- Iran war pulling some Gulf states toward Israel, while pushing others away The Jerusalem Post
- Netanyahu 'blunder' threatens US-backed Israel-UAE alliance at critical moment with Iran: analyst Fox News
- IDF chief Zamir is latest top Israeli official said to have visited UAE amid Iran war The Times of Israel
- As Netanyahu spotlights Israel’s ties to the UAE, its rulers prefer to be discreet AP News
- UAE and Israel established fund for joint defence acquisition, sources say Middle East Eye
Samsung strike on hold as workers push for AI bonus
The walkout, which was due to start on Thursday, has been suspended while union members vote on a tentative deal.
Dublin gangland figure brings extremist views to Irish mainstream on campaign trail
Gerry ‘the monk’ Hutch has won fans in north Dublin byelection campaign with anti-immigrant rhetoric
Elaine Roe, 61, a cafe worker, has no doubt what is the most important issue in this week’s byelection for Dublin’s north inner city. “The government is wrecking our country, they’re bringing in rapists and murderers and kidnappers. It’s a shame. I might vote Hutch, he seems a normal person.”
That would be Gerry “the monk” Hutch, a prominent gangland figure who is running as an independent in an election that is far from normal. The 63-year-old – who was jailed for robbery convictions in his youth – is a celebrity candidate in a contest for a parliamentary seat that has been dominated by xenophobia and immigration.
Continue reading...The EU Is Going Through a Trump-Fueled Breakup With Big Tech – WIRED
- The EU Is Going Through a Trump-Fueled Breakup With Big Tech WIRED
- How Europe is fighting for digital sovereignty The Economist
- Nearly everything we use online is owned by big tech. There’s a better way forward The Conversation
- Technological sovereignty is not about isolation, EU digital chief says Euronews.com
- Europe’s coming of age KPMG
Thursday briefing: How English football is pricing out its own supporters
In today’s newsletter: Behind the packed stadiums and record revenues lies a growing tension of a sport thriving financially while the supporters who built it are increasingly left behind
Good morning. The men’s football season is reaching the sharp end. This week, Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions and last night Aston Villa won the Uefa Europa League. The men’s Fifa World Cup is just around the corner.
But fans in England are also at the sharp end: rising prices inside and outside grounds, kick-off times being altered on the whim of TV channels, and a creeping sense that some clubs are desperate to replace the “legacy fan” with a premium-paying “high-yield customer”.
UK politics | Andy Burnham is backing Shabana Mahmood’s controversial changes to the immigration system, his allies have said, in a blow to those in Labour who hope to soften them.
AI | The Electoral Commission has called for new legal controls over misinformation from AI chatbots, after a thinktank found they had made serious mistakes during the recent Scottish election.
Ebola | Doses of a potential vaccine against the Bundibugyo virus that is causing an Ebola outbreak in central Africa will not be available for six to nine months, the World Health Organization said.
Middle East | Israel’s far-right national security minister has sparked a diplomatic crisis by publishing footage of Israeli security forces abusing international activists who were detained as they tried to sail to Gaza with aid.
UK news | Rainwater harvesting, the use of grey water in homes and an urgent campaign to reduce water usage across society are vital to prevent water shortages of 5bn litres a day by 2055, the government has been told.
In the weeks leading up to the World Cup, soccer writer Jonathan Wilson will explain how the tournament became a global phenomenon with cultural, social and political weight that extends far beyond each game. Sign up for the newsletter here.
Continue reading...From AI to interceptors, Ukraine is trying to drone-proof its skies
After four years of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine has become far more successful at fighting off air raids.
England must harvest rainfall and take action on water usage, Lords warn
Without urgent intervention England faces water shortages of 5bn litres a day by 2055, peers tell government
Rainwater harvesting, the use of grey water in homes and an urgent campaign to reduce water usage across society are vital to prevent water shortages of 5bn litres a day by 2055, the government has been told.
Without intervention, England will face severe water shortages in the coming decades, as climate change-induced weather patterns, population growth and the expansion of industries such as water-intensive datacentres put excessive demand on supplies and endanger life, according to a House of Lords report published on Thursday.
Changes to building regulations to require new homes to achieve a maximum water usage of 105 litres a person a day and accelerated grey water reuse.
Nature-based solutions such as restoring peat bogs and reconnecting rivers to their natural flood plains to enhance water retention.
An urgent awareness campaign for the whole of society to reduce water usage.
A full environmental and economic assessment of drought to weigh the cost of inaction against the value of resilience.
The rolling out of nature-based solutions more widely in urban and rural settings.
Continue reading...‘We feel let down’: sustainable chefs in UK mourn end of Michelin green star
Guide retires award for eco-friendly practices – and says restaurants will no longer be able to advertise they have it
With rare bluefin tuna and red meat often on their menus, Michelin-starred restaurants have not always prioritised sustainability.
In an effort to consider the climate crisis, in 2020 Michelin began awarding green stars to chefs who cooked eco-friendly ingredients and reduced waste. But now the body has abruptly retired the prize and said chefs will no longer be able to advertise that they have it.
Continue reading...Migratory bird numbers fall in Britain despite last year’s warm spring
British Trust for Ornithology says 2025 breeding season was especially disastrous for warbler species
After a mild, wet and stormy winter in the UK, spring 2025 was one of the warmest and driest ever, while the summer was the hottest since records began, most particularly in England and Wales.
Good news, you might think, for migratory birds – especially for eight species of warblers that travel here from their winter quarters in Africa. Yet according to data from bird ringers, collated by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), last year’s breeding season was pretty disastrous.
Continue reading...In many ways, Brits admire the US. But as America hits 250, they say one man defines it: Trump – AP News
Germany’s Merz pitches ‘associate’ EU membership for Ukraine – Reuters
Saudi Arabia stops new work for consultants as war rattles finances – Financial Times
- Saudi Arabia stops new work for consultants as war rattles finances Financial Times
- Exclusive / Saudi Arabia freezes consultancy payments Semafor
- Saudi Arabia freezes work for western consultants, even as oil revenue rises Middle East Eye
- Saudi Arabia freezes payments to consultancies as Iran war drags on The National
- Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Dilemma in the Iran War Arab Center Washington DC
Thai Princess Bajrakitiyabha’s condition worsens after multiple infections, royal palace says – Reuters
- Thai Princess Bajrakitiyabha's condition worsens after multiple infections, royal palace says Reuters
- Hospitalised Thai princess's condition 'deteriorated': Palace CNA
- Infection worsens condition of Princess Bajrakitiyabha Bangkok Post
- Thai Princess Bajrakitiyabha’s Condition Worsens, Palace Says Bloomberg.com
- HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha’s condition unstable due to severe infection Thai PBS World
Watch: Why is the US going after Cuba’s Raúl Castro 30 years on?
BBC correspondent Will Grant reports from Havana, hours after the US charged former Cuban leader with conspiracy to kill US nationals and other crimes.
From bitter coffee to all-terrain vehicles: China-Russia trade ties flourish – Financial Times
- From bitter coffee to all-terrain vehicles: China-Russia trade ties flourish Financial Times
- How China quietly helps Russia in Ukraine The Economist
- From sanctioned cars to beauty clinics, Russian rubles have flowed into China’s border towns since Ukraine war The Guardian
- Putin Arrives in Beijing as Weakened Partner While Xi Expands China’s Global Influence Kyiv Post
- Russia's growing energy ties with China since the Ukraine war Reuters
Australian judge fines X $465,000 for online safety breach after 3-year court battle – AP News
- Australian judge fines X $465,000 for online safety breach after 3-year court battle AP News
- Elon Musk's X fined for not complying with Australia's child protection laws BBC
- Elon Musk's X loses Australia child protection compliance lawsuit Reuters
- Elon Musk’s X Corp given $750,000 penalty for eSafety breach News.com.au
- Musk's X ordered to pay $750,000 for not complying with Australian child protection request Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Papua New Guinea warns against fishing in New Ireland after mystery deaths of marine life
Initial testing found evidence of metals in water samples, months after province’s residents began reporting unusual numbers of dead fish washing ashore
Papua New Guinea’s government has warned communities not to fish from parts of the New Ireland coastline as preliminary tests show evidence of metals in some water samples, after months of residents reporting dead marine life in the area.
On 7 May the fisheries minister, Jelta Wong, said initial testing conducted by an independent company detected various metals in water samples taken from affected areas around Kafkaf village and Larairu lagoon in New Ireland, an island in eastern PNG.
Continue reading...Ebola vaccine could take nine months as death toll rises further, WHO warns
In its latest update, the World Health Organization says there have now been 139 suspected deaths and 600 cases.
Israeli security minister stirs diplomatic outrage with flotilla activist abuse video
Far-right figure Itamar Ben-Gvir shares footage of himself taunting bound international detainees
Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has sparked a diplomatic crisis by publishing footage of Israeli security forces abusing international activists who were detained as they tried to sail to Gaza with aid.
Three activists were taken to hospital as result of Israeli violence, lawyers representing the group said. They were subsequently discharged. Dozens of others have suspected broken ribs, resulting in breathing problems.
Continue reading...Far-right Israeli minister condemned for taunting handcuffed Gaza flotilla activists
France and Italy are among the countries that have criticised a video showing Itamar Ben-Gvir taunting dozens of activists detained at an Israeli port.