As democracy in Georgia collapses, Russia, China and Iran see an opening – CNN
- As democracy in Georgia collapses, Russia, China and Iran see an opening CNN
- A Georgian Dream Deferred The Dispatch
- EU Eyes Sanctions And Visa Moves Over Georgia's Political Crackdown Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
- Georgia's visa-free regime with EU at risk over 'backsliding' concerns Euronews.com
- Relationship with the EU, with Germany, is in a deep crisis - German Ambassador BM.GE
Sick pay changes could benefit UK firms by up to £2bn, TUC says
Exclusive: Analysis shows covering part of salaries from first day off can boost productivity and employee retention
Changes to sick pay to cover part of workers’ salaries from the first day off could end up benefiting British businesses by as much as £2bn, according to analysis commissioned by the UK’s main union body.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC), which is pushing for the government to stick with its plans for workers’ rights, said modelling showed businesses would gain benefits of £2.4bn thanks to productivity boosts, while facing direct costs of £425m to pay for extra sick days.
Continue reading...Dismay after Southampton airport gets permission to cut down cemetery trees
Campaigners attack council for backing plan to fell trees in burial site near runway to allow for increase in passengers
A Labour-led city council has been criticised for backing an airport’s scheme to cut down “majestic” trees in a historic, wildlife-rich cemetery close to a runway.
Environmental campaigners, people whose loved ones were laid to rest in the cemetery and opposition politicians have expressed dismay that the trees in South Stoneham Cemetery in Southampton are to be lost.
Continue reading...Russia launches ‘massive’ drone bombardment on Zelensky’s hometown, Ukrainian officials say – CNN
- Russia launches ‘massive’ drone bombardment on Zelensky’s hometown, Ukrainian officials say CNN
- The first casualty is sleep as the bombs and missiles fall on Kyiv The Washington Post
- Russia attacks Ukraine with hundreds of drones, energy infrastructure hit Reuters
- Sleeplessness, death, destruction: Russian attacks torment Kyiv Al Jazeera
- Putin Snubs Trump by Unleashing Deadly Strike After President’s Ultimatum The Daily Beast
‘Catalyst for progress’: Nvidia CEO hails China’s AI at Beijing expo
An estimated 650 companies from 60 countries have gathered at the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing.
Southern Water issues hosepipe ban for 1m people in Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Announcement takes number of people hit by restrictions across England to about 8.5 million
Southern Water has become the fourth English utility to issue a hosepipe ban, taking the number of people hit by such restrictions to about 8.5 million.
The latest ban, which comes into force for about 1 million residents across large swathes of Hampshire and all of the Isle of Wight from 9am on Monday, comes after Yorkshire, Thames and South East Water announced similar measures.
Continue reading...No automatic right to resettlement for Afghans in data leak, says Healey
Defence secretary says it was ‘never the plan to bring everyone’ on dataset to UK, while Ben Wallace denies Tories sought superinjunction
The defence secretary, John Healey, has said there is no automatic right to resettlement for Afghans named in a leaked Ministry of Defence database, as the former Conservative ministers Ben Wallace and Johnny Mercer clashed over whether “thousands of people with little or tenuous links” had been admitted to Britain.
The controversy revolves around a dataset containing the personal information of nearly 19,000 people who applied for the Afghan relocations and assistance policy (Arap) that was released “in error” in February 2022 by a British defence official.
Continue reading...Ceasefire collapses in Syria’s Suwayda as Israel threatens escalation
Sectarian violence in the predominantly Druze city has resumed in force with deaths reported in the dozens.
Trump threatens to impose drug and chip tariffs as soon as 1 August
US president talks of low tariff to give pharmaceutical firms a year or so to build, and then making it ‘very high’
Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on pharmaceutical products and semiconductors as soon as 1 August, the latest deadline for the introduction of his “reciprocal” levies on individual countries.
The US president told reporters late on Tuesday the taxes on drug imports could be announced “probably at the end of the month, and we’re going to start off with a low tariff and give the pharmaceutical companies a year or so to build, and then we’re going to make it a very high tariff”.
Continue reading...As Iran Deports a Million Afghans, ‘Where Do We Even Go?’ – The New York Times
- As Iran Deports a Million Afghans, ‘Where Do We Even Go?’ The New York Times
- The scale of Afghans returning from Iran is overwhelming, says UN official AP News
- The Take: Why are Afghan refugees being sent back to Taliban rule? Al Jazeera
- Iran expels half a million Afghans in 16-day stretch since recent conflict with Israel, UN says CNN
- One of history’s biggest expulsions: Iran is throwing out 4m Afghans The Times
Thousands of Nigerians attend funeral of ex-President Buhari
Thousands of Nigerians attended the funeral procession of former President Muhammadu Buhari, in his hometown of Dauru.
Thousands of Afghans secretly moved to Britain after data leak – CNN
Indonesia’s Prabowo hails ‘new era’ in US ties after Trump trade deal
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto welcomes deal to lower tariff rate from 32 to 19 percent.
Cuban minister resigns after saying ‘there are no beggars in Cuba’ – BBC
- Cuban minister resigns after saying 'there are no beggars in Cuba' BBC
- Cuban labor minister resigns after her suggestion beggars were pretending sparked backlash AP News
- Cuban minister resigns after suggesting beggars are pretending Al Jazeera
- Cuban minister under pressure for saying country has no beggars Reuters
- Cuban minister resigns after downplaying poverty Chronicle-Tribune
EU accused of ‘cruel and unlawful betrayal’ of Palestinians over failure to confront Israel
Stinging rebuke from Amnesty International follows EU ministers declining to endorse any sanctions over Gaza war
The EU has been accused of a “cruel and unlawful betrayal” of Palestinians and European values after failing to take action to impose sanctions on Israel over the war in Gaza.
The stinging rebuke from Amnesty International, echoed by other human rights organisations, came after EU ministers meeting in Brussels on Tuesday declined to endorse any measures to sanction Israel over the brutal war in Gaza and endemic violence in the West Bank.
Continue reading...Colombia deploys armed drones in escalating fight against drug gangs – NPR
Cambodia deploys rodents for life-saving mine detection operations
Giant pouched rats expertly detect TNT, helping clear mines and remnants from Cambodia's conflict-ridden terrain.
Death of Australia’s ‘Outback Killer’ leaves whereabouts of British backpacker’s body unknown – AP News
- Death of Australia's 'Outback Killer' leaves whereabouts of British backpacker's body unknown AP News
- ‘Outback Killer’ Bradley John Murdoch dies at 67, leaving mystery of Peter Falconio’s body unsolved CNN
- Peter Falconio's family express 'relief' at Bradley Murdoch death BBC
- First cop on scene of Falconio case recalls 'bizarre' tip-off from truckie Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- Bradley Murdoch, man who murdered British backpacker Peter Falconio, dies aged 67 The Guardian
Mystery buildings in Rafah raise concerns
Some buildings remain standing in Rafah despite widespread destruction. Were they left intentionally, and if so, why?