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We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
Rhapsody Of Realities 15 June 2026 By Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (Christ Embassy): The Flesh Has Been Crucified
TOPIC: The Flesh Has Been Crucified (Rhapsody of Realities 15 June 2026)
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts (Galatians 5:24).
Rhapsody Of Realities For Today’s MESSAGE:
There exists a common misconception among many that the flesh must continually be “crucified” or subdued through repeated struggle and effort. But the Scripture presents a different reality: the Christian has already crucified the flesh.
The Complete Jewish Bible renders our opening scripture beautifully; it says, “Moreover, those who belong to the Messiah Yeshua have put their old nature to death on the stake, along with its passions and desires.” This is not a process but an accomplished reality: your old nature is dead: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The reason many still struggle with the flesh is simple: they attempt to achieve what has already been accomplished, applying effort where understanding is required. The more they strive, the more they become subject to the very thing they’re trying to overcome. That’s not how it works. Live in the Word. Accept what the Word says about you.
Even the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-21 are not attributed to demons but to the flesh itself, indicating that the issue is not external but internal. Understand that this doesn’t place the Christian in a position of disadvantage, because the solution is not found in suppression but in substitution: “…walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
The emphasis is not on eliminating the works of the flesh but on living in the Spirit and by the Spirit, walking in the light and reality of God’s Word. As you walk in the Spirit, the life of the Spirit is manifested in you and through you, and the influence of the flesh is displaced. It helps to understand why the Bible says “…Sin shall not have dominion over you…” (Romans 6:14).
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for the substitutionary work of Christ that has translated me from death to life, sin to righteousness, and from darkness to light. I walk in the Spirit and live in the reality of my new nature, manifesting the life of righteousness and dominion, today and always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Galatians 5:16, 24 (NIV) So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Romans 8:12-13 (KJV) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. [13] For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN Acts 5:12-42 & 2 Chronicles 23-25
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 & Isaiah 1
DIVINE HEALTH CONFESSIONS – 15TH JUNE 2026
I am a new creation with the very life of God surging through my being. I never get weak or sick. I prosper in life and health, even as my soul prospers. I live unto righteousness, for I am dead to sin and its wages. I live a transcendent life in Christ.
Keep saying it, don’t stop talking it! Remember, you can make your way prosperous with words. Get talking today!
Remember to share with all your friends and loved ones today. Thank you and God bless you richly.
Rhapsody of Realities 2026 Devotional was written by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.
REMINDER!!! JESUS IS COMING SOON
ARE YOU BORN AGAIN? IF NO, WHY NOT ACCEPT JESUS NOW!
Accept Jesus Christ today and secure a life of eternal rest and Glory by saying this short prayer below:
Lord Jesus, I believe you died for my sins, Forgive me of all my iniquities. I accept you as my Lord and Saviour from today and forever.
Come and Be the Lord of my life and I am willing to obey Your command and live according to Your will by Your Grace, Thank you for accepting me into Your fold
AMEN!!! John 6:37…and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
ISLAMABAD — The United States and Iran have crafted a preliminary accord aimed at reopening the crucial Strait of Hormuz and extending a fragile truce in the ongoing conflict involving Iran. This development could pave the way for much-needed oil and natural gas to re-enter the global markets.
While specifics of the agreement remain under wraps, Iran has indicated that implementation will only proceed post-signing, scheduled to occur on Friday in Switzerland, according to key mediator Pakistan.
The understanding, however, is already encountering significant hurdles. Ongoing hostilities between Israel and the Iranian-supported Hezbollah in Lebanon—highlighted by Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday—almost scuttled the talks.
The agreement also sets a 60-day timeline to address Iran’s accumulation of highly enriched uranium and its nuclear ambitions, an issue that consumed years of negotiation leading to the 2015 nuclear agreement with global powers. Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from that accord during his first term escalated tensions that eventually led to the current conflict.
In celebration of the agreement and his 80th birthday, Trump took to social media to express his elation, marking the day with a UFC event at the White House.
He added, “I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade,” which was imposed in retaliation for Iran’s grip on the crucial waterway.
He soon hedged, however, saying the strait wouldn’t open until Friday’s signing.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, confirmed the agreement on state television but said Iran would not start implementing it until it was signed Friday. He said the deal followed talks with Qatar, another mediator.
Israel, which has insisted it be allowed a freehand to pursue Hezbollah as it occupies southern Lebanon and has extended its military operations into areas its forces haven’t been in a quarter century, did not immediately comment. Israel joined the U.S. in launching the war on Feb. 28.
Benchmark Brent crude oil fell more than $3 a barrel on the news as Asian stock markets rallied.
Pakistan, a key mediator, announces deal
Pakistan first announced the deal, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying “both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.” He added that mediators this week will facilitate meetings to “lay the foundation for the technical talks.”
Broader negotiations on outstanding issues like Iran’s nuclear program would continue over the next 60 days, two senior Pakistani officials said earlier Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. If the sides fail to reach a resolution within that time, the timeline could be extended.
Iranian state television cited the secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council saying the war on all fronts “will end immediately and permanently beginning tonight” – but that the U.S. blockade “will be terminated immediately and in full.”
Qatari mediators later left Tehran following 17 hours of negotiations, said an official briefed on the developments who spoke on condition of anonymity due to sensitivity of the talks. Separate preparatory meetings with each side will take place in Doha this week, the official said.
It was not clear who from Iran would sign the deal on Friday. U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News the White House was still figuring out who would attend: “I certainly plan to be there, but it’s possible the president himself could be there.”
But concern among Republicans in the U.S. already could be seen. They included U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who described Vance as “the architect of the deal.”
“I am somewhat concerned that Iran’s view of the agreement seems different than what the American negotiating team is claiming,” Graham wrote online.
Interim deal faces intense scrutiny
The first strike of the war killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Khamenei’s son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, is now supreme leader. He has not been seen in the public since the war began, but his approval was needed for Iran to sign off on the deal.
There was apparent friction inside Iran in the hours before the announcement, as the government warned that division at home over the deal weakened its negotiating position.
The deal likely returns the region to a status that existed before the war, but with thousands of people dead and Iran wielding a new source of negotiating pressure with its ability to influence shipping in the strait. The waterway is crucial to significant shipments of oil, natural gas and related products like fertilizer, and its effective closure rocked the global economy.
Even with a deal, it will take months for oil and gas supplies to flow freely enough for the world’s needs to be met because shipping and insurance companies want to be confident the agreement will last, energy experts said.
Tehran also still has a ballistic missile arsenal and enough highly enriched uranium to build several nuclear weapons, should it choose to pursue them.
Iran has long maintained its nuclear program is peaceful and has not publicly committed to giving up the enriched uranium, which is believed to be buried under three nuclear sites that were badly damaged by U.S. strikes last year.
The U.S. has sought the removal of the enriched uranium from Iran as part of a deal. Russia has offered to take it. But Iran insists it wants to keep the uranium.
Frankel reported from Jerusalem, Sewell from Beirut and Weissert from Washington. Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, Cathy Bussewitz in New York and Cara Anna in Lowville, New York, contributed.
When Amandeep Singh Bhullar made his way to Adelaide in 2017 on a skilled work regional visa, he brought with him an understanding that many Australians are only now beginning to appreciate: the significance of a trade career.
Hailing from Bathinda in northern India, Bhullar arrived with a background as an electrician and a strong belief that skilled, hands-on professions can provide both stability and lucrative earnings.
Almost a decade since his arrival, Bhullar, who now owns an electrical and solar business, finds his initial convictions affirmed by his experiences over the years.
The 45-year-old assesses that seasoned electricians handling premium residential projects can make up to $200,000 annually, with even higher earnings potential in commercial and specialized contracting fields.
His own enterprise, specializing in solar system installations throughout South Australia, brings in a monthly revenue of approximately $40,000 to $50,000. However, Bhullar is quick to point out that these figures represent income before accounting for equipment costs, employee wages, and other operating expenditures, including taxes.
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What is beyond dispute, however, is the demand for these types of jobs.
“The work is there,” Bhullar tells SBS News.
And increasingly, so is the money.
Bhullar’s story reflects a broader shift across Australia’s economy, where demand for skilled workers, heightened during the mining boom, has been further boosted by housing, infrastructure, and energy transition projects.
In the labour market, the value of practical expertise has clearly been rising.
Amandeep Singh Bhullar says experienced sparkies working in the commercial sector can earn around $200,000 a year or more. Source: Supplied
At the same time, parts of the white-collar labour market have shown signs of cooling, with reports of slower hiring in certain professional services and more competition for entry-level graduate roles.
Wage growth in parts of that sector has also softened compared with the rapid increases seen during the post-pandemic period.
Senior professionals in fields such as medicine, law and specialist technical roles continue to sit at the top of the income distribution, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
However, the gap between vocational and university-linked careers is narrowing in some areas, spurring renewed attention on how various types of skills are valued in the labour market.
The implications stretch beyond individual pay packages. As Australia seeks to deliver more housing, expand renewable energy infrastructure and address persistent skills shortages, there has been a gradual reordering of the nation’s education and earnings hierarchy.
This shift is reshaping career choices, influencing government policy, and raising a broader question: which skills will be most valuable in Australia’s future economy?
Shift showing in training pipelines
The shift in labour demand is starting to show up in Australia’s training system, with the government trying to rebuild the pipeline of skilled workers needed to meet housing and infrastructure targets.
According to new government figures, more than 25,000 Australians have commenced apprenticeships over the past 10 months through the Key Apprenticeship Program, with construction and trade-related occupations accounting for a significant share of new enrolments.
Between July 2025 and April 2026, there were a total of 9,384 apprenticeship commencements in carpentry, representing more than a third of commencements under the program. Other occupations included plumbing (5,330 commencements) and electrical (4,832 commencements).
The uptake follows a broader rebound in trade training, with apprenticeship commencements in priority occupations rising almost 18 per cent in the September 2025 quarter compared with a year earlier, according to data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research.
However, it comes against a backdrop of persistent structural shortages identified by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), a government-funded body that provides research and advice about vocational education and training, among other issues.
The JSA’s data shows that there have been national shortages of all 18 construction and trades occupations at some point between 2021 and 2025, including core housing-linked roles such as electricians, plumbers, carpenters, bricklayers and roof tilers.
Housing Minister Clare O’Neil has pointed to expanding vocational training as central to delivering the government’s housing agenda.
“If we’re going to build more homes, we’re going to need more tradies, and that’s exactly what this program is doing with a $10,000 incentive payment for tradies getting on the tools,” she said in a media release last week.
The government’s policies and data suggest a broader change in priorities, with vocational education becoming a key component of Australia’s economic strategy rather than an alternative education pathway.
The labour shortages driving wages higher
While shortages across Australia’s entire jobs market have been easing since the post-pandemic labour crunch, the need for tradespeople remains notably high.
The latest data from JSA shows that there were national shortages in 29 per cent of occupations in 2025 — a slight improvement compared with 33 per cent in 2024 and a peak of 36 per cent in 2023.
However, in construction, nearly half of the trade occupations were assessed as being in shortage — particularly those that require years of vocational training and apprenticeship completion.
JSA’s 2025 Occupation Shortage analysis shows Skill Level 3 occupations — a category that includes many trades and technicians — continue to record some of the lowest vacancy fill rates in the economy.
Source: SBS News
That shortage is worsening as demand for workers outpaces supply.
Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles says progress is being made, but significant gaps remain.
“We’re making progress, but there’s still significant gaps in our labour market, particularly when it comes to some of the skilled trades,” he tells SBS News.
Giles says meeting the government’s housing ambitions will require a substantial increase in the construction workforce, which is why policymakers have focused on apprenticeships, fee-free TAFE places, advanced trade training and faster recognition of migrant skills.
“We recognise this is a challenge and the challenge to which there isn’t a single silver bullet. It’s about a really concerted effort that’s got a huge role for [the] government,” he says.
Why the wage gap is narrowing
The idea that a university degree will always lead to higher earnings is becoming harder to sustain.
“For a long time, many Australians saw the skilled trades as plan B,” Giles says.
He argues that perception is out of step with the realities of Australia’s labour market.
“What I’d really like to say is to no longer see a hierarchy between those two pathways, university or vocational,” he says.
They’re equal pathways; we need to treat them as equal pathways
The latest ABS Average Weekly Earnings data still shows many white-collar industries ahead on headline pay. Workers in professional, scientific and technical services earn an average of around $2,376 per week, while those in financial and insurance services average about $2,339. Construction workers average approximately $1,958 per week.
Source: SBS News
On paper, that still places many white-collar jobs ahead, but averages can obscure what is happening within industries.
Professional services include everyone from senior lawyers, consultants and executives to recent graduates at the beginning of their careers.
Construction includes apprentices and entry-level workers alongside experienced tradespeople, subcontractors and business owners whose earnings can be substantially higher.
The more important shift is not between industries, but between skills.
Where a certain capability is scarce, the wages for those who have that skill tend to rise — regardless of whether the job requires a university degree or a TAFE course.
Even at a broader level, wage growth across the economy has been relatively tightly clustered.
Shane Garrett, chief economist at Master Builders Australia, the peak body for the building and construction industry, notes there is little evidence of major divergence in wage growth across industries.
“Across the economy, hourly wages rose by 3.3 per cent over the year to March 2026,” he tells SBS News.
Garrett says that pattern holds across sectors, with wage growth ranging from about 2.8 per cent to 4.3 per cent across 18 industry groups. Over the longer term, he says, the picture is similarly consistent.
But similar wage growth across industries does not mean workers are earning the same. It reflects broad industry trends rather than differences within occupations.
“People can see the fantastic wage outcomes in skilled trades, and that’s driving a really keen level of interest in these pathways now,” Giles says.
Those outcomes are reinforcing a broader shift in how education and income are understood.
JSA data shows that a growing number of vocational qualifications in engineering, mining and technical trades are delivering median incomes well into six figures, placing them alongside — and in some cases above — many traditional graduate career pathways.
Source: SBS News
That does not mean the premium of a university education has disappeared. University qualifications continue to dominate many of the highest-paying professions, particularly in medicine, law and senior corporate roles.
A 2025 report by JSA estimated that more than 90 per cent of employment growth over the next decade will be in occupations requiring post-secondary qualifications. Of that projected growth, 54.3 per cent is expected to be in roles requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher, and 40.1 per cent in roles where vocational education and training is the main pathway.
Why AI is changing the calculation for jobs and trades
Another force reshaping the labour market is artificial intelligence (AI).
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s work on AI and employment suggests the biggest impact is likely to be on specific tasks within jobs, rather than whole occupations — particularly roles that rely on routine administrative, analytical or content-based work.
Likewise, the JSA Generative AI Capacity Study suggests that an occupation’s exposure to replacement by AI is uneven across the Australian workforce and depends on the type of tasks performed in that line of work.
Taken together, the evidence suggests AI is reshaping work more than it is replacing it — but the impact is not evenly distributed.
Many professional roles rely heavily on repeatable cognitive tasks, which are among the most exposed to automation and AI-assisted tools.
By contrast, trades depend on physical work, on-site problem-solving, and adapting to unpredictable environments — conditions that are harder to replicate digitally.
Electricians wiring systems, plumbers finding faults in older buildings, and construction managers coordinating live sites operate in environments where tools may change and evolve, but the underlying work remains grounded in physical execution.
Bhullar puts it simply: “AI has brought in new technology in our field, but it cannot replace us. Someone still has to install it, maintain it and fix it.”
Migration and the shortage economy
With AI and the existing domestic labour force unlikely to address current shortages, economists say skilled migration will continue to play a central role, particularly in construction and the trades, where training channels alone are not fast enough to meet demand.
Garrett says the current system is not fully aligned with the needs of the construction sector.
It is fragmented, costly and suffers from slow skills recognition.
He says trades remain significantly under-represented in the migration intake, and that Australia is failing to make full use of skilled migrants already living in the country.
The challenge, he argues, is structural rather than cyclical.
“Domestic uplift is necessary but cannot fill the acute and severe worker shortage alone. Skilled migration is essential to any immigration policy,” he says.
Giles says the government is already moving in that direction, with a stronger focus on construction-linked migration pathways.
“We are seeing record numbers of visas issued to people with construction-related skills,” he says.
Amandeep Singh Bhullar migrated to Australia from India in 2017 on a skilled regional visa. Source: Supplied
However, residential construction, infrastructure and energy projects are competing for the same limited workforce.
For workers like Bhullar, who arrived in Australia on the promise of that demand, ongoing shortages have translated into higher wages. But the widening gap between the skills the economy needs and the workers it can produce is also driving up costs, leaving employers to chase the very skills Australia is still struggling to produce.
SAN ANTONIO — In the last two seasons, no player on the Knicks has drawn more attention and debate than Mikal Bridges.
Bridges found himself under scrutiny, not only for his fluctuating performances but because his presence came at the cost of five first-round draft picks. These picks, many speculated, might have been the key to acquiring a superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo.
However, in the early hours of Sunday, Bridges celebrated as an NBA champion, donning a hat and shirt commemorating the victory. He sipped champagne, tears of joy in his eyes, as he played a crucial role in ending the Knicks’ 53-year championship drought, solidifying the trade as one of New York’s most significant in history.
“You’re talking about those picks?” Bridges retorted when questioned about the criticism he faced. “Forget them … I’m still here.”
Leon Rose’s decision to trade for Bridges meant forgoing other potential talents that those picks might have brought in. Yet, it seems unlikely they could have found a player better suited to this team’s needs.
The chemistry was precise, reuniting Bridges — a two-time national champion at Villanova — with college teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, while bringing in a two-way talent who would sacrifice shots to contribute to a contender.
Mikal Bridges #25, getting a hug after the Knicks defeated the Spurs to win the NBA Championship. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Less than eight weeks ago, Bridges was set to be a scapegoat, following a scoreless effort against the Hawks in which he was benched and the Knicks moved two losses from a first-round exit. But Bridges won the fanbase back, becoming unrecognizably aggressive on both ends of the floor while shooting the lights out and shutting down a series of All-Star guards during their 13-game winning streak.
“The times I’ve been struggling, the fans were on me — the thing is about me, I want to always be better,” Bridges said. “So whatever, how they feel, I always want to be better. They keep pushing me and if they strongly believe that we have a chance every year and if they strongly believe I have a chance to be better, I’m already thinking about that.
“I appreciate the tough love. I know some fans might be a little bit crazier than others, but the ones that truly care, and want me to be better, don’t stop now. Just keep pushing me.
New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges reacts after hitting a three-point shot in the first half at Frost Bank Center. Jason Szenes for The New York Post
“I know sometimes I’ll struggle, this and that, but just know I’m going to keep working. If they keep egging me on and talking a little s–t, I’m pretty tough, I’ll be all right.”
In Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Bridges carried the offense when Brunson struggled, recording 20 points, six rebounds and six assists in the road win. In the championship clincher, Bridges was the second-leading scorer (14 points on 5-for-10 shooting), adding four assists and a late-game block.
The verdict is in.
“F–k them picks,” teammate Ariel Hukporti said. “F–k ’em. Look what we got … We got him out of Brooklyn. Look at him now, you’re a champion.
Kash Doll and Tracy T celebrated a significant milestone this past weekend as their daughter, Klarity, turned two years old.
The former partners hosted an entertaining Baby Shark-themed birthday party to mark Klarity’s special day. Both Kash Doll and Tracy T took to Instagram to share heartwarming moments from the event, showcasing their little one enjoying the festivities alongside her older brother, Kashton. Klarity stole the spotlight, dressed adorably in a full Louis Vuitton ensemble.
“Happy birthday mommy baby doll,” Kash captioned the photos. “You turned 2! Mommy Klarity, I see everything so clear now, mama.”
In a touching tribute, Kash Doll posted a reel capturing the moment she brought Klarity home from the hospital. Reminiscing about that transformative experience, the rapper expressed her joy and excitement about embarking on life with her beloved daughter.
In a longer tribute, Kash shared a video reel of her carrying her daughter home from the hospital. Reflecting on that special time, the rapper recalled how excited she was to begin life with her baby girl.
“I was just so ready to get home and play with my baby doll we had so much stuff to try on and hairstyles to do! I left walking out i was suppose to b in a wheel chair lol,” she said.
“Klarity girl mommy knew your name before you was even a thought!” Kash continued. “I was waiting for u and lord i knew you’ll b pretty but baby you’re the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. Let’s celebrate the day u change all of our lives!”
Kash Doll ended the message by wishing a happy birthday to her “personal baby doll,” joking that Klarity gave her “stress marks and weighed 8lbs 4 ounces.”
Klarity’s father, Tracy T, also marked the occasion with a playful message of his own.
“My baby turned 21, I ment 2 yrs….. Happy Birthday Klarity…. She clockin what she clockin,” he joked.
Kash Doll and Tracy T welcomed Klarity in June 2024. She is the couple’s second child together, joining big brother Kashton, who was born in January 2022. Tracy T is also the father of an older daughter from a previous relationship.
ISLAMABAD (AP) — In a significant development, the United States and Iran have come to a tentative agreement early Monday aiming to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz. This move, coupled with an extension of the fragile ceasefire in the ongoing Iran conflict, could potentially pave the way for much-needed oil and natural gas supplies to flow back into the global marketplace.
Specifics of the accord remain under wraps, with Iran indicating that implementation hinges on a formal signing. Pakistan, playing a pivotal mediator role, announced that the signing is scheduled for Friday in Switzerland. This agreement holds promise for ending a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives throughout the Middle East, including the loss of Iran’s top theocratic leaders, and has triggered an unprecedented energy crisis.
However, the memorandum of understanding encounters significant hurdles. Ongoing hostilities between Israel and the Iranian-supported Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, exemplified by Israel’s bombing of Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday, nearly disrupted the negotiation process.
The agreement allows a narrow window of 60 days to address the issue of Iran’s stash of highly enriched uranium and its nuclear ambitions—a matter that took years to negotiate in the 2015 nuclear agreement with global powers. Tensions escalated after U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew unilaterally from that accord during his first term, setting the stage for the ensuing conflict.
In celebration, Trump took to social media, expressing his joy with a “Congratulations to all!” message, coinciding with his 80th birthday festivities, which included a UFC cage match at the White House.
He added, “I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade,” which was imposed in retaliation for Iran’s grip on the crucial waterway.
He soon hedged, however, saying the strait wouldn’t open until Friday’s signing.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, confirmed the agreement on state television but said Iran would not start implementing it until it was signed Friday. He said the deal followed talks with Qatar, another mediator.
Israel, which has insisted it be allowed a freehand to pursue Hezbollah as it occupies southern Lebanon and has extended its military operations into areas its forces haven’t been in a quarter century, did not immediately comment. Israel joined the U.S. in launching the war on Feb. 28.
Benchmark Brent crude oil fell more than $4 a barrel on the news as Asian stock markets rallied.
Pakistan, a key mediator, announces deal
Pakistan first announced the deal, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying “both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.” It remains unclear whether Israel, which relies on the U.S. but has launched in wars against its enemies since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, agreed to that term.
He added that mediators this week will facilitate meetings to “lay the foundation for the technical talks.”
Broader negotiations on outstanding issues like Iran’s nuclear program would continue over the next 60 days, two senior Pakistani officials said earlier Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. If the sides fail to reach a resolution within that time, the timeline could be extended.
Iranian state television cited the secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council saying the war on all fronts “will end immediately and permanently beginning tonight” — but that the U.S. blockade “will be terminated immediately and in full.”
Qatari mediators later left Tehran following 17 hours of negotiations, said an official briefed on the developments who spoke on condition of anonymity due to sensitivity of the talks. Separate preparatory meetings with each side will take place in Doha this week, the official said.
It was not clear who from Iran would sign the deal on Friday. U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News the White House was still figuring out who would attend: “I certainly plan to be there, but it’s possible the president himself could be there.”
But concern among Republicans in the U.S. already could be seen. They included U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who described Vance as “the architect of the deal.”
“I am somewhat concerned that Iran’s view of the agreement seems different than what the American negotiating team is claiming,” Graham wrote online.
U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Congress would exercise oversight on any accord with Iran.
“We have seen time and again: War cannot change the Iranian regime,” he said.
Interim deal faces intense scrutiny
The first strike of the war killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Khamenei’s son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, is now supreme leader. He has not been seen in the public since the war began, but his approval was needed for Iran to sign off on the deal.
There was apparent friction inside Iran in the hours before the announcement, as the government warned that division at home over the deal weakened its negotiating position.
The deal likely returns the region to a status that existed before the war, but with Iran having proven its ability to disrupt shipping in the strait. The waterway is crucial to significant shipments of oil, natural gas and related products like fertilizer, and its effective closure rocked the global economy.
Even with a deal, it will take months for oil and gas supplies to flow freely enough for the world’s needs to be met because shipping and insurance companies want to be confident the agreement will last, energy experts said.
Tehran also still has a ballistic missile arsenal and enough highly enriched uranium to build several nuclear weapons, should it choose to pursue them.
Iran has long maintained its nuclear program is peaceful and has not publicly committed to giving up the enriched uranium, which is believed to be buried under three nuclear sites that were badly damaged by U.S. strikes last year.
The U.S. has sought the removal of the enriched uranium from Iran as part of a deal. Russia has offered to take it. But Iran insists it wants to keep the uranium.
___
Frankel reported from Jerusalem, Sewell from Beirut and Weissert from Washington. Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, Cathy Bussewitz in New York and Cara Anna in Lowville, New York, contributed to this report.
In his quest to root out corruption, he paid the ultimate price—his life.
Merely three days before Derwin Brown was set to assume his role as the newly elected Sheriff of DeKalb County, tragedy struck. The 46-year-old was brutally shot down in the driveway of his Georgia home. In the aftermath, the roses he’d purchased for his wife’s birthday lay scattered across the ground, a poignant symbol of the life abruptly cut short.
The shocking murder sent shockwaves through the law enforcement community, especially when the sinister plot to kill Brown was traced back to someone within their ranks.
Brown dedicated his life to both his family and the pursuit of justice, embarking on his career as a fresh-faced rookie in the police department.
“There were many in the DeKalb County Police Department who knew Derwin well,” reflected J. Tom Morgan, the DeKalb County District Attorney, during an episode of Oxygen’s The Killer Among Us. “He was a friend to many, and they had worked with him at various levels. He was universally respected for his straightforwardness and integrity.”
“Those in the DeKalb County Police Department that viewed Derwin, many of them were friends with Derwin,” DeKalb County District attorney J. Tom Morgan said in Oxygen’s The Killer Among Us. “They had worked with him, under him and above him. All respected him, appreciated his candor and his honesty.”
Brown surprised everyone by winning the race for sheriff, beating out favorite and current Sheriff Sidney Dorsey, by campaigning to clean up corruption in office.
“He actually pulled off the unthinkable, something that everybody thought that he could not do,” his daughter Brandy Brown-Rhodes recalled. “He did it. He won.”
What Happened to Derwin Brown?
Brown spent the evening of Dec. 15, 2000 celebrating the victory at a party with friends and coworkers.
His wife Phyllis left the party early in an effort to surprise her husband with a new uniform that she had custom made for him.
The veteran law enforcement officer wanted to surprise her too and stopped to get a bouquet of roses for her birthday.
But as Brown was getting out of his vehicle in the rain, he was shot to death outside his home.
“Phyllis is inside the house and she realizes that she is listening to gunfire,” Morgan explained. “She thought the gunfire was next door. She called 911, she ran to the door, she saw Derwin’s body, sitting still. She immediately tells the 911 operator, ‘Capt. Brown has been shot. Please send an ambulance.’”
Emergency responders rushed to the scene and transported Brown to the hospital, where he died.
“It was crazy after that,” Brown-Rhodes remembered. “It was people throwing up, my brother was punching the wall, it was just screaming. It was just like chaos.”
Derwin Brown’s Body Was “Riddled With Bullet Holes”
From the start, authorities faced a significant challenge.
“Heavy rain is not ideal for a crime scene because it tends to wash things away and move things around,” DeKalb County DA’s office investigator Chris Harvey remarked. “So there’s not much of a chance for a lot of fingerprints.”
Investigators found between 13 and 15 shell casings from a 9 mm scattering the ground.
“Derwin’s body was riddled with bullet holes. So my first conclusion is there had to be multiple shooters,” Morgan said. “We quickly determined it was an assassination by people who wanted Derwin Brown dead, but what we did not know is why.”
The special task force created to solve the murder was also struck by the timing of the killing. After all, Brown was slated to take office just three days later.
As Task Force Commander Rodney Maddox of the DeKalb County Police remarked, “Somebody’s who assassinated in their driveway three days before they are sworn into a new office in a new career, doesn’t sound like a coincidence.”
Sheriff Sidney Dorsey Emerges As Possible Suspect
After ballistics tests were run a few days later, investigators were surprised to learn that all 12 bullet wounds had been caused by the same 9 mm TEC-9, making it possible there had only been one shooter.
As the task force delved into Brown’s cases to see whether he may have angered the wrong person, they were also struck by the notion that Dorsey himself could have stood to benefit from Brown’s death.
“It was kind of inconceivable to think that the sheriff would have been behind this, and I remember at our first meeting Rodney Maddox said, you know, ’We’ve got to pursue that,’” Harvey recalled, “But I think there was some hesitation to really go after that, because it seemed so ludicrous.”
Morgan added, “This is a fellow officer in blue. We don’t kill people.”
Yet, just days before the upset election, an investigative report came out accusing Dorsey of using the political office to line his own pockets. The sheriff was also accused of misogyny, womanizing and trading sex for promotions, ultimately turning the tide in the election in Brown’s favor.
Derwin Brown Planned to Fire Dozens of Sheriff’s Office Employees
Investigators spoke to Dorsey, but he had an airtight alibi: He was with his wife at a public function in Atlanta around the time of the murder.
“You’re dealing with people that have skills that know how not to get caught,” investigator reporter Dale Cardwell said, “and so it makes it a lot more difficult to get to the bottom of it.”
Detectives learned that when Brown took office, he planned to fire 38 people on his first day—and had already sent them all termination letters.
One of the employees was Patrick Cuffy, a full deputy that served as Dorsey’s go-to enforcer. Cuffy was the second-highest paid employee at the sheriff’s office after logging a suspicious amount of overtime.
On the night of the shooting, Cuffy claimed that he’d been with three buddies—and they all backed up his account.
Then on March 18, 2001, there was a shootout in front of Cuffy’s house that left drug dealer Jeffery George dead.
Authorities learned that George was killed in a drug deal gone wrong and Cuffy had been the drug dealer. Cuffy was charged with felony murder.
Who Killed Derwin Brown?
After sitting in a jail cell, Cuffy agreed to tell police what happened to Brown in exchange for immunity in the sheriff-elect’s case.
He told investigators that Dorsey called him to his home and asked him to kill Brown. Cuffy allegedly enlisted the help of Melvin Walker, David Ramsey and Paul Skyers—the same three men who had served as his alibi.
All four hoped that if they pulled off the crime they’d be rewarded by Dorsey, earning promotions for Cuffy and Walker and jobs within the sheriff’s office for Ramsey and Skyers.
Though no one volunteered to be the actual triggerman, they drew straws to see who would fire and Walker allegedly drew the short one. While Skyers acted as the getaway driver, Cuffy was the lookout and Ramsey allegedly served as a backup shooter that night.
“They were under orders to kill Darwin and anyone else who was with him at the time,” Morgan said. “They would have killed the family. They would have been just collateral kills.”
After the murders, the men tossed the weapon into a storm drain in a nearby county. It was later recovered by investigators, backing up Cuffy’s account of what happened that night.
What Happened to Sidney Dorsey?
Skyers also agreed to cooperate with authorities and the task force arrested Walker, Ramsey and Dorsey. Walker and Ramsey went on trial first, but Cuffy fell apart on the stand and both men were found not guilty.
“I think the jury came to the conclusion that these two people were being set up,” Cardwell explained, “that other people were truly responsible for Derwin Brown’s murder, and these two were scapegoats.”
Dorsey was next to go on trial. This time, a jury found him guilty of murder and he was sentenced to life in prison.
Walker and Ramsey were also later charged with conspiracy to commit murder in federal court, because they had used their cell phones to coordinate the crime. Both were convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
As part of his plea deal, Cuffy received a one-year sentence.
“My father was a true leader when it came to DeKalb County,” Brown Rhodes said. “His legacy is his family. We make sure that DeKalb County does not forget the impact that my father had.”
The Octagon is poised to steal the spotlight on the South Lawn of the White House, setting the stage for a historic evening as 25 years of grit, allegiance, and shared vision culminate on Sunday night. This event, UFC Freedom 250, boasts seven electrifying fights, including two world title bouts, all happening within shouting distance of the Oval Office. It’s a testament to one of the sports world’s most unexpected and fascinating alliances.
To truly grasp how mixed martial arts came to grace the president’s lawn on his 80th birthday, one must rewind to a different chapter in both Donald Trump and UFC President Dana White’s lives. Back then, neither man held the immense influence they wield today.
It all began quietly in November 2000 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. On that night, 5,000 fans gathered to witness UFC 28, a sport that was controversial enough to be banned in 36 states, dismissed by lawmakers as “human cockfighting,” and rejected by major arenas nationwide.
This event marked the UFC’s first sanctioned event, hosted at the Trump-owned Taj Mahal. Dana White attended not as the UFC’s head honcho but as the manager of fighter John Lewis. This early connection laid the groundwork for a partnership that would eventually lead to the unprecedented spectacle of combat sports on the White House lawn.
UFC 28 was the promotion’s first sanctioned event, held at the Taj Mahal – a hotel and casino owned by Donald Trump. Dana White attended that night not as a UFC official, but as the manager of fighter John Lewis.
He was accompanied by Lorenzo Fertitta and Frank Fertitta III, brothers who were Las Vegas casino owners and trained in jiu-jitsu under Lewis. In the crowd that evening, the three men looked at what was in front of them and saw a promising future.
Dana White and Donald Trump have built an unlikely friendship over nearly three decades
The UFC will host ‘UFC Freedom 250’ on the White House’s South Lawn on Sunday evening
Two months later, Zuffa LLC purchased the UFC for $2 million and named White its president. Almost immediately, he needed somewhere to fight and, after struggling to secure venues, Zuffa reached an agreement with Trump to use the Taj Mahal.
Trump himself has never been modest about what that meant. ‘They couldn’t get a venue because of the danger, you know,’ he once said. ‘People thought it was dangerous… and I gave them venues early on.’
Lavie Margolin, author of Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC’s Road to the White House, has spent years unpicking exactly what happened in those early days – and the myths that have grown around them.
The story White has told, of Trump personally calling to rescue the UFC and striking a deal that saved the promotion, doesn’t quite hold up to scrutiny. The venue was already booked when White took over and the footage from those Atlantic City shows? Trump’s nowhere to be seen.
‘Dana White has said many times that Donald Trump came for the first fight and stayed till the last fight,’ Margolin revealed. ‘But if you watch UFC 28, 30, 31 – you can’t find a picture with him. You don’t see him on screen at all.
‘What I think Dana meant to say was that for UFC 32 at the Continental Airlines Arena, he attended, stayed for every fight and things were off and running from there.’
For the first time, at that June 2001 event at the 20,000-seat Continental Airlines Arena, the broadcast showed Trump cageside. The myth had found its truth.
A real estate mogul who’d made his name hosting WrestleManias and Mike Tyson fights was lending his presence to a sport that still desperately needed it.
Trump played a pivotal role in the UFC’s development during the organization’s early years
‘People thought it was dangerous… and I gave them venues early on,’ Trump once explained
Trump, pictured at a UFC in April, was first pictured cageside at UFC 32 back in June 2001
White later told ESPN: ‘He is one of my very good friends’ – one of just ten people in his innermost circle. But the roots of that friendship, Margolin suggests, run deeper than business.
‘Dana White’s mother wrote a book on Amazon,’ Margolin told me. ‘The whole book is basically saying what a terrible person her son is. He comes from trouble.
‘Donald Trump is 23 years older than him. He’s a very strong authority figure. You could clearly draw the parallel. It’s kind of more than a friend, it’s kind of a father figure.’
For years after those Atlantic City shows, the relationship went quiet. But it never went cold. Around 2012 and 2013, as Ronda Rousey was breaking through as a mainstream star, Trump would cut her UFC profiles out of the New York Times.
‘Like an older person tends to do,’ Margolin added, Trump would mail them to White with handwritten congratulations, in a means to keep the friendship going.
Then came the politics. When Trump ran for president in 2016, White was one of the loudest voices in his corner, speaking at the Republican National Convention. That moment, Margolin argues, transformed what had been a sporting relationship into something far larger.
Key to that transformation was a UFC staffer named Stephen Cheung. ‘He came on board around Trump’s first candidacy,’ Margolin explained. ‘He understands how to harness people, how to portray Trump in the right light rather than through mainstream media.’
It was Cheung, Margolin believes, who helped engineer Trump’s appearances at UFC events, his fluency with fighter names and storylines, and ultimately his route to podcasters, the manosphere, and Joe Rogan – whose endorsement of Trump became one of the defining cultural moments of the 2024 election cycle.
When Trump ran for president in 2016, White was one of the loudest voices in his corner
Trump and White pictured back in 2020 ahead of a ‘Keep America Great’ rally in Colorado
Trump has become a regular fixture cageside, pictured here with Kid Rock and Elon Musk
‘When he endorsed him,’ Margolin said of Rogan, ‘that was a really strong thing. And later you’d see the liberal media being very negative on it: “You’re not going to get disaffected young men to go out and vote.” And then they were like, “Who are our influencers going to be? We’re going to have to learn from this.”‘
The UFC’s fanbase – diverse and often oversimplified – had become a genuine political asset. And after January 6, 2021, when corporations and celebrities distanced themselves from Trump en masse, White stood firm.
He didn’t scrub Trump from the promotional material and keep his head down. He walked Trump into arenas. He made him visible at a moment when visibility was a statement.
The fighters on Sunday’s card carry that same loyalty. Justin Gaethje, who faces Ilia Topuria in the main event for the lightweight title, is defiant about where he stands.
‘I can’t explain to people how big of a fan he is of this sport,’ Gaethje told us. ‘He only wants to talk about fighting – and he’s normal! When it comes to fighting, he was pivotal in our start. Nobody would let us fight and he went against the mainstream. I love winners and he’s a f***ing winner.’
Bo Nickal, who fights on the undercard, has a relationship with Trump that goes back further than most on the card. ‘First time meeting Trump was in 2019,’ he said.
‘I won an NCAA championship and we all got invited to the White House. He really gravitated towards the wrestlers, which was so cool. I got to talk with him for a bit and I told him I was going to fight – he actually asked to be my manager.’
The story doesn’t end there. Fast forward to one of Nickal’s early UFC fights. ‘He was in the crowd, I saw him, gave him a nod, won the fight – and then he said, ‘Let’s go golf!’ I’m not much of a golfer so I didn’t know what to expect.
Four of the UFC stars set to fight on the South Lawn visited the Oval Office back in May
Lightweight star Ilia Topuria stands alongside Trump ahead of the inaugural UFC Freedom 250
‘But it was unbelievable. The coolest part is that we were able to just talk and chat very normally. He’s very humble and very real – I appreciate that.’
Derrick Lewis, the heavyweight fan favorite who also features on Sunday’s card, was more blunt about his allegiance. Asked what it’s like to be Trump’s favorite fighter, he barely let the question finish. ‘You mean his favorite pet?’ he said with a laugh.
‘Even before he became president the first time, I was a supporter of him. You know, before everybody got so crazy with the politics. There’s old videos out there with me supporting Trump, writing “vote for Trump.” I just like the guy. His character.’
The event itself has not been without controversy. A federal lawsuit, filed just days before Sunday’s card, called it a ‘volcano of corruption’ – the first private, for-profit sporting event ever held on White House grounds.
A federal judge rejected the motion to block it, noting that the UFC had invested $60 million in the event and that the plaintiffs had waited until two weeks after visible construction began to seek emergency relief.
Whatever its flaws, the sheer fact of UFC Freedom 250 is extraordinary. A sport that was once described in the US Senate as a form of legalized brutality, that couldn’t rent a ballroom in 36 states, that needed the hospitality of a failing Atlantic City casino just to survive – that sport is now fighting on the most famous lawn in the world.
On the president’s birthday. As part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
The UFC hosted their UFC Freedom 250 press conference at the Lincoln Memorial on Friday
Thousands of fans will flock in from across the country to watch the once-in-a-lifetime event
The event will take place on Trump’s 80th birthday and in his own backyard
‘On its face, it’s kind of amazing,’ Margolin reflected. ‘If you look back at the early UFCs and even the darker days once they got kicked off TV, it was so low-rent.
‘Just the terms the media would use to describe them – “low IQ parents,” the lowest of the low. And the fact that we’re here is incredible.’
From the Taj Mahal to the South Lawn. From nobody would let them fight to nobody can stop them. Twenty-five years of Trump, White, and the UFC – and it started with a casino owner who saw something worth backing when everyone else looked away.
Sunday night, he gets to watch it from his own backyard.
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Following a sweltering and humid day across the region, several strong to severe thunderstorms swept through, bringing with them gusty winds and brief but heavy rainfall. As night falls, a few showers and storms may linger; however, most areas will remain warm and muggy, with temperatures hovering in the 70s.
Expect a similar scenario tomorrow, with temperatures rising into the mid-90s. The afternoon heat index is anticipated to soar close to 110 degrees. This intense heat and humidity are likely to trigger scattered showers and thunderstorms, some of which could potentially intensify to severe levels.
As we progress into midweek, a cold front is expected to approach the area, increasing the likelihood of rain on Tuesday and maintaining cloud cover into Wednesday. This will provide a temporary respite from the extreme heat, as temperatures dip back into the upper 80s.
However, this relief will be short-lived. By Thursday, temperatures are forecasted to climb back into the mid-90s, with Friday seeing a slight drop into the lower 90s. Heading into the weekend, another weather system is predicted to move in, elevating rain chances once more and pushing highs into the upper 80s to lower 90s.
Overall, the region remains entrenched in a hot, humid, and storm-filled summer pattern as we move further into June. Daily chances of pop-up storms and persistent humidity are expected to continue for the time being.
In the tropics, we’re watching a broad area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms associated with a trough of low pressure over northeastern Mexico. Development is not expected at this time, and even if anything were to try to organize, the general track would keep it moving toward Texas and Louisiana, well away from our area.
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Cate Cameron/Prime
Amazon Prime Video’s “Every Year After” weaves a narrative that flows seamlessly between two distinct time periods, illustrating how the echoes of past experiences resonate in the present. When Percy Fraser (played by Sadie Soverall) returns to the idyllic lakeside town that shaped her summers, she finds herself confronting her past in a very real way. The people she once knew in Barry’s Bay become integral to her current life, and the memories of yesteryears soon begin to disrupt the tranquility of her everyday existence.
In essence, “Every Year After” is a romantic drama tailor-made for those cozy viewing sessions. The series, adapted from Carley Fortune’s acclaimed New York Times bestseller and BookTok sensation, “Every Summer After,” delves into a romance that seemed written in the stars, now burdened by the passage of a decade and a looming tragedy. This forces Percy and her old flame, Sam Florek (Matt Cornett), to confront their tangled history. The charm of the show heavily relies on the rapport and charisma of its cast, and “Every Year After” excels in this aspect. Some of its stars might even ring a bell to viewers, prompting a sense of familiarity. Here’s where you might have encountered them before.
At the forefront of “Every Year After” is Sadie Soverall, portraying Percy Fraser, a city-dwelling obituary writer who revisits the small town of her childhood summers. If Soverall seems familiar, it’s because she has graced the screen before in several key roles.
Soverall made her screen debut as Eva in the 2019 mystery-drama “Rose Plays Julie,” acting alongside notable names such as Aidan Gillen (“Game of Thrones,” “Peaky Blinders”), Ann Skelly (“The Sandman,” “The Nevers”), and Orla Brady (“Into the Badlands,” “Star Trek: Picard”). Since then, she has carved out a remarkable career with appearances in both television and film. Many viewers may recognize her as Beatrix from Netflix’s throwback series “Fate: The Winx Saga,” or as Jessica in the British Channel 4 mystery thriller “The Gathering.” Her film credits are equally impressive, with roles in the visually stunning “Saltburn,” where she plays Annabel, as well as in the psychological thriller “Little Bone Lodge,” the dystopian horror “Arcadian” starring Nicolas Cage, and the romantic comedy “Finding Emily.”
Sadie Soverall as Percy Fraser
Justine Yeung/Prime Video
Leading the cast of “Every Year After” is Sadie Soverall as Percy Fraser, a big city obit writer who returns to the small town where she used to spend her summers. Soverall’s also one of the faces you’ve most likely seen before.
Soverall’s first screen acting role was Eva in the 2019 mystery-drama “Rose Plays Julie,” opposite Aidan Gillen (“Game of Thrones,” “Peaky Blinders”), Ann Skelly (“The Sandman,” “The Nevers”), and Orla Brady (“Into the Badlands,” “Star Trek: Picard”). Since then, she’s gone on to make a name for herself in several notable TV and film projects. You may know her as Beatrix from Netflix’s predecessor-honoring “Fate: The Winx Saga,” and as Jessica on the British Channel 4 mystery thriller series “The Gathering.” Soverall has also appeared in multiple movies. The most notable of them is the gorgeous, unsubtle “Saltburn,” in which she plays Annabel. She also had roles in the psychological thriller “Little Bone Lodge,” the Nicolas Cage dystopian horror film “Arcadian,” and the romantic comedy “Finding Emily.”
In an interview with Refinery29, Soverall shared her views of what makes “Every Year After” so special. “I think what is so brilliant about this story that really reflects real life,” she said. “There’s so many characters who make mistakes, and I don’t feel like there are villains in the story. I feel like it’s people who have made mistakes are also good people. I think both things can be true at once.”
Matt Cornett as Sam Florek
Cate Cameron/Prime
The main concern in Percy Fraser’s return to Barry’s Bay is her former friend-turned-flame Sam Florek, played on the show by Matt Cornett. Now all grown up, Sam has become a cardiologist, but Percy’s return is a shock to his system — one that brings back all sorts of memories he never quite managed to bury in the first place.
Before “Every Year After,” Cornett appeared in many projects. He’s arguably best known for his role as EJ on Tim Federle’s Disney+ musical comedy-drama “High School Musical: The Musical — The Series,” which is notably full of things only adults notice. He also played Max in the Hulu comedy-drama “Summer of 69.”
In the aforementioned Refinery29 interview with co-star Sadie Soverall, Cornett discussed the challenge of bringing Carley Fortune’s writing to life, and highlighted the project’s comparatively long time span as the thing that sets it apart in the genre. “I think getting to see these characters throughout their life, you see them in their most formative stages of their teenage years, and young adulthood, and going into their mid to late 20s,” he said. “There’s so many formative chapters that you see in their lives that I think sets it apart a little bit, and was so much fun to play for us.”
Michael Bradway as Charlie Florek
Cate Cameron/Prime
A major bump on the road to Percy and Sam’s potential happiness is Sam’s older brother, Charlie Florek. He had an intimate encounter with Percy back in the day and has drifted apart from the Barry’s Bay community in the present. Charlie is also the one who brings Percy back in town, and he soon becomes just as crucial to the plot as either of the two main will-they-or-won’t-they characters.
Charlie’s actor, Michael Bradway, is a comparatively fresh face. He’s appeared in a small handful of projects since his screen acting debut in 2019, but “Every Year After” is only his second major TV role. The first, as every fan of the One Chicago franchise knows, is playing Kelly Severide’s (Taylor Kinney) half-brother Jack Damon on “Chicago Fire.”
A major fan favorite, Charlie was easily among the most important “Every Year After” characters to cast, especially since he’s a main character for the sequel novel “One Golden Summer” and therefore liable to take an even larger role in the show’s potential future. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter,” Bradway showed that he recognized the situation, and expressed his willingness to shoulder the responsibility of portraying a character who’s so important to many fans. “I think it’s so cool to be able to portray this character that is so beloved and is in different rankings of a book boyfriend,” the actor said. “It’s an honor to be Charlie for people.”
Abigail Cowen as Delilah
Justine Yeung/Prime Video
Out of “Every Year After” characters, few get a more drastic makeover than Abigail Cowen’s Delilah, who gets a whole original affair storyline with Charlie Florek. The show also teases Delilah’s LGBTQ+ identity, which Cowen is fully ready to embrace going forward. “I would love to see her be with a woman,” she told Elite Daily. “Who knows?”
Cowen’s experience as an actor reflects the heightened importance of Percy Fraser’s longtime acquaintance Delilah on the show. In fact, she’s actually worked with “Every Year After” co-star Sadie Soverall before, playing main character Bloom Peters opposite Soverall’s Beatrix on “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Cowen’s other well-known roles are also in the fantasy department. You may remember her as Dorcas, a Weird Sister who makes an impact on the timeline of Netflix’s “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.” She also played the minor character Vicki Carmichael on “Stranger Things” Season 2.
Her notable movie roles have also had a supernatural flavor to them. In 2021, she starred in Ellie Callahan’s witch fantasy thriller “Witch Hunt” opposite Gideon Adlon (“Ghosts,” “Euphoria”). In 2025, she played possession victim Emma Schmidt in David Midell’s horror movie “The Ritual” — opposite Al Pacino, Dan Stevens, and “Better Call Saul” star Patrick Fabian, no less.
Aurora Perrineau as Chantal
Cate Cameron/Prime
Aurora Perrineau’s Chantal is another character who gets far more attention on the show than she does in the source material. In fact, “Every Year After” gives her a whole original romantic side quest, complete with Delilah ready to further muddy the waters.
Perrineau is a perfect performer to handle such challenges. One of the more experienced players on the “Every Year After” field, her first screen credit dates back to 2011, and she’s appeared in an impressive number of high-profile shows and films before the Prime Video series. In 2015, she played Shana in Jon M. Chu’s “Jem and the Holograms,” and the next year she had a small role in Morten Tydlum’s sci-fi romance “Passengers” (where Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt broke character in the best way). In 2019, she played Tanya in the acclaimed Netflix miniseries “When They See Us” and started her two-season tenure as Dani Powell on the Fox procedural “Prodigal Son.” Fans of HBO’s “Westworld” also remember her as Season 4 character Frankie “C” Nichols, and Jeff Goldblum aficionados will have noticed her performance as Riddy on Netflix’s Greek pantheon riff “Kaos.”
Joseph Chiu as Jordie
Cate Cameron/Prime
Chantal’s romantic partner Jordie also has a connection to Abigail Cowen’s Deborah. The character is played by Joseph Chiu, who enjoyed the opportunities and challenges that the show’s flashback-heavy nature brought. “I found it really easy to play those scenes where we’re teenagers, because Abby had such great mannerisms,” Chiu told Elite Daily. “She gave me the confidence to really lean into my boyishness as young Jordie.”
Chiu is a recent arrival to the screen acting business. His first acting credit was a 2024 short called “Chemistry,” but since then, he’s already managed to appear in some notable projects. In 2025, he played Spider in the Netflix teen slasher “Fear Street: Prom Queen,” and appeared as the recurring character Mateo on the Prime Video drama “Motorheads.” Before “Every Year After” premiered, 2026 saw him play Weldu on the Paramount+ Star Trek series “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” and Mike on the Peacock comedy-drama “The Miniature Wife.”
Elisha Cuthbert as Sue Florek
Cate Cameron/Prime
Elisha Cuthbert’s Sue Florek is as important as “Every Year After” characters come. In the past timeline, Sue is the widower who does her best to provide the Florek brothers a decent upbringing, and in the present timeline, her death is the catalyst that brings everyone back together. The events of “Every Year After” take place in Canada, and the Canadian Cuthbert was a natural choice for playing the Florek matriarch. “I felt pretty strongly that [Sue] needed to be a Canadian actor, and that’s when Elisha Cuthbert came into the mix,” author Carley Fortune told Deadline. “She’s phenomenal, and [I’ve been] such a fan of hers for almost my entire life.”
Far and away the most experienced of the significant “Every Year After” actors, Cuthbert has been working since the late 1990s. Her first major role was spoiled rich kid Megan on Nickelodeon’s “Are You Afraid of the Dark.” In 2001, she started playing what’s likely her most famous TV role — Kim Bauer in Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran’s Fox action drama “24.” Cuthbert also played Alex Kerkovich on the ABC sitcom “Happy Endings” and Abby Phillips in the Emmy-winning Netflix Western comedy series “The Ranch.” Her notable roles on this front include Carol-Ann in Richard Curtis’ 2003 romantic comedy “Love Actually,” Danielle in the teen sex comedy “The Girl Next Door,” and the main character Carly in Jaume Collet-Serra’s slasher “House of Wax.”
Juliette Hawk as young Percy Fraser
Cate Cameron/Prime
The narrative of “Every Year After” plays a long game, and many of the events in its present timeline have been set up many years earlier. Due to the nature of the show’s storytelling, certain characters are played by two different actors, which allows the show to believably depict them in the two key stages of their lives, set a good decade apart.
The younger version of Percy Fraser is played by Juliette Hawk, who started her screen acting career in 2021 and has appeared in multiple projects every year since her debut. Despite her relative newcomer status, Hawk had already amassed plenty of credits before “Every Year After.” The bulk of her work has been in Lifetime TV movies like 2025’s “Taste of His Own Poison,” but you may also have seen her on the 2024 Hallmark film “Holidazed” and Craig Sweeny’s CBS medical crime drama “Watson.”
Blue Clarke as young Sam
Cate Cameron/Prime
Like the other actors who play the younger versions of “Every Year After” main characters, Blue Clarke is still in the beginning of his career. That’s not to say that he hasn’t already made an impact, of course.
Clarke’s first screen acting credit is from 2020, when he appeared in a short film called “Regret.” Since then, he’s spent time becoming something of an expert in playing younger versions of notable characters in major projects. In 2022, he started his tenure of playing the younger version of a major character when he portrayed Chase Andrews (Harris Dickinson) as a child in Olivia Newman’s “Where the Crawdads Sing” — a film adaptation of Delia Owens’ hit novel of the same name. In the same year, he appeared on the Emmy-winning Apple TV true crime drama miniseries “Black Bird,” playing a young version of Taron Egerton’s main character Jimmy Keene.
Carson MacCormac as young Charlie
Cate Cameron/Prime
Out of the three major “younger version of the main character” actors on “Every Year After,” Carson MacCormac is the most experienced — which is perhaps to be expected, seeing as he was tasked with playing the younger iteration of the charismatic Charlie Florek. He had already appeared in no fewer than 20 projects before the show, including some shows and movies that have given him plenty of exposure.
MacCormac played Brett Beyer in the 2019 DC Extended Universe superhero movie “Shazam!” and reprised the role four years later in “Shazam! Fury of the Gods.” He brought to life the main character’s ancestor Benjamin Locke in the Netflix fantasy show “Locke & Key,” and upgraded to a main character himself in Eli Craig’s 2025 slasher film “Clown in a Cornfield,” playing Cole. His other credits include the 2021 Brian Lucke Anderson crime drama “East of Middle West” and 2025’s Courtney Marsh family drama “Where Did the Adults Go?”
