Ben’s view After someone blew a hole in the Nord Stream Pipeline deep under the Baltic Sea in September 2022, the global media debated a geopolitical whodunnit. The American media, bolstered by official statements from unnamed officials, suggested Russia was behind the attack. “US and Europe condemn ‘sabotage’ as suspicion ...
Day: June 15, 2026
The Iran war has reached a tragic new phase: the fear, killing and upheaval are all normalised | Nesrine MalikThe Iran war has reached a tragic new phase: the fear, killing and upheaval are all normalised | Nesrine Malik
As the world waits for rational outcomes from irrational players, the people being bombed will adjust to the fact that terror is now part of daily life “Humans take a lot of killing,” wrote Frank McCourt in Angela’s Ashes. As bleak a phrase as it is, McCourt was talking about ...
Oil prices tumble amid hopes strait of Hormuz will soon reopenOil prices tumble amid hopes strait of Hormuz will soon reopen
US-Iran peace deal sparks immediate drop for Brent crude but analysts warn complex negotiations lie ahead, potentially halting further significant drops Middle East crisis: live updates Peace deal between US and Iran announced, with strait of Hormuz expected to reopen What do we know about the US-Iran peace deal – ...
Attacks on education, pupils and staff around the world up by 40%, says studyAttacks on education, pupils and staff around the world up by 40%, says study
Cases reported in 83 countries, with at least 10,600 students and staff killed, injured, abducted or arrested, GCPEA says Attacks on education globally have surged by 40% with more than 8,556 recorded incidents and 10,600 students and staff killed, injured, abducted, arrested or otherwise harmed in 2024 and 2025, according ...
Trump heralds Iran deal but questions – and risks – remainTrump heralds Iran deal but questions – and risks – remain
The announcement of an Iran deal was a welcome birthday gift for the president – but its success or failure may hinge on the details. ...
US-Iran deal eases uncertainty over the war – but there is much still to play outUS-Iran deal eases uncertainty over the war – but there is much still to play out
Pakistan says the deal includes Lebanon, but recent ceasefires there have failed to take hold. ...
Ukraine’s defense clout grows as NATO members seek its expertiseUkraine’s defense clout grows as NATO members seek its expertise
A German arms company is in talks to build Ukraine’s Flamingo cruise missile, a sign of Kyiv’s growing clout in the defense industry as NATO members seek its expertise. The cruise missile has been used in attacks on Russian industry more than 100 miles from the frontline. The rise of ...
New York Knicks celebrate their historic winNew York Knicks celebrate their historic win
The New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs in five games to become NBA champions on Saturday, delivering New York City’s first basketball title in 53 years and ending one of the longest losing streaks in US sports history. In a city where “mass unifying events tend to imply ...
Trump celebrates 80th birthday with spectacle at White HouseTrump celebrates 80th birthday with spectacle at White House
Donald Trump will celebrate his 80th birthday on Sunday with a UFC fight at the White House, as the oldest-ever US president looks to eclipse recent political setbacks with a massive spectacle. The weekend’s pageantry — featuring a motocross competition and “who’s who” of legislators and top executives — reflects ...
US’ Mythos restrictions heighten EU tech fearsUS’ Mythos restrictions heighten EU tech fears
The US government’s move to suspend foreign access to Anthropic’s powerful AI models injected fresh urgency into Europe’s plans for tech sovereignty. Washington’s “use of a ‘kill switch,’ long seen as a hypothetical threat, is a wake-up call,” Politico wrote, exposing Europe’s dependence on the US’ cutting-edge AI models. Several ...