Sweden abolishes tax on plastic bags despite warnings usage could rise

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Admin

Levy that reduced usage by more than three-quarters in four years fell victim to rightwing culture wars, say critics

A tax that has reduced plastic bag consumption in Sweden by more than three-quarters in four years is being abolished on Friday, despite warnings that the move could lead to usage rising back towards previous levels.

Since the introduction of the 3 kroner (£0.21) tax in May 2020, plastic bag usage in the country has slumped. In 2019, before the levy was introduced, people in Sweden used an average of 74 plastic bags (15-50 micrometres thick) per person each year each. In 2023 that number had dropped to 17.

Political violence in US could potentially surge after elections, experts warn

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Admin

Trends in online chatter mirror patterns observed in the lead-up to 2020 elections and January 6 Capitol attack

There could be a potential surge in political violence following the upcoming US election, and pro-Trump rightwing vigilante “poll watchers” might surveil ballot drop boxes as Americans cast their votes, experts warned this week.

A new report from the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) highlighted alarming trends in online chatter, mirroring patterns observed in the lead-up to the 2020 election and the January 6 Capitol insurrection.

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“Genocide as Colonial Erasure”: U.N. Expert Francesca Albanese on Israel’s “Intent to Destroy” Gaza – Democracy Now!

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Admin

“Genocide as Colonial Erasure”: U.N. Expert Francesca Albanese on Israel’s “Intent to Destroy” Gaza Democracy Now!
UN should consider suspending Israel over ‘genocide’ against Palestinians, says special rapporteur The Guardian
At Columbia’s Barnard, UN expert with history of antisemitic remarks justifies Oct. 7 The Times of Israel
International legal responsibilities for preventing… Welcome to the United Nations
Opinion | Antisemitism Goes on a College Tour The Wall Street Journal

Stellantis reports slump in car sales as European demand falls

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Admin

Owner of Fiat, Chrysler and Peugeot brands pushes back against rules that force sale of more electric vehicles

Business live – latest updates

The owner of car brands including Fiat, Chrysler and Peugeot has reported a steep fall in sales, blaming production delays and flagging European demand.

Stellantis reported revenues on Thursday of €33bn (£27.6bn) for the July to September quarter, a drop of 27% compared with the same period a year earlier.

EU launches action against shopping website Temu over illegal products

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Admin

Formal investigation opens amid concerns Chinese shopping website is breaching Digital Services Act

The EU has launched formal proceedings against the Chinese shopping website Temu amid concerns it is failing to halt the sale of illegal products online.

A formal investigation was opened on Thursday with the European Commission citing concerns over the platform, which is a cut-price rival to Amazon.

Scientists rebuild the face of 400-year-old Polish ‘vampire’ Zosia – NBC News

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Admin

Hamas rejects proposal for 30-day Gaza ceasefire – Semafor

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Admin

Hamas rejects proposal for 30-day Gaza ceasefire Semafor
Israeli Strike in Iran Should Mark End of Tit For Tat Between Two Nations Department of Defense
U.S. Officials Try to Advance Israel’s Cease-Fire Talks With Hezbollah and Hamas The New York Times
Hamas rejects any hostage deal that doesn’t end war, despite mediators’ efforts The Times of Israel
Hamas rejects ceasefire proposal that would keep Israeli troops in Gaza Middle East Eye

Rachel Reeves may have to find more money to fix public services, says IFS

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Admin

Institute for Fiscal Studies says budget allows for rise in public service spending this year and next, but not thereafter

Rachel Reeves could be forced to find more money to fix public services after her budget made a start at reversing the “unrealistic” and irresponsible spending plans of the Conservatives, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has said.

Britain’s leading experts on the government’s finances said the chancellor’s tax measures on Wednesday had allowed for a substantial short-term increase in public service spending this year and next, but not thereafter.

Final recount confirms Georgia ruling party victory, says electoral commission

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Admin

EU and US demand investigation as opposition and pro-European president cry foul

Officials in Georgia said a partial recount confirmed the ruling party had won its disputed election, while a global research and data firm called the official results reported by the electoral commission “statistically impossible”.

The pro-western opposition on Thursday repeated its earlier assertions that the parliamentary vote had been “stolen” by the ruling Georgian Dream party and it refused to recognise the results, plunging the Caucasus country into uncertainty.

Lloyds shareholders could take £1bn hit over car finance crisis

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Admin

Analysts forecast bank will have to halve £2bn buyback plan, as ex-boss of City regulator blames watchdog for crisis

Lloyds Banking Group could give almost £1bn less to shareholders this year as a result of the car finance crisis, analysts have said, as the City regulator’s former boss blamed the watchdog for the chaos.

The estimated size of a multibillion-pound compensation bill for motor lenders has grown after a shock court of appeal ruling last Friday, which said customers could not consent to motor loans that involved “secret commission” payments to brokers and car dealerships.

Trail of destruction after Spanish floods

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Admin

At least 158 people were killed following flash floods in southern Spain.

Ed Davey: care sector will be ‘pushed to brink’ by national insurance hike and should be exempt

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Admin

Lib Dem leader says rise in employer’s contribution risks worsening NHS crisis

UK politics live – latest updates

The Liberal Democrats have called on the government to exempt the social care sector from the increase in national insurance in Labour’s budget, as an organisation representing many smaller care providers warned that the impact would be substantial.

In the biggest fiscal measures of Wednesday’s budget, raising an additional £25bn a year by the end of the parliament, Rachel Reeves announced an increase of 1.2 percentage points on the national insurance paid by employers, with the salary threshold at which this begins falling from £9,100 a year to £5,000.

Gaza paramedic realises woman killed in air attack is his mother

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Admin

‘This is my mother!’ A paramedic responding to an Israeli strike on a Camp in Gaza realises his mom was killed.

Why were the floods in Spain so bad? A visual guide

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Admin

Scores of people have died as country is hit by deadliest floods in decades

At least 150 people have died in Spain after torrential rains triggered the country’s deadliest floods in decades, unleashing a deluge of muddy water that turned village streets into rivers, destroyed homes and swept away bridges, railways tracks and cars.

An unknown number of people remain missing, while thousands of others are without electricity or phone service. The majority of those killed were in the coastal region of Valencia, where the state-run agency said that nearly a year’s worth of rain had fallen in just eight hours.

Budget 2024: what the UK papers said about Rachel Reeves’ statement

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Admin

Headlines featured numerous ‘nightmare’ allusions for budget delivered the day before Halloween

Politics live – latest updates

After Rachel Reeves‘ first budget as chancellor, which included £40bn in tax rises, newspaper headlines in the UK featured “nightmare” and “horror show” allusions as it came a day before Halloween.

The Financial Times’ front page featured a picture of smiling Reeves headlined “Reeves unveils £40bn budget tax rise”. The paper reported the chancellor’s aims of fixing public services, and the “broken” finances, saying businesses and the wealthy would “bear bulk” of the “heaviest fiscal burden” in a generation.

Business leaders keep quiet on Trump – what are they saying in private?

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Admin

Experts say top chief executives are treading a fine line to avoid any backlash in the event of a Trump victory

After the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, America’s business leaders came out strongly in their criticism of Donald Trump. Now – as the Harris campaign brands Trump a “fascist” and Trump threatens retribution against “the enemy within” – there appears to be a conspiracy of silence.

In fact, as the nation heads to the polls in an election that is too close to call, some of America’s most powerful chief executive appear to be cozying up to Trump again.