Southeast US under major storm warning as hurricane watches issued
A system of storms in the Caribbean is forecast to develop into Hurricane Helene by the middle of this week.
US plans to prohibit key Chinese software, hardware in connected vehicles
US is concerned about data collection on US drivers by connected Chinese vehicles and potential manipulation.
Necklace worn at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation could fetch £2m at auction
Some jewellery historians believe it features diamonds from infamous piece at centre of Marie Antoinette scandal
An antique diamond necklace worn at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation and may be linked to a French scandal involving Marie Antoinette could fetch as much as £2m at auction.
The necklace, made of 300 carats, was also worn to King George VI’s coronation by members of the Marquess of Anglesey family, who owned the diamonds until the 1960s when they sold them.
Continue reading...‘We just had to flee’: Fear and tension in Lebanon under deadly Israeli bombardment
Thousands have fled southern Lebanon while others say they are leaving the capital Beirut.
New military conflict between Israel and Hezbollah would follow 40 years of shadow war
Israeli intelligence services and the Lebanese militant group have engaged in clandestine operations across the globe since the 1980s
For more than 40 years, a bloody and violent shadow war has raged between Israeli intelligence services and the Lebanon-based militant Shia Islamist organisation Hezbollah.
One of the earliest defeats for Israel came in November 1982, five months after its forces had invaded Lebanon set on the destruction of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, then based there. When the PLO’s armed fighters were forced to leave Beirut, it appeared Israel had won a major victory.
Continue reading...An upset in Sri Lanka propels an outsider into power – The Economist
- An upset in Sri Lanka propels an outsider into power The Economist
- Marxist leader sworn in as president of country with 22M people Fox News
- Who is Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Sri Lanka’s new Marxist president? The Associated Press
- Sri Lankans throw out old guard in election upset: What nation’s new Marxist-leaning leader means for economy, IMF loans The Conversation Indonesia
- Anura Kumara Dissanayake: who is Sri Lanka’s new leftist president? The Guardian
Suspect described Trump ‘assassination attempt’ in pre-written note
The letter was dropped off at the home of a witness several months before the incident in Florida.
Spanish police arrest five people over fake Brad Pitt scam
Suspects accused of conning two women out of €325,000 by pretending to be Hollywood star online
Spanish police have arrested five people accused of scamming two women out of €325,000 (£271,000) by posing as the Hollywood star Brad Pitt online.
The suspects made contact with the women on an internet page for fans of the Oscar-winning actor and led them to believe “they had a sentimental relationship with him”, Spain’s Guardia civil police force said in a statement on Monday.
Continue reading...UN officials say ‘atrocities must end’ in Gaza as Israeli raids kill dozens
Heads of UN agencies say they cannot do their jobs 'in the face of overwhelming need and ongoing violence'.
Earth may have breached seven of nine planetary boundaries, health check shows – The Guardian
French interior minister vows to ‘restore order’ as critics warn of shift to right
Appointment of Bruno Retailleau is most striking example of reactionary right taking power, says Socialist leader
The French interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, has promised to “restore order” by cracking down on crime and immigration, as critics on the left complained that the new government had leaned too far towards the “reactionary right”.
On Monday, as Michel Barnier’s new cabinet began work after more than two months of unprecedented political crisis in France, Retailleau said: “The French people want more order – order in the streets, order at the borders.”
Continue reading...Rising death toll as Israel strikes civilian areas across Lebanon
Israel conducted airstrikes across Lebanon on alleged Hezbollah sites that were in crowded civilian areas.
Why is Israel intensifying its crackdown on media coverage?
Israel is expanding curbs on media freedom, with the Al Jazeera Media Network a main target.
Elon Musk to present Atlantic Council global citizen award to Giorgia Meloni
Choice of recipient and presenter causes anger at council as Italy’s far-right PM renews links with Trump allies
Elon Musk is to present Giorgia Meloni with the Atlantic Council’s global citizen award in New York, as Italy’s far-right prime minister resurrects links with allies of Donald Trump before the US presidential elections.
Meloni will receive the prize during a gala dinner on the sidelines of the UN general assembly in recognition of her “groundbreaking role as Italy’s first female prime minister, her strong support of the European Union and the transatlantic alliance, and her 2024 chairmanship of the Group of Seven”.
Continue reading...Police offer $50,000 reward for suspects in Alabama shooting
Police have described the attack as a "hit" that involved multiple gunmen who appeared to target a specific individual.
Cold military logic takes over in Israel-Hezbollah conflict
Israel’s campaign is a high-risk strategy, in which Hezbollah’s ability to respond cannot be ignored.
Lebanon Death Toll Tops 270 as Israel and Hezbollah Trade Heavy Fire: Live Updates – The New York Times
- Lebanon Death Toll Tops 270 as Israel and Hezbollah Trade Heavy Fire: Live Updates The New York Times
- Live updates: Israel strikes Hezbollah targets as conflict intensifies CNN
- Hundreds of Israeli air strikes pound Lebanon as hostilities escalate The Washington Post
- Israel issues evacuation warning for Lebanese civilians as it launches 'extensive' strikes NBC News
- Lebanon sees deadliest day of conflict since 2006 as Israeli strikes kill more than 270 The Associated Press
Trump tells supporters at campaign rally ‘if we win Pennsylvania, we win the whole thing’ – as it happened
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Kamala Harris has seen a surge in favorability among voters and is increasingly viewed as the candidate most likely to bring change, a NBC News poll released on Sunday found.
Among registered voters nationwide, the vice-president is ahead by five percentage points, with 49% support against Donald Trump’s 44%. She is also seen as the candidate more likely to bring “change”, a potentially significant finding given that other surveys have found many Americans believe the country is on the wrong track. Among respondents, 47% say Harris represents change, while 38% say the same of Trump.
Continue reading...Cutting winter fuel payments ‘right decision’, says Reeves, as No 10 says no change to council tax discount for single people – Labour conference live
Chancellor says £22bn gap in current spending budget and state pension rise meant she had to make decision on means-testing fuel payments
In interview this morning Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, defended her own decision to accept clothing donations worth £7,500 when she was in opposition.
Speaking on the Today programme, she said:
I can understand why people find it a little bit odd that politicians get support for things like buying clothes.
Now, when I was an opposition MP, when I was shadow chancellor of the exchequer, a friend of mine who I’ve known for years [Juliet Rosenfeld] – she’s a good personal friend – wanted to support me as shadow chancellor and the way she wanted to support me was to finance my office to be able to buy clothes for the campaign trail and for big events and speeches that I made as shadow chancellor.
It’s never something that I planned to do as a government minister, but it did help me in opposition.
It’s rightly the case that we don’t ask taxpayers to fund the bulk of the campaigning work and the research work that politicians do, but that does require, then, donations – from small donations, from party members and supporters, from larger contributions, from people who have been very successful in life and want to give something back.
We appreciate that support. It’s part of the reason why we are in government today, because we were able to do that research work, and we were able to do that campaigning.
Unite and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) have put forward motions which were due to be debated on Monday afternoon, with strong support expected from other unions.
Sources said unions were told late on Sunday that the debate is being moved to Wednesday morning.
Continue reading...Nearly 500 killed in Israeli strikes, Lebanon says, as fears of escalation grow – as it happened
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Israel’s defense minister Yoav Gallant has told the Israeli public they must “stay calm, disciplined and fully compliant with the home front command’s instructions” in the coming days as Israel expands its military operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Haaretz reports that Israel’s home front command issued emergency guidelines on Sunday for residents of the Jezreel Valley and northern regions which included shutting educational establoshments, closing beaches, and limiting public gatherings. Workplaces can stay in operation if they have designated protection areas.
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