Author: WTX News

On July 12, the landmark Nature Restoration Law was adopted in a cliffhanger vote at the European Parliament. Our guest, prominent Finnish MEP Heidi Hautala – who’s one the parliament’s vice-presidents – says she is “relieved” that the EU parliament now has a position to negotiate with the member states. She applauds the law as “step towards combating climate change”, and decries what she calls the use of “fake news and disinformation” by far-right as well as right-wing parties on the nature restoration issue. Hautala also praises the EU parliament’s recent approval of the corporate due diligence directive, saying “companies must unlearn old bad habits”.

Boris Johnson ‘not dragging feet’ on WhatsApp disclosures after forgetting iPhone passcode Politico says Boris Johnson’s team are pushing back at claims he’s “dragging his feet” in handing over messages to the U.K.’s official coronavirus inquiry as the former prime minister battles to … remember his iPhone passcode. The Times reported Thursday that the ex-PM doesn’t remember with “100 percent confidence” the code to access his former device, which he stopped using in May 2021 amid security concerns. There are concerns the device — held by Johnson’s lawyers — will automatically disable and potentially erase its contents if the wrong…

Boris Johnson ‘can’t remember passcode’ to phone with Covid WhatsApp messages The Independent says Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp messages from his old phone have not yet been handed to the Covid inquiry because he has forgotten the passcode, it is claimed. The former prime minister is thought to be unable to recall the code to unlock the device thought to contain crucial Covid-era communications with ministers, which he stopped using in May 2021. Mr Johnson cannot remember the passcode “with 100 per cent confidence”, according to The Times. The ex-Tory leader’s spokesman did not deny he could not recall the code.…

Boris Johnson ‘has forgotten’ passcode for phone wanted by Covid inquiry The Guardian says Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp messages are yet to be received by the Covid inquiry because he is said to have forgotten the passcode for his old phone. The former prime minister’s spokesperson said Johnson still wants to cooperate with the inquiry and did not deny being unable to recall the code. Johnson stopped using the device in May 2021, after receiving security advice once it had emerged his phone number had been accessible online for at least 15 years. Bereaved families and technical experts have rubbished Johnson’s…

Teacher strikes likely to end in England after new pay offer England’s teacher’s strikes are likely to end after union leaders voiced their support for the government’s new pay offer. The government has proposed a 6.5% pay rise, which both sides said was “properly funded” and would not come from existing school budgets. The four unions involved in the strikes will now go back to their members and recommend they accept the deal. They had been considering further strikes for next term but that will be off the cards if members accept. There have been seven national strikes since February…

Wagner no longer significant in Ukraine, says US The US says the Wagner mercenary group is no longer “participating in any significant capacity in support of combat operations in Ukraine”. The spokesperson’s announcement comes just weeks after the Wagner group staged a 24-hour mutiny in Russia. It was the biggest threat to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s authority since the invasion of Ukraine began. Wagner has fought in some of Russia’s bloodiest recent battles and is thought to have helped the country in annexing Crimea in 2014. Following the 24-hour rebellion in June, Wagner fighters were told they could join the…

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Deadly heatwave sweeps across southern Europe A potential record-breaking heatwave is continuing to sweep across parts of Europe. Temperatures are expected to surpass 40C in parts of Spain, France, Greece, Croatia and Turkey. In parts of Italy, temperatures could reach 48C becoming “potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe”, says the European Space Agency. A red alert warning is in place for 10 cities, including Florence and Rome. Extreme weather resulting from the climate crisis is “unfortunately becoming the new normal”, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has warned. Scientists say that periods of intense heat are becoming more frequent…

India set to launch historic Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 India will launch its third Moon mission with the aim to be the first to land near its little-explored south pole. The Chandrayaan-3 craft with an orbiter, lander and a rover is set for lift off on Friday from Sriharikota space centre. The lander is due to reach the Moon on 23-24 August, according to space officials. If successful, India will become the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, following the US, the former Soviet Union and China. Chandrayaan-3 is expected to build on the success of its…

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk After a week of non-stop Huw Edwards coverage, Friday’s front pages give way to the government’s public sector pay offer. The Hollywood strike, Europe’s heatwave and Dele Alli’s interview are also splashed across the morning’s papers. Public sector pay offer The Financial Times says Rishi Sunak has thrown down the gauntlet to trade unions with what he says is the final offer. The Times says the approach is a “significant escalation of rhetoric.” “Will doctors now end their callous strikes?” asks the Daily Mail, as junior doctors in England continue their industrial action. The…

Experts say climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of India’s annual monsoon rains, bringing much destruction.

Iceland’s meteorological office warns of dangerous gases as it urges people to stay away from an erupting volcano near the capital, Reykjavik.

‘We quickly became firm friends, and, eventually, our relationship became romantic.’

The Friday letters page thinks everything is going Microsoft’s way in terms of Activision Blizzard, as one reader looks forward to Clock Tower.

GameCentral takes a look at the month’s best smartphone games, including a classic Tower Defense and an impressive sci-fi noir.

Time to make those moves.

The Hungarian government claims the popular LGBT+ series violates its ‘child protection’ laws.

‘I just cried. Everything in my life had gone up in smoke and I’m now living out of a suitcase and sleeping on a sofa.’

Italian social media users are expressing outrage after judges said groping had to last 10 seconds to be considered sexual assault.

Germany’s transport minister slammed the “criminal activity” of ‘Last Generation’ activists who gained access to airports in Hamburg and D?sseldorf, leaving holidaymakers facing lengthy delays

France celebrates its f?te nationale every year with fireworks, concerts and an extravagant military parade down the Champs-?lys?es in the presence of the president, a bevy of politicians and often a foreign head of state as an honoured guest. The July 14 date of the f?te commemorates two important events in French history. FRANCE 24 takes a look at the holiday’s origins and what to expect on the day.

Financial Times – Big drop in US inflation raise hope the fever is breaking after rates rise Summary of the front page US inflation rates dropping sharply in the last month is on the front of the Financial Times – and it reports there’s hope the “fever is breaking” after interest rate rises. The paper says the figure indicates “a relative success” in the Federal Reserve bearing down on price pressures. It also says the figure stands in “sharp contrast” to UK inflation which is currently 8.7%. The front page also reports on Huw Edwards being named by his wife…

Metro – It is Huw Edwards Summary of the front page The “shock statement” that Huw Edwards is the BBC presenter suspended over claims made in The Sun is on the front of Metro. The front page notes the BBC presenter is receiving in-patient hospital care but he plans to address the allegations as soon as he is able to. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers

The Guardian – Huw Edwards named as BBC presenter at centre of allegations Summary of the front page The Guardian also focuses on the naming of Huw Edwards as the high-profile presenter accused of paying £35,000 to a teenager in exchange for sexually explicit photographs. The paper’s coverage focuses on questions facing the Sun after it suggested Edwards had paid a 17-year-old for explicit photos. Police said they had found no criminal wrongdoing relating to the claims. The front page says the police’s findings have left the Sun “facing questions about its reporting”. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave…

Daily Express – Huw Edwards’s wife names him as star in BBC scandal Summary of the front page The Daily Express dedicates the entirety of its front page to the story, carrying the headline “Huw Edwards’ wife names him as star in BBC scandal”. The paper says Huw Edwards is “deeply sorry” after he was named by his wife as the BBC presenter who has been suspended. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers