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World

2057 articles · page 29 of 43

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Geopolitics

UNRWA chief condemns Israeli seizure of East Jerusalem training centre as part of campaign to weaken agency

The acting head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Christian Saunders, has condemned Israel’s seizure of the agency’s training centre in East Jerusalem, describing it as part of a broader campaign to weaken UNRWA and undermine Palestinian rights. The raid on the facility, located in the contested city, marks the latest escalation in a long-running dispute between Israel and the UN agency that provides education, health care and social services to millions of Palestinian refugees.

27 Aug 2026
US Politics

Judge Sets June 2028 Trial Date for 9/11 Case, Delaying Long-Awaited Proceedings

A military judge has set a June 2028 trial date for the five defendants accused of orchestrating the September 11, 2001 attacks, pushing the start of proceedings more than 26 years after the hijackings. The date, approved on Wednesday at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, falls short of the earlier timeline requested by prosecutors and comes as the judge has yet to resolve multiple legal issues stemming from the defendants' torture in CIA custody.

27 Aug 2026
US Politics

ICE Arrests Nearly 50,000 in July, Highest Monthly Total of Trump’s Second Term

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained almost 50,000 people in July, the highest monthly arrest total of President Trump’s second term, according to data published by the Deportation Data Project, a joint initiative of the University of California, Berkeley and UCLA. The figures, released on Thursday, underscore a continued ramp-up in immigration enforcement under the current administration.

27 Aug 2026
US Politics

Growing Backlash Against ALPR Surveillance: Flock Safety Faces Federal Probe as Contract Cancellations Mount

Flock Safety, a leading vendor of automated license plate readers (ALPRs), is facing a mounting backlash across the United States as citizen protests, contract cancellations, and a new federal investigation challenge its widespread surveillance network. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) this week announced an investigation into Flock's data practices, while the Institute for Justice (IJ) published a database documenting 93 local governments that have terminated ALPR contracts, amid growing public concern over warrantless mass surveillance.

27 Aug 2026
World

'Be yourself but look like everyone else': Imelda Staunton on the paradox of modern youth

As she prepares for the release of her new film '& Sons', acclaimed actor Imelda Staunton reflects on the pressures young people face to both express individuality and conform to social norms, describing it as a dilemma that defines a generation. In an interview with Stephanie Bunbury, Staunton also discusses the privilege of her craft and her enduring 40-year partnership with fellow actor Jim Carter.

27 Aug 2026· 3 sources
World

Global Movement Gains Momentum: Governments Restrict Social Media for Children

Governments around the world have passed or proposed a sweeping array of bans and restrictions on social media use by young teens, citing mounting evidence that addictive platforms harm mental health and development. The movement, detailed in a New York Times report, marks the most coordinated global push yet to regulate how children interact with technology, with laws ranging from outright age bans to mandatory parental controls.

27 Aug 2026
Geopolitics

Analysis: Syria’s al Sharaa Wins Abroad, Struggles at Home as Sanctions Relief Yields Mixed Results

A year after the United States lifted sanctions and removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, the analyst who originally argued that sanctions relief was a necessary tool for positive engagement with President Ahmed al Sharaa’s government has issued a sober reassessment: while al Sharaa has won diplomatic breathing room abroad, deep-rooted domestic problems — economic stagnation, lagging reconstruction, and questions over governance — threaten to undermine his leadership.

27 Aug 2026
World

US sanctions hit left-wing groups in UK and Italy, Palestine Action linked

The United States has imposed sanctions on two left-wing activist groups in Europe—Palestine Action in the UK and a separate collective referenced as 'the a/I Collective' in Italy—designating both as terror-linked entities, according to US Treasury announcements and reports on Hacker News. The move has drawn mixed reactions, with a Palestine Action spokesperson urging the UK to end its own ban on the group.

27 Aug 2026· 3 sources
World

Garuda offers free flights to ease Bali overtourism by luring tourists to other Indonesian destinations

Indonesia’s national airline Garuda has announced free flights to destinations beyond Bali as the latest tactic to combat chronic overtourism on the island, which has strained infrastructure, driven up housing costs, and sparked local resentment. The move follows similar initiatives by other carriers and tourism authorities seeking to spread the economic benefits of tourism across the archipelago.

27 Aug 2026· 3 sources
Australia

Top Australian chefs teach cooking skills to young offenders in juvenile detention

In a juvenile detention centre, some of Australia’s best chefs are volunteering to teach cooking skills to young male offenders, offering hands-on culinary training and a path to employment after release. The program, built on the principle of seeing participants for who they are rather than their past mistakes, seeks to equip inmates with practical skills that can break cycles of reoffending.

27 Aug 2026· 3 sources
US Politics

Sen. Hawley Launches Investigation into Flock Safety's Surveillance Network, Seeks Data Access Records

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, has opened an investigation into Flock Safety's extensive network of automated license plate recognition cameras, demanding the company disclose who has access to the personal data of Americans captured by its systems. In a letter to CEO Garrett Langley, Hawley raised concerns about the scope of the surveillance program and the potential for misuse of sensitive location and travel data.

27 Aug 2026
Australia

NSW gambling reforms labelled 'hokey pokies' as critics slam lack of bite

The New South Wales Minns government has unveiled its long-awaited gambling reform package, but prominent anti-pokies advocates and media commentators have decried the measures as a 'victory for political timidity' and a betrayal of true reform. The package stops well short of a mandatory cashless gaming card, mandatory pre-commitment, or a significant reduction in poker machine numbers, prompting accusations that the government has bowed to industry pressure.

27 Aug 2026· 3 sources
World

Tour operator fears 15 Australians dead in Nepal floods, including children as young as 11

A Nepali tour operator has said he fears the 15 Australians in his trekking group, including children as young as 11, are dead after flash floods devastated a valley on the Nepal-Tibet border. Sagar Pandey, founder of Himalayan Glacier Trekking, said he had lost all contact with the 47-strong group, which also included trekkers from other countries. The Australian government said it was urgently trying to confirm the welfare of Australians in the area, as the overall death toll from the disaster reached 403, with 341 foreign nationals still unaccounted for.

27 Aug 2026· 13 sources
Australia

Independent report finds $60 billion GST deal was a mistake, critics say findings are being buried

An independent report has concluded that Australia's current Goods and Services Tax (GST) distribution deal is a $60 billion mistake, according to sources familiar with the review. The findings, which have not been publicly released in full, are already facing resistance from those who benefit from the existing arrangement, with critics accusing opponents of burying the report in 'pure bulldust' to avoid political fallout.

27 Aug 2026· 3 sources
Geopolitics

AI Lowers the Barriers to China-Linked Disinformation Against Japan, New Analysis Warns

A new analysis published by The Diplomat warns that China-linked influence operators are increasingly using artificial intelligence to craft more effective disinformation targeting Japanese audiences. The report, by analyst Cheng-Pu Kao, argues that generative AI has sharply lowered the cost and technical barriers to running influence campaigns, enabling smaller teams to produce large volumes of localized, convincing content and raising new challenges for Japan and its allies.

27 Aug 2026