Former cricketer Merv Hughes has expressed confidence that Pat Cummins will be fit to lead the bowling attack in the first Ashes test, despite recent injury concerns.

Perth

Merv Hughes, a former Australian fast bowler, has backed injured captain Pat Cummins to be ready for the first Ashes test, stating that Cummins' fitness is the only requirement for his selection. Hughes believes Cummins' experience and ability make him a key player, even if he has not played recent matches.

The opening batting position alongside Usman Khawaja is still undecided, with several candidates including Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, and Nathan McSweeney being considered. Sam Constance has also impressed former coach Justin Langer and could be in contention if he performs well in early domestic matches.

Pat Cummins expected to play Ashes opener

backed injured skipper Pat Cummins to be standing at the top of his mark in the first Ashes test. Hughes says even with no cricket under his belt Cummins should be picked but who opens the batting is less clear. Merv Hughes knows what it takes to lead an Ashes attack and he expects Pat Cummins to make it to the first test. Pat Cummins, he can do anything. He looks a little bit like Clark Kent doesn't he? He could roll up and not touch a cricket ball for a month I reckon and play the first test and do a good job so if he's fit he plays. The Aussie top-order is in a pre-Ashes state of flux though. An ageing Usman Khawaja will be there in Perth but who partners him is anything but locked in. And then it'll come down to another shootout and we're sort of getting to that point where we're having a shootout every year for the for the opening batter so you know Constance, the two run machines domestically and still Bancroft and Harris they'll put their names up. I guess Nathan McSweeney will put his hand up again. Langer admits his first impression of Sam Constance was one of shock. Who is this clown? What is he doing? But the tough former opener and coach was quickly won over. And he won the hearts of all Australians doing it. He took him on. He took on the best bowler in the world. Hughes agrees Constance should be selected if he can perform well in the early Shield games. He says the reward for his bold approach outweighs any risk. If you have a good day and he's going to have more good days and bad days in the future I think. Nick Bartler, 10 News.

Blame was thrown around by all sides on the first day of the shutdown after the White House and Congress failed to agree on a way to keep the U.S. government funded and open. The White House said layoffs to the federal workforce were ‘imminent.’

Washington

White House says federal worker layoffs ‘imminent’ after shutdown

Jane Goodall, the British conservationist and researcher renowned for her work with chimpanzees, has died at age 91. The Jane Goodall Institute confirmed her death on Instagram Wednesday, saying she died of natural causes.

Los Angeles

Jane Goodall, chimpanzee researcher and conservationist, dies at 91

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order, promising military action if necessary, to defend Qatar in the face of any future attack. It follows an Israeli strike on Doha last month, targeting a Hamas negotiating team. Qatar called the attack a violation of its sovereignty, prompting Trump to issue the new security assurances to the Gulf nation.

Doha

Trump signs executive order protecting Qatar after Israeli strike

The Israeli military is pressing on with its offensive in Gaza, launching strikes across the territory, as Hamas weighs up its response to the U.S. peace proposal. Debora Patta reports.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israel continues Gaza offensive as Hamas weighs U.S. peace deal

The Supreme Court has added another blockbuster case to its new term of cases. The court announced it would hear whether President Trump can legally fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Jessica Levinson has more.

Supreme Court to weigh Trump firing of Fed's Lisa Cook

Flash floods in Ukraine's Odesa killed at least nine people, including a family of five trapped in their home as it was engulfed by water, emergency services said on Wednesday (October 1), as torrential rain left hundreds in need of rescue and thousands without power.

Odesa Oblast

Deadly flash floods hit Odesa after downpours in Ukraine's south

Parts of the U.S. government remain closed after Senate votes failed to pass funding. A GOP-backed House bill fell short of the 60-vote threshold, leaving 750,000 federal workers facing furloughs and possible military pay delays.

Government shutdown continues after Senate votes down resolutions

In Afghanistan, concerns are growing after days of virtually no internet connectivity. The blackout has disrupted banking, commerce and aviation. The Taliban denies banning internet services.

Kabul

Afghanistan imposes internet blackout

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Hamas militants have about three or four days to respond to his Gaza peace plan proposal or face the consequences. But Gazans saw little hope in the plan, which was presented to Hamas after Israel had endorsed it as satisfying its war aims.

Hamas under pressure as Trump issues deadline on Gaza peace plan

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to use 'dangerous' U.S. cities as training grounds for the military at a rare meeting of top military officials where he and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took aim at what they called 'woke' military standards.

Trump threatens to train military in U.S. cities

At least 69 people were killed after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake shook the coastal city of Bogo and outlying rural towns in Cebu province in the Philippines, officials said. CBS News foreign correspondent Anna Coren has the latest details.

Cebu

Dozens killed after 6.9-magnitude earthquake shakes Philippines

U.S. President Donald Trump and lawmakers failed to reach a funding deal, causing the government to shut down Wednesday. Tens of thousands of federal workers will be told to stay home – furloughed without pay.

U.S. government shuts down after lawmakers fail to reach funding deal

U.S. President Donald Trump is amping up pressure on Hamas to respond to his 20-point peace plan to end the war in Gaza. He says he wants a response in a matter of days or there will be a ‘very sad end’ to the conflict.

Trump puts pressure on Hamas with deadline on Gaza peace plan

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said there would be no more ‘overbearing rules of engagement’ for the U.S. military while President Donald Trump threatened war on ‘the enemy from within’ at a gathering of top U.S. military commanders.

Hegseth calls for end to ‘politically correct’ U.S. military leadership

European leaders, from Ursula von der Leyen to Emmanuel Macron, have reacted positively to U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza.

EU leaders urge Hamas to accept Trump's Gaza plan 'without delay'

Military leaders have been summoned to Quantico Marine Corps base from all around the world by Defense Secretary Hegseth for a rare, in-person meeting. Democratic lawmakers have raised safety concerns about the military leaders leaving their posts for the well-publicized meeting.

Quantico

Hegseth gathers U.S. military leaders for rare, in-person meeting

Imelda is now a Category 1 hurricane, threatening dangerous weather conditions on the East Coast alongside Hurricane Humberto. CBS News' Rob Marciano has more details.

Folly Beach

Imelda becomes hurricane, threatens dangerous conditions on East Coast

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Monday he is ready to declare a state of emergency over the threat of U.S. "aggression," following a spate of deadly U.S. strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats.

Caracas

Maduro ready to declare state of emergency over U.S. 'aggression'

Some have expressed excitement after Bad Bunny was announced as the Super Bowl halftime performer, while others have criticized the pick. CBS News' Lilia Luciano reports.

Bad Bunny to headline Super Bowl 2026 halftime show

President Donald Trump said he would impose a 100% tariff on all films produced overseas that are then sent into the U.S., repeating a threat made in May that would upend Hollywood's global business model.

Hollywood

Global Tariffs

Trump says U.S. to impose 100% tariff on movies produced overseas

Moldova's pro-Europe governing party has won a majority in key parliamentary elections. The result brings Moldova closer to EU membership — but not everyone is celebrating.

Chișinău

Pro-EU party wins majority in Moldova election

U.S. President Donald Trump outlined a 20-point plan for peace in Gaza as he stood with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. Hamas has yet to comment on the plan.

Trump, Netanyahu announce plan to end Gaza conflict

Amid growing impatience over the Kremlin’s reluctance to participate in direct talks with Ukraine, Washington is now considering providing Kyiv with Tomahawk missiles, according to U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

Ukraine Invasion

Washington might send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, Vance says

The FBI says it is investigating 'an act of targeted violence' after a man crashed his vehicle through the front doors of a Michigan church, opened fire with an assault rifle and set the church ablaze, killing at least four people and wounding at least eight others.

Grand Blanc

Investigators look for motive in deadly Michigan church shooting

Washington is preparing for the arrival of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who is set to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. President Trump is advancing a plan aimed at securing the release of hostages, ending the war in Gaza, and outlining a post-war strategy.

Netanyahu set to meet Trump at the White House

The military wing of Hamas said it had lost contact with two Israeli hostages held in Gaza City, and called on Israel to pull troops back and suspend air strikes for 24 hours so fighters could retrieve the captives.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Hamas says it lost contact with two hostages in Gaza City siege

Iran's parliament on Sunday (September 28) condemned what it called "illegal" sanctions, after the United Nations reimposed restrictions over the country's nuclear program at the weekend.

Tehran

Iran parliament slams reimposed UN sanctions as 'illegal'

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed Russia for the new wave of attacks, which killed at least four in Kyiv, including a child, and accused them of deliberately targeting civilian positions to incite fear and terror. At least 70 others were injured.

Kyiv

At least four killed as Russia launches major offensive on Kyiv

At least 36 people were killed and more than 50 injured on Saturday (September 27) in a stampede at a rally held by Tamil actor Vijay, who is campaigning for election, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu said.

Breakdown