Major anti-corruption protests in Serbia add to pressure on President Vučić

Tens of thousands rally against government and in memory of railway station roof collapse that killed 15

Serbia’s powerful populist leader Aleksandar Vučić was facing his biggest challenge yet as student-led demonstrations intensified at the weekend in what was being called the Balkan country’s greatest ever protest movement.

Three months to the day after a concrete canopy collapsed at the entrance of Novi Sad’s railway station, tens of thousands of protesters converged on the northern city, blockading its three bridges in commemoration of the 15 people killed in the accident. The tragedy has been blamed squarely on government ineptitude and graft.

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UK betting giants under fire for ads targeting at-risk gamblers

Judge condemns firm for use of customer’s data after problem gambler was sent 1,300 emails over two years

Gambling companies in Britain could be forced to overhaul their advertising practices after a betting firm was ruled to have unlawfully targeted a problem gambler who was bombarded with more than 1,300 marketing emails.

In a ruling at the high court, a judge found that Sky Betting & Gaming sent the man personalised marketing without proper consent after gathering hundreds of thousands of pieces of data about him and his gambling habits.

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Gaza ceasefire sees its smoothest exchange yet of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners – The Associated Press

  1. Gaza ceasefire sees its smoothest exchange yet of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners  The Associated Press
  2. Live updates: US-Israeli citizen Keith Siegel freed in latest round of hostage releases  CNN
  3. Israel and Hamas Exchange 3 Hostages and More Than 180 Prisoners  The New York Times
  4. LIVE: Israel frees 183 Palestinians after 3 captives released in Gaza  Al Jazeera English
  5. A U.S. dual citizen is among 3 Israeli hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners  NPR
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Russian stuff blowing up: Russia bombs shelter in occupied Kursk, almost 100 reported trapped – Daily Kos

  1. Russian stuff blowing up: Russia bombs shelter in occupied Kursk, almost 100 reported trapped  Daily Kos
  2. Four dead in Russian strike on Kursk school, Ukraine says  BBC.com
  3. Zelenskyy says Russia attacking 'own civilians' in Kursk  DW (English)
  4. Russia strikes nursing home in Kursk region's Sudzha, Ukraine's General Staff reports.  Kyiv Independent
  5. Russians strike nursing home in Sudzha, trapping 95 people under rubble – Ukrainian military commandant's office  Ukrainska Pravda
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Schools closed on Santorini island due to seismic activity – Kathimerini English Edition

  1. Schools closed on Santorini island due to seismic activity  Kathimerini English Edition
  2. Scientists’ warning over volcano fears on Greek tourist island  The Independent
  3. Scientist reassuring on Santorini quakes as tremors continue  Kathimerini English Edition
  4. Santorini is having a swarm of tiny earthquakes. Is the Greek isle about to erupt?  Livescience.com
  5. Earthquake swarm near Santorini volcano prompts emergency meeting, Greece  The Watchers
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As DeepSeek upends the AI industry, one group is urging Australia to embrace the opportunity

Recruiting top graduates could stop other countries pulling ahead in artificial intelligence race, tech council says

One Australian company has discouraged staff from using the technology, others are scrambling for advice on its cybersecurity implications – while federal government ministers are urging caution.

But others have welcomed DeepSeek’s arrival, calling for Australia to follow China’s lead in developing powerful yet less energy-intensive AI technology.

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Ken Martin elected new chair of Democratic National Committee

Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor chair to lead party still reeling from extensive losses

Ken Martin, chair of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor party, won the crowded race to become the next chair of the Democratic National Committee on Saturday.

The move provides Martin with a powerful perch to determine the messaging and trajectory of a party that is still reeling from its extensive losses in the November election and confronting four more years of Donald Trump’s leadership.

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Egypt’s Sisi, Trump discuss Gaza; no mention of Palestinian transfer – Reuters

  1. Egypt's Sisi, Trump discuss Gaza; no mention of Palestinian transfer  Reuters
  2. Trump spoke to Egyptian president about plan to evict Palestinians from Gaza  Axios
  3. Sissi speaks to Trump, says world ‘counting on’ him for Middle East peace  The Times of Israel
  4. No mention of Trump's Palestinian relocation plan in talks with Egypt's Sisi  The Jerusalem Post
  5. Will Egypt's President Become Trump's Least Favorite Dictator? | Opinion  Newsweek
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Pentagon swaps desk for New York Times reporters for New York Post

Other swaps due to new ‘rotation’ include NPR for Breitbart, NBC for One America News and Politico for HuffPost

The Trump administration’s program to shake up media representation at official briefings and press calls in Washington is set to affect the Pentagon, with credentialed media being rotated out of assigned workspaces for media newcomers.

The conservative-leaning One America News Network will replace NBC News, Breitbart will be given space held by National Public Radio, the New York Post has been offered the New York Times’ workspace and HuffPost will replace Politico.

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Stop shielding UK royals from parliamentary scrutiny, says Labour peer

Lord Foulkes believes rules must change after series of scandals involving Prince Andrew

Rules banning scrutiny of the royal family in parliament must be changed in light of the continuing scandals about Prince Andrew, a Labour peer has said. Lord Foulkes is seeking a meeting this week with the clerk of the ­parliaments Simon Burton, who is head of the House of Lords administration, to discuss what Foulkes says is a growing list of concerns about the activities of the royal family.

Foulkes, a junior minister under Tony Blair, said he has been refused permission to table a question ­proposing a ­public register of royal interests.

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Arab Nations Reject Trump’s Suggestion to Displace Palestinians From Gaza – The New York Times

  1. Arab Nations Reject Trump’s Suggestion to Displace Palestinians From Gaza  The New York Times
  2. Trump's idea of expelling Palestinians from Gaza may impede release of Hamas hostages  Haaretz
  3. Trump floats plan to 'just clean out' Gaza, move Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan  USA TODAY
  4. Arab nations reject Trump’s suggestion to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan  The Associated Press
  5. Why Arab States Hate Trump’s Plan to Relocate Palestinians  The Wall Street Journal
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Pakistan army says militants killed 18 soldiers in Balochistan – The Times of India

  1. Pakistan army says militants killed 18 soldiers in Balochistan  The Times of India
  2. Dozens of soldiers, fighters killed in Baloch separatist attack in Pakistan  Al Jazeera English
  3. 18 Pakistani soldiers killed in fighting with separatist rebels in Balochistan  The Associated Press
  4. Pakistan: 18 paramilitary personnel killed in Balochistan ambush  The Times of India
  5. 18 Pakistani soldiers killed in fighting with separatist rebels in Baluchistan  ABC News
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Defense minister threatens released terrorist Zubeidi: ‘ One mistake and you’re going to meet old friends’ – Ynetnews

  1. Defense minister threatens released terrorist Zubeidi: ' One mistake and you’re going to meet old friends'  Ynetnews
  2. Israel warns freed terror chief Zubeidi: ‘One mistake and you’re going to meet old friends’  The Times of Israel
  3. Zakaria Zubeidi, Militant Who Briefly Escaped Israeli Prison, Is Among Released Palestinians  The New York Times
  4. 'They're the ones who wronged us': Freed Palestinian prisoner Zakaria Zubeidi rebukes UK and US over 'harm they've caused'  Sky News
  5. Crowds greet militant leader Zakaria Zubeidi among prisoners released in Ramallah  The Guardian
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