Sudan refugees returning home face new ‘struggle for survival’: UN
Returnees find chronic need for investment with homes, water supplies, health provision, electricity 'heavily damaged'.
Olly Robbins’ account of Mandelson vetting piles pressure on Keir Starmer
Sacked civil servant tells select committee of ‘pressure’ to give clearance and ‘dismissive’ attitude to vetting
The civil servant sacked by Keir Starmer has given a devastating account of his government, saying Downing Street put huge pressure on the civil service to approve the appointment of Peter Mandelson as Washington ambassador despite the concerns of vetting officials.
Olly Robbins, the former top official at the Foreign Office, said No 10 took a “dismissive” attitude to vetting, and Mandelson was given access to the Foreign Office building and to “higher-classification briefings” before he was granted security clearance.
Continue reading...Trump announces Iran ceasefire extension but says blockade remains
US president says attacks will be held off until Iranian leaders 'come up with a unified proposal' to end war.
Germany, Italy block bid to suspend EU-Israel trade agreement
Germany and Italy have blocked the European Union from suspending the bloc’s association agreement with Israel.
The end of oil? As fuel shocks cascade, 53 nations gather to plan a fossil fuel phaseout – The Conversation
- The end of oil? As fuel shocks cascade, 53 nations gather to plan a fossil fuel phaseout The Conversation
- Colombia convenes climate ‘coalition of the willing’ to break global fossil fuel deadlock The Guardian
- Revealed: Scientists tell Colombia fossil-fuel transition summit to ‘halt new expansion’ Carbon Brief
- ‘A ray of hope’: EU governments gathering to plan way out of fossil fuel reliance Euronews.com
- From Transition to Transformation: A Faith-Based Call Beyond Fossil Fuels Grand Canyon Synod of the ELCA
Trump’s US Fed nominee Warsh vows independence, says he’s no ‘sock puppet’
Kevin Warsh's confirmation hearing shines spotlight on doubts over his independence as Trump pushes again for rate cuts.
Two CIA agents reportedly killed in car crash in Mexican state of Chihuahua
The presence of US officials in a law enforcement convoy raises questions about respect for Mexico's sovereignty.
Israeli rabbi who bulldozed Gaza honoured as torchbearer
Avraham Zarbiv, known for gleefully documenting his bulldozing of Gaza, was honoured on Israel’s “Independence Day”.
Video: Israeli soldiers sing national anthem on ruins of Lebanese town
Israeli soldiers were seen singing the Israeli national anthem on the ruins of a demolished town in southern Lebanon.
Photos show funerals in Lebanon for Hezbollah fighters, civilians killed before ceasefire – AP News
Itamar Ben-Gvir leaves Independence Day ceremony after being asked to change seats – The Jerusalem Post
- Itamar Ben-Gvir leaves Independence Day ceremony after being asked to change seats The Jerusalem Post
- Around two thousand people, Olim attend OU Jerusalem Independence Day event The Jerusalem Post
- Israel's Independence Day Ceremony would inspire even Pyongyang Haaretz
- Israelis have plenty of reasons for pessimism as their country turns 78 — but they choose hope anyway Jewish Insider
- Under the stars on Mount Herzl, Israel marks 78 years of independence JNS.org
EU to cut Venice Biennale funding over Russia’s participation, Kallas says – politico.eu
- EU to cut Venice Biennale funding over Russia’s participation, Kallas says politico.eu
- Ukraine appeals to Italy not to issue visas to Russian participants in Venice Biennale Yahoo
- At the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Latvia raises the issue of barring Russia from participating in the Venice Biennale and imposing sanctions on representatives closely linked to the Russian political regime who use culture to achieve Russia’s war aims Ārlietu ministrija
- Latvia leads call for Russia to be excluded from Venice Biennale ANSA
- How Pussy Riot Is Challenging Russia’s Return to the Venice Biennale Artnet News
Russian police raid book publisher accused of pushing ‘gay propaganda’
Raid is part of Moscow's hardline social conservatism and clampdown on political life.
From Epstein to sock puppets: Key takeaways from Kevin Warsh’s Fed confirmation hearing
He denied making a deal with Donald Trump on interest rates and backed "policy regime change" at the central bank.
Nicaragua’s president says Trump ‘mentally deranged’ over war on Iran
Nicaraguan President has criticised his US counterpart Donald Trump, over the war on Iran.
EU foreign ministers reject proposal to suspend association agreement with Israel
A part suspension was tabled by Ireland, Spain and Slovenia but did not receive enough backing from other member states
The EU remains split on imposing sanctions on Israel, despite some member states criticising the country over the plight of Gaza and violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, said proposals for a part suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement remained on the table but required states to shift their positions to come into force.
Continue reading...US forces detain Iran-linked tanker Tifani with ceasefire talks on edge
Ship, detained under US policy to stop all Tehran-linked vessels, is under sanctions for smuggling Iranian crude.
Japan lifts post-World War II ban on lethal weapons exports – The Washington Post
- Japan lifts post-World War II ban on lethal weapons exports The Washington Post
- ‘Stop sucking up to America’: Japan’s youth rises up to protect pacifist constitution The Guardian
- Japan loosens arms export rules in break from post-WW2 pacifism BBC
- Japan approves scrapping a ban on lethal weapons exports NPR
- Japan to Sell More Weapons Abroad, Breaking With Postwar Pacifism The New York Times
Bill banning people born after 2008 from buying tobacco clears UK parliament
Ministers hope tobacco and vapes bill, which will become law next week, will create a ‘smoke-free generation’
A bill banning anyone born after 2008 from buying tobacco in the UK has completed its progress through parliament in a move that ministers hope will create a “smoke-free generation”.
Under the tobacco and vapes bill anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will never be able to be legally sold tobacco across the UK, in an effort to save lives and reduce the burden on the NHS.
Continue reading...Prolific unregulated sperm donor loses UK legal fight to be named as child’s father
Robert Albon cannot be declared four-year-old’s father because he ran illegal sperm donation business, court rules
A prolific unregulated sperm donor described in the high court as a “highly dangerous man” has lost a legal fight to be named as the father of a child conceived using his sperm.
Robert Albon, who calls himself Joe Donor, was not entitled to be declared the father of a four-year-old child because he was running an illegal sperm donation business, Britain’s most senior family court judge ruled.
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