World Cup — Water bottle ban sparks controversy

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The FIFA has sparked widespread controversy with its decision to amend the policy regarding water bottles inside 2026 World Cup stadiums. After initially banning reusable bottles, FIFA later permitted only small, factory-sealed plastic bottles—a move seen as late and contentious, especially given concerns about high temperatures during the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. World Cup security decision sparks controversy According to Reuters, FIFA justified the decision as a security measure intended to prevent bottles or solid objects from being used as projectiles in the stands, part of a broader policy to tighten stadium safety procedures. However, the ban…

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Even eyesight is restricted for Palestinian prisoners in Israel’s tortorous prisons

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Even eyesight is not taken for granted in the prisons of Israel. I am a human rights lawyer. I have had a client for four years now, and we have become good friends. I try to visit him as often as possible, sometimes without payment, sometimes for a tiny payment from his family. I have filed many petitions on his behalf without charging for them. I love him and he loves me. This client has been in prison since the days of the Second Intifada. Back then, he was a 22-year-old young man who helped his friends buy a pistol –…

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Orientalism — What Edward Said can teach us about the US-Israeli war against Iran

The illegal US-Israeli war on Iran can, of course, be discussed in terms of imperialism, colonialism, and capitalism. But there is a more specific and often overlooked dimension to the conflict. It connects to the ideas of the prominent Palestinian thinker Edward Said and his theory of Orientalism Since the war began on February 28, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed victory and insisted that Washington has reached its goals. In reality, the war for Trump has become a quagmire, shaped by a series of miscalculations by him and his advisors. Large-scale military attacks, heavy sanctions, and political threats did…

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Palestine — Ministry of Health in financial crisis because of ‘Israel’

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Palestine — The Palestinian Ministry of Health, based in Ramallah, has raised serious concerns about major shortages of medicines and essential medical supplies. A third of essential medicines not available, hundreds more at critically low levels in Palestine It says that a significant portion of items on the Essential Medicines List are no longer available. Over a third are completely out of stock and hundreds more running critically low. Altogether, more than 726 medicines and medical consumables have run out in Ministry storage facilities. This is already having a direct impact on patients. Over 4,000 people with cancer are now at…

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OU debate proceeds tonight with banned anti-genocide speakers attending virtually

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The Oxford Union (OU) has announced that its planned debate will proceed tonight, 6 June 2026, at 6pm. The two invited speakers banned by Keir Starmer for speaking against Israel’s genocide will participate virtually: The event will be held in our Chamber on the 6th of June, at 6 pm BST. Both speakers will be attending virtually. pic.twitter.com/cCPTq9TXlm — Oxford Union (@OxfordUnion) June 5, 2026 Oxford Union censorship concerns The OU has not yet published a link for the debate, but usually streams debates on its YouTube channel. However, it is currently being sued by Palestinian-American writer Susan Abulhawa for deleting…

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Series of hate displays in north of Ireland tacitly condoned by DUP

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In recent weeks, far-right actors in loyalist areas of the north of Ireland have unleashed a spate of racist and Islamophobic murals, banners and graffiti. The response of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), who have a heavy presence in these areas, has been to remain mute or even challenge police when they remove such displays. The banners have at times been comical in their ineptitude, like the incoherent AI-generated mural put up by Concerned Parents Newtownabbey (CPN), previously covered by the Canary. There is a serious side too, however, in the hostile sentiment such displays show towards Muslims. The Police Service…

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World Cup history — Streaks and attacking records

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Days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, a collection of the most prominent historical records that have stood for decades in the archives of the FIFA returns to the forefront. At the top of the list are the long unbeaten streaks of national teams, in addition to the attacking dominance of a number of major teams since the first edition in 1930. These figures do not just reflect match results; they summarize entire eras of footballing dominance and reveal the historical differences between various playing styles over time. Longest unbeaten streaks According to the official statistics issued by the FIFA,…

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Far-right ‘Advance’ implodes in war between leader and COO

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The proto-fascist ‘Advance UK’ party appears to be imploding after warring emails from the group’s leader and chief operating officer (COO) to members. The war has been triggered by party leader Ben Habib’s plan to de-register the party. COO Tim Power wrote to members denouncing Habib’s attempt to disband Advance and merge it into far-right umbrella group GBPAC (Great British Political Action Committee). Habib has said that the UK extreme right field is too “crowded” because of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain. But Power told members he had stepped in and cancelled a member ballot about the…

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Update: Salma Yaqoob was victim of Birmingham arson attack

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Green activist and former Respect party parliamentary candidate Salma Yaqoob was the target of the arson attack in Birmingham that Skwawkbox reported earlier today, 5 June 2026. The local Green party has issued a statement of solidarity with Yaqoob and her family: Birmingham Green Party expresses solidarity with the Yaqoob family after the shocking arson attack on a car outside their family home. Many of our councillors, activists and supporters know members of the family well and admire their commitment to equality, justice and peace. The fact that nobody was injured is down to quick thinking by family members who were…

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Details of Israeli military ‘psy-op’ training courses have leaked

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Israel might be training hundreds of participants in the dark arts of ‘offensive’ influence operations and propaganda each year. A military leak exposed details of how the settler-colonial state seeks to shape public consciousness. And some material is specifically for English speakers. It is the second major leak of its kind in 2026. Israeli-based +972 magazine reported on 4 June: Israel’s defense establishment is training soldiers and other defense officials to conduct psychological operations designed to “influence public consciousness” in Israel and abroad. Adding: The courses, taught in Hebrew and English by academics who are not affiliated with the military, are…

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Thousands sign complaint ahead of hearing to remove ‘biased’ Filton judge

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More than 3,000 people, including legal experts, have signed a formal complaint accusing the security service-linked presiding judge in the trial of six ‘Filton 24’ Palestine Action activists of bias and discriminatory conduct. The complaint comes in advance of a hearing on Monday 8 June on an application by the defendants for Jeremy Johnson’s removal from the case. Justice Jeremy Johnson on the grounds of apparent bias and abuses of process. The jury had refused at the first trial to convict them on any of the state’s charges relating to damage to an Israeli-owned weapons factory, after police and security guards’…

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“Ethics more important”: Polish football club rejects Maccabi Tel Aviv transfer offer

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The owner of Polish football club Pogoń Szczecin has refused to discuss the sale of players to Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv. Alex Haditaghi went further, comparing the idea of doing business with the club to trading with nazi Germany. In a post on X, Haditaghi said he had told the Israeli club he would not be talking to them about potential transfers for defenders Dmitri Keramitsis and Leo Borges. He said that football should represent “hope, respect, unity and humanity” and that: money, business, and opportunity must come second to conscience. Haditaghi made clear that he was referring to Israel’s…

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Corbyn: Filton activists must not be sentenced as terrorists

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Your Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has told the Canary that the Filton 24 activists convicted of criminal damage must not be sentenced as terrorists. The Starmer regime insisted on retrying six activists. The jury had refused at the first trial to convict them on any of the state’s charges relating to damage to an Israeli-owned weapons factory, after police and security guards’ claims didn’t match CCTV evidence. At the retrial, security service-linked judge Jeremy Johnson banned any mention of the fact that the activists carried out their action to prevent the slaughter of Palestinian civilians. He also banned even the media…

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Indy-Green relationship boosted Sefton’s left-wing election surge

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The 2026 local election in the Merseyside borough of Sefton saw a left-wing surge against Labour. And the positive relationship between community independents and the Green Party made a meaningful difference, with both increasing their voice on the council as a result. Community independents went from one councillor to five, and the Greens from one to three. And the Canary spoke to Lydiate and Maghull Community Independents to hear more about how they became the third biggest political grouping on Sefton Council. Common-sense relationships on the left can make a big difference There are places in the UK where local independents…

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US spy agency using Anthropic AI tech for cyberwar against China and Iran

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The US National Security Agency (NSA) is allegedly using Anthropic software to wage cyberwar against Iran and China. The AI war firm is currently locked in a legal battle with the Trump administration to stop certain military uses. Anthropic bosses previously complained when their tech was used in the 3 January Venezuela raid. The NSA is the US equivalent of the UK’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). Its remit includes surveillance and cyberwarfare. The Financial Times (FT) reported on 4 June: Anthropic is helping the US National Security Agency deploy its powerful Mythos AI model for offensive cyber operations, embedding engineers inside…

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Supreme Court disability ruling “biggest rollback of disability rights in a generation”

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Campaign groups have voiced shock and outrage at the “biggest rollback of disability rights in a generation” following a Supreme Court ruling concerning individuals who lack the capacity to consent to their living arrangements. In a joint statement, the charities Mencap, Mind, and the National Autistic Society warned that the regressive ruling could see hundreds of thousands of severely disabled people lose fundamental human rights protections. They added that: By removing independent checks, advocacy, and automatic access to legal aid, the Court has closed the gateway to justice and support for many who need it most. Stripping away these safeguards makes…

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The Naksa of 1967: “Israel’s” war of dispossession and occupation

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During the Naksa, meaning “setback” in Arabic, “Israel” changed the lives of all Palestinians — entrenching them in a system of military control and apartheid that remains today. This war, fought in 1967, brought Palestinians displacement, occupation and loss, expanded on a scale not seen since the Nakba of 1948, when the Jewish state was formed. During the Six Day War — or Naksa — 300,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced by ‘Israel’ It began on 5 June, when “Israel” launched surprise attacks against Egypt and quickly entered a conflict involving Jordan and Syria. By the time the fighting ended, six days…

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Two men charged after badger sett compromised near Newark

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Badger sett — A notorious hunter faces court following an investigation into wildlife crime offences in Nottinghamshire. These vile little men are just one more case that highlights the broader issue of a crap legal system that is systematically letting people like them escape with minor penalties. It’s becoming more and more obvious that these pathetic financial penalties do absolutely nothing to deter the countryside elite from breaking laws and murdering wildlife. Badger sett — Caught on camera Jacob Whalley faces four counts of interfering with an active badger sett. Covert cameras caught the suspects tampering with the Rolleston sett. They were…

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Let’s explore why central bankers’ top reserve asset is not US debt anymore

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Globally, central banks now hold 27% of their reserve assets in gold, surpassing US dollar Treasuries at 22%, and just a year ago this was 20% gold versus 25% Treasuries, according to the latest report by the European Central Bank. In 2023, gold’s share was just 16%. Since the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, China has purchased over 350 tonnes of gold, followed by Poland (320 tonnes), Türkiye (220 tonnes) and India (130 tonnes), according to the ECB, as geopolitical tensions continued to drive strong central bank demand for gold. According to the FT: The shifting composition of reserve assets — highly…

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How Businesses Can Use Background Music To Create Better Customer Experiences

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Public spaces are shaped by more than furniture, lighting, layout and service. Sound plays a major role in how a space feels from the moment someone walks through the door. A café can feel warm and relaxed. A gym can feel energetic and focused. A hotel lobby can feel calm and polished. A retail store can feel premium, lively or rushed, depending not only on how it looks, but on what customers hear while they are there. For many businesses, background music is still treated as a small detail. Something to fill silence, or something staff put on quickly at the…

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