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The Road to World Cup 2026 Continues The World Cup continues on Wednesday with four more teams getting their tournaments under way. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal take on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), while England face Croatia in one of the most anticipated matches of the day. Ghana meet Panama, and World Cup newcomers Uzbekistan face Colombia in the late game. Match Schedule for Wednesday Portugal vs DRC at Houston Stadium in the US, at 12pm local time (17:00 GMT). England vs Croatia at Dallas Stadium in the US, at 3pm local time (20:00 GMT). Ghana vs Panama at Toronto Stadium in Canada, at 7pm local time (23:00 GMT) Colombia vs Uzbekistan at Mexico City Stadium in Mexico, at 8pm local time (02:00 GMT on Thursday). Predictions for Portugal vs DRC DRC have climbed from 56th to 45th in FIFA’s world rankings after securing their place at this year’s edition, but Opta’s supercomputer still favours fifth-ranked Portugal to win this Group K opener. Based on 25,000 pre-match simulations, Portugal came out on top in 54.6 percent of scenarios, while a draw occurred 22.3 percent of the time. DRC were given a 23.1 percent chance of victory. Predictions for England vs Croatia England and Croatia renew a familiar rivalry in Group L, meeting for the fourth time at a major tournament this century. The Opta supercomputer has England as clear favourites, with the Three Lions winning 55.9 percent of 10,000 simulations. Croatia were victorious in 20.8 percent, while 23.3 percent ended in a draw. Predictions for Ghana vs Panama Ghana and Panama have never met before, but both sides will see this Group L fixture as a key opportunity to pick up points. The Opta supercomputer gives Panama the edge, with Los Canaleros winning 45.2 percent of 25,000 simulations. Ghana came out on top in 29.6 percent of the simulations, while 25.2 percent ended in a draw. Predictions for Uzbekistan vs Colombia Uzbekistan and Colombia, both in Group K, will meet for the first time. Uzbekistan are making their World Cup debut, while Colombia are playing in the tournament for the seventh time. The Opta supercomputer strongly favours Colombia, with Los Cafeteros winning 62.4 percent of 25,000 simulations. Uzbekistan were victorious in 17.5 percent, while a draw occurred in 20.1 percent of the projections. Ronaldo Eyes Goal-Scoring Record The Portugal captain is expected to lead Portugal’s front line against the DRC, hoping to become the first player to have scored in six different World Cups. Desabre, the DRC coach, wished Ronaldo well, but joked he hoped the superstar forward would not score against his side. Messi Makes More World Cup History The Argentinian superstar marked his record sixth World Cup appearance by scoring the first World Cup hat-trick of his career in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria on Tuesday. By scoring three goals, Messi equalled former Germany striker Miroslav Klose’s record of most World Cup goals, at 16.

Tech giants are racing to build the infrastructure that powers artificial intelligence, but a growing body of evidence suggests that AI hyperscalers – large‑scale cloud providers such as Google, Amazon and Microsoft – are also warming the ground around them. AI Data Centres Spark a “Data Heat Island” Phenomenon Researchers from Cambridge, Nanyang Technological University and other institutions analysed NASA satellite data from 2004‑2024 and linked it to more than 11,000 AI data‑centre sites. They found land‑surface temperatures rise by an average of 2 °C (3.6 °F) after a centre opens, with hotspots up to 9 °C (16.2 °F) within a 10 km radius – a pattern the authors dub the “data heat island” effect. Scale of Power and Water Use Behind AI‑Heavy Facilities The International Energy Agency reports data‑centre electricity consumption reached 415 TWh in 2024 (≈1.5 % of global supply) and is projected to hit 945 TWh by 2030. Hyperscale AI sites typically draw 100‑300 MW continuously, enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes. Typical hyperscale campus: ≥5,000 servers on ≥10,000 sq ft (≈930 m²). Water demand: a 100‑MW centre can consume ≈2.5 billion L yr⁻¹ (≈660 M gal), enough for 80,000 people. Where the Heat Is Felt: Concentration of Centres and Affected Populations As of June 2026, more than 11,600 data centres operate worldwide. The United States hosts the largest share (>4,300), followed by the United Kingdom (>540), Germany (>520) and France (>390). In Asia, China (>360) and India (>300) lead the count. Over 340 million people live within the 10 km impact zone of an AI data centre, exposing them to higher temperatures that could strain health, energy demand and local welfare. Massive $5.3 Trillion CapEx Drive Accelerates the Build‑Out Goldman Sachs forecasts a combined $5.3 trillion of capital expenditure from 2025‑2030 for the four largest hyperscalers – Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet and Meta. Flagship projects include: Meta’s $27 bn Hyperion campus in Louisiana. Microsoft’s phased $20 bn expansion in Wisconsin. Amazon’s $25 bn investment in Mississippi. Google’s Project Spade: $15 bn campus in New Florence, Missouri. Oracle’s Project Stargate in Abilene, Texas – an AI supercluster targeting 1.2‑2 GW capacity. Future Outlook: Mitigation Strategies and Policy Responses As AI workloads surge, regulators and operators will need to address the data heat island effect. Potential pathways include: Deploying advanced liquid‑cooling and heat‑recovery systems to reuse waste heat. Locating new campuses in cooler, less‑populated regions to minimise community exposure. Integrating AI‑driven energy‑management tools to cut power draw. Establishing carbon‑and‑heat accounting standards for AI infrastructure. Without coordinated action, the combined environmental footprint of AI data centres could become a decisive factor in climate‑policy debates and regional planning for the next decade.

The Decline in Oil Prices Oil prices are continuing to drop, as hopes rise for a return to stability in global energy markets before the signing of a framework agreement on ending the United States-Israel war on Iran. Futures for Brent crude due for delivery in August dipped nearly 1 percent on Wednesday, extending declines of about 5 percent on each of the previous two days. The international benchmark stood at $78.24 a barrel as of 08:00 GMT, the lowest price since March 3, three days after the start of the war. Market Sentiment and Analysis “The immediate prognosis, it seems, is optimistic and assumes no significant setbacks,” Tamas Varga, an analyst at PVM Oil Associates in London, said in a commentary. “Over the last four trading sessions, Brent, for example, has fallen by $17 [per barrel], a discernible vote of confidence that the worst, at least as far as supply disruptions are concerned, is behind us,” Varga said. Vandana Hari, the founder of the Singapore-based oil market analysis provider Vanda Insights, said that while the announcement of the US and Iran’s memorandum of understanding (MoU) has brought relief to markets, the “hardest part, on delivering the pledges and promises, is yet to come”. The Impact of the Strait of Hormuz While many details of the MoU due to be signed on Friday remain unclear, Iran is expected to end its near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the US lifting its blockade of Iranian ports, among other concessions. The full reopening of the strait would be a crucial step towards restoring confidence in energy supply chains, after nearly four months of turmoil arising from the war. Maritime traffic in the strait, which flows between Iran and Oman, has been reduced to a trickle due to the threat of Iranian missiles, drones and mines, reducing the global oil supply by an estimated 14 million barrels each day. The Road to Recovery Even if the war does end, global energy flows are expected to take months to fully recover. More than 500 vessels are estimated to be waiting to exit the Gulf through the strait, while the process of ensuring the channel is free of naval mines is likely to take weeks at a minimum. Stephen Cotton, the general-secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation, said the signing ceremony scheduled to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, would be “at best the beginning” of a process of normalisation. “The backlog of stranded vessels and the need for crew changes and rest mean a realistic return to normal shipping patterns is weeks, if not months, away,” Cotton said in a statement on Monday.

The Lead President Donald Trump faces growing pressure from lawmakers and pro-Israel groups to submit the recent Iran Memorandum of Understanding to Congress for review, raising questions about presidential powers and congressional authority in international diplomacy. The Legal Framework of Congressional Review The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA), passed in 2015 during the Obama administration, requires any agreements with Iran related to its nuclear program to be submitted to Congress for review and a possible vote of disapproval. The law mandates that the president submit any such agreement to Congress within five days, triggering a 30-day approval period during which Congress can pass a joint resolution of disapproval to scuttle the deal. However, such a resolution would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override a presidential veto, an extremely high bar. The Memorandum's Provisions and Legal Questions This week's memorandum between the US and Iran opens the Strait of Hormuz, lifts the US blockade on Iran's ports, and halts fighting on all fronts, including in Lebanon. It also immediately lifts US sanctions on Iran's fossil fuel industry while launching negotiations on the future of Iran's nuclear program. As part of the deal, both countries agree to maintain their nuclear "status quo" during ongoing negotiations, with Iran committing to dilute its highly enriched uranium "on site." Presidential Power vs Congressional Authority Trump's second term has been characterized by a broad interpretation of presidential power, with his administration previously flouting the US Constitution's provision that Congress alone has the power to declare war. The administration has argued that the president is not beholden to the legal requirement to gain congressional approval within 60 days of launching an attack, as the Iran war that began on February 28 has lasted nearly three and a half months. In an interview with Axios, Trump suggested that the war taught him there are "no limits" to his power as president. Political Hypocrisy and Shifting Positions The push for congressional review has exposed apparent contradictions in political attitudes toward presidential war powers. Several pro-Israel groups, including The Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA) and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), have been among the loudest voices calling for congressional involvement in the deal, despite previously defending Trump's claims that Iran represented an "imminent threat" that allowed him to launch strikes without congressional approval. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen characterized the Republican embrace of INARA as evidence of hypocrisy, noting that "Republican senators who were AWOL regarding their constitutional duties around STARTING the war against Iran all of a sudden demand that Congress play a role in STOPPING the war." Future Outlook and Potential Outcomes Legal experts from across the ideological spectrum have argued that Trump's memorandum is subject to INARA, though it remains unclear if the president will comply. The administration could potentially argue that the memorandum only sets out terms to reach an eventual agreement and is not an agreement itself, though experts note this argument is faulty. Given Trump's expansive view of presidential authority and his party's control of Congress, it appears unlikely that any institution will force compliance with INARA, potentially setting a precedent for future executive agreements with Iran and other nations.

The Controversy Surrounding the G7 Photograph Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has responded to criticism regarding a recent photograph taken with former US President Donald Trump at the G7 Summit. The image sparked controversy, with some accusing Meloni of seeking to bolster her international profile through the association. Meloni's Response to Criticism In a statement, Meloni denied that she had 'begged' Trump for the photograph, emphasizing her commitment to representing Italy's interests on the world stage. The Prime Minister's office released a statement highlighting the importance of the G7 Summit as a platform for international cooperation and dialogue. The Significance of the G7 Summit The G7 Summit brings together leaders from seven of the world's most advanced economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The event provides a forum for discussing global challenges, economic policies, and geopolitical issues. Meloni's Leadership and International Relations As the first female Prime Minister of Italy, Meloni has been keen to establish herself as a strong and effective leader on the international stage. Her interactions with world leaders, including Trump, are closely watched by both domestic and international observers. The Future of Italy-US Relations The photograph and subsequent controversy highlight the complexities of Italy's relationship with the United States under Meloni's leadership. As Italy navigates its role within the G7 and other international forums, its diplomatic efforts will continue to be closely monitored.

Iran’s Deputy FM Signals Readiness for a US‑Iran DealSaeed Khatibzadeh told Al Jazeera Arabic on Friday that Tehran is prepared to proceed step‑by‑step with the United States, provided the U.S. demonstrates “the same seriousness” and Israel adheres to the memorandum of understanding (MoU).Swiss Negotiations Called Off as Regional Violence EscalatesTalks scheduled in Switzerland were abruptly cancelled, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance scrapped his planned trip. Mediators from Pakistan and Qatar had hoped the parties would meet in Burgenstock to discuss the MoU’s broad agenda.Swiss talks cancelled – no official date given.Vance’s trip cancelled – same day as the talks.Lebanon Casualties Highlight Fragile CeasefireIntense fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon resulted in at least 47 deaths since midnight, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Khatibzadeh warned that Israel’s “continued war‑making” could have “serious and immediate consequences” and stressed that ending the Lebanon conflict is integral to the MoU.Broader Implications for US‑Iran Relations and Regional StabilityThe deputy minister emphasized Iran’s commitment to “peace on all fronts, including Gaza,” and outlined continued navigation services in the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with Oman, without imposing passage fees for the initial 60‑day period. He also called for the release of all frozen Iranian funds in any future agreement.What the Next Steps Could Look LikeIran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei indicated that consultations via mediators are ongoing and that an official announcement will follow if conditions for negotiations are met. The continuation of the ceasefire in Lebanon, contingent on Israel’s compliance, appears to be the immediate litmus test for resuming US‑Iran talks.

The Pre-Game Analysis The Scotland national team, also known as the Tartan Army, is gearing up to face Morocco in the World Cup 2026. This match is significant for Scotland as they seek to secure their first win since 1990. In their previous match, Scotland beat Haiti, but they were not particularly impressive. Morocco, on the other hand, were semi-finalists in the last World Cup and have a more expansive playing style. Morocco's Strength and Scotland's Strategy Morocco's fans were noticeably louder in their opening match against Brazil, creating an electric atmosphere. Scotland's coach, Steve Clarke, has acknowledged Morocco's strengths, stating that they are a 'really, really good side' with power, pace, and skill. Clarke emphasized that Scotland will need to be at their best to compete against Morocco. Key Players and Team Dynamics Scotland's key player, Scott McTominay, did not have his best game against Haiti but remains a crucial figure for the team. McTominay has a significant following in Scotland, with his iconic moment against Denmark last November being remembered as an artistic reference point. The Road to Qualification A draw in this match would be handy for Scotland, as the equation for qualification is four points. Exiting the group stage via the front door for the first time would be within Scotland's grasp if they can secure a positive result against Morocco.

The 2026 World Cup: A Global Experiment in HostingThe upcoming World Cup 2026 represents a monumental shift in the landscape of international football, transcending the sport to become a massive logistical and social experiment. As the tournament officially begins with 48 teams competing in 104 matches over 39 days, the focus shifts from the pitch to the streets of the host cities. The Guardian is actively soliciting firsthand accounts to capture the true pulse of this unprecedented event. The Scale of the Tournament: 48 Teams, 16 CitiesThis edition of the tournament is the largest in history, requiring a coordinated effort across three nations. The event spans a diverse geographic and cultural landscape, bringing together fans from around the globe. Host Cities: Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey (Mexico); Toronto and Vancouver (Canada); Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Atlanta, Miami, Boston, Philadelphia, and New York/New Jersey (USA). Duration: 39 days of intense competition. Format: An expanded format featuring 48 teams, increasing the number of matches significantly compared to previous tournaments. Measuring the Pulse of Host CitiesWith such a vast scale, the impact on local populations varies wildly. The Guardian’s initiative to gather stories aims to quantify the qualitative changes occurring in these metropolitan areas. The call for submissions covers a wide spectrum of experiences, from the economic boom for local businesses to the logistical challenges of navigating increased traffic and crowds. Beyond the Stadium: Economic and Social RipplesThe influx of millions of visitors presents a unique opportunity and challenge for host cities. The stories shared will likely reveal a dichotomy between the excitement of the diehard fans and the concerns of local residents regarding the disruption of daily life. Whether it is the hospitality sector seeing a surge or commuters facing delays, the human element of hosting a global event is complex and multifaceted. The Legacy of the 2026 World CupAs the tournament progresses, the collective experiences of residents will shape the narrative of the World Cup. The insights gathered will not only serve as a historical record of this specific edition but also provide a blueprint for future mega-events, highlighting the delicate balance between global spectacle and local community well-being.

The LeadWatching a comedian crumble onstage is hellish. In Ted Walliker's new play, the performer's breakdown is deliberate but the show's wider ambitions miss their mark. Pitched as a standup set that swivels into an absurd faux-confessional, this first foray into co-production for Riverside Studios is a one-man tangent.The Event DetailsThe trouble starts with how quickly the framing device of a standup show is shoved aside. When bumbling posh-boy comedian Tony (Walliker) fails to get the laughs he wants, he tries on a tougher persona and launches into a violent story of misadventure with Mike, his best friend, long-time crush and all-round scoundrel. A delirious pep enters Tony's step as he outlines a gratuitously gruesome night of pulled-off faces and munched-up bones. Spiralling from a mistake in McDonald's where we meet the titular character, we are hurled into an entirely different play, with only the occasional address to us "folks" to remind us this is supposed to be a comedy set.The Performance AnalysisInto this second show we leap: a slapdash, Tarantino-esque odyssey told with non sequiturs and a total lack of consequences. The lightly told tale arbitrarily ticks off kidnaps, gangsters and cannibalism, with some thinly written nods to unrequited love as Tony avoids telling us what's really wrong. We're meant to know he is floundering, with Walliker's outfit changes designed to make us feel a little loopy. But there is no incentive to get to the root of our narrator's derangement. We barely know the guy.The Production ElementsThere are big, bold expressions of creativity here. The most striking comes with the extravagant reveal of the set, hinting at the story coming to life around Tony, or at him falling too far into his own telling. Walliker has given himself a gargantuan task in writing, performing and co-directing the show (with Lev Govorovski, with whom he also designed the set and costumes), as well as doing the lighting and sound. He is an assured performer, neatly capturing the rhythm of standup and painting the story alone.The VerdictThe show would benefit from letting us feel what Tony's running from, rather than just watching him run. At Riverside Studios, London, until 5 July.