What the morning news shows covered today: one entry per story, every show's take.

Since the US-Israel war with Iran began in late February, Iran has targeted the UAE with over 2,800 missiles and drones in the first two months, striking civilian infrastructure including Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports and the Dubai Port. More than 90% of projectiles were intercepted, but the strikes have severely damaged Dubai's reputation as a safe, luxurious oasis. Passenger traffic dropped 30% in the first half of the year, hotel occupancy fell to 20-25%, and Western carriers like British Airways are still not flying. The UAE government detained approximately 375 people for sharing attack videos on social media, citing national security concerns, while a wave of influencer videos reassuring viewers of Dubai's safety emerged without evidence of a paid government campaign.

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Singles report that dating apps feel dehumanizing and superficial, prompting them to attend in-person events to meet people. Marriage, cohabitation, sex, and committed relationships are declining across demographics, with the proportion of 25 to 34 year olds in partnerships dropping steeply from 1980 to 2022. In 2019, 42% of single adults younger than 40 told Pew they had never been in a committed relationship. Global instability, low interpersonal trust, and economic insecurity contribute to the romance slump, making people reluctant to take romantic risks. Dating coaches recommend joy building, co-conspiratorship with friends, and practicing flirting as a buildable skill set to meet people offline, arguing that dating apps are publicly traded companies incentivized to keep users on the platform rather than help them find lasting relationships.

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Sweden's election authorities project a slim three-seat majority for the left-wing opposition coalition, with the Social Democrats remaining the largest party despite a poor performance. The far-right Sweden Democrats saw their support fall, contradicting earlier opinion polls that predicted a far-right victory. Government formation may take weeks due to multi-party negotiations. Separately, Ukrainian Railways states it is quite likely that a Russian drone attack near the Polish border targeted a special train carrying senior European security officials. The diplomatic train had left earlier than planned, and a Russian drone struck another train at the same station shortly after. Ukrainian officials warn the strike represents an escalation knocking on NATO's doors, while former CIA chief David Petraeus believes it was a deliberate attempt to deter Western visitors. Russia's Defense Ministry claims it attacked railway infrastructure used to transport military cargo.

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Despite official claims of modest economic growth, Russia faces fuel shortages, inflation, and a rising deficit driven by Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries and warehouses. Russians face long fuel waits, and small business owners report being ruined by strikes. Economists say Russia's growth is unsustainable long-term because it is driven only by government spending, state coffers are running low, and the deficit is rising. Former billionaire Sergey Petrov warns that the steady brain drain of wealthier Russians fleeing abroad could lead to unpredictable societal instability and potential danger for Putin. There are growing rumours that Putin's government will launch another round of mobilizations after the upcoming election, prompting Russians to flee.

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Turkish authorities have conducted unprecedented raids on LGBT venues, associations, and websites across fifteen provinces, arresting 162 suspects in a campaign dubbed 'My Family Is Safe.' Critics describe the crackdown as state-led discrimination and part of President Erdogan's broader effort to enforce traditional family values and tackle falling birth rates. The raids send a chill through the community and target associations providing solidarity and mental health support. Hate speech against LGBTQ+ communities has become acceptable in Turkish political discourse, and the crackdown extends to social media influencers, performers, and comedians challenging the government's conservative views.

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Israeli Culture Minister Mickey Zohar has vowed to revoke the citizenship of the two Israeli directors of the documentary No Other Land, accusing them of betraying the state after the film won a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival. The film examines the Israeli military's AI-driven targeting system in Gaza. Zohar does not personally have the power to revoke citizenship, but the mechanism exists in Israeli law.

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