The Scene Saudi Arabia’s push to become a global soccer power is evolving on and off the pitch after the country spent huge sums signing up international stars. Saudi clubs have paid roughly $2 billion in transfer fees since summer 2023, comparable to the Spanish league in the same period ...
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Iran complicates Iraq’s charm offensive in WashingtonIran complicates Iraq’s charm offensive in Washington
The News American and Saudi strikes on Iran-backed militias this week laid bare the dilemma at the heart of the Trump administration’s Iraq policy: Washington wants to pull Baghdad closer, but Iraq remains on the front lines of a widening confrontation with Iran. Following US-Saudi strikes in eastern Iraq, President ...
Democrats miss mark on accountability, poll showsDemocrats miss mark on accountability, poll shows
Democrats aren’t doing enough to win over voters with their approach to tackling government accountability and corruption, as those issues take on greater salience. New polling from the center-left group Third Way and Impact Research, shared first with Semafor, found that voters trust Republicans slightly more than Democrats to reduce ...
Midterm election fears run high, poll findsMidterm election fears run high, poll finds
Majorities of Americans are worried about election officials being coerced, lax ballot security, and voter intimidation leading up to the 2026 midterm elections, according to new polling from Gallup. Nearly seven in 10 US adults worry about politicians pressuring election officials to change results. The number is higher among Democrats, ...
With SpaceX circling, Verizon figures out successionWith SpaceX circling, Verizon figures out succession
The Scoop Verizon CEO Dan Schulman is getting his house in order, as the telecom industry braces for the ultimate disruptor, Elon Musk, and as the company’s executives fret about the possibility of a sale. Schulman will tap a longtime lieutenant with deal chops, Alfonso Villanueva, to run the telecom ...
US crude stockpiles are depleting rapidlyUS crude stockpiles are depleting rapidly
US oil inventories have fallen to precariously low levels as local refiners ramp up activity to capitalize on soaring fuel prices. US refiners last week processed 17 million barrels of crude a day — the fastest pace since 2019 — drawing down commercial stockpiles by 7.2 million barrels as they ...
Altman says he supports AI regulationAltman says he supports AI regulation
OpenAI’s Sam Altman said he supports legislation to slow AI development during his visit to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, as debate swirls in Washington and Silicon Valley over safety risks posed by frontier models. OpenAI changed tack after two of its agents went rogue, days ahead of the White House’s ...
US-China space race intensifiesUS-China space race intensifies
China is closing the satellite gap with the US, as Beijing strives to supplant Washington as the world’s leading space power. China’s BeiDou system comprises 56 satellites, offering more resilient and occasionally more advanced capabilities than the 31 powering the US’ Global Positioning System. China’s military was denied access to ...
Londoners are leaving in drovesLondoners are leaving in droves
London’s population shrank for the first time since the COVID pandemic as more than 400,000 people left the capital last year to move to other parts of the UK. All other regions in England saw their numbers rise, government data showed. Although London recorded more births than deaths, and international ...
France, Italy turn to native soccer coachesFrance, Italy turn to native soccer coaches
France and Italy named their new men’s national soccer team managers — a Frenchman and an Italian, leaving them among the few countries that have very rarely employed foreign coaches. Zinedine Zidane and Roberto Mancini have different briefs: France are recent winners, while Italy last reached a World Cup in ...