Israel warns Hamas will pay "full price" for handover of wrong remains

Hamas is under pressure from Israel and the U.S. at a crucial time for the Gaza ceasefire as it claims it could have misidentified a hostage's remains.

Source: CBS News

Friday Briefing

Germans head to the polls.

Source: New York Times

Hong Kong’s oldest pro-democracy party says it will begin process of disbanding

Democratic party chair Lo Kin-hei would not comment on whether Beijing had put pressure on members

Hong Kong’s oldest pro-democracy party, which became an influential voice of opposition before Beijing …

Source: The Guardian

Australia confronts China over apparent live-fire exercises conducted off coastline

Deputy PM Richard Marles says explanation for the drills, which were conducted in international waters and according to international law, are ‘unsatisfactory’

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Source: The Guardian

Under new bill, Bigfoot could become California’s “official cryptid”

California has a lot of official symbols. But none are cryptids.

Source: Ars Technica

Birkenstock argued its shoes are art. A court put its foot down.

In a lawsuit, Birkenstock aimed to combat knockoffs, but the court determined the German footwear does not meet the definition of “applied art.”

Source: Washington Post

DOGE Sparks Surveillance Fear Across the US Government

The US government has increased the use of monitoring tools over the past decade. But President Donald Trump’s employee purges are making workers worry about how their data could be …

Source: Wired

DOGE’s USDS Purge Included the Guy Who Keeps Veterans’ Data Safe Online

The cybersecurity lead for VA.gov was fired last week. He tells WIRED that the Veterans Affairs digital hub will be more vulnerable without someone in his role.

Source: Wired

The death of DEI? Trump wages war on diversity, equity and inclusion

With Donald Trump back in the White House; they've become the most controversial initials. That's DEI or diversity, equity and inclusion programs promoting equality in the workplace. The US president …

Source: France 24

LGBTQ+ community in Germany rally against rise of far right ahead of elections

Community grapples with fear over ‘proliferation and normalisation of anti-queer and anti-trans sentiment in politics and the media’

They poured on to streets across Germany by the thousands, waving rainbow …

Source: The Guardian

This New Drug Could Help End the HIV Epidemic—but US Funding Cuts Are Killing Its Rollout

Lenacapavir, a twice yearly injection that prevents HIV transmission, was named the breakthrough medicine of 2024. But without US foreign aid dollars, its delivery to millions worldwide is under threat.

Source: Wired

US stocks dip amid concerns over tariffs and consumer belt-tightening

All three major stock indexes moved decisively lower, extending sell-off in wake of dour economic reports

US stocks tumbled on Friday, extending a sell-off in the wake of dour economic …

Source: The Guardian