Calls for a boycott of the 2026 FIFA World Cup are growing, but how realistic is one? The Conversation – Articles (CA) · 7 days ago by Noah Eliot Vanderhoeven, PhD Candidate, Political Science, Western University The next major international sporting event, the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is already garnering international scrutiny. There have been numerous calls to boycott it . Calls for a boycott were amplified recently following U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to annex Greenland from Denmark , prompting soccer officials in Germany and France to broach the possibility of both countries boycotting the tournament. Both countries’ soccer federations have pushed back against calls to boycott the World Cup for now , although recent events in Minneapolis have heightened concerns about the U.S.’ role in hosting the tournament and what that will mean for visitors. Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter — who was suspended by FIFA in 2...

  SailGP investigation confirmed Kiwi error Published on  February 24th, 2026 When New Zealand SailGP Team lost control in the  second event of the 2026 season , it resulted in a dramatic collision with France that led to injuries for both teams, and significant boat damage that can’t be repaired for the next event. Kiwi skipper Peter Burling believed a system limit within the foil assembly contributed to losing control, but a review by the league found the team was effectively  flying too high . Following the incident, SailGP engineering teams conducted a detailed review using high-rate performance data, onboard telemetry, simulator recreations, and video analysis to understand precisely what occurred. The analysis shows that the New Zealand F50 was sailing at 49 knots when they encountered a gust as the 13-boat fleet was reaching toward the first mark after the start. That increase in wind speed caused their boat to accelerate rapidly, increasing lift on the hydrof...

   Americans are ditching America in droves Nick Iluzada If you hear someone with a Texas twang ordering a tall iced coffee with seven sugars in a Parisian cafe, they might be a local. Americans are  moving abroad  in record numbers, with at least 180,000 US citizens relocating overseas in 2025, according to the Wall Street Journal. On top of surging deportations and lower immigration, departing Americans have flipped the migration balance, pushing US departures above arrivals for the first time since 1935, according to the Brookings Institution. An estimated 4 million to 9 million Americans are now expats, and their ranks grew last year: The American population of Portugal grew more than fivefold from 4,768 in 2020 to 26,000 in 2025. The number of Americans moving to Ireland more than doubled from 2024 (4,900) to 2025 (9,600), while British citizenship applications from US nationals grew to a record 8,790—42% more than the previous high of 6,192 in 2024. Why seek gr...

   Hollywood hates the fake clip of these guys fighting Karwai Tang/Getty Images An AI-generated video of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt beating each other up on a rooftop went viral this week, and it could be confused for a real movie scene—until you hear Pitt’s likeness say, “You killed Jeffrey Epstein.” Still, it was convincing enough to  scare  at least one screenwriter. “It’s likely over for us,”  Deadpool  franchise co-writer Rhett Reese  posted  on X in response to the 15-second clip. It was created using Seedance 2.0, an AI video tool owned by ByteDance that was unveiled this week. Then… the Motion Picture Association (MPA) released a statement accusing ByteDance of violating copyright law on a “massive scale.” SAG-AFTRA  joined  in yesterday, calling Seedance videos “blatant infringement.” Oopsie: Seedance appears to be producing videos that rip off protected works from studios including Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Paramount, ...

YouTube TV introduces cheaper bundles, including a $65/month sports package | TechCrunch YouTube on Monday  introduced  lower-priced YouTube TV plans that will allow subscribers to better tailor their plans to their own interests in areas like sports, news, and entertainment. The company said that it will offer more than 10 different plans to choose from, all priced below the $82.99 per month main YouTube TV plan that has access to more than 100 networks. The new plans will start rolling out this week. While that main plan will not go away, the new plans will allow customers to pick what matters most and what they could do without in return for cost savings. Image Credits: YouTube Among the new plans are a $64.99 per month Sports plan, a Sports + News plan for $71.99 per month, a less expensive Entertainment plan for $54.99 per month, and a $69.99 per month News + Entertainment + Family plan, which includes kids’ content. The Sports plans include all major broadcasters, plus n...

Victoria BC Interactive Restaurant Guide: City restaurants (Canada Restaurant Guides) eBook : Richardson, R.G.: Amazon.ca: Books   Victoria BC Interactive Restaurant Guide: City restaurants (Canada Restaurant Guides)  Kindle Edition by  R.G. Richardson   (Author)     Format:  Kindle Edition Part of: Canada Restaurant Guides (5 books) Victoria BC Interactive Restaurant Guide searches using the power of the internet, continuously updated and never out of date. All editions use the power of the internet with over 12,900 links. Use your browser to search for a city in your language. Point and click, that is it, and with a 5G network, it is very fast! You can now avoid spelling mistakes and language difficulties, making your search accurate and simple enough for everybody to use. One thumb is required; simply pick and click the icon, and your search is done. Read everything you want to know and it is never out of date. Don't want to read, watch it all as it...

  Enter the itty-bitty airport lounge American Express Why not pregame your middle seat assignment by hanging out in another small enclosure first? It may sound counterintuitive, but some credit card companies and airlines are responding to widespread overcrowding at airport clubs with tinier lounges that aren’t even designed for lounging. American Express opened its first one, called Sidecar, in Las Vegas yesterday. True to its name, Sidecar is a miniature companion to AmEx’s flagship Centurion Lounge, which also has a location at Sin City’s airport and costs AmEx Platinum cardholders $895/year to access. But Centurion has become notorious for long lines, so the company hopes to appease its masses with a bougie, pit-stop-focused alternative: The new lounge is 1,500 square feet (vs. the nearby Centurion’s 13,000 square feet), and you can’t enter until 90 minutes before departure. There are also only 33 seats. What it lacks in amenities—no buffets, showers, family rooms, or l...

  This newsletter is provided through the support of its sponsors, delivering a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk…with a North American focus. Today's sponsors: UK Sailmakers - Mount Gay Rum - FOILFAST   JOIN THE SCUTTLEBUTT SAILING CLUB Scuttlebutt Sailing Club, the official club of Scuttlebutt Sailing News, officially sanctioned by US Sailing since 2001, and officially available to all Scuttlebutt readers. SSC fulfills the racing rule which requires club membership. For details, click here . A Winter the Media Noticed by Deb Whitehorse A few weeks ago, before the latest storm buried the East Coast in snow, strong ice and clear wind brought the Van Nostrand Challenge Cup back to the Navesink River in Red Bank. T...

  Prime number: One singular sensation Getty Images Planning to see a Broadway show on your own? You’re not alone—even though you will be at the show: Solo theatergoers purchased nearly 20% of Broadway tickets, according to data from the Broadway League cited by NPR. That’s double the rate of just a few years ago, NPR reported. The rise of people who want to see a show without having to discuss it over an overpriced dinner in the theater district afterward reflects a broader cultural shift toward doing things alone. People are also traveling, eating at restaurants, and watching movies and concerts all by themselves in greater numbers, a social psychologist told NPR. Looks like we’ve all become a pack of loners.

  Naval architect Bill Tripp traces his love of sailing to his father, Bill Tripp II (above), famed designer of boats like the Bermuda 40 and Columbia 50. Bill grew up surrounded by his dad’s sea stories, and shares a vivid tale below in this newsletter. This newsletter is provided through the support of its sponsors, delivering a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk…with a North American focus. Today's sponsors: North Sails - Lex Risks - Tripp Design   Pardon the interruption In a perfect storm of Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) and Presidents Day (Feb. 16), along with the Scuttlebutt team supporting the fully subscribed 2026 Women’s Winter Invitational Regatta (Feb. 13-15) in San Diego, the next newsletter will be delayed until February 20. Thanks! Grondin, Cayard claim 2025 R...

  Do local tax hikes actually scare off millionaires? Alyssa Nassner The folks streaming the Super Bowl from their couches sometimes cheer the idea of hiking taxes on those privileged to watch it from the stadium’s executive box. But high-earners and some critics claim that local tax hikes can backfire, since those jetting into Santa Clara, CA, for the big game today could also pack their bags for good in a move to lower-tax jurisdictions. The debate is gaining steam in 2026, as several states and cities consider reaching into the deepest local pockets to cover public spending: New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is lobbying state leaders to raise taxes on the richest New Yorkers to fund campaign proposals like free childcare and bus service. Several state legislatures, including Virginia’s, Washington’s, and Rhode Island’s, are mulling their own millionaire income tax hikes, while Californians might soon vote on a ballot measure that would impose a one-time 5% tax on the wealth of ...

  AI has found a home in real estate Sundaemorning/Getty Images Buying and selling a home can be a chore, as anyone who’s ever posted a picture holding a set of keys with the caption “So, we did a thing!” can attest. Many people have turned to AI to help smooth out the process. Streamlining search: Rather than clicking through 100 boxes to pick your desired home type, price, square footage, and amenities, you can just ask ChatGPT to “find three-bedroom homes that have been on the market for a while with a fenced-in yard, fireplace, and a dog park nearby.” If you add “Zillow” to the front of your prompt, it will bring up the app and show you photos and maps. Unfortunately, AI still can’t tell you whether the neighbors next door raise tarantulas. Getting down to brass tacks: Once you find a place, AI can help make you aware of potential red flags or determine how much to offer by: Pointing out things like old roofs, suspect HVAC systems, and cracks in the drywall. Determini...