Global Pulse

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  • Canada’s Carney welcomes another defector to Liberals as he nears majority

    Canada’s Carney welcomes another defector to Liberals as he nears majority

    In a seismic shift that has reshaped Canada’s federal political landscape this week, a veteran Conservative Member of Parliament from Ontario has crossed the floor to join Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party, bringing the ruling party just one seat away from securing a long-sought working majority in the House of Commons.

    Marilyn Gladu, who represents the border riding of Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong, made her party switch official this week, framing the decision as a response to her constituents’ demands for competent, forward-thinking governance focused on growing a more robust and economically independent Canada. Gladu’s defection marks the fifth time a sitting MP has abandoned their original party to join the Liberal caucus in just a matter of months, a string of moves that has rapidly eroded opposition numbers and left the Liberals on the cusp of a majority.

    After Gladu’s switch, the Liberals currently hold 171 seats in the 338-seat House of Commons. Only one more seat is needed to hit the 172-seat threshold required to form a full majority government, a goal that is now within touching distance for Carney’s administration. The string of defections began earlier this year with three Conservative MPs – Matt Jeneroux of Alberta, Chris d’Entremont of Nova Scotia, and Michael Ma of Ontario – leaving the official opposition to join the Liberals. Most recently, last month saw Lori Idlout, the MP for Nunavut, depart the New Democratic Party to caucus with Carney’s government.

    Carney embraced Gladu’s arrival in a public social media statement, framing the string of defections as a sign of growing confidence in his government’s agenda amid ongoing global economic volatility. “At a moment when the global economy faces unprecedented uncertainty, Canada’s success depends on turning our ambition into tangible progress and our existing strengths into long-term, sustained competitive advantage,” Carney wrote. “Marilyn Gladu brings exactly the kind of practical, results-focused leadership that this work demands, and I am thrilled to welcome her to our team.”

    Not surprisingly, the move drew fierce pushback from Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, who slammed the defection as part of what he called a underhanded power grab by Carney. Poilievre accused the prime minister of trying to accumulate a majority “through dirty backroom deals” rather than through a general election, and called on Gladu to trigger a by-election in her riding to let her constituents weigh in on her party switch. “The people of Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong voted for a Conservative vision of a Canada that is affordable, safe, and strong at home – not for the costly, big-spending Liberal government that Gladu has now chosen to join,” Poilievre wrote in his own social media statement.

    Gladu pushed back against that criticism in her public announcement, which included a video appearance alongside Carney, noting that her riding sits directly along the Canada-U.S. border, making economic resilience and national independence top priorities for her constituents. “My choice to join the Liberal caucus is the best decision for the priorities of our community, and most importantly, for the future of our entire country,” Gladu said. “We need a proven global leader with a clear plan to build a more resilient, more self-reliant Canada, and that is exactly what Mark Carney delivers.”

  • Chinese scientists shed light on how brain switches between thinking, perceiving

    Chinese scientists shed light on how brain switches between thinking, perceiving

    For decades, neuroscientists have puzzled over a fundamental question of human cognition: how does the same large-scale brain network seamlessly shift between deep internal thought — remembering a childhood celebration, planning next week’s work schedule, or reflecting on personal experiences — and active engagement with the outside world, such as reading a conversation partner’s facial expression or processing spoken language? Now, a team of Chinese researchers says they have resolved this longstanding mystery, uncovering a core organizational rule that governs one of the brain’s most important cognitive networks.

    Led by researchers from the Institute of Psychology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the work centers on the default mode network (DMN), a interconnected system of brain regions that has been studied by neuroscientists for decades. For years, the scientific consensus held that the DMN was exclusively dedicated to internal cognitive processes. But newer research has challenged that view, finding that the DMN also activates during externally focused cognitive tasks, from interpreting emotional cues to parsing spoken language. Prior to this new study, no research had been able to explain how a single network could effectively carry out two seemingly conflicting roles.

    To untangle this question, the research team integrated three distinct analytical approaches across multiple independent brain activity datasets: analysis of directional functional connectivity (which maps the direction of information flow between brain regions), assessment of the DMN’s intrinsic internal structure, and measurement of brain activity triggered by specific cognitive tasks. What they found upends long-held assumptions about how the DMN is organized: rather than being a single, uniform network, the DMN is actually split into two functionally distinct subregions, each specialized for a unique cognitive role.

    The team’s findings, published in the leading peer-reviewed journal *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences* (PNAS), classify these subregions by their function: receiver-type areas and sender-type areas.

    Receiver-type subregions are optimized to absorb incoming information from the outside environment, the research confirms. These areas take the lead when the brain processes external sensory input — what a person sees, hears, or experiences in their immediate surroundings — to support perception of the outside world. Sender-type subregions, by contrast, are specialized to transmit stored internal information to other brain systems. These areas draw on memories, past experiences, and internal thought to guide decision-making and action.

    Using cutting-edge functional brain imaging and large-scale data analysis techniques, the team verified these distinct roles through task-based testing. When participants completed perception-focused tasks like recognizing a familiar face, receiver-type areas showed significantly higher activation. When participants relied on stored memory to make decisions, sender-type areas became the more active of the two subregions.

    Zhang Meichao, the lead researcher on the project, explained that the DMN’s ability to support both external perception and internal cognition directly stems from this natural structural division into functionally distinct sender and receiver zones. This organizational framework allows the brain to shift smoothly between internal thought processes and engagement with the external world without conflict or cognitive overload.

    Zhang added that this breakthrough offers a new, simplified framework for understanding how the brain’s association cortex — the region responsible for high-order cognitive functions including complex thinking and flexible cognition — enables seamless transitions between internal reflection and interaction with the surrounding environment. The discovery lays a critical foundation for future research into cognitive processing, and may open new avenues for understanding neurological conditions that impact cognitive flexibility.

  • French far-right leader romantically linked to Italian princess

    French far-right leader romantically linked to Italian princess

    French far-right presidential candidate-in-waiting Jordan Bardella’s romantic relationship with Italian aristocrat and socialite Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies has been formally revealed in a high-profile exclusive by celebrity publication Paris Match, ending months of swirling public speculation about the pairing.

    The relationship, which the 30-year-old leader of the Rassemblement National (RN) had long guarded as private, was unveiled on this week’s Paris Match front page. The issue features candid new photos of the couple vacationing together on the French island of Corsica, under the headline “The idyll that no-one expected” — a reveal that many media observers have framed as a calculated, staged announcement rather than an accidental scoop.

    Rumors of the romance first emerged back in January, when the pair were spotted attending a Paris event together celebrating the 200th anniversary of French newspaper Le Figaro. For months, Bardella repeatedly declined to answer questions about his personal life, telling reporters that his private affairs remained his “last space of liberty.” The Paris Match exclusive confirms the couple has now made the voluntary decision to go public with their relationship.

    Bardella is set to stand as RN’s candidate in the 2027 French presidential election if a July court ruling bars RN’s historic party leader Marine Le Pen from running over her conviction for misappropriation of European Union parliamentary funds. Recent polling indicates that any RN candidate would be a strong contender to win the presidency, making details of Bardella’s personal life a matter of significant political interest.

    Political commentators speaking on Thursday noted two core political rationales for the timed announcement. First, they say it is critical for Bardella to enter a potential presidential campaign with full transparency around his personal life, including clarity about who would join him in the Elysée Palace as first lady if he wins. Second, the announcement is seen as a proactive move by RN to defuse potential backlash from working-class and lower-income voters, who may raise questions about the party’s populist positioning amid its leader’s connection to a member of one of Europe’s wealthiest aristocratic families.

    At 22 years old, Princess Maria Carolina holds the additional noble titles of Duchess of Calabria and Palermo. She is the daughter of Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro, one of two claimants to the headship of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies — the royal dynasty that ruled southern Italy and Sicily through much of the 19th century, before the unification of Italy stripped the family of its throne. While her royal title holds no official legal status in the modern Italian Republic, she is a distant direct descendant of King Louis XIV, France’s iconic 17th-century “Sun King.”

    According to her official public profile, Maria Carolina grew up across Rome, Monte Carlo and Paris, and currently leads a range of cultural, social and humanitarian initiatives aligned with her family’s historic heritage and values. She also collaborates on creative and philanthropic projects with her sister, Princess Maria Chiara. Fluent in six languages, she has built a social media following of more than 350,000 and maintains a close public connection to the global fashion industry. In a break from centuries of royal tradition, her father abolished the Salic law that restricted succession to male heirs, meaning she is positioned to become the next head of the Bourbon-Two Sicilies royal house.

    Paris Match’s coverage has framed the couple as a strikingly unconventional 21st-century pairing, describing them as “reinventing courtly love” for the modern era. The publication notes the stark contrast between their backgrounds: while Maria Carolina was raised in the opulence of elite European capitals, Bardella was born in a public housing flat in the working-class Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, with no inherited aristocratic title, and climbed the political ranks through his own ambition — fitting into France’s long tradition of self-made political leaders. According to the magazine’s reporting, the pair first crossed paths at the Monaco Grand Prix in May of last year, where Bardella had accompanied his father, a lifelong motor racing fan.

    It should be noted that Paris Match is owned by Bernard Arnault, the French billionaire who chairs the luxury goods conglomerate LVMH.

  • ‘Free’ McIlroy launches his Masters repeat bid

    ‘Free’ McIlroy launches his Masters repeat bid

    The 90th edition of the Masters Tournament got underway under bright, blustery conditions at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, with defending champion Rory McIlroy launching his historic bid for consecutive green jackets while 2018 winner Patrick Reed stormed out to an unexpected early lead in the opening round.

    Northern Ireland’s McIlroy, currently ranked second in the world, etched his name into golf history last year when he captured his first Masters title to complete a career Grand Slam of all four major championships. This week, he is gunning for a place among the sport’s most elite champions: only three legends of the game — Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Nick Faldo — have ever claimed back-to-back Masters titles, and McIlroy is aiming to become the fourth.

    McIlroy got his opening round off to a tested but solid start. After sending his opening tee shot drifting under pine trees on the left side of the fairway, his approach fell just short of the putting surface, but a fortuitous bounce rolled his ball onto the green. He calmly sank a five-foot par putt to save his opening hole, avoiding an early stumble on the firm, lightning-fast Augusta greens.

    Heading into the tournament, the 5-time major champion said he was taking a relaxed approach to his title defense. “I relish being free in my swing and in my thoughts” on the opening tee, he noted, while warning that the 2025 course would present one of the toughest tests in recent memory. “It’s going to be a tough test. The wind is going to be up. Greens are going to get firm. It’s certainly not going to be a birdie-fest,” McIlroy said. “It’s going to require patience. It’s going to require more of a mental grind maybe.”

    Playing alongside McIlroy, world number three and recent Players Championship winner Cameron Young got off to a rough start, opening his round with a bogey that left him early behind the curve.

    It was Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, who stole the early spotlight. The American got out to a blistering start, sinking a six-foot birdie putt on the opening hole before holing out from off the green at the second for an eagle, putting him at three-under par through just two holes and into the outright early lead.

    A tight group of chasers sat just one stroke back at two-under par, led by Kurt Kitayama, who notched back-to-back birdies at the par-three sixth and par-four seventh to hold his place in the early leaderboard.

    Even the tournament’s veteran legends put on impressive early displays. Two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal, the 57-year-old Spaniard who claimed green jackets in 1994 and 1999, birdied the par-five second and par-three third — including a stunning 30-foot curling birdie putt at the third — before parring his way through the rest of the front nine to stay within striking distance early.

    England’s Tommy Fleetwood matched Olazabal’s early run of birdies at the second and third holes, while 2019 British Open winner Shane Lowry of Ireland — who clinched the 2024 Ryder Cup for Europe with his closing putt last fall — opened with back-to-back birdies before a double bogey at the par-three fourth pulled him back down the leaderboard.

    2020 and 2024 U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who has picked up two LIV Golf titles in the past month and finished tied for fifth alongside McIlroy in last year’s final group, opened with a bogey at the second hole. He shared the early position with 2022 U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick of England and 2024 British Open and PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele, an American.

    The tournament’s top-ranked competitors were set to tee off in the afternoon groups. World number one and four-time major champion Scottie Scheffler, who is chasing a third Masters title in five seasons, was scheduled to tee off at 1:44 p.m. (1744 GMT) in the penultimate group, alongside American Gary Woodland — who claimed his first tour title in six years just two weeks ago — and Scotsman Robert MacIntyre.

    2021 U.S. Open and 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm of Spain also teed off in the afternoon wave, paired with 2024 Masters runner-up Ludvig Aberg of Sweden, who notched an impressive second-place finish in his major debut last year, and American Chris Gotterup.

  • Argentina approves Milei’s bill that eases protections for glaciers, despite environmental backlash

    Argentina approves Milei’s bill that eases protections for glaciers, despite environmental backlash

    BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — In a contentious early-morning vote that has divided lawmakers, environmental advocates and scientific communities across the country, Argentina’s national Congress has greenlit a polarizing bill backed by libertarian President Javier Milei that rolls back decades-old glacier protections to open more large-scale metal mining projects. The legislation, which already cleared the Argentine Senate in February, passed the lower chamber with a final count of 137 votes in support, 111 votes in opposition, and three abstentions, setting the stage for Milei to sign the bill into law in the coming days.

    The core change introduced by the new regulatory framework is a major narrowing of environmental protections that have stood for 14 years. Back in 2010, Argentina enacted a landmark law that imposed a full ban on all mining activity on glaciers and their surrounding periglacial zones — frozen landscapes that act as critical natural water regulators for downstream communities. Under the updated rules, only glaciers and landforms documented to have “specific hydrological functions” will retain protected status, with individual provincial governments granted the authority to make these designation decisions.

    Industry leaders in Argentina’s mining sector project that the regulatory shift will unlock more than $30 billion in new investment over the next 10 years, with roughly 70% of that capital earmarked for new copper, gold and silver extraction projects across the country. Argentina is home to more than 16,900 glaciers spanning the Andes Mountain Range and South Atlantic Islands, covering a total area of roughly 3,276 square miles. Glaciology researchers have already documented that human-driven climate change is driving rapid glacial retreat across the nation, and scientific experts warn that weakening protections puts critical water resources at severe risk. For arid regions that depend on glacial melt to sustain river systems and community water access, scientists note that increased mining activity could permanently jeopardize long-term water security.

    Opposition political forces have already slammed the bill as unconstitutional, arguing that it eliminates core environmental safeguards that protect public natural resources. But the most immediate challenge to the new law will come from the courts, where leading environmental organizations have already begun organizing a massive public class-action lawsuit to block the legislation from taking effect. Groups including Greenpeace Argentina and the Environment and Natural Resources Foundation say the legislative process was deeply flawed, and that lawmakers ignored widespread public concerns over water safety and ecosystem protection.

    “If they refuse to listen in Congress, they will be forced to listen in the courts,” the coalition of environmental groups said in an official public statement. The organizations are urging ordinary Argentine citizens to join the legal action, which argues that the regulatory reform poses an existential threat to both public water access and the fragile, unique ecosystems that surround the nation’s glaciers.

  • Tennis-playing humanoid robot debuts in Beijing

    Tennis-playing humanoid robot debuts in Beijing

    In a landmark milestone for global embodied intelligence and humanoid robotics development, the world’s first humanoid robot capable of playing competitive tennis has made its public debut in Beijing, developed by a local innovative startup in partnership with one of China’s top academic institutions.

    The breakthrough machine was created by Galbot, a Beijing-based robotics firm headquartered in the city’s Haidian District, a rapidly growing national hub for advanced artificial intelligence and humanoid robot innovation. Working in close collaboration with Tsinghua University, the engineering team behind the robot broke from long-standing industry conventions that rely on pre-programmed motion scripts and external motion capture systems to enable robotic movement. Instead, the new humanoid integrates real-time environmental perception and full-body dynamic coordination to hold sustained rallies with human players on a standard tennis court, local state-run newspaper Beijing Daily reported on Thursday.

    At the core of the robot’s capability is a proprietary technological advancement called the LATENT algorithm. Unlike conventional machine learning frameworks that require large, complete, structured datasets to master new motor skills, this innovative algorithm allows the robot to acquire complex tennis techniques — including footwork adjustment, racket swinging, and directional positioning — from fragmented samples of human movement data. This learning framework empowers the robot to autonomously complete a full sequence of actions: detecting an incoming tennis ball, predicting its flight trajectory, adjusting its on-court position in real time, and executing an accurate, controlled stroke in response.

    Industry analysts note that this breakthrough carries far-reaching implications for the global robotics sector beyond recreational sports. The technological advances in real-time perception, dynamic motion control, and autonomous decision-making demonstrated by the tennis-playing robot clear a path for the wider deployment of humanoid robots in unstructured, unpredictable real-world environments, where pre-programmed systems have long struggled to operate effectively.

    Galbot has already begun translating these core technological advancements into commercial applications outside of sports R&D. Currently, the company operates more than 40 fully autonomous, robot-staffed retail stores across China, bringing the benefits of embodied intelligence to the commercial sector.

    The debut of the world’s first tennis-playing humanoid also underscores Haidian District’s growing status as a global center for embodied intelligence innovation. To date, the district is home to more than 300 enterprises focused on embodied intelligence research and development, including 24 dedicated humanoid robot manufacturers. This dense ecosystem of innovation, backed by strong ties between top local academic institutions and industrial partners, has positioned the region to lead global advances in next-generation robotics technology.

  • Irish government to consider Creeslough explosion inquest

    Irish government to consider Creeslough explosion inquest

    Nearly two years after a devastating explosion ripped through a small rural service station in Creeslough, County Donegal, claiming 10 lives, families of the victims are still fighting for clear answers and official accountability — and Irish officials have now signaled a potential path forward. On Thursday, 10 family representatives of those killed traveled to Dublin’s Department of Justice to meet with Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan for a 90-minute discussion about their long-held demand for a public inquest into the disaster.

    The October 7, 2022 blast killed 10 local residents from Creeslough and its surrounding communities, cutting short lives across generations: 5-year-old Shauna Flanagan-Garwe, her 50-year-old father Robert Garwe, 14-year-old Leona Harper, 13-year-old James Monaghan, his mother Catherine O’Donnell, Jessica Gallagher, Martin McGill, James O’Flaherty, Martina Martin, and Hugh Kelly. To date, investigators have not released any official public explanation for what caused the explosion. While multiple arrests have been made in connection with the ongoing investigation, no one has faced criminal charges.

    Following the closed-door meeting, O’Callaghan confirmed that he would review the request for a formal inquest, echoing a longstanding government concern that launching an inquest too early could jeopardize the active criminal probe. But legal representatives for the families have pushed back, arguing that preliminary inquest work can proceed in parallel with the criminal investigation without disruption, pointing to the 1981 Stardust fire disaster inquest as a successful model that paired independent judicial review with ongoing criminal processes.

    “Two years ago, these families asked for an independent investigation. We are still waiting for a decision,” Darragh Mackin, a solicitor with Phoenix Law representing several families, told reporters outside the department. He added that there is “absolutely no prohibition” on starting preparatory work for the inquest immediately, saying “the ball is now in the minister’s court.”

    For the families left behind, the delay has meant being frozen in grief, unable to move forward without clarity about what caused the tragedy that took their loved ones. Donna Harper, whose 14-year-old daughter Leona died in the blast, pointed to the unmarked milestones her daughter will never get to experience — “She should have been 18 in January, she should have been making her prom” — and expressed frustration that almost four years will pass from the date of the explosion by the time any decision may come.

    Harper also noted that the disaster, one of the deadliest in modern Irish history, has yet to even receive an official public memorial. “We’re going down there every year, we’re just laying flowers at the side of the road. We’re stuck on the 7th of October 2022. How do you begin to move on when you have all this in front of you? We just need some answers,” she said.

    Damien Tierney, another legal representative for the families, said O’Callaghan’s primary concern is that any sworn public inquiry launched before the criminal investigation concludes could lead to injunctions filed by parties connected to the case. Tierney pushed for a timeline, asking “At what point will the government say, enough time has passed? Something now needs to be done.”

    Currently, multiple Irish state bodies are conducting overlapping investigations into the explosion. Aine Flanagan, who lost her partner Robert Garwe and daughter Shauna in the blast, confirmed that a completed health and safety investigation file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) this coming July. By standard process, the DPP typically takes between three and six months to make a decision on whether to pursue criminal prosecution after receiving case files.

    Anne Marie Boyle, who lost her sister Catherine O’Donnell and 13-year-old nephew James Monaghan in the disaster, said even launching preliminary inquest work now would help bring families closer to closure. “If preliminary work can get under way on the inquest it would speed things up,” she said. After two years of waiting, families remain firm in their demand for transparency, saying nothing less than a full independent inquiry will allow them to begin healing.

  • “Feeling a bit loose’: Liam Martin set for scans as Panthers count the cost of shock loss, Bulldogs flying high after Lachlan Galvin stunner

    “Feeling a bit loose’: Liam Martin set for scans as Panthers count the cost of shock loss, Bulldogs flying high after Lachlan Galvin stunner

    The 2026 NRL season delivered one of its most shocking early results on Wednesday, as the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs pulled off a 32-16 upset victory over the previously undefeated Penrith Panthers, leaving the minor premiers grappling with a major double whammy of injury concerns and disciplinary uncertainty ahead of their next fixture. The Panthers’ perfect five-game opening stretch – a run that included every win by a margin of at least 20 points and sparked bold talk of a potential undefeated full season – came to an abrupt end at Accor Stadium, where star representative forward Liam Martin departed the ground wearing a protective knee brace after suffering a late second-half injury.

    Martin, a key part of Penrith’s premiership-winning campaigns, pulled up after a play clutching his left knee, with initial medical assessments pointing to possible medial collateral ligament (MCL) damage. The NRL Physio Twitter account shared early analysis noting that Martin reported his knee felt “loose”, a symptom that can indicate a moderate to severe injury requiring multiple weeks of recovery. Speaking after the match, Panthers head coach Ivan Cleary described the injury as most likely a medial sprain, adding that Martin is not experiencing severe pain or swelling, leaving the club waiting for official scan results to confirm the severity and timeline for his return.

    In addition to Martin’s injury scare, Penrith faces an anxious wait to see if Origin hopeful Casey McLean will be suspended for next week’s game. McLean, who has enjoyed a blistering start to the 2026 season and emerged as a contender for a New South Wales Blues debut next month, was sin-binned in the eighth minute after the NRL Bunker reviewed a high tackle on Bulldogs forward Max King. The hit was initially missed by on-field officials, but the Bunker pulled it up for review one set later. Cleary argued the contact was accidental, noting that King was able to return to the field immediately after the tackle and that minimal clear footage exists to confirm a dangerous transgression. McLean struggled defensively for the remainder of the match, particularly on the left edge where the Bulldogs attack consistently found gaps. Cleary joked that young edge players may have been distracted by upcoming Origin selection talks, adding that the difficult loss would serve as a valuable learning experience for the team’s young talent.

    In positive injury news for Penrith, Cleary confirmed that winger Liam Henry is set to make his long-awaited return from injury this Friday, turning out for Penrith’s NSW Cup side to build match fitness ahead of a call-up to the first-grade squad.

    For the Bulldogs, the upset win was headlined by a career-best performance from halfback Lachlan Galvin, who turned in his first full 80-minute masterclass in the NRL. Galvin, whose NRL career has drawn constant scrutiny since he made his debut for the Wests Tigers, delivered a controlled, clinical performance that consistently troubled Penrith’s left edge. Speaking after the match, Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo noted that the clash marked Galvin’s 50th NRL appearance – a milestone many believe is when players truly find their footing in top-flight rugby league. “I thought he was brilliant. He controlled the game for long periods, he did what he needed to do and he didn’t overplay his hand,” Ciraldo said. “He has to deal with a fair bit. There are always question marks asked about him, but he’s handled it great.”

    Penrith co-captain Isaah Yeo said the upset loss could prove to be a blessing in disguise, silencing the growing external hype around the Panthers going undefeated for the entire 2026 season. “Rugby league is the ultimate leveller so it might be the best thing for us to maybe stop a little bit of that noise of people talking about being unbeaten through the season,” Yeo said. Unlike previous matches where Penrith held comfortable leads for most of the game, Wednesday’s loss forced the side to play from behind for long stretches, a challenge Yeo said will provide valuable lessons for the team ahead of the business end of the season. “Our best footy is still in front of us, but it probably took a bit of a step back tonight which is disappointing,” he added.

  • England to play World Cup warm-up games in Florida against New Zealand and Costa Rica

    England to play World Cup warm-up games in Florida against New Zealand and Costa Rica

    LONDON – The Football Association of England has confirmed the schedule for the men’s national team’s pre-World Cup warm-up fixtures, revealing two high-profile exhibition matches will take place across Florida in June ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by North America.

    Announced on Thursday, Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions will kick off their warm-up campaign at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium on June 6, taking on Oceania qualifier New Zealand. Four days later on June 10, the squad will move across the state to face CONCACAF representative Costa Rica at Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium.

    To streamline their final preparations for the expanded 48-team tournament, which will run across June and July 2026, England has chosen south Florida as the location for its pre-tournament training camp. Once the World Cup gets underway, the squad will relocate to a permanent basecamp in Kansas City, Missouri for the duration of their participation in the competition.

    England has been drawn into Group L for the group stage of the tournament, where they will face Croatia, Ghana and Panama. All three of the team’s group-stage fixtures will be hosted across major U.S. cities: Dallas, Boston, and the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area.

    Both selected venues have established histories hosting major global and professional sporting events. Raymond James Stadium, which welcomed over 70,000 fans for the 2021 Super Bowl LV, is the regular home ground of the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Inter&Co Stadium, meanwhile, is the home venue for Major League Soccer’s Orlando City SC and the National Women’s Soccer League’s Orlando Pride, purpose-built for top-tier professional soccer competition.

    The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks the first time the tournament has been co-hosted by three nations, with matches split across 16 host cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. England’s pre-tournament North American tour is designed to help the squad acclimate to travel conditions, time zones, and playing surfaces ahead of their bid for the country’s second World Cup title.

  • Canada’s Mark Carney ‘so proud’ of astronauts in call to Artemis II

    Canada’s Mark Carney ‘so proud’ of astronauts in call to Artemis II

    In a moment of national pride for Canada, former Bank of England Governor and prominent Canadian figure Mark Carney has shared his overwhelming enthusiasm for the country’s contribution to NASA’s groundbreaking Artemis II mission, following a formal call with astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who made history as the first Canadian selected for a deep space voyage.

    Hansen, a highly trained Canadian Space Agency astronaut, secured his place on the four-person Artemis II crew — the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon since NASA’s Apollo program concluded in the 1970s. In recognition of this milestone, Canada’s prime minister held a personal conversation with Hansen to congratulate him on his historic selection, cementing Canada’s role as a key international partner in the next era of lunar exploration.

    Carney, speaking publicly after the announcement, emphasized his deep pride in Hansen and the entire Canadian astronaut corps, noting that the mission represents more than just a personal achievement for Hansen. It stands as a testament to decades of Canadian investment in space research, technological innovation, and international scientific collaboration. As part of the Artemis Accords, Canada has partnered with NASA and other space agencies to advance lunar exploration, with plans to establish a long-term lunar outpost and eventually send crewed missions to Mars. Hansen’s participation in Artemis II marks a major milestone in Canada’s growing presence in human spaceflight, opening new doors for future Canadian scientists and engineers to contribute to deep space exploration.

    The Artemis II mission, scheduled to launch no earlier than September 2025, will test all of the Orion spacecraft’s critical systems with a crew on board, paving the way for subsequent landings of the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface. For Canada, a country with a long history of contributing to space exploration — including the iconic Canadarm robotic arm system that has supported decades of space shuttle and International Space Station missions — Hansen’s flight represents a new chapter of leadership in global space exploration.