Members

• Canada may soon enter the Eurovision Song Contest after the CBC gained full membership in the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). • The partnership allows Canada to participate in the Eurovision news exchange, facilitating a greater flow of news and perspectives between North America and Europe. • This milestone is intended to support cultural expression and help combat disinformation by diversifying international media coverage.

• The European Commission is developing a new scheme to offer candidate countries specific EU benefits and perks before they achieve full membership. • To avoid previous political failures, these perks will be granted without providing the political rights associated with full membership. • Commissioner Kos stated that the plan includes new, stringent safeguards designed to "bite hard" if new members backslide on democracy or the rule of law after joining.

• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 529 new voting members to join its ranks, including stars Jacob Elordi, Jenna Ortega, Teyana Taylor, and Josh O'Connor. • In a separate announcement, legendary actress Glenn Close will be honored with an Honorary Award statuette at the upcoming ceremony. • This recognition for Close comes after a distinguished career featuring eight competitive Oscar nominations.

• An IRGC commander issued a direct threat to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), demanding that "Zionists" immediately withdraw from all Lebanese territory. • The commander characterized Lebanon as an "arena of resistance" rather than a "playground for occupiers" in a recent social media post. • Simultaneously, Iran's deputy Foreign Minister condemned several NATO member states, escalating diplomatic tensions in the region.

• On the 25th, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok announced that the government will not submit the prosecution reform plan developed by the Prosecution Reform Promotion Team, despite maintaining a basic position to abolish the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority. • Advisory committee members condemned the decision as "irresponsible," claiming Kim abandoned his official duties to prioritize his political ambitions for the Democratic Party's leadership election in August. • This conflict highlights a significant rift between the government's executive leadership and the specialized team tasked with implementing legal reforms.

Australian woman Leah Stewart no longer in critical condition but doesn’t yet have use of her handA woman who was attacked by a shark at Sydney’s Coogee’s beach is no longer in a critical condition and “remembers the whole event in detail”, her brother has said.Leah Stewart’s brother, Joshua, provided the update on a fundraising site on Thursday, writing that it was “amazing to hear from her so much sooner than anyone expected” and she had been “overjoyed” to see her daughter for the first time since the incident almost two weeks ago. Continue reading...

• The European Film Academy has announced a new group of emerging members for 2026, including filmmakers such as Lukas Dhont from Belgium and Zofia Kujawska from Poland. • New members represent a diverse range of nations, including Armenia, France, Germany, Greenland, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, and the UK. • These appointments are significant as members are eligible to register and vote for the annual European Film Awards, helping determine the nominations and winners.