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Chancellor Olaf Scholz 's party said Monday it sees no need for changes to the German leader's often-criticized approach to the war in Ukraine after an election in Germany's most populous state brought a clear defeat for his center-left Social Democrats . Germany's main opposition party, the center-right Christian Democratic Union , took 35.7% of the vote to win Sunday's election in North Rhine-Westphalia state, home to nearly 18 million people. It finished nine points ahead of Scholz's Social Democrats, despite expectations of a closer race in what was long a center-left stronghold. A combination of local and national factors appeared to have led to the result, which came with a feeble turnout of only 55.5%. The CDU's national leader, Friedrich Merz, argued that foreign and security policy played a significant role and that was “decidedly negative” for Scholz's party. Scholz declared in February that the Russian invasion of Ukraine marked a “turning point” and … [Read more...] about Scholz’s party keeps Ukraine policy despite state vote loss

The Bank of England has been “slow off the mark” raising interest rates to combat inflation, a former minister has said, raising pressure on Andrew Bailey to get a grip on the cost-of-living crisis . Mel Stride, chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, said the Bank failed to spot the emerging “wage-price spiral”, heightening the risk that the Monetary Policy Committee will have to raise interest rates more rapidly to cool the economy. Echoing comments he made to the Telegraph last week , Mr Stride told BBC Radio 4: “The area where you can criticise the Bank, and we will be pressing the Governor hard this afternoon, is what has been happening in the labour market, which has become very overheated, and I think we are not in the foothills of a wage-price spiral, with wages chasing higher prices, leading to higher wages in turn. “There, I think, the Bank of England, the MPC, has been rather slow off the mark, and I think that is going to lead to a requirement for a more … [Read more...] about Andrew Bailey faces scrutiny as Bank of England accused of being ‘slow off the mark’ on inflation

Scotland’s largest wind farm is using a net-zero loophole to exploit the cost of living crisis , government sources have suggested. Ministers are planning to tighten rules over contracts with wind farms as they ordered talks with Moray East, after it emerged owners were making profits from record energy prices instead of paying back to the taxpayer. Kwasi Kwarteng , the Business Secretary, is looking into ways to stop the loophole being exploited in future contracts, amidst concerns that wind farms are profiting whilst households struggle to pay bills . Developers could lose out on subsidies for planned new wind farms , or be forced to pay a forfeit in future contracts if they profit from high gas prices. The Government provides wind farm producers a guaranteed price for their electricity in order to stimulate the development of renewable energy. However, some developers are choosing to sell freely on the wholesale market during record energy prices to avoid … [Read more...] about Scotland’s largest wind farm ‘using net-zero loophole to exploit cost of living crisis’

The Russian military said on Monday it has agreed to extract wounded Ukrainian troops trapped in Mariupol’s sprawling steel works to safety as wives of the soldiers came to Turkey to plead for an urgent evacuation. The Azovstal plant has been the sole pocket of Ukrainian residence since Russia pummelled the city with airstrikes into submission before seizing it last month. Moscow has condemned the defenders of Azovstal , most of whom belong to the Azov battalion, as Nazis who can surrender to the Russians if they wish to leave. Russia’s defence ministry said on Monday it has reached a deal with Ukraine following a weeks-long standoff to take out the wounded men to safety. The agreement would mean the troops would be taken to a hospital in a separatist-controlled town, making them prisoners of war. Ukrainian officials have not commented on the reports. Several hundred Ukrainian troops are believed to be holed up at Azovstal, one of Europe’s biggest steel plants which … [Read more...] about Russia says it’s willing to evacuate wounded Ukrainian troops from Mariupol steelworks

Last Tuesday, I was invited onto Nick Ferrari’s daily breakfast show on LBC Radio for what I thought would be a conversation about racial microaggressions. This was following the decision by the NHS leadership academy to feature Nova Reid’s 2019 TED Talk in which she said that “racial microaggressions can cause more harm than overt acts of hate”. In trying to explain why racial microaggressions, like all forms of racism, can be deeply harmful, I used the term “person of colour” to which Nick took exception, making the pedantic and flawed claim that as a white man, he was a person of colour. This, of course, is not true. Person of colour/people of colour (PoC) is widely accepted terminology that refers to those not racialised as white, ie racial or ethnic minorities. It is a term that is more commonly used in America, but it has also been used by anti-racist activists and scholars in the UK. Nick, I’m sure, knew this, but chose to argue, I believe in bad faith, by … [Read more...] about Can white people ever be referred to as ‘people of colour’?

Ben Crump, the Rev. Al Sharpton says, is “Black America’s attorney general.” In less than a decade, the Florida-based attorney has become the voice for the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown Breonna Taylor and George Floyd -- Black people whose deaths at the hands of police and vigilantes sparked a movement. He has won multimillion-dollar settlements in police brutality cases. He’s pushed cities to ban no-knock warrants. He has told a congressional committee that reform is needed because “it’s become painfully obvious we have two systems of justice; one for white Americans and one for Black Americans ” And he’s stood with Black farmers taking on an agribusiness giant, and families exposed to lead-contaminated water in Flint, Michigan. “He’s a real believer in what he’s doing. He has taken the attacks. He has taken the cases that others wouldn’t take,” Sharpton said, adding, “ People can go to him. The reason I trust him is because he has never misled … [Read more...] about ‘Black America’s attorney general’ seems to be everywhere

The city of Buffalo, New York, is grieving following a mass shooting at a Tops supermarket that left 10 people dead and another three wounded on Saturday. Resident Myles Carter was just a few blocks from the scene that day, and the sounds of his neighbors crying out in agony over the news have been replaying in his head since the attack. "It's a heart-wrenching sound," Carter told ABC News. "I heard that sound over and over and over again, for a long period of time." The attack, which authorities are calling a racially motivated hate crime, left the predominantly Black community shaken, residents say, but they remain strong in their efforts to take care of and protect one another in the face of white supremacy. MORE: Buffalo suspect had plans to continue his killing rampage: Commissioner "We just need to go ahead and make plans to take care of ourselves because it is clear that these elected officials aren't going to do it," said Shaimaa Aakil, a community … [Read more...] about Black Buffalo residents stand united in wake of shooting

UFC lightweight Islam Makhachev wants to face Charles Oliveira for the vacant title in October, and believes he will beat the Brazilian at his own game of submission grappling. Makhachev (22-1) is expected to fight Oct. 22 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where he is very popular with the region's Muslim population. The question of whom he will fight is a big one in determining the UFC's schedule in the second half of 2022. UFC president Dana White has stated he wants Makhachev to fight Beneil Dariush , but Makhachev is also an obvious candidate to face Oliveira (33-8). "We don't have a champion," Makhachev told ESPN. "Charles is a contender. That's why it's going to be for the title. I deserve it. I have a 10-fight win streak." Oliveira, of Brazil, is widely viewed as the defending champion -- even though, officially, he is not. The 32-year-old missed weight by one half-pound ahead of a scheduled defense against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274 on May 7 in Phoenix. … [Read more...] about Islam Makhachev calls for Charles Oliveira, wants to submit him in ‘his area’

New Orleans Saints coach Dennis Allen says a cryptic tweet by Drew Brees , who hinted at a possible return to football, was likely "made in jest." Brees created a social media stir Sunday night when, as part of a tweet to address "speculation" about his future, he said he "may play football again." Brees, 43, retired from football in March 2021 and spent last season as an NFL analyst for NBC. The 13-time Pro Bowl quarterback tweeted Sunday in apparent response to the New York Post, which reported that Brees will not return to NBC for the 2022 season. Allen, speaking Monday at the Saints' Hall of Fame golf tournament from Kenner, Louisiana, said there have been no discussions about a Brees comeback in New Orleans. "I think it was a comment made in jest, and we certainly haven't had any conversations in that regard," Allen said. Brees also tweeted his excitement over the Saints' recent signings of former LSU stars Tyrann Mathieu and Jarvis Landry . Brees is second … [Read more...] about Drew Brees tweet hinting at possible comeback likely ‘made in jest,’ New Orleans Saints coach Dennis Allen says

"The Nature Boy" will make the walk one final time. Ric Flair, one of the most well-known and revered professional wrestlers in history, will perform in one last match July 31, sources told ESPN on Monday. Flair, 73, will step into the ring at the Nashville Fairgrounds on an independent card that will stream live on FITE TV. Flair, a two-time WWE Hall of Famer and 16-time world champion, has not wrestled in a match since Sept. 12, 2011, a bout for Impact Wrestling against longtime rival Sting. His last WWE match was in 2008 at WrestleMania XXIV against Shawn Michaels. Flair's opponent for July 31 remains unclear. It's also unknown whether it will be a singles or tag team match. "I'm going to walk that aisle one last time to prove once and for all that to be the Man, you've got to beat the Man," Flair said in a statement to ESPN. Flair's final match will take place the day after WWE SummerSlam, which also is in Nashville. The event will take place immediately after the … [Read more...] about Legendary WWE wrestler Ric ‘The Nature Boy’ Flair to step in ring one final time in July, according to sources