Global plastic talks collapse as countries remain deeply divided
The latest round of UN-led talks have ended in deadlock, with disputes over plastic production and recycling.
Global plastic talks collapse as countries remain deeply divided
The latest round of UN-led talks have ended in deadlock, with disputes over plastic production and recycling.
Spain at ‘extreme risk’ of new wildfires as 14 blazes spread
Temperatures remain high across southern Europe with wildfires also affecting Portugal, Greece, France and the Balkans.
Spain at ‘extreme risk’ of new wildfires as 14 blazes spread – BBC
- Spain at 'extreme risk' of new wildfires as 14 blazes spread BBC
- Wildfires fanned by heatwave and strong winds rage across Europe Reuters
- What to know about the heat wave and wildfires in Southern Europe The Seattle Times
- Spain, Portugal, and Greece battle wildfires as heat wave is expected to last for days AP News
- Photos: Wildfires Rage Across Southern Europe The Atlantic
Mali’s junta arrests generals and French national over alleged coup plot
Development comes as the military continues to crack down on dissent after a pro-democracy rally in May
Mali’s military rulers say they have arrested a group of military personnel and civilians, including two Malian generals and a suspected French agent, accusing them of attempting to destabilise the country.
The security minister, Gen Daouda Aly Mohammedine, who announced the arrests on the local evening news on Thursday, told viewers an investigation was under way and that the situation was “completely under control”.
Continue reading...UK rights watchdog warns against ‘heavy-handed’ policing of Gaza protests
EHRC calls for clearer guidance for officers to avoid a ‘chilling effect’ on freedom of expression
The UK’s official human rights watchdog has written to ministers and police expressing concern at a potentially “heavy-handed” approach to protests about Gaza and urging clearer guidance for officers in enforcing the law.
In the letter to Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, and Mark Rowley, the head of the Metropolitan police, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said the perception that peaceful protest could attract disproportionate police attention “undermines confidence in our human rights protections”.
Continue reading...First Thing: Newsom says California hopes to redraw maps in response to Texas plan
Republican redestricting move aims to win House majority in midterms. Plus, plastic pollution talks fail in Geneva
Good morning.
California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, has said lawmakers would proceed with a redistricting plan to counter the Republican-led map drawing effort in Texas aimed at securing a House majority after the midterm elections.
Will Newsom go ahead if Texas stands down? No. The California plan will only take place if Texas, or another Republican-led state, redraws its map in favor of the GOP.
What else do experts say about Bhattacharya’s “public trust” claims? That the issue is not whether the vaccines have public trust, but whether they are safe and effective, which they “clearly” are and this must be communicated.
Continue reading...Hiker’s body found after bear drags him from trail into forest in Japan, officials say – CBS News
- Hiker's body found after bear drags him from trail into forest in Japan, officials say CBS News
- Hokkaido police identify dead climber attacked by bear | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News nhk.or.jp
- Hiker found dead after bear attack on Mount Rausu in Hokkaido 朝日新聞
- Hiker missing after bear attack in Hokkaido's Shiretoko 毎日新聞
- Hiker Tried to Fight Off Bear Before Being Dragged into Forest, Friend Says. His Body Was Just Found People.com
How Decades of Folly Led to War in Ukraine – compactmag.com
- How Decades of Folly Led to War in Ukraine compactmag.com
- What to Know Ahead of the Trump-Putin Summit The New York Times
- Democrats should give peace a chance in Ukraine The Hill
- Why the Russia-Ukraine war isn’t just about NATO and Putin The London School of Economics and Political Science
- In pictures: looking back on Ukraine war ahead of Trump-Putin summit in Alaska South China Morning Post
Trump says he hopes to ‘save’ Hong Kong democrat Jimmy Lai – Reuters
- Trump says he hopes to 'save' Hong Kong democrat Jimmy Lai Reuters
- Jimmy Lai: Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon’s national security trial adjourned over health issues BBC
- Trump has vowed to free Jimmy Lai. A Hong Kong court is about to decide the media mogul’s fate CNN
- Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai’s trial delayed over health concerns Al Jazeera
- Jimmy Lai trial enters final stretch, Trump says he hopes to 'save' Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon NBC News
Suspended Labour councillor found not guilty of encouraging violent disorder
Ricky Jones was filmed speaking at anti-racism rally after last summer’s far-right riots that followed Southport murders
A suspended Labour councillor who called at an anti-racism rally for far-right activists’ throats to be cut has been found not guilty of encouraging violent disorder.
Ricky Jones, 58, used the phrase “disgusting Nazi fascists” in a speech about last summer’s far-right protests after the Southport murders, his trial at Snaresbrook crown court heard.
Continue reading...Countries can’t agree on how to stop plastic crisis – DW
- Countries can't agree on how to stop plastic crisis DW
- Global plastic talks collapse as countries remain deeply divided BBC
- The Guardian view on the collapse of environmental talks: petrostates blocked a global plastics deal, but we must not despair | Editorial The Guardian
- United Nations Plastic Treaty Talks End Without Deal The New York Times
- Failed plastics negotiations in Geneva leave world few options to confront growing pollution crisis AP News
King Charles warns of war’s ‘true cost’ at VJ Day’s 80th anniversary – Reuters
- King Charles warns of war's 'true cost' at VJ Day's 80th anniversary Reuters
- King and Queen lead two-minute silence to mark 80 years since VJ Day BBC
- King Charles leads 80th VJ Day commemoration in UK The Guardian
- Kate Middleton and Prince William Release Emotional Message to Mark Poignant Anniversary amid Summer Break People.com
- VJ Day tribute: Queen moved to tears as veteran comforts King over cancer diagnosis The Telegraph
USSR sweatshirt and chicken kyiv: Russia dials up trolling before Alaska summit
Foreign minister’s attire and inflight menu for Russian media are latest in series of provocations towards Ukraine
In a not-so-subtle act of trolling, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, arrived in Alaska on the eve of the US–Russia summit wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with “USSR”.
Once seen in western capitals as a pragmatic and skilled diplomat, the 75-year-old has in recent years mirrored the Kremlin’s radicalised politics, adopting an increasingly combative tone and resorting to trolling and mockery.
Continue reading...Israeli minister posts video online confronting Palestinian detainee in his prison cell – as it happened
Far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir posts video showing him confronting Marwan Barghouti, who has spent more than 20 years in Israeli custody
At least 16 Palestinian people, including five aid seekers, have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn, Al Jazeera is reporting, citing medical sources.
Here are some of the latest images being sent to us over the newswires from Gaza:
Continue reading...Explosion at Russian gunpowder plant kills at least five – Meduza
- Explosion at Russian gunpowder plant kills at least five Meduza
- A fire at a Russian industrial plant kills 11 and injures 130 ABC News
- Explosion Rocks Military Factory in Ryazan, Killing Four Russian Soldiers and Injuring Dozens UNITED24 Media
- Blast in Russian factory injures 130 The Jerusalem Post
- Explosion at Russian gunpowder factory kills 5, as fighting continues in Ukraine ahead of Alaska summit New York Post
Japan PM Ishiba expresses ‘remorse’ on WWII surrender anniversary – Euronews.com
- Japan PM Ishiba expresses 'remorse' on WWII surrender anniversary Euronews.com
- Japan's emperor expresses 'deep remorse' 80 years after WWII France 24
- How does Japan remember the end of WW2? BBC
- Abe Made the Perfect WWII Declaration. It Should Stand. Bloomberg.com
- South Korea criticises Japanese officials' visit to Tokyo war shrine Reuters
Column | Trump’s big boost to Russia and China – The Washington Post
- Column | Trump’s big boost to Russia and China The Washington Post
- China eyes Trump-Putin meeting, gauges West’s resolve on Ukraine Fox News
- China Can Help Trump and Putin End the War in Ukraine Foreign Policy
- Why Xi Is Closely Watching The Trump-Putin Summit In Alaska Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
- China Has Most To Gain From Trump-Putin Talks in Alaska: Analyst Newsweek
Democrats are fighting fire with fire over redistricting – but will democracy burn?
Trump’s plan to boost Republican House seats in the midterms through gerrymandering has provoked a reaction
The mid-decade redistricting war looming between Republicans and Democrats is exposing an idea that’s corroding American democracy – voters may not matter that much in determining who controls the US House.
After Texas Republicans unveiled a Donald Trump-fueled plan to pick up five additional US House seats last month, the California governor, Gavin Newsom, unveiled a plan on Thursday to throw out districts drawn by an independent commission and put in place new ones that would add five Democratic seats in response. Republicans are also expected to push ahead with plans to redraw maps in Ohio, Missouri, Florida and possibly Indiana, in their favor.
Continue reading...Texas legislature to end special session without passing new electoral maps
Governor Greg Abbott said he will immediately call another session as Democratic lawmakers signaled return to state
Texas lawmakers will adjourn their first special session without passing new congressional maps on Friday, though Governor Greg Abbott has said he will immediately call another session and Democratic lawmakers signaled they are likely to return to the state.
Abbott has pledged he will call consecutive special sessions until Democrats have returned. More than 50 Democrats left the state last month in order to deny a quorum in the legislature after Republicans announced plans to redraw the state’s congressional maps, at the request of Donald Trump, in order to gain five Republican seats.
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