How Trump’s nomination of Matt Gaetz unravelled in just eight days

Posted on by

In a Washington farce for the ages, the far-right Republican has withdrawn from consideration for US attorney general – how did it happen?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 says Russia fired experimental ballistic missile into Ukraine

Posted on by

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...

How John Prescott used humour and grit to unite old and New Labour

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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...

Defence firm Thales faces bribery and corruption investigation

Posted on by

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...

Poor nations may have to downgrade climate cash demands, ex-UN envoy says

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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...

Severed horse head found at Sicilian property, in echo of Godfather scene

Posted on by

Local authorities think head discovered at businessman’s property may be part of mafia intimidation tactic

A severed horse’s head has been discovered at the property of a Sicilian businessman, in what local authorities believe may be a mafia intimidation tactic reminiscent of a scene from The Godfather.

The animal’s head was left on the seat of a digger owned by the man, a construction contractor in Altofonte, near the Sicilian capital, Palermo. The remains of a pregnant cow and its calf were also found at the site.

Continue reading...

ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant over Gaza war; PM slams ‘antisemitism’ – The Times of Israel

Posted on by
  1. ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant over Gaza war; PM slams ‘antisemitism’  The Times of Israel
  2. ICC issued warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas leader. So what happens now?  USA TODAY
  3. ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant: Israel-Hamas War Live Updates  The New York Times
  4. Fetterman says 'F--- that' amid bipartisan backlash over arrest warrants targeting Israel's Netanyahu, Gallant  Fox News
  5. Dutch Foreign Minister's Trip to Israel Postponed  U.S. News & World Report
Posted in Uncategorized

Deus in machina: Swiss church installs AI-powered Jesus

Posted on by

Peter’s chapel in Lucerne swaps out its priest to set up a computer and cables in confessional booth

The small, unadorned church has long ranked as the oldest in the Swiss city of Lucerne. But Peter’s chapel has become synonymous with all that is new after it installed an artificial intelligence-powered Jesus capable of dialoguing in 100 different languages.

“It was really an experiment,” said Marco Schmid, a theologian with the church. “We wanted to see and understand how people react to an AI Jesus. What would they talk with him about? Would there be interest in talking to him? We’re probably pioneers in this.”

Continue reading...