Canada is now allowed to join the Eurovision Song Contest because its public broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada became a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). This step makes Canada the newest possible participant in the contest, joining other non-European countries like Israel and Australia.
Key Facts
CBC/Radio-Canada became a full member of the EBU, which is required to compete in Eurovision.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney included the idea of joining Eurovision in the 2025 budget.
Canada is not the first non-European country to compete; Israel and Australia regularly take part, and Morocco competed once.
Canada has not formally competed in Eurovision before, but Canadian singers have represented other countries and even won.
Celine Dion, a Canadian, won the contest in 1988 while representing Switzerland.
The Canadian government allocated C$150 million to fund the broadcaster, which may support Eurovision participation.
The EBU said Canada’s membership makes the broadcasting community stronger.
Other Canadian artists have competed for France in Eurovision, including Natasha St-Pier and La Zarra.
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The UK has broken its highest June temperature record for three days straight as part of a severe heatwave caused by global warming. Experts and officials warn that the extreme heat poses health risks, could disrupt services, and the government is urged to take stronger action to protect people and infrastructure.
Key Facts
The UK reached a new June temperature high of 36.9°C in Wattisham, Suffolk.
The heatwave is the worst ever recorded in western Europe.
Parliament’s environmental audit committee warns of likely deaths and damage to hospitals, schools, transport, and water systems.
More than 1,200 schools were closed due to unsafe heat levels.
The Climate Change Committee says 92% of UK homes will overheat within 20 years without improvements.
Experts call for measures like maximum workplace temperatures, air conditioning for vulnerable people, and changes to school schedules.
The National Heat Risk Commission estimates economic losses in the hundreds of millions of pounds due to heat impacts.
Officials warn the UK is unprepared and must urgently adapt to rising temperatures caused by climate change.
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In France, the murder of an 11-year-old schoolgirl named Lyhanna has caused widespread public anger. A government investigation revealed serious mistakes in how authorities handled the case, leading to nationwide protests demanding justice.
Key Facts
An 11-year-old girl named Lyhanna was murdered in France.
A man is suspected of killing her.
A French government inquiry found that officials made many errors during the investigation.
These mistakes are described as systemic, meaning they happen often within the justice system.
The case has sparked mass protests across France as people express their outrage.
The story highlights broader issues with how child abuse and related crimes are handled in the country.
The public and organizations are calling for judicial reforms to prevent future failures.
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CBS News visited southern Lebanon, specifically the ancient city of Tyre, during ongoing fighting between Israel and the group Hezbollah. Reporters spoke with local residents about how the conflict is affecting their lives.
Key Facts
Fighting is happening between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
CBS News traveled to southern Lebanon to report on the situation.
The ancient city of Tyre was a focus of the report.
Reporters interviewed people living in Tyre to learn about their experiences.
The news coverage aims to show the impact of the conflict on local communities.
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Iraq’s new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has started a campaign to fight corruption, leading to the arrest of several senior officials and the seizure of large amounts of money and assets. While some progress is being made, many believe deeper, longer-standing corruption issues still need to be tackled.
Key Facts
Tens of millions of dollars, along with properties, vehicles, and gold, were seized in recent anticorruption arrests.
Adnan al-Jumaili, a senior Oil Ministry official, and Raed al-Jubouri, former governor of Salah al-Din, have been arrested.
The investigation targets corruption in government contracts and waste of public funds.
Prime Minister al-Zaidi created the Supreme Sovereign Council for Integrity, to monitor and prevent corruption.
Iraq ranks 136 out of 182 countries on the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index.
Some older and politically sensitive corruption cases remain unaddressed.
Al-Zaidi cancelled a $764 million airport project citing suspected corruption.
Anticorruption activists say Iraq’s political system is built around graft and misuse of state resources.
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Paris has banned drinking alcohol in public places, except for outdoor areas at bars and restaurants, to help reduce hospital visits during a record-breaking heat wave. The heat wave is linked to human-caused climate change and has caused many deaths and warnings across Europe.
Key Facts
Paris banned public drinking of alcohol starting Friday noon until the heat wave alert ends.
Buying alcohol for take-away is also banned during this time, but bars and restaurants can sell drinks to be consumed on their outdoor patios.
Hospitals in Paris are overwhelmed with dehydration cases due to the extreme heat.
At least 55 people have drowned in France recently while trying to cool off in natural water bodies.
The Netherlands issued its first-ever red heat alert, predicting temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Scientists say this heat wave would have been nearly impossible 50 years ago without human-caused climate change.
Human actions that increase greenhouse gases are raising heat wave risks and severity.
The study recommends quickly stopping the use of fossil fuels to avoid even hotter temperatures in the future.
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Two earthquakes hit parts of Venezuela, causing serious damage and loss of life. Rescue teams are searching through rubble for people who may still be trapped.
Key Facts
The earthquakes occurred on a Wednesday.
They caused severe damage to buildings and infrastructure.
Emergency workers and search and rescue teams are actively looking for survivors.
The death toll is currently rising as more information becomes available.
The disaster has left communities in urgent need of help.
CBS News correspondent Cristian Benavides reported on the situation.
Rescue efforts are ongoing amid difficult conditions.
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An auction house in Northern Ireland is selling human remains, including a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy head and a tribal skull from Indonesia. Experts and some politicians have criticized the sale, questioning whether it is ethical to trade in human remains, even if it is legal.
Key Facts
On The Square Emporium in Bangor, Northern Ireland, is auctioning two human heads: an ancient Egyptian mummy head and a Dayak tribal skull from Borneo.
The Egyptian head is radio-carbon dated to between 750 and 800 BC and was brought to the UK by a British soldier during World War One.
The Dayak tribal skull is also dated to around 800-750 BC.
The auction house owner, Justin Lowry, says people see human remains as objects and collectors value them for their history and appearance.
Anthropologists and a Labour MP argue that selling human remains is unethical and have called for new laws to ban the trade in the UK.
A letter from the British Association of Biological Anthropology and Osteoarcheology raises concerns about how these remains were originally collected, often in unethical or illegal ways.
There has been an increase in online sales of human remains, partly due to social media.
Experts say the remains are still human beings, and selling them raises serious moral questions.
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Civil society groups are urgently asking the United Nations Human Rights Council to act quickly to stop possible violent attacks in the Sudanese city of el-Obeid. They warn that paramilitary forces called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) might soon launch an attack, risking serious human rights abuses.
Key Facts
Thirty-eight NGOs, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, signed an open letter asking for UN action to prevent violence in el-Obeid.
The RSF has surrounded el-Obeid, a key city in South Kordofan, for months amid fighting with Sudan’s army since April 2023.
The letter calls for an urgent UN debate, a fact-finding mission, and accountability for violations in Sudan.
The RSF previously attacked el-Fasher in 2025, with incidents described as having genocide-like features.
NGOs warn of a likely “imminent ground offensive” by the RSF and allied forces against el-Obeid.
The letter urges condemning countries, like the United Arab Emirates, accused of supplying arms to the RSF. The UAE denies these claims.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 12 million people.
The NGOs demand an end to impunity for those committing or supporting serious violations under international law.
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Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem demanded that Israel withdraw its troops completely and without conditions from Lebanon. This statement came during ongoing ceasefire talks between Lebanon and Israel, which have been extended in Washington to try and reach an agreement.
Key Facts
Hezbollah wants Israel to leave all Lebanese territory without any conditions.
Israeli troops are still deep inside southern Lebanon.
Israeli officials say they will stay despite a US-Iran ceasefire agreement calling for withdrawal.
Israeli attacks in Lebanon have decreased but continue; recent air raids caused casualties.
Israel issued warnings to Lebanese towns, asking residents to leave certain areas.
Peace talks between Lebanon and Israel began in Washington and have been extended.
Israel wants Hezbollah to fully disarm before withdrawing.
Lebanese officials seek a full ceasefire and Israel’s full withdrawal, but no firm Israeli commitments have been made.
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Venezuela experienced a very strong earthquake that caused serious damage and human suffering. Experts say that a natural disaster this large would be hard for any country to handle, regardless of their government or emergency systems.
Key Facts
Venezuela was hit by a major earthquake.
The earthquake caused significant human and material damage.
Humanitarian response efforts in Venezuela are ongoing.
The disaster highlights the limits of any country’s emergency system in handling very large earthquakes.
International help is being considered or awaited.
The situation involves complex interactions between relief efforts, government capacity, and global support.
The expert quoted avoids blaming political leadership and focuses on the scale of the disaster itself.
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In Albania, protests have started because a luxury resort is being built in a protected nature reserve. The project is led by Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and some people worry it will harm wildlife while others believe it will create jobs.
Key Facts
The construction is happening in a nature reserve in southwest Albania.
The area is home to flamingos and other endangered wildlife.
Jared Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump are behind the real estate project.
Environmental activists oppose the resort to protect the nature reserve.
Some locals support the project because they expect new jobs and economic growth.
The protests have become widespread across the country.
The dispute has divided the Albanian population into supporters and opponents.
The movement against the project is sometimes called the “Flamingo Revolution.”
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Activists used thermal cameras to show how hot it gets for outdoor workers during Europe’s summer heatwaves. They recorded surface temperatures above 65°C on a construction worker, highlighting the tough conditions faced by people working outside.
Key Facts
Thermal cameras measure heat by capturing infrared radiation.
These cameras showed very high surface temperatures on outdoor workers in Europe.
One construction worker experienced surface temperatures over 65°C.
The data highlights the heat stress faced by outdoor workers during summer heatwaves.
Heatwaves in Europe are becoming more intense and frequent.
Extreme heat can affect workers’ health and safety.
Activists aim to raise awareness about these dangerous working conditions.
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Warm weather and calm seas have led to a rise in migrants trying to cross the English Channel from northern France to the UK. On June 18, 2026, 392 migrants reached the UK by small boats, with over 10,000 arriving so far this year.
Key Facts
Migrants attempt to cross the Channel from near Calais, France to the UK by small boats.
On June 18, 2026, 392 migrants successfully crossed the Channel to the UK.
In 2026 so far, 10,244 migrants have made the crossing.
Migrants come from countries including Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, Nigeria, and Uganda.
Many migrants try repeatedly after failing to board boats.
The increase in crossings is linked to warm, calm weather conditions.
The report was made by France 24 and features footage from Gravelines near Calais.
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A light aircraft crashed on a farm near Dunkeswell Airfield in Devon, killing the pilot, a woman believed to be in her 40s. Emergency services responded quickly, and authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
Key Facts
The crash happened around 10:00 BST on a Friday near Dunkeswell Aerodrome in east Devon.
The pilot, reportedly the only person on board, died at the scene.
Police have informed the pilot’s next of kin.
Investigations involve Devon and Cornwall Police and the Air Accident Investigation Branch.
The police asked the public not to speculate or share crash footage online and requested anyone with relevant footage to contact them.
Several fire crews attended the scene.
Dunkeswell Aerodrome is the highest licensed airfield in the UK and was originally built as a US naval base during World War Two.
Road closures were put in place around the crash site.
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A recent study found that great apes laugh in ways similar to humans. This suggests that humans and apes may share a common ancestor who laughed about 15 million years ago, and that ape laughter helps explain how human speech evolved.
Key Facts
Researchers studied old videos of different great ape species laughing.
Ape laughter shares some features with human laughter.
The study estimates a common ancestor of apes and humans laughed 15 million years ago.
Laughing may have played a role in the development of human speech.
The research provides new insights into the connection between animal communication and human language.
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The US government has placed sanctions on Rwanda’s Gasabo Gold Refinery and two of its leaders for allegedly smuggling minerals from rebel areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). The sanctions accuse a network linked to the M23 rebel group of moving gold worth millions of dollars, and involve freezing assets and blocking business with Americans.
Key Facts
The US sanctioned Gasabo Gold Refinery, its chairman Jean Malic Kalima, and general manager Bosco Kayobotsi.
The refinery is accused of smuggling minerals from eastern DR Congo, controlled by the M23 rebel group.
The US alleges at least 60kg of gold was smuggled to Rwanda in early 2026.
Rwandan officials and soldiers are accused of overseeing the smuggling system.
The European Union had previously sanctioned Gasabo Gold Refinery for exploiting conflict in DR Congo.
Three mining companies owned by Kalima were also sanctioned by the US.
Sanctions freeze assets under US jurisdiction and prevent Americans from doing business with these parties.
The moves follow a peace deal signed by Rwanda and DR Congo aimed at ending conflict and improving mineral trade transparency.
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Two strong earthquakes hit Venezuela near the Caribbean coast within seconds of each other. The earthquakes had magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, causing significant damage and loss.
Key Facts
Venezuela experienced two large earthquakes, called a "doublet," hitting very close in time.
The first earthquake measured 7.2 in magnitude.
The second earthquake was even stronger, measuring 7.5 in magnitude.
Both quakes struck near the Caribbean coast of Venezuela.
Such double earthquakes are rare events.
The earthquakes caused deaths and damage in the affected areas.
The information was reported by Al Jazeera and explained by their correspondent Lina Serene.
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King Charles will not live in Buckingham Palace after its £369 million renovation, choosing instead to remain at Clarence House. The palace will continue to host state functions and welcome tourists, with plans to improve office space and increase public access once the refurbishment is complete next year.
Key Facts
Buckingham Palace is undergoing a £369 million upgrade, expected to finish next year.
King Charles has decided not to live in Buckingham Palace, preferring Clarence House nearby.
Clarence House was previously home to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and is more intimate.
Buckingham Palace will still be used for official state events like banquets, receptions, and ceremonies.
The palace has 775 rooms, including 188 for staff and 92 offices.
Renovations will make better use of space and may allow offices from St James’s Palace to relocate.
The renovations aim to increase public access to Buckingham Palace, a popular tourist site.
King Charles’s age and health are factors in his decision to stay at Clarence House.
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Japan’s imperial family has very few male heirs left, which is causing a debate about how to keep the male-only royal bloodline going. This issue comes as Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako finish a trip to Europe, where they noticed that some European royal families allow women to inherit the throne.
Key Facts
Japan’s imperial family follows a male-only rule for succession, meaning only men can become emperor.
There are very few male heirs left in the Japanese imperial family.
This has started a national debate on whether to change the rules to allow female heirs.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako recently visited Europe for two weeks.
European countries like the Netherlands and Belgium have female royals eligible to succeed the throne.
The Japanese imperial bloodline is said to be 2,600 years old, making it the world’s oldest monarchy.
Changing the male-only succession rule would break a long-standing tradition in Japan.
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