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Europe finalizes plans for its ‘sovereign’ Starlink competitor
The European Commission has finalised an implementation plan for IRIS², an EU-backed satellite broadband network intended to provide a sovereign, secure alternative to services such as Starlink. The agreement moves the project from planning towards deployment and matters because it is designed to support European governments and participating countries during emergencies, humanitarian operations and border…
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Global food prices at three-year high as heatwaves and wars push up crop costs
Global food prices reached their highest level in three and a half years in July, driven by heatwaves, drought and conflicts disrupting crop production and trade. The rise matters because higher international commodity costs are likely to feed through to supermarket prices in coming months, while worsening food insecurity in vulnerable regions. The UN FAO…
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Nintendo has unveiled new ‘build your own’ custom Switch 2 bundles that include a free cute Pokemon accessory of your choosing
Nintendo has introduced customisable Switch 2 bundles that let buyers select a Pokémon-themed accessory at no extra cost. The offer gives prospective owners a more personalised purchase option while using Pokémon merchandise to promote the new console. Customers can build a bundle around a Switch 2 and choose from eligible Pokémon accessories, described as cute…
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Florence Road Find Clarity With ‘7563’
Irish four-piece Florence Road have released their new single, ‘7563’, following a busy summer of festival appearances across Europe. The song matters as the band continue to build momentum after two EPs, refining a sound that combines indie influences, pop melodies and energetic live performance. ‘7563’ is presented as a lively, polished track with a…
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The Week: Michigan’s Socialist Uprising
The article argues that Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s socialist-aligned campaign faces a difficult test in Michigan, where the author contends such politics have less appeal than in more liberal urban areas. It presents the contest as part of a wider struggle within the Democratic Party between progressive activists and more moderate, establishment-backed candidates. The…
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Scottish summer malaise continues but some room for optimism
Scottish clubs endured another largely difficult week in European qualifying, reinforcing concerns after an already disappointing summer for the national game. Rangers lost 2-1 away to Jagiellonia Bialystok in the Europa League, while Hearts suffered a heavy defeat at Benfica, leaving both facing challenging return legs and possible movement into the Conference League pathway. There…
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Remembering When The Beatles Went Back to Their Early Days for a Song on Their Last Album in 1970
The Beatles revived “One After 909”, a song dating from their early years, for Let It Be, their final album released in 1970. Its inclusion linked the group’s turbulent final period with their formative rock-and-roll sound, and the article argues that the performance captured a rare sense of shared enthusiasm. Paul McCartney described the song…
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Locarno’s Match Me! Projects Push New Voices, Timely Relevance and Authenticity as a Younger Generation Moves Center Stage
Locarno’s 2026 Match Me! co-production strand is highlighting emerging producers and projects aimed at younger arthouse audiences, particularly stories about Gen Z and millennial uncertainty, identity and belonging. The selection suggests European and Latin American filmmakers are responding to a changing cinema audience as younger viewers become more central to upscale theatrical releases. – Brazil’s…
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German airport drone-bomb: Could Russia be involved?
German authorities are investigating how an explosives-laden drone reached Leipzig airport, prompting concern that the incident could represent an escalation in suspected foreign-backed sabotage. There is currently no evidence directly linking Russia to the device, and Moscow denies involvement, but officials say foreign powers may be involved and point to previous Russian-linked plots as relevant…
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Putin could ‘send armed group to occupy NATO territory within weeks’, warns US intelligence
US intelligence has reportedly warned that Vladimir Putin could test NATO’s resolve within weeks through a limited action against alliance territory, rather than a full-scale invasion. Possible scenarios include an unmarked armed group occupying a small area, a cyberattack or a limited incursion on NATO’s eastern flank; any such action would be significant because it…