On Saturday, June 28, 2018, this is how things are going.
Fighting
The Marinovka base, which is located 900 kilometers (550 miles) from the Ukrainian border, is where the Ukrainian military claims to have struck four Russian Su-34 warplanes.
In Samar, in the southeast of Ukraine, a Russian missile attack has claimed the lives of at least five people and injured more than 20 people.
Nova Kruhlyakivka in the eastern Kharkiv region of Ukraine has been taken over by Russian troops, according to the country’s state news agency TASS.
According to regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin, a Russian attack has damaged an “important power facility” in the southern Kherson region of Ukraine, leading to power outages in some of the region’s settlements.
A war correspondent for Chinese news outlet Phoenix TV was hurt by a Ukrainian drone attack in the Kursk region, according to Russian authorities, who were urging the UN to respond.
In a quick attack, the Ukrainian air force reported that it had destroyed 359 out of 363 drones and six of the eight missiles launched by Russia.
After President Vladimir Putin demanded that production be increased, drone production in Russia increased by 16.9 percent in May from the same month last year, according to data from a think tank close to the government.
Ceasefire agreement
Donald Trump, the president of the United States, cited his recent call with Putin as evidence that he believes Russia’s conflict in Ukraine will be “settled.” He also provided no further information.
Putin attributed President Trump’s efforts to stabilizing the relationship between Russia and the US, which he claimed was due to. Puntin once more stated that he was open to meeting the US leader and that he had “great respect” for him.
Putin added that, despite the uncertainty over the location and location, Moscow was prepared to hold a new round of peace talks with Ukraine. These could take place in Istanbul.
NATO
Lithuania has informed the UN that it is leaving the antipersonnel landmine treaty. In response to Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Poland, all NATO and EU members bordering Russia, it joined them in withdrawing from the agreement because their country’s neighbors are in greater military danger.
The Kremlin alleged that Estonia’s stated readiness to host NATO allies’ US-made F-35A stealth jets, which could carry nuclear weapons, posed a direct threat to Moscow.
Putin compared NATO’s plan to increase its collective spending goal to 5% of GDP over the next ten years with Russia’s stated desire to reduce its military spending from the following year.
Sanctions
Senator Ron Wyden, a top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, demanded that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent agree to impose sanctions against Russia in response to comments made about Russia joining an international bank payment network.
Wyden also sought clarifications regarding how any government or country that supported Russia’s war effort would benefit from the US-Ukraine critical minerals deal and investment agreement rather than helping Ukraine improve its post-war security.
After failing to stop the trade, a top Ukrainian diplomat in South Asia said, Ukraine plans to ask the EU to sanction Bangladeshi businesses that it claims are importing wheat from Ukrainian-occupied territories.
The likes of Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts, Charli XCX, Doechii and Scissor Sisters are bringing the genre’s four acts to Glastonbury Festival 2025.
The likes of Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts, Charli XCX, Doechii and Scissor Sisters are bringing the genre’s four acts to Glastonbury Festival 2025.(Image: Kate Green, Getty Images)
Day four of Glastonbury Festival 2025 is in full swing, with hundreds of thousands of revellers keeping the party alive into the weekend. Although the festival opened its gates to the public on Wednesday, Saturday, June 28 marks the second day that headlining acts are set to dazzle across the numerous stages.
Last night saw The 1975 rock the Pyramid Stage, marking their first return to the festival in nearly a decade. Tonight’s top billing is expected to be Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts, but there’s been some confusion over whether fans at home will be able to tune in to his performance.
While the BBC iPlayer is geared up to stream live from the main five stages, it remains uncertain if Neil Young’s act will be broadcast for home viewers. A BBC spokesperson clarified: “On Saturday on BBC iPlayer, our Glastonbury Channel and five streams for the main stages will bring a range of live performances to audiences.”
Neil Young will be headlining the Pyramid Stage, but fans hoping to watch from home won’t be able to watch(Image: Getty Images)
We won’t be livestreaming Neil Young’s set, they added, at the artist’s request. Our plans, including those for our TV highlights shows and on-demand coverage, are still in development right up until and during the festival.
In contrast, Charli XCX’s headline performance on the Other Stage will be broadcast live on iPlayer and BBC One starting at 10.30pm. For those enjoying the festival from the comfort of their homes, the BBC’s The Glastonbury Hits Channel offers a chance to dive into classic sets and iconic moments, all accessible through iPlayer, reports Somerset Live.
Continue reading the article.
More than 90 hours of live performances from the five main stages, including Pyramid, Other, West Holts, Woodsies, and The Park, are scheduled to be streamed on BBC iPlayer. This will help viewers create their own list of must-see musical acts and weekend activities.
Live streaming of the Pyramid Stage will be available in British Sign Language and Ultra High Definition. BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4, and BBC Sounds are available to those who prefer radio.
A mystery act called “Patchwork” will appear on the Pyramid Stages from 6:15pm to 7:15pm on Saturday. Everyone from Haim to Pulp to Chappell Roan is a target of rumors.
The main stages’ lineups and set times are listed below, along with some extras. The main five stages will offer live streaming.
Pyramid Stage
NEIL YOUNG AND THE CHROME HEARTS 10 – 11 – 45
RAYE- 8pm – 9pm
PATCHWORK – 6.15pm – 7.15pm
JOHN FOGERTY – 4.30pm – 5.30pm
THE SCRIPT is from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
BRANDI CARLILE – 1.30pm – 2.30pm
KAISER CHIEFS 12 – 1 p.m. – 12 p.m.
Other Stage
CHARLI XCX – 10.30pm – 11.45pm
DEFTONES – 8.30pm – 9.30pm
EZRA COLLECTIVE – 6.45pm – 7.45pm
The SNIFFERS, AMYL & 6pm;
WEEZER – 3.30pm – 4.30pm
BEABADOOBEE from 2pm to 3pm
GOOD NEIGHBOURS – 12.45pm – 1.30pm
ALESSI ROSE – 11.30pm – 12.15pm
West Holts Stage
DOECHII – 10.45pm – 11.30pm
AMAARAE – 8.30pm – 9.30pm
Green Tea Party, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
YUSSEF DAYES – 5.30pm – 6.30pm
KNEECAP, 4 PM to 5 PM
BOB VYLAN – 2.30pm – 5.30pm
NILÜFER YANYA is available from 1pm to 2pm.
INFINITY SONG – 11.30pm – 12.30pm
Woodsies
SCISSOR SISTERS – 10.30pm – 11.45pm
TOM ODELL – 9pm – 10pm
FATHER JOHN MISTY – 7.30pm – 8.30pm
6 p.m. to 7 p.m. to 6 p.m.
NOVA TWINS – 4.30pm – 5.30pm
JADE – 3.15pm – 4pm
FCUKERS – 2pm – 2.45pm
SORRY – 12.45pm – 13.30pm
THE AMAZONS – 11.30pm – 12.15pm
The Park Stage
CARIBOU – 11pm – 12.15am
BETH GIBBONS – 9.15pm – 10.15pm
TBA – 7.30pm – 8.30pm
Gary Nunan, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
PA SALIEU – 4.45pm – 5.30pm
LUCY DACUS – 3.30pm – 4.15pm
JAPANESE BREAKFAST is served from 2 pm to 3 pm.
ICHIKO AOBA – 12.45pm – 1.30pm
YANN TIERSEN – 11.10am – 12.10pm
Acoustic Stage
NICK LOWE – 9.30pm – 10.45pm
HOTHOUSE FLOWERS 8 PM – 9 PM
JEREMY LOOPS – 6.30pm – 7.30pm
THE CORONAS – 5.10pm – 6pm
THE BLUEBELLS – 4.10pm – 4.50pm
A CELEBRATION OF THE SONGS OF BOB DYLAN, INCLUDING PAUL CARRACK, SID GRIFFIN, KATYA, RALPH MCTELL, LIAM O MAONLAI, 3 PM – 4 PM, NOT COMPLETELY UNKNOWN
SOPHIE B. HAWKINS – 2pm – 2.40pm
OISIN LEECH- 1pm – 1.40pm
LORRAINE NASH – 12.10pm – 12.40pm
HENRY GRACE – 11.30am – 12pm
Avalon Stage
HARD-FI – 11.10pm – 12.20am
TOM WALKER – 9.40pm – 10.40pm
RACHEL CHINOURIRI – 8.10pm – 9.10pm
JADE BIRD – 6.40pm – 7.40pm
THE AMY WINEHOUSE BAND – 5.10pm – 6.10pm
JAMIE CULLUM – 3.40pm – 4.40pm
STEPHEN WILSON JR. – 2.15pm – 3.10pm
BESS ATWELL – 12.50pm – 1.45pm
FÜLÜ – 11.30am – 12.20pm
For the rest of the line-up and all of the other acts gracing stages at Glastonbury Festival,visit here.
A number of landmark decisions, all of which the US Supreme Court has rendered, cover everything from school reading lists to healthcare coverage.
Before taking a few months of recess, the court made its final decisions for the 2024 term on Friday. In October, the nine justices on the bench will convene again.
The justices, however, made headlines before they left. The six-person conservative majority decided to limit the ability of courts to impose universal injunctions that would block executive actions nationwide, a significant victory for the president’s administration.
Trump has consistently attacked his executive branch’s use of court injunctions.
The conservative majority on the Supreme Court banded together again in two other decisions. In one decision, parents were able to opt out of LGBTQ-themed educational materials, while the other gave Texas the go-ahead to place restrictions on young people’s access to online porn.
However, some conservative justices sided with their three left-wing colleagues when they made the decision regarding healthcare access. Their final decisions for the 2024 term are presented in this summary.
The court upholds the rules for preventive care.
The Supreme Court’s usual ideological divides were broken up in Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, which was a result of this case.
Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Elena Kagan joined the court’s liberal branch, which includes three conservative justices: Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, and John Roberts.
A government task force’s ability to determine what types of preventive healthcare were required by the nation’s insurance providers.
The Affordable Care Act, a piece of legislation passed under former President Barack Obama to expand access to healthcare, was the most recent case to challenge its constitutionality.
A section of the act that allowed a panel of health experts under the Department of Health and Human Services to determine what preventive services should be covered for no cost was the subject of this case.
However, a group of people and Christian-owned businesses had objected to the task force’s legality.
They claimed that the expert panel was in violation of the Constitution’s Appointments Clause, which mandates that the president choose and approve certain political appointees.
Prior to the task force’s decision, the group had successfully prevailed in favor of the group’s request that all HIV prevention medications be classified as preventive care.
The Supreme Court’s decision did not consider that particular injunction. Justice Kavanaugh, speaking for the majority, argued that the task force was legitimate because it consisted of “inferior officers” and didn’t require Senate approval.
Texas’s age restrictions on pornography are rejected by the court.
In an effort to protect minors from offensive content, several states, including Texas, require users to verify their ages before accessing pornographic websites.
Free Speech Coalition v. Ken Paxton was the subject of the Supreme Court’s scrutiny of Texas’ law on Friday, according to the case.
The Free Speech Coalition is a non-profit organization that works for adults’ entertainment. The attorney general of Texas, Paxton, was sued by the group for contending that the age-verification law would impair First Amendment protections, which include the right to free expression, free association, and privacy.
The plaintiffs noted the dangers associated with sharing personally identifying information online, including the possibility of leaking sensitive data like birthdates. For instance, the American Civil Liberties Union warned that Texas’s law “robs people of anonymity.”
Justice Clarence Thomas acknowledged in a letter to the conservative majority on the Supreme Court that “submitting to age verification is a burden on the exercise” of First Amendment rights.
However, he added that “adults have no First Amendment right to completely disregard age verification.” The majority of the time upheld Texas’s law.
The court grants children the right to reject LGBTQ educational material.
With the ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor, the Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority continued its long history of victories for religious freedom.
The Montgomery County Board of Education in Maryland, where books with LGBTQ themes had been approved for use in primary school textbooks, was the subject of the case.
A picture book called Love, Violet, for instance, told the tale of a young girl who mustering the courage to give a Valentine’s Day to a female classmate. Another book, Pride Puppy, follows a young girl looking for her missing dog in a parade to honor LGBTQ pride.
Parents of the school district’s students criticized the content on religious grounds, and some books, like Pride Puppy, were eventually dropped.
However, the board eventually made the announcement that it would block parents from withdrawing from the approved material because it would disrupt the learning environment.
Some education officials claimed that the inclusion of LGBTQ people in mainstream culture would impose a stigma on those who identify as LGBTQ and that this was simply a fact of life.
Justice Samuel Alito claimed in the majority’s decision that the education board’s policy “conveys that parents’ religious views are not welcome in the “fully inclusive environment” that the Board claims to foster.”
According to Alito, “the curriculum itself also betrays an attempt to impose ideological conformity with particular views on sexuality and gender.”
The use of nationwide injunctions is restricted by the court.
The Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority, it seems, decided another decision, which was probably the biggest of the day.
The Trump administration had appealed the use of nationwide injunctions all the way to the country’s highest court in the case Trump v. CASA.
Trump’s executive order, which he signed on the first day of his second term, was in danger. The Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution sought to simplify the concept of birthright citizenship.
Almost everyone who was born on US soil would be granted citizenship regardless of their parents’ nationality in the past.
Trump has, however, criticized the overuse of birthright citizenship. He placed restrictions on the birthright of a person based on their parents’ immigration status in his executive order.
As soon as the executive order was made public, legal arguments erupted against the decision to support birthright citizenship regardless of the parent’s nationality. Federal courts in states like Maryland and Washington quickly enacted injunctions to stop the executive order from being effective.
The Supreme Court did not consider whether Trump’s decree regarding birthright citizenship was valid on Friday. However, it did evaluate a petition from the Trump administration, contending that the judicial system had overreacted.
Trump backed off of the conservative supermajority, saying that specific plaintiffs’ needs should be the focus of any injunctions. However, class action lawsuits might be one of the possible exceptions.
The majority’s decision was written by Amy Coney Barrett, the court’s most recent addition and Trump appointee.
Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh – One of the dozens of refugee camps, a densely populated coastal town in southeast Bangladesh, echoes through the lush lanes of one of the dozens of refugee camps.
Just for a moment, the sounds manage to soften the harsh living conditions faced by the more than one million people who live here in the world’s largest refugee camp.
Eight years after being ethnically cleansed from their homes in neighboring Myanmar by a predominately Buddhist military regime, the Rohingya Muslim refugees in Bangladesh are now one of the most forgotten populations in the world.
During a visit to the squat camps in May, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remarked, “Cox’s Bazar is ground zero for the impact of budget cuts on people in desperate need.”
The UN chief’s visit followed United States President Donald Trump’s gutting of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which has stalled several key projects in the camps, and the United Kingdom announcing cuts to foreign aid in order to increase defence spending.
As a result of the severe blows to foreign aid, the camps’ healthcare has suffered.
They refer to me as “langhra” (lame).
Seated outside his makeshift bamboo hut, Jahid Alam told Al Jazeera how, before being forced to become a refugee, he had worked as a farmer and also fished for a living in the Napura region of his native Myanmar. He first noticed his leg swelling up suddenly in 2016 at the time.
I was farming when I suddenly felt the intense itch in my left leg, Alam said. “My leg soon turned red and began swelling up. I attempted to ice it up as soon as I could. But it was ineffective.
A local doctor prescribed an ointment, but the itch continued, and so did the swelling.
Soon after, he became dependent on his family, finding it challenging to stand or walk, and unable to work.
He made the decision to send his family to Bangladesh a year later when Myanmar’s military began torturing and burning Rohingya homes in his village.
Alam stayed behind to look after the cows on his land. But the military immediately threatened to take him out of Bangladesh and join his family there.
Since arriving in Cox’s Bazar, the 53-year-old has been receiving treatment from Doctors Without Borders, known by its French names MSF, in the Kutupalong region, but it seems likely that his leg has been amputated. While some doctors have said he has Elephantiasis – an infection that causes enlargement and swelling of limbs – a final diagnosis is yet to be made.
Alam is also dealing with stigma as well because of his disability.
When they discover that I can’t walk properly, he said, “they call me langhra.”
But, he adds:  , “If God has given me this disease and disability, he also gave me the opportunity to come to this camp and try to recover. I’m optimistic that my life will start over.
[Valeria Mongelli/Al Jazeera] Jahid Alam at the Cox’s Bazar refugee camp in Bangladesh
‘ The word “Amma” gives me hope ‘
Jahena Begum, who is seated in a dimly lit room in a small hut about ten minutes’ walk from Alam’s shelter, hopes aid organizations will continue to help the camps, particularly those who have disabilities.
Sumaiya Akter, 23, and her sons Harez, 19, and Ayas, 21, are blind and have a cognitive disorder that prevents them from speaking clearly. They are largely unaware of their surroundings.
As they aged into teenagers, Begum claims, “their vision gradually began to fade.”
The mother, a mother, patted her daughter’s leg, and it was very difficult to watch.
The young girl giggled, unaware of what was going on around her.
After the military in Myanmar burned their home down, Begum’s family moved to Cox’s Bazar about nine months ago.
“We managed to get to the camps with the family’s assistance. But life has been very hard for me”, said Begum, telling how she had single-handedly brought up her children since her husband’s death eight years ago.
She and her children have begun receiving eye exams and having scans to find out the cause of their disability.
They currently express everything through sound, the statement read. But the one word they speak, which is ‘ Amma’, meaning mother, shows me that they at least recognise me”, Begum said.
“The word “Amma” gives me hope and strength to try to treat them.” My children’s future should be better than mine.
Jahena Begum, first left, with her three children, Sumaiya Akter, second from left, Ayas, third from left, and Harez, right, during an interview in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, earlier this month]Valeria Mongelli/Al Jazeera]
The pain is emotional, not just physical, according to the statement.
Anowar Shah described fleeing Myanmar to save his life, along with losing a limb to a mine explosion, wearing a blue and pink striped collared shirt and a striped brown longyi, the cloth worn by both men and women there.
Shah said he was collecting firewood in his hometown Labada Prian Chey in Myanmar , when his leg was blown off by the landmine last year.
According to a 2024 UN report, Myanmar is one of the most deadly nations for landmine and non-exploded explosives casualties, with more than 1, 000 victims recorded in 2023 alone, surpassing all other countries.
The 25-year-old Shah, who now uses crutches to move around, described those as “the longest, most agonizing days of my life.”
“Losing my leg shattered everything. I changed from providing and protecting to one who relies on others to get by on the job. He said, “I can’t even do simple tasks alone; I can’t move freely, I can’t work, and I can’t even do simple things.”
“I feel like I’ve become a burden to the people I love. The pain is deep and emotional, not just physical. Why did this happen to me, I keep asking myself.
Anowar Shah is a victim of a landmine explosion in Myanmar and lives in a refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh]Courtesy of Anowar Shah]
More than 30 refugees in Bangladesh’s camps have been left disabled and dependent on other people after losing limbs to landmine explosions.
According to John Quinley, director of the rights organization Fortify Rights, all parties to the armed conflict in Myanmar have engaged in some form of landmine use.
“We know the Myanmar junta has used landmines over many years to bolster their bases. He added, “They also place them in rural areas where they have occupied and fled,” he said.
Abdul Hashim, 25, described how being struck by a landmine in Cox’s Bazar in February 2024 “drastically altered his life.”
“I have become dependent on others for even the simplest daily tasks. I once felt like a burden because I no longer contributed to my family,” he said.
Hashim has participated in a rehabilitation program at the Turkish Field Hospital, which includes balance exercises, stump care, and hygiene education. Since arriving in the camp, he has been receiving medication and physical therapy.
He has also been assessed for a prosthetic limb which currently costs about 50, 000 Bangladeshi Taka ($412). The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia suports the cost of these limbs.
“I still have some hope despite the trauma and hardship.” I dream of receiving a prosthetic leg soon, which would allow me to regain some independence and find work to support my family”, Hashim said.
The aid organization Humanity & Inclusion, who are experts in producing the prosthetic limbs in orthotic workshops outside the refugee camps, has distributed and fitted to camp residents a total of 14 prosthetic limbs.
As part of the organization’s rehabilitation program, which provides gait training to help them adapt to the use of prosthetic limbs regularly, both Hashim and Shah participate.
Tough decisions for aid workers
Aid workers are currently faced with difficult decisions as a result of cuts to foreign aid, making sure refugees in the camps are well-supported and can lead better lives after fleeing persecution.
A Bangladeshi healthcare worker who requested anonymity reportedly said, “We are having to choose between feeding people and providing education and healthcare due to aid cuts,” citing fear that his statement might affect US aid going forward.  ,
Quinley of Fortify Rights argued that while aid funding is severely limited, the response to Rohingya refugees should be a shared responsibility across the region.
He claimed that “there needs to be a regional response,” particularly for those in Southeast Asia, to provide funding.
“Countries connected to the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) in the Middle East could also give a lot more meaningful support”, he said.
He also suggested working with local humanitarian organizations, “whether it’s the Rohingya refugee groups themselves or the Bangladeshi nationals,” because they are the best at assisting their local communities.
He argued that governments around the world should support them because they are at the forefront of their ability to reach people who need support.
For the estimated one million refugees in Cox’s Bazar, urgent support is needed at this time, when funds grow ever scarce.
Only 30% of the total $852.4 million needed by the refugees was received, according to a Joint Response Plan created for the Rohingya in 2024.
Only 15% of the refugees’ funding was received as of May 2025, against an overall request for $934.5 million.
Cutting the aid budgets for the camps is a “short-sighted policy”, said Blandine Bouniol, deputy director of advocacy at Humanity &, Inclusion humanitarian group.
According to Bouniol, it will “devastate people” in the long run.
[Valeria Mongelli/Al Jazeera] A Rohingya refugee camp has a wall that is topped with barbed wire.
Who: Chelsea vs. Benfica What: FIFA Club World Cup round of 16 Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States When: Saturday, June 28 at 4pm (21:00 GMT)
How to follow: From 1pm local time (18:00 GMT) until our live text commentary stream, we’ll have all the news coverage on Al Jazeera Sport.
Chelsea and Benfica square off in the second round of 16 tie at the FIFA Club World Cup, which is arguably a match straight out of the UEFA Champions League.
The clubs have won nine titles between them, with Benfica, the Portuguese giant, winning seven of Europe’s top club competition.
Following their recent group stage blunders, Al Jazeera Sport anticipates the game, which will cause the English club a significant headache.
What irritates Chelsea ahead of the Benfica tie?
After finishing second in their group, Chelsea are dealing with logistical problems at the World Cup, making it necessary to travel to Charlotte for their final 16 game instead of staying in Miami, where the organization anticipated to be based for the knockout stages.
According to a source, the West Londoners were presuming they would win Group D and play their round-of-16 game at Hard Rock Stadium when making travel arrangements, lodging, and training.
View of the 11 host cities for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup (Al Jazeera).
The club still intends to return to its Miami base after the game, which will add more miles to an already hectic schedule because of the detour to Charlotte.
Chelsea’s fate in the group stage
Los Angeles’ 2-0 victory gave The Blue a 2-0 start to their Club World Cup campaign. Chelsea finished second in the group stage after falling to Brazil’s Flamengo 3-1, but they did so 3-0 over Esperance Tunis in Philadelphia in their final game.
Tyrique George scores the third goal for Chelsea in the group game against Tunis [Lee Smith/Reuters].
What was Benfica’s performance in the group stage?
Boca Juniors’ opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup ended Benfica 2-2 with. The Lisbon-based club then defeated Germany’s Bayern Munich 1-0 and New Zealand’s Auckland City 6-0 in their final two games.
In the quarter-finals, who will play Chelsea or Benfica?
The winner of Saturday’s tie will face Palmeiras and Botafogo, who is the only team from Brazil, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The #FIFACWC Round of 16 Matches. 🔢 pic. twitter.com/PSqvYGZW18
Chelsea hasn’t won a club world cup before.
Yes . Chelsea has won the Club World Cup once, twice lifting the trophy from the UEFA Champions League twice in Europe.
With a 2-1 victory over Palmeiras from Brazil, the Blues won the title in 2021.
The Blues scored the opener with Romelu Lukaku and Kai Havertz scoring the winner in extra time.
What last time did Chelsea and Benfica meet?
The Blues won the UEFA Europa League game with a 2-1 victory over the Blues in the competition.
Oscar Cardozo scored from the spot in the 69th minute to give the Blues the lead at the hour mark.
With a Chelsea winner in the 90th minute, Branislav Ivanovic put an end to the conflict.
Following Chelsea’s 2013 victory over Benfica, Fernando Torres celebrates with the UEFA Europa League trophy.
news from the Chelsea team
Wesley Fofana has returned to the team for the tournament, but the defender is still recovering from a long-term thigh injury and will miss the game once more.
In the match against Flamengo, striker Nicolas Jackson receives the second and final game of a two-game suspension for a straight red card.
Reece James, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella are all expected to make an appearance.
News from the Benfica team
Florentino Luis is expected to make a comeback after missing the previous two games due to a shoulder injury, but Alexander Bah and Manu Silva have been a long time players.
Andrea Belotti’s suspension is lifted.
Possible starting lineup for Benfica:
Trubin, Aursnes, Silva, Otamendi, Carreras, Barreiro, Sanches, Di Maria, Prestianni, Schjelderup, Pavlidis, and others
England will approach this summer’s home World Cup with “no regrets” says Red Roses head coach John Mitchell.
England’s women have been in their Rugby World Cup training camp since the start of June as they aim to win the trophy for the first time in 11 years on home soil.
Having faced two tournament final defeats at the hands of New Zealand in 2017 and 2022, Mitchell is not shying away from the challenge ahead.
“How do we get done what we haven’t had for a long time?” the 61-year-old said. “We mustn’t have been doing something right.
“I guess that’s the powerful opportunity while this tournament is under our watch, it’s an opportunity to have no regrets.”
So far, England’s pre-season has seen the players put into teams to compete in “strong women” challenges, but New Zealander Mitchell has also introduced an “NBA draft system”.
Players asked to double up
The group is currently made up of 42 players that Mitchell will have to reduce to 32 for the World Cup with him choosing 18 forwards and 14 backs.
The limitations on numbers mean that Mitchell is looking for “versatility” in his players with Exeter wing Claudia McDonald once again being looked to cover scrum-half like she did in 2022.
Gloucester wing Mia Venner is also being looked at in three positions, adding both nine and full-back to her repertoire which she has covered at club level.
Getting tough in Treviso
The last Red Roses camp before the Rugby World Cup squad is named will be in Treviso, Italy in July.
It is the first foreign camp England’s women have been taken on, but despite the excitement the head coach is promising it will be one the toughest and hottest they have experienced.
“The heat will in itself create its own duress” said Mitchell, with temperatures in the region averaging around 30C in the summer.
“I think our tournament might be hot, so I think we’ll benefit from that. It will probably be our most uncomfortable training camp of all of them because it will be hot and you’ll get bothered.”
After England lost the last Rugby World Cup final after an early red card for wing Lydia Thompson, the coaches are keen to ensure no stone will be left unturned to prepare the side for all eventualities.
“The amount that we’ve layered on our game will put them under a lot of questions through scenarios,” said Mitchell. “The unfairness that comes in the games through the cards, those sorts of things. The play-to-rest ratios will be probably a little bit lower as well. We can create a really quite niggly camp if you like.
“We want to be ready for any form of unfairness and it will come at some point. Look at the way cards and HIA’s (Head Injury Assessments) have advanced the game in that area.
“We’ve definitely got to do it because it’s going to come in the tournament. I’d rather be ready for every eventuality and even then, we probably won’t be ready for every eventuality.
Rivals
As England prepare, so do their rivals and Mitchell is putting plans in place for warm-up games with Spain and France, followed by their opening pool games with USA and Samoa.
After a scare against France in their final Six Nations match in May when Les Bleus came back to within a point by the final whistle, Mitchell says they have learned from it.
“The French match has been a big influence on how we learn and evolve our game,” he said. “We look at that separately from the other matches, because they’re able to threaten us in different ways.”
He pinpoints the change in defence coach in the last campaign with Sarah Hunter being off on maternity leave and Nathan Catt taking on her duties as contributing to them losing “a little bit of our system” and since her return “we’re obviously definitely refreshing that and bringing that back”.
However, any talk deeper into the tournament is quickly shut-down.
He will not be drawn on commenting on either Canada or world champions New Zealand.
