US and Ukrainian negotiators meet in Geneva after Russia launches hundreds of drones in overnight attack – Europe live
At least 23 people were injured in overnight strikes, with 420 drones and 39 missiles used by Russia to target Ukraine, Kyiv saysDefending Nato’s eastern flank in case of a potential Russian aggression would cost at least €1.2tn ($1.42 trillion), Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski said in a speech to parliament, Reuters reported.“Defending the countries of Nato’s eastern flank in the event of a potential Russian aggression would cost at least twelve hundred billion euros - twenty-four times more than the Polish defence budget,” he warned.“Despite what its propaganda claims, Russia is by no means winning. Don’t fall for it. Russia is not, and never has been, invincible.” Continue reading...
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Starmer, Polanski and Farage in final pitch to voters as polls open in Gorton and Denton byelection – UK politics live
Voting begins in one of the most eagerly awaited and fiercely contested byelections of recent yearsGood morning. In Gorton and Denton, on the outskirts of Manchester, people have started voting in one of the most eagerly awaited, and fiercely contested, byelections of recent years. All the polling suggests the result will be very close. The political scientists argue that, if a party wins a contest like this by just a few hundred votes (or perhaps ever fewer – Reform UK won the Runcorn and Helsby byelection last year by just six votes), it is irrational to draw broad conclusions about the state of UK politics over a result that could easily have gone the other way had it not been for a few random incidents (like activists not closing the door in a cafe). But politics isn’t rational; a win will firm up a narrative that will shape the way the main parties do politics in the months ahead. (And, whoever wins, the result will confirm that we now have multi-party politics trying to operate in an electoral system constructed for two-party politics, which is quite different.)Here is Josh Halliday’s preview.The choice at today’s by-election could not be more stark. Unity or division. Driving down the cost of living with Labour or driving a wedge between communities under Reform. Moving forwards together, or opening up anger and division that holds our country back.Reform’s Matthew Goodwin thinks people who aren’t white can’t be English and wants women who choose not to have children to pay more tax. Vote Labour in Gorton and Denton today to send him and his toxic politics packing. Continue reading...
Ocado to cut 1,000 jobs in £150m cost-saving drive
Major restructure by retail technology business will lead to reduction of about 5% of global workforceBusiness live – latest updatesOcado is to cut 1,000 jobs as the retail technology business attempts to slash costs by £150m in a major restructure.The group confirmed about 5% of its global workforce is being cut, with about two-thirds of the job losses affecting its UK operations. Continue reading...
Palestinian solidarity in Britain ‘being silenced and criminalised’
‘Index of repression’ includes smears, harassment, job losses and arrests, legal advocacy group saysPalestinian solidarity is being “silenced, criminalised and sanctioned”, according to an advocacy group that says it has recorded more than 900 examples of repression across Britain in the last six years.People had been targeted with smears, disinformation, harassment, doxing (having private or identifying information published online), visa cancellations, financial blacklisting, loss of employment and arrest, according to the European Legal Support Center, which, along with the research group Forensic Architecture, has created the “index of repression”. Continue reading...
Home Office denies ‘absurd’ criticism over rule change that could leave dual nationals stranded
MPs raise cases of honeymooners and other Britons caught out by new passport requirements as minister rejects calls for a grace periodThe Home Office has dismissed as “absurd” claims that it failed to properly communicate new border rules that left some British dual nationals at risk of being prevented from boarding flights to the UK.During a heated session in parliament on Wednesday, the Home Office minister Mike Tapp suggested that media coverage in the Guardian and BBC reflected the department’s efforts to publicise the changes. Continue reading...
Cuba says it shot dead four people on US-registered speedboat
The passengers were Cuban nationals living in the US and intended to "carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes", the Cuban government says.
Israel carries out military incursion into Syria’s Quneitra in the Golan
In a separate report, Sana news agency says Israeli forces also kidnapped a man from the southwestern province.
Two women arrested in Uganda for allegedly kissing in public could face life sentence
Wendy Faith and Alesi Diana Denise were taken into custody under laws that have outraged LGBTQ+ community and rights activistsTwo women have been arrested and detained in Uganda after allegedly kissing in public, an act of “same-sex activity” which can lead to a life sentence in the east African country..Wendy Faith, a 22-year-old musician known as Torrero Bae, and Alesi Diana Denise, 21, were taken into custody after police raided their rented room in Uganda’s north-west Arua City last week. Continue reading...
Film and TV charity unveils landmark mental health principles for UK industry
Move comes after 35% of sector workers surveyed described their mental health as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’The Film and TV charity has unveiled a landmark set of principles for safeguarding mental health in what’s been called a “watershed moment” for the UK creative sector’s duty of care to its production community.The principles are the result of a collaboration between the charity and more than 45 industry organisations, including all the public service broadcasters, studios, leading streamers, production companies and trade unions. Continue reading...
WPP to merge ad agencies and cut jobs in radical shake-up to counter AI threat
Group aims to be ‘simpler, lower-cost, AI-enabled business’ and achieve £500m of annual savings by 2028The beleaguered advertising group WPP has announced a radical restructure to counter the threat posed by the AI revolution, including merging its ad agencies and cutting jobs.Aiming to be “a simpler, lower-cost, AI-enabled business”, the London-based company laid out plans to achieve £500m of annual savings by 2028, at a cost of £400m over two years. Continue reading...