- What papal conclaves can teach democracies about voting Financial Times
- ‘This Moment Is Critical.’ Whither Progressive Christians After Pope Francis? The New York Times
- Pope Francis' 'Eyes Were Open' in His Final Moments, Doctor Says People.com
- Who are the cardinals selecting the next pope? NPR
- Cardinals prepare to battle over the future direction of the Catholic Church CNN
Trump administration kills landmark pollution settlement in majority-Black county
Decision will affect mostly low-income Alabama residents as DoJ dismisses agreement over untreated sewage as DEI
The Trump administration has killed a landmark civil rights settlement requiring Alabama to address raw sewage pollution in majority-Black, residential areas south-west of Montgomery, dismissing it as an “illegal” diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) agreement.
The decision could condemn low-income people in Lowndes county, about 40 miles south-west of Montgomery, to indefinitely continue living with no or failing sanitation infrastructure.
Continue reading...Wales and north of England face disability cuts ‘double whammy’
Policy in Practice analysis shows twice as many people affected in north-east, north-west and Wales than in London and south-east
A £5bn programme of disability benefits cuts planned by the UK government will disproportionately hit people living in Wales and northern England “entrenching deprivation”, according to new analysis.
The consultancy Policy in Practice has looked at how the proposed changes would affect individual regions and local authorities, and found the impact across the UK starkly uneven.
Continue reading...Zelenskiy Resists Trump Pressure After Russian Strike Hits Kyiv – Bloomberg.com
- Zelenskiy Resists Trump Pressure After Russian Strike Hits Kyiv Bloomberg.com
- Putin’s Easter ceasefire gimmick bodes ill for Trump’s peace deal The Economist
- Shoigu threatens Europe with nuclear weapons if Russia is faced with 'unfriendly actions'. The Kyiv Independent
- Putin tantalises Ukraine with a truce, but rejects ceasefire on the ground Al Jazeera
- Russia launches deadly aerial barrage on Ukraine as US pushes for peace plan CNN
The great collapse of US higher education has begun
Budget cuts, culture wars and enrolment crashes are pushing American universities off the edge.
US army suspends commander after Trump and Hegseth portraits flipped to face wall
Col Sheyla Baez Ramirez, Wisconsin training base’s first female commander, was suspended after the discovery
The army has suspended a Wisconsin training base’s first female commander after discovering portraits of Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth had been flipped around to face a wall.
The army has posted an undated statement on Fort McCoy’s website saying Col Sheyla Baez Ramirez has been suspended as the base’s garrison commander. The statement said the suspension isn’t related to any misconduct, but provided no other details, saying the matter was under review.
Continue reading...Could this be the end of the road for Tanzania’s great survivor?
Tundu Lissu has survived against the political odds over the years but has now been charged with treason.
Decision on next Pope ‘in God’s hands’ says mourner
New York family describe paying their respects to Pope Francis as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".
Decision on next Pope ‘in God’s hands’ says mourner
New York family describe paying their respects to Pope Francis as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".
What are the Ofcom measures to protect children online – and will they work?
Communications regulator has brought in more than 40 new rules for tech firms designed to keep under-18s safe
Ofcom announces new rules for tech firms to keep children safe online
The UK communications watchdog has set out more than 40 measures to keep children safe online under a landmark piece of legislation.
The Online Safety Act has a strong focus on protecting under-18s from harmful content and the codes of practice published by Ofcom on Thursday are a significant moment for regulation of the internet.
Continue reading...Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky meets South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa to counter Russia – BBC
- Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky meets South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa to counter Russia BBC
- Why Ukraine is losing the war for African opinion The Economist
- Can South Africa help Russia and Ukraine reach a peace deal? Al Jazeera
- Ukraine's Zelenskiy lands in South Africa for talks on ties, peace efforts Reuters
- Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 13, injure at least 97 over past day The Kyiv Independent
South Africa and Ukraine woo each other – as relationships with Trump turn sour
Volodymyr Zelensky ends an historic visit to South Africa to counter Russia's influence on the continent.
Farage claims doctors ‘massively over-diagnosing’ children with Send and mental health conditions – UK politics live
Reform UK leader claims he is ‘not being heartless, I’m being frank’ as he states rising number of diagnoses is a ‘massive problem’
John Swinney, the first minister of Scotland, is attending the funeral of the Pope on Saturday, the Scottish government has announced. In a statement Swinney said:
His Holiness Pope Francis was a voice for peace, tolerance and reconciliation who had a natural ability to connect with people of all ages, nationalities and beliefs.
On behalf of the people of Scotland, I am deeply honoured to attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome to express my sorrow, thanks and deep respect for the compassion, assurance and hope that he brought to so many.
Eating the Tories for breakfast. @Keir_Starmer
Continue reading...UK lifts sanctions on dozen Syrian government bodies
Sanctions on 12 Syrian entities removed, including the defence and interior ministries.
The cardinals’ ‘Becciu Test’ – The Pillar
Fathers of two Southport attack victims to run London Marathon
David Stancombe and Sergio Aguiar running in memory of daughters and to raise money for charity and school
The fathers of two of the girls who were stabbed to death in the Southport attack will be running the London Marathon in memory of their daughters.
David Stancombe and Sergio Aguiar said their daughters, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Aguiar, would be with them in spirit as they run the 26-mile course on Sunday.
Continue reading...Spain scraps €6.6m arms order from Israeli company after outcry
Coalition allies of Pedro Sánchez said the purchase of millions of bullets jeopardised country’s efforts to hold Israel to account over war in Gaza
Spain has scrapped a €6.6m (£5.7m) order for millions of bullets from an Israeli company after the junior partners in its coalition government denounced it as a “flagrant breach” of the alliance agreement that jeopardised the country’s sustained efforts to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza.
The country’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has been one of the most outspoken critics of Israel’s conduct during the war in Gaza, questioning whether it is following international humanitarian law and calling the number of Palestinian deaths “truly unbearable”.
Continue reading...Norfolk bird surveyors find Britain’s oldest known oystercatchers
Birds in their 40s wintering on mudflats of the Wash received leg rings in early 1980s
If your ears are assaulted by the shrill piping calls of an excitable bird on the east coast of England, fear not: it’s probably an oystercatcher experiencing a midlife crisis.
Two of the handsome black and white birds with bright red-orange bills have been found to be the oldest known oystercatchers ever recorded in Britain, clocking up at least 41 and 43 years on the mudflats of the Wash.
Continue reading...New Jersey coastal pine reserve engulfed by fast-moving wildfire
Blaze in Pine Barrens expected to grow before forecast rain as commercial building and some vehicles destroyed
A fast-moving wildfire engulfing part of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens has not resulted in any injuries, officials said on Wednesday, though it is expected to grow before forecast rain later this week.
The fire in southern New Jersey’s Lacey and Ocean townships has grown to more than 20 sq miles (52sq km) and could continue to burn for days, officials said. No one has been injured so far in the blaze, and 5,000 residents were evacuated but have been permitted to return home. A single commercial building and some vehicles were destroyed in the fire, while 12 structures remained threatened on Wednesday evening.
Continue reading...Teaching union faces legal challenge over new general secretary
Appointment of leftwinger with no teaching background is controversial in traditionally moderate NASUWT
The leadership of the NASUWT teaching union has been thrown into doubt after a legal challenge was issued over its appointment of a new general secretary.
The application for an injunction, filed with the courts on Wednesday, came after a potential candidate was barred from running for the post, denying members the chance to vote in an open election.
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