Day: July 16, 2026

Protests after Ukraine dismisses popular defense ministerProtests after Ukraine dismisses popular defense minister

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed a popular defense minister, leading to public protests. Mykhailo Fedorov had only been in post for six months, but was credited with convincing SpaceX to block the Russian military’s access to Starlink, causing chaos for Kremlin forces, and with pushing the successful strategy of using ...

Mexico gov’t rejects US claims of ties to cartelsMexico gov’t rejects US claims of ties to cartels

Mexico’s president rejected allegations from the head of the US Drug Enforcement Administration that there is a “deadly connection” between her government and cartels, the latest escalation in bilateral tensions. Washington has in recent months pressured Claudia Sheinbaum to extradite senior Mexican officials it says have ties to organized crime: ...

China rare-earth export curbs risk $6.5 trillion in productionChina rare-earth export curbs risk $6.5 trillion in production

China’s planned restrictions on rare earth exports could put $6.5 trillion in downstream production at risk, the International ​Energy Agency said, underscoring Beijing’s chokehold over an industry critical to the global economy. Last October, China decided to expand export controls in response to tariffs imposed by Washington, though Beijing later ...

Pete Hegseth wants testosterone for his soldiers. Finally, some gender-affirming care | Arwa MahdawiPete Hegseth wants testosterone for his soldiers. Finally, some gender-affirming care | Arwa Mahdawi

The defense secretary has announced a screening program for troops. Get ready for a high-T Department of War One day perhaps Pete Hegseth will make the news for doing something worthwhile, something that makes his mother proud. One day perhaps we’ll see a headline about the defense secretary that doesn’t ...

‘I felt Holden was talking to me alone’: The Catcher in the Rye at 75‘I felt Holden was talking to me alone’: The Catcher in the Rye at 75

JD Salinger’s wry, subversive classic inspired novelist Joseph O’Connor to be a writer. He reflects on why this story of a disaffected teenager remains as fresh and transgressive as ever In 1981, when I was 17, my first girlfriend gave me a paperback of her dad’s favourite novel. I’d never heard ...