Ukraine and Moldova start first phase of EU membership negotiations pred 1 dnevom, 10 urami in 50 minutami Election of new Hungarian government in April has paved way for EU member states to agree to open talks Ukraine and Moldova will take a decisive step towards joining the EU on Monday, as they embark on the first phase of membership negotiations.The start of substantive negotiations, launched by senior EU officials and ministers from both countries in Luxembourg on Monday, will be a highly symbolic moment for the two countries that were both part of the former Soviet Union. It comes after Russia has intensified its bombardment of Ukrainian towns and cities, while sustaining huge losses for little territorial gain. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Cabinet ministers asked to look for cuts to fund UK defence spending increase pred 1 dnevom, 11 urami in 4 minutami Lisa Nandy says discussions are taking place about how to ‘keep this country safe’ after John Healey’s resignationUK politics live – latest updatesCabinet ministers have been asked to look for more money in their departments to fund an increase in defence spending after the resignation of the former defence secretary John Healey.The culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, told the BBC that her department was among those still in conversations with the Treasury about finding further sums for defence. Healey resigned last week over a far smaller than expected settlement for the defence investment plan (Dip). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Middle East crisis live: Trump says Iran deal will be signed today but sources tell media Tehran ‘not yet’ taken final decision pred 1 dnevom, 11 urami in 18 minutami Deal could see strait of Hormuz immediately ‘open to all’, but Trump says US retains the ‘ultimate alternative’ if talks failTrump says Iran peace deal could be signed by Sunday, with strait of Hormuz to open shortly afterIran’s Fars news agency said on Sunday that Tehran has not made a final decision on signing the agreement under discussion with the United States to end the Middle East war, AFP reports.“The Islamic Republic of Iran has not yet taken or announced its final decision concerning the memorandum of understanding proposed during negotiations,” reported Fars, which is close to Iranian conservative circles, citing “a well-informed source close to the Iranian negotiating team”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
British armed forces intercept Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in Channel pred 1 dnevom, 11 urami in 52 minutami Keir Starmer says operation involving UK armed forces has delivered ‘yet another blow’ to Russia and PutinBritish armed forces intercepted and boarded a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the Channel in the early hours of Sunday, Keir Starmer has confirmed.In a six-hour operation, the first of its kind to be led by the UK, Royal Marine commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency boarded and took control of the vessel, Smyrtos, which was sailing under a Cameroonian flag. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Growing risk that thousands buried in Gaza’s rubble may never be identified, says Red Cross pred 1 dnevom, 12 urami in 23 minutami Exclusive: Recovery efforts remain slow and passing of time makes it more likely they will be skeletonisedThe International Committee of the Red Cross has said the risk that the thousands of Palestinians buried beneath Gaza’s rubble may never be identified is increasing by the day, as recovery efforts remain slow and many victims have yet to be retrieved, the Guardian can reveal.“There is no doubt that these bodies could soon become difficult to identify,” said Pat Griffiths, the ICRC spokesperson in Jerusalem. “The longer it takes for human remains to be recovered, the more difficult it can be to identify them. The longer the deceased lie beneath the rubble, the more likely they will be in advanced stages of decomposition – even skeletonised – when eventually recovered.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
NHS staff battling wave of food supplement disinformation pred 1 dnevom, 13 urami in 23 minutami Exclusive: Cancer charity says dispelling falsehoods gleaned from social media is now routine task for cliniciansSocial media misinformation about the use of dietary supplements such as turmeric, St John’s wort and magnesium is now so common that dispelling online claims has become a routine part of NHS clinicians work.Two out of five frontline health workers say they encounter patients who raise inaccurate or misleading information about supplements at least once a week. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
X accused of giving racists ‘impunity’ after refusing to bar N- and P-word posts pred 1 dnevom, 13 urami in 23 minutami Site takes no action over hate posts against UK politicians including Kemi Badenoch, Shabana Mahmood and Zia YusufX has refused to take down dozens of social media posts reported as “hate, abuse or harassment” in which prominent UK politicians, including Kemi Badenoch, have been racially abused.In May, researchers from the social inclusion thinktank British Future reported 30 posts from this year in which the Conservative party leader was called the N-word. In each case the researchers used the platform’s “hate, abuse or harassment” reporting option. X refused to act in the majority of cases, despite repeated requests. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trial of 12mph bike lane speed limit grinds gears of Dutch cyclists pred 1 dnevom, 14 urami in 23 minutami Increase in road deaths amid rise of e-bikes prompts Houten to test willingness of freedom-loving cyclists to slow downAs road deaths increase and cycle lanes overflow with e-bikes, the Netherlands is considering a cycling speed limit of 12mph (20km/h).The government has started a two-week trial in Houten, near Utrecht, to gauge whether freedom-loving Dutch cyclists are willing to slow down – and whether they have any idea how fast they are going in the first place. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Make platforms that promote violent content pay towards riot costs, Streeting says pred 1 dnevom, 14 urami in 23 minutami Exclusive: Former minister calls for urgent action against companies such as X that allow incitement to violenceWes Streeting has called for Keir Starmer to take urgent action against X and other online platforms that have helped whip up social tensions, suggesting they should be forced to contribute to rebuilding costs after the riots in Belfast.The intervention by the former health secretary, who is seen as a likely challenger to Keir Starmer in any leadership contest, comes after Downing Street said any response would be left to Ofcom, the media regulator, meaning no action is likely for at least two months. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Illegal dump becomes ‘symbol of north-south divide’ at heart of Makerfield byelection pred 1 dnevom, 14 urami in 23 minutami Failure to clear up rotting, rat-infested site is a key issue for local people as they weigh up politicians’ promisesA mountain of rubbish sits behind a metal fence in the village of Bickershaw, where it has remained for more than 20 months. For many residents, it is a physical manifestation of the north-south divide as well as a rotting, rat-infested symbol of a broken system in which organised criminal gangs make millions while communities endure the toxic impact of their trade.The 25,000 tonnes of household and trade rubbish is one of the largest toxic waste dumps in the country. Unlike many illegal dumps that appear in woodlands, by rivers and on farmland, this one is in the heart of a residential street, right next to a primary school. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
