US announces more than $10bn of arms sales to Taiwan pred 4 urami in 24 minutami Package includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones, and has drawn an angry response from ChinaThe maps that show how China’s military is squeezing TaiwanThe Trump administration has announced a massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10bn that includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones, drawing an angry response from China.The state department announced the sales late on Wednesday during a nationally televised address by president Donald Trump, who made scant mention of foreign policy issues and did not speak about China or Taiwan at all. US-Chinese tensions have ebbed and flowed during Trump’s second term, largely over trade and tariffs but also over China’s increasing aggressiveness toward Taiwan, which Beijing has said must reunify with the mainland. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Brazilian congress passes bill to cut Jair Bolsonaro’s 27-year prison term pred 4 urami in 32 minutami President Lula has indicated he will veto legislation but conservative lawmakers likely to overturn his decision Brazil’s congress has approved a bill to reduce the prison term of Jair Bolsonaro, the former president who was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for masterminding an attempted coup to overturn the 2022 elections.Approved last week by the lower house and late on Wednesday by the senate, the bill now goes to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who has 15 working days to sign or veto it. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Canada’s population drop reflects souring of attitudes to immigration pred 4 urami in 52 minutami A country known for welcoming newcomers has reversed policy as immigration becomes increasingly a partisan issueCanada sees large drop in population amid international students crackdownStanding in Canada’s House of Commons in 2023, the then-prime minister, Justin Trudeau, gave an impassioned speech on the value of welcoming newcomers.“Canadians know that immigration is one of our greatest assets. It helps us compete,” he said. “If we want to boost our economic success significantly, we need to boost immigration.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rainfall creates crimson spectacle at beach on Iran’s Hormuz Island pred 5 urami in 5 minutami Streams of soil turn sand and surrounding water red, creating sharp contrast with blue waters of Persian GulfRainfall on Iran’s Hormuz Island briefly transformed the coastline of its Red Beach into a striking natural scene this week, as red soil flowed into the sea and turned the water shades of deep red.The beach is known for its vivid red sand and cliffs, created by high concentrations of iron oxide. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
CDC officials urge US flu vaccination after record child deaths last year pred 6 urami in 2 minutama Americans told ‘time to get vaccinated is now’ as concerning mutation of influenza virus circulates in USOfficials are urging doctors to vaccinate their patients and provide flu antivirals after deaths among children reached record highs and as a concerning mutation of the virus circulates in the US.“Influenza activity is increasing in the US. The time to get vaccinated for this season is now,” Timothy Uyeki, the chief medical officer of the influenza division at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said in a call with clinicians last week. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘We wanted to take action’: US toy company fights back over Trump tariffs pred 6 urami in 2 minutama Learning Resources is suing the administration, claiming the president’s tariffs are illegal – and millions of dollars are on the line The conveyors whir in the massive warehouse, boxes gliding at fast clip, filling up with toys ready to be shipped out for holiday gifts across the country. They make their way to shipping trucks, nearly full with hundreds of boxes by the afternoon of a recent Thursday.The 364,000 sq ft warehouse in the suburbs outside Chicago is just one of Learning Resources’ investments in the US. The company and its affiliated brands employ more than 500 people. They make about 2,000 different products, mostly educational toys such as children’s binoculars, cash registers and learning games. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Uniquely evil’: Michigan residents fight against huge data center backed by top tycoons pred 6 urami in 2 minutama Locals band together in David v Goliath battle against facility they say would jack up bills, increase pollution and destroy area’s characterA who’s who of the nation’s most powerful politicians and tech tycoons are forcing through a proposal for a massive data center in rural Michigan as locals from across the political spectrum have come out in force against it, with one calling it “uniquely evil”.Saline Township, Michigan, residents fear the $7bn center would jack up energy bills, pollute groundwater, and destroy the area’s rural character. The 1.4 gigawatt center would consume as much power as Detroit, and would help derail Michigan’s nation-leading transition to renewable energy. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Guggenheim scraps Basque Country expansion plan after local protests pred 6 urami in 4 minutami Campaigners celebrate defeat of proposal to extend Bilbao institution into areas including nature reserveEnvironmental groups and local campaigners in the Basque Country have welcomed the scrapping of a project to build an outpost of Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum on a Unesco biosphere reserve that is a vital habitat for local wildlife and migrating birds.The scheme’s backers, which include the Guggenheim Foundation, the Basque government and local and regional authorities, had claimed the museum’s twin sites – one in the Basque town of Guernica and one in the nearby Urdaibai reserve – would help revitalise the area, attract investment and create jobs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Saudi-backed forces gather on Yemen border as separatists face pressure to pull back pred 6 urami in 56 minutami Southern Transitional Council, backed by UAE, told it could face airstrikes after its recent huge territorial gainsAs many as 20,000 Saudi-backed forces are gathering on the border of Yemen as the separatist Southern Transitional Council comes under pressure to withdraw from the huge territorial gains it has made in the last month in the vast, oil-rich governorate on Hadramaut in eastern Yemen.The STC is using its advance to raise its demand for Yemen to revert to two states, north and south, as it had been until 1990. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Labour warned plan to jail fewer offenders undermines strategy to protect women and girls - UK politics live pred 6 urami in 58 minutami Incoming victims’ commissioner warns government’s various strategies lack cohesionThe crown court backlog in England and Wales has risen to nearly 80,000 cases in a new record high, PA Media reports. PA says:Data published this morning showed the open caseload was 79,619 at the end of September, up 2% from 78,096 at the end of June.It is also up 9% from the same point a year earlier, according to Ministry of Justice figures.This Government inherited a system on the brink of collapse.Victims’ lives are being put on hold as cases are kicked several years into the future. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
