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Ricevuto — 15 Agosto 2026 Stampa Internazionale

Central Synagogue Attack Rattles Jewish New Yorkers

The police said a man on Friday night struck a congregant at the prominent Upper East Side synagogue, as Jews in the city contend with threats, fears and internal divides.

© Kena Betancur/Associated Press

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Central Synagogue was receiving additional police resources after a man disrupted worship there on Friday night.

The Last Hurricane to Hit Hawaii Became a Movie Star

15 Agosto 2026 ore 21:39
Hurricane Iniki devastated Kauai, causing at least seven deaths and $1.8 billion in damage. It also got a cameo in a Spielberg movie.

© Reed Saxon/Associated Press

Rubble left behind after Hurricane Iniki battered the island of Kauai in 1992.

$10 Million in Gold Found Buried Under Former Brewery in Belgium

15 Agosto 2026 ore 21:36
A construction worker’s drill struck gold during a renovation project in East Flanders, setting off a search for the owners of the stashed fortune.

© Lokale Politie Dendermonde

Gold bars found at the site where a 19th-century brewery had stood in Dendermonde, Belgium. The police do not know who put the gold there, or what its fate might be.

$10 Million in Gold Found Buried Under Former Brewery in Belgium

15 Agosto 2026 ore 21:36
A construction worker’s drill struck gold during a renovation project in East Flanders, setting off a search for the owners of the stashed fortune.

© Lokale Politie Dendermonde

Gold bars found at the site where a 19th-century brewery had stood in Dendermonde, Belgium. The police do not know who put the gold there, or what its fate might be.

An Island Used to Storms Readies for One of the Strongest in Decades

Storms regularly sweep across Hawaii, but actual hurricanes are rare. As Lala approached, propane, ice and Oreos were among the priorities.

© Bruce Omori for The New York Times

Maile Madrona placing sandbags at the base of their entrance of Aloho Grown, a local shop in downtown Hilo, Hawaii, on Friday.

Iran urges Qatar to release pilots shot down in Middle East war

Iranian authorities revealed on Saturday that three of Tehran’s pilots who went down early in the Middle East war were still being held in Qatar, calling on the Gulf state to release them. Iran had previously reported one pilot killed and others missing after a sortie to Qatar in March, but news of their alleged capture was not publicised at the time. “Three Iranian pilots were captured alive by Qatari forces after their Su-24 fighter jets crashed during the war,” said General Mohammad...

Iran urges Qatar to release pilots shot down in Middle East war

Iranian authorities revealed on Saturday that three of Tehran’s pilots who went down early in the Middle East war were still being held in Qatar, calling on the Gulf state to release them. Iran had previously reported one pilot killed and others missing after a sortie to Qatar in March, but news of their alleged capture was not publicised at the time. “Three Iranian pilots were captured alive by Qatari forces after their Su-24 fighter jets crashed during the war,” said General Mohammad...

Israeli air strikes on Lebanon kill 11 people in another test to truce

Israeli air strikes on southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people on Saturday, in the deadliest attacks since a truce between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect on June 20. Lebanon’s health ministry and state news agency said an air strike that targeted a home on the edge of Ansar village killed seven people, including three children, and wounded two. The second, on the village of Deir al-Zahrani, killed four and wounded 17. Israel and the Lebanese government announced a “framework agreement”...

Israeli air strikes on Lebanon kill 11 people in another test to truce

Israeli air strikes on southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people on Saturday, in the deadliest attacks since a truce between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect on June 20. Lebanon’s health ministry and state news agency said an air strike that targeted a home on the edge of Ansar village killed seven people, including three children, and wounded two. The second, on the village of Deir al-Zahrani, killed four and wounded 17. Israel and the Lebanese government announced a “framework agreement”...

What Is Happening at the Border in Big Bend National Park?

15 Agosto 2026 ore 15:06
Over the objections of environmentalists, local sheriffs and some state leaders, the Trump administration appears to be moving ahead with border infrastructure in one of Texas’ most beloved parks.

© Brian Finke

Construction workers cleared a road in Big Bend National Park earlier this month.

Syrian Convicted in Austria of Civil War Abuses Is Detained in Syria

Musab Abu Rukbah, a former police chief, left Austria after appealing his eight-year sentence for crimes committed during Syria’s civil war.

© Marylise Vigneau for The New York Times

Musab Abu Rukbah, right, and Roman Valach, one of Mr. Abu Rukbah’s lawyers, leaving a Vienna courtroom after a hearing in June.

Syrian Convicted in Austria of Civil War Abuses Is Detained in Syria

Musab Abu Rukbah, a former police chief, left Austria after appealing his eight-year sentence for crimes committed during Syria’s civil war.

© Marylise Vigneau for The New York Times

Musab Abu Rukbah, right, and Roman Valach, one of Mr. Abu Rukbah’s lawyers, leaving a Vienna courtroom after a hearing in June.

Suspect arrested after 5 people shot at US university

Police in Virginia have arrested a 19-year-old in connection with a shooting on Saturday that left five people injured. No one died in the shooting, though one victim sustained critical injuries. Chesterfield county police announced the arrest of Camron Harris of Henrico, Virginia. They found him hiding in a wardrobe on campus on Saturday afternoon. He was not a student at the university, authorities said. Police said they obtained eight felony warrants for his arrest including malicious...

Suspect arrested after 5 people shot at US university

Police in Virginia have arrested a 19-year-old in connection with a shooting on Saturday that left five people injured. No one died in the shooting, though one victim sustained critical injuries. Chesterfield county police announced the arrest of Camron Harris of Henrico, Virginia. They found him hiding in a wardrobe on campus on Saturday afternoon. He was not a student at the university, authorities said. Police said they obtained eight felony warrants for his arrest including malicious...

Hong Kong policewoman facing probe over viral video of her dancing in uniform

15 Agosto 2026 ore 17:11
Hong Kong police have launched an internal investigation into a female officer who posted a video of herself dancing in uniform on mainland Chinese social media, and ordered her to remove it. The video, which has gone viral in recent days, shows a short-haired female constable making hand gestures and moving to upbeat music. Her face is partly obscured by a filter featuring dog ears and a muzzle. A police spokesman confirmed to the South China Morning Post that the woman in the video was a...

Iran Says Qatar Captured Its Pilots Months Ago, a Claim Qatar Rejects

Iran said the airmen have been held since March 2 when their fighter jets were shot down. The Qatari government denies detaining any Iranian pilots.

© Mohammed Salem/Reuters

Smoke rising from an Iranian missile attack in Doha, Qatar, in March.

Iran Says Qatar Captured Its Pilots Months Ago, a Claim Qatar Rejects

Iran said the airmen have been held since March 2 when their fighter jets were shot down. The Qatari government denies detaining any Iranian pilots.

© Mohammed Salem/Reuters

Smoke rising from an Iranian missile attack in Doha, Qatar, in March.

Canadian Petition to Expel U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra Takes Off

15 Agosto 2026 ore 16:52
Mr. Hoekstra has been President Trump’s faithful messenger in Canada amid a historic low in relations. More than 170,000 Canadians want him gone.

© Ian Austen/The New York Times

Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, at the embassy’s July 4 party at his official residence in Ottawa.

Heat Deaths in a ‘Cold’ Country Are a Warning to the Rest of Europe

A June heat wave in Belgium and neighboring countries exposed a lethal lack of readiness. That’s a risk as another wave hits Europe.

© Ksenia Kuleshova for The New York Times

Treating a 77-year-old woman for heat-related illness last month at MontLégia hospital in the Belgian city of Liège.

Heat Deaths in a ‘Cold’ Country Are a Warning to the Rest of Europe

A June heat wave in Belgium and neighboring countries exposed a lethal lack of readiness. That’s a risk as another wave hits Europe.

© Ksenia Kuleshova for The New York Times

Treating a 77-year-old woman for heat-related illness last month at MontLégia hospital in the Belgian city of Liège.

Heat Deaths in a ‘Cold’ Country Are a Warning to the Rest of Europe

A June heat wave in Belgium and neighboring countries exposed a lethal lack of readiness. That’s a risk as another wave hits Europe.

© Ksenia Kuleshova for The New York Times

Treating a 77-year-old woman for heat-related illness last month at MontLégia hospital in the Belgian city of Liège.

Wary of Trump, Europe Seeks Role in Eventual Russia-Ukraine Talks

15 Agosto 2026 ore 06:01
French, German and British diplomats are working on a format for future negotiations — even if Russia has shown little interest.

© Nina Liashonok/Reuters

Rescue workers at the site of a Russian strike on a residential building in Odesa, Ukraine, this week.

Wary of Trump, Europe Seeks Role in Eventual Russia-Ukraine Talks

15 Agosto 2026 ore 06:01
French, German and British diplomats are working on a format for future negotiations — even if Russia has shown little interest.

© Nina Liashonok/Reuters

Rescue workers at the site of a Russian strike on a residential building in Odesa, Ukraine, this week.

Taiwan drone defences fall short against Beijing’s evolving technology, audit reveals

Taiwan’s push to build a modern counter-drone shield has come under renewed scrutiny after an official audit uncovered technical shortcomings and a key procurement programme collapsed following repeated testing failures. The developments have fuelled concerns that Taipei’s efforts to match Beijing’s rapidly evolving drone technology are being undermined by capability gaps, procurement failures and delays in building an integrated counter-drone network. According to a recent report by Taiwan’s...

Taiwan drone defences fall short against Beijing’s evolving technology, audit reveals

Taiwan’s push to build a modern counter-drone shield has come under renewed scrutiny after an official audit uncovered technical shortcomings and a key procurement programme collapsed following repeated testing failures. The developments have fuelled concerns that Taipei’s efforts to match Beijing’s rapidly evolving drone technology are being undermined by capability gaps, procurement failures and delays in building an integrated counter-drone network. According to a recent report by Taiwan’s...

Hong Kong stages first counterterrorism drill at redeveloped Huanggang crossing

15 Agosto 2026 ore 14:53
Hong Kong authorities have conducted a counterterrorism drill at the revamped Huanggang border crossing and used a new “crowd flow” test to simulate an unexpected surge in passenger numbers, with about 5,000 civil servants taking part. The counterterrorism exercise on Saturday was the first such drill to be held at the redeveloped checkpoint building. A Security Bureau spokesman said civil servants from around 30 bureaus took part in the drill, which aimed to test authorities’ management of...

What can Hong Kong travellers expect from the revamped Huanggang border crossing?

15 Agosto 2026 ore 14:38
The upgraded Huanggang border crossing between Hong Kong and Shenzhen is due to begin service following about six years of redevelopment. Sources previously said the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area could open as early as September, becoming the city’s second round-the-clock checkpoint. Following the overhaul, the Huanggang checkpoint will no longer serve goods vehicles. The South China Morning Post sets out what users should know about the new arrangements at the expanded port. How can...

Zhu Rongji’s death a reminder of what US-China relations have lost

With the death of former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji, both China and the wider world have lost a great leader. Zhu took personal risks for better US-China ties. He believed that productive Sino-American relations were good for China and for the world. He was a global leader before China had achieved its current great power status. In mid-1990, when I was president of the National Committee on United States-China Relations, our organisation invited Zhu, then Shanghai mayor, to the United States....

Zhu Rongji’s death a reminder of what US-China relations have lost

With the death of former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji, both China and the wider world have lost a great leader. Zhu took personal risks for better US-China ties. He believed that productive Sino-American relations were good for China and for the world. He was a global leader before China had achieved its current great power status. In mid-1990, when I was president of the National Committee on United States-China Relations, our organisation invited Zhu, then Shanghai mayor, to the United States....

Zhu Rongji’s death a reminder of what US-China relations have lost

With the death of former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji, both China and the wider world have lost a great leader. Zhu took personal risks for better US-China ties. He believed that productive Sino-American relations were good for China and for the world. He was a global leader before China had achieved its current great power status. In mid-1990, when I was president of the National Committee on United States-China Relations, our organisation invited Zhu, then Shanghai mayor, to the United States....

Anchorage un anno dopo: Ucraina, Russia ed Europa nel pantano della guerra

15 Agosto 2026 ore 14:27

Anchorage

Ricorre l’anniversario del summit tra Donald Trump e Vladimir Putin a Anchorage (Alaska) e i media che da quattro anni e mezzo promettono la rapida sconfitta della Russia oggi si affannano a spiegare che quel giorno il presidente russo prese una gran trombata: tante promesse da Trump, concessioni territoriali importanti, baci e abbracci per ritrovarsi adesso impantanato in una guerra senza fine. Mah… è la solita narrazione che i russi sono sì feroci ma anche molto molto stupidi. Davvero qualcuno crede che Putin non ricordasse che Trump (quello che, ci dicevano all’epoca del primo mandato, era stato eletto solo grazie ai maneggi russi) aveva poi tempestato la Russia di sanzioni? Che al Cremlino non avessero capito quale sia la personalità, e l’affidabilità, del presidente americano? E che in questo anno non abbiano seguito i suoi capricci, i suoi cambi repentini di strategia e, soprattutto, le azioni più o meno diretta contro l’influenza, politica ed economica, della Russia, dalla spedizione contro il Venezuela alle minacce a Cuba, dai diversi tentativi (di cui la guerra contro l’Iran è solo il più clamoroso) per danneggiare l’export energetico della Russia? Non è stato Trump, ormai molti mesi fa, a cercare di farsi promettere dall’India che non avrebbe più comprato petrolio russo? Gi è andata male, a giugno il petrolio russo ha fatto più del 50% delle importazioni indiane, ma Trump ci ha provato.

Nel maggio scorso Putin ha fatto l’ennesimo viaggio in Cina per incontrare Xi Jinping. E ciò avveniva poco dopo che lo stesso Trump era stato a Pechino. Uno dei giornalisti al seguito chiese a Yurij Ushakov, consigliere politico di Putin ed ex ambasciatore a Washington, che cosa restava dello “spirito di Anchorage”. Ushakov rispose piatto piatto: “Non so cosa sia lo spirito di Anchorage. Perché non parliamo dello spirito di Pechino”. A dire quali siano gli orizzonti fondamentali della politica russa. Nessuno sa con esattezza che cosa si siano detti Trump e Putin in Alaska. È probabile che Trump abbia proposto (Marco Rubio, il segretario di Stato Usa, ha più volte detto che si trattava di “una proposta e non di un accordo”) a Putin, in cambio del cessate il fuoco, concessioni territoriali sulla Crimea e sul Donbass. Perché Putin avrebbe dovuto dire “no, grazie”? Sapendo benissimo che, comunque, bisognava sempre fare i conti con la resistenza feroce dell’Ucraina e l’interesse politico dell’Europa a supportare tale resistenza?

La vera verità, al di là di qualunque retorica, è che in questa guerra assurda siamo impantanati tutti. La Russia, che si è data obiettivi precisi (la conquista dell’intero Donbass e il mantenimento del controllo sulla Crimea) e deve fare grandi sacrifici per continuare a perseguirli. L’Ucraina, inchiodata dall’avanzata russa alla condizione di dover combattere a tutti i costi, spopolata, ridotta a vivere dell’appoggio finanziario europeo e forte ormai solo dell’industria degli armamenti, anche questa strettamente connessa alle esigenze europee di riarmo. E ovviamente l’Europa stessa, che ha rinunciato a un modello di sviluppo (energia a buon prezzo dalla Russia, trasformazione ed esportazione) e ora non riesce a produrne uno nuovo, avendo nel frattempo tagliato i ponti con mercati importanti come quello russo e quello cinese. L’Europa che ha finora elargito all’Ucraina, in aiuti militari, umanitari e finanziari, più di 200 miliardi di euro: se avessimo investito in sforzi di pace metà di quella somma nel 2022, al momento dei primi negoziati tra russi e ucraini, la guerra sarebbe forse finita da tempo. Impantanata è pure la Nato, che si allarga, fa la faccia feroce, abbatte droni qua e là, fornisce intelligence e supporto all’Ucraina ma non ha ancora dimostrato quanto solida sia la sua promessa statutaria: se il Cremlino, per dire, invadesse la Lituania, tedeschi, francesi e italiani correrebbero a combattere? L’unico che si era tolto dai pasticci, alla maniera sua, era stato Donald Trump, che aveva bloccato gli aiuti all’Ucraina facendoseli invece pagare dall’Europa, la gallina dalle uova d’oro degli Usa. Ma poi ha trovato modo di impantanarsi da solo in Iran, il genio.

Oggi, data anniversaria di Anchorage, la Russia si avvia a un’elezione parlamentare-farsa. Un voto da cui è stato escluso, per il palese timore che ottenesse un buon risultato, il partito Yabloko che fu di Grigorij Yavlinskij, l’unica formazione a essere apertamente contraria alla guerra. E le autorità ucraine consigliano alla popolazione, in vista dell’inverno, di lasciare le città e trasferirsi in campagna. Quelle stesse che, secondo tanti dei nostri media, stanno brillantemente vincendo la guerra. Impantanati, dicevamo. Ma tra essere intrappolati in quella condizione e crogiolarsi nel pantano c’è ancora una differenza. Cerchiamo di non dimenticarlo.

L'articolo Anchorage un anno dopo: Ucraina, Russia ed Europa nel pantano della guerra proviene da InsideOver.

L’eclisse e il referendum sull’Ue: l’estate che può cambiare il destino dell’Islanda

15 Agosto 2026 ore 14:27

eclisse

REYKJAVÍK – Per due minuti il tempo è sembrato fermarsi. Poco prima delle 17.00, il Sole è scomparso dietro il disco della Luna e sull’Islanda è calato un crepuscolo improvviso, quasi irreale. Le voci si sono abbassate, gli sguardi si sono alzati al cielo e migliaia di persone, arrivate da ogni parte del mondo, hanno assistito a uno degli eventi astronomici più attesi del secolo: l’eclisse totale di Sole del 12 agosto 2026, la prima visibile dall’Europa continentale dal 1999. Se in molti Paesi europei il fenomeno è apparso soltanto in forma parziale, l’Islanda è stata una delle grandi protagoniste della giornata. L’ombra della Luna ha attraversato soprattutto le regioni occidentali e meridionali dell’isola, regalando uno spettacolo straordinario tra vulcani, campi di lava, coste battute dal vento e ghiacciai. Reykjavík, la penisola di Reykjanes, la regione di Snæfellsnes e i remoti Fiordi Occidentali si sono trasformati nei luoghi simbolo dell’evento.

Ma l’eclissi non è stata soltanto un fenomeno astronomico. È stata anche un fenomeno turistico senza precedenti. Da settimane gli operatori turistici islandesi parlavano di numeri record, e le previsioni si sono confermate. Secondo i dati riportati da AirDNA, la domanda di alloggi nelle località islandesi interessate dal percorso della totalità è aumentata del 56,9% rispetto all’anno precedente, contro una crescita del 19,2% nel resto del Paese. A trainare la corsa alle prenotazioni sono state soprattutto Kópavogur, con un incremento del 48%, e Reykjavík, con il 44% in più di richieste rispetto allo scorso anno. Ancora più impressionante il dato relativo alle ricerche online di strutture ricettive: la capitale islandese ha registrato un balzo del 250%, uno dei più alti in Europa legati all’evento.

La città si è riempita di astronomi, fotografi, curiosi e semplici viaggiatori desiderosi di vivere un’esperienza irripetibile (tra i quali si trova anche chi scrive). In molti hanno scelto di osservare il fenomeno dalle coste della capitale, altri si sono spinti verso aree meno urbanizzate per approfittare di panorami ancora più spettacolari. D’altronde, la particolarità di un’eclissi totale è che può essere osservata completamente soltanto all’interno di una fascia geografica relativamente stretta, il cosiddetto “percorso della totalità”. Proprio questa caratteristica ha generato una concentrazione eccezionale di visitatori in poche destinazioni selezionate. Secondo gli analisti del settore, l’evento rappresenta uno dei casi più evidenti di crescita dell’astroturismo, una forma di viaggio che unisce la scoperta del territorio all’osservazione dei fenomeni celesti. Ora che l’eclissi è passata, restano le immagini: il cielo che si oscura in pieno giorno, la corona solare che appare attorno a un disco nero perfetto, il silenzio improvviso della folla e la sensazione condivisa di assistere a qualcosa di straordinario. Ma l’eclissi che ieri ha oscurato il cielo islandese è arrivata in un momento in cui l’isola nordatlantica si trova a sua volta a un bivio storico.

Arriva il referendum sull’Europa

Mentre migliaia di visitatori affollavano Reykjavík e le coste occidentali per assistere alla totalità, il Paese si trovava già immerso nel dibattito sul referendum che il 29 agosto deciderà se riaprire i negoziati di adesione all’Unione europea. A rilanciare la discussione europea non sono state semplicemente nuove difficoltà economiche o cambiamenti ideologici, bensì le ripetute dichiarazioni del presidente americano Donald Trump sulla Groenlandia. Le ambizioni statunitensi sull’isola artica, vicina strategicamente all’Islanda, hanno infatti alimentato a Reykjavík una nuova percezione di vulnerabilità e sicurezza regionale. Basti ricordare che lo scorso gennaio, Billy Long, nominato ambasciatore in Islanda proprio dal presidente americano, aveva scherzato pubblicamente sul fatto che l’Islanda sarebbe dovuta diventare il 52esimo stato americano e che lui avrebbe ricoperto il ruolo di governatore.

Una battuta forse, ma che a Reykjavik avrebbero decisamente preso sul serio. Non è passata inosservata nemmeno la gaffe di Donald Trump, che a gennaio di quest’anno, durante il World Economic Forum di Davos, aveva confuso ripetutamente Groenlandia e Islanda mentre parlava delle ambizioni strategiche americane nell’Artico. La Casa Bianca ha poi tentato di correggere il tiro sostenendo che il presidente si riferisse alla Groenlandia come a una “terra di ghiaccio” (“a piece of ice”), ma il lapsus ha scatenato ironie e meme in tutto il mondo. Per gli islandesi, abituati a vivere all’ombra mediatica della ben più grande vicina groenlandese, è stata probabilmente la prima volta in cui il loro Paese è finito al centro di una disputa geopolitica semplicemente per uno scambio di nomi (!). La stessa premier Kristrún Frostadóttir aveva riconosciuto che la “crisi della Groenlandia” avesse toccato un nervo scoperto nell’opinione pubblica islandese.

Per un Paese di appena 400 mila abitanti, tradizionalmente orgoglioso della propria autonomia, si tratta d’altronde di un cambiamento notevole. L’Islanda è membro della NATO dal 1949 ma è l’unico Paese dell’Alleanza a non possedere un esercito permanente. Per decenni la sua sicurezza si è basata sul rapporto privilegiato con gli Stati Uniti. Oggi però le incertezze legate alla politica estera americana e le tensioni nell’Artico hanno spinto una parte crescente della società a guardare a Bruxelles come a un ulteriore ancoraggio strategico. Anche l’Unione europea osserva con attenzione il processo. A marzo 2026 Bruxelles e Reykjavík hanno firmato un accordo di partenariato sulla sicurezza e la difesa, segnale di una cooperazione sempre più stretta. Non a caso, per l’Europa l’Islanda rappresenta un tassello fondamentale nello scacchiere del Nord Atlantico e dell’Artico, una regione destinata ad assumere un peso crescente nelle competizioni energetiche, commerciali e militari tra le grandi potenze.

Il problema (non solo economico) della pesca

Resta però un nodo storico che continua a dividere gli islandesi: la pesca. Il settore vale circa il 12% del PIL nazionale e impiega il 5% della popolazione, numeri che spiegano perché il controllo delle acque territoriali e delle quote ittiche venga percepito come una questione identitaria prima ancora che economica. Proprio le divergenze sulla Politica Comune della Pesca contribuirono a bloccare il precedente processo di adesione nel 2013, e ancora oggi rappresentano uno dei principali argomenti dei contrari all’ingresso nell’Unione. I sondaggi fotografano infatti un Paese profondamente diviso, con il referendum di fine agosto che si preannuncia come uno degli appuntamenti politici più importanti dell’estate europea.

Come, però, ha sottolineato la stessa premier Frostadóttir, si tratta di un voto per “completare il dialogo”, non per entrare immediatamente nell’Ue. In caso di vittoria del “Sì”, il governo otterrebbe infatti il mandato per riaprire formalmente il dossier europeo. A quel punto sarebbero gli Stati membri dell’Unione a dover concordare la ripresa del negoziato, partendo dal fatto che l’Islanda non ha mai ritirato formalmente la sua candidatura presentata nel 2009, la quale per Bruxelles rimane giuridicamente valida, seppure congelata. Il percorso potrebbe quindi rivelarsi più rapido rispetto a quello di altri Paesi candidati perché quando i colloqui furono sospesi erano già stati aperti 28 capitoli negoziali e 11 erano stati chiusi provvisoriamente. Inoltre, grazie all’appartenenza allo Spazio Economico Europeo, l’Islanda applica già una parte significativa della normativa comunitaria, circostanza che potrebbe agevolare un eventuale ritorno al tavolo delle trattative. Prima dell’adesione vera e propria, tuttavia, sarebbe comunque necessario un secondo referendum, chiamato a ratificare l’eventuale accordo finale con Bruxelles.
Il cielo in Islanda è quindi tornato a illuminarsi dopo la storica eclissi solare del 12 agosto: resta da capire se, nelle prossime settimane, anche la rotta europea dell’isola diventerà più chiara

L'articolo L’eclisse e il referendum sull’Ue: l’estate che può cambiare il destino dell’Islanda proviene da InsideOver.

Why US Indo-Pacific ‘burden sharing’ risks deepening polarisation and big power rivalry

The US push to promote “burden sharing” among its allies in the Indo-Pacific has seen it focusing on increasing its military capacity while lowering the political temperature in an effort to reassure its allies. But some analysts have questioned its chances of succeeding, arguing that this deterrence strategy has intensified great power rivalry and polarisation in the region, while driving deeper bilateral cooperation between China and Russia on the one hand and Russia and North Korea on the...

Why US Indo-Pacific ‘burden sharing’ risks deepening polarisation and big power rivalry

15 Agosto 2026 ore 14:00
The US push to promote “burden sharing” among its allies in the Indo-Pacific has seen it focusing on increasing its military capacity while lowering the political temperature in an effort to reassure its allies. But some analysts have questioned its chances of succeeding, arguing that this deterrence strategy has intensified great power rivalry and polarisation in the region, while driving deeper bilateral cooperation between China and Russia on the one hand and Russia and North Korea on the...

Why US Indo-Pacific ‘burden sharing’ risks deepening polarisation and big power rivalry

15 Agosto 2026 ore 14:00
The US push to promote “burden sharing” among its allies in the Indo-Pacific has seen it focusing on increasing its military capacity while lowering the political temperature in an effort to reassure its allies. But some analysts have questioned its chances of succeeding, arguing that this deterrence strategy has intensified great power rivalry and polarisation in the region, while driving deeper bilateral cooperation between China and Russia on the one hand and Russia and North Korea on the...

Beijing issues ecological report to solidify South China Sea claims amid US row

China has published ecological assessment reports on nine disputed South China Sea features, amid an escalating row with Washington over Beijing’s establishment of a “national nature reserve” in the contested waters. On Friday, the Ministry of Natural Resources’ South China Sea Bureau issued its 2025 marine ecological early-warning and monitoring bulletin, alongside a separate marine ecological protection and restoration report for the region. The releases were announced via an article posted on...

Beijing issues ecological report to solidify South China Sea claims amid US row

China has published ecological assessment reports on nine disputed South China Sea features, amid an escalating row with Washington over Beijing’s establishment of a “national nature reserve” in the contested waters. On Friday, the Ministry of Natural Resources’ South China Sea Bureau issued its 2025 marine ecological early-warning and monitoring bulletin, alongside a separate marine ecological protection and restoration report for the region. The releases were announced via an article posted on...

Beijing issues ecological report to solidify South China Sea claims amid US row

China has published ecological assessment reports on nine disputed South China Sea features, amid an escalating row with Washington over Beijing’s establishment of a “national nature reserve” in the contested waters. On Friday, the Ministry of Natural Resources’ South China Sea Bureau issued its 2025 marine ecological early-warning and monitoring bulletin, alongside a separate marine ecological protection and restoration report for the region. The releases were announced via an article posted on...

Israeli Strikes in Lebanon Kill 11, Health Officials Say

15 Agosto 2026 ore 18:09
The Lebanese health ministry said children were among those killed. The Israeli prime minister’s office said Hezbollah had struck first, injuring three Israeli soldiers.

© Abbas Fakih/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

The aftermath of an Israeli strike in Deir al-Zahrani, a town in southern Lebanon, on Saturday.

Israeli Strikes in Lebanon Kill 11, Health Officials Say

15 Agosto 2026 ore 18:09
The Lebanese health ministry said children were among those killed. The Israeli prime minister’s office said Hezbollah had struck first, injuring three Israeli soldiers.

© Abbas Fakih/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

The aftermath of an Israeli strike in Deir al-Zahrani, a town in southern Lebanon, on Saturday.

How Are the Democrats’ Midterm Dreams Shaping Up?

Democratic divisions, polling misses and Ocasio-Cortez’s egg freezing: the week in politics.

© Illustration by The New York Times; photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty

US readies Iran penalties as Trump downplays midterms impact

15 Agosto 2026 ore 12:59
The US is readying unprecedented economic measures against Iran, as President Donald Trump seeks to intensify efforts to force Tehran to capitulate after almost six months of war. The president said in a brief interview with Fox News that the US was planning to hit Iran’s economy hard, and that he did not care if the conflict were to end before the November US midterm elections, which would hinge on voter perceptions of the economy. Trump has struggled to find an off-ramp to the war, which has...

US readies Iran penalties as Trump downplays midterms impact

15 Agosto 2026 ore 12:59
The US is readying unprecedented economic measures against Iran, as President Donald Trump seeks to intensify efforts to force Tehran to capitulate after almost six months of war. The president said in a brief interview with Fox News that the US was planning to hit Iran’s economy hard, and that he did not care if the conflict were to end before the November US midterm elections, which would hinge on voter perceptions of the economy. Trump has struggled to find an off-ramp to the war, which has...

Northern Metropolis and AI vital to Hong Kong’s 5-year plan: business chambers

15 Agosto 2026 ore 12:57
Hong Kong’s inaugural five-year plan should prioritise the Northern Metropolis megaproject, strengthen the city’s position as an international financial centre and advance its artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, major business chambers have said. In submissions for the city’s first five-year plan, groups including the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (AmCham) and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) identified the Northern Metropolis as a key economic driver. Their...

Struggling families urge return of student grant after textbook prices jump

Hong Kong parents and concern groups have urged authorities to reinstate student subsidies after textbook prices recorded their sharpest increase since the Covid-19 pandemic, amid the growing use of digital learning tools. Prices for a list of textbooks now range from HK$4,000 (US$510) to HK$6,000, representing an average increase of 3.6 per cent for the 2026-27 academic year, the highest since the pandemic began in 2020, according to Education Bureau book list data. During the pandemic, prices...

Why Chinese youth are turning to an 84-year-old Cambridge professor for support

Wearing a black mariner’s cap and with a wall-to-wall bookshelf as a backdrop, Cambridge University professor Alan Macfarlane greets his social media audience with a soft ni hao – “Hello” in Chinese. In his latest video, Macfarlane follows this signature opening by thoughtfully answering a question pulled from the comments: why has making genuine friends become so difficult? Few would have expected an 84-year-old British anthropologist and historian from Cambridge University to become a social...

Why Chinese youth are turning to an 84-year-old Cambridge professor for support

Wearing a black mariner’s cap and with a wall-to-wall bookshelf as a backdrop, Cambridge University professor Alan Macfarlane greets his social media audience with a soft ni hao – “Hello” in Chinese. In his latest video, Macfarlane follows this signature opening by thoughtfully answering a question pulled from the comments: why has making genuine friends become so difficult? Few would have expected an 84-year-old British anthropologist and historian from Cambridge University to become a social...

Why Chinese youth are turning to an 84-year-old Cambridge professor for support

Wearing a black mariner’s cap and with a wall-to-wall bookshelf as a backdrop, Cambridge University professor Alan Macfarlane greets his social media audience with a soft ni hao – “Hello” in Chinese. In his latest video, Macfarlane follows this signature opening by thoughtfully answering a question pulled from the comments: why has making genuine friends become so difficult? Few would have expected an 84-year-old British anthropologist and historian from Cambridge University to become a social...

67 milioni di giovani senza lavoro: la disoccupazione torna a crescere nel mondo

15 Agosto 2026 ore 11:39

Nel 2025 il tasso globale di disoccupazione tra i 15 e i 24 anni è salito al 12,4%, coinvolgendo 67 milioni di giovani. Dopo il minimo raggiunto nel 2023, il mercato del lavoro ha ripreso a chiudere le porte proprio a chi sta cercando di entrarvi. Sono i dati che arrivano dal nuovo rapporto dell’Organizzazione internazionale del lavoro (ILO),  Tendenze mondiali dell’occupazione giovanile 2026: Back to the Future. La crescita appare contenuta, appena un decimo di punto percentuale, ma indica un cambiamento di direzione. La disoccupazione degli adulti è infatti diminuita nello stesso periodo, dal 3,7% al 3,6%. Per un giovane, oggi, la probabilità di essere disoccupato è oltre tre volte superiore a quella di un adulto. Il dato più preoccupante riguarda però chi è scomparso anche dalle statistiche della disoccupazione, nel mondo più di 257 milioni di giovani, uno su cinque, risultano fuori dal lavoro, dall’istruzione e dalla formazione, sono i cosiddetti NEET, dal 2023 sono aumentati di circa nove milioni.  Dietro questi dati preoccupanti ci sono giovani che hanno smesso di cercare un impiego, intrappolati in lunghi periodi di inattività, ragazze assorbite dal lavoro di cura e milioni di persone che vivono in Paesi dove studiare o trovare un’occupazione regolare resta un privilegio. Più di due terzi dei giovani NEET sono donne, il tasso raggiunge il 27,4% tra le ragazze, contro il 13,1% tra i ragazzi.

In Italia la situazione è migliore, ma la distanza dall’Europa resta ampia. Secondo il Rapporto annuale 2026 dell’Istat, nel 2025 il 13,3% dei giovani tra i 15 e i 29 anni era fuori dal lavoro, dall’istruzione e dalla formazione, contro una media europea dell’11%. Il dato italiano si è quasi dimezzato nell’ultimo decennio, ma il vero divario emerge osservando quanti giovani riescono effettivamente a lavorare. Tra i 15 e i 34 anni il tasso di occupazione è appena del 43,9%, mentre nell’Unione europea raggiunge il 58,1%. Quattordici punti di differenza che raccontano un Paese nel quale l’ingresso nella vita adulta continua ad arrivare più tardi.  Nemmeno una formazione universitaria riesce a colmare la distanza. In Italia lavora il 74% dei laureati tra i 25 e i 34 anni, contro l’86,5% della media europea. Tra tutti i giovani usciti recentemente dagli studi, il tasso di occupazione si ferma al 71,8%, undici punti sotto la media dell’Unione. Il problema italiano riguarda quindi anche la capacità del sistema produttivo di utilizzare le competenze che il Paese ha contribuito a formare.

L’intelligenza artificiale sta accelerando la trasformazione, ormai è inevitabile. Secondo l’ILO, il 6,1% dei lavori svolti da persone tra i 15 e i 29 anni si trova nelle occupazioni maggiormente esposte ai cambiamenti prodotti dall’IA. La quota è più alta nei Paesi ricchi, dove le attività amministrative e digitali sono maggiormente diffuse. Questo dato descrive un’esposizione, non una previsione automatica di licenziamenti, l’ILO invita infatti alla cautela sul rapporto diretto tra IA e crescita della disoccupazione giovanile. La coincidenza, tuttavia, merita attenzione, proprio mentre diminuiscono i lavori attraverso i quali i giovani entravano nel mercato, arrivano sistemi capaci di svolgere una parte crescente di quelle mansioni. Le professioni altamente qualificate nella scienza, nell’ingegneria, nella sanità e nell’informatica continuano a crescere. Ma una società vive anche di occupazioni accessibili a chi possiede un diploma, sta ancora imparando un mestiere o deve costruire gradualmente la propria esperienza.

Nei Paesi più poveri, milioni di giovani accettano qualsiasi attività pur di ottenere un reddito, quasi nove giovani lavoratori su dieci nei Paesi a basso e medio-basso reddito sono occupati nell’economia informale, privi di adeguate tutele e protezione sociale. Anche nelle economie più avanzate l’ingresso nel mercato del lavoro coincide sempre meno con l’indipendenza.

Se le imprese cercano soltanto lavoratori già formati e gli algoritmi assorbono proprio le mansioni nelle quali si imparava lavorando, cosa rimane?

L'articolo 67 milioni di giovani senza lavoro: la disoccupazione torna a crescere nel mondo proviene da Il Blog di Beppe Grillo.

Prosecutors Examined Firm With Tie to Judge in Trump Hush-Money Trial

16 Agosto 2026 ore 00:26
The U.S. attorney in Chicago subpoenaed a fund-raising firm that had been co-owned by the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan, who conducted the trial that led to Donald Trump’s felony conviction.

© Scott Olson/Getty Images

Andrew S. Boutros, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, ordered a Democratic fund-raising firm to turn over a broad range of sensitive communications.

How Cyclospora Evaded the U.S. Food Safety System to Sicken Thousands

The Trump administration delayed a rule last year that could have sped up the effort to pinpoint the source of the contamination. Critics charge that food safety oversight has eroded overall.

© Al Drago for The New York Times

Last year the Food and Drug Administration cut a program that tracked cyclospora outbreaks and delayed a rule that would have required companies to swiftly provide supply chain records in investigations of foodborne disease outbreaks.

As China Pushes to Expand in Asia, Trump Focuses on Iran

15 Agosto 2026 ore 11:01
Asian allies are beginning to wonder whether the United States would or could defend them in a war.

© Aaron Favila/Associated Press

The Sierra Madre, a Philippine naval ship, in the South China Sea in 2023. Last month, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel began circling the ship and confronted Philippine service members.

La Ue tratta in segreto con Israele lo scambio di dati sensibili: “Rischi per i palestinesi”

15 Agosto 2026 ore 11:25

Altro che sanzioni economiche contro Israele. Bruxelles non pensa minimamente a sanzionare Tel Aviv per il genocidio a Gaza. Anzi. Secondo un’inchiesta di Statewatch, Ong indipendente britannica che monitora i diritti civili in Europa, ripresa dal sito olandese The Rights Forum, la Commissione europea sta portando avanti negoziati segreti con Israele per concedere alla polizia israeliana l’accesso ai dati dell’agenzia di polizia europea Europol. Accordo che secondo gli esperti di diritti umani metterebbe a rischio la vita dei palestinesi e potrebbe violare il diritto internazionale.

Dati sensibili e biometrici in cambio di cooperazione

Secondo la bozza dell’intesa siglata nel 2022, lo scambio prevederebbe di una vasta gamma di dati personali: nomi, numeri di identificazione, localizzazioni, informazioni genetiche e biometriche, e molto altro, tra cui dettagli sulle opinioni politiche personali, sulla salute delle persone, sulle relazioni e persino sull’orientamento sessuale. Secondo Eitan Diamond, giurista menzionato da Novara Media, «i dati trasferiti potrebbero essere usati come intelligence per supportare decisioni mirate ad attaccare e uccidere palestinesi».

Peraltro, già nel 2022 il Servizio giuridico del Consiglio dell’Unione Europea aveva bocciato la bozza, definendola «giuridicamente insostenibile» e rilevando che alcune sue disposizioni erano in «contrasto con il diritto europeo e internazionale». Il motivo? Sebbene fosse stata inserita una clausola che vietava l’uso dei dati relativi ai territori occupati da Israele (come le Alture del Golan e la Cisgiordania), le due eccezioni inserite nella bozza – per «pericolo imminente di vita» e per «prevenzione o perseguimento di reati» – erano considerate troppo vaghe, tali da rendere di fatto inapplicabile il divieto. In buona sostanza, secondo i giuristi il timore è che, con questo accordo, si sarebbe di fatto legittimato l’occupazione israeliana della Cisgiordania, di Gerusalemme Est, della Striscia di Gaza e delle alture del Golan.

Incontri segreti a Bruxelles

E oggi, con un genocidio in corso a Gaza e con la violenza dei coloni che aumenta, le obiezioni sollevate allora appaiono oggi ancora più gravi. Nonostante ciò, la Commissione ha proseguito i negoziati con Tel Aviv in gran segreto. Documenti ottenuti da Statewatch rivelano che tra il gennaio 2023 e il gennaio 2026 si sono tenuti almeno sette incontri tra funzionari della Commissione e diplomatici israeliani.

Nel frattempo, 29 europarlamentari hanno presentato interrogazioni per chiedere chiarimenti sullo status dei negoziati con Tel Aviv. Mounir Satouri, uno dei firmatari, ha parlato di un «doppio scandalo»: «La Commissione – ha affermato – ha negoziato un accordo di cooperazione di polizia con Israele mentre numerosi esperti e un rapporto del suo stesso Servizio europeo per l’azione esterna documentavano gravi violazioni del diritto internazionale umanitario a Gaza. E lo ha fatto nella massima segretezza, sottraendosi al controllo del Parlamento. I negoziati devono essere sospesi immediatamente». Il tutto accade nel silenzio tombale della grande stampa europea: chissà cosa sarebbe accaduto se Bruxelles avesse negoziato segretamente con Mosca?

Fonti:

“Europese politiedienst Europol wil data delen met Israël,” The Rights Forum, 14 agosto 2026, https://rightsforum.org/europese-politiedienst-europol-wil-data-delen-met-israel/.

Giacomo Zandonini, “Exclusive: EU Commission still seeking controversial police agreement with Israel, despite warnings,” Statewatch, July 30, 2026, https://statewatch.org/news/2026/july/exclusive-eu-commission-still-seeking-controversial-police-agreement-with-israel-despite-warnings/.

L'articolo La Ue tratta in segreto con Israele lo scambio di dati sensibili: “Rischi per i palestinesi” proviene da InsideOver.

At Least 47 Dead as 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Indonesia

The temblor was one of the strongest the area had experienced in decades, an official said.

© SELO/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Damaged houses after a strong earthquake hit Indonesia early on Saturday.

Canadian Petition to Expel U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra Takes Off

17 Agosto 2026 ore 03:13
Mr. Hoekstra has been President Trump’s faithful messenger in Canada amid a historic low in relations. More than 200,000 Canadians want him gone.

© Ian Austen/The New York Times

Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, at the embassy’s July 4 party at his official residence in Ottawa.

How Cyclospora Evaded the U.S. Food Safety System to Sicken Thousands

The Trump administration delayed a rule last year that could have sped up the effort to pinpoint the source of the contamination. Critics charge that food safety oversight has eroded overall.

© Al Drago for The New York Times

Last year the Food and Drug Administration cut a program that tracked cyclospora outbreaks and delayed a rule that would have required companies to swiftly provide supply chain records in investigations of foodborne disease outbreaks.

As China Pushes to Expand in Asia, Trump Focuses on Iran

16 Agosto 2026 ore 21:58
Asian allies are beginning to wonder whether the United States would or could defend them in a war.

© Aaron Favila/Associated Press

The Sierra Madre, a Philippine naval ship, in the South China Sea in 2023. Last month, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel began circling the ship and confronted Philippine service members.

Where Future Champions Race Against the Tide

An uninhabited Irish island fills up one day each summer for a treasured amateur horse race in which young jockeys ride across the shifting sands.

© Clodagh Kilcoyne for The New York Times

The jockeys at Omey are young, the sponsors modest, the grand prize less than $1,000.

Where Future Champions Race Against the Tide

An uninhabited Irish island fills up one day each summer for a treasured amateur horse race in which young jockeys ride across the shifting sands.

© Clodagh Kilcoyne for The New York Times

The jockeys at Omey are young, the sponsors modest, the grand prize less than $1,000.

US K-12 immersion schools expand across country for early-age Chinese language education

At the Goodtime Chinese School in the Bethany suburb of Portland, Oregon, an American child stops school director Zhou Yanzhuo, of China, in the hallway to ask a question in English. She requests that he speak in Chinese and the third grader, who has no Chinese heritage, handily switches languages. The child is one of several dozen students attending rigorous summer classes for Chinese language instruction at an age when experts believe language acquisition is easiest. While American...

Professor’s Death Leaves Behind Hard Questions for Cambridge on Race and Hiring

Jason Arday, the school’s youngest Black professor, was found dead on Friday. The school ignored a series of warnings about his life story and his work.

© Joe Giddens/Press Association, via Getty Images

Cambridge University in May. Jason Arday was hired in 2023, becoming the university’s youngest Black professor.

Professor’s Death Leaves Behind Hard Questions for Cambridge on Race and Hiring

Jason Arday, the school’s youngest Black professor, was found dead on Friday. The school ignored a series of warnings about his life story and his work.

© Joe Giddens/Press Association, via Getty Images

Cambridge University in May. Jason Arday was hired in 2023, becoming the university’s youngest Black professor.

Professor’s Death Leaves Behind Hard Questions for Cambridge on Race and Hiring

Jason Arday, the school’s youngest Black professor, was found dead on Friday. The school ignored a series of warnings about his life story and his work.

© Joe Giddens/Press Association, via Getty Images

Cambridge University in May. Jason Arday was hired in 2023, becoming the university’s youngest Black professor.

India’s Modi woos youth with free coaching, AI training after Gen Z protests

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday his government would provide free online coaching lessons for competitive exams, weeks after massive youth-led protests forced the education minister to resign. Modi said the initiative was aimed at easing the financial burden on millions of families caught up in the country’s fiercely competitive education system. The 75-year-old leader made the announcement while speaking from the ramparts of New Delhi’s imposing 17th century Red Fort to...

In South Korea, some savour last season of legal dog meat

15 Agosto 2026 ore 10:18
For decades, the three days of summer considered the hottest of the year were among the busiest for South Korea’s dog meat restaurants, as diners sought traditional stamina-boosting foods to endure the heat. The third “boknal”, or hot day, of 2026 on Friday carried an added sense of finality. It was the last before a nationwide ban on the breeding, slaughter and sale of dogs ‌for meat takes full effect in February 2027. At the Moran Market in Seongnam, once the country’s best-known hubs for dog...

Evidence of earliest silkworm farming outside China found, upending Silk Road timeline

It may not be the most majestic creature on our beautiful planet, but the humble silkworm deserves a place alongside horses, cattle, cats, and dogs due to its profound impact on human civilisation. The luxurious fabric spun from the silkworm’s natural secretion ignited the creation of a vast global trade network, connecting Asia with the Mediterranean. This network became a catalyst for transformative exchanges of goods, ideas, and technologies across continents, significantly shaping the course...

Karaoke in the car? China’s new wave of gadget-laden electric vehicles

15 Agosto 2026 ore 10:00
China’s electric vehicles (EVs) already lead the way in terms of battery and autonomous driving technologies. Now, the country’s auto brands are adding a new dimension to the notion of intelligent cars: turning them into full-scale entertainment centres. A new wave of Chinese-developed EVs is hitting the market equipped with everything from voice-activated artificial intelligence (AI) assistants, to headlights that double up as film projectors and karaoke systems. Some even feature immersive...

Malaysia’s Anwar vows to boost anti-corruption drive after state poll defeats

15 Agosto 2026 ore 09:47
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he would speed up the pace of reforms and strengthen an anti-corruption drive as he sought to rebuild public support after a string of electoral defeats and party departures. Anwar acknowledged shortcomings by his administration that had led to frustration among Malaysians. While the economy grew 6 per cent last quarter and unemployment was low, Anwar said he “won’t deny” that Malaysians faced higher living costs. “The economic numbers are not winning...

Hong Kong suspends contractors over Queen Mary Hospital lift defects

15 Agosto 2026 ore 08:40
Hong Kong authorities have suspended the main contractor and lift subcontractor working on a new clinical block at Queen Mary Hospital from tendering for public works after serious defects left most lifts unreliable and delayed the launch of services. An engineer and a lawmaker said on Saturday that the extent of the defects was “extremely rare” in Hong Kong and unreasonable, while the government’s decision to temporarily stop the firms from tendering for other projects was appropriate. The...

At Least 47 Dead as 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Indonesia

The temblor was one of the strongest the area had experienced in decades, an official said.

© SELO/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Damaged houses after a strong earthquake hit Indonesia early on Saturday.

China slams Japanese officials’ visit to Yasukuni Shrine on WWII anniversary

China has “strongly condemned” Japanese leaders for visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine and making an offering on the 81st anniversary of Japan’s announcement of surrender in World War II. Beijing said it had lodged a formal protest after Japanese defence chief Shinjiro Koizumi and others visited the shrine on Saturday. China and many other Asian countries view the site as a symbol of Japanese militarism. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not visit in person but she sent a ritual...

China slams Japanese officials’ visit to Yasukuni Shrine on WWII anniversary

China has “strongly condemned” Japanese leaders for visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine and making an offering on the 81st anniversary of Japan’s announcement of surrender in World War II. Beijing said it had lodged a formal protest after Japanese defence chief Shinjiro Koizumi and others visited the shrine on Saturday. China and many other Asian countries view the site as a symbol of Japanese militarism. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not visit in person but she sent a ritual...

China slams Japanese officials’ visit to Yasukuni Shrine on WWII anniversary

China has “strongly condemned” Japanese leaders for visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine and making an offering on the 81st anniversary of Japan’s announcement of surrender in World War II. Beijing said it had lodged a formal protest after Japanese defence chief Shinjiro Koizumi and others visited the shrine on Saturday. China and many other Asian countries view the site as a symbol of Japanese militarism. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not visit in person but she sent a ritual...

Extreme caution urged for Hongkongers as data privacy complaints jump 62% in AI era

15 Agosto 2026 ore 07:50
Hongkongers should exercise extreme caution in guarding their personal data, especially during online shopping and membership sign-ups, the city’s privacy watchdog has said after complaints jumped more than 60 per cent year on year in the first half of 2026. Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Ada Chung Lai-ling said on Saturday that residents’ personal data had become a valuable, tradeable commodity in the age of technology. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data received...

Cyberport fills 50% of phase 5 offices with Lenovo, BrainCo among tenants: chairman

Hong Kong fintech hub Cyberport has added 66,000 square metres (710,420 sq ft) of space in its fifth-phase expansion, with more than half of its offices already leased to tenants including mainland Chinese technology companies, according to its chairman. Simon Chan Sai-ming also said on Saturday that Cyberport was positioning itself as a key driver in Hong Kong’s inaugural five-year plan by pushing artificial intelligence (AI) development as a pillar industry, expanding talent training and...

Russia’s role in Middle East politics endures, shifts to being ‘secondary power’

Russia is confounding expectations that its influence in the Middle East would drastically decline after the downfall of Syria’s Assad regime in 2024. At the time, Moscow operated about 100 military facilities in the war-torn country, following its intervention in the Syrian civil conflict from 2015 to prop up then president Bashar al-Assad in alliance with Iran and its regional proxies. When Assad was forced to flee to Moscow, and control of most of Syria was seized by Islamist rebels led by...

Russia’s role in Middle East politics endures, shifts to being ‘secondary power’

Russia is confounding expectations that its influence in the Middle East would drastically decline after the downfall of Syria’s Assad regime in 2024. At the time, Moscow operated about 100 military facilities in the war-torn country, following its intervention in the Syrian civil conflict from 2015 to prop up then president Bashar al-Assad in alliance with Iran and its regional proxies. When Assad was forced to flee to Moscow, and control of most of Syria was seized by Islamist rebels led by...

South Korea’s president proposes formal end to Korean war talks with North

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung proposed talks with North Korea to formally end the long-running Korean war, as Pyongyang deepens ties with Russia while asserting its status as an “irreversible” nuclear state. The two Koreas remain technically at war because their 1950-53 conflict, triggered by a North Korean attack, ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty. Lee made the proposal in his speech at a ceremony marking the anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japan’s 1910–45...

Man Charged With Hate Crime After Disrupting Worship at N.Y.C. Synagogue

15 Agosto 2026 ore 06:15
Larry Montes, 46, faces assault and hate crime charges after striking a congregation member and a security guard at Central Synagogue in Manhattan, the police said.

© Kena Betancur/Associated Press

The Central Synagogue in New York City.

Entrenched, Embattled and Defiant, the Taliban Celebrate 5 Years in Power

15 Agosto 2026 ore 06:01
The Taliban have Afghanistan in a chokehold that spares no one. But threats are starting to crack their veneer of stability and control.

© Tomas Munita for The New York Times

Afghans celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul, Afghanistan, early on Saturday.

Entrenched, Embattled and Defiant, the Taliban Celebrate 5 Years in Power

15 Agosto 2026 ore 06:01
The Taliban have Afghanistan in a chokehold that spares no one. But threats are starting to crack their veneer of stability and control.

© Tomas Munita for The New York Times

Afghans celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul, Afghanistan, early on Saturday.

Heat Deaths in a ‘Cold’ Country Are a Warning to the Rest of Europe

A June heat wave in Belgium and neighboring countries exposed a lethal lack of readiness. That’s a risk as another wave hits Europe.

© Ksenia Kuleshova for The New York Times

Treating a 77-year-old woman for heat-related illness last month at MontLégia hospital in the Belgian city of Liège.

Heat Deaths in a ‘Cold’ Country Are a Warning to the Rest of Europe

A June heat wave in Belgium and neighboring countries exposed a lethal lack of readiness. That’s a risk as another wave hits Europe.

© Ksenia Kuleshova for The New York Times

Treating a 77-year-old woman for heat-related illness last month at MontLégia hospital in the Belgian city of Liège.

Wary of Trump, Europe Seeks Role in Eventual Russia-Ukraine Talks

15 Agosto 2026 ore 06:01
French, German and British diplomats are working on a format for future negotiations — even if Russia has shown little interest.

© Nina Liashonok/Reuters

Rescue workers at the site of a Russian strike on a residential building in Odesa, Ukraine, this week.

Wary of Trump, Europe Seeks Role in Eventual Russia-Ukraine Talks

15 Agosto 2026 ore 06:01
French, German and British diplomats are working on a format for future negotiations — even if Russia has shown little interest.

© Nina Liashonok/Reuters

Rescue workers at the site of a Russian strike on a residential building in Odesa, Ukraine, this week.

Hong Kong’s biodiversity ‘richer than we know’ but many species lack protection

Hong Kong’s lush forests are teeming with more wildlife ranging from birds arriving from neighbouring regions to newly discovered reptile species, experts have found, as they urge authorities to devise a conservation list to protect vulnerable local species. The call by the city’s conservationists to formulate a “red list” – a long-awaited measure since 2014 – coincided with National Ecology Day on Saturday. Marking the occasion, Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing said the...

How Vietnam’s ‘streamlining revolution’ may lead to uneven success

Third plenums are ordinarily the quiet part of Vietnam’s political calendar. Between its five-yearly congresses, the Communist Party of Vietnam governs through numbered plenums of its Central Committee (CC): the first two settle personnel decisions, and the third, six months on, usually does no more than ratify the term’s work programme. This time, the third plenum of the 14th CC, held from July 20 to 24, did more. It set out the next phase of the country’s most sweeping administrative overhaul...

Truck driver flees after vehicle crashes and bursts into flames on Lantau highway

A truck driver fled the scene after his vehicle crashed into roadside barriers and burst into flames on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island early on Saturday, with debris from the collision injuring a taxi driver and a passenger travelling behind. The crash occurred at about 3.15am during an amber rainstorm warning. A 16-tonne truck carrying electronic parts was heading towards the airport when it crashed on the North Lantau Highway near Tung Chung Eastern Interchange. The vehicle skidded on the wet road,...

Meet the Singaporean DJ taking local sounds to the global stage

15 Agosto 2026 ore 05:00
At one of the world’s biggest electronic dance music festivals in Belgium, entranced revellers recently found themselves dancing to sounds more often heard on a Singapore commute than a Tomorrowland stage. They included the MRT warning to “Sila berhati-hati di ruang platform” (“Please mind the platform gap” in Malay), familiar to millions who ride the city state’s metro system, and the piercing, repetitive call of the Asian koel, a bird whose cry is instantly recognisable in many Singapore...

Chinese magnetic sensor breakthrough may help smartwatch detect submarine 500 metres deep

15 Agosto 2026 ore 05:00
Picture a fisherman hauling in his nets on a calm morning at sea, when his smartwatch suddenly vibrates with an alert: “Magnetic anomaly detected – possible submarine passing 500 metres below.” Far‑fetched as it sounds, Chinese scientists have just taken a decisive step towards making that scenario real. A team from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science and the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, both under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), has created a Hall‑effect...

Chinese magnetic sensor breakthrough may help smartwatch detect submarine 500 metres deep

Picture a fisherman hauling in his nets on a calm morning at sea, when his smartwatch suddenly vibrates with an alert: “Magnetic anomaly detected – possible submarine passing 500 metres below.” Far‑fetched as it sounds, Chinese scientists have just taken a decisive step towards making that scenario real. A team from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science and the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, both under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), has created a Hall‑effect...

At least 47 killed in Indonesia after magnitude 7.7 quake hits Flores region

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early Saturday, killing at least 47 people, collapsing buildings and homes as well as causing panic in a region prone to deadly quakes. Authorities said more than a dozen people were injured. Authorities issued a tsunami warning but later lifted it when Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said monitoring showed no significant sea-level changes that would pose a threat to coastal communities. The US...

Putin alle Curili, si riaccende la contesa col Giappone

15 Agosto 2026 ore 04:07
Putin alle Curili, si riaccende la contesa col Giappone

Per la prima volta il presidente russo nella più grande delle quattro isole amministrate da Mosca ma rivendicate da Tokyo. La visita è un segnale anche alla Nato, mentre il Cremlino approfondisce l'alleanza con la Corea del nord. Il ministro degli esteri cinese intanto va a Seul

L'articolo Putin alle Curili, si riaccende la contesa col Giappone proviene da China Files.

The US’ future policymakers are questioning the standard ‘China threat’ playbook

For years, the conventional wisdom in Washington was that America’s China policy was moving in one direction: tougher. But walk into a classroom at Georgetown, Rice or another US university where the next generation of diplomats and foreign-policy professionals is being trained, and the picture looks less settled. A generation that has grown up with China’s rise is increasingly sceptical of the idea that Beijing should be treated primarily as America’s great strategic rival. That matters because...

The US’ future policymakers are questioning the standard ‘China threat’ playbook

For years, the conventional wisdom in Washington was that America’s China policy was moving in one direction: tougher. But walk into a classroom at Georgetown, Rice or another US university where the next generation of diplomats and foreign-policy professionals is being trained, and the picture looks less settled. A generation that has grown up with China’s rise is increasingly sceptical of the idea that Beijing should be treated primarily as America’s great strategic rival. That matters because...

The US’ future policymakers are questioning the standard ‘China threat’ playbook

For years, the conventional wisdom in Washington was that America’s China policy was moving in one direction: tougher. But walk into a classroom at Georgetown, Rice or another US university where the next generation of diplomats and foreign-policy professionals is being trained, and the picture looks less settled. A generation that has grown up with China’s rise is increasingly sceptical of the idea that Beijing should be treated primarily as America’s great strategic rival. That matters because...

How Southeast Asia’s monarchies stay relevant in a volatile region

When Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah recently stripped his daughter-in-law of a royal title, the move drew attention for its unusually public glimpse into discipline inside one of the world’s few remaining absolute monarchies. But it also offered a small example of what analysts who study Southeast Asia’s royal families describe as a wider challenge for the region’s monarchies: how to preserve authority through tradition and adaptation as public expectations change. An official announcement...

Lions, tigers from notorious zoo in Argentina begin journey to wildlife sanctuaries

Thirty lions and tigers that were kept alive – barely – for years in cramped concrete cages at a closed Argentine zoo began entering jumbo-size transport crates on Friday as they embarked on ambitious journeys to wildlife sanctuaries halfway across the world in South Africa and the United States. The cats are being rescued from the former Lujan Zoo, about 70km (43 miles) northwest of Argentina’s capital of Buenos Aires, after years of uncertainty over their fate. Four Paws, the international...

Lions, tigers from notorious zoo in Argentina begin journey to wildlife sanctuaries

Thirty lions and tigers that were kept alive – barely – for years in cramped concrete cages at a closed Argentine zoo began entering jumbo-size transport crates on Friday as they embarked on ambitious journeys to wildlife sanctuaries halfway across the world in South Africa and the United States. The cats are being rescued from the former Lujan Zoo, about 70km (43 miles) northwest of Argentina’s capital of Buenos Aires, after years of uncertainty over their fate. Four Paws, the international...

Hong Kong’s night economy must focus on after-dark vibes, not events

15 Agosto 2026 ore 03:30
More than 86,000 football fans passed through Kai Tak Stadium over two nights recently as Manchester City faced Inter Milan and Chelsea took on Juventus. Supporters filled nearby malls and restaurants, with some merchants reporting foot traffic three to four times higher than usual. For those few hours, Kai Tak offered a glimpse of what Hong Kong’s day-to-night economy could become: international visitors and local residents arriving early and extending the occasion beyond the stadium. The...

Japan PM avoids Yasukuni Shrine on WWII anniversary, 4 ministers visit

di: Kyodo · Kyodo
15 Agosto 2026 ore 03:17
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Saturday skipped a visit to Tokyo’s controversial Yasukuni Shrine and sent an offering instead, but Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and three other Cabinet members went there on the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II. Despite Takaichi, a conservative, staying away from the shrine that honours convicted war criminals along with the war dead, China said it “deplores” and strongly protests the moves. South Korea also expressed regret and...

‘Enjoying two worlds at once’: work in Hong Kong, live and play in Greater Bay Area

Regional cooperation is a key priority in Hong Kong’s first five-year plan. In the fourth of a five-part series on the plan, we look at how life in the Greater Bay Area can get better, with the right policies. Read part one here, part two here and part three here. Eager to escape Hong Kong’s suffocating housing conditions, university administrative worker Polly Chan decided in 2023 to rent a weekend flat in Guangzhou. On weekdays, she lives with her mother in a cramped 300 sq ft flat in Tai Po....

Chinese boy abducted at 3, who inspired child trafficking film, enters direct PhD programme

15 Agosto 2026 ore 03:00
A young Chinese man who has just graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Technology from the prestigious Wuhan University is set to embark on a new life as a doctoral student at the same institution. Peng Wenle is not just another ordinary 21-year-old; he was abducted at the age of three in 2008 from outside his parents’ telephone service shop in southern China’s Shenzhen and was recovered three years later, thanks to his parents’ tireless search. Wenle seized this academic...

How China’s young managers grappled with billion-yuan mandates as AI shocks hit portfolios

15 Agosto 2026 ore 03:00
As Leopold Aschenbrenner’s US hedge fund saw assets wiped off by more than two-thirds in a single month, some of China’s new portfolio managers also felt the shock across the Pacific, learning bitter lessons early in their careers. The 50-day market turmoil, sparked by a global correction in artificial intelligence stocks in June, turned some of China’s rookie managers into an unwitting focal point. Even seasoned investors faced hard questions from clients as portfolios sagged. For Yuan Zeqiang,...

She Sewed the Blue Angels’ Suits for 40 Years. Then a Big Company Got the Job.

14 Agosto 2026 ore 21:11
Jellie Whitehurst in Pensacola, Fla., was surprised to learn that after decades, the Navy had awarded a $1.7 million contract to a company in Virginia to supply the gear.

© USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Jellie Whitehurst, the owner of The Sewing Box, making flight suits for the Blue Angels in 2019. She started doing that work in 1989.

Wear now, pay later: the new rules of Southeast Asia’s indulgence economy

With its padded leather and gold “CC” lock, Coco Chanel’s instantly recognisable bag is practically part of the uniform for any self-respecting Bangkok property agent – an apt accessory for a city that recently edged into the top 10 anywhere for luxury spending. But in chastened economic times liquidity and luxury are no longer in lockstep, challenging many of those with expensive tastes to find new ways to keep up appearances while balancing their books. Jirapun Ngam, 42, works in the...

Despite Mamdani’s Attempts to Appease, Many Business Leaders Remain Wary

The mayor’s attempt to create a business advisory council has been hampered by some concern that joining the council may be perceived as an endorsement of Mr. Mamdani.

© Victor J. Blue for The New York Times

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has angered some business executives with his frequent statements criticizing Israel’s actions against Palestinians.

FDA Classifies Egg Recall as Class I for Highest Health Risk

15 Agosto 2026 ore 01:06
Nearly 20 million eggs were recalled in July over salmonella concerns. The new classification signals a “reasonable probability” of “serious adverse health consequences or death.”

© Ronaldo Schemidt/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Midwest Poultry Services voluntarily recalled 19 million eggs in July “as a precautionary measure,” the company said.

China rattled by Trump White House chaos weeks ahead of Xi visit. It has happened before

Just months ago, disorganised planning from Washington in the lead-up to US President Donald Trump’s landmark China visit frustrated Chinese officials. Now, Beijing is watching the same story play out on the other side of the world. With less than six weeks until Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned trip to Washington – his first state visit since 2015 – Beijing finds itself increasingly unsettled by the chaos within the Trump administration. Sources told the South China Morning Post that...

China rattled by Trump White House chaos weeks ahead of Xi visit. It has happened before

Just months ago, disorganised planning from Washington in the lead-up to US President Donald Trump’s landmark China visit frustrated Chinese officials. Now, Beijing is watching the same story play out on the other side of the world. With less than six weeks until Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned trip to Washington – his first state visit since 2015 – Beijing finds itself increasingly unsettled by the chaos within the Trump administration. Sources told the South China Morning Post that...

China rattled by Trump White House chaos weeks ahead of Xi visit. It has happened before

Just months ago, disorganised planning from Washington in the lead-up to US President Donald Trump’s landmark China visit frustrated Chinese officials. Now, Beijing is watching the same story play out on the other side of the world. With less than six weeks until Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned trip to Washington – his first state visit since 2015 – Beijing finds itself increasingly unsettled by the chaos within the Trump administration. Sources told the South China Morning Post that...

Can Senator Ed Markey’s Progressive Politics Help Him Overcome the Age Issue?

15 Agosto 2026 ore 01:08
Ed Markey is hoping that his progressive politics will save him in Massachusetts.

© Mel Musto for The New York Times

Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts, right, with Representative Jim McGovern and Mayor Joseph Petty of Worcester.

Hawaiian Electric Warns Any Power Outages May Last Days

15 Agosto 2026 ore 00:49
The severe tropical weather conditions from the approaching storm Lala are expected to topple trees and down power lines as it crosses the state.

© Rick Bowmer/Associated Press

Linemen working on poles in 2023 after wildfires in Hawaii. The state’s largest power company advised residents ahead of Lala.

Delcy Rodriguez’s Castro tribute tests Venezuela’s balancing act between US and China

Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez’s tribute to Fidel Castro has drawn a blistering rebuke from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, highlighting the political tensions surrounding Caracas’ rapprochement with Washington even as China seeks to preserve its economic interests in the South American country. Rodriguez marked the centenary of the late Cuban leader’s birth this week by praising Castro as a figure who “transcends time” and invoking his commitment to sovereignty, social justice...

Delcy Rodriguez’s Castro tribute tests Venezuela’s balancing act between US and China

Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez’s tribute to Fidel Castro has drawn a blistering rebuke from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, highlighting the political tensions surrounding Caracas’ rapprochement with Washington even as China seeks to preserve its economic interests in the South American country. Rodriguez marked the centenary of the late Cuban leader’s birth this week by praising Castro as a figure who “transcends time” and invoking his commitment to sovereignty, social justice...

Delcy Rodriguez’s Castro tribute tests Venezuela’s balancing act between US and China

Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez’s tribute to Fidel Castro has drawn a blistering rebuke from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, highlighting the political tensions surrounding Caracas’ rapprochement with Washington even as China seeks to preserve its economic interests in the South American country. Rodriguez marked the centenary of the late Cuban leader’s birth this week by praising Castro as a figure who “transcends time” and invoking his commitment to sovereignty, social justice...

Luigi Mangione’s Case Hit a Cultural Nerve

As the murder of Brian Thompson shocked most Americans, some people, many on social media, began showing Mr. Mangione sympathy and channeled their own frustration with the health care industry.

© Rachel Wisniewski for The New York Times

Some people took to social media to show Luigi Mangione support in the days after the murder of Brian Thompson. That support has taken many faces, though interest appears to be waning.

L’era dei droni cambia anche l’armata russa: il generale Lyamin all’incrocio tra esercito e industria

15 Agosto 2026 ore 00:22

La decisione di Vladimir Putin di affidare al generale Denis Lyamin il comando delle nuove Forze russe per i sistemi senza pilota non rappresenta un semplice avvicendamento ai vertici militari. Segnala piuttosto la definitiva trasformazione della guerra in Ucraina in un laboratorio permanente della guerra tecnologica, nel quale la quantità, la velocità di produzione e la capacità di adattamento contano ormai quanto i carri armati, l’artiglieria e l’aviazione tradizionale.

Mosca prende atto che i velivoli senza pilota non sono più strumenti ausiliari, ma costituiscono un’arma autonoma, dotata di proprie catene di comando, strutture logistiche, centri di addestramento e apparati industriali. La scelta di Lyamin, proveniente dalle forze terrestri e già capo di stato maggiore del raggruppamento Centro, conferma inoltre che il nuovo comando dovrà essere strettamente integrato con le operazioni sul fronte del Donbass.

Il riferimento di Putin alla conquista dell’intera regione di Donetsk chiarisce la priorità operativa. I velivoli senza pilota dovranno sostenere l’avanzata russa individuando le posizioni ucraine, correggendo il tiro dell’artiglieria, colpendo veicoli e depositi e interrompendo le linee di rifornimento. La Russia intende trasformare una moltitudine di iniziative spesso nate dal basso in una forza centralizzata, capace di coordinare ricognizione, attacco, guerra elettronica e produzione industriale.

Una guerra combattuta sopra e dietro il fronte

Il campo di battaglia ucraino ha cancellato la distinzione tradizionale tra prima linea e retrovia. Velivoli economici possono distruggere mezzi dal valore di milioni, mentre apparecchi a lungo raggio raggiungono raffinerie, depositi, industrie militari e nodi ferroviari a centinaia di chilometri dal fronte. Anche Kiev ha creato un comando dedicato agli attacchi in profondità. Le due parti stanno dunque costruendo strutture quasi speculari. La guerra non è più soltanto una contesa territoriale: è una competizione tra sistemi industriali, reti informative e capacità di sostituire rapidamente uomini e materiali.

Sul piano militare, la centralizzazione russa può migliorare l’impiego coordinato dei mezzi senza pilota, ma presenta anche rischi. Una struttura più rigida potrebbe rallentare l’innovazione nata dalle unità operative, spesso capaci di modificare rapidamente apparecchi, frequenze e tecniche di attacco. Mosca dovrà conciliare il controllo dello Stato maggiore con la creatività dei reparti e dei produttori privati.

L’industria militare diventa un fronte interno

Gli attentati contro dirigenti e progettisti del settore mostrano che la guerra tecnologica si combatte anche lontano dalle trincee. L’esplosione dell’automobile di Vladimir Tkachuk, responsabile dell’azienda Uraldronzavod, e il ferimento del progettista Andrei Cherezov indicano la vulnerabilità dell’apparato produttivo russo.

Colpire un progettista o un imprenditore può avere effetti superiori alla distruzione di un singolo stabilimento. Significa eliminare competenze, interrompere reti di finanziamento, rallentare forniture e diffondere insicurezza tra tecnici e dirigenti. L’obiettivo strategico di simili operazioni, indipendentemente da chi ne sia responsabile, è trasferire il costo della guerra dalla periferia ucraina al cuore economico e industriale della Russia.

L’attentato nel centro di Mosca aggiunge un elemento ancora più destabilizzante. Sebbene non vi siano prove pubbliche sul mandante, l’episodio alimenta nella società russa la percezione che il conflitto possa penetrare nella vita quotidiana delle grandi città. Per il Cremlino diventa quindi necessario proteggere non soltanto generali e funzionari, ma anche scienziati, produttori, finanziatori e propagandisti collegati allo sforzo bellico.

Il costo economico della supremazia tecnologica

La creazione di una forza autonoma richiederà investimenti considerevoli. Serviranno stabilimenti, componenti elettronici, sistemi di comunicazione, motori, ottiche, apparati di disturbo e grandi quantità di personale specializzato. La Russia dispone di un’ampia base industriale, ma resta esposta alle restrizioni sulle tecnologie avanzate e alla dipendenza da componenti provenienti dall’Asia.

La guerra dei velivoli senza pilota favorisce tuttavia Mosca sotto un altro profilo: consente di compensare almeno parzialmente le perdite umane e di mezzi corazzati mediante strumenti relativamente economici. Il problema non è più soltanto costruire l’apparecchio, ma garantirne l’impiego in massa, la resistenza alle contromisure elettroniche e la sostituzione continua. Si consolida così un’economia di guerra fondata sulla produzione seriale e sul consumo accelerato. I sistemi vengono modificati nel giro di settimane, talvolta di giorni. Il vantaggio appartiene a chi riesce a raccogliere più rapidamente le informazioni dal fronte e a trasferirle alle fabbriche.

Una svolta destinata a superare il conflitto ucraino

La nuova forza russa non nasce soltanto per l’Ucraina. Mosca sta costruendo uno strumento destinato a entrare stabilmente nella propria dottrina militare. L’esperienza maturata potrà essere impiegata lungo i confini della NATO, nel Caucaso, in Asia centrale e nelle aree in cui la Russia mantiene basi o interessi strategici. La nomina di Lyamin indica quindi una trasformazione più profonda: il conflitto ucraino sta producendo una nuova organizzazione delle forze armate russe. I velivoli senza pilota diventano il punto di incontro tra industria, informazione, logistica e combattimento.

La Russia cerca di trasformare l’esperienza accumulata in superiorità strutturale. L’Ucraina, sostenuta dalle tecnologie occidentali, tenta di impedirlo colpendo anche la profondità economica e industriale dell’avversario. La guerra entra così in una fase nella quale non sarà sufficiente occupare terreno: vincerà chi saprà produrre, innovare, proteggere i propri tecnici e disorganizzare più velocemente il sistema nemico.

L'articolo L’era dei droni cambia anche l’armata russa: il generale Lyamin all’incrocio tra esercito e industria proviene da InsideOver.

Cuba, 7mila container bloccati: l’assedio di Trump colpisce acqua e medicine

15 Agosto 2026 ore 00:21

Cuba Trump

Il vero obiettivo delle sanzioni economiche, soprattutto in un contesto di «massima pressione» come quello imposto dagli Stati Uniti nei confronti di Cuba, è quello di stremare la popolazione fino a provocare il collasso del regime. Sanzioni che colpiscono direttamente la popolazione, dunque, e spesso in maniera brutale. Secondo quanto reso noto nei giorni scorsi dal governo di Miguel Díaz-Canel, più di 7mila container carichi di generi alimentari, risorse energetiche, materiale idrico e farmaci sono rimasti fermi in diversi porti dell’area caraibica a causa delle sanzioni statunitensi nei confronti dell’isola (LEGGI IL NOSTRO REPORTAGE).

A riportare questi numeri drammatici per Cuba è il vice primo ministro e ministro del Commercio estero e degli Investimenti stranieri, Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, il quale è intervenuto dinanzi all’Assemblea nazionale del Potere popolare. Le merci bloccate, ha affermato il ministro, sono state acquistate in maniera legale da Cuba nel rispetto delle norme del commercio internazionale: non si tratta dunque di forniture irregolari, ma di scambi commerciali legittimi paralizzati per l’appunto dalle sanzioni di Washington.

“Assedio energetico contro Cuba”

Secondo quanto affermato da Pérez-Oliva, si tratta di un verto e proprio «assedio energetico» ai danni dell’Isola e di una «punizione collettiva» contro la popolazione. Lo stesso Pérez-Oliva ha dichiarato che dall’inizio dell’anno le misure di pressione da parte dell’amministrazione Trump si sono intensificate notevolmente e hanno colpito settori sensibili, che toccano da vicino la vita quotidiana dei cubani.

The Trump regime has blocked 7,000 containers from reaching Cuba. More than 7,000 containers carrying food, energy, hydraulic resources, and medicines remain held at various Caribbean ports because of the U.S. blockade on the islandhttps://t.co/0hj1ZGaD3Q pic.twitter.com/WKtQp17RSM

— tim anderson (@timand2037) August 13, 2026

Le sanzioni dell’amministrazione Usa colpiscono direttamente l’approvvigionamento idrico di Cuba: tra i container fermi ai porti vi sono quelli contenenti materiali destinati al programma nazionale per l’acqua potabile, settore già in grave crisi da tempo. Più di tre milioni di cubani, secondo i dati citati dal governo, si svegliano ogni giorno con difficoltà di accesso a questa risorsa primaria.

Grave la situazione anche sul fronte sanitario. Nei giorni scorsi, l’azienda statale Medicuba ha denunciato il blocco di due container di farmaci antiepilettici nel porto di Cartagena de Indias, in Colombia. A bloccarne la consegna sarebbe stata la compagnia di navigazione tedesca Hapag-Lloyd, che ha giustificato la scelta sottolineando la necessità di rispettare le sanzioni statunitensi. Precedentemente era stata la francese CMA CGM a bloccare decine di container diretti a Cuba, tra cui uno contenente materiale medico-sanitario.

Le “motivazioni” di Rubio

Per il Segretario di Stato Marco Rubio, figlio di esuli cubani, la lotta contro il governo dell’isola è una questione esistenziale. Lo si intuisce dalla retorica incendiaria con cui descrive il regime cubano: «Il regime comunista cubano – ha dichiarato giorni fa – è uno Stato sponsor del terrorismo che spia l’America, arma violenti radicali di sinistra, diffonde una velenosa ideologia marxista e funge da base operativa per Russia, Cina e Iran, a soli 90 miglia dalle nostre coste».

Hegseth claims that Cuba has been threatening the US for a long time, as Washington continues to build the case for war. Expect deafening silence from the European leaders, despite their endless rhetoric about "values." pic.twitter.com/K18Kjh9l8D

— Glenn Diesen (@Glenn_Diesen) August 14, 2026

«Come ha affermato il presidente Trump – ha aggiunto – gli Stati Uniti non tollereranno uno stato canaglia che ospiti operazioni militari, di intelligence e terroristiche ostili alle nostre porte». Peccato che ciò che afferma Rubio per supportare politicamente la strategia di «massima pressione» contro il regime cubano non sia vero. Come riportato sulla nostra testata, infatti, il 29 gennaio scorso, il tycoon ha firmato un ordine esecutivo che minacciava dazi doganali su qualsiasi Paese avesse rifornito di carburante Cuba. Il documento dichiarava che Cuba rappresenta una «emergenza nazionale» e una «minaccia insolita e straordinaria» per gli Stati Uniti, accusando l’isola di ospitare «la più grande struttura di intelligence segnaletica russa all’estero», che cerca di rubare informazioni sensibili sulla sicurezza nazionale degli Stati Uniti.

Peccato che la base russa, nota come Lourdes – di cui ha parlato anche il New York Times – semplicemente non esista. Come ha documentato in esclusiva la testata Drop Site News, in collaborazione con Belly of the Beast, l’area indicata dal Times come sede della base spia russa – Lourdes, alla periferia dell’Avana – è oggi l’Università di Scienze Informatiche (UCI) di Cuba. La squadra di Belly of the Beast ha trascorso due giorni interi a percorrere il campus, parlare con studenti, docenti e personale, senza trovare alcuna traccia di una base russa attiva o delle attrezzature citate dal Times o dall’amministrazione Trump.

È chiaro, dunque, che si tratta di un espediente per giustificare una mossa politica e una strategia più ampia, quella della mai sopita Dottrina Monroe che presuppone l’egemonia statunitense sull’emisfero occidentale e dunque anche su Cuba. Quella che un tempo poteva apparire come una «strategia difensiva» contro le ingerenze degli europei oggi è una strategia aggressiva e imperialista vecchio stampo basata sull’hard power e sulle sanzioni economiche.

Fonti:

“U.S. Blockade Leaves 7,000+ Cuba-Bound Containers Stranded in Caribbean Ports,” Cuba Solidarity Campaign, accessed August 14, 2026, https://cuba-solidarity.org.uk/news/article/4731/us-blockade-leaves-7000-cuba-bound-containers-stranded-in-caribbean-ports.

Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters, “US Diplomat Rubio Targets Cuban Military Officials, Companies in Sanctions,” Al Jazeera, August 6, 2026, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/6/us-diplomat-rubio-targets-cuban-military-officials-companies-in-sanctions.

“‘To play God’: Cuba’s healthcare system collapses under US pressure,” Al Jazeera, July 30, 2026, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2026/7/30/to-play-god-cubas-healthcare-system-collapses-under-us-pressure



L'articolo Cuba, 7mila container bloccati: l’assedio di Trump colpisce acqua e medicine proviene da InsideOver.

Google Turns On Gemini A.I. for Students Using Its Classroom App

14 Agosto 2026 ore 20:54
Google enabled A.I. features for K-12 schools that have allowed student access to Gemini. Until this week, Google automatically enabled Gemini in Classroom only for students 18 or older.

© Ysa Pérez for The New York Times

Starting this week, a new Gemini tab within Classroom lets some students seek A.I. help on math problems and writing assignments; generate course aids like study guides, quizzes and flashcards; and produce images.
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