Author: staff
Published on 07/07/2026 – 11:58 GMT+2 A new acronym has been given to FIFA: Fix It For America. This new abbreviation is trending online, especially following the scandal that has rocked the World Cup and added to FIFA’s less than stellar reputation. Indeed, the Belgium vs US game was overshadowed by FIFA’s decision to overturn a red card received by US striker Folarin Balogun – a move which Donald Trump had a hand in, as he admitted to having spoken with FIFA president Gianni Infantino about reviewing the red card. There have been widespread calls for Infantino to resign, and…
Many of the procurement deals, meanwhile, are likely to be repackaged. Allies have less political or fiscal space to offer Trump major new pledges, the same two diplomats said. In reality, they are offering Trump “very little,” said Niehus. “There is no big deliverable.” ‘Major transformation’ Yet behind the scenes, allies feel the days of NATO’s unfettered appeasement of the U.S. president are numbered. Europe and Canada still only account for 41 percent of NATO’s total defense spending — although that skews in Washington’s favor because the U.S. has vast defense spending unrelated to Europe. Washington also has unique capabilities…
Updated: 07/07/2026 – 11:53 GMT+2 Rolf R. Strauch, Chief Economist at the European Stability Mechanism, said governments “have to create growth” to avoid a possible recession. The global instability poses “high demands” in governments that have to face them with limited fiscal space. … More
French President Emmanuel Macron visited the historic Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on 7 July alongside Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The footage shows the two leaders walking through the mosque, exploring the site and signing the guestbook before shaking hands. The visit was part of Macron’s first trip to Syria, where he also met members of Syrian civil society. Macron’s arrival in Damascus marks the first visit by a Western leader since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
Published on 07/07/2026 – 11:28 GMT+2•Updated 11:34 The South Korean technology giant Samsung said on Tuesday it expects operating profit of about 89.4 trillion won (€51bn) for the April-June quarter, roughly nineteen times the 4.7tr won (€2.7bn) it earned a year earlier and more than it made in the previous three years combined. The extraordinary numbers reflect the same force reshaping the memory industry worldwide: the race to build AI data centres has pushed chip prices to record highs. According to Citi Research, average selling prices for DRAM memory rose 44% quarter on quarter, and NAND flash 53%, as AI…
Published on 07/07/2026 – 9:17 GMT+2 Tributes have been paid to British singer Lauren Bennett, one of the stars of LMFAO’s 2011 hit Party Rock Anthem, following her death at the age of 37. No cause of death has yet been reported. In a statement released on Instagram, members of her former musicial group G.R.L said: “It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Lauren. “Our hearts are broken, and we cannot begin to express how much she meant to us. We will forever cherish the love, laughter, and countless memories she gave us,” the…
“You have to build a NATO which is sustainable and therefore is not over reliant on the U.S. as a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO, where the Europeans and the Canadians are really stepping up,” the NATO chief said. But it’s not just pressure from Trump that is getting the alliance to boost its defense spending. The other key driver is Vladimir Putin. Allies are determined to continue supporting Ukraine with cash and weapons and also to build up their own defenses to deter a possible Russian attack. “We’ve got to do this because of the Russians’ threat, and…
Ukrainian men of military age between 23-60 who arrive in the EU could lose their automatic temporary protection status under a European Commission proposal backed by Germany’s Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt. The proposal would allow the measure to be introduced across the bloc if requested by the Ukrainian government. In an interview with the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, said Berlin and Kyiv are discussing ways to encourage Ukrainian men living in Germany to return home. Asked about plans to deport conscription-age Ukrainians whom Kyiv considers to have left the country illegally, Makeiev said: “I…
Hundreds of Argentina fans gathered at Piedmont Park in Atlanta for a traditional banderazo ahead of the team’s World Cup last-16 clash with Egypt. Footage shows supporters singing, chanting and playing drums, trumpets and other instruments as they created a carnival atmosphere in the city. The pre-match rally is a long-standing tradition among Argentina fans, who come together to show their support before kick-off. Defending champions Argentina take on Egypt for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Tosca, the legendary opera, whose story is steeped in love, jealousy, lust for power and intrigue and ends in tragedy, will be brought to life on one of Europe’s most impressive open-air stages by Thaddeus Strassberger, director and set designer. The costumes are once again created by Giuseppe Palella, who together with Strassberger has already enchanted the St Margarethen quarry audience with Turandot in 2021 and Aida in 2024. The resident orchestra of Austria’s Opera in the Quarry is the Piedra Festival Orchestra, made up of Hungarian musicians, and this year’s production will also feature two Hungarian artists, Zoltán Nagyand…