Lebanon seeks peace, but Hezbollah needs to be convinced first
The Lebanese government go into peace talks with limited influence over the group.
Democrats were already scrambling in California’s governor race. Then Swalwell dropped out
California Democrats were already fretting about the race due to troubling polls and low name recognition
‘Little progress’ in stopping drug drones at HMP Manchester, watchdog says
Chief inspector for England and Wales says prison remains in ‘precarious state’ more than year after urgent notification
The Prison Service has made “very little progress” in enforcing a formal demand to stop drones from delivering drugs into one of its worst performing jails, a watchdog has concluded.
Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons for England and Wales, said HMP Manchester remained in a “precarious state” after a failure to fix broken windows and install security to stop contraband being delivered to gangs.
Continue reading...UK households to be urged to use more power this summer as renewables soar
Incentives to absorb surplus wind and solar energy could help balance the grid and lower bills
Households will be called on to boost their consumption of Great Britain’s record renewable energy this summer to help balance the power grid and lower energy bills.
Under the new plans, people could be encouraged to run dishwashers and washing machines or charge up their electric vehicles when there is more wind and solar power than the electricity grid needs.
Continue reading...Cultural venues in England to share £130m under Arts Everywhere scheme
Galleries, theatres, museums and libraries to benefit from largest cash injection into the arts for a decade
More than 100 cultural venues, museums, and libraries will share £130m extra funding as part of the largest cash injection into the arts for a decade, ministers have announced.
The investment forms part of the Arts Everywhere Fund, a £1.5bn package to support cultural infrastructure projects over the course of this parliament, which was announced by the culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, earlier this year. The fund aims to save more than 1,000 arts venues, museums, libraries and heritage buildings across England.
Continue reading...Starmer’s ‘corrosive complacency’ on defence has put UK in peril, says ex-Nato chief
George Robertson says Iran war should be wake-up call to address military underfunding in scathing remarks
The British government has shown a “corrosive complacency towards defence” and put the UK “in peril”, according to a government adviser, in fierce criticisms of Keir Starmer’s military policy.
The former Nato secretary general and author of the government’s strategic defence review, George Robertson, believes Starmer was “not willing to make the necessary investment”, the Financial Times has reported.
Continue reading...NSW promises more fast chargers and electric trucks in revamped EV policy
Premier Chris Minns says policy will give road users a ‘real alternative’ that’s cheaper than petrol
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Electric truck development and building more stations to charge them will be core pillars of a state’s revamped electric vehicle strategy designed to ease the pressure of rising fuel costs.
The New South Wales government unveiled its 2026 EV strategy on Tuesday in an effort to give confidence to motorists hesitant about switching from their increasingly pricey petrol cars.
Continue reading...Eric Swalwell to resign from Congress after sexual misconduct claims
Four women have accused the congressman and ex-candidate for California governor of misconduct ranging from sexual harassment to rape, which he has denied.
Hezbollah leader urges Lebanon’s government to pull out of Israel talks
Naim Qassem says planned talks in Washington, DC, are a ploy to pressure Hezbollah into laying down its weapons.
UN urges ‘all parties’ to respect navigation in Strait of Hormuz
UN Secretary-General is calling on ‘all parties’ to respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Energy prices rise despite Jones Act suspension by Trump
Shipping costs have increased by more than 10 percent in the past month due to the US-Israel war on Iran.
UN experts slam attacks on Gaza shelters, forced displacement in West Bank
Panel details incidents of violence by Israeli forces and settlers against displaced Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank.
New White House report has plans to fix US housing shortage of 10 million
A new report lays out a blueprint for how more home construction would help the middle class and the overall economy.
What’s behind Viktor Orban’s defeat in Hungary’s election?
Hungary's opposition has defeated the prime minister by a landslide.
North Korea tests cruise and anti-ship missiles from naval destroyer – Reuters
- North Korea tests cruise and anti-ship missiles from naval destroyer Reuters
- North Korea Tests New Weapons, Drawing Lessons from Iran War The New York Times
- North Korea fires missiles toward sea after ridiculing South’s hopes for better ties AP News
- North Korea launches a second projectile in 2 days, Seoul says Politico
- North Korea Holds 3 Days of Major Weapon Tests, Missile Launches USNI News
French cement giant Lafarge guilty of financing ISIL in Syria
Cement company Lafarge and eight of its ex-employees were found guilty of financing ISIL in a French court.
‘They are striking everywhere’ – Paramedics in Lebanon speak to BBC after Israeli strikes
BBC Middle East correspondent Hugo Bachega joins paramedics on duty in Nabatieh - a city that was once vibrant, but is now abandoned.
BBC joins paramedics on duty in Lebanon after Israeli strikes
BBC Middle East correspondent Hugo Bachega joins paramedics on duty in Nabatieh - a city that was once vibrant, but is now abandoned.
Hungary’s next PM would pick up if Putin calls and tell him to stop Ukraine war
Russia has offered "pragmatic" relations, but Péter Magyar says he will not call Vladimir Putin himself.
Hungary’s next PM would pick up if Putin calls and tell him to stop Ukraine war
Russia has offered "pragmatic" relations, but Péter Magyar says he will not call Vladimir Putin himself.