EU set to hold membership talks with Ukraine
EU set to hold membership talks with Ukraine
‘We were herded like animals’: Freed from Boko Haram captivity
More than 360 people abducted by Boko Haram have been rescued in northeastern Nigeria.
US asks Anthropic to block global access to top AI models: Why it matters
Foreigners barred from accessing top AI models, underscoring Donald Trump's policy of export controls over high tech.
Donald Trump’s name removed from Kennedy Center
Trump’s name has been removed from the Kennedy Center after a court ruling, but adorns many other things and places.
Sexual Violence in Israeli Prisons: What History Tells Us
Sexual violence against Palestinians in Israeli custody is often framed as a post-October 7 issue. But historical record
Anticipation, pushback in Iran as mediators work to finalise deal with US
Israel attacked Beirut again in an apparent attempt to test and derail an agreement.
UK poised to water down 2030 EV sales targets after industry and union pressure
Keir Starmer ready to overrule Ed Miliband after warnings that manufacturers would be penalised and jobs put at risk
The UK government is poised to water down its 2030 targets for electric vehicle sales after intense lobbying by the car industry and unions.
The government is preparing to consult on less ambitious targets for the transition to fully battery-powered electric cars over the rest of the decade after carmakers and unions warned that they would penalise manufacturers and put jobs at risk.
Continue reading...DNA from 2,000-year-old grape seeds points to origins of modern winemaking
Researchers also discover that the ancient vines of Chianti, famed for its red wines, produced white fruit
DNA extracted from 2,000-year-old grape seeds found in ancient wells in Tuscany has enabled scientists to map the most extensive genetic history of grapevines recovered from a single site, revealing that vineyards of the Roman era formed part of the empire’s sophisticated agricultural network that might have influenced the development of modern winemaking.
The research led by scientists at the University of York also found that white grapes once dominated the site in Chianti, an area of Tuscany famous for its red Sangiovese wines.
Continue reading...Zelenskyy thanks UK for intercepting Russian shadow fleet oil tanker after armed forces board vessel – as it happened
Keir Starmer said British armed forces intercepted a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the early hours of Sunday morning
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked the UK for intercepting a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel, describing it as an “important step”.
“It was Russia’s hubris, fuelled by high oil and gas revenues, that paved the way for this war, and every decision by partners that deprives Russia of money also limits the war itself” he wrote in a post on X, in which he personally thanked the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, and “all Britons”.
Continue reading...Dangerous hormone-disrupting chemicals found in US breast milk samples
Study of mothers in Seattle underscores ‘widespread, systemic problem’ of chemical contamination, experts say
Breast milk samples from mothers in Seattle contain alarming levels of dangerous hormone-disrupting chemicals, including BPA, BPS, melamine, cyanuric acid, and triclosan, new peer-reviewed research has found.
The chemicals present a serious risk to infants because they likely interfere with hormones that are critical to newborns’ proper development, and have been found to be harmful at very low levels of exposure. About 92% of 50 samples were contaminated with at least one of the anti-microbials or plasticizers for which researchers checked.
Continue reading...Antidepressants and antipsychotics could serve as alternatives to opioids, study finds
Medications that target depression, anxiety and poor sleep could help treat pain without opioids’ addictive properties
A range of other medications could serve as alternatives to powerful opioids for pain relief in emergency departments, according to a new study.
The review paper examined non-opioid medications available in the emergency department at San Francisco general hospital and examined existing medical literature to figure out which ones might provide pain relief.
Continue reading...Spain vs Cape Verde: World Cup – Lamine Yamal, predictions and how to watch
Pre-tournament favourites Spain open their Group H campaign with a match against World Cup debutants Cape Verde.
Wes Streeting plans to increase high-skilled immigration if he becomes PM
Leadership hopeful to also say tax revenues from new North Sea oil and gasfields should be used to cut energy bills
Wes Streeting’s pitch to be the next Labour leader will include a plan to increase high-skilled immigration to the UK, arguing that Donald Trump is telling scientists and AI experts they are not welcome in the US.
In a speech this coming week, the former health secretary will also say that tax revenues from new North Sea oil and gasfields should be used to cut energy bills.
Continue reading...World Cup 2026: Biggest takeaways from Brazil-Morocco group match
Vinicius Junior scored a brilliant goal to dig Brazil out of trouble after Ismael Saibari had put Morocco ahead.
Israel attacks Beirut on same day Trump says Iran deal to be signed
Israel has bombed the southern suburbs of Beirut, saying it targeted Hezbollah ‘infrastructure’.
Deadly Philippines earthquake found to have raised seabed by up to 2 metres
‘Coastal uplift’ exposes coral and kills marine life, as residents say shorelines extended by up to 200 metres
A powerful earthquake that killed at least 61 people in the Philippines this week raised the seabed by as much as 2 metres (6.6ft), exposing coral and harming marine life, the country’s environment department has said.
At least 40 people are still missing after the 7.8-magnitude quake off southern Mindanao island on Monday, according to updated tolls from the disaster agency.
Continue reading...Jamaican beach access campaigners go to court to fight privatisation of coast
Activists are challenging colonial-era law and demanding ‘free, legal, unfettered, forever rights’ to use beaches
Campaigners in Jamaica are heading to court next week to try to prevent the government from cutting off access to more of their beaches.
They argue that ceding their shorelines to big hotel chains enriches private investors and benefits tourists and outsiders while depriving Jamaicans who depend on the sea for their livelihoods, leisure and health.
Continue reading...Farage vows to ban foreign nationals from social housing as byelection looms
Reform leader claims ‘anti-whiteness is institutionalised’ in UK as polls suggest Labour have lead in Makerfield
Nigel Farage said he would ban foreign nationals from social housing and then deport them if they could not find private sector homes, in a hardening of anti-immigration rhetoric before the Makerfield byelection.
Two recent polls in Makerfield have suggested Farage’s Reform UK is continuing to leak potentially crucial support to its far-right rival Restore Britain, which is led by the former Reform MP Rupert Lowe.
Continue reading...At least three killed as Israel attacks southern Beirut
Israeli escalation in Lebanon's capital raises concerns that peace negotiations between US and Iran could be derailed.
Ukraine and Moldova to enter first phase of EU membership negotiations
Election of new Hungarian government in April has paved way for EU member states to agree to open talks
Ukraine and Moldova will take a decisive step towards joining the EU on Monday, as they embark on the first phase of membership negotiations.
The start of substantive negotiations, launched by senior EU officials and ministers from both countries in Luxembourg on Monday, will be a highly symbolic moment for the two countries that were both part of the former Soviet Union. It comes after Russia has intensified its bombardment of Ukrainian towns and cities, while sustaining huge losses for little territorial gain.
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