- China’s Communist Party Now Has 100 Million Members. Many Are in It for the Paycheck. WSJ
- China Touts 100 Million CPC Members, Amit Malviya Reacts: ‘BJP Bigger With 140 Million’ News18
- A century’s journey proves China’s choice PressReader
- Chinese military members celebrate 104th founding anniversary of CPC China's Ministry of National Defense
- China’s Communist Party Inches Past 100 Million-Member Milestone Bloomberg
Is It safe to travel? Americans react to the US ‘worldwide caution’ alert – BBC
- Is It safe to travel? Americans react to the US 'worldwide caution' alert BBC
- What Cruise Passengers Should Know About U.S. State Department Advisories and the Global Travel Warning Travel + Leisure
- From Haiti to Iran: The countries the Trump administration recommends US citizens avoid Diario AS
- Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia: How Global Caution Alerts are Impacting US Travelers and What You Need to Know Travel And Tour World
- Travel Just Got Riskier: How To Stay Safe In A Dangerous World Forbes
UK’s sale of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel is lawful, high court rules
Rights group loses challenge despite government accepting they could be used in breach of humanitarian law in Gaza
Britain’s decision to allow the export of F-35 fighter jet components to Israel, despite accepting they could be used in breach of international humanitarian law in Gaza, was lawful, London’s high court has ruled.
The ruling on Monday, a huge relief for government ministers, brings to a close a 20-month battle to ban all UK arms sales to Israel, including the UK sale of F-35 parts to a global spares pool that Israel could access. The case was brought by Global Legal Action Network and the human rights group Al-Haq, in conjunction with Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Oxfam.
Continue reading...DWP says 150,000 more people pushed into poverty by benefit cuts, not 250,000 as forecast said before U-turn – UK politics live
Analysis says, allowing for concessions to welfare bill announced last week, cuts will still push people into relative poverty
The Department for Work and Pensions has just published an analysis saying that, allowing for the concesssions announced last week, the welfare cuts will still push an extra 150,000 people into relative poverty.
Here is the key chart from the document.
Continue reading...UK economic growth confirmed at 0.7% in first quarter; Lincolnshire oil refinery calls in administrators – business live
UK-US trade deal kicks in today, lowering tariffs for British carmakers and aerospace sector
UK households hit by squeeze on living standards despite fastest growth in G7
Karim Haji, global and UK head of financial services at KPMG, said:
May’s uptick in mortgage approvals bucks the downward trend we’ve seen throughout the year so far. The gradual easing of interest rates could be helping to boost confidence and demand amongst mortgage borrowers.
The cost of living remains high, but a drop in consumer borrowing in May signals that rising incomes are starting to feed through to the cost of day-to-day expenses.
It is incredibly positive news to see an increased number of mortgage applications approved. It is one of the loudest signals of them all regarding consumer affordability, and it is also a massive vote of confidence from lenders in the longer-term prospects of the economy too.
As we head into the summer months, we have witnessed on average the number of viewings per property available see an uplift of around 30% compared to the month previous. On top of this, we have also seen the UK Government make a pledge to create a National Housing Bank which could bring significant investment to help build 500,000 new homes, enabling a potential greater degree of flexibility for those who aspire to buy.
Continue reading...UTA Drops Bob Vylan After “Death To The IDF” Chant During Scandal-Hit Glastonbury Set – Deadline
- UTA Drops Bob Vylan After “Death To The IDF” Chant During Scandal-Hit Glastonbury Set Deadline
- Who are Bob Vylan? - a profile of the controversial Glastonbury act BBC
- Manchester Jewish community urges cancellation of Bob Vylan show after 'Death to the IDF' chants The Times of Israel
- UK punk-rap duo sparks outrage with anti-Israel chants at major music festival Fox News
- Starmer and Glastonbury Condemn Bob Vylan’s Chant Against Israel’s Military The New York Times
Thom Tillis won’t seek re-election after clash with Trump over ‘big beautiful bill’ | First Thing
President insulted Republican senator and threatened to back his primary challenger after he opposed domestic bill. Plus, how a generation of ‘virgins’ is leading America’s next sexual revolution
Good morning.
Thom Tillis announced yesterday that he would not run for re-election to the US Senate next year, one day after the North Carolina Republican’s vote against Donald Trump’s signature piece of domestic legislation prompted the president to launch a barrage of threats and insults – as well as promise to support a primary challenger to defeat him in their party’s 2026 primary.
What is the latest on Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’? The US Senate opened debate on the sprawling domestic policy legislation yesterday. Formal debate on the measure began after Democrats forced Senate clerks to read the entire 940-page bill aloud, to underscore their argument that the public is largely unaware of what the package actually contains.
Follow live updates here.
What’s happening with the planned ceasefire talks? Israeli officials are due in Washington for a new ceasefire push by the US, which is fuelling the war by providing weapons to the Israeli military. Israel’s strategic affairs minister, Ron Dermer, is expected at the White House later today for talks on Iran and Gaza, an Israeli official said.
Continue reading...Key witness in ex-Peru mayor’s corruption case found dead
José Miguel Castro was collaborating with prosecutors in the corruption case against Susana Villarán.
‘A little bit melting’: Intense heat across Europe
A new heat record for June of 46C was set in Spain this weekend as Europe experiences an intense heatwave.
UN expert urges criminalizing fossil fuel disinformation, banning lobbying | Climate crisis – The Guardian
- UN expert urges criminalizing fossil fuel disinformation, banning lobbying | Climate crisis The Guardian
- UN Expert Calls for 'Defossilization' of World Economy, Criminal Penalties for Big Oil Climate Disinformation Common Dreams
- CIEL Welcomes Landmark UN Human Rights Report: The Imperative of Defossilizing Our Economies Center for International Environmental Law | CIEL
- UN Human Rights Council debates the need to end the use of fossil fuels De Último Minuto
- Human rights can be a ‘strong lever for progress’ in climate change, says UN rights chief UN News
Lindsey oil refinery owner Prax falls into administration as ministers urged to intervene
Fears over fuel supplies and jobs as Lincolnshire facility handles nearly a tenth of total UK capacity
One of the UK’s largest oil refineries – and the only big one owned by a British company – has collapsed into administration, prompting calls for the government to intervene urgently to protect fuel supplies and jobs.
State Oil, which owns the Prax Lindsey refinery in north Lincolnshire, called in administrators on Monday, Sky News reported first, prompting concern from the trade union Unite.
Continue reading...Wimbledon opening day hottest on record as temperatures soar
Temperatures set to climb to 34C across much of England in one of hottest June days ever
This year’s Wimbledon tennis championships have begun with the hottest opening day on record, according to the Met Office.
Temperatures reached a provisional high of 29.7C (85.5F) at Kew Gardens in west London on Monday afternoon, surpassing the previous record of 29.3C set in June 2001.
Continue reading...Nato’s summit cannot disguise Ukraine’s plight – Financial Times
- Nato’s summit cannot disguise Ukraine’s plight Financial Times
- ‘Dear Donald.’ Trump posts fawning private text from NATO chief on social media AP News
- NATO’s “Brain Death” in The Hague CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies
- Nato agrees spike in defence spending and stresses 'ironclad' security guarantee BBC
- President Trump’s Leadership, Vision Drives NATO Breakthrough The White House (.gov)
Russia has taken first village in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk, state media claims
If confirmed, advance of Russian forces into region could be psychological blow for Kyiv
Russian forces have captured a village in the Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk for the first time in their three-year offensive, Russian state media and pro-war bloggers have claimed, marking a potential psychological blow to Ukraine.
There was no immediate confirmation from Ukrainian officials or from the Russian defence ministry.
Continue reading...Ukrainian Interceptor Drone Reaches 11km Altitude to Target High-Flying Russian UAVs – Kyiv Post
- Ukrainian Interceptor Drone Reaches 11km Altitude to Target High-Flying Russian UAVs Kyiv Post
- Russia Is Investing in Its Unmanned Capabilities and Plans to Increase the Number of Drones Used in Strikes Against Our State; We Are Preparing Our Countermeasures – Address by the President — Official website of the President of Ukraine Офіційне інтернет-представництво Президента України
- Zelenskyy: Russia plans to deploy higher number of drones in attacks, Ukraine prepares to respond Українська правда
- Shahed Drone Hunters: Ukraine Produces Large Batch of Interceptors Мілітарний
- Are interceptor drones Ukraine's best option against Russia? dw.com
What to Know About the Heat Wave in Europe – The New York Times
- What to Know About the Heat Wave in Europe The New York Times
- Spain records highs of 46C and France under alert as Europe swelters in heatwave The Guardian
- Temperatures reach 46C in Spain as Europe heatwave continues BBC
- Severe heat wave hits southern Europe and raises wildfire risks NBC News
- Europe swelters as early summer heat breaks records DW
Sleeper cells and threat warnings: how the US-Iran conflict is spinning up fear
Experts stress that a weakened Iran isn’t in a position to attack on US soil and doesn’t want to invite Trump’s wrath
As the war between Iran and Israel intensified, teasing the eventual involvement of the US military, American security agencies began to warn of a looming threat of Tehran-backed “sleeper cells” known to be active stateside that could be called in for retaliatory attacks.
But as the B-2 bombers struck nuclear sites across Iran and the Iranian military responded with a missile barrage on US bases in the region, a ceasefire took shape. In the end, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – Iran’s elite military and intelligence branch, wielding a global web of terrorist groups and agents acting on its behalf – didn’t appear to sponsor or carry out any covert operations inside the US, nor has it since.
Continue reading...Prison treatment of Indigenous teenager Cleveland Dodd was cruel, lawyer tells inquest
The 16-year-old was subject to ‘institutional abuse’ by WA justice department staff, coroner in Perth hears
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An Indigenous teenager who fatally self-harmed in detention was subjected to “cruel and inhumane” treatment, a lawyer for his family said after the inquest into his death resumed.
Cleveland Dodd was found unresponsive inside a cell in Unit 18, a youth wing of the high-security Casuarina prison facility for adults in Perth, in the early hours of 12 October 2023.
Continue reading...Netanyahu says ‘opportunities have opened up’ to free hostages, as Trump demands Gaza ‘deal’ – CNN
- Netanyahu says ‘opportunities have opened up’ to free hostages, as Trump demands Gaza ‘deal’ CNN
- PM: Iran war opened broad regional possibilities, ‘first we need to free the hostages’ The Times of Israel
- Israeli military considers new Gaza operation strategy, ceasefire stalls The Jerusalem Post
- Netanyahu sees Iran outcome opening door to Gaza hostage return Reuters
- Netanyahu: Victory over Iran opened window for ‘broad’ regional move JNS.org
Syrian forces massacred 1,500 Alawites. The chain of command led to Damascus. – Reuters
- Syrian forces massacred 1,500 Alawites. The chain of command led to Damascus. Reuters
- How Reuters counted the dead in the March killings of Syrian Alawites Yahoo
- How Syrian Government Forces and Factions Are Linked to the Mass Killings of Alawites U.S. News & World Report
- "Things Got out of Control": Will the Victims of Syria’s Coastal Massacres See Justice? Drop Site News
- Muslim Militants Went on a Syrian Rampage Christianity Today