- The Man Tasked With Creating Neom Is Out Newser
- CEO of Saudi Arabia’s Futuristic City Project Leaves Abruptly The Wall Street Journal
- Saudi Arabia is trying to build a mega-city in the desert. Now, Neom is dialing back plans for its first stage. Business Insider
- Exclusive: Saudi Arabia prioritizes sports for NEOM plans as costs balloon, sources say Reuters
- CEO of Saudi Arabia's megacity project The Line steps down amid project challenges The Jerusalem Post
‘Nowhere is safe’: Concerns grow as Israel strikes new areas of Lebanon
Residents of the mixed area of Aramoun express alarm after a strike on Wednesday kills eight people.
Loyalty the key as impulsive Trump picks team for America First agenda
President-elect’s team has China hawks, an alleged Assad defender and a Fox News host – all have been vocally loyal
As Donald Trump rushes to fill out his cabinet and enact his America First agenda in the United States and abroad, a clear throughline for his foreign policy and national security team has been a vocal loyalty to the president-elect – at least in this election cycle.
The rapidly expanding roster includes established – and some Maga supporters would say establishment – foreign policy hawks, and a neophyte defense secretary who until this week was still a conservative commentator on Fox News.
Continue reading...Activist takes own life in protest at Iranian regime
Kianoosh Sanjari was an outspoken critic of Iran's leaders and had demanded the release of political prisoners.
Mysterious 300-carat diamond necklace fetches £3.8m in Geneva auction
Worn at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, the necklace has possible links to the downfall of Marie Antoinette
A mysterious diamond-laden necklace with possible links to a scandal that contributed to the downfall of Marie Antoinette has sold for $4.8m (£3.8m) at an auction in Geneva.
The 18th-century item of jewellery containing approximately 300 carats of diamonds had been estimated to sell at the Sotheby’s Royal and Noble Jewels sale for $1.8-2.8m.
Continue reading...Amsterdam police detain pro-Palestine protesters defying ban
Dozens held under emergency measures imposed after violence that erupted around football match
Police have detained pro-Palestinian protesters rallying in central Amsterdam in defiance of a ban imposed after violence stemming from a football match between Ajax and Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Dozens of demonstrators, some with Palestinian flags, chanted “Amsterdam is saying no to genocide” and “Free Palestine”.
Continue reading...Italy’s president sharply rebukes Elon Musk over comments on X about migration court rulings – ABC News
CIA Official Arrested for Intelligence Leak on Israeli Plans to Strike Iran – The Wall Street Journal
- CIA Official Arrested for Intelligence Leak on Israeli Plans to Strike Iran The Wall Street Journal
- FBI arrests alleged leaker of US intelligence documents related to Israel’s attack plans against Iran CNN
- US intelligence official charged after Israel’s plan to attack Iran leaked The Guardian US
- US government worker charged with leaking classified documents on Israel's plans to strike Iran The Associated Press
- C.I.A. Official Charged in Leak of Classified Documents About Israeli Military Plans The New York Times
6 Israeli soldiers killed in fighting with Hezbollah as IDF pushes deeper into Lebanon – The Times of Israel
- 6 Israeli soldiers killed in fighting with Hezbollah as IDF pushes deeper into Lebanon The Times of Israel
- IDF announces 6 soldiers killed in fighting with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon The Times of Israel
- Six Israeli Soldiers Killed in Southern Lebanon Combat Haaretz
- Israel-Iran War Live Updates: Deadliest day for Israel’s ground offensive as six soldiers killed near Lebanon border The Times of India
- Deadly day for Israel army as 6 troops killed in Lebanon South China Morning Post
Mexican Officials Arrest Top Security Official in Mayor’s Beheading – The New York Times
- Mexican Officials Arrest Top Security Official in Mayor’s Beheading The New York Times
- Mexico arrests local security chief for murder of Chilpancingo mayor Reuters
- Mexican city's security chief held over mayor's beheading BBC.com
- Mexico authorities arrest security official for the murder of state capital's mayor - JURIST - News JURIST
- Arrest Made In Mexican Mayor's Grisly Murder Barron's
IAF dismantles loaded launcher in the humanitarian area in southern Gaza – Arutz Sheva
- IAF dismantles loaded launcher in the humanitarian area in southern Gaza Arutz Sheva
- Israel Strikes Humanitarian Zone in Gaza The New York Times
- IDF: Rocket launcher positioned in southern Gaza humanitarian zone destroyed in airstrike The Times of Israel
- Video: Video Captures Israeli Strike on Humanitarian Zone in Gaza The New York Times
- Watch: Rocket launcher aimed at Gaza envelope identified and destroyed Arutz Sheva
British Museum receives record £1bn donation of Chinese ceramics
Collection of 1,700 pieces dating from third to 20th century is highest-value gift of objects in UK museum history
The British Museum has been given a private collection of Chinese ceramics worth about £1bn, the highest-value object donation in UK museum history.
The 1,700 pieces dating from the third to the 20th century have been given permanently by the trustees of the Sir Percival David Foundation. They had been on loan to the London museum since 2009.
Continue reading...South Korean police arrest 215 people in suspected $228m crypto scam
Alleged criminal ring is the biggest cryptocurrency investment scam in country’s history, according to police
South Korean police have arrested 215 people on suspicion of stealing 320 billion won ($228.4m) in the biggest cryptocurrency investment scam in the country.
Gyeonggi Nambu provincial police said on Wednesday that the arrests included the alleged mastermind of the organised crime group accused of selling 28 types of virtual tokens to about 15,000 people by promising high returns. Referred to as Mr A, he had fled to Australia but was arrested and extradited. Police have confiscated 22 Bitcoin from his accounts and have applied to seize some $34m more. Just 12 people of the 215 remain in custody, according to Yonhap.
Continue reading...Police make arrest and seize water pistol after incident outside NSW parliament – as it happened
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- Australia backs UN resolution recognising ‘permanent sovereignty’ of Palestinians in major departure
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Could Donald Trump really fire Kevin Rudd?
The former prime minister’s criticism of Donald Trump has drawn the ire of those in the president elect’s inner circle, and prompted renewed debate about whether the incoming administration could seek retribution.
I’d be very much opposed to that.
You’ve got the world’s richest man, and you’ve given him this position of incredible influence in the American government. I think jobs for mates is a very bad idea. I don’t think that politicians should be putting their friends, their dear friends into positions of great influence in this country.
Continue reading...Ireland orders X, TikTok and Instagram to curb terrorist content
Regulator issues online safety ruling after finding weak processes leave networks ‘exposed to terrorist content’
Elon Musk’s X, TikTok and Meta’s Instagram have been ordered by Irish media regulators to take “necessary measures” to prevent terrorist content being platformed in order to comply with sweeping new online safety legislation.
The Irish media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, said it issued the ruling after its investigations determined that the social media networks were “exposed to terrorist content” due to weak processes.
Continue reading...Thousands evacuated as parts of Spain hit with nearly a month’s rainfall in one hour – CNN
- Thousands evacuated as parts of Spain hit with nearly a month’s rainfall in one hour CNN
- New storms and flooding threaten Spain’s hard-hit Valencia again The Associated Press
- Watch: Málaga flood turns street into river BBC.com
- Schools closed and people evacuated as torrential rain returns in Spain The Guardian
- New storms and flooding hit Spain's southern Malaga province as EU debates crisis management Euronews
Trump announces Matt Gaetz as attorney general and Tulsi Gabbard for top intelligence post – US politics live
Far-right Florida congressman to get top justice job; former Democrat Gabbard frequently appeared with Trump on the campaign trail
- Trump picks far-right congressman Matt Gaetz as attorney general
- Trump cabinet: who’s in and likely contenders so far
Mehdi Hasan writes for the Guardian today, asking “Is Donald Trump a foreign policy dove?”
You can read it here …
Everything about men and women serving together makes the situation more complicated, and complication in combat, that means casualties are worse.
Continue reading...Trump’s early second-term choices fuel fears of extremist agenda
Trump has chosen loyalists and hardliners to lead departments that will shape US policy on immigration, defense and more
Donald Trump may have won a second term in the White House just last week, but his recent administration appointments have already heightened fears among some who believe his return to the White House will lead to an extremist agenda.
On immigration, Trump has chosen loyalists and hardliners: Stephen Miller will serve as deputy chief of staff for policy and Department of Homeland Security adviser; Tom Homan as “border czar”, and Kristi Noem, the South Dakota governor, will lead the Department of Homeland Security.
Continue reading...Trump chooses Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence
Ex-Hawaii congresswoman ran for president as Democratic candidate before quitting party to support Trump
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to serve as his director of national intelligence.
Gabbard, who served in the US military in Iraq, served four terms as a Democratic congresswoman representing Hawaii, and ran for president in the Democratic primary in 2020, before quitting the party in 2022, and becoming a supporter of Trump.
Continue reading...Russia’s economy is heading toward a fate worse than recession, pro-Kremlin economists say – Business Insider
- Russia's economy is heading toward a fate worse than recession, pro-Kremlin economists say Business Insider
- Russian Food Prices Skyrocket in Growing Concern for Kremlin Bloomberg
- Russia’s War Economy Is Hitting Its Limits Foreign Policy
- Russia Has High Inflation and a Shrinking GDP. How Ukraine Fits In. Barron's
- Exclusive: Russian Railways expects interest costs to hit $7 bln in 2025 Reuters