Author: staff
In markets in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis on 25 May, residents gathered around sheep and goats that few could afford to buy. Abdelrahman al-Farra, displaced from Khan Younis, said a 40-kilogram sheep now costs up to $8,000, far beyond the reach of most families living in tents after nearly two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas. The crisis has also transformed daily life across Gaza. Near Khan Younis, sheep and goats were seen feeding on rubbish as animal feed became scarce and expensive. Displaced resident Nabil Bassiouny said a sheep that once cost about $100 before the war…
With two hugely consequential months ahead in British politics, Sam and Anne look beneath the headlines and Westminster drama to ask what really comes next. As US President Donald Trump escalates tensions in the Middle East once again, the duo examine the pressure on Whitehall. Would any prime minister, whoever occupies Number 10, make a difference or face the same issues? Anne reports back from the Prague Security Conference where former Downing Street chief of staff – Morgan McSweeney – makes a stark warning on AI, political disruption and the future of campaigning. Plus, is Britain simply ungovernable?
The new Passenger Package, announced on 13 May, is a fundamental shift toward a unified, digital, and legally protected rail network. It moves away from the current, fragmented European system, where thousands of train journeys are disrupted, leaving millions stranded. The new “single ticket” will allow travellers to combine multiple rail segments, regardless of operator, into one single booking. This ensures transparency protections and full, consistent passenger rights for the entire journey. If delays occur, passengers are protected, with operators required to provide rerouting, assistance, accommodation, and compensation (such as 25 per cent for 60–119-minute delays and 50 per cent…
Published on 26/05/2026 – 8:46 GMT+2 North Korea launched several projectiles, including a ballistic missile, into the Yellow Sea on Tuesday, South Korea’s military said. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said they had detected the launches of “several projectiles”, including a short-range ballistic missile, into the Yellow Sea from the North Korean city of Chongju at around 1:00 pm local time. The Yellow Sea is the body of water separating the Korean peninsula from China. The missiles flew about 80 kilometres, Seoul’s military said, adding that it was analysing their specifications and flight range, and had “strengthened surveillance and…
A poster featuring Elon Musk, calling for users of his X social media platform to delete their accounts due to the AI chatbot Grok’s image-creation feature. | Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images It urged ministers to pass new legislation explicitly covering generative AI services – a recommendation the government rejected a month later, on the basis that amending the Act before it was fully in force risked ”complicat[ing] and undermin[ing]” implementation. “The vibe has very much been one of ‘trust the process,’” Owen Bennett, who led international online safety at Ofcom until December 2025 and now works as an independent…
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that Washington remains ready to mediate in the war between Russia and Ukraine, after Moscow threatened new strikes on Kyiv. Russia’s warning, including a call for foreign diplomats to flee the Ukrainian capital, marks a fresh escalation in the more than four-year war, with Moscow vowing “systematic” attacks on Kyiv, including on “decision-making centres.” Rubio’s offer came after Russia battered Ukraine over the weekend, including firing its Oreshnik hypersonic missile, and following a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. “Every time you see these big strikes from one side…
Europe risks falling into a technology “dependency trap” as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes global trade and economic power, according to a new report. The report from insurance company Allianz argues that the world’s economy is reorganising around tech industries such as cloud computing, data centres and semiconductors, where Europe is weaker compared to the United States and Asia. Asia dominates the export of AI-related goods with 65% of this part of the world economy and seven of the world’s top 10 AI exporters, in an industry that has exploded from $1 trillion (€880bn) in 2014 to $3.8 trillion (€3.3tn) in…
Published on 25/05/2026 – 7:00 GMT+2 Forget stealing the hotel toiletries; now you can take the whole aesthetic home. Marriott Bonvoy has launched a new, online design shop packed with hotel-inspired furniture, art and décor, letting travellers recreate the look of luxury stays, from W Hotels’ bold glamour to Westin’s sleep-focused calm – without ever checking in. Standout pieces in the collections include a custom headboard and platform bed in various colourways, an upholstered bench, and a floral rug, alongside glass vases, dual-finish nightstands and bookends. “Hospitality doesn’t end at check-out anymore. [The] design shop reflects how we’re expanding the…
Decades later in Afghanistan, U.S. officials marveled at their own ingenuity — special forces on horseback, precision bombs and a regime toppled in mere weeks. Yet it was only days before the bombing started that Bush asked “who will run the country” once the Taliban was toppled — a fair question no one thought to ask before fueling the B-52s. The men on horseback were brilliant, but there was no theory as to what came next. Moreover, al Qaeda’s longtime leader Osama bin Laden remained at large. Then came Iraq, with the war’s architects predicting a cakewalk in which U.S.…
Europe is still reeling from the recent drone incursions into Baltic airspace. In a show of solidarity, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius are in Lithuania today following last week’s drone scare. Today on the Brussels Playbook Podcast, we unpack the latest developments, including discussions about Baltic companies teaming up with Ukrainian firms to tap into their expertise in bomb-shelter construction. Also on the pod: Calls are growing for Europe to appoint its own negotiator in Ukraine-Russia peace talks, now that the U.S. has stepped back. Even Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Europe to take a…