Pope Leo urges Trump to end war on Iran
Pope Leo XIV has urged US President Donald Trump to find an “off-ramp” from the US and Israel’s war on Iran.
After Strait of Hormuz opens, turmoil would still last months, analysts say
Effective shutdown of key waterway could lead to permanent changes in how shipping industry does business.
US exempts Gulf of Mexico oil drillers from endangered species protections
The Trump administration says protections would diminish US energy competitiveness amid the ongoing war on Iran.
Two-thirds of UK hospitality businesses plan to cut jobs and one in seven will close, survey finds
Sector cites ‘billions of pounds in additional costs’ from new business rates and increase in minimum wage thresholds
Two-thirds of hospitality businesses are planning to cut jobs as a result of “suffocating” costs imposed by government, as new business rates and higher wage bills come into force.
Many pubs, restaurants and hotel companies will see their costs increase significantly from 1 April after Rachel Reeves’s changes to business rates and an increase in minimum wage thresholds announced at the chancellor’s November budget.
Continue reading...The Voorhees law of traffic: when overtaken slow cars seem to always catch up at a red light
UK researcher uses maths to explain seeming inevitability of phenomenon experienced by many motorists
It is a situation experienced by many motorists: one driver overtakes another only to find the slower car is right behind them when they reach a red light. Now a researcher has used mathematics to reveal why the situation feels inevitable.
Dr Conor Boland from Dublin City University has called his work “The Voorhees law of traffic”.
Continue reading...Anti-terrorist programme Prevent ‘outdated and inadequately prepared’, report finds
The home affairs select committee said Prevent cannot deal with the modern challenges of fighting extremism
The government’s anti-terrorism programme, Prevent, is “outdated and inadequately prepared” to deal with modern challenges such as extremists adhering to no particular ideology, an influential cross-party group of MPs has concluded.
The home affairs select committee has called for a reset to the approach for dealing with fast-evolving online subcultures promoting antisemitism, anti-Muslim hostility, misogyny and violence, as well as an over-representation of neurodiverse people and those with mental health conditions.
A growing prevalence of under-18s being drawn into extremism.
Neurodiverse individuals, particularly those with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, being over-represented among referrals to the programme.
Fluid or hybrid ideological beliefs among those referred and a shift toward nihilistic violence.
Influencers and creative tools such as memes, humour and coded messaging being used to spread extremist content in a way that is accessible and appealing.
Generative AI being used to produce large volumes of tailored content and disinformation.
An increase in hate crimes and incidents in the UK that are linked to anti-blasphemy activism, anti-Israel extremism, anti-Muslim hostility and eco-extremism.
Continue reading...‘Severe disinformation campaign’ fuelling trans hate speech, Australia’s sex discrimination commissioner says
Trans and gender-diverse people experience ‘significant and preventable barriers to their safety and dignity’, report finds
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The sex discrimination commissioner says there has been a concerted disinformation campaign against transgender rights since Australia’s postal survey on same-sex marriage.
The Australian Human Rights Commission released a report on Tuesday – coinciding with international trans day of visibility – finding that trans and gender-diverse people experience “significant and preventable barriers to their safety, dignity and full participation in society” spanning healthcare, housing, education, employment and public life.
Continue reading...Japan allows divorced couples to negotiate joint custody of children for first time
The new rules are the first major change to the country’s laws governing child-rearing in more than a century
Divorced couples in Japan will be able to negotiate joint custody of their children from Wednesday, in the first major change to the country’s laws governing child-rearing in more than a century.
Previously, Japan’s Civil Code required couples to decide which parent would take custody of their children when they divorce.
Continue reading...Want to boost the UK’s birthrate? Fix the housing crisis, research suggests
Policymakers should address financial barriers that hinder young people from starting families, says thinktank
Politicians hoping to persuade young people in the UK to have more children should prioritise tackling housing affordability, according to research by the Resolution Foundation thinktank.
There has been growing concern in recent years about Britain’s declining birthrate, given the long-term fiscal pressures of supporting an ageing population.
Continue reading...US judge orders Trump to halt $400m White House ballroom project
US president demolished East Wing of White House last year to make way for 90,000-sq-ft project
A US judge has halted the construction of Donald Trump’s $400m White House ballroom.
The US president demolished the historic East Wing of the White House last year to make way for the project.
Continue reading...EU warns oil and gas prices won’t quickly return to normal after Iran war
The EU’s energy commissioner has warned oil and gas prices will not return to normal any time soon.
Asia’s migrant workers debate if Gulf jobs are worth deadly risk of Iran war
Iran's strikes on Gulf states have been especially hard for migrants who have long supported these economies to lift their families back home from poverty.
Trump signs order to restrict mail-in ballots in probably unconstitutional move
President has falsely claimed ‘legendary’ fraud for limiting mail-in ballots and himself voted by mail last week
Donald Trump signed an executive order directing his administration to compile a national voter file and to restrict the use of mail-in ballots, an unprecedented move that is probably unconstitutional.
The executive order directs the Department of Homeland Security to work with the Social Security Administration to compile a list of verified US citizens who can vote in every state. It also directs the United States Postal Service (USPS) to begin rule-making on a process that would require states to notify the agency of voters who intend to receive a mail-in ballot and prohibit them from receiving one unless they are on a USPS-approved list of eligible voters.
Continue reading...Trump lashes out at Europe as growing number of allies reject US calls for help – CNN
- Trump lashes out at Europe as growing number of allies reject US calls for help CNN
- Spain closes off its airspace to US planes involved in the Iran war AP News
- Spain closes airspace to US military over Iran war, widening rift with US The Guardian
- Trump slams allies as Europeans show reluctance to aid U.S. in Iran war The Washington Post
- Europe hardens opposition to Trump’s Iran war demands politico.eu
The European Officials Siding with Trump on Iran – The Free Press
- The European Officials Siding with Trump on Iran The Free Press
- Timid Europe | Caitlin L. Chandler The New York Review of Books
- Trump’s ‘absurdly incoherent’ Iran pleas leave allies befuddled politico.eu
- Trump isolated by NATO allies? Countries close airspace, refuse to join Iran war Hindustan Times
- Trump signals frustration over Iran war as EU urges de-escalation Euronews.com
China and Pakistan present new Iran deal: Ceasefire for opening Hormuz – Axios
- China and Pakistan present new Iran deal: Ceasefire for opening Hormuz Axios
- China-Backed Peace Proposal Echoes Effort to End Ukraine Fight WSJ
- Chinese, Pakistani foreign ministers hold talks on Iran situation news.cgtn.com
- As it happened: Middle East crisis RTE.ie
- Pakistan and China propose five-part peace plan for Middle East The Guardian
Peacekeepers killed by roadside explosion in Lebanon, initial report finds
The deaths of the two Indonesian nationals came less than a day after another UN peacekeeper - also Indonesian - was killed in Lebanon.
Australia’s superb fairywren could be extinct within decades due to climate crisis, researchers say
Scientists tracked bird population in Canberra’s botanic gardens and found climate impacts starting to affect them
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A common and well-loved bird of bush and garden could go extinct within 30-40 years due to the weather impacts of climate change, researchers say.
Data derived from nearly 30 years of weekly observations tracked the lives of superb fairy wrens in Canberra’s botanic gardens, noting the changing weather’s impacts on them.
Continue reading...Tiger Woods pleads not guilty to DUI in car crash where opioids found
Plea comes hours after sheriff's report said the golfer showed signs of impairment at the scene of last week's crash.
Italy out as Bosnia and Herzegovina reach World Cup 2026 on penalties
After the match was level at 1-1 after extra time, Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Italy 4-1 on penalties to reach finals.