With Arsenal top of the tree, and a number clubs facing huge changes, this season is one of the more unpredictable in recent memory. Throw in Coventry City’s return after 25 years, helmed by manager Frank Lampard, it is primed to be another enthralling and intriguing 10 months of Premier League action. Follow the fixture release live below from 10am BST!

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s military said Friday its forces struck targets throughout southern Lebanon overnight as Hezbollah reported intense fighting in the area, threatening the nascent agreement between Iran and the United States to end their war.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported at least 16 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes, which the Israeli military said were ongoing. Israel, meantime, said four of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in southern Lebanon, including a lieutenant colonel.

Continued fighting in Lebanon could unravel the newly signed deal, which calls for an immediate halt to military operations “on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” where Israel has been battling the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, and for ensuring Lebanon’s “territorial integrity and sovereignty.”

The deal aims to end the war and has reopened the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, while bringing the U.S. and Iran back to the negotiating table over Tehran’s nuclear program. Iran’s stranglehold on the strait had all but stopped the flow of oil through the key waterway.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he signed the agreement to avoid “economic catastrophe” in the U.S., after the war caused oil prices to skyrocket, made financial markets skittish and fueled inflation. After the signing of the agreement, more than 12.5 million barrels of oil were shipped through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday night, the U.S. said.

US and Israel at odds over conflict in Lebanon

Israel and Hezbollah are not parties to the agreement. Iran insists Israel must withdraw from the large swath of southern Lebanon it is occupying, but the wording of the interim deal doesn’t explicitly require that.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces elections later this year, has refused to withdraw, saying Israeli forces will remain in Lebanon until the threat from Hezbollah has been eliminated.

Trump, meantime, has been openly critical of Netanyahu’s recent moves, saying the day before the agreement with Iran was signed that “without the U.S. there would be no Israel.”

“Without me, there would be no Israel because no other president was willing to do what I did — I have had a great relationship with Bibi,” Trump said, using a nickname for Netanyahu. “Now Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon.”

The renewed Israeli attacks in Lebanon came as planned talks in Switzerland between Iran and the United States over their efforts to reach a permanent end to the Iran war were delayed.

Vance delays trip to Switzerland as talks postponed

U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Thursday put off his trip to Switzerland where he had been set to lead the talks. The White House blamed logistical issues, but the announcement came after a report from Al-Mayadeen, a pan-Arab satellite channel that is politically allied to Hezbollah, said that Iran was delaying sending its delegation to Switzerland over Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Lebanon.

Trump signed the initial pact with Iran on Wednesday while dining with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles, which took immediate effect.

Following the signing, the U.S. said it had lifted its blockade, allowing oil tankers to begin freely moving through the Strait of Hormuz after months of being unable to use the critical channel. Still, the tentative agreement has drawn sharp criticism from some in the U.S. — including a few congressional Republicans — who worry Washington ceded too much to Iran with relief from sanctions and a potential $300 billion fund to help with rebuilding.

In Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei seemed to endorse direct negotiations, saying in a statement on state media that “it is obvious that the face-to-face negotiations that will be held in the future will not mean accepting the enemy’s opinion.”

It was Khamenei’s first reaction to the agreement, and it was interpreted as a shift in Iran’s approach. Hard-liners, especially Khamenei’s father, the previous supreme leader, have long opposed direct talks, especially after the U.S. pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

The supreme leader has not been seen in public since he was wounded in a strike at the start of the war.

US defends deal with Iran

Vance, who was initially personally skeptical of the U.S. going to war with Iran, has increasingly become the administration’s face of the conflict and has been outspoken in defending the deal.

On Thursday, he took the relatively unusual step of appearing at the White House to defend the initial deal to extend the ceasefire 60 days and allow for more negotiating — arguing that while it offers concessions, Iran first has to comply with U.S. demands.

Vance also offered a blunt warning to Israel, saying Trump was “the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time.”

___

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Rising reported from Bangkok. Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this story.

All My Children star Paul Avery and his wife Sheila have died at their home in Blairstown, New Jersey, after a fire broke out.

The couple were found unconscious and removed from the building by firefighters on Tuesday shortly after midnight but died from their injuries not long after.

Avery was 81 and best known for his role in the American soap All My Children, starring as Hughie the bartender for 12 years.

The couple’s daughter, Kyle Avery, said in a Facebook post: ‘I’m devastated to share that our parents, Paul and Sheila Garry Avery, passed away early this morning.

‘We loved them so much, and they loved us so much, and nobody ever had to wonder if that was so. We’re grateful to the Blairstown Fire Department for their efforts. Service plans to follow.’

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, which was brought under control by 1am, according to local paper, Ridge View Echo.

As well as All My Children, Hughie appeared in shows such as Superman, Three’s Company and Tales from the Darkside over his 20-year acting career.

He moved to work as a journalist and editor in later life, writing film reviews and working across several papers before founding the Ridge View Echo.

In 2018, Sheila suffered a stroke, with her husband stepping down from some public responsibilities to become her full-time carer.

Avery, an active member of the Blairstown community, once wrote in his paper: ‘The great thing about living in a small town is that you can actively participate in it.’

Ridge View Echo employee Joe Phalon paid tribute to the late star, telling WFMZ: ‘I got a call saying what happened, and I just couldn’t believe it. I always like to call Paul the most interesting man in the world, because he was when you consider everything he’s done in his life. Acting, skydiving, Vietnam veteran, started a newspaper.’

He continued: ‘His death is going to leave a real void in this community. Not just Blairstown, but the towns around as well. I think we’ll really miss him, and I think it’s going to become more apparent over time.’

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For the French president, Emmanuel Macron, this year’s meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) in the spa town of Évian-les-Bains from June 15 to 17 had several pressing issues to address. As well as reaching a coordinated approach towards artificial intelligence, trade and conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, Macron needed to get Donald Trump to stay for the entire meeting.

This was no easy task. the US president left the 2018 summit in Quebec, Canada early due to a summit with North Korea and personal tensions with the host, Justin Trudeau. And he left the 2025 summit in Alberta, also in Canada, due to the Israeli war with Iran, which the US was to join a few days later.

While the G7 meeting is normally a moment for some of the world’s biggest economies to show unity – with the US usually in lockstep with its G7 allies – the Trump era has made this event more unpredictable. The major questions facing Macron as host were: what might Trump say to undermine G7 unity – and would he leave early once again?

In both respects, Macron was able to avoid a negative outcome. But it was no easy feat. Macron’s masterstroke was to resort to flattery, inviting Trump to a dinner at the opulent 2,300 room Palace of Versailles at the end of the summit on June 17, billed as a celebration of the 250th anniversary of US independence. Macron had purposely pushed back the G7 schedule so that Trump could attend a mixed martial arts fight at the White House on his 80th birthday.

Kissing up to Trump was something that Europeans have gone along with for most of Trump’s first and second terms. But when European leaders failed to answer Trump’s call for assistance in the US and Israel’s war against Iran, they were the target of bitter attacks from the US president.

The US recently announced it is reducing the number of F-16 and F-15 fighter jets available to Nato from 150 to 100. Maritime reconnaissance aircraft would also be reduced from 26 to 15 and eight refuelling tanker jets that were previously available to Europe will also be withdrawn. This is a big deal for G7 member states, all of which – apart from Japan – are members of Nato.

Against this background, Macron did not want Trump and other geopolitical tensions to undermine the summit. One of his key victories was to achieve what appears to have been a united stance on Ukraine – something which Macron labelled as “re-synchronisation” after what he said was a “very deep change in the US approach”.

The Russian president, Vladmir Putin, may have hoped that the summit would expose divisions. But this year’s G7 meeting managed to highlight western unity on Ukraine, releasing a statement pledging unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity. Even Trump signed the statement after what he said was a “very good” meeting with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky on the summit’s sidelines.

Ukraine will also receive more air defence systems along with licenses to produce them – with the US ready to provide “backstop” for these efforts.

Trump also signalled that with the Strait of Hormuz open, the sanctions on Russian oil sales he had lifted during the war with Iran would be reimposed, telling reporters he would do whatever he could to push for peace in Ukraine.

What a difference a year makes. The 2025 G7 summit ended without a unified statement on Ukraine after Trump’s walkout. Instead, the Canadian prime minister Mark Carney made his own statement, what he called a “chair’s summary”. It was reported that Trump would not agree to the original statement’s strong language against Russia.

Mending fences

This year Trump got what he wanted: praise for his 60-day ceasefire agreement with Iran, which he signed during the state dinner at the Palace of Versailles.

Just months ago Trump was lashing out at his European allies over Iran. It was a low point in relations that looked as if it would be hard to fix. In April, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said Iran had “humiliated” Trump, while Macron and Keir Starmer also issued defiant statements that they would not play ball with Trump’s demands for their assistance. Macron hit back at complaints from Israel and the US that “they are alone in an operation they decided on alone. It’s not our operation.”

Even Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni – once a staunch Trump ally – distanced herself, after Trump’s attack on Pope Leo for criticising the conflict, saying his behaviour towards the pope was “unacceptable”. But this week Meloni and Trump appeared to have made up. When European Council president, António Costa, joked to Trump and Meloni that they appeared to be “friends again”, Meloni replied: “We have always been friends.” Trump retorted: “I was abandoned.” Meloni responded with a smile: “No, you were not.”

This G7 showed European leaders are willing to make nice with Trump. Unlike last year there was no sense they felt they were walking on eggshells in dealing with the US president. A case in point: when Trump walked into the G7 meeting on Wednesday morning, the last to arrive at the summit table, he told the waiting leaders: “I’m the boss”. It was greeted with friendly laughter, rather than with derision.

Throwing a state banquet at Versailles for Trump has sent a clear message that Macron wants to preserve the transatlantic relationship – even though relations are strained.

The meeting was not without its tensions. There were concerns at what appeared to be Trump’s mixed messages on Ukraine when, despite his apparent backing for Zelensky, he commented that the war has “nothing to do with us”. And his assertion that if the Iran deal doesn’t work out the US would “go back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head” will have worried assembled leaders.

But as they sat down to lobster, caviar and truffles in Versailles it appeared that the level of discord between the G7 leaders and Trump had subsided – at least for now.

An astronaut left a tragic legacy after being sent on a mission to space in a faulty aircraft. He crash landed back on earth and became the first human to die in a spaceflight incident

An astronaut completed a haunting and selfless final act before he was blasted into space, knowing he wouldn’t return alive.

Space travel and exploration is a global mission seen as an essential tool in guaranteeing the long-term survival of the human race, while also bringing about a deeper understanding of the universe – and our place in it.

Space agencies and programmes around the world are united in their quest to procure medical and environmental information, technological advances, answers to important scientific questions, and more. There’s also the hope space travel will uncover groundbreaking discoveries to further aid humanity.

Throughout our tenure into space travel and exploration, animals have been sent to their deaths as part of the research to allow humans to go into space, and some astronauts have also lost their lives.

Soviet test pilot, aerospace engineer and cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov was sent on a mission to space in a faulty aircraft, becoming the first human to die in a spaceflight incident.

After successfully commanding Voskhod 1, the first spaceflight to carry more than one crew member in October of 1964, he was awarded the Order of Lenin and Hero of the Soviet Union.

Komarov was later chosen as the solo pilot of Soyuz 1, the Soviet space program’s first crewed test flight. His back-up cosmonaut was national hero, Yuri Gagarin.

On April 24 1967, Komarov successfully re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere on his 19th orbit but it still ended in tragedy – his parachute failed to deploy which caused the Soyuz capsule to crash at full-speed into the ground, killing Komarov instantly.

Komarov had worked with back-up pilot Gagarin and the two were said to be friends.

According to former KGB agent Venyamin Russayev, the Soyuz spacecraft wasn’t safe – and Komarov and Gagarin knew it.

Russayev claims Komarov told him: “I’m not going to make it back from this flight.”

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To which Russayev replied: “If you’re so convinced you’re going to die, then why don’t you refuse the mission?”

Komarov is said to have answered: “If I don’t make this flight, they’ll send the back-up pilot instead. That’s Yuri, and he’ll die instead of me. We’ve got to take care of him.”

In a BBC interview back in 1997, Russayev recounted this tale and said it was at this point that Komarov “burst into tears.”

He added: “He cracked. Maybe he just let out all the tension, and he began to cry.”

The former KGB agent also claimed Gagarin attempted to have Komarov “bumped” from the mission, under the belief Soviet leadership wouldn’t risk him, a national hero, on the doomed flight.

But Komarov wouldn’t hear of it and, despite believing the mission was destined for disaster, he wouldn’t put Gagarin’s life at risk.

Russsayev’s claims have been contested by some space historians, who dispute his version of events.

Yuri Gagarin was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut who became the first person to journey into outer space during the first successful crewed spaceflight.

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT An experienced climber popped the question to his girlfriend and then delivered a haunting eight word message – but just a few hours later, he would plummet 300 feet to his death

An experienced climber shared a tragic eight word message after proposing to his girlfriend, only to fall to his death just a few hours later.

Brad Parker was 36-years-old when, after getting down on one knee to pop the question to his girlfriend Jainee Dial, he ventured on a solo climb in Yosemite National Park, CA, which ended in disaster.

Parker was no stranger to adventure, having spent two years travelling around the world and exploring countries including Thailand and New Zealand. He’d also previously climbed the face of Yosemite’s Half Dome “in near-record time”, according to his father.

But on Saturday, August 16, 2014, his life would come to a tragic and heartbreaking end.

The day started off happy and positive. Brad and his girlfriend Jainee Dial embarked on a climb to the summit of Cathedral Peak.

It was there he asked Jainee to marry him, and she said yes.

Hauntingly, his father Bill Parker revealed Brad had told Jainee: “This is the happiest day of my life”, not knowing it would be his last.

The couple then separated and Brad headed alone to the Tuolumne Meadows area of Yosemite National Park. He climbed the approximately mile-long Matthes Crest, a narrow, upright ridge of rock with two summits separated by a deep crevice.

Despite his talent, skill and experience, other climbers reported seeing him fall at around 5.45pm, plummeting 300 feet off the rock face to his death below, per Yosemite Park Ranger Kari Cobb.

Brad had been “free-soloing”, climbing the crest alone and without ropes, on a well-established route which, while challenging, wasn’t known or viewed as technically difficult.

According to Mountain Project: “Generally, people do the traverse from South to North. This is because the crest slopes upwards in that direction and therefore you will end up at a higher elevation. Doing it North to South would involve more downclimbing.”

Brad’s free-soloing method was also seen as a wise and logical way to climb the summit. Mountain Project advise: “Probably best to Simul or Solo much of the route. To rope up for every single pitch would take a horrendous amount of time.”

Brad’s father, Bill Parker, said his son was a capable, careful climber “in top physical condition”, per the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

The initial climb up Cathedral Peak coupled with the run Brad embarked on from there to Matthes Crest may have led to fatigue which could have been a factor in his fall.

Both Bill and Brad’s mother Gayle Parker said their son’s passion for climbing was “always a concern” for them both.

After Brad’s fall, park rangers hiked in to locate his body. By the time they reached him, it was too late to call for a helicopter so they stayed with him overnight.

The next day, a helicopter collected his body.

Reflecting on his son’s death at the time, Bill added: “We’re all so stunned. What happened is so unbelievable.”

The Bishy Road Street Party will take place on Sunday, June 21, from 11am to 4pm and is expected to attract up to 8,000 visitors.

Celebrating community spirit and independent shops on Bishopthorpe Road, the event will include live music, family activities and food.

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Todd LePage of the Bishopthorpe Road Traders Association said: “One of the things that makes Bishy Road special is the strength of the community behind it.

“The Street Party is a chance to celebrate not only our fantastic independent businesses, but also the charities, community groups, volunteers and residents who help make the area such a vibrant and welcoming place.”

Bishopthorpe Road will be closed to traffic between Nunnery Lane and Scarcroft Road for the duration of the event.

The event is organised by the Bishopthorpe Road Traders Association and is supported through the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund. (Image: Kevin Glenton)

The main stage, located in the shoppers’ car park, will feature six performances throughout the day, including headline sets from the Yorky Pud Street Band and The Unnamed Band.

Entertainment will also include five dedicated children’s performances and interactive sessions, with appearances from Professor Dan, Josh Benson and more.

Food and drink will be available from Bishopthorpe Road traders, alongside additional street vendors and community stalls.

Charities, artists, makers and community groups will take part, offering games, activities and information.

A dedicated children’s zone will be set up on Ebor Street, and entertainment will be spread across the entire event space.

The street party is organised by the Bishopthorpe Road Traders Association and supported by the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority through the Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund.

Todd LePage said: “We’ve been delighted by the support we’ve received from volunteers, local businesses, performers and partners across the city.

“Events like this simply wouldn’t happen without the huge amount of goodwill and effort that people are prepared to contribute.

“We’re hoping for a great turnout and, fingers crossed, a little bit of sunshine.”

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “High streets are constantly changing, but they have, and always will be, hubs for our communities.

“Like the Bishy Road Street Party, which will bring thousands to this special part of York for a celebration like no other while supporting independent businesses, charities and community groups.”

The event is free to attend and no booking is required.

Canada’s 6-0 World Cup 2026 victory over Qatar was marred by a serious injury to midfielder Ismael Kone, sparking an emotional confrontation between players and coaching staff from both sides

Players and coaching staff from both Canada and Qatar clashed after Canadian midfielder Ismael Kone sustained a sickening injury.

Fifty minutes into their 2026 World Cup Group B encounter, which Canada ultimately won 6-0, Assim Madibo lunged in from behind on Kone, leaving the Canadian star writhing in agony on the pitch with an horrific broken leg that left players close to him distraught and the game halted for some time.

Madibo was immediately spotted burying his head in his hands as a number of Canadian players surrounded the distraught Qatari while medical staff rushed to treat Kone. Tensions rapidly boiled over as players from both sides allowed their emotions to get the better of them, with several of Kone’s teammates visibly distressed by the harrowing scenes unfolding in front of them.

Jonathan David, who bagged a hat-trick in the match, was seen in tears, as was manager Jesse Marsch shortly afterwards.

As the confrontation between players and coaches intensified, a member of the Canadian backroom staff was heard telling a referee: “His leg’s hanging off. It’s a f***ing broken leg over there.”

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Canadian manager Marsch was visibly distraught, reportedly making his way towards the Qatari dugout to confront their coaching staff. Madibo was shown a straight red card as the altercations on the pitch continued, leaving Qatar reduced to just nine men for the remainder of the match, reports the Mirror.

After medical staff stabilised Kone’s left leg, he was carefully lifted onto a stretcher and taken away from Vancouver Stadium. In a poignant moment, the crowd rose to their feet to give the stricken player a standing ovation, to which he responded with a defiant thumbs-up.

Approximately 14 minutes later, Nathan Saliba scored from a free kick, with the ball clipping the post before sneaking past Mahmud Abunada’s arm and into the net. As he wheeled away in celebration, Saliba formed an “8” with his two hands, Kone’s number.

He then raced to the touchline, grabbed Kone’s jersey and held it aloft to the supporters, drawing a thunderous reception as both fans and players continued to wear their hearts on their sleeves. Canada extended their advantage in the 75th minute when Mohammaed Manai turned the ball into his own net to make it 5-0.

The final whistle brought the players together once more in a heated confrontation. Canada manager Marsch also appeared to become embroiled in a fiery exchange with his Qatar counterpart, Julen Lopetegui..

“Ismael is such a great kid, he’s imperfect but that is why we love him,” said Canada head coach Marsch after the game. “He can do things that no other player can do. He embodies a lot of what this team is. He was our best player against Bosnia. He is a huge loss for us. Our hearts are with him, but that kid has a huge future.”

We may be mid-World Cup but Premier League excitement can begin with the fixtures being released on Friday morning.

The 2026/27 season is set to start on Saturday August 22. That is a week later than the previous campaign as domestic bosses look to ensure maximum player recovery following the World Cup in North America. The upcoming season will consist of 33 weekends and five midweek rounds. We will also see the return of Boxing Day football with December 26 falling on a Saturday this year.

The Premier League has stated that over the Christmas and New Year period, no two match rounds will take place within 60 hours “to address the congested Christmas and New Year schedule within the expanded international calendar”.

Arsenal will go into the season as defending champions for the first time since 2004/05 – that year they finished second. This will also be the first season in a decade where Manchester City are not led out by Pep Guardiola.

Elsewhere there’s plenty of intrigue around Liverpool and Chelsea, who both begin the campaign with new managers. Manchester United will also hope to continue with the momentum they built under Michael Carrick.

Mirror Football will bring you everything from fixture release day.