- China Rewrites the ‘Soft Power’ Playbook for the A.I. Age The New York Times
- China’s Xi pursues AI diplomacy to woo global south Financial Times
- Shanghai science forum photos show China’s AI and robotics advances in rivalry with US AP News
- China's AI doctrine is a challenge for Europe Le Monde.fr
- Xi pitches China as leader of new global AI order, challenging US dominance Reuters
‘Customers prefer AI chatbots,’ says British Gas owner as 1,300 call centre jobs axed
CEO Chris O’Shea defends Centrica’s plans as it reports rise in retail profits following focus on bigger margins
The owner of British Gas has claimed that most households would rather speak with an AI chatbot than deal with the company’s staff as it prepares to cut 1,300 jobs from its call centres.
Centrica, the supplier’s FTSE 100 owner, plans to cut 800 jobs as the company carries out a “targeted deployment of AI tools”, on top of the 500 cuts it confirmed last month.
Continue reading...Mayor shot dead in Mexico months after surviving assassination attempt
Valentín Lavín Romero is the 14th mayor to be murdered since Claudia Sheinbaum became president in 2024
A mayor was shot dead on Wednesday in the Mexican state of Morelos after having survived a previous assassination attempt earlier this year. He is the 14th mayor to be murdered since Claudia Sheinbaum became president in October 2024.
Valentín Lavín Romero, who was from the Green party, an ally of the ruling leftwing Morena party, was wounded at the end of January when hitmen shot him at a petrol station on a motorway.
Continue reading...Teen jailed for exam cheating in Guinea dies after sickle cell complications, father says
Mamadou Djouma Bah, 17, was arrested and sentenced to prison for exam fraud earlier this month.
Ex-governor convicted of murdering a pregnant student in Kenya
Okoth Obado was found guilty of killing Sharon Otieno with whom he had had an affair.
Nicaragua’s legislature debates barring opposition from elections
The move comes days after President Daniel Ortega demanded 'a wall, a blockade' against opposition parties.
Kozo Okamoto, Japanese terrorist behind 1972 Ben Gurion Airport massacre, dies in Beirut – Ynetnews
- Kozo Okamoto, Japanese terrorist behind 1972 Ben Gurion Airport massacre, dies in Beirut Ynetnews
- Kozo Okamoto, Japanese militant who took part in a 1972 Tel Aviv airport attack, dies in Beirut AP News
- Japanese Red Army terrorist behind deadly 1972 attack on Israeli airport dies at 78 The Times of Israel
- ‘I was covered in blood, and my mother died’: Survivors recall Kozo Okamoto’s massacre Ynetnews
- Kozo Okamoto, last surviving participant of 1972 Lod Airport massacre, dies The Japan Times
Oil prices hit $100 for the first time since May
The price of Brent crude rose more than 6% on Thursday as the war in the Middle East continues to escalate.
Owner of Viking ship used in The Odyssey says studio has not paid bill for damage
Swedish nonprofit alleges cost to repair replica was $6,000 but Universal – which made $264m on film’s opening weekend – has not stumped up
The Swedish owners of a Viking longship replica that features in the Hollywood blockbuster The Odyssey say they feel “forgotten” after film-makers allegedly returned the vessel damaged and failed to foot the bill for repairs.
In nearly three decades at sea, the warship Glad av Gillberga – based on a wreck from around 1040 found in Denmark’s Roskilde fjord – has successfully sailed the North Sea, the Baltic and even voyaged to Canada.
Continue reading...Wildfire spreads near popular French tourist town as thousands are evacuated – AP News
- Wildfire spreads near popular French tourist town as thousands are evacuated AP News
- France evacuates 20,000 as wildfires spread in south-west BBC
- More than 10,000 flee wildfire near popular French tourist town The Seattle Times
- Thousands of tourists forced to evacuate as fire rages in southwest France France 24
- France wildfires force evacuation of over 20,000 people from tourist town Al Jazeera
Pauline Hanson blames ‘fake news’ media for her bad press. But serious leaders have to own their actions
In a fortnight of rolling blunders, the One Nation leader digs deep into the Trump playbook of blame-shifting
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There’s apparently only one thing to blame for Pauline Hanson’s string of bad headlines in recent weeks, from her decision to pal around with the far-right convicted criminal Tommy Robinson to her description of domestic violence on Wednesday as a “two-way street”.
According to the One Nation leader, it’s of course not Hanson herself who is to blame.
Continue reading...Murdoch and Musk in the crosshairs at Venice film festival
Danny Boyle’s drama about the acquisition of the Sun and a four-hour Elon Musk documentary will premiere alongside new films from Martin McDonagh and Werner Herzog – but only one female director has a movie in competition
The Venice film festival promises to take a swing at media moguls of the print and digital era this year, with Trainspotting director Danny Boyle’s new film about Rupert Murdoch’s acquisition of the Sun and a new documentary about Elon Musk included in the lineup of the films for the festival’s 83rd edition.
In Boyle’s Ink, which will open the festival on the Lido on 2 September, Australian actor Guy Pearce plays compatriot newspaper tycoon Murdoch, whose purchase of the Sun in 1969 sensationalised the media landscape and transformed public life in Britain. The script is written by Olivier award-winning playwright and screenwriter James Graham (Dear England, Brexit: The Uncivil War).
Continue reading...A Turkish governor is sacked over photos in snug cycling shorts. Many want him reinstated – AP News
- A Turkish governor is sacked over photos in snug cycling shorts. Many want him reinstated AP News
- On your bike! Turkish governor fired after wearing Lycra cycling tights The Telegraph
- Thousands sign petition supporting Turkish governor after cycling tights row BBC
- Erdoğan dismisses governor after criticism over cycling outfit Bianet
- AP Trending SummaryBrief at 11:02 a.m. EDT wdtimes.com
Israeli security minister joins Jewish extremists as they storm al-Aqsa mosque compound
Far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was among thousands who gathered at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site
Israel’s far-right minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, joined thousands of Jewish extremists who stormed Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site on Thursday.
Escorted by armed police, they prayed, waved the Israeli flag and sang the national anthem in a provocative display of political power.
Continue reading...Liberia seizes €277 million in cocaine in major drug bust – Euronews.com
- Liberia seizes €277 million in cocaine in major drug bust Euronews.com
- Cocaine worth $317m seized in Liberia's biggest-ever drugs bust BBC
- Several Liberian Officers Interrogated Over Record Drug Bust allAfrica.com
- Today in Africa — July 22, 2026: Liberia’s Record $370 Million Cocaine Bust, ECOWAS’ Push for a Single Currency OkayAfrica
- Liberia seizes US$317 million of cocaine bound for Europe, police chief says CTV News
Has Russia helped Iran target CIA sites in the Gulf? – Al Jazeera
- Has Russia helped Iran target CIA sites in the Gulf? Al Jazeera
- US Investigating Possible Russian Role In Iranian Strikes On CIA Facilities In Gulf - Report i24NEWS
- Did Russia aid Iranian drone attacks on CIA sites? What report says The Times of India
- US probing possible Russian link to Iran strikes on CIA facilities Yahoo
- Russia's Secret Hand in Iran's Drone War: U.S. Probes Kometa-M Tech Behind CIA Station Strikes in Riyadh Defence Security Asia
MoD cancels army training in Kenya over powers to prosecute British soldiers
September exercise called off after Kenya raises concerns over funding and jurisdiction for criminal offences
The British army has been forced to cancel training for its troops in Kenya after the Kenyan government refused to ratify a bilateral defence agreement.
While the UK government wanted to renew the existing agreement, Kenyan lawmakers had sought changes to give local authorities greater powers to hold British soldiers accountable for any offences committed in the country.
Continue reading...Ghanaians’ ICC petition over migrant attacks ‘opportunistic’, says South Africa
The petition argues the violence against migrants in South Africa could amount to crimes against humanity.
Liquor store employee narrowly escapes leopard attack
After nearly five hours, officials captured the animal and it was later released back into the wild, local authorities confirmed.
Mideast oil producers step up plans to bypass the Strait of Hormuz – AP News
- Mideast oil producers step up plans to bypass the Strait of Hormuz AP News
- Middle East oil producers seek Strait of Hormuz alternatives as the U.S.-Iran war escalates CBS News
- Oil producers race to build alternatives to Hormuz as oil hits $100 Euronews.com
- From Syria to UAE, the race to bypass Strait of Hormuz is on Middle East Eye
- No route around Hormuz: Why West Asia’s pipeline alternatives fall short thecradle.co