Plus: A plan to end extinction ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Richard Hall | June 26, 2026

Hello there! Today we’re asking if Europe’s resistance to air conditioners may finally be coming to an end due to a record heatwave. We also have stories about an attempt to store the cells of endangered species in case they have to be de-extincted one day, an investigation into alleged safety lapses at data centers, and more World Cup coverage.

Look out tomorrow for our weekend essay on the United Kingdom’s revolving door of prime ministers.

Today’s starting Linked words are “bert” and “machine”.

Five Must-Reads

A Dallas-based company that last year de-extincted the dire wolf is partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to collect and freeze cell and tissue samples of every species on the endangered species list. The goal is to establish something of a library of the species’ genomes in case they ever have to be de-extincted. —TIME

A TIME investigation has uncovered numerous reports of onsite accidents and safety lapses at Stargate data centers in Abilene, Texas. The incidents come amid a push by big tech companies to build AI infrastructure at an unprecedented scale and speed. —TIME

President Donald Trump and his allies have touted the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran as a victory, but recent polls suggest that Americans are skeptical that the U.S. is in a better position as a result. Just 24% of Americans think that the war with Iran was worth the costs, according to the latest poll from Reuters/Ipsos. Half of the respondents to the poll said the conflict was not worth it. —TIME

Last World Cup, Gregg Berhalter was coaching the U.S. men’s national team, while his son, professional soccer player Sebastian Berhalter, was supporting from the stands because his father opted not to pick him for the team. This time, the roles are reversed, with a proud dad watching his son get a chance to shine under his successor: the younger Berhalter made a splash on Thursday night. —TIME

Vladimir Putin saw his invasion and illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 as a restoration of Russia’s power and the righting of historical wrongs. Today, Ukrainian drones are threatening his hold on the peninsula, and his control of the war. —Washington Post

IN FOCUS

A record heatwave tests Europe’s resistance to AC

Extreme temperatures are making life unbearable in parts of Europe, closing schools and cultural landmarks and disrupting power supplies. Dozens have died from heat-related causes.

Europe is not the hottest part of the world by any stretch, but it is warming faster than any other continent: average temperatures have climbed by about 1°F each decade since the 1990s, according to the European Union—about double the global average. It hasn’t adapted quickly enough to climate change.

For people living in the U.S., the solution seems simple. Air conditioning can make extreme heat bearable and save lives. A 2021 study published in the Lancetfound that 195,000 heat-related deaths among elderly people were averted thanks to the adoption of AC.

But only around 20% of European households have air conditioning, according to the International Energy Agency, compared with roughly 90% in the United States. Record temperatures are now causing a rethink.

Europeans have been reluctant to adopt ACs en masse in the past because they have not needed them. They had heatwaves, but they were short and not as severe. Their use is growing, but concerns over costs, capacity and the impact on the environment are holding people back.

People jump in the Trocadero Fountain near the Eiffel Tower during a heatwave in Paris on June 22, 2026. Julien De Rosa—Getty Images

My colleague Simmone Shah writes here about the structural issues that have left Europe ill-equipped to deal with the heat. Much of northern Europe’s housing is older and not built with cooling in mind, making it difficult to retrofit AC units. There are also planning and environmental regulations that complicate matters. Then there is the capacity of electrical grids, which have been stretched to the limit by limited AC and fan use already, before widespread adoption.

As lawmakers now scramble for solutions, a political divide has emerged in France over the use of air conditioners.

France’s far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, has hit out at left-wing parties for opposing the widespread adoption of air conditioners. “It is absurd to have people die because of the heat,” she said. “If I am elected president, I will put into place a massive air-conditioning plan, starting in places with the most vulnerable populations — hospitals, care homes and schools.”

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the country’s most prominent far-left leader, replied: “Absolutely not. Installing air conditioning everywhere would only mean increasing the damage [to the environment]."

His concerns are not unfounded. A 2022 study found that air conditioning accounts for about 4% of greenhouse gas emissions, more than the aviation industry. Human-caused climate change is the reason why temperatures are so high in the first place.

The French Green Party has called instead for homes to be adapted to better protect from the heat and for more green spaces.

The U.K. is going through a similar debate. But in London, Mayor Sadiq Khan has called for air conditioning to be installed in schools, offices and hospitals in London, which is often the hottest part of the United Kingdom.

The decision may eventually be taken out of their hands. Climate scientists predict extreme heat will only get worse, and Europe may be forced to take drastic measures in response.

ONE NUMBER

$40 billion

Iran estimates it can make $40 billion a year by charging vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after the war with the United States and Israel, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The newspaper cited “officials familiar with the matter,” noting that the new toll regime in the Strait would give Iran’s leaders access to a new revenue stream it did not have before the war.

President Donald Trump has insisted that Iran has given assurances that it will not charge any kind of fees for shipping passing through the energy transit route.