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EU to unveil €3bn strategy to reduce dependency on China for raw materials
ReSourceEU project aims to de-risk and diversify supply chains for critical rare-earth metals and elementsBusiness live – latest updatesThe EU is to unveil a €3bn (£2.63bn) strategy to reduce its dependency on China for critical raw materials amid a global scramble triggered by Beijing’s “weaponisation” of supplies of everything from chips to rare earths.The ReSourceEU programme will seek to de-risk and diversify the bloc’s supply chains for key commodities with a funding initiative to support 25-30 strategic projects in the sector. Continue reading...
Family of victim of Trump boat airstrikes files complaint against ‘extrajudicial killing’ | First Thing
Alejandro Carranza Medina’s relatives say he was a fisher, not a drug trafficker. Plus, Putin says Russia ‘ready’ for war with Europe as Ukraine talks stallGood morning.A family in Colombia has filed a petition with the Washington DC-based Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), alleging that the Colombian citizen Alejandro Carranza Medina was subject to an “extrajudicial killing” in a US airstrike.What is the IACHR? A monitoring body designed to “promote and protect human rights in the western hemisphere”. The US is a member, and the state department said in March it was a “strong supporter of the IACHR”.How has the Trump administration responded? A White House spokesperson, Anna Kelly, did not respond directly to questions about the complaint or about Carranza’s death, but wrote in an email that the media were “now running cover for foreign terrorists smuggling deadly narcotics intended to murder Americans”.What’s the latest on the frontlines? Buoyed up by recent gains, Putin has indicated in recent weeks that the Russian military was prepared to keep fighting if diplomacy faltered, repeatedly emphasising that his forces remained on the offensive on the battlefield. Continue reading...
Village People lead ‘world-class line-up’ for Trump-tinged World Cup 2026 draw
Robbie Williams will also perform at Friday’s eventTrump expected to receive Fifa’s new peace awardRobbie Williams, Andrea Bocelli and the Village People are to perform as part of a “world-class entertainment line-up” during Friday’s draw for the 2026 men’s football World Cup. The draw for next year’s tournament will take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, with model and TV personality Heidi Klum, comedian Kevin Hart and actor Danny Ramirez co-hosting the event.The Village People will perform YMCA to cap off an event that promises have distinctly Trumpian overtones. The disco hit became a staple at Donald Trump’s campaign rallies and Mar-a-Lago fundraisers. Continue reading...
Tory-Reform election pact would be ‘alliance of austerity and failure’, says Starmer – UK politics live
PM responds to report that Nigel Farage told donors he expects Reform could do an election deal with the ConservativesThis is from Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, on Nigel Farage’s denial of the FT story. (See 9.33am.)A handy reminder that in 2019 Farage did a deal to put Boris Johnson in No10 and push through his disastrous Brexit deal.But instead of taking responsibility, of course Farage plays the victim. Continue reading...
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 search to resume 11 years after jet went missing
Malaysian transport ministry says robotics company Ocean Infinity will restart search operation on 30 DecemberThe search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will resume this month, the Malaysian transport ministry has said, more than a decade after the plane disappeared in one of aviation’s greatest mysteries.In a statement on Wednesday, the transport ministry confirmed that the marine robotics company Ocean Infinity, based in the UK and US, would resume a search of the seabed from 30 December, over a period of 55 days, with operations conducted intermittently. Continue reading...
Pope Leo stresses importance of European involvement in efforts to end war in Ukraine
Pontiff says Italy specifically could play role of mediator in talks between Russia, US and UkrainePope Leo has stressed the importance of Europe’s involvement in US efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, while suggesting that Italy specifically could play the role of mediator.Russia and the US failed to make progress towards a peace deal for Ukraine during talks on Tuesday, with Vladimir Putin accusing Europe of “preventing the US administration from achieving peace on Ukraine”. Continue reading...
Whistleblower accuses Foreign Office of ‘censoring’ warning of Sudan genocide
Exclusive: Analyst claims UK officials deleted alert to threat of genocidal violence by paramilitaries to protect UAEWarnings of a possible “genocide” in Sudan were removed from a UK risk assessment by Foreign Office officials, according to a whistleblower whose testimony raises fresh concern over British failures to act on the atrocities unfolding in the war-ravaged country.The threat analyst said they were prevented from warning that genocide could occur in Darfur by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) officials in a humanitarian risk assessment collated days after Sudan’s brutal civil war erupted in April 2023. Continue reading...
London’s Smithfield and Billingsgate markets find new home in Docklands
City of London corporation names Albert Island near City airport in Docklands for meat and fish marketsBusiness live – latest updatesA former industrial site in London’s Docklands has been named as the new home for the capital’s ancient Smithfield meat market and Billingsgate fish market, under plans unveiled by their owner.The proposal by the City of London Corporation – the governing body that runs London’s Square Mile and also operates the markets – would relocate both to Albert Island. Continue reading...
‘Holy crap, this is insane’: mineworkers describe being caught in huge outback dust storm
Massive cloud over Tanami desert in Northern Territory reminiscent of Uluru, onlookers sayGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLachlan Marchant and his colleagues were driving their golf buggies back to their shed when they saw the earth sweeping towards them.“It reminded us of Uluru, the sheer size and width of this thing,” Marchant said. “It was just rolling at us.” Continue reading...
Resistance forces in Myanmar detain candidate in election, state media report
A resistance group in Myanmar has reportedly detained a candidate for the election scheduled for later this month
‘Addiction to secrecy’: opposition and crossbench slam Labor’s ‘undemocratic’ changes to FoI – including charging fees
The proposed changes, which the government claims are needed to combat AI-generated requests, would also reduce what documents can be releasedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Albanese government’s proposal to introduce fees for freedom of information requests and reduce what documents can be released has been widely slammed by opposition and crossbench senators as “undemocratic” and evidence of Labor’s “addiction to secrecy”.The Labor-chaired Senate inquiry released its report on Wednesday recommending the bill be passed but the Coalition, the Greens, and senators David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie all submitted their own reports condemning the plans. Continue reading...
A 1-year-old was among 159 killed in Hong Kong apartment fires. 30 others missing
The death toll from a high-rise apartment fire in Hong Kong has risen to 159
