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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.
Iranian soccer star Mehdi Taremi has criticized FIFA, alleging that the national team has encountered tension since their arrival in the United States for a highly anticipated World Cup match.
The Iranian squad is set to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday, a match overshadowed by ongoing conflict with the United States.
The team’s participation has been marred by months of disruption and uncertainty, particularly concerning visa issues faced by certain members of the Iranian delegation. Previously, President Donald Trump expressed his concerns, stating, “I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”
Originally slated to be based in Arizona, the team’s camp was relocated to Mexico at the last minute. On Sunday, the players traveled from Tijuana to Los Angeles, arriving at LAX. The team was transported to their hotel under tight security, including a police escort, drones, dogs, and surveillance systems. The hotel, located just a 15-minute drive from the airport, saw heightened security measures, with at least one individual escorted away by law enforcement near the entrance.
The players were met with protests both at their hotel and during an open training session. Reports indicate that up to 35,000 demonstrators plan to rally at SoFi Stadium on Monday night. Los Angeles, home to the largest Iranian diaspora outside Iran, is a focal point of mixed emotions, as many grapple with supporting a national team linked to the country’s contentious political regime.
During a pre-game press conference on Sunday, Taremi suggested the chaos engulfing Iran ‘undermines’ FIFA’s message that soccer ‘brings peace.’ Minutes later, FIFA officials attempted to shut down a question as the build-up to the game descended into more chaos.
Iran star Mehdi Taremi took a shot at FIFA ahead of team’s highly-charged World Cup opener
President Donald Trump previously warned Iran that it may not be safe at the World Cup
‘I have felt the tension since the moment we arrived,’ Taremi said. ‘It’s not just Iran that have been impacted, others including referees have been impacted. I have felt the tensions as soon as I arrived.
‘Of course I don’t have the same beautiful experience [of his two previous World Cups in 2018 and 2022]. We talk about peace, joy, of course we don’t have the same experience.’
He continued: ‘Of course we have had problems but even before we arrived the sensation people had of looking forward to a World Cup they have not had the same feeling.
‘This kind of tension undermines that joy and it undermines the message of FIFA and our people which is football brings about peace. That is how I have felt.
‘This World Cup could have provided a better atmosphere than it has but I hope in the future it will be better for all fans at the World Cup, whoever they are supporting.’
FIFA has banned pre-revolutionary Iranian flags – featuring a lion and sun emblem – from games, with the Iranian regime threatening to halt games if unauthorized flags are displayed or the team is targeted by slogans from the stands.
During a pre-game press conference on Friday, a journalist attempted to ask Ghalenoei whether that would be a decision for the coach or the players, only for a FIFA official to interject.
The governing body had begun the press conference by insisting questions had to be focused on the game, rather than politics.
Amir Ghalenoei’s players arrived in Los Angeles from their base in Tijuana on Saturday
The Iranian players were welcomed by a police escort, protests and drones
Taremi admitted that he and his teammates had felt the tension since their arrival
Join the discussion
Should politics and security concerns ever outweigh the spirit of unity at global sporting events?
Despite the official’s attempt to shut down the question, Ghalenoei insisted his and his players’ focus would not be on what is going on in the stands.
‘We are here to perform a good match – a high-quality match,’ he said. ‘We don’t pay any attention to the hype or what’s going on around us.’
The ‘Tehrangeles’ area of LA is filled with families of untold thousands who fled the country after the Islamic Revolution in the late 1970s.
Amid warnings of protests, Taremi said: ‘We play for every Iranian, be it in the diaspora or in Iran… people have different opinions, but we are here to unite people and we will try to bring joy to all Iranians wherever they live. We do not get involved in politics. We are here to play football.’
Around a dozen members of Iran’s delegation have reportedly been banned from the United States, including the president of the country’s soccer federation.
US officials said visas had been issued to all players and ‘necessary support staff’ but that Iran could not ‘abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretenses.’
Sunday’s press conference began with a statement from head coach Ghalenoei, who said: ‘I am very happy to be representing the great and proud and strong nation of Iran.
‘I’m glad we’re all here from my country and I hope that football will bring about joy and enjoyment and it will bring closer the cultures and countries. I hope the World Cup will go well despite the travel problems we have had. I hope it will not affect the quality of our play.’
The US attacked Iran back in February, with the initial missile strikes killing its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The war has slowed and resumed several times since then, with President Trump even announcing a peace deal earlier Sunday.
DCLM Daily Manna 15 June 2026 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Power of Positive Values
TOPIC: Power of Positive Values (DCLM Daily Manna 15 June 2026)
KEY VERSE: Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain – Psalm 127:1
TEXT: Psalm 127:1-5 (KJV)
1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
DCLM Daily Manna For Today MESSAGE:
There was the story of a child who was given a complex jigsaw puzzle to work on. In a short time, the pieces were all put together. A visiting friend was amazed and asked, ‘How did you do that so fast?’ ‘Oh, you see, there is a picture of Jesus on the other side, and I just put that one together.’ The complexities are adjusted when the Lord Jesus is given His rightful place in the home.
The home setting is God’s initiative. He, therefore, remains the Alpha and Omega in all issues, including those concerning the home. He is the repository of wisdom for all family matters. If given the right as the Head of the family, love, joy, peace, harmony, wellness, and progress abound and flourish. The reverse is the case when God is not in control of a family. The values taught at home determine the behaviour of members of different families outside hence, the axiom Charity begins at home. Children are a heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.
The Holy Bible, God’s inerrant word, remains the standard for valuable guidelines on proper parenting that can transform families and society. We cannot get parenting right if its precepts are despised or neglected. People who wish to pass on godly values to their generations and add value to the larger society must adhere to biblical teachings on all aspects of life. People like Moses, Samuel, and Timothy were products of good home training. In contemporary times, we have the likes of Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights leader who credited his father, Martin Luther King Sr., and his mother, Alberta Williams King, for instilling in him a strong sense of morality, justice and compassion.
A sage has correctly said that there is nothing more influential in a child’s life than the moral power of a quiet example. For children to take morality seriously, they must see adults who live by high moral standards. We cannot leave this significant role solely in the hands of caregivers, school tutors, or the government. There is no irredeemable situation with God; whatever your situation, trust and pray, believing there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY The home is designed to be the most important institution of learning.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 2 Chronicles 30-33
Deeper Life Daily Manna For Today 2025 was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
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.
Eyewitnesses in Brazil have recounted the chilling aftermath of a helicopter crash that tragically claimed six lives, including that of musician Oliver Tree. The heart-wrenching incident occurred in Rio de Janeiro when two helicopters collided mid-air, resulting in the loss of all passengers on board.
The Rio de Janeiro Military Fire Department reported that one of the helicopters crashed into the parking area of a vehicle dealership, sparking a fire amid the parked electric cars. Fortunately, the blaze was swiftly brought under control by emergency services.
Authorities are currently conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause behind this catastrophic collision. The incident has left many questioning how such a tragedy could have happened in the skies above one of Brazil’s most bustling cities.
Among the eyewitnesses was Fernandes de Freitas, who works at a nearby tire repair shop. He described seeing one of the helicopters ablaze following the collision. He also recounted a haunting scene where a passenger was seen leaping from the other helicopter before it tragically plummeted to the ground.
Fernandes de Freitas, a tyre repair worker, stated he witnessed one of the helicopters engulfed in flames following the midair collision, and observed that one of the passengers leapt from the other aircraft before it struck the ground.
“It was terrifying, absolutely horrifying,” De Freitas said.
Argentine streaming channel Blender confirmed that content creator Gaspar Prim Díaz – also known as Gaspi – was aboard one of the helicopters.
Gaspi had amassed more than 2.8 million followers on YouTube – he was merely 23 years old.
“Thanks for your art, your magic and your sensibility, every one of us will miss you,” Blender said on its X account. The Brazilian Air Force stated: “The Brazilian Air Force (FAB), through the Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA), informs that, this Sunday (June 14th), investigators from the Third Regional Service for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (SERIPA III), based in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), were called to carry out the Initial Action of the incident involving two aircraft, registration numbers PP-MAC and PR-DJJ, in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, in the Southwest Zone of Rio de Janeiro (RJ).
“During the Initial Action, qualified and accredited professionals apply specific techniques for data collection and confirmation, preservation of evidence, initial verification of damage caused to or by the aircraft, and gathering other information necessary for the investigation.”
YouTube sensation and Britain’s Got Talent judge KSI took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to write: “Can’t believe I’m actually having to type this. You’re 32 man. You should still be here. You still had so much life to live. So much music to make. So much content to make. You’re a legend and will always be a legend. Still doesn’t feel real. Genuinely feel sick. I love you bro.”
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.
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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.”
