US hotel owners expected a World Cup boom – so far it hasn’t happened
An industry body survey found hotels in World Cup host cities see the tournament as a "non-event".
Anti-immigration AI videos traced to overseas fakers, BBC finds
"Patriotic" UK anti-immigration social media accounts have been traced to Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
From drab partitions to haute couture host: how a Sydney civic masterpiece was rescued
Redevelopment of the former Department of Lands building on Sydney’s Bridge Street wins National Trust heritage award
It was once a grand old sandstone masterpiece, where returned soldiers would cram into marble corridors to anxiously await lottery draws that could change their lives.
Then the 20th century happened.
Continue reading...Aging Palestinian Leader Boosting His Son’s Political Rise, Officials Say – The New York Times
- Aging Palestinian Leader Boosting His Son’s Political Rise, Officials Say The New York Times
- Palestinian leaders hold rare party meeting as polls show rising discontent BBC
- Palestinian President Abbas pledges elections, reform at Fatah conference Al Jazeera
- Backers of Abbas rival excluded from Fatah confab, despite Egypt’s push for inclusivity The Times of Israel
- Inside the historic crossroads facing the Fatah movement Mondoweiss
Enter the Killer Robots: The Ukrainian Forging the Future of Warfare – The New York Times
- Enter the Killer Robots: The Ukrainian Forging the Future of Warfare The New York Times
- Sci-fi or battlefield reality? Ukraine's bet on swarm drones Yahoo
- A Ukrainian arms maker was surprised to see Russian soldiers surrender to its war robots Business Insider
- Ukrainian soldiers meet an enemy assault group with a ground robot with a machine gun Оборонка
- Ukraine’s Robot Warriors and a Behind-the-Lines Blitz Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA)
‘Class internet’ fuels anger in blackout-hit Iran – ایران اینترنشنال
- 'Class internet' fuels anger in blackout-hit Iran ایران اینترنشنال
- Iran expands tiered internet access amid continued online blackout Al Jazeera
- Iran forcing citizens to post pro-regime content, hand over personal info to regain internet access New York Post
- Trump’s tactics in Iran and the longest intentional internet blackout ever NPR
- Iran's digital economy loses up to IRR7 quadrillion in 70 days of internet disruption IntelliNews
Staff-Sgt. Negev Dagan killed in combat in southern Lebanon – The Jerusalem Post
- Staff-Sgt. Negev Dagan killed in combat in southern Lebanon The Jerusalem Post
- Hezbollah’s unjammable drones pose new threat to Israel The Washington Post
- Israeli troops targeted in north Israel drone strike, Hezbollah says France 24
- Israeli soldier killed by mortar fire in southern Lebanon, IDF says Haaretz
- IDF reveals it supplies Lebanese army with anti-explosive drone barbed wire The Jerusalem Post
Oil prices jump after Trump says he is losing patience with Iran – CNBC
- Oil prices jump after Trump says he is losing patience with Iran CNBC
- Day 75 of Middle East conflict — Iran ceasefire talks stalled as Trump pushes for a deal with Tehran CNN
- Opinion | Trump is stuck in an Iran trap of his making — with only two options The Washington Post
- Trump gives Iran reason to worry about punishing new escalation New York Post
- Trump says he is losing patience with Iran, did not ask China for favors Reuters
CIA chief visits Cuba as energy crisis worsens
The reported visit to Havana came after the US renewed an offer of aid to ease the effects of its oil blockade.
CIA director has met officials in Havana for talks, Cuba claims
Visit comes after US-Cuba relations deteriorated significantly, and as the island nation declared it had ‘absolutely no fuel’ because of US blockade
CIA director John Ratcliffe met Cuban officials in Havana on Thursday as a way to improve dialogue between the US and the communist-run island, the Cuban government said.
The meeting took place “in a context marked by the complexity of bilateral relations, with the aim of contributing to the political dialogue between both nations”, a statement said.
Continue reading...‘No idea it was coming’: Pentagon officials stunned by Hegseth decision on troops in Poland – Politico
- ‘No idea it was coming’: Pentagon officials stunned by Hegseth decision on troops in Poland Politico
- Pentagon ‘blindsided’ as US scraps deployment of 4,000 troops to Poland The Independent
- Trump is cutting the numbers of US troops in Europe. Here’s how CNN
- Pentagon abruptly cancels troop deployment to Europe amid frustrations with NATO The Washington Post
- Pentagon abruptly cuts US combat forces in Poland, officials say ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
Israel’s 7 October rape hoax gets a 300-page reboot – The Electronic Intifada
- Israel’s 7 October rape hoax gets a 300-page reboot The Electronic Intifada
- First on CNN: New report details ‘systematic’ rape and sexual violence during Hamas’ Oct 7 attack on Israel CNN
- Several former Hamas hostages in Gaza share accounts of sexual assault NBC News
- Israeli Report Examines Sexual Violence During and After Hamas-Led Attack The New York Times
- Sexual violence was systematic and integral to Oct. 7 attacks and their aftermath, new report says AP News
Brutal raid on woman’s birthday party highlights rise of Russian vigilante group
The Russkaya Obshina group stages raids to look for activities contravening
"traditional Russian values".
Iran war live: Trump’s visit to China shadowed by conflict with Tehran
Iran's foreign minister said Iranians will 'not bow down', adding there is no military solution to disputes with Tehran.
Canada is welcome to join Eurovision, says song contest director
‘We know that Mark Carney wants to sort of embrace Europe,’ says competition director Martin Green
Canada is welcome to join Eurovision if it wishes, its director has said, months after the country revealed it wanted to “explore” joining the song contest in its federal budget.
Eurovision director Martin Green told the BBC on Wednesday that Canada hadn’t yet applied, but would be welcome to.
Continue reading...Philippine senator wanted by the International Criminal Court flees from Senate – AP News
- Philippine senator wanted by the International Criminal Court flees from Senate AP News
- Situation in the Philippines: ICC judges unseal arrest warrant against Ronald Marapon Dela Rosa for alleged crime against humanity | International Criminal Court
- Former Philippine ‘drug war’ police chief runs away from government agents to avoid international arrest warrant CNN
- Duterte Ally Flees to Evade I.C.C. Arrest Warrant After Chaos at Philippine Senate The New York Times
- Philippine politician wanted by ICC flees senate after days holed up in building The Guardian
Why Modi wants Indians to buy less gold and take fewer foreign holidays
Modi has urged Indians to save dollars as war and oil shocks strain the rupee and economy further this year.
Explosions heard as mining groups stage antigovernment protest in Bolivia
Protesters have demanded the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz, who was elected on a platform of economic reform.
UN aid convoy hit by drone strikes in Ukraine’s Kherson
A UN humanitarian convoy delivering aid to the city of Kherson was hit twice by drones.