What Trump’s tariffs mean for Shein and Temu shoppers
US President Trump is ending a duty-free loophole used by Shein and Temu, signalling major changes to online retail.
Connected and Alone
We’re constantly online, but more disconnected than ever.
Starmer declines to rule out election pledge-breaking tax rises in budget after claim Treasury must fill £40bn deficit – as it happened
Prime minister defends government’s handling of economy but will not give assurances over not raising income tax, employee NI or VAT
Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, has urged Keir Starmer to call Donald Trump to encourage him to use his influence to block Israel’s plans for a “full occupation” of Gaza.
In a statement, Davey said:
[Israeli PM Benjamin] Netanyahu’s latest proposals for the occupation of all of Gaza are utterly horrifying.
If realised, they will only wreak yet more destruction on Gazans - while gravely endangering the lives of the hostages still held in Hamas’ captivity.
I see NIESR is talking today about a £41.2bn hole in the UK public finances
Two things are newsworthy:
Continue reading...US destruction of contraceptives denies 1.4m African women and girls lifesaving care, NGO says
Incineration of $9.7m of contraceptives to lead to 174,000 unintended pregnancies and 56,000 unsafe abortions, IPPF says
A decision by the US government to incinerate more than $9.7m (£7.3m) of contraceptives is projected to result in 174,000 unintended pregnancies and 56,000 unsafe abortions in five African countries.
More than three-quarters of the contraceptives (77%) were destined for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Mali, according to the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), an NGO global healthcare provider and advocate of sexual and reproductive rights.
Continue reading...Shares in European drug companies hit four-month low as Trump tariffs loom
President repeats threat to bring in levies ‘within next week or so’ in attempt to get companies to move production to US
Shares in European pharmaceutical companies have sunk to a four-month low, after Donald Trump repeated his threats to introduce tariffs on drug imports “within the next week or so”.
Europe’s Stoxx Health Care index slid by 2.8% on Wednesday, falling to its lowest level since mid-April, shortly after the US president’s initial “liberation day” tariff announcements.
Continue reading...Ukrainian Drone Battalion Forms Fire Wall Against Russian Advance – Kyiv Post
- Ukrainian Drone Battalion Forms Fire Wall Against Russian Advance Kyiv Post
- On Ukraine’s front lines the kill zone is getting deeper The Economist
- Fibre-optic drones reshape Ukraine’s technological war Lowy Institute
- Ukraine bets big on interceptor drones as low-cost air shield Reuters
- Ukraine’s killer interceptors take aim at Russia’s Shahed drones politico.eu
White House says Apple to invest billions in US manufacturing
The White House is expected to announce the new deal as early as Wednesday.
New Paper Finds Something Very Weird About the Shroud of Turin – yahoo.com
- New Paper Finds Something Very Weird About the Shroud of Turin yahoo.com
- Jesus Probably Wasn’t Wrapped in the Shroud of Turin, 3D Analysis Says vice.com
- Image on The Shroud of Turin May Not Belong to a Real Human ScienceAlert
- Shroud of Turin center disputes new study that challenges authenticity of burial cloth catholicnewsagency.com
Four rare Barbary lion cubs born at Czech zoo
Lion that once roamed northern Africa has been extinct in the wild since 1960s
Four Barbary lion cubs were born recently in a Czech zoo, a vital contribution for the small surviving population of a rare lion that is extinct in the wild.
The three females and one male were seen playing in their outdoor enclosure at Dvůr Králové safari park on Wednesday under the watchful eye of their parents, Khalila and Bart.
Continue reading...Labour accused of using Jimmy Savile’s name to ‘bait’ Nigel Farage
Lawyer for abuse survivors criticises ministers for using late TV presenter’s ‘toxic’ name for political point scoring
Labour’s use of Jimmy Savile’s “toxic” name appeared to be an attempt to “deliberately bait” Nigel Farage and would distress survivors of child sexual abuse, lawyers for victims of the late TV presenter has said.
Alan Collins, the head of the abuse team at Hugh James solicitors, said it was “concerning” to see Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, and others use Savile’s name to try to “score points over political opponents”.
Continue reading...Israeli settlers block Gaza-bound aid trucks
Israeli settlers attacked an aid convoy for the second time in days, delaying 30 trucks from Jordan on their way to Gaza
Ghana’s defence, environment ministers among 8 killed in helicopter crash – Al Jazeera
- Ghana’s defence, environment ministers among 8 killed in helicopter crash Al Jazeera
- Two Ghana government ministers among 8 killed in helicopter crash CNN
- Ghana helicopter crash kills ministers of defence and environment BBC
- Ghana Defense, Environment Ministers Die in Helicopter Crash Bloomberg
- Helicopter crash in Ghana: 8 killed; defence, environment ministers among dead Times of India
Japan closes in on biggest ever defense export with frigate selection – Defense News
- Japan closes in on biggest ever defense export with frigate selection Defense News
- Japan's new stealth warship just won over a big buyer, in a historic first for its post-WWII weapons industry Business Insider
- Japanese defense minister welcomes Australian frigate decision, but analysts warn risks remain Breaking Defense
- Australia's warship selection signals Japanese defense industry's arrival The Japan Times
- Australia Selects Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy to Build Frigates The Wall Street Journal
Birmingham airport closes runway after emergency landing by light aircraft
All flights temporarily grounded as three people are treated at the scene, one with minor injuries
Birmingham airport has temporarily closed its runway and grounded all flights after a light aircraft made an emergency landing.
Three people from the aircraft were treated at the scene, one of whom suffered minor injuries in the incident, which occurred at about 1.40pm on Wednesday, West Midlands police said. West Midlands ambulance service also attended the scene.
Continue reading...Wildfires and heatwaves grip southern Europe as evacuations ordered
Deadly blaze in France and mass evacuations in Spain and Portugal as extreme temperatures fuel fire risk
Trump-Modi ties hit rock bottom with new tariffs on India over Russian oil
Trump's tariff threats and social media outbursts have raised concerns about the state of India-US relations.
China Turns to A.I. in Information Warfare – The New York Times
China Turns to A.I. in Information Warfare The New York TimesView Full Coverage on Google News
Greetings from Gujarat, India, where a banyan tree is a place for rest, prayers and play – NPR
Slovenia introduces ban on imports from Israeli-occupied territories – Reuters
- Slovenia introduces ban on imports from Israeli-occupied territories Reuters
- Why is Slovenia the only EU country to ban arms trade with Israel? Euronews.com
- In symbolic move, Slovenia bans West Bank settlement imports over war in Gaza The Times of Israel
- Slovenia becomes first EU country to impose arms embargo on Israel Al Jazeera
- Hundreds Rally in Slovenia to Protest Genocide in Gaza Menafn
Ghana’s defence, environment ministers among 8 killed in helicopter crash
Several other government officials among the victims of the crash that occurred Wednesday morning.