Kamis, 09 Juni 2022

Ukraine war: Zelenskyy says fate of Donbas hinges on 'brutal' war in Sievierodonetsk - as 'endless caravan of death' uncovered in Mariupol - Sky News

Ukraine's president says the fate of the Donbas hinges on "very brutal" fighting in Sievierodonetsk, a city that's emerged as a key battleground in recent weeks.

Russia is laying siege to the eastern city as it pursues its aim of capturing the sprawling Donbas region.

"This is a very brutal battle, very tough, perhaps one of the most difficult throughout this war," said President Zelenskyy in his nightly message."

"Sievierodonetsk remains the epicentre of the encounter in Donbas... Largely, that is where the fate of our Donbas is being decided now," he added.

He said Ukraine was "inflicting significant losses on the enemy", however many troops also pulled back to the city's outskirts yesterday amid fierce shelling.

The centre of the city - which had a pre-war population of about 100,000 - is being turned into a wasteland, said the governor of Luhansk - one of the two regions that make up the Donbas.

The state of the war on 8 June
Image: The state of the war on 8 June

"Our fighters are hanging on in the Sievierodonetsk industrial zone," said Serhiy Gaidai.

More on Ukraine

"But fighting is going on not just in the industrial zone, but right in the city of Sievierodonetsk."

An adviser to President Zelenskyy's office, Oleksiy Arestovych, said airstrikes and artillery were pounding the city from afar. "They are hitting hard without any particular success," he added.

Ukrainian troops are massively outnumbered in the Donbas, Kyiv's US ambassador told CNN.

However, it's hoped longer-range rocket systems being sent from America and the UK could help fight the Russian artillery that's doing so much damage.

'Endless caravan of death' in the ruins

As the battle rages around Sievierodonetsk, an official in Mariupol said an "endless caravan of death" was being uncovered as they search ruined buildings.

Fifty to 100 bodies are being uncovered in each bombed apartment block - and about two-fifths of the city's buildings have been searched so far, said mayoral aide Petro Andryushchenko.

People walk past a residential building heavily damaged during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine May 30, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko
Image: Hundreds of bodies are still buried in the rubble of destroyed buildings in Mariupol

The remains are being taken to landfills and morgues.

The southeastern city is now in Russian hands after the worst onslaught of the war killed more than 20,000 people, according to Ukrainian estimates.

Meanwhile, political wrangling over the war's threat to food supplies are continuing.

Russia has expressed support for a UN plan to allow Ukraine's grain exports to flow again. An estimated 22 million tons are stuck in the country.

Ukraine is a key producer of wheat, corn and sunflower oil and there are fears the Russian blockade of ports could cause a serious food shortage in some developing countries.

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Food shortages to affect millions more

Turkey has been trying to broker a deal to reopen the ports and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov met his Turkish counterpart on Wednesday for talks.

Mr Lavrov said the ports could operate again if mines are removed from surrounding waters.

However, Ukraine fears it would allow Russia to attack the coast and doesn't trust Kremlin assurances to the contrary.

Russia is itself a major grain exporter and has blamed the food supply problems on Western sanctions against its ships.

European Council President Charles Michel has denied the claims and accused Russia of "weaponizing food supplies and surrounding their actions with a web of lies, Soviet-style".

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2022-06-09 05:31:34Z
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Rabu, 08 Juni 2022

Matthew McConaughey pleads for gun control after shooting in Texas home town - The Times

The Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey has made an impassioned plea for tougher gun controls after the shooting last month at an elementary school in his home town of Uvalde, Texas.

The Oscar-winning actor appeared at the White House yesterday to call on Congress to “reach a higher ground” in honour of the children and teachers who were killed in the massacre, and end the political gridlock over firearms legislation.

McConaughey, a gun owner himself, said the tragedy had provided a “window of opportunity” to introduce reforms such as stricter background checks on anyone trying to buy a gun and raising the minimum age at which one can purchase a semi-automatic rifle, from 18 to 21.

Salvador Ramos killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb

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2022-06-08 10:15:00Z
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London Playbook: BoJo wants mojo — Breach of protocol — Dark Lord rises - POLITICO Europe

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POLITICO London Playbook

By EMILIO CASALICCHIO

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Good Wednesday Morning. This is Emilio Casalicchio taking the London Playbook baton from Eleni Courea.

DRIVING THE DAY

BOJO WANTS MOJO: Boris Johnson has his fingers crossed this morning that rebel Conservatives roar with approval when he stands for PMQs at noon. The high-stakes Commons showdown will be his first proper public appearance since 40 percent of his troops voted to oust him as PM. And whether his backbench critics show enthusiastic support or cross their arms in silent protest will offer an indication of what the coming weeks and months might look like, and whether Johnson will survive the current storm.

Focusing minds: Labour leader Keir Starmer will no doubt point to Conservative backbenchers who spoke out against Johnson ahead of the vote and argue the Tories are divided and rudderless. But if there’s one thing that can help unite the governing side — even if just for half an hour — it’s jeers from their true political enemies. “In a PMQs confrontation with the opposition I think most colleagues will rally behind the PM,” one leading rebel told Playbook last night.

But but but: The same person said that although critics accept Johnson won the vote, albeit with dismal numbers (check out this great Mirror widget showing the positions of all his MPs) he doesn’t have long to show he will deliver on promises of change — both in his personal conduct and his policy direction. His chance of success is illustrated in this damning Times piece from former Cabinet Minister David Davis, who argues the PM gets neither the big calls right nor the smaller details, and is at risk of running toward ludicrous or undeliverable announcements as a quick fix to shore up his public standing.

Promises, promises: The thing most Tories are eager to see delivered is (surprise, surprise) the Johnson promise to cut taxes. The PM is said to have made the pledge in a desperate plea to stop his troops shooting him. “Having a tax burden lower than the highest in 70 years would be a start,” one MP told my POLITICO colleagues Tim Ross and Eleni Courea for their write-up about why “limpet” BoJo thinks he can cling on.

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Sure enough: The Mail (not online) and Times both talk up the pressure on the PM, including from within his Cabinet, to cut personal taxes as soon as possible. But the latter paper notes that Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reluctant to do so at his next economic update in the fall, and will instead prioritize cutting business taxes. 

Indeed: In his address to the Onward think tank last night, Sunak made clear he was focused on just that. “We will be setting out a range of tax cuts and reforms to incentivize businesses to invest more, train more and innovate more,” he said. (Full spotted list for the Onward event below.) Sunak sets out more of his thinking in a piece for the Telegraph this morning. 

Indeed again: On page two of the Sun, Kate Ferguson, Harry Cole and Natasha Clark have details of what will be in the PM’s planned economic speech next week. Again, the focus appears to be on corporation tax rather than income tax. The trio also note that the PM will announce a big prefab homes drive in his housing speech tomorrow, as well as hopes to make childcare cheaper by easing regulation on nursery staff numbers. Red meat for the rebels, but will it be enough?

The problem is … it’s not clear what the mechanism is for Conservative critics to force Johnson out if he doesn’t fulfill their desires. The same MP who put Johnson on notice above argued that if 180 rebels (the number needed to boot the PM out in a ballot) submit fresh letters of no confidence to 1922 committee Chair Graham Brady, the rules would no doubt be changed to allow a second vote sooner than the 12-month wait currently required.

Don’t Roger that: Others were dismissive about the prospect of rule changes. Even arch Johnson critic Roger Gale told Playbook he wasn’t in favor of “moving the goalposts in the middle of the game … even if that’s what the PM did with the ministerial code.” Gale said the only routes to removing Johnson now are if a Cabinet revolt forces him out, or if the privileges committee finds he knowingly misled the Commons over lockdown parties in Downing Street, giving him little choice but to quit. (Bear in mind the privileges committee still hasn’t started that probe.)

Not a limpet for nothing: Don’t forget, Johnson didn’t quit after being fined by the police for breaching lockdown laws … so Playbook is doubtful a reprimand from the privileges committee will make much difference. “He never left any of his wives — they always ended up divorcing him,” one Tory MP explained to Tim and Eleni of the three-times married prime minister. “It’s the same with No. 10. He’ll never leave of his own accord. The party will have to kick him out.”

Another option … would be to make governing all-but impossible. In the Guardian, Bree Allegretti writes that some rebels are mulling “vote strikes” to block government business. “One likened the situation the prime minister faced to a scene from The Simpsons, in which the character Sideshow Bob is encircled by rakes and continually hit by them as he steps in different directions,” Allegretti notes. 

FWIW: Gale dismissed the “vote strike” suggestion, arguing Conservatives will still vote for conservative legislation — although it’s clear that rebels will be more emboldened to go rogue on plans not to their liking, possibly on things like, err, a super-controversial plan to override the Brexit agreement? 

On the other hand: Team Boris could of course also attempt to take back control of the troops via a reign of terror. One government insider told Playbook the PM was “after the blood” of the rebels, adding: “The next few days are going to be interesting.” In the Times, Steven Swinford and Henry Zeffman write that the PM is being urged to sack the 13 ministers who haven’t been clear how they voted in the confidence ballot (full list here h/t Tom Larkin.)

On that note: The variously rumored reshuffle isn’t looking imminent, according to murmurings inside Downing Street. One government aide said No. 10 seems to be flip-flopping about a reshuffle — which isn’t making for efficient governance. “The problem is every time there’s reshuffle chat, the civil service all down tools and start preparing slide decks,” the person said. 

Let’s be friends reshuffle: This might sound nuts, but some around Johnson are urging him to promote Jeremy Hunt (the PM’s former leadership rival and the most senior voice to call for him to be ousted this week) to the role of chancellor, according to the Tele’s Ben Riley Smith and Tony Diver in their splash this morning. The tale, readers will be shocked to hear, sparked swift derision from other Johnson allies (h/t John Stevens.)

Tomorrow’s Tele front: Hell to freeze over. 

Let’s not be friends reshuffle: The PM has warned ministers to get their acts together or face the sack, according to Seb Payne and George Parker in the FT. The irony was not lost on Twitter.

Or let’s just all be nice to each other? Junior minister (and alleged leadership hopeful) Penny Mordaunt has also written for the Telegraph calling for the Tories to stop fighting each other, while also happening to mention Brexit and GP services, among other things, in what is clearly not a leadership pitch. At least the piece doesn’t read like a government press release, as most ministerial op-eds do. Worth a look.

The problem is: It’s kind of impossible to know where the Conservative civil war will lurch next because the rebels aren’t a unified faction. The fight to topple Theresa May was led and organized, whereas this fight isn’t. “The disorganization is very dangerous for Boris because there’s no one he can ask to call off the dogs,” one minister told Playbook last night. “How do you kill something that isn’t quite there to kill?”

MEANWHILE, IN BREXIT

BREACH OF PROTOCOL: When (or even whether) the government brings forward its Northern Ireland protocol-busting legislation is still to be determined. It had been scheduled for today before things took a less certain turn, and now it could be tomorrow or … at some point in the future, according to government officials. The Times reckons it will appear next week. 

When law isn’t legal: Adam Payne from PolHome has seen correspondence from “a senior figure advising the government on legal matters” arguing the plan would be a breach of international law — in contrast to government claims. The person dismissed the ministerial claim that there is no alternative to unilateral suspension of parts of the Brexit agreement.

Not impressed: Government officials gave the story short shrift last night, insisting the existing position has not changed. 

Could be one for resignation watch: Sam Coates from Sky News meanwhile reports that James Eadie, the government’s independent barrister on national legal issues, hasn’t even been consulted on whether the protocol plans would break international law — but has thrown in his 2 cents nevertheless to argue the ministerial position is a bit thin. A government official told Playbook Coates is on the money.

What the bill looks like: The U.K. will propose a “dual regulatory regime” which will allow goods produced in Great Britain into Northern Ireland and vice versa with no checks, according to a readout that reached Tony Connelly from RTE. In a looong thread, worryingly reminiscent of the 2018/19 Brexit wars, Connelly explains that the government will ask businesses to, err, work out how the plan can be put into practise. Government officials didn’t push back too hard on the thread but said some of the context was missing. 

Want more protocol? DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson will be ranting about it at a Lords committee just after 3 p.m. Watch it here

BREXIT SCOOP: Science Minister George Freeman (fresh from wrangling with hacks over whether he supported the PM in the no-confidence vote) will warn the EU that Britain will set up rival science programs if Brussels continues to block access to its Horizon scheme and other research clubs in protest at the Northern Ireland protocol row. 

Freeman of speech: During a speech in Brussels, Freeman will argue that science should be above politics, after the European Commission was explicit in linking its stalling on U.K. access to Horizon to the British demands over the protocol (as revealed in a POLITICO scoop last month.)

Fighting talk: “The EU’s foot dragging is causing significant uncertainty to both British and European researchers, and time is running out,” a government insider close to the issue said. 

LABOUR LAND

SCOOP — MANDY INTERVENES: Playbook’s Eleni Courea has a preview of a major speech Peter Mandelson is giving in Durham today, in which he warns his party that it needs to come up with a proper economic plan if it hopes to win the next election. 

Get on with it, lads: The New Labour architect will say that while the party has come a long way since 2019, Labour should get on and start developing some well-thought-out policies. In an address to the North East Chamber of Commerce, he will warn Keir Starmer against announcing expensive plans without doing “hard thinking.”

Time to step up the game: In a clear swipe at the lack of depth in Labour’s policy development so far, Mandelson will point to the Labour pledge to spend £28 billion a year for 10 years on the climate transition. “This only translates into new jobs and prosperity in the U.K. if we are investing in U.K. businesses,” he will argue. “Just announcing a massive spend and a big policy goal does not in itself deliver economic growth.”

Day of the Labour interventions: Meanwhile, Starmer’s former director of communications Ben Nunn (who was spotted catching up with old colleagues in PCH yesterday) has written a piece for POLITICO arguing that rather than taking a back seat while the Tories rip themselves apart, Starmer should “frame the government’s crisis on Labour’s terms, in a way that speaks directly to the country.” 

On that note: The Guardian’s Jess Elgot has a great piece looking at the internal Labour soul-searching about how the opposition should plan its next moves against the Tories now that the public is turning against the PM. 

TODAY IN WESTMINSTER

HOUSE OF COMMONS: Sits from 11.30 a.m. with women and equalities questions followed by PMQs at noon … After any UQs or statements, MPs will move onto Michael Gove’s Leveling Up and Regeneration Bill … and then Labour’s Afzal Khan has an adjournment debate on parks and green spaces in his Manchester constituency.

HOUSE OF LORDS: Sits from 3 p.m. with questions on PM meetings with the devolved government FMs, support for domestic abuse victims and skills for farmers … Followed by the committee stage of the Schools Bill.

Committee corridor: Media Minister Julia Lopez and Health Minister Syed Kamall are up at the science and tech committee for questions on privacy and data (9 a.m.) … The work and pensions committee will look at protecting pension savers with former Pensions Ministers Ros Altmann and Steve Webb (9.15 a.m.) … The public accounts committee will hear from senior Treasury officials — including perm sec Tom Scholar — on the government’s accounts (1.30 p.m.) … and the joint committee on human rights will look at the human rights implications of the government’s Rwanda asylum plans with legal experts (3 p.m.).

DOWN WITH THE KIDS: The PM is set to make a speech to coincide with London fashion week tonight.

MEANWHILE, IN THE REAL WORLD: The big thing lots of normal people will be focused on this morning is the prospect of major rail strikes coming down the track. The Mail splashes on the union announcement. Here’s the government response from Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. The Sun front page also notes the continued air travel chaos and petrol hitting £2 a liter. 

WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO TALK ABOUT: Health Secretary Sajid Javid is announcing a shake-up in NHS management as he accepts the recommendations of a review into getting better leaders into difficult roles. The review found evidence of discrimination, bullying and blame culture in the health and social care service and a lack of equal opportunities for management to get training or for staff to get promoted. 

Now hear this: Javid is on the broadcast round to discuss the announcement. But expect more questions about the PM’s position (and the health sec’s own ambitions) than the NHS HR stuff. Javid will also do a Commons statement later. 

UP IN SMOKE: The Guardian’s Jess Elgot hears a row is brewing over a controversial recommendation — set to be made tomorrow — that the legal smoking age is raised to 21. 

PORK BARREL LATEST: The public accounts committee in a new report this morning condemns ministers for only finalizing principles for awarding leveling-up funds once they knew the identities of shortlisted bidders. The committee said the government has “past form” for failing to dish out its leveling-up bounties in an impartial way.

WHILE WESTMINSTER WAS DISTRACTED The government announced that a key northern portion of HS2 is being scrapped. The eagle-eyed Rob Parsons of the Northern Agenda newsletter spotted the written statement released at 7.30 p.m. Monday evening.

BY-ELECTION ROUND-UP: Over in Tiverton and Honiton, the Tories have mocked up a lookalike Lib Dem election leaflet that definitely isn’t a Lib Dem election leaflet … The Conservative candidate has finally backed Boris Johnson after keeping quiet about the Tory leader for a little too long for comfort … and the leader of the East Devon District Council (who was an independent) has joined the Lib Dems to back them at the vote.

STATE OF THE UNION: Lawyers working for the Scottish government cleared the SNP’s ministers to begin work on building the case for independence and prepare for a second referendum, newly released legal advice shows. What the advice — which the Scottish government initially refused to publish — doesn’t show is the important bit: whether Holyrood actually has the power to legislate for a referendum without a transfer of power from Westminster. Details here from the Scotsman’s Conor Matchett, who pushed for the advice to be released.

**Join Daniel Mes, member of cabinet of Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans, responsible for sustainable tourism after COVID at POLITICO Live’s in-person Spotlight “Tourism in a post-COVID and low-carbon world?” on June 28. Register now!**

UKRAINE UPDATE

DIGEST: Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the FT conference that Ukraine is “going to suffer more losses” due to inferior equipment, as he reinforced calls for more Western support. The president also said he was open to peace talks, though argued they would have to be conducted face to face with Vladimir Putin … The bodies of some of the Azovstal fighters killed defending Mariupol have arrived in Kyiv, according to some of the soldiers’ families. More than a thousand Ukrainian soldiers captured in Mariupol were reportedly transferred to Russia … Kyiv said last night no agreement has been reached with Russia or Turkey to allow the safe passage of its grain ships in the Black Sea … Two Brits captured by Russian forces in Ukraine — Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner — appeared in court yesterday, reportedly charged with being mercenaries.

RETURN OF THE MERK: Fresh from being called out by Zelenskyy in April for making concessions to Russia, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel used her first public interview since leaving office to mount a defense of her legacy on Russia and Ukraine. Merkel argued Putin would have invaded Ukraine earlier if she and other allies hadn’t blocked Ukraine’s 2008 NATO bid and said she didn’t blame herself for Russian aggression. POLITICO’s Hans von der Burchard has the story.

Merked: In the packed Berlin theater where the interview took place, Merkel also recalled an anecdote from meeting Putin in Sochi, in 2007. Back then, Merkel said, Putin told her that the fall of the Soviet Union had been the biggest catastrophe. Merkel, who was raised in former communist east Germany, had replied: “For me it was the most beautiful thing that could have happened.”

Scholzed: Merkel’s successor Olaf Scholz was also forced to defend his record on Ukraine last night at a press conference in Vilnius, where he argued Berlin is providing military support “more intensively than almost anyone else.” Germany is actually ranked fifth in terms of overall military support to Ukraine, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy’s tracker.

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MEDIA ROUND

Health Secretary Sajid Javid broadcast round: Sky News (7.05 a.m.) … Times Radio (7.20 a.m.) … LBC (7.50 a.m.) … Today program (8.15 a.m.) … ITV GMB (8.20 a.m.) … talkTV (8.50 a.m.).

Shadow Policing Minister Sarah Jones: GB News (7.45 a.m.) … Sky News (8.05 a.m.) … Times Radio (8.35 a.m.) … talkTV (9.05 a.m.).

Also on the Today program: Ian Blackford (6.50 a.m.) … Chair of Rail Delivery Group Steve Montgomery (7.10 a.m.) … John Bell, regius professor of medicine at the University of Oxford (7.50 a.m.).

Also on Good Morning Britain: RMT chief Mick Lynch (6.40 a.m.) … Journalist Petronella Wyatt (7.20 a.m.).

Also on Kay Burley (Sky News): Former senior Armed Forces official Richard Barrons (7.30 a.m.) … Tory peer Ros Altmann (8.30 a.m.).

Also on Nick Ferrari at Breakfast (LBC): RMT Assistant General Secretary Eddie Dempsey (7.10 a.m.) … Former Tory MEP David Campbell Bannerman (8.10 a.m.).

Also on Times Radio breakfast: Former Justice Secretary David Gauke (8.05 a.m.) … RMT Assistant General Secretary Eddie Dempsey (8.20 a.m.).

Also on talkTV breakfast show: Tory MP Miriam Cates (7.05 a.m.) … Tory peer Daniel Finkelstein (8.05 a.m.) … RMT Assistant General Secretary Eddie Dempsey (9.44 a.m.).

Politics Live (BBC Two 11.15 a.m.): Tory MP Jake Berry … Labour MP Emma Hardy … Yahoo’s Nadine Batchelor-Hunt … Former Tory SpAd Mo Hussein … Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.

Cross Question with Iain Dale (LBC 8 p.m.): Tory MP Anna Firth and Ipsos U.K. chief Kelly Beaver.

Peston (Twitter 9 p.m. and ITV 10.45 p.m.): Guests TBC.

Reviewing the papers tonight: Sky News (10.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m.): The Mail’s Andrew Pierce and the Mirror’s Kevin Maguire.

TODAY’S FRONT PAGES

(Click on the publication’s name to see its front page.)

Daily Express: Fighting back! Boris’ tax blitz to silence rebels.

Daily Mail: Hard-left rail union strike to paralyse Britain.

Daily Mirror: Can’t someone sort this out?

Daily Star: Saturday night thunder fever.

Financial Times: Stalemate with Russia ‘not an option’, Zelenskyy tells west.

Huffpost UK: Revealed — Johnson’s imperial death march.

i: Johnson faces Tory rebel war of attrition.

Metro: Total rail shutdown.

POLITICO UK: The ‘limpet’ — Why Boris Johnson believes he can cling on.

PoliticsHome: Concerns raised at top of government over legality of Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.

The Daily Telegraph: Johnson urged to make Hunt chancellor.

The Guardian: Tory MPs plot ‘vote strikes’ to keep Johnson on ropes.

The Independent: PM is warned strongman act will backfire with MPs.

The Sun: The back garden’s nice this time of year, Bob — Petrol hits £2 a litre.

The Times: Cut taxes if you want to survive, PM urged.

LONDON CALLING

WESTMINSTER WEATHER: 🌤🌤🌤 Sunny looking day. Highs of 22C.

NEW GIG: Robyn Vinter is joining the Guardian’s northern desk. Here’s the tweet.

SPOTTED: At the Onward event Rishi Sunak spoke at last night … Conservative MPs Neil O’Brien Alex BurghartClaire CoutinhoKatherine Fletcher Selaine Saxby Greg Clark Jo Gideon Miriam CatesRuth EdwardsRichard Holden Damian Green Anthony Browne James Wild Jesse Norman Robbie Moore … and John Lamont … Peers Danny Finkelstein James O’ShaughnessyCatherine Fall … and Kate Rock … Conservative bigwigs Isaac Levido and Rachel Wolf and top pollster James Johnson.

SPOTTED LATER: Going into the Carlton Club … one Rishi Sunak. His PPS Craig Williams was having a birthday bash in the swanky club.

MORE SPOTTED: At the Italian Embassy summer party in Mayfair … Italian Ambassador to London Raffaele Trombetta … Top press aide at the EU Embassy in London Federico Bianchi … Senior Italian Embassy aide Alberto La Bella … Italian Embassy press chief Aurora Russi … Repubblica legend Antonello Guerrera … Bloomberg’s Francine Lacqua … Conservative MP Alberto Costa and his staffer Will Bateman … Conservative MP Ellie Reeves … Europe Minister James Cleverly … and Chair of the 1922 committee Graham Brady, whom everyone was eavesdropping on but he was only complimenting the risotto. 

BIRTHDAYS: Newcastle-upon-Tyne North MP Cat McKinnell … Former Housing Minister Kris Hopkins … Former Boris Johnson spinner Will Walden.

PLAYBOOK COULDN’T HAPPEN WITHOUT: My editor Zoya Sheftalovich, reporter Andrew McDonald and producer Grace Stranger.

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2022-06-08 06:33:57Z
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Gun laws: More than 700 people shot dead in the US since the Texas school shooting - Sky News

There have been gun killings in 43 of the 50 US states in the two weeks since the Texas school shooting.

More than 650 incidents have resulted in 730 deaths since 24 May, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive.

Twenty-three of those who died were children, more than the total number who died in Uvalde, and 66 were teenagers.

The figures provide the deeply troubling context for politicians on Capitol Hill as they struggle to find common ground over how, or even if, to reform America's gun laws.

Politicians will hear testimony from the parents and survivors of the school shooting in Uvalde two weeks ago.

The witnesses will include 11-year-old Miah Cerrillo who smeared her dead friend's blood on herself. She played dead to survive.

The hearing by the US House of Representatives Oversight Committee is titled 'The Urgent Need to Address the Gun Violence Epidemic' and comes as Republican and Democratic politicians remain divided over the extent to which gun laws should be changed.

This chart of daily gun deaths shows that the day of Uvalde wasn't even exceptional in the US - there have only been five days since the shooting on which fewer deaths occurred from guns than on 24 May.

Most incidents involve one person dying, often after the escalation of a street fight or in domestic violence situations, or at the hands of police.

For example, on the same day as the shooting at Robb Elementary School, a 15-year-old boy was killed by a 19-year-old after a fight outside a home in Akron, Ohio.

Read more: Uvalde-born actor Matthew McConaughey calls for more gun control in White House speech
'Why only in America?' - Mark Stone challenges Ted Cruz

In Mobile, Alabama, a 24-year-old man shot dead his 61-year-old father. In Jersey City, New Jersey, a 59-year-old was killed by police after pulling a gun on his partner, and in Atlanta, Georgia, a 32-year-old killed a 31-year-old over a gambling dispute.

These are a selection of 33 incidents on 24 May alone.

Analysis: This time something feels different

Last weekend alone there were 12 mass shootings across the US.

Every time there is a particularly large one, especially if it involves children, the calls for change come. And every time, so far, little change actually emerges.

This time though, something feels different. As actor Matthew McConaughey said in the White House on Tuesday: “We are in a window of opportunity right now that we have not been in before. A window where it seems like real change, real change can happen.”

McConaughey’s plea for reform from the White House press room was powerful. At one point he punched the podium with emotion. The actor grew up in Uvalde, Texas. Are his words just wishful thinking?

At the heart of the debate is how to balance the nation’s Second Amendment rights to bear arms with the need to control how easy it is for people to get hold of them.

Is it necessary for AR-15 military style assault rifles to be on sale to anyone? Yes, say responsible gun enthusiasts; just limit who can get them.

Should the age of sale be increased? In many states you need to be 21 to buy a pistol but you can get an AR-15 at 18.

What about "red flag" laws? These would allow police, family members and co-workers to petition a court to temporarily remove a gun from a person they believe may be a threat.

Beyond the constitutional right many Americans fall back on in the debate over guns, another critical issue is influencing the debate. There is significant mistrust of law enforcement. Rather than relying on the police to defend them, many believe self-defence with their own weapons is vital. It's an issue exacerbated by the poor police response to the Uvalde shooting.

This is a country divided on so many issues, and yet, on guns, opinion polls suggest there is some degree of public agreement on the need for change and reform.

But the politicians remain deeply entrenched and on Capitol Hill the arithmetic to precipitate radical reform is just not there.

Mass shootings since Uvalde

But since Uvalde there have also been 34 mass shooting incidents in the US, where four or more people are killed or injured in one incident.

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Those 34 mass attacks have happened in 17 different states, resulting in 161 injuries and 35 deaths. There have been three new incidents in Texas alone since the Uvalde shooting.

In the first six months of 2022 there have been almost 250 mass shootings, a similar rate to the year before.


The Data and Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open source information. Through multimedia storytelling we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.

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2022-06-08 02:10:10Z
1458962092

Selasa, 07 Juni 2022

Ukraine war: Teenager returns to ruined school in prom dress she never got to wear - Sky News

Among the ruins of her school destroyed in Ukraine's war, a teenager has been pictured in the ballgown which she would have worn for her prom ceremony.

Anna Episheva, from Toronto, Canada, posted the photo of her 16-year-old niece, who she says studied at School 134 in Kharkiv before the country was invaded by Russia.

The student, called Valerie, is said to have been looking forward to the day they would graduate from school, and had been preparing with her friends for the event.

Ms Episheva's Facebook account quotes Valerie as saying: "... I'm 16 years old... Studied at school 134 in Kharkiv... had a lot of friends from school, we were like one big family...

"With the girls we were choosing dresses and were excited that everyone would be very beautiful on the prom day. But to us came 'Rysskiy World' and ruined all our plans that we so dreamed of! "

In a caption under the photo posted on Monday, Ms Episheva says: "My niece was supposed to graduate this year from her high school. She and her friends planned the graduation event, bought dresses, and were looking forward to the big day...

"Then the Russians came. Her school was directly hit and destroyed on Feb 27th, 2022.

More on Ukraine

"Today she came back to what is left of her school and her plans for the graduation. Thank you, my dear Valerie, for being strong and brave, so proud of you and love you so much. Glory to Ukraine!"

While asking people to highlight the damage done to Kharkiv and the school, she says the photo was taken and supplied by Valerie's mother, who she doesn't name.

Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, was attacked in the early days of the war as it was close to the Russian border.

A picture taken on 2 June, of another Kharkiv school, this time a primary, said to have been destroyed by Russian attacks. Pic: AP
Image: A picture taken on 2 June, of another Kharkiv school, this time a primary, said to have been destroyed by Russian attacks. Pic: AP

It came under intense fire during the early months but was never taken by Russian forces and, according to the UK Ministry of Defence, a Ukraine counter attack pushed back so that Russian units had largely withdrawn by mid-May.

However, while it is calmer than it was between February and April, air and missile strikes have continued so that, on Tuesday, one person was killed and three more wounded, local mayor Ihor Terekhov said on television.

Mr Terekhov said Russia "does not leave Kharkiv alone and constantly keeps people in fear".

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2022-06-07 17:02:37Z
CBMidWh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L3VrcmFpbmUtd2FyLXRlZW5hZ2VyLXJldHVybnMtdG8tcnVpbmVkLXNjaG9vbC1pbi1wcm9tLWRyZXNzLXNoZS1uZXZlci1nb3QtdG8td2Vhci0xMjYyOTQ5NtIBeWh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2FtcC91a3JhaW5lLXdhci10ZWVuYWdlci1yZXR1cm5zLXRvLXJ1aW5lZC1zY2hvb2wtaW4tcHJvbS1kcmVzcy1zaGUtbmV2ZXItZ290LXRvLXdlYXItMTI2Mjk0OTY

Ukraine war: Russia renews focus on northern axis as it begins handing over remains of Mariupol fighters - Sky News

Reports of heavy shelling near Izyum in the east of Ukraine suggests Russia is preparing to make a renewed effort on the northern axis, Britain's defence ministry has said.

In a tweet it said that Russia's progress made through May on the southern Popasna axis has stalled over the last week and that the country is seeking to make gains elsewhere.

"Russia will almost certainly need to achieve a breakthrough on at least one of these axes to translate tactical gains to operational level success and progress towards its political objective of controlling all of Donetsk Oblast," the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Russia has begun handing over the remains of Ukrainian fighters killed in the Azovstal steelworks, the scene of the last stand in the battle for Mariupol.

Dozens of bodies from the complex and its maze of tunnels are being taken to Kyiv for DNA testing, according to an Azov Regiment spokeswoman and one of its military leaders.

The regiment was among the Ukrainian forces holed up alongside civilians in the steelworks as it was bombarded by Russian attacks for about three months.

Ukrainian forces in Azovstal surrendered in May amid dire conditions, handing Russia control of the southern city that had endured the worst onslaught of the war.

More on Ukraine

It is unclear how many bodies may still be inside the plant.

The fate of many of the fighters who were allowed to leave is also uncertain and President Zelenskyy has said 2,500 of them are being held prisoner.

The first official confirmed swap of military remains since the war began took place on Saturday in the Zaporizhzhia region, according to Ukrainian officials.

Each side got back 160 bodies.

Anna Holovko, a spokeswoman for the Azov Regiment, said all the Ukrainians were from Azovstal and that at least 52 are thought to be from the regiment.

A former Azov leader now in Kyiv, Maksym Zhorin, confirmed that bodies from the steel plant were among those exchanged.

The state of the war on 6 June
Image: The state of the war on 6 June

Sievierodonetsk heroes 'do not give up'

Russia is now focussed on the Donbas - a region in Ukraine's east that it is determined to capture after failing to seize other areas, such as the capital Kyiv.

Sievierodonetsk, a city of about 100,000, is key to that plan and intense battles are rumbling on.

Ukraine's President Zelenskyy was near the front line earlier this week. In his nightly address on Monday, he said: "Our heroes do not give up positions in Sievierodonetsk.

"In the city, fierce street fighting continues."

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Zelenskyy visits the front line

The country's defence ministry said Russia was adding troops and equipment as it tries to capture the city - the largest remaining Ukrainian-held city in Luhansk - one of the two regions that make up the Donbas.

The battle appears finely poised with "the situation changing from hour to hour", according to Oleksandr Stryuk, head of the Sievierodonetsk administration.

Mr Zelenskyy also warned that Russian wanted to take the city of Zaporizhzhia, in the southeast, home to more than 700,000 people, a move that could see the enemy moving closer to the centre of Ukraine.

"In the Zaporizhzhia region... there is the most threatening situation there," the president said.

Both the UK and US are sending precise long-range missile systems to Ukraine so it can take on the Russian artillery that's causing so much damage in the Donbas.

President Putin warned on Sunday that new targets would be attacked if the West supplied such weapons. The same day, missiles hit Kyiv for the first time in over a month.

The M270 rocket system being donated by Britain can hit targets up to 50 miles away with 'pinpoint accuracy'
Image: The M270 rocket system being donated by Britain can hit targets up to 50 miles away

Russian envoy storms out of meeting over food crisis accusation

Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia stormed out of a Security Council meeting on Monday as European Council President Charles Michel accused Moscow of fuelling a global food crisis with its invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Michel had also accused Russian troops of war crimes and crimes against humanity, specifically citing reports of sexual violence - the focus of the Security Council meeting - and describing it as "a tactic of torture, terror and repression".

During his own statement earlier in the meeting, Mr Nebenzia had "categorically refuted" any accusations of sexual violence by Russian soldiers, condemning what he said was a "lie".

As he left the Security Council chamber during Michel's statement, a visibly irritated Mr Nebenzia told Reuters: "I
couldn't stay" because of "the lies that Charles Michel came here to distribute".

Britons could face death penalty

On Monday, two people were killed in shelling in Donetsk and Luhansk as Russian forces fired at more than 20 communities, said Ukraine's military. Russia denies targeting civilians.

The defence ministry also said Russia was advancing towards Sloviansk, a city about 53 miles (85km) west of Sievierodonetsk.

"The front line is under constant shelling," Donetsk regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on television.

"The enemy is also shelling near Lyman with the aim of wrecking our defensive positions and advancing on Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. There is also shelling of Svyatohirsk with the same aim."

Attempts are ongoing to evacuate people from the area, including from Sloviansk which has about 24,000 people still there.

"People are now understanding, though it is late, that it is time to leave," said Mr Kyrylenko.

In other developments, three British men said to have been fighting as mercenaries for Ukraine are being put on trial in the separatist Donetsk People's Republic, said the president of the self-declared breakaway region.

They could be executed if convicted of charges that include trying to seize power.

Many foreigners with military experience have travelled to Ukraine from around the world to fight in the war.

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2022-06-07 06:56:15Z
1459306367

Senin, 06 Juni 2022

London Playbook: Brady crunch — Resignation watch — Tube strike - POLITICO Europe

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Presented by Amazon.

POLITICO London Playbook

By ELENI COUREA

PRESENTED BY

Amazon

Send tips here | Subscribe for free | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser

TUBE STRIKE: A Tube strike will cause “severe disruption” and the closure of several stations today, according to TfL, which is advising against travel in the capital.

Good Monday morning. This is Eleni Courea, in the Playbook hot seat for the first part of this week.

In case you missed his farewell, Friday was Alex Wickham’s last day as Playbook editor after a two-year run which saw him break a string of agenda-setting scoops as well as delivering essential analysis in your inboxes at 7 a.m. each morning. While we recruit our next editor, I’ll be writing the email a few days a week, as will the rest of our stellar team of Playbookers Esther Webber, Emilio Casalicchio and Annabelle Dickson and ace reporter Andrew McDonald. As ever you can email me with any tips (or ask for ProtonMail/Signal).

With a pair of critical by-elections looming, the prospect of both a Tory and a Labour leadership contest this summer and speculation about an early general election, it should be a pretty quiet few months. Let’s crack on.

**A message from Amazon: This week we are in Westminster to talk about sustainability in retail, logistics and technology. Amazon is co-founder of The Climate Pledge, a group of more than 300 organisations that are committed to being net-zero carbon by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement. Find out more here.**

DRIVING THE DAY

BRADY CRUNCH: Tory MPs flocking back to Westminster are preparing for the prospect of a crunch vote to decide Boris Johnson’s fate this week — with even the PM’s allies suggesting it is now a matter of when, not if.

Postcard from Altrincham: Among those making their way back to parliament after spending a long weekend talking to constituents at Jubilee garden parties and village fetes is Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 committee who at this moment in time is the only person in the world who knows whether the requisite 54 letters of no confidence have been submitted.

Breaking this morning: Less than an hour ago, ITV’s Paul Brand tweeted: “Tory rebels expect Sir Graham Brady to make a statement this morning announcing that there will be a vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson. Only Brady knows the exact details, but this is as certain as anyone has sounded that a vote is on.”

Rebel camp: Last night Playbook spoke to Tory rebel ringleaders — insomuch as there are any — who tentatively indicated they believed they’d met the threshold. “The chances that we have done it are better than 50/50,” one letter-writer said. “I think it was hit last week — but Graham was never going to say anything before the Jubilee,” according to another.

State of play: The consensus that’s taken hold is that Brady will have held off any announcement during the Jubilee weekend and so, if the letters are in, today is the first day we would know about it. Brady maintained his trademark sphinx-like silence when approached by Playbook last night.

When not if: Several reporters including the FT’s Seb Payne, the Guardian’s Jess Elgot and Bloomberg’s Kitty Donaldson detected a shift in the mood among allies of the PM who concede that regardless of whether it happens today, a confidence vote is now a matter of time. Business Minister Paul Scully admitted on Channel 4’s Andrew Neil show last night that the party “may well have a vote of confidence” over Johnson’s leadership but insisted: “If it does happen, the prime minister, I know, will face it down.”

How will things play out?: Theresa May’s experience in 2018 is instructive. Brady told BBC Breakfast back then that he phoned May on Tuesday night when the threshold was reached to “consult her on how the process should be ordered and what the timetable for that might be,” within the parameters of party rules. May was keen on a swift resolution, so the announcement was made straight away on Wednesday morning, she addressed the 1922 committee at 5 p.m. to make her case and a ballot was held between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., with the result made public straight after.

That means: We could see a very similar sequence of events this week — suggesting that No. 10 will have some discretion over the precise day the vote is held. In his weekend read, the Sunday Times’ Tim Shipman said that Wednesday has already been penciled in by the 1922 exec.

No. 10 response: Expect to see “love bombing” of Tory waverers by No. 10, with some speculation among 2019ers that members of their intake could be offered ministerial jobs as part of the effort to keep them sweet. On the other hand, the Telegraph’s Ben Riley-Smith reports that the PM’s allies are warning there could be an early general election in their attempts to dissuade MPs from submitting letters of no confidence.

A trip back in time: Over a bowl of late-night pasta and with help from our reporter Andrew McDonald, your Playbook author has pulled together a quick run-through of what happened to previous Tory leaders who faced a confidence vote among their parliamentary party:

— Theresa May: Won her confidence vote with a majority of 83 in December 2018 and survived for a few more months before resigning following a catastrophic European Parliament election in May 2019.

— Iain Duncan Smith: Forced to resign after barely two years as Tory leader when he lost a confidence vote by 90 to 75 in October 2003.

— John Major: Triggered a leadership contest to square off against Tory Euroskeptics in June 1995; defeated his challenger John Redwood to be reelected … and went on to resoundingly lose the 1997 general election to Tony Blair.

— Margaret Thatcher: Became the only PM to be removed from office by a party leadership ballot in November 1990. Having faced down a challenge from Europhile backbencher Anthony Meyer the previous year, Thatcher was challenged again by Michael Heseltine. She won by 204 to 152 — not enough to avoid a second round under the rules at the time — and was persuaded to stand down by a Cabinet revolt.

— Ted Heath: Agreed with the 1922 committee to hold a leadership contest in February 1975 after narrowly losing the general election to Labour, and unexpectedly lost that vote to Margaret Thatcher.  

Shady Brady: The Guardian’s Jess Elgot has an enjoyable profile of the man who may become the first 1922 committee chairman to oversee two votes of no confidence.

Waiting in the wings: There is speculation that Penny Mordaunt could resign as a minister as soon as today as part of an attempt oust Johnson and stand herself, according to the Times’ Matt Dathan. Meanwhile, the Mail’s Dan Martin has on-the-record quotes from Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi, himself touted by some as a potential leadership candidate, warning that “people do not vote for divided teams” and urging his colleagues to “get behind” the PM.

Moment of truth: There are between 160 and 170 MPs on the government payroll, according to the IfG tally, a number helpfully close to the 180 MPs who need to back the PM if he is to win the confidence vote (which he is expected to do comfortably). Things will start to look very different if the very fact of a vote tips some ministers over the edge, however. “The swing votes if there is a no-confidence vote will be ministers,” one Tory rebel predicted to Playbook last night. “A lot of them will not have said anything, they’ll be scrupulously loyal in public because they take collective responsibility seriously, but depending on their seat, depending on how they rate their chances under somebody else rather than Boris, a number of them could vote against him.”

Obligatory health warning: Everyone could be wrong, the number of letters could be well under 54 and we’ll all be left scratching our heads as Brady gets on with his day job and the PM prepares to deliver a speech on housebuilding. Should that happen, then June 23 — the date of the Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton by-elections, both of which the Tories are now expected to lose — is widely seen as the next flash point for the PM. The FT’s George Parker and Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe have a fun weekend read from Tiverton.

Meeting tonight: The One Nation group of Tory MPs — a 40-strong caucus that now has the power to make or break the PM — will hold its regular weekly catch-up at 6 p.m. tonight. No prizes for guessing what they might talk about.

Dossier of doom: A document branding Johnson the “Conservative Corbyn” that did the rounds among Tory rebels over the weekend gets a good billing in most of the papers after being leaked to reporters including PolHome’s Adam Payne and the Sun’s Jonny Riley. Branded the “dossier of doom” by the Daily Mail, its provenance is unclear and the fact that it was drawn up in the exact style of a Conservative Research Department briefing has raised eyebrows. One MP speculated it could have been “set by CCHQ as a leak” (though if that were true surely they would have bothered to throw us off the scent by changing the font).

TODAY IN WESTMINSTER

HOUSE OF COMMONS: Sits from 2.30 p.m. with Work and Pensions questions, followed by any UQs or statements … MPs will then move through the second reading of the National Security Bill, which is aimed at modernizing British espionage laws … and Labour MP Dan Carden has an adjournment debate on the hospitality industry in Liverpool.

IN OTHER NEWS: It’s “health week” for No. 10 as the government attempts to shift the dial, kicking off with an announcement from NHS England that its “one stop shops” have delivered 1 million checks since the rollout began. “This week we will be setting out the progress made tackling the COVID backlog through the additional investment being put into the NHS and crucially, new ways of working,” a senior government source told Playbook.

Cost of living latest: New polling by More in Common published today suggests public concern over the cost of living has grown despite the government’s latest package of measures — 67 percent cited it as a top issue facing the country, up 3 percentage points since April. In better news for Rishi Sunak — who facing a grilling on this at a Treasury select committee hearing this afternoon — the proportion of people who think the “right amount” is being done to deal with the problem has risen from 18 percent to 29 percent, but 59 percent still think the government’s measures are insufficient. Luke Tryl, U.K. Director for More in Common: “Whatever the drama in Westminster over the next few days, it won’t change the simple fact that for the public, their first, second and third concern is the rising cost of living.”

Baltic solidarity: Liz Truss is speaking at Policy Exchange this afternoon alongside Estonian PM Kaja Kallas. “We will keep going until Russia is defeated in Ukraine and for Ukraine to be restored as a sovereign nation,” she is expected to say. “That means more weapons and more sanctions. It is imperative that we completely cut off Russian gas.” (Kallas is facing some brewing challenges of her own back home, meanwhile, after her center-right alliance broke down on Friday over welfare and education reforms.)

Whistleblower protection: With the National Security Bill getting its second reading in the Commons today, former justice sec Robert Buckland is expected to put forward an amendment that would introduce a statutory public interest defense to protect public servants who reveal state secrets in the public good. Buckland makes his case in today’s Thunderer column in the Times.

Getting the house in order: Boris Johnson is expected to give a speech in the second half of the week announcing plans to extend the right to buy to millions of people who rent from housing associations. More details in Saturday’s Times and in the Telegraph last month.

Call Keir: Over in Labour land, Keir Starmer is doing one of his regular LBC call-ins with Nick Ferrari at 9 a.m. today.

BRITISH COUNCIL SCOOP: POLITICO’s Seb Whale has a remarkable story about discrimination and harassment claims inside the British Council in Kenya. A British Council official dismissed allegations made by staff as “pure evil” during a call with company staff, a recording of which was passed to Seb. Read more here.

Committee corridor: Chancellor Rishi Sunak is up at the Treasury committee for a set-piece showdown on his support for the cost of living crisis (1.45 p.m.) … and the leveling up committee will look at local authority efforts to collect council tax arrears with councillors and industry experts (4 p.m.).

Lords: Sits from 2.30 p.m. with questions on electric vehicles, the Church of England’s report on child poverty strategy and the government’s expected international development strategy … Followed by the second reading of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill.

NURSING CRISIS: Nursing leader Pat Cullen will warn today that staffing shortages are putting hospital patients at risk, as the Royal College of Nursing’s annual conference begins in Glasgow. The nursing body has a report out to mark the conference which shows that more in eight in 10 nurses (83 percent) said the staffing levels on their last shift were not sufficient to meet the needs of patients.

NI NEWS: Former Brexit negotiator David Frost has blamed the relative “weakness” of the U.K.’s position in Brexit negotiations with the EU for shaping the Northern Ireland protocol and the issues it has caused, in the foreword to a new Policy Exchange report. The Guardian’s Jessica Elgot has more. No 10 could publish its new protocol legislation — which is expected to allow the government to override parts of the protocol — as soon as later this week.

UKRAINE UPDATE

WAR RETURNS TO KYIV: Russian missiles hit Kyiv Sunday, ending weeks of calm in the Ukrainian capital. Cruise missiles hit targets on the capital’s outskirts — Moscow claims it was aiming for a site storing armored vehicles, Kyiv claims it hit a train repair plant. The fresh attack came alongside a warning from Vladimir Putin that Russia would expand its range of targets if Ukraine received more long-range weapons from the U.S. and other Western countries, after the former agreed to send Ukraine more long-range artillery last week. Here’s the Times write-up.

Digest: ICYMI over the jubilee weekend, French President Emmanuel Macron again said the West should not “humiliate” Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ukraine so as to preserve the chance to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis … A Russian state media journalist claimed that a Russian general was killed during fighting in eastern Ukraine. The fiercest fighting continues to take place in the key city of Severodonetsk … Spain is to send tanks and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, according to El País … and Ukraine’s world-cup dreams were dashed by Wales last night — here’s Mari Eccles match report for POLITICO.

NFI: Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit to Serbia today has been canceled, the Russian state-run Interfax press agency reported Sunday. The move came after Serbian newspaper Danas reported Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Montenegro had closed their airspace to Lavrov’s plane.

**A message from Amazon: Amazon has launched the Right Now Climate Fund, committing €20 million to restore and protect forests, wetlands, and peatlands in Europe. Find out more here.**

MEDIA ROUND

Health Secretary Sajid Javid broadcast round: Sky News (7.05 a.m.) … Times radio (7.20 a.m.) … BBC Breakfast (7.30 a.m.) … LBC (7.50 a.m.) … talkTV (9 a.m.).

Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting: BBC Breakfast (6.30 a.m.) … talkTV (7.45 a.m.) … Sky News (8.05 a.m.) … Times radio (8.35 a.m.).

Also on BBC Breakfast: Crossbench peer Tanni Grey-Thompson (7.10 a.m.).

Also on Kay Burley (Sky News): Former No. 10 pollster James Johnson (8.30 a.m.).

Also on Nick Ferrari at Breakfast (LBC): TFL COO Andy Lord (7.40 a.m.) … Phone-in with Labour leader Keir Starmer (9 a.m.).

Also on Times Radio breakfast: Oncologist Pat Price (7.50 a.m.) … Tory MP Michael Fabricant (8.07 a.m.) … Jill Rutter, senior fellow at the Institute for Government and former senior civil servant (8.15 a.m.).

Also on talkTV breakfast show: Tory peer Robert Hayward (8 a.m.) … Tory MP James Sunderland (8.45 a.m.) … Reclaim deputy leader Martin Daubney (9.15 a.m.).

Politics Live (BBC Two 12.15 p.m.): Tory MP Brendan Clarke-Smith … Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy … The Telegraph’s Camilla Tominey … Guardian columnist Rafael Behr.

The Briefing with Gloria De Piero (GB News noon): Tory MP Nigel Mills … Labour MP Carolyn Harris … Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

Cross Question with Iain Dale (LBC 8 p.m.): Green peer Natalie Bennett … Tory London Assembly Member Emma Best … New Statesman’s Rachel Cunliffe … Historian David Starkey.

Reviewing the paper’s tonight: Sky News (10.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m.): The Mirror’s Pippa Crerar and the Times’ Matt Dathan.

TODAY’S FRONT PAGES

(Click on the publication’s name to see its front page.)

Bloomberg: Johnson Braced for Tory Rebels to Force Confidence Vote in Days.

Daily Express: My heart has been with you all.

Daily Mail: My heart has been with you all.

Daily Mirror: My heart is with you all.

Daily Star: Long to rain over us.

Financial Times: IPO values plummet 90 percent in Europe and U.S. as inflation and war take toll.

i: Vote on Johnson future turning toxic for Tories.

Metro: Majical.

POLITICO UK: British Council criticized for handling of discrimination complaints.

PoliticsHome: Tory rebels warn party faces ‘substantial’ election defeat under Boris Johnson in leaked document.

The Daily Telegraph: ‘While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all’ — The queen’s platinum jubilee.

The Guardian: Johnson allies accept vote of no confidence in PM is close.

The Independent: Climate cost of Sunak’s tax breaks for fossil fuels.

The Sun: Thank you, ma’am.

The Times: Queen’s balcony message — this is the future of our monarchy.

LONDON CALLING

NOW HIRING: Times Radio’s Matt Chorley is recruiting an executive producer. Guido Fawkes is hiring paid summer interns for three weeks at a time.

WESTMINSTER WEATHER: ☁️☁️☁️ Dry and breezy. Highs of 18C.

BIRTHDAYS: Government Whip Amanda Solloway … Wycombe MP Steve Baker … Bracknell MP James Sunderland … Labour peer and former Home Secretary David Blunkett … Lib Dem peer Jamie Palumbo … Former Supreme Court Judge Jonathan Mance.

PLAYBOOK COULDN’T HAPPEN WITHOUT: My editor Zoya Sheftalovich, reporter Andrew McDonald and producer Grace Stranger.

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiXmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnBvbGl0aWNvLmV1L25ld3NsZXR0ZXIvbG9uZG9uLXBsYXlib29rL2JyYWR5LWNydW5jaC1yZXNpZ25hdGlvbi13YXRjaC10dWJlLXN0cmlrZS_SAWJodHRwczovL3d3dy5wb2xpdGljby5ldS9uZXdzbGV0dGVyL2xvbmRvbi1wbGF5Ym9vay9icmFkeS1jcnVuY2gtcmVzaWduYXRpb24td2F0Y2gtdHViZS1zdHJpa2UvYW1wLw?oc=5

2022-06-06 06:32:21Z
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