Trump’s pick of Huckabee and Witkoff a clue to Middle East policy
The former Arkansas governor and the New York real estate investor are staunch supporters of Israel.
Middle East crisis: Israeli strike kills six in southern Lebanon, health ministry says – as it happened
This live blog is now closed. You can read all our coverage of the Israel-Gaza war here and all our coverage of Israel’s war on Lebanon here
Overnight the IDF announced that six soldiers had been killed in clashes with Hezbollah inside southern Lebanon.
The Times of Israel reports “it was one of the heaviest single-day losses in the operation that began in late September,” and that “according to an initial IDF probe, the soldiers were killed in an exchange of fire with at least four Hezbollah operatives inside a building in a village in southern Lebanon.”
Continue reading...No adverse findings in probe into elite Northern Territory police triggered by offensive ‘awards’
Corruption watchdog rules out further investigation into racism within the force despite evidence of historical racial discrimination
WARNING: This article contains offensive content
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A corruption watchdog has closed an investigation into racism within the Northern Territory police force’s elite tactical response group with no adverse findings despite uncovering historical evidence of race-based discrimination.
The probe was triggered after former constable Zachary Rolfe attempted to prove the force’s ingrained culture of racism, using as evidence a historical racist mock-award handed out in the group to the officer who behaved “most like an Aboriginal”.
Continue reading...How did Kamala Harris’s campaign rack up a debt after record fundraising?
The $20m spent on celebrity concerts draws scrutiny amid reports of a matching debt despite $1bn in earnings.
French prosecutor seeks 5-year jail sentence and ban from office against far right leader – NBC News
- French prosecutor seeks 5-year jail sentence and ban from office against far right leader NBC News
- Marine Le Pen’s next bid for French presidency threatened as prosecutors seek political ban CNN
- Prosecutors request ban on Marine Le Pen running for public office in embezzlement trial POLITICO Europe
- Paris prosecutor seeks jail and public office ban for Marine Le Pen The Guardian
- French prosecutors seek a 2-year prison sentence and ineligibility period against Marine Le Pen The Associated Press
Clive Palmer-scale political donations to be blocked under new electoral spending caps
Candidates to receive $5 per vote from public funding, while parties and independents will receive $30,000 per MP and $15,000 per senator each
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Donation and electoral spending caps could pass parliament as early as this fortnight, with Labor confident the Coalition will help it block campaigns of the size run by Clive Palmer at the national level and teal independents at the local level.
But the bill, to be introduced next week, could spark outrage from independents, emerging and minor parties, with plans to increase public funding of elections from $3.35 a vote to $5.
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Continue reading...Inside the Philippines’ underground surrogacy industry
101 East investigates the underground surrogacy industry in the Philippines.
Germany captain Kimmich regrets political stance at World Cup Qatar 2022
Joshua Kimmich says the national team’s 2022 protest of the ban on pro-LGBTQ+ armbands at World Cup wasn't a good image.
Monaco Grand Prix’s long-term future resolved with F1 extension until 2031
- Race remains on F1 calendar after six-year deal agreed
- Contest has been part of motor sport scene since 1950
Formula One’s iconic Monaco Grand Prix will remain on the calendar until at least 2031 after a six-year extension was announced on Thursday, with a date change to June that also avoids future clashes with the Indianapolis 500.
The race around the streets of Monte Carlo was part of the first world championship season in 1950 and has been present since, with the exception of 2020 during the global pandemic.
Continue reading...Zuckerberg records ‘romantic’ cover of explicit rap hit
The Facebook founder collaborates with T-Pain on a cove of Lil Jon's 2002 filthy floor-filler Get Low.
Minister pledges better protection for UK airline passengers
Louise Haigh says she hopes to ensure a repeat of the air traffic control failure of August 2023 never happens again
Airline passengers will benefit from tougher enforcement of consumer protection laws following an inquiry into the August 2023 air traffic control meltdown, transport secretary Louise Haigh has said.
She said she wants to ensure “all passengers feel confident when they fly”.
Continue reading...Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia quits ‘disinformation network’ X
British news outlet The Guardian also said it would stop posting on Elon Musk's X, calling it a 'toxic media platform'.
First Thing: Israel accused of crimes against humanity over forced displacement in Gaza
Human Rights Watch says its evidence suggests Israel has committed a war crime against civilians. Plus, Mark Zuckerberg drops a cover of Get Low with T-Pain
Good morning.
Israel has been accused of crimes against humanity over its use of evacuation orders to pursue the “deliberate and massive forced displacement” of civilians in Gaza, in a report by Human Rights Watch.
How much of Gaza’s population has been displaced? More than 90%, with many civilians forced to move multiple times.
What do the Geneva conventions say about displacement? That in occupied territories, civilians must be displaced only in exceptional circumstances – but Israel has used evacuation orders repeatedly.
What’s Gaetz’s background? As a member of the Maga-aligned Freedom Caucus in the House, he led the successful charge to oust the former Republican House speaker Kevin McCarthy from his role.
Why else might he be controversial? Though charges were never brought, he was investigated by the justice department in a sex-trafficking case involving children, and by the House ethics committee over allegations including sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. He denies wrongdoing.
Continue reading...Trump is back. What does it mean for the US and the world?
Economist Jeffrey Sachs discusses how Trump’s victory could change US foreign policy in Europe, Middle East and Asia.
Charles Manson spoke of more killings in prison tapes
In newly released audio featured in a documentary, Manson appears to speak about previously unknown killings.
Israel Bombs Targets in Syria, and Keeps Up Strikes in Lebanon – The New York Times
- Israel Bombs Targets in Syria, and Keeps Up Strikes in Lebanon The New York Times
- LIVE: Israel pummels Beirut’s southern suburbs, keeps pounding Gaza Al Jazeera English
- Israel hits Beirut suburb after US delivers truce proposal Reuters
- Israeli strikes kill at least 12 Lebanese rescuers and 15 people in Syria The Associated Press
- PIJ terrorist killed in Israeli airstrike, IDF hits Hezbollah terror sites The Jerusalem Post
Voting ends in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary election that’s key for its new Marxist-leaning president – The Associated Press
- Voting ends in Sri Lanka's parliamentary election that's key for its new Marxist-leaning president The Associated Press
- Sri Lanka parliamentary elections 2024: What’s at stake? Al Jazeera English
- Sri Lanka election: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake seeks increased parliamentary strength Reuters
- The Tamil Question in a Changing Sri Lanka: The Limits of Dissanayake’s Leftist Agenda The Diplomat
- Sri Lanka Heads For Snap Elections Today, Results Likely On Friday NDTV
Sri Lankan leader seeks big majority in snap election
President Dissanayake wants to push through reforms to help the nation recover from a debt crisis.
NATO leading military officer on Trump’s return and Middle East
Admiral Rob Bauer on Trump’s re-election, and new alliances as global conflicts escalate.