Watch: Pope Leo XIV spins basketball on his finger, with help from Harlem Globetrotters
US exhibition squad, the Harlem Globetrotters, met the pontiff in the Vatican, helping him to spin a basketball on the tip of his finger.
Intelligence Briefing
This is a developing global event. Our platform is currently aggregating and verifying detailed reports from BBC World and other international field desks.
Full situational analysis for world is currently being synthesized for our readers.
Related Stories
Australia news live: diesel surges 20 cents a litre in two days to record high; toll traffic falls as fuel price bites
Follow updates live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Shadow defence minister ‘reluctant’ to listen to Iran over Lebanon’s inclusion in ceasefire deal James Paterson, the shadow minister for defence, said he is “reluctant” to listen to Iran on whether or not Lebanon was included in a ceasefire deal announced yesterday as Israel continues to bombard the country. On the one hand, the United States and Israel say that the ceasefire did not include Lebanon, and on the other hand, the Islamic Republic of Iran is saying that it did include Lebanon. I am personally reluctant to endorse claims made by a country which has sponsored terrorist attacks on Australian soil. Australians are seeing what is happening in a number of countries in the Middle East and responding with compassion. We recognise this is a time when Australians are also doing it tough and we appreciate how they are recognising the depth of the humanitarian crisis and responding. Continue reading...
Ben Roberts-Smith entitled to presumption of innocence but ‘none of us are above the law’, Andrew Hastie says
Liberal MP makes first public comments since Australia’s most decorated living soldier, whom he served alongside, was charged with war crimes Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Liberal MP, Andrew Hastie, says Ben Roberts-Smith is entitled to the presumption of innocence but “none of us are above the law” in his first public comments since Australia’s most decorated living soldier was charged with war crimes. Hastie served alongside Roberts-Smith in Afghanistan and was among the 21 Special Air Service (SAS) who gave evidence in the defamation case he brought against the Nine newspapers. Continue reading...
Middle East crisis live: Red Cross ‘outraged’ as Israeli strikes on Lebanon kill 254; Trump says US military to remain in region
As Israel attacks continue, Abbas Araghchi points to announcement that says ceasefire includes Lebanon while JD Vance says US never promised that Middle East ceasefire in serious doubt as Israel assaults Lebanon and Iran blocks oil tankers The UK foreign minister, Yvette Cooper, has said Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement. In other remarks now being reported by Reuters, Cooper added that shipping through the strait of Hormuz must be toll-free. Amid ceasefire talks, Tehran has proposed fees or tolls on vessels to safely pass through the strait. Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested the US and Iran could collect tolls in a joint venture, while the White House said the priority was reopening the strait without limitations. And my principles and values made sure that our decisions were that we wouldn’t get involved in the action without a lawful basis, without a viable, thought-through plan.” Continue reading...
He's Australia's most decorated soldier. Now he's at the centre of a historic war crimes case
Ben Roberts-Smith's case is not only unprecedented for Australia but "extraordinary" for the globe too, scholars say.