- Israel preparing to shift pace, targets of Iran strikes if Trump announces truce Haaretz
- Israel Races to Hit Iran Hard While It Still Can, Officials Say The New York Times
- Israel Races to Pound Iran’s Arms Production Before War Ends WSJ
- Netanyahu says Iran is being 'decimated' but revolution requires 'ground component' CNBC
- Netanyahu orders 48-hour strike surge on Iran fearing Trump may halt war: Report Anadolu Ajansı
Sharks Are Testing Positive For Cocaine And Caffeine in The Bahamas – ScienceAlert
- Sharks Are Testing Positive For Cocaine And Caffeine in The Bahamas ScienceAlert
- Sharks are ingesting drugs in the Bahamas Science News
- Cocaine, caffeine and painkillers consumed by sharks in Bahamas, study finds CBS News
- Cocaine-fueled sharks are on the prowl in the Caribbean — scientists blame partying tourists New York Post
- Sharks testing positive for cocaine and painkillers are prowling in the Caribbean The Independent
Overseas political funding capped and crypto donations blocked in blow to Reform UK
Legislation subject to MPs’ approval but will be backdated due to urgency of threat to UK democracy, says minister
Keir Starmer is set to embark on a fundamental overhaul of the political finance system, starting with an emergency ban on cryptocurrency donations and £100,000 cap on donations from Britons living abroad in a blow to Reform UK.
In a hugely significant move, the government said it would bring in the annual cap as well as a moratorium on crypto donations from Wednesday as part of its new elections legislation.
Requiring third-party campaigners to declare donations all year round, not just election periods, and allowing funding only from permissible donors.
More stringent checks on the source of funds from political donors, bringing it more into line with know-your-customer checks in the financial services industry.
Preventing donations from shell companies by ensuring funding is from post-tax profits rather than revenue.
Requiring foreign consultant lobbyists to join the official register, from which they are currently exempt because they do not charge VAT.
Banning foreign-funded political adverts outright.
Continue reading...Bernie Sanders and AOC introduce bill to pause building of new datacenters
Lawmakers say moratorium on construction would buy time to create strong, federal guardrails for AI
Amid an unprecedented energy crisis and the rapid buildout of artificial intelligence infrastructure, progressive lawmakers have unveiled a new policy to place a moratorium on the construction of AI datacenters.
The policy, announced by Bernie Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democratic representative, on Wednesday morning, aims to ensure the AI boom protects the environment and communities, and benefits workers instead of harming them. A temporary ban, the lawmakers say, would give the US government time to create strong federal safeguards for AI, which is “affecting everything from our economy and wellbeing to our democracy, warfare and our kids’ education”.
Continue reading...Resident doctors in England to begin six-day strike after rejecting offer in pay dispute
British Medical Association blame government for longest proposed walkout so far, with NHS leaders warning it could cost £300m
Resident doctors in England will strike for six days after Easter after rejecting what they said was the final offer by the health secretary, Wes Streeting, to end the long-running pay and jobs dispute.
The British Medical Association blamed the government for its decision to undertake its longest stoppage so far, from 7am on Tuesday 7 April to 6.59 on Monday 13 April.
Continue reading...Iran rejects US ceasefire plan and submits its own amid push for talks
Tehran puts forward five-point counter-proposal and says war will end when it decides and on its terms
Iran dismissed a US ceasefire proposal on Wednesday and countered with a negotiation plan of its own as intermediaries sought to keep diplomatic channels between the warring countries open.
Iranian state TV quoted an anonymous official as saying Tehran had rejected the plan it had received via Pakistan, saying it would “end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met”, and until then would continue fighting across the region.
Continue reading...Mark Carney rebukes Air Canada chief over English-only crash message
The prime minister says the condolence video after the fatal LaGuardia crash revived anger over linguistic rights
Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, has said a decision by Air Canada’s top executive to post an English-only message of condolence after a deadly crash in New York showed a “lack of judgment, a lack of compassion”.
Amid growing calls for his resignation, the airline chief’s misstep has once again revived frustrations and fears over linguistic rights protections in the province of Quebec, where French is the only official language.
Continue reading...Trump pitches Iran peace plan but military buildups rarely veer to off-ramp
Tehran skeptical of president’s offer – and troop deployments for potential ground operations – suggest claim of imminent end to war not credible
Somewhere between the strait of Hormuz and the screens of Bloomberg terminals around the world, the standard laws of cause and effect appear to have been suspended for Donald Trump’s war in Iran.
Trump this week soft-launched his latest Iran peace talks – which he has said must be accepted or “we’ll just keep bombing our little hearts out” – with few details or proof that anyone in the Iranian regime was willing to listen to him. The ultimatum was described as “maximalist” by Iran and quickly derided as a non-starter by analysts and former government officials.
Continue reading...Italy’s tourism minister resigns under pressure from Meloni after referendum defeat – AP News
- Italy’s tourism minister resigns under pressure from Meloni after referendum defeat AP News
- Meloni’s referendum defeat shows the cost of the Trump factor | Riccardo Alcaro The Guardian
- Italy tourism minister quits in Meloni's post-referendum purge Reuters
- Italy’s opposition sees its chance to beat Meloni. But it needs a leader, and a plan. politico.eu
- Giorgia Meloni’s big setback in Italy The Economist
UN votes to describe slave trade as ‘gravest crime against humanity’
Members call for reparatory justice as landmark resolution aims for ‘political recognition at the highest level’
The United Nations has voted to describe the transatlantic chattel slave trade as the “gravest crime against humanity” and called for reparations as “a concrete step towards remedying historical wrongs”.
The landmark resolution passed on Wednesday was backed by the African Union (AU) and the Caribbean Community (Caricom). It had been proposed by Ghana’s president, John Dramani Mahama, who said: “Let it be recorded that when history beckoned, we did what was right for the memory of millions who suffered the indignity of slavery.”
Continue reading...Labour’s donations crackdown is a blow to Reform UK – and a highly political move
Reform’s ability to fundraise is hobbled in a move that draws attention to donations from an overseas billionaire
Reform UK are no doubt the biggest losers from the government’s emergency measures to overhaul political donations.
Labour MPs are absolutely delighted that No 10 is at last bringing in changes that will hobble Reform’s ability to raise money from its Thailand-based mega-donor, Christopher Harborne, at the same time as making the electoral system fairer in the eyes of the public.
Continue reading...McSweeney-Mandelson messages still exist despite theft of ex-chief of staff’s phone
Cabinet Office thought to have a number of exchanges between the friends, which are expected to be released within weeks
The Cabinet Office is understood to hold a number of text and email exchanges between Peter Mandelson and Morgan McSweeney, despite the theft of the former chief of staff’s phone in October last year.
The whereabouts of McSweeney’s messages with Mandelson has been under intense scrutiny since it was reported his work device was stolen last year shortly after Mandelson was sacked as US ambassador.
Continue reading...Italy’s tourism minister resigns amid turmoil from referendum failure
Giorgia Meloni made public request for Daniela Santanchè to quit in effort to restore credibility after voters rejected judicial reform
Italy’s embattled tourism minister has resigned, heeding a call to step down as the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, strives to restore credibility after a bruising defeat in a referendum that has thrown her far-right government into turmoil.
The resignation on Wednesday of Daniela Santanchè, a prominent and brash member of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, came after the prime minister took the unusual step of calling in a public statement for her to go.
Continue reading...Russia sought to blackmail US using intelligence to Iran, Zelenskiy says – Reuters
- Russia sought to blackmail US using intelligence to Iran, Zelenskiy says Reuters
- Zelensky accuses Russia of blackmailing US over military intelligence amid Iran war The Independent
- Putin offers to stop sharing intel with Iran if US cuts off Ukraine politico.eu
- Ex-US Envoy Herbst Says Putin Wants US Bogged Down in Iran, Not Peace in Ukraine Kyiv Post
- Russia Offered to Stop Helping Iran Target U.S. Troops in Exchange for Relief in Ukraine WSJ
The Revolutionary Guards are taking over Iran – The Economist
- The Revolutionary Guards are taking over Iran The Economist
- Iran’s hardline new leaders take control Financial Times
- Here are the still-alive Iranian leaders who could strike a U.S. peace deal Axios
- There is a sinister new power in Iran, and it’s not who the West thinks The Telegraph
- 8 Key Regime Figures Killed in U.S.-Israeli Strikes on Iran Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Governors forgo past response to high gasoline prices – Politico
- Governors forgo past response to high gasoline prices Politico
- Opinion | Slashing gas taxes is good politics but terrible policy The Washington Post
- Maryland House rejects Republican gas tax holiday amendment to state budget proposal WBAL-TV
- Rising prices at the pump reignites debate over gas tax holidays Baton Rouge Business Report
- States mull suspending gas tax to cut prices. Is yours next? Yahoo
UN votes to recognise slavery as ‘gravest crime against humanity’
The landmark resolution calls for an apology and contributions to a reparations fund, without specifying an amount.
Campaigners welcome Meta and YouTube’s defeat in landmark social media addiction trial
A woman has been awarded $6m in a verdict that could have implications for hundreds of other cases in the US.
Iran warns its ready to open new front in Yemen, close Bab al-Mandab Strait with Houthis – report – The Jerusalem Post
- Iran warns its ready to open new front in Yemen, close Bab al-Mandab Strait with Houthis - report The Jerusalem Post
- Iran Signals Threat to Bab al-Mandeb, Hints at Broader Escalation WSJ
- Iran threatens to expand its attacks to strategic Bab el-Mandab Strait The Times of Israel
- Opening Bab al-Mandeb Front Possible in Case of Enemy Provocation in Southern Iran: Source تسنیم
- Iran threatens key Red Sea strait if US launches ground operation The Hill
For the first time in more than 1,400 years, Church of England gets a woman leader – NPR
- For the first time in more than 1,400 years, Church of England gets a woman leader NPR
- Kate Middleton and Prince William Step Out for Historic Ceremony Installing First Female Archbishop of Canterbury People.com
- Sermon text: Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally preaches at her installation Episcopal News Service
- Kate Middleton's Latest Outfit Includes a Sweet Hidden Tribute to Prince William instyle.com
- Kate Middleton Nods to Her Royal Title in Stylish Look at Historic Ceremony Yahoo