Starmer faces opposition of Labour MPs and employers over immigration shift

Posted on by

Some backbenchers already thought PM had moved too far right on issue but aides say aim is to make system ‘fairer’

“We must never accept the Tory or media narrative that often scapegoats and demonises migrants,” Keir Starmer wrote in 2020. “Problems of low pay, housing and public services are not caused by migrants – they are caused by a failed economic model.”

Much has changed since Starmer was running to be leader of the Labour party – not least, that as prime minister he now has a broader electorate to keep on side.

Continue reading...

Brazil’s president seeks ‘indestructible’ links with China amid Trump trade war

Posted on by

Remark comes as Brazil, Colombia and Chile’s leaders fly to Beijing amid international uncertainty generated by Trump

The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has heralded his desire to build “indestructible” relations with China, as the leaders of three of Latin America’s biggest economies flew to Beijing against the backdrop of Donald Trump’s trade war and the profound international uncertainty his presidency has generated.

Lula touched down in China’s capital on Sunday for a four-day state visit, accompanied by 11 ministers, top politicians and a delegation of more than 150 business leaders.

Continue reading...

Starmer defends plans to curb net migration after backlash from MPs

Posted on by

Prime minister’s ‘island of strangers’ speech was likened to rhetoric of Enoch Powell

Keir Starmer has defended his plans to curb net migration after an angry backlash from MPs, businesses and industry to a speech in which he said the UK risked becoming an “island of strangers” without tough new policies.

The rhetoric was likened by some critics to the language of Enoch Powell, and the prime minister was accused of pandering to the populist right by insisting he intended to “take back control of our borders” and end a “squalid chapter” of rising inward migration.

Continue reading...

Kim Kardashian ‘in serious terror’ when robbers entered suite, court told

Posted on by

Hotel receptionist who was forced at gunpoint to lead thieves to reality TV star’s flat says she was ‘in state of hysteria’

A hotel receptionist who was held at gunpoint while Kim Kardashian was robbed in Paris in 2016 has told a court that the US influencer was in a state of “serious terror” when armed men entered her suite.

Abderrahmane Ouatiki, 48, who was handcuffed and forced at gunpoint to lead two armed robbers to Kardashian’s hotel room, said: “She was terrified, in a state of hysteria.”

Continue reading...

British man being held in Saudi Arabia jailed for 10 years, say lawyers

Posted on by

UK Foreign Office criticised by campaigners as Ahmed al-Doush given sentence for charges thought to relate to deleted tweet

A British national arrested in Saudi Arabia on charges that appear to relate to a deleted tweet has been jailed for 10 years, according to British lawyers and campaign groups representing the family.

Ahmed al-Doush was arrested in August and, while it is understood that UK Foreign Office officials were allowed into the Saudi court for his hearing, the British government has been criticised for a lack of action since his arrest.

Continue reading...

‘Just wildly illegal’: top Democrats push to censure Trump’s plan to accept Qatar jet

Posted on by

Four senators, including Cory Booker, say they will press for vote against president’s plan to take $400m gift from Qatar

Top Democrats in the US Senate are pushing for a vote on the floor of the chamber censuring Donald Trump’s reported plan to accept a $400m luxury jet from the royal family of Qatar for use as Air Force One and later as a fixture in the Trump’s personal presidential library.

Four Democratic members of the Senate foreign relations committee said on Monday that they would press for a vote later this week. They said that elected officials, including the president, were not allowed to accept large gifts from foreign governments unless authorized to do so by Congress.

Continue reading...

Liz Kendall to overhaul DWP’s assessment for disability benefits

Posted on by

Work and pensions secretary calls for groups to engage as she scraps capability assessment and overhauls Pip application

Liz Kendall is to begin an overhaul of the disability benefit assessment process long decried by campaigners as cruel, calling on groups to engage with the changes amid criticism of the government’s forthcoming welfare cuts.

The work and pensions secretary said on Monday she was beginning the process of abolishing the work capability assessment and overhauling the process to apply for the personal independence payment (Pip) – which can be paid to those in or out of work – to form a single assessment process.

Continue reading...

Madonna limited series directed by Shawn Levy in the works at Netflix

Posted on by

Queen of pop will partner with the streamer and Deadpool & Wolverine film-maker for a project on her life and music

A television series on Madonna is in development at Netflix – with participation from the trailblazing pop star.

The 66-year-old singer is partnering with Netflix and the Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy for a limited series about her life and music.

Continue reading...

Edi Rama on course to win fourth term as PM in Albania elections

Posted on by

Socialists set for clear victory with 30% of votes counted in poll seen as pivotal to country’s hopes of joining EU

Albania’s prime minister, Edi Rama, is poised for victory in general elections after preliminary results showed voters returning him to power for an unprecedented fourth term.

With 30% of the ballots counted, Rama’s party was leading the leftwing Socialists to a resounding win over Sali Berisha’s centre-right Democratic party in a poll viewed as pivotal for the Balkan country’s attempt to join the EU. The incumbent party had garnered 53% of the vote compared with 34% for its main opposition rival.

Continue reading...

Rodrigo Duterte wins Philippines mayoral election from jail cell in The Hague

Posted on by

Former president of nation re-elected as mayor of city of Davao despite his enforced absence

Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has been re-elected as mayor of the city of Davao, the family’s stronghold, despite being imprisoned thousands of miles away in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity.

With more than 60% of returns in, Duterte, 80, had an insurmountable lead of 405,000 votes – far ahead of his nearest competitor who trailed on 49,000, according to unofficial results from the election commission published by local media.

Continue reading...

Netanyahu must now work for support of US as Trump tires of Israel’s war in Gaza

Posted on by

The US president will not visit Israel on a trip to the Middle East and his envoy has reportedly said Netanyahu’s government is drawing out the war

Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff didn’t mince his words. In a meeting late on Sunday with former hostages and relatives of those still held in Gaza, he told them Israel is drawing out a war the US wants to end, local media reported.

On the eve of the release of Edan Alexander, the last living American being held by Hamas, Witkoff spelt out the gulf between his boss and the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

Continue reading...

India’s Modi says fighting ‘only paused’ in wake of conflict with Pakistan – Al Jazeera

Posted on by
  1. India’s Modi says fighting ‘only paused’ in wake of conflict with Pakistan  Al Jazeera
  2. India has only ‘paused’ military action against Pakistan, Modi says  The Guardian
  3. How global media covered PM’s Op Sindoor speech: India’s ‘new normal’ on terror  India Today
  4. If hit by terror, our reply won’t differentiate between government sponsor & masterminds: PM Modi  Times of India
  5. Modi Calls India Reaction ‘New Normal’ in Pakistan Relations  Bloomberg.com
Posted in Uncategorized

Kurdish militants PKK to disarm after decades of attacks against Turkey

Posted on by

Kurdistan Workers’ party says it will dissolve its guerrilla forces, months after call to do so from its jailed leader

A Kurdish militant group whose attacks and insurgency against Turkey have spanned more than four decades has declared it will disarm and disband, after a call from its jailed leader earlier this year.

The Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) announced the decision to dissolve its guerrilla forces, heeding a watershed announcement from Abdullah Öcalan three months ago.

Continue reading...

Newsom calls on California cities to ban homeless encampments ‘without delay’

Posted on by

Governor announces new ordinance to address ‘persistent’ camps as he intensifies crackdown on worsening crisis

Gavin Newsom has called on California cities and counties to clear and effectively ban encampments “without delay” as the governor intensifies a crackdown on homelessness in the state.

Newsom on Monday announced a new model ordinance to address “persistent” camps, in hopes of reducing the most visible signs of a worsening crisis, as well as $3.3bn in voter-approved funding to increase housing and drug treatment programs.

Continue reading...