Europe assumes financial burden of Ukraine war, angering Russia
Trump casts European purchases of US weapons for Ukraine as a victory as UN warns civilians being killed at record rate.
Hopes for a quick deal with Syria are gone, but Israel needs a strategy beyond strikes – The Times of Israel
- Hopes for a quick deal with Syria are gone, but Israel needs a strategy beyond strikes The Times of Israel
- Why Israel Attacked Syria The New York Times
- ‘Syrian president doesn’t need Israel as an enemy’ – American Jewish leader Channel 4
- Israel's Syrian march of folly www.israelhayom.com
- Something big is brewing in Israel Columbus Jewish News
Frasers Group sales fall amid ‘challenging’ luxury market and retreat from gaming
Pre-tax profits fall 24% despite rise in Sports Direct sales, driven by closures of House of Fraser and Game stores
A “challenging” luxury market and retreat from gaming have prompted a fall in sales and profits at Mike Ashley’s Frasers.
The group, which is majority owned by the billionaire former Newcastle United owner, said sales fell by 7.4% to £4.7bn and pre-tax profits slid by 24% to £379.5m as it closed some of its House of Fraser department stores and Game video game shops.
Continue reading...Israeli airstrike hits Sweida city in Syria as Bedouin tribes clash with Druze
Conflict restarts in southern province as Druze groups reportedly target Bedouin villages in ‘revenge’ attacks
The Israeli military has carried out an airstrike on the outskirts of Sweida city as clashes between Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters intensified on Thursday night.
The clashes started a wave of tit-for-tat retaliatory violence earlier on in the day after Syrian government forces withdrew from Sweida.
Continue reading...Trump’s $1tn for Pentagon to add huge planet-heating emissions, study shows
Exclusive: 17% increase in military spending will add emissions equivalent to those of some entire countries
Donald Trump’s huge spending boost for the Pentagon will produce an additional 26 megatons (Mt) of planet-heating gases – on a par with the annual carbon equivalent (CO2e) emissions generated by 68 gas power plants or the entire country of Croatia, new research reveals.
The Pentagon’s 2026 budget – and climate footprint – is set to surge to $1tn thanks to the president’s One Big Beautiful Act, a 17% rise on last year.
Continue reading...Ukraine targets Moscow as Russia reports shooting down more than 140 drones – ABC News – Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
- Ukraine targets Moscow as Russia reports shooting down more than 140 drones ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
- Russia says it downed 73 Ukrainian drones, including 3 flying to Moscow Reuters
- Ukrainian Drone Attacks on Russia Kill At Least 2 The Moscow Times
- Russia Says Ukrainian Drones Targeted Moscow, St. Petersburg The Wall Street Journal
- Ukrainian drones reportedly attack Moscow for second night in a row The Kyiv Independent
Sirens and evacuations as Taipei rehearses to counter China invasion threat
Taiwan's capital is holding one of its largest ever civil defence exercises.
Pro-Kremlin Figures Decry Bill Criminalizing Access to ‘Extremist’ Content – The Moscow Times
- Pro-Kremlin Figures Decry Bill Criminalizing Access to ‘Extremist’ Content The Moscow Times
- The crime of reading Meduza
- Russia Cracks Down on Internet Searches and VPNs With New Fines Bloomberg
- New Russian law criminalizes online searches for controversial content The Washington Post
- New Russia anti-extremism amendments spark concerns over increased crackdown on dissent JURIST Legal News
Syrian forces withdraw from Suwayda as mediation restores calm
Local Druze leaders to oversee city's security after Syrian forces depart following intense mediation.
Albanese says Coalition failed to have call with Beijing for years as opposition criticises ‘indulgent’ China trip
James Paterson questioned if the six-day trip had ‘tangible outcomes’ while prime minister retorted, saying opposition should sort ‘themselves out’
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Anthony Albanese has sniped back at the opposition’s criticism of his “indulgent” six-day visit to China, pointing out the former Coalition government failed to hold a single phone call with the major trading partner for years.
The prime minister has spent this week touring the country with stops in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu amid a period of geopolitical instability and escalating trade hostilities between the US and its trading partners.
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Continue reading...Babies born in UK using DNA from three people to avoid genetic disease
The IVF technique uses DNA from the mother's egg, the father's sperm, and a small amount from a healthy donor's egg.
Contrary to India’s fears, Bangladesh is not joining a China-Pakistan axis
Dhaka is treading carefully amid shifting alliances in South Asia and has no plan to entangle itself in strategic blocs.
Can South Africa keep its G20 debt promise?
South Africa promised debt solutions for low income nations during its G20 presidency. Has it kept its word?
Aftermath of deadly Israeli air attacks in Damascus
The military compound was struck twice, causing structural damage with smoke visible across the city.
How were identities of thousands of Afghans leaked by UK military?
A superinjunction kept the data breach secret amid fears it could lead to a Taliban 'hit list'.
Togo votes in local elections amid outburst of public anger: What to know
The Gnassingbe family has collectively ruled the West African country since 1967, and many Togolese want change.
Restaurant in China criticised for putting baby lion cuddles on menu
Diners jump at chance to snuggle with cubs but wildlife experts accuse firm of ‘exploiting wild animals for selfies’
A restaurant in northern China has been criticised by animal welfare groups for offering an unusual item on the menu: lion cub cuddles.
According to a screenshot of a menu circulating on social media, Wanhui – a restaurant in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province – has a four-course set afternoon menu costing 1,192 yuan ($166/£124) that includes playtime with the in-house animals.
Continue reading...Syria leader vows to protect Druze after sectarian violence prompts Israeli strikes
Ahmed al-Sharaa spoke after Israel said it would destroy government forces it accused of attacking Druze in Syria.
Samsung boss cleared of fraud by South Korea’s top court
The ruling comes after Lee Jae-yong was acquitted of all charges in two earlier trials.
Sudan’s children face growing threat of deadly infectious diseases as vaccination rates halve
The country, beset by war, has the world’s lowest rates of vaccination, says the World Health Organization, as global immunisation drive also stalls
Children in Sudan, caught up in what aid organisations have called the world’s largest humanitarian crisis and threatened by rising levels of violence, are increasingly vulnerable to deadly infectious diseases as vaccinations in the country plummet.
In 2022, more than 90% of young children in Sudan received their routine vaccinations. But that figure has nearly halved to 48%, the lowest in the world, according to the World Health Organization.
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