Putin warns West as Russia hits Ukraine with new missile
Russia's president says the attack on Dnipro is a response to Ukraine's use of long-range US and UK weaponry.
Slapps used to silence whistleblowers should be outlawed, says group of MPs
Cross-party group cites legal threats used to hide Post Office Horizon scandal and allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed
Excessive legal threats used to silence those who tried to expose the Post Office Horizon scandal and allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed should be outlawed, a cross-party group of MPs have said.
MPs raised a series of cases, documented by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, where media outlets and whistleblowers have been prevented from publishing material that they believed was in the public interest.
Continue reading...Israel pounds eastern and southern Lebanon as truce talks continue
US mediator Amos Hochstein said a ceasefire was 'within our grasp' during a visit to Lebanon.
Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro charged with plotting coup d’état
Police accuse 37 people of crimes including conspiracy and trying to tear down one of world’s largest democracies
The former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and some of his closest allies are among dozens of people formally accused by federal police of being part of a criminal conspiracy designed to obliterate Brazil’s democratic system through a rightwing coup d’état.
Federal police confirmed on Thursday that investigators had concluded their long-running investigation into what they called a coordinated attempt to “violently dismantle the constitutional state”.
Continue reading...How Trump’s nomination of Matt Gaetz unravelled in just eight days
In a Washington farce for the ages, the far-right Republican has withdrawn from consideration for US attorney general – how did it happen?
Donald Trump decided to nominate Matt Gaetz as attorney general last Wednesday, during a flight home from Washington, where the president-elect had visited Joe Biden at the White House. The pick proved as surprising as it was controversial. Just eight days later, after a week of relentless hullabaloo, Gaetz withdrew from contention.
It was a Washington farce for the ages. But how did it happen?
Continue reading...Putin: Russia tested intermediate-range missile on Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia tested a new intermediate-range missile in combat conditions on Ukraine.
Putin says Russia fired experimental ballistic missile into Ukraine
President says missile was in reply to Kyiv’s strikes in Russia with western missiles, and appears to directly threaten US and UK
Vladimir Putin has said Russia fired an experimental ballistic missile at a military site in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday morning, and that Moscow “had the right” to strike western countries that provided Kyiv with weapons used against Russian targets.
The Russian president, speaking during an unannounced televised address to the nation, appeared to directly threaten the US and UK, who earlier this week allowed Ukraine to fire western-made Atacms and Storm Shadow missiles into Russia.
Continue reading...White House ‘fundamentally rejects’ ICC warrants for Israeli leaders
The White House says it is working with Israel on a response to the ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.
The US is ramping up sanctions by targeting the last major Russian bank not yet blacklisted – Business Insider
- The US is ramping up sanctions by targeting the last major Russian bank not yet blacklisted Business Insider
- New Sanctions Against Gazprombank: Too Little, Too Late Forbes
- Japan to take all steps to ensure uninterrupted Sakhalin-2 LNG supply from Russia Reuters
- US Sanctions Gazprombank to Squeeze Russian Gas Exports Bloomberg
- Treasury imposes sanctions on Russian banks, financial officials The Hill
How John Prescott used humour and grit to unite old and New Labour
Prescott, from proud working-class stock, represented the part of Labour that Tony Blair knew he had to carry with him
The first time I met John Prescott, we were in a helicopter flying over the Thames Gateway where he and Tony Blair, the then prime minister, also on board, were announcing a multimillion-pound regeneration plan.
It was August 2003 and I was a young pool reporter for the Press Association, there to ask the politicians about their plans on behalf of the rest of the media. The flight was noisy and we all wore ear protectors, so conversation was limited.
Continue reading...Essex police drop Allison Pearson case after CPS advice
Police were advised there was no chance of conviction against journalist after hate crime investigation, Guardian understands
Essex police have dropped their hate crime investigation into Allison Pearson, the Daily Telegraph columnist visited by police after she wrongly accused people of colour of being antisemitic.
The decision followed advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) that there was no reasonable chance of a conviction, the Guardian understands.
Continue reading...Going bananas: Duct-taped fresh fruit sells for millions at Sotheby’s
A banana duct-taped to a wall is causing a stir in the art world again. It just sold for $6.2 million at Sotheby's.
US SEC chair Gensler to step down upon Trump takeover
US President-elect Donald Trump had said he would remove Gary Gensler as Securities and Exchange Commission chair.
Defence firm Thales faces bribery and corruption investigation
UK Serious Fraud Office and French equivalent ‘will pursue every avenue’ in allegations against Paris-based company
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is investigating suspected bribery and corruption at Thales Group, a multinational aerospace and defence electronics contractor.
The company, which is headquartered in Paris and has a UK subsidiary employing more than 7,000 staff, is known in defence circles for its varied businesses, which include making missiles and launchers, supplying sonar systems for the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarines and designing the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.
Continue reading...Senegal’s ruling Pastef party secures large majority in parliament
Win grants President Bassirou Diomaye Faye a clear mandate to carry out ambitious reforms.
Trump loyalist Matt Gaetz withdraws from US attorney general consideration
The former congressman said he had become a 'distraction' following renewed scrutiny of sexual misconduct allegations.
Poor nations may have to downgrade climate cash demands, ex-UN envoy says
Rich country budgets are stretched amid inflation, Covid and Ukraine war, Mary Robinson tells Cop29
Poor countries may have to compromise on demands for cash to tackle global heating, a former UN climate envoy has said, as UN talks entered their final hours in deadlock.
In comments that are likely to disappoint poorer countries at the Cop29 summit, Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland and twice a UN climate envoy, said rich country budgets were stretched amid inflation, Covid and conflicts including Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Continue reading...US moves to list giraffes under Endangered Species Act for first time
Climate crisis, habitat loss and poaching have reduced its numbers – but will Trump put the kibosh on protections?
They are the tallest animal to roam the Earth and have become an icon of children’s books, toys and awed wildlife documentaries. But giraffes are in decline, which has prompted the US government to list them as endangered for the first time.
Giraffes will be listed under the US Endangered Species Act, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed in a move that will cover five subspecies of the animal. The agency hopes the listing will crack down on the poaching of giraffes, as the US is a leading destination of rugs, pillowcases, boots, furniture and even Bible covers made from giraffe body parts.
Continue reading...Fake-alcohol deaths highlight SE Asia’s methanol problem
The deaths of five tourists after apparently drinking tainted drinks highlight the wider issue of bootleg alcohol.
Brazil police accuse ex-President Bolsonaro of involvement in coup attempt
Police accuse Jair Bolsonaro and several former officials of involvement in plot after 2022 election defeat.