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• CBC/Radio-Canada is refusing to disclose the potential financial costs associated with Canada participating in the Eurovision Song Contest. • The broadcaster's lack of transparency comes amid public interest and speculation regarding the feasibility of joining the international competition. • This secrecy complicates the assessment of whether the public broadcaster can afford the entry fees and production expenses required for the event.

• NASA is preparing to launch the Roman Space Telescope on August 30, marking the arrival of the agency's next major space observatory. • The telescope is designed for unprecedented efficiency, capable of completing Milky Way observations in one month that would take the Hubble Space Telescope approximately a century to finish. • This mission matters because it will enable astronomers to perform tasks and observations that are currently impossible with existing technology.

What once felt exceptional now arrives with grim regularity​ all over the continent, and it will only get worse• Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereSpain has changed immeasurably since I arrived here 10 years ago to begin work as the Guardian’s Madrid correspondent.Over that time, the push for Catalan independence has exploded, sputtered and faded out; the Covid pandemic has hit with unimaginable ferocity, before seeming to linger for a face-masked eternity; and Podemos and Ciudadanos – the two upstart parties that once seemed likely to alter the Spanish political landscape irrevocably – have risen and fallen. Continue reading...

• U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that Chinese firms, including Moonshot AI, may face sanctions or be added to the U.S. Entity List. • The accusations stem from reports that Moonshot AI allegedly used proprietary outputs from American models, such as those from Anthropic, to develop its latest large language model, Kimi K3. • This move signals a tightening of U.S. oversight regarding the misuse of advanced American AI technology by foreign competitors to accelerate their own development.

• Democratic state election and law enforcement officials are developing contingency plans to prevent potential federal interference during upcoming midterm elections. • The preparations follow comments from Donald Trump, who expressed regret over not seizing voting machines after the 2020 election and has signaled a desire to use federal powers to influence election administration. • This move highlights growing concerns over the stability of democratic processes and the potential for executive overreach to undermine state-led voting systems.

Warning in place until Sunday morning in southern and central regions after drought declared in parts of WalesHeat alerts are in place across parts of England, with officials saying temperatures are likely to have an impact on health and wellbeing.The yellow heat health alerts issued for the East Midlands, east of England, London, south-east, south-west and West Midlands are in place until 9am on Sunday. Continue reading...

• India, captained by Shreyas Iyer, has secured direct entry into the quarter-finals of the Asian Games cricket tournament. • The competition will be held in Nagoya, Japan, utilizing the T20 format for both the men's and women's events. • Other opening matchups include Bangladesh vs. China, Sri Lanka vs. Malaysia, and Pakistan vs. Thailand, with winners advancing to the semi-finals.

Suspect allegedly yelled ‘Allahu Akbar’ before attacking a 57-year-old Asian man and a 50-year-old Jewish manNew York City police are investigating a pair of stabbings near Central Park as a possible hate crime, police commissioner Jessica Tisch said Thursday.The suspect, Raul Morales, allegedly stabbed a 57-year-old Asian man in the back with a knife, then stabbed a 50-year-old Jewish man in the torso with a screwdriver, according to a New York police department spokesperson. Morales allegedly yelled “Allahu Akbar” before the stabbings, police said. The attacks occurred about two blocks apart and in broad daylight in Manhattan’s affluent Upper West Side neighborhood. Continue reading...

• NASA astronauts successfully grew a unique, scroll-like crystal aboard the International Space Station (ISS) using ordinary salts. • The experiment demonstrates how the absence of gravity allows crystals to form shapes that are physically impossible to replicate naturally on Earth. • This discovery is significant because it reveals new insights into the structural behavior of materials and chemical crystallization processes in microgravity.

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has indicated a potential cabinet reshuffle following the resignation of Jens Spahn as parliamentary leader. • The departure of Spahn, a top figure within the CDU, increases political pressure on the ruling conservative party. • This leadership instability comes at a critical time as the government prepares for upcoming key regional elections.

Investors say they will work with Andy Burnham but hire litigation specialists amid reports the firm could enter temporary public ownershipThe group of investors pursuing a rescue bid for Thames Water have said they are willing to discuss greater public control, but are also preparing for a potential multi-billion pound legal battle amid reports Andy Burnham could temporarily nationalise Britain’s biggest water company.London & Valley Water (L&VW), a consortium of 100 institutional investors that hold £17bn of the water company’s £21bn debt, has said it is open to government involvement with Thames Water, but indicated that this does not include public ownership in the struggling company. Continue reading...

As the climate crisis fuels more intense blazes, pushing them to new parts of the world, those tackling them are forced to ration resources and decide which to fightCésar Alcaraz had only just become a firefighter in the late 1990s when he found himself ambushed by a fast-moving blaze. Barely able to breathe and with no more water left in his truck, he and his colleagues fled an inferno ravaging Spain’s Montgó mountain region, wishing their bosses had sent more support.But nearly three decades on, as an officer with Alicante’s provincial firefighters, Alcaraz has more sympathy for the agonising choices that commanders have to make. When wildfires overwhelm an area, his job resembles that of a doctor in an emergency room with too few ventilators. Continue reading...

• Astronauts on the private Fram2 Crew Dragon mission successfully performed the first-ever medical X-rays in orbit in 2025. • The mission utilized a new portable X-ray device capable of diagnosing medical issues like broken bones, as well as identifying damage to satellites and spacesuits. • This milestone is critical for long-term space travel, providing essential diagnostic capabilities for patients traveling to the moon or Mars.

Detectives examining whether hatred of Widdecombe’s strong views or of Reform party were factors in killing described as a ‘targeted attack’The police investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe is examining whether a leftwing or single-issue cause may lie behind her killing, the Guardian has learned.Among issues detectives are investigating are whether a hatred of Widdecombe’s strong views, such as on homosexuality, was a factor. They are also examining whether extreme hostility to the Reform UK party played a role. Continue reading...

• The European Commission is considering updating regulations across its 27-nation bloc to potentially ban children from using social media. • This move follows a new report and mirrors actions taken by Australia, which became the first country to bar children under 16 from these platforms last year. • Other nations, including France, Germany, Spain, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia, have already implemented or are currently weighing similar restrictive measures.

Clark has been on the end of hard fouls during careerBlack players routinely receive racist abuse in WNBAEleven Republican politicians have written to the WNBA asking the league to protect Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark from “multiple attacks” on court.Clark has been on the receiving end of hard fouls since she entered the league in 2024 after a stellar college career with Iowa. Recently, the Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas hit Clark in the throat during a game. Thomas was not called for a foul at the time but the WNBA later suspended her for one game. Thomas and her family received racist abuse and death threats after the incident. Continue reading...

Documentary No Country for Mothers details how US moms lack support, paid leave and childcare help – and hopes to inspire push for actionWhen Reshma Saujani set out to make a documentary, she was clear from the outset: it would not be released on streaming platforms, or at film festivals.Instead, No Country for Mothers – a new movie about how moms across the US are being failed – is being screened by hundreds of the subject themselves, nationwide, in person. Continue reading...

• The Hubble Space Telescope has detected light from a distant galaxy known as MXDFz4.4, which researchers previously believed should have been invisible. • This "impossible" light suggests that the galaxy existed during a period when the early universe was thought to be opaque. • The discovery is significant because it may provide critical insights into the process of cosmic reionization, explaining how the universe transitioned from opaque to transparent billions of years ago.

• Scientists from World Weather Attribution report that the recent U.S. heat wave would have been "virtually impossible" without the influence of human-driven climate change. • The analysis suggests that the current climate is "fundamentally different" from the era before the rapid increase in fossil fuel usage began warming the planet. • This finding highlights the direct link between global warming and the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.

City bosses say move would be economically disastrous, but union leaders urge likely new PM to ignore ‘vested interests’Battle lines are being drawn between City bosses and trade unions over a possible tax raid on UK banks to help fund Andy Burnham’s package for struggling households this winter.While bankers have warned the move would be “economic suicide”, union leaders have said Britain cannot afford to be “held hostage” by City lobbyists, given growing pressures to find money for defence and cost of living support. Continue reading...

Delcy Rodríguez says foreign rescue teams are arriving but people are angry at official response and limited resourcesVenezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has vowed to fight to save “as many people as possible” as the official death toll from the country’s worst earthquake in more than a century almost doubled, but frustration was growing at the perceived sluggishness of the government’s response.Rodríguez said on Friday that the official death toll had risen to 589, with nearly 3,000 people injured. Speaking during a tour of La Guaira, the most devastated region, Rodríguez said foreign search and rescue groups were starting to arrive. Continue reading...

Kremlin may attempt to test Nato cohesion as Russia comes under growing pressure from Ukraine, according to sources from two countriesTwo countries on Nato’s eastern flank have warned that Russia is preparing a possible “provocation” in the Baltic states or Poland in an effort to test the cohesion of the western military alliance.Western sources also fear there could be danger on the horizon because the Kremlin is coming under pressure from Ukraine’s campaign of long-range attacks on targets near Moscow and St Petersburg. Continue reading...

Study also finds high humidity means people in hundreds of cities are enduring their worst ever heat stressThe heatwave scorching western Europe is the most severe and widespread ever and is only possible due to the climate crisis driven by fossil fuel burning, scientists have said.Almost half of Europe’s 850 largest cities are also enduring their worst ever heat stress, a combination of temperature and humidity, they found. Muggier conditions mean sweating is less effective at cooling the body, making heatwaves even more dangerous. Continue reading...

• A deep run by the USMNT in the FIFA World Cup 2026 is expected to serve as a high-profile "shop window," increasing transfer interest in several national team players. • The tournament's visibility allows stars like Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic to showcase their skills to global clubs, as seen during the June 12 match against Paraguay. • This trend is significant because strong tournament performances often trigger lucrative moves and higher valuations for players in the international market.

• The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report, reached a three-year high in May. • This surge in prices indicates that inflation remains persistent, complicating the central bank's efforts to stabilize the economy. • The data suggests the Fed will likely keep interest rates steady for now, though the possibility of further rate hikes remains on the table if inflation does not dissipate.

• The Athletic has released a comprehensive guide detailing every possible path to the knockout rounds for all 48 teams competing in the 2026 World Cup. • The analysis breaks down specific scenarios for group finishes, such as how a win against Tunisia could secure a group lead or how a lopsided loss might jeopardize a third-place advancement. • This guide is critical for fans and analysts to understand the mathematical requirements for qualification as teams enter their final group stage matches.

• Princeton University professor and author Eddie Glaude has released a new book examining the historical connection between political turmoil and Fourth of July celebrations. • The text illustrates how tensions surrounding the nation's founding have historically reached a boiling point during independence day festivities. • This analysis is particularly timely as the United States prepares to commemorate its 250th birthday, a milestone Glaude suggests coincides with a period of significant national instability.

Assailant behind shooting that left three people dead wrote ‘incel’-like manifesto that was posted by a far-right outletPolice in Canada are warning of possible copycat attacks after three people died in a shootout in Montreal and the assailant’s lengthy manifesto, which called for “a new bloodletting”, was posted online by a far-right outlet.The document contains many of the hallmark grievances of the “involuntary celibacy” – or “incel” – movement in addition racist and misogynistic conspiracy theories. Continue reading...