Worldcrunch
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s controversial trade deal may look like a surrender to U.S. President Donald Trump, but it could be a calculated play in a surreal game of bluff, designed to keep Europe afloat — and Trump distracted.
The Wire spoke to Indian nationals, travelers and students who say they have experienced arbitrary detention and deportation at Tbilisi’s airport and on Georgian borders. This paints a chilling picture of human rights violations in the country; meanwhile, Indian authorities also stay silent on the matter.
The Israel-Jordan peace treaty brought a moment of hope to the region. But Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination killed the Israeli left, and with it the idea and spark of hope.
More than three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country, life in Ukraine is still marked by strikes and fear. But Ukrainians are also seeking getaways to catch a break and find relief.
👋 Mhoroi!* Welcome to Friday, where Trump raises tariffs on more than 90 countries after his deadline to strike trade deals passes, Ukraine observes a day of mourning following the deadliest Russian attacks on Kyiv since the start of the war, and our daily quiz question is about Italian landowners fed up with overtourism. Meanwhile, […]
Outdated labels are giving way to a new diagnostic model that sees personality traits on a spectrum. The newest revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) introduces a shift in how we understand, treat and talk about personality disorders, focusing less on rigid categories and more on individual patterns and distress.
As it recently did with Brazil, the United States is now dissing a court ruling against another conservative politician, in Colombia, and showing the Trump administration’s reluctant respect not just for state sovereignty, but for the rule of law.
Silicon Valley’s self-anointed philosophers promise digital immortality and Kantian rigor, yet their transhumanist ambitions reveal a darker inheritance: an evolutionary game of invisible rivalry. True transcendence won’t come from tweaking biology, but from dismantling the self-interest that entrenches inequality.
Federal authorities have stripped New York City of control over its notorious Rikers Island jail complex, plagued by violence and drugs. The prison, once slated for closure, still holds nearly 7,000 detainees.
👋 Ekamowir omo!* Welcome to Thursday, where Canada says it will recognize a Palestinian state if democratic conditions are met, a Russian airstrike kills at least six in Kyiv, and today’s quiz question takes us back to one of the earliest traces of human addiction. Meanwhile, for German weekly Die Zeit, researcher Olivia Masseck lays […]
The United States faces a lack of practical alternatives to sustaining Ukraine’s defense. With missile production lagging and diplomacy stalled, Washington is struggling to deliver the air defenses Kyiv needs to slow Russia’s advance.
From elephant ivory crucifixes to rhino horn handles for Muslim ceremonial daggers, sacred wildlife products fuel an overlooked driver of the illegal trade. This unbridled demand is pushing some species toward extinction, forcing faith leaders to reconcile devotion with biodiversity conservation.
Most of us can accept that animal experiments are ok before allowing new drugs on the market. But allowing such animal testing is important even when no specific application is at stake. They are also crucial for understanding complex biological processes to help treat diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and depression.
The death of Ziad Rahbani, Lebanon’s legendary composer, playwright, musician, and political provocateur, leaves a profound cultural and emotional void. His plays and songs expressed the nation’s tragedies, anger, and resilience, making him a “living echo” of Lebanon’s struggles that will continue to resonate for generations.
👋 Servus!* Welcome to Wednesday, where a major earthquake off Russia’s coast triggers tsunami evacuations across the Pacific, the UK says it will recognize the state of Palestine in September if no ceasefire is reached, and today’s quiz question sees one very odd world record broken. Meanwhile, Ethic sits down with Colombian writer Héctor Abad […]
The Epstein scandal is following Trump, seemingly, wherever he goes. Although we should never underestimate the American president’s power to use conspiracies to his advantage, could this be the story that finally pierces Trump’s armor?
As Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government doubles down on highways and combustion engines, critics warn that ignoring electric trends and digital innovation could cost Germany its place in the global auto industry.
👋 Zdravo!* Welcome to Tuesday, where Russia continues to strike Ukraine despite Trump’s ultimatum, a lone gunman kills four in a Manhattan skyscraper and our daily quiz question is about Portugal’s down-to-earth president. Meanwhile, Basma Al-Atty in Beirut-based independent media Daraj looks at how sudden floods following years of drought have fueled conspiracy theories about […]
Since its entry into force in June 2016, a Mexican law intended to protect juvenile criminals has been flagged by the families of femicide victims as hindering their access to justice.
Narendra Modi has officially overtaken Indira Gandhi to become India’s second longest-serving prime minister. But comparisons with the celebrated leader fall short: Modi’s centralized rule lacks the decisive leadership, democratic instincts, and historic legacy she ultimately commanded.
Years of drought followed by sudden floods have unsettled Morocco’s mountainous regions where rainfall has long been seen as a divine blessing. What is at play may be bigger than the heavens.
👋 Ẹ n lẹ!* Welcome to Monday, where Israel allows partial pauses in military operations in Gaza to allow more aid distribution, Thailand and Cambodia agree to an immediate ceasefire following peace talks and our daily quiz question is about a very old mark on a very old Egyptian tomb. Meanwhile, Nicolas Bouzou for French […]
Interest in professional military service is growing among Gen Z in Poland, a frontline state in the Ukraine war. But is this generation, who spent much of their coming of age indoors during COVID-19, really ready to fight?
Environmentalists crusading against air conditioners are mistaken: excessive heat actually harms economic growth and, indirectly, the decarbonization of our society.
As people turn to AI for therapy and companionship, some say the models still need to learn the nuances of human humor.
Negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program have resumed. While Europe demands guarantees that Tehran will not build a nuclear bomb, Trump is also pushing for a deal. Is the regime willing to give ground, or is it bluffing?
👋 ආයුබෝවන්* Welcome to Friday, where the U.S. and Israel condemn France’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state, fighting between Thailand and Cambodia continues for a second day and our daily quiz question is about ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs. Meanwhile, Patricio Fernández for Spanish-language weekly Confidencial travels to Cuba, one of the most aged countries in […]
Technoliberalism and toxic masculinity tell us that the comfort zone is cowardice. Yet inhabiting this space may be the most revolutionary gesture of our time.
For one farmer, the barley supply once made flour for a year. Now, it is limited to two handfuls. The loss of USAID adds to the long list of challenges.
Getting along with your partner’s parents doesn’t mean becoming family. For writer Adam Fletcher and his partner, the secret to harmony lies (mostly) in boundaries.
The area where the city will be established will lie on the ruins of thousands of homes in Rafah, after the Israeli army “cleanses” it. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and is directly adjacent to Egypt — which means the next step could be pushing hundreds of thousands of residents into Sinai.
👋 Yokwe!* Welcome to Thursday, where Israel receives a new “workable” ceasefire proposal from Hamas, the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia escalates following deadly military clashes and our daily quiz question is about a fake ambassador. Meanwhile, Rina Nikolaeva for independent Russian media Vazhnyye Istorii looks at why the Kremlin has been systematically shutting off […]
Europe, Iran and global powers are meeting in Istanbul on Friday to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. The talks may determine whether dialogue or confrontation will shape their future relations. It’s also a reminder that diplomacy is a better way than war to settle disputes.
In Gurgaon this month, a professional tennis player was slain by her own father after neighbors jeered, “The house runs on your daughter’s money,” exposing how community shame can turn deadly when masculinity is tied to income earning.
People would have understood Israel’s punitive retribution, even a singularly harsh response, to the October 7 massacre of Israelis by Hamas gunmen. But it has since gone far too far, prompting even sympathizers to wonder in horror, is a democracy committing genocide.
This excerpt of an exclusive interview given by then-Cardinal Robert F. Prevost on August 7, 2024, at St. Jude Parish in New Lenox, Illinois is included in Antonio Spadaro’s book “Da Francesco a Leone” (From Francis to Leo) available in Italian on July 31.
👋 Daag!* Welcome to Wednesday, where 100+ aid groups warn of “mass starvation” in Gaza, Japan welcomes the signing of a major trade deal with the U.S. and our daily quiz is about a 13-million-year old death battle. Meanwhile, Apolline Convain for French daily Le Figaro looks at how agriculture could help revive Palmyra’s oasis […]
There are growing signs of deepening instability and decline within the Iranian regime. This makes the West’s ongoing efforts to reach a deal with Tehran incomprehensible to any Iranian yearning for a free country.
America is carrying massive debt, and half of it is financed by the rest of the world. If foreign nations and investors coordinated, they could force Trump to negotiate more reasonably on tariffs. Will they take the risk?
Israel is attacking an area that had been designated as a “humanitarian zone,” offering shelter to around 70,000 displaced people and humanitarian workers. This comes after scores of civilians had been killed by Israeli troops while attempting to get food and other basic supplies for their families.