International news report

By Matt Murphy,  BBC News Moscow: Firefighters battle deadly fire in city office building

Video shows confrontation between Filipino forces and Chinese coast guard Hong Kong CNN  —  The Philippines has accused China’s Coast Guard of launching a “brutal assault” with bladed weapons during a  South China Sea clash  earlier this week, a major escalation in a festering dispute that threatens to drag the United States into another global conflict. Footage released by the Philippine military on Thursday showed Chinese coast guard officers  brandishing an axe  and other bla ded or pointed tools at the Filipino soldiers and  slashing  their rubber boat, in what Manila called “a brazen act of aggression.” The Philippines and China have blamed each other for the confrontation near the Second Thomas Shoal in the contested Spratly Islands on Monday, which took place during a Philippine mission to resupply its soldiers stationed on a beached World War II-era warship that asserts Manila’s territorial claims over the atoll. The incident is the l...

  Mitch Wallace Contributor I write about video games, technology and pop culture. post Malone backbone      CREDIT:MITCH  WALLACE I thought PlayStation and Lego coming together to make   Lego Horizon Adventures   was unexpected,   and it was , for sure. But musician Post Malone collaborating with Backbone to create a limited edition, see-through, glow-in-the-dark mobile gaming controller? Well, now we’ve reached peak strangeness, and honestly, I’m here for it. Starting  Tuesday, June 25 , you can order one of only 500 special Post Malone Backbone One gamepads, which will set you back a cool $199.99. This places it $100 over what a standard Backbone One controller costs, or even the white PlayStation version,  both of which retail for $99.99 . What do you get for that extra $100? Well, not incredibly much, I’m afraid. But hey, you be the judge. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Obviously, the entire Post Malone Backbone pe...

Yes, Google rolled out a spam update in June 2024. Here's what we know about it: Target: The update aimed to improve search results by targeting websites violating Google's spam policies. Timeline: Launched on June 20th and took about a week to fully implement. Specificity: Google hasn't revealed the specifics of the update but it likely targeted common spam techniques. It did not focus on link spam or the angekounced site reputation update. You can find more information on SEO related websites like Search Engine Land [search engine land google june 2024 spam update] or Search Engine Roundtable [google june 2024 spam update ON Search Engine Roundtable seroundtable.com].

  The U.S.-built aid pier will be detached from Gaza’s coast for a second time due to rough seas, two U.S. officials said Friday, raising further questions about  the viability of the sea route . Palestinians are facing  widespread hunger  because the war has largely cut off the flow of  food, medicine and other supplies . U.N. agencies say over 1 million in Gaza could experience the  highest level of starvation  by mid-July. The military would move the pier late Friday and into Saturday to prevent it from breaking apart as it did late last month in bad weather, the two officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss military planning. The officials expect the pier will be back in place and operating again by next week. The $230 million project has been beset by  security, logistical and other problems  since aid first rolled ashore May 17. Although aid has been unloaded in a secure area onshore for several days, humanitari...

  Joe Biden and Donald Trump prepare debate in Atlanta The main topics that would be discussed in the debates would be economic growth, migration and management of foreign policy. President Joe Biden and his challenger Donald Trump face the same problem in their first debate:  how to influence voters in a tight race where most Americans say they have already made up their minds. The candidates are already at work, consulting with close advisers ahead of the first head-to-head matchup of 2024 on June 27 in Atlanta. That forum offers a high-stakes opportunity to break the deadlock, but  with clear dangers in a setting where one-liners or jokes may be ineffective but where any gaffe or misstep threatens to be politically fatal. The president brought briefing books on the debates with him on his recent trip to France, according to people familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to detail preparations.  Biden's team   blocked  off an extended s...

  That's right! Rockshox made some significant upgrades to their high-end shock absorbers, the Super Deluxe Air and Vivid Coil, for the 2025 model year. The focus is on improved compression damping, making the shocks more reactive and tunable. Here's a breakdown of the changes: More Reactive Compression Damping: Both shocks benefit from updated compression damping circuits, offering increased control and finer adjustments for riders. Super Deluxe Air: The key upgrade for the Super Deluxe Air is a new, higher-flow compression circuit. This requires a shim kit upgrade for existing shocks. Additionally, Rockshox offers the DebonAir+ Linear XL air canister as an upgrade. This larger air volume provides a more coil-like feel, with better small bump sensitivity at the beginning of the travel. Vivid Coil: While details are a bit scarce, the Vivid Coil also gets an updated compression damping circuit for improved performance. Upgrade Options: If you already own a Super D...

  Friday, June 14th Pop Greatest Hits Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra Concert Pop Greatest Hits Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra Concert: Enjoy an evening of popular music classics performed by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra at the Qatar National Convention Center. The Circus and Flock Show at Angry Birds World: Head to Angry Birds World for a fun-filled weekend with a circus show, Angry Birds activities, and character meet-and-greets. Eid Al Adha activities at National Museum of Qatar: Celebrate Eid Al Adha with special activities and cultural programs at the National Museum of Qatar. This is a free event! National Museum of Qatar Saturday, June 15th Under The Sea Show!: Take a trip under the sea at the Doha Festival City Mall. This educational and interactive show features a variety of marine animals. Dhow Boat Tour: Explore Doha's waterfront from a traditional dhow boat. This is a great way to see the city from a different perspective and learn about its maritime histor...