeles, keeping alive its chance to reach the knockout stage. The team has faced visa and travel restrictions, base camp in Mexico, and limited training time. Iran now heads to Seattle for a final group game against Egypt, with a point required to progress.
Five Eyes agencies warn frontier AI could dramatically accelerate cyber threats in months, not years, while open questions linger about how to regulate and secure the technology.
A major review finds most IVF add-ons sold to patients show no robust evidence of benefit and may add financial and emotional strain, with only a few showing weak or marginal potential.