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• The new Supergirl film, starring Milly Alcock, opened with a box office collection of $18 million on June 28, 2026. • The DC reboot is facing significant competition from the release of Toy Story 5, impacting its initial performance. • This opening serves as a critical early indicator of the success of the new DC cinematic direction.

• Canada has officially gained the right to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest after the public broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada secured full membership in the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). • This move allows Canada to participate in the prestigious competition, which previously served as a launchpad for global superstars like Celine Dion. • The membership is intended to strengthen international cultural ties and provide a global platform for Canadian musical talent.

• A non-European country's public broadcaster has officially become a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) following a successful vote. • This membership grants the nation the eligibility to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest, which is typically reserved for European nations. • The move is significant as it expands the global reach and inclusivity of the competition by allowing a new region to participate.

• The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has identified Turkey as one of the top 10 global perpetrators of transnational repression. • An accompanying report details alleged operations by Turkish intelligence targeting exiled journalists and individuals associated with the faith-based Gülen movement. • This designation highlights a systemic pattern of Turkey extending its domestic security apparatus to harass and attack dissidents living outside its borders.

Buttigieg calls anonymous tip ‘politically motivated’ and says separation from his kids was among his ‘darkest hours’Pete Buttigieg, the former US transportation secretary, said on Friday an anonymous and baseless accusation of child abuse led child protective services to investigate his family.In a Substack post published on Friday, Buttigieg described the incident – which resulted in him being separated from his four-year-old twins – as “among the darkest hours of my life” and likened the accusation to “swatting”, the practice of calling police with a false report of an emergency to trigger a law enforcement response. Continue reading...

• The Insight Partners has released a comprehensive market analysis report detailing the retail banking landscape, focusing on services like savings accounts, loans, mortgages, and investment products for individual consumers. • The report examines key industry trends and the competitive landscape to provide strategic insights and growth opportunities for financial institutions through 2034. • This analysis is critical for stakeholders as the sector evolves to balance traditional banking models with increasing digitalization and changing consumer demands.

• Prime Minister Mark Carney has proposed that Canada join the Eurovision Song Contest as part of his 2025 budget. • The move highlights Canada's historical connection to the event, notably when Quebec-born singer Céline Dion won the competition in 1988 while representing Switzerland. • This potential entry would mark a significant expansion of the contest's reach into North America.

The LNP’s unapologetic moves on crime, transgender healthcare and police-led suppression of protests are a throwback to days many thought had come and goneGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA sign stopped Aunty Sandra King in her tracks. The elder of the Yagara, Quandamooka and Bundjalung people, now in her 70s, spoke at a protest last month against plans to build an Olympic stadium in the heart of Brisbane’s Victoria Park.In the crowd a man held aloft a homemade placard with the words “I Preferred Joh”. Continue reading...

• Indonesia's digital competitiveness score increased to 42.2 in 2026, up from 38.8 in 2025, according to the East Ventures Digital Competitiveness Index 2026. • Jakarta and West Java emerged as the leading regions, contributing to an overall average provincial score increase of more than 50 percent since 2020. • The report notes a moderation in the pace of digital talent development as the rapid rise of AI shifts market demand toward more advanced technical competencies.

Government draft bill to ban abusive practices in England and Wales hailed as ‘historic’ by campaigners Perpetrators of so-called ‘conversion therapy’ against LGBTQ+ people could face up to five years in prison under proposals hailed as a “historic and long overdue” milestone by campaigners.The government has published its draft conversion practices bill, which would ban abusive conversion practices that aim to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity in England and Wales. Continue reading...

• Cannes Lions 2026 has announced the shortlist for the Entertainment Lions category, featuring 62 finalists. • The selection highlights brands that successfully transformed branded content into entertainment through film, talent, and cultural experiences. • This category is a critical benchmark for measuring how brands compete with traditional entertainment to drive cultural conversations and build brand value.

Queensland boy, now aged 17, wrote of ‘autistic interest in bombs’ alongside notes speaking to his troubled state of mind, court toldFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA teenager accused of plotting nailbomb attacks against the then opposition leader Peter Dutton and a Labour Day march has been found not guilty of preparing a terrorist act.The jury returned its verdict on Thursday after two days of deliberation. Continue reading...

An additional case is suspected in Western Australia, which would bring the total number of bird flu infections to fourFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDeadly H5 bird flu has been confirmed in two Australian states after a migratory seabird tested positive for the disease in South Australia.Western Australia also has another suspected positive case, in a southern giant petrel, found in the Quindalup region in the state’s south west. Continue reading...

• Actor David Corenswet gained widespread internet praise on June 24, 2026, after he was seen protecting co-star Milly Alcock on a red carpet. • Social media users have lauded the actor's chivalry, with many fans calling him a "real life Superman" in reference to his role. • The incident highlights the ongoing public scrutiny and pressure celebrities face from paparazzi during high-profile media events.

• KBS reporters have filed a constitutional petition seeking to overturn final defamation judgments and damages awarded after they reported on a businessperson's prior convictions. • The Constitutional Court of Korea has decided to conduct a full review of the case to determine if the rulings violated the reporters' freedom of the press. • This case tests the boundaries of journalistic accountability versus the right to report on public interest information, specifically regarding the disclosure of criminal records.

Democratic primary elections to test strength of party’s left flank as old guard faces string of challengesNew Yorkers were voting on Tuesday in a slate of Democratic primaries poised to reveal the strength of the party’s left flank and shape the battle for control of the US House of Representatives in November.Voters in Maryland and Utah will also nominate congressional candidates on Tuesday, while South Carolina holds a series of runoff elections for candidates who did not receive a majority of the vote earlier this month. Continue reading...

Estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon is sentenced for stealing from party over 12-year periodPeter Murrell has been sentenced to five years and three months in jail after he admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the Scottish National party while he was its chief executive.Murrell stole the money over a 12-year period, splashing out on a luxury motorhome, a Jaguar SUV, Montblanc pens and luxury watches, a set of Lalique salt and pepper grinders and 2kg of coffee granules. Continue reading...

• Peter Andre expressed dissatisfaction after Lee Andrews, the new husband of Katie Price, claimed to have "adopted" Price's children, including Junior and Princess. • The claims were later revealed to be a farce, as investigations found no legitimate information about Andrews' company on its official website. • Further evidence suggests that Andrews' social media presence is fraudulent, with photos showing him alongside various celebrities appearing to be AI-generated.

Experts thought H5N1 bird flu would more likely reach Australia’s north. But an arrival from Antarctica had always been possibleGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBrown skuas and giant petrels are a common sight offshore in southern Australian waters in the winter months, but they will rarely risk venturing on to land.So when two of these birds were discovered sick – on beaches a few kilometres apart on Western Australia’s southern coastline – it was a sign something might be wrong. Continue reading...

Defence barrister claims teenager was a ‘troubled kid’ but crown prosecutor says he was serious when he wrote of copying US domestic terroristsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA teenager accused of preparing a nail bombing campaign was either a “troubled kid” who made edgy jokes or a determined terrorist in waiting, a court has been told.The teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, spent last week on trial in the Brisbane supreme court after pleading not guilty to one count of acts done in preparation for or planning a terrorist act. Continue reading...

Figures including Jared Kushner and Scott Bessent named in directory of Dialog participants that was exposed onlineA website leak has exposed participants in the secretive, Peter Thiel-founded Dialog retreats which includes top politicians from across the American divide, officials from foreign countries, other titans of the tech industry world and prominent media figures.The annual Dialog retreats, which have been compared to other quasi-secret elite conferences like the Bilderberg Group and Bohemian Grove since they began in 2006, have had some participants revealed in previous media reports. Fairly little is known about the invitation-only event, which is usually held at luxury establishments around the world and features organized discussions on global affairs. Continue reading...

• The European Union is deploying 19 AI Factory hubs and planning nine new supercomputers to integrate industrial AI into its manufacturing sector. • This strategic push aims to close the competitive gap with the US and China, leveraging Europe's existing manufacturing expertise as a "competitive moat." • A significant funding disparity persists, with the US receiving 75% of global AI venture capital compared to less than 12% flowing into Europe.

US defence secretary addresses allies in latest attempt to get Europe to raise military budgetsPete Hegseth has announced a review of US military presence across Europe, in a combative address to Nato allies where he threatened to cut force numbers in countries spending the least on defence.The US defence secretary, speaking at a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels, accused some countries of “free riding” and others of being shameful for not allowing their airbases to be used by US jets bombing Iran in the spring. Continue reading...

• Actress Mary Stuart Masterson made a rare red carpet appearance at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this month. • The appearance was made to support her new movie, 'Rain Reign,' marking her first time at the New York event since 2021. • This event is significant as Masterson has seldom appeared at high-profile red carpet functions in recent years.

Video taken after the shooting shows a woman sobbing over the pet with nearly a dozen officers standing aroundPolice in California shot and killed a family’s pet dog wearing a New York Knicks jersey after they were called to a report of a screaming woman who turned out to be celebrating the basketball team’s championship win.Video of the aftermath of Saturday’s shooting of the two-year-old doodle named Jameson, “the sweetest boy in the world”, according to the dog’s owner, received millions of views on TikTok on Tuesday. Continue reading...

• The Center for Social Development Studies (CSDS) analyzes Europe's current competitiveness crisis, arguing that the EU's historical reliance on unrestricted free trade is no longer sufficient. • The report suggests that while liberal trade policies worked when Europe held a technological and industrial lead, they now perpetuate existing global network effects that disadvantage the region. • This shift matters because the EU must now transition from a passive liberal orientation toward actively constructing comparative advantages to remain globally competitive.

• Major Chinese AI firms, including Tencent, MiniMax, and Alibaba, have significantly slashed prices for their AI models to combat intense market competition. • Specific cuts include Tencent reducing Hy-MT2-Pro costs by nearly 70%, MiniMax halving prices for its M3 series, and Alibaba offering 50% off its Qwen3.7-Max system during the 618 midyear sales event. • This price war is driven by narrowing capability gaps between different AI models and the overall falling cost of providing AI services.

• At the 2026 ULI Europe Conference in Berlin, experts discussed strategies for maintaining European competitiveness amidst increasing global fragmentation. • Speakers argued that Europe should focus on its unique strengths in governance, resilience, capital formation, and the quality of its livable cities rather than attempting to match the scale of China or the U.S. • Real estate is highlighted as a key advantage due to the continent's diversified systems, which allow for investment opportunities across various sectors and business cycles.