The holdup comes as a result of a rift in Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party, center-left coalition. The other two parties are the Greens and the liberal Free Democrats. Until Friday afternoon, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was still unable to say whether Berlin would support the package. At a press conference, Baerbock openly called for more sanctions on Belarus. “We must take stronger action against the circumvention of sanctions that we have seen in recent months,” said Baerbock, whose Greens support stronger sanctions. “And that applies above all to Belarus.” One official from Germany’s foreign ministry, granted anonymity to…
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The disappearance of 49-year-old Melissa Caddick in November 2020 captured Australia’s attention. At the time, Caddick was being investigated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission for alleged financial misconduct, with dozens of people defrauded for millions of dollars. The media’s coverage of her “vanishing act” only heightened public interest in the case. Despite extensive searches, only a single foot enclosed in a running shoe has been found, washed up on a beach in New South Wales. The NSW Coroners Court declared Caddick dead in May 2023 but couldn’t establish the date, cause or manner of death. As part of…
Thank you, President, and thank you Special Adviser Nderitu, for your briefing. Colleagues, we were very pleased to co-pen this landmark resolution with the UAE when they were on the Security Council, and we are also pleased that the Arab League welcomed the resolution. I’ll make three points. First, on the basis of the resolution. Resolution 2686 is underpinned by human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression and the promotion of gender equality. These rights are interdependent, mutually reinforcing and all play a role in promoting peace and security. As a Council, it’s…
The U.S.-Ukraine Bilateral Security Agreement that Presidents Biden and Zelenskyy signed on the margins of the G7 Summit in Puglia, Italy today is a historic show of support for Ukraine’s long-term security that furthers commitments made under the G7 Joint Declaration of Support to Ukraine in July 2023 and the President’s approval of the Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act this spring. Under this ten-year agreement, the United States and Ukraine commit to strengthening security and economic cooperation, furthering Ukraine’s institutional capacity building and reform progress, seeking accountability for Russia’s actions, and establishing the conditions for a just and lasting peace. The…
“Surely this is the most solitary organism in the world,” wrote palaeontologist Richard Fortey in his book about the evolution of life. He was talking about Encephalartos woodii (E. woodii), a plant from South Africa. E. woodii is a member of the cycad family, heavy plants with thick trunks and large stiff leaves that form a majestic crown. These resilient survivors have outlasted dinosaurs and multiple mass extinctions. Once widespread, they are today one of the most threatened species on the planet. The only known wild E. Woodii was discovered in 1895 by the botanist John Medley Wood while he…
Visitors to Lake Kariba – the world’s largest man-made lake, along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe – come to enjoy the abundant wildlife, fine fishing or spectacular scenery. However, in 2017, our crew of palaeontologists came to Zimbabwe to hunt game of a different kind: dinosaurs. Many of our discoveries are still under study, but the team has just announced its first new dinosaur, dubbed Musankwa sanyatiensis. At first sight, it’s unremarkable – just a few bones from a single hind leg. It was found with the thigh, shin and ankle bones still connected, but weathering out on the…
Special EventsWOMEN FOLKWomen Folk is set to be a beguiling and magical evening on the night of the summer solstice, celebrating the often overlooked contribution of women in traditional Irish music. It will feature live singing from Rois, Catriona Gribben and Stephanie Makem, the great-granddaughter of Sarah Makem, the renowned traditional source singer and subject of a David Hammond film which will also feature at the event in Rosemary St Church.June 21, Rosemary Street Church, 9pm; £12/£10.ASIF KAPADIA: IN CONVERSATIONOscar- and Bafta-winning director Asif Kapadia takes part in a special ‘In Conversation’ event at Queen’s Film Theatre, Belfast, with filmmaker…
Today at the Digital Ocean Forum (DOF) 2024, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Iliana Ivanova and other high-level representatives from Belgium, France and the European Commission unveiled the first pre-operational platform of the European Digital Twin Ocean (EU DTO).The European Digital Twin of the Ocean (EU DTO), announced by President von der Leyen at the One Ocean Summit in Brest in February 2022, is a key deliverable of the EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters. Its purpose is to provide ocean communities with actionable knowledge and to support them in their daily decisions and planning, to ensure a…
SAN JACINTO, CA – A federal judge has reaffirmed the U.S. Department of Labor’s finding that a Nebraska construction company operating in Southern California blatantly and willfully discriminated against U.S. workers by bringing Mexican workers to the U.S. under false pretenses, shortchanging their wages and putting their safety and health at risk in substandard living conditions. The department’s Office of Administrative Law Judges ordered Randy and Kary Christo — owners and operators of R&R Christo Construction LLC of Fremont — to pay $288,719 in wages to 43 agricultural workers and $63,813 in penalties after the department’s Wage and Hour Division confirmed…
Practically speaking, Russians who wish to join this group would be required to sign the Berlin Declaration, which sets out the key principles for a Ukrainian victory and a Russia without Putin. After passing the necessary checks, signatories would then be issued documents recognizing them as members of a “Free Russia,” which would allow them to obtain visas and enter all countries participating in the agreement. This would create a powerful incentive for more Russians to disavow Putin and emigrate. Many of the over one million citizens who have already departed the Russian Federation are highly educated. And the more that…