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• Canada is now officially eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest after CBC/Radio-Canada became a full member of the European Broadcasting Union. • While Canada has not previously competed as a nation, Canadian artists have won before, most notably Celine Dion, who represented Switzerland and won in 1988. • This membership marks a significant expansion of the contest's reach, allowing the North American broadcaster to engage with the international competition.

• The U.S. and its allies are exploring strategies to reduce global economic reliance on the Strait of Hormuz following lessons learned from conflicts with Iran. • Proposed measures include increasing strategic oil stockpiles and constructing new pipelines to bypass the waterway's potential for disruption. • Alternatively, some analysts suggest that economic integration, such as a memorandum of understanding to raise $300 billion for Iran's reconstruction, could incentivize cooperation.

• Celebrities including Dwayne Johnson, Catherine Laga'aia, Rihanna, and Pedro Pascal have been spotted in various global locations, with Johnson and Laga'aia appearing in Sydney for 'Moana' related activities. • In London on June 22, Emma Watson spoke at The Royal Foundation's United for Wildlife event, while Tom Holland and Zendaya attended the 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' photo call in Berlin on the same day. • These updates provide a snapshot of current high-profile promotional tours and philanthropic engagements across major cities like Los Angeles and Berlin.

• Australian TV personality Karl Stefanovic is reportedly leaving his long-term role as the host of a popular breakfast show. • The departure follows a controversial interview with far-right activist Tommy Robinson, adding to a history of public scandals including on-air intoxication and disparaging remarks about a co-host. • Stefanovic's exit marks the end of a tenure spanning nearly two decades, during which he previously stepped down in 2018 due to poor ratings and personal life scrutiny.

• South Korea's equity market is experiencing surging volatility, drawing comparisons to "meme-stock" trends due to the overwhelming dominance of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. • The concentration of market influence within these two semiconductor giants is identified as the primary driver of the current instability. • This volatility matters as it reflects a precarious reliance on a few massive tech firms, potentially distorting broader market valuations and investor behavior.

• India has emerged as the leader in AI adoption within the Asia Pacific region, according to the 16th annual Adobe AI and Digital Trends Report published on June 25. • A significant 60% of Indian consumers expressed a desire to build their own personal AI agents to manage complex tasks. • This trend highlights a shift toward "agentic AI," where systems move beyond simple responses to autonomously executing sophisticated workflows.

Exclusive: Trade union backs energy secretary to replace Rachel Reeves, but two other big unions are opposedUK politics live – latest updatesBritain’s biggest trade union has endorsed Ed Miliband for chancellor, as the race to take over the Treasury under a potential Andy Burnham government intensifies.Unison has become the most high-profile organisation to back the current energy secretary, who is one of two frontrunners to replace Rachel Reeves in No 11, but who is being opposed by two other major unions – GMB and Unite. Continue reading...

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is an anti-Islamic, far-right political activist well known in the UK and EuropeGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe man who calls himself Tommy Robinson has roared into prominence in Australia after the morning TV mainstay Karl Stefanovic posted an interview with Robinson for his podcast.The fallout was swift. Nine Entertainment, Australia’s largest locally owned media empire, is widely expected to sever ties with Stefanovic, and he will not appear on a radio show with Eddie McGuire on Friday. Continue reading...

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...

Estate agents are offering a 30% stake in former Russian spy’s house for £114,000, with the rest owned by the councilThe house in Salisbury where the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal was poisoned with the nerve agent novichok is up for sale.A 30% shared ownership of the house on Christie Miller road is being offered for £114,000, with the rest being held by Wiltshire council. Continue reading...

• Tate Modern is hosting a major summer exhibition focusing on Frida Kahlo's evolution into a global icon, though the show features a limited number of her original works. • The exhibition explores how Kahlo intentionally initiated her own iconic status, a perspective supported by leading feminist art historians. • The scarcity of works reflects broader tensions, such as the April protests in Mexico City over the long-term loan of key pieces, including the 1933 "Self-Portrait with Necklace," to Spain.

Nine Entertainment is expected to sever ties with the Today show host but is yet to make details of the separation publicKarl Stefanovic won’t appear on his scheduled Friday afternoon radio show with Eddie McGuire after widespread criticism of his podcast interview with UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson.Stefanovic only recently signed the deal with ARN Media to co-host The Long Weekend nationally on Gold FM, but the threat of an advertising boycott has led to the contract being reviewed, Guardian Australia understands. Continue reading...

• Head coach Hong Myung-bo has named the starting lineup for South Korea's final Group A match against South Africa in the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup. • Striker Oh Hyun-kyu and Hwang Hee-chan will start the match, while star players Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung have been placed on the bench. • The game takes place on June 25 at Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico, and is described as a decisive encounter for the team's group stage standing.

New party dubbed Community Strong Australia follows secret talks about future of community independentsTeal independents Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender have launched a new political party called Community Strong Australia, with the aim of providing a centrist alternative for voters amid the rise of One Nation and the turmoil inside the Coalition.The party will focus on issues including housing affordability, cost of living, climate change, childcare, education, healthcare and social cohesion, according to Steggall, the member for Warringah. Continue reading...

Former Georgia congresswoman on social media says she’s ‘fed up’ and done backing a party ‘that betrays its voters’Former US congresswoman and Trump loyalist Marjorie Taylor Greene has announced that she is finished backing the Republican party, aligning herself with TV rightwinger Tucker Carlson after his own high-profile rejection of the GOP just months ahead of the midterm elections.During a recent episode of the Can’t Be Censored podcast, Carlson said when he appeared as a guest there was “no chance” he would support the Republican party any more, after years of being a prominent booster for Donald Trump. Continue reading...

Woman posed as sex worker and drugged men in order to steal from them with accompliceA woman posed as a sex worker and administered a deadly amount of sedative to two men so that she and an accomplice could steal from them.Adina Mihai, 31, and Madalin Dumitru, 30, admitted the manslaughter of an 80-year-old Gloucestershire man and a 37-year-old from Oxfordshire. Continue reading...

• The Indian Air Force defeated the Indian Army (Southern Command) with a 2-0 score in the opening match of the seventh Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh Memorial Hockey Tournament. • Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Shami are among the high-profile names headlining the upcoming third season of the Delhi Premier League. • These updates highlight key developments in Indian domestic sports, spanning both military hockey competitions and regional cricket leagues.

• Emma Watson made a rare public appearance at a high-profile event alongside other notable figures, including Prince William and Benedict Cumberbatch. • The appearance marks a significant return to the spotlight for the 'Harry Potter' star, who has largely retreated from Hollywood. • Watson has not taken on a new movie role in seven years, making her presence at the event a point of interest for the entertainment industry.

Denunciation comes after former Democratic Unionist leader convicted of child sexual offencesThe Democratic Unionist party has denounced Jeffrey Donaldson as a “wicked deceiver” who led a “double and duplicitous life” a day after its former leader was convicted of child sexual offences.Leaders at the Stormont assembly on Tuesday sought to distance the DUP from Donaldson and described him as a manipulator who had hoodwinked Northern Ireland and hid his crimes behind a facade of respectability and Christian faith. Continue reading...

In a 6-3 opinion, the court says Louisiana prisoner cannot sue guards after he grew his hair for more than 20 yearsThe US supreme court refused on Tuesday to let a Rastafarian man sue ⁠state prison officials in Louisiana ⁠after guards held him ​down and shaved him bald in violation of his religious beliefs, in a landmark case.The case was brought under a federal law designed to protect incarcerated people from religious discrimination. Continue reading...

• 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.

• President Lee Jae Myung called for a thorough investigation into the National Election Commission on the 23rd, specifically citing budget waste and hiring irregularities. • Lee emphasized that because the Commission is a constitutionally independent body, the government lacks the authority to intervene in its management or control. • The move follows a rebuke from the National Assembly's special committee on state affairs, which questioned whether the Commission was engaging in collective misconduct.

One Nation leader says she isn’t suggesting Australia get rid of taxpayer-funded parental leave entitlementsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPauline Hanson says small businesses will “fold” under the cost of providing paid parental leave, as Labor suggested the One Nation leader didn’t understand how the policy worked.It is not compulsory for employers to pay parental leave entitlements in Australia, though most businesses do provide it and employees are entitled to 12 months of unpaid leave. Continue reading...

Herbicide manufacturer Sygenta had reservations dating back to 1970s but regulator says tighter controls, including phasing out backpack sprayers, can protect workersFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe herbicide paraquat, banned in over 70 countries, will remain legal in Australia despite Parkinson’s groups, scientists and neurologists arguing there is a strong correlation between direct exposure and the incidence of the disease.The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) announced its final decision on Tuesday following a decades-long review of the highly toxic paraquat and a related chemical, diquat. Both are widely used in Australian agriculture. Continue reading...