NATO official warns West: Be ready for ‘anything’ (www.politico.eu)
NATO countries need to be on red alert for war and “expect the unexpected,” the chair of the alliance’s military committee of national chiefs Rob Bauer said Wednesday....
Mar Galcerán makes history as Spain’s first parliamentarian with Down’s syndrome (www.theguardian.com)
After being elected to Valencia’s regional assembly, Galcerán says she wants to be seen as a person, not for her disability...
Pope punishes leading critic Cardinal Burke in second action against conservative American prelates (apnews.com)
Pope Francis has decided to punish one of his highest-ranking critics, Cardinal Raymond Burke, by revoking his right to a subsidized Vatican apartment and salary in the second such radical action against a conservative American prelate this month, according to two people briefed on the measures....
No more ads on Elon’s X, EU Commission tells staff (www.politico.eu)
The European Commission has decided to stop advertising on social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk, over “widespread concerns relating to the spread of disinformation,” according to an internal note obtained by POLITICO’s Brussels Playbook....
Rishi Sunak considers tax cut for top earners after byelection defeats (www.theguardian.com)
Human rights investigators raise new questions on Gaza hospital explosion (www.channel4.com)
“Along with the very real and violent war on the ground – there is also a fierce information war. Like Tuesday’s explosion at the Gaza hospital which Hamas says killed hundreds of people....
Gaza's sole power plant shuts down due to shortage of fuel under Israeli blockade (www.cnn.com)
Donald Trump accused of sharing nuclear submarine details with Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt (www.abc.net.au)
Mammals’ Time on Earth Is Half Over, Scientists Predict (www.nytimes.com)
Arson turns Amazon reforestation project to ashes (phys.org)
90% Reduction: Scientists Discover Natural Molecule That Eradicates Plaques and Cavities (scitechdaily.com)
3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM) decreased the Streptococcus mutans biofilm, a leading contributor to plaque and cavities, by 90%....
France invests $1.5 billion for the 2024 Olympics in its effort to Clean up The Seine River in Paris for Aquatic Events and to Provide Residents with Areas to safely Swim in. (www.cortexreport.com)
Woman arrested after spraying Quran-burner with fire extinguisher in Sweden (www.aljazeera.com)
Swedish police detained a woman who sprayed an anti-Islam activist with a fire extinguisher as he staged a Quran-burning protest outside the Iranian Embassy in Stockholm....
U.S. to Fund a $1.2 Billion Effort to Vacuum Greenhouse Gases From the Sky (www.nytimes.com)
World population to shrink in 21st century amid birthrate fall: UN (mainichi.jp)
The world population is expected to start shrinking within this century after hitting a peak in the mid-2080s due to lower fertility levels, particularly in China, according to the latest projection by the United Nations.
Amid global criticism, Israel names 19 it says it killed in terror HQ at Gaza school (www.timesofisrael.com)
The IDF and Shin Bet security agency on Saturday night named 19 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror operatives that it said it killed in an airstrike Saturday morning on a Hamas and Islamic Jihad command room at the Taba’een school in Gaza City.
Iran warns that Hezbollah will likely hit non-military targets in Israeli territory in response to Israel's strike on Beirut (www.businessinsider.com)
Iran has warned that Hezbollah may hit “broader and deeper targets” in Israeli territory....
Farmers in Africa say their soil is dying and chemical fertilizers are in part to blame (apnews.com)
When Benson Wanjala started farming in his western Kenya village two and a half decades ago, his 10-acre farm could produce a bountiful harvest of 200 bags of maize. That has dwindled to 30. He says his once fertile soil has become a nearly lifeless field that no longer earns him a living....
Afghanistan has been through everything. Now it wants to dust off its postal service and modernize (apnews.com)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — In parts of Afghanistan where there are no street names or house numbers, utility companies and their customers have adopted a creative approach for connecting. They use mosques as drop points for bills and cash, a “pay and pray” system....
NATO leaders will vow to pour weapons into Ukraine for another year, but membership is off the table (apnews.com)
BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO leaders plan to pledge next week to keep pouring arms and ammunition into Ukraine at current levels for at least another year, hoping to reassure the war-ravaged country of their ongoing support and show Russian President Vladimir Putin that they will not walk away....
Putin warns South Korea: Sending killer weapons to Ukraine would be a ‘big mistake’ (www.politico.eu)
Russian president delivered the warning after Seoul announced it would consider arming Kyiv....
N.Y. couple finds safe filled with over $130K while magnet fishing in lake. (globalnews.ca)
Israel says Hamas rejects key elements of US ceasefire plan for Gaza (www.reuters.com)
UN adds Israel to blacklist for harming children in conflict zones (www.middleeastmonitor.com)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has notified Israel’s Defence Attache in the United States, Major General Hidai Zilberman, of his decision to add Israel to the blacklist of countries and organisations harming children in conflict zones....
Visitor to Taiwan hit with $9,000 fine over 'roast chicken and pork combo' lunch box (www.abc.net.au)
Taiwan’s customs officials have issued a fine of NT$200,000 ($9,369) to a traveller for attempting to bring a lunch box containing pork into the country....
