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Britain is hosting a virtual meeting of 35 countries to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively shut down amid the US-Israeli war. The US will not attend, and Australia is among participants weighing contributions to secure the vital waterway.
New Zealand and the Cook Islands have signed a defence and security declaration, ending a year-long diplomatic row triggered by the Cook Islands' strategic agreements with China. The pact requires consultation on security matters and resumes millions in aid, while analysts say it may curb Beijing's influence in the Pacific.
Iraq and DR Congo claimed the last two spots in the 48-team 2026 World Cup field, completing the lineup for the first tournament to feature the expanded format. Iraq beat Bolivia 2-1, while DR Congo edged Jamaica 1-0 after extra time, setting up group assignments in the June-July tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Australia's eSafety Commission is investigating Meta's Facebook and Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for potential breaches of the world's first under-16 social media ban, with fines up to $33.9 million. The move follows findings that many Australian children still use the platforms, even as over five million underage accounts have been removed. The government insists the law is working but that big tech is failing to comply.
Zac Lomax is set to make his Super Rugby Pacific debut for the Western Force against the Queensland Reds at Lang Park on Saturday. The former NRL star has a history of strong performances at the venue, and Reds hooker Matt Faessler expects him to handle the hostile crowd.
The International Olympic Committee has announced that only athletes registered as 'biological females' will compete in women's events, effectively barring transgender women and many athletes with differences in sexual development. The new policy, which includes SRY gene testing from the 2028 Los Angeles Games, has drawn both support from the IOC and criticism from athletes and medical experts.
The International Olympic Committee will require SRY gene testing to restrict women's Olympic events to biological females beginning with the 2028 Los Angeles Games, effectively banning transgender women from competition. While IOC President Kirsty Coventry defends the policy as necessary for competitive fairness, France has formally opposed the move as stigmatizing and ethically problematic, raising concerns about impacts on athletes with differences in sexual development (DSD).
Chancellor Friedrich Merz will speak with President Trump this weekend amid disputes over Strait of Hormuz security. Sixteen NATO allies—exactly half the alliance—are reportedly participating in a 22-nation coalition alongside Asian and Gulf partners, though Germany and France resist joining patrols during active hostilities. Neither source included Iranian government positions on the conflict.
Finland has been named the world's happiest country for the ninth consecutive year in the UN-backed World Happiness Report 2026, while Israel secured eighth place despite ongoing regional conflicts. The report highlights growing concerns about social media's negative impact on youth well-being in Western nations, and notes India's rise to 116th position among 147 countries.