Nigel Farage is facing a backlash over his claim that the West “provoked” Russia into invading Ukraine, as a result of Nato expansion. Rishi Sunak accused him of “appeasement”, and hit back at claims that Sunak not understand “our culture”. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer told reporters that “Putin bears responsibility, sole responsibility, for the Russian aggression in Ukraine”.
However, Labour is trying to shift focus onto the Farage drama after JK Rowling accused Starmer of abandoning women’s rights in the Times last night. Rowling's comments come after Starmer appeared to shift his position on transgender rights in Thursday's election debate. Last year, the Labour leader said "99.9% of women" do not have a penis and in 2021 stated it was "not right" for Labour MP Rosie Duffield to say that "only women have a cervix". On Thursday, he said he agreed with Tony Blair's position on the issue, saying "biologically, a woman is with a vagina and a man is with a penis". (Times)
The Biden administration has set out its latest plans to curb the modernisation of China’s military with a new regulation restricting US investment in Chinese tech (FT). The Treasury hopes to restrict the flow of US technology, capital and expertise to groups in China that work with the People’s Liberation Army. The regulation would introduce outright bans on certain investments, covering everything from equity investments to debt financing that is convertible to equity.
Meanwhile, China has threatened to impose the death penalty f or “diehard” Taiwan independence separatists, even though Chinese courts have no jurisdiction on the island. The notice Beijing released on Friday specified the death penalty for “ringleaders” of independence efforts who “cause particularly serious harm to the state and the people”. People could be charged for promoting Taiwan’s statehood, having “external official exchanges” and “suppressing” parties, groups and people that promote “reunification” (Reuters).
Four members of the UK's richest family have received prison sentences for exploiting staff brought over from India to work at their Geneva villa. Prakash and Kamal Hinduja, as well as their son Ajay and his wife Namrata, were found guilty of exploitation and illegal employment, and handed sentences ranging from four to four-and-a-half years.
They were acquitted on the more serious charge of human trafficking. Three workers who were brought over from their native India alleged the family paid them £7 to work 18-hour days and confiscated their passports. They also claimed the family - whose fortune is estimated at around £37bn - rarely allowed them to leave the house (BBC).
Kyiv’s security service has charged two people for allegedly publishing Ukrainian military positions on social media. One suspect posted firing locations in the Kupiansk district of the Kharkiv region, as well as defensive positions near Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region (Telegraph).
The man allegedly shared the details to his Telegram channel, which had a following of over 140,000 users. According to the SBU, the man also livestreamed the movement of armoured vehicles and artillery systems. Plus, Ukraine’s energy facilities have come under a “massive” attack from Russia overnight, in the latest onslaught targeting the country's power grid. It is the eighth time Russia has launched an attack on energy infrastructure facilities in the past three months.
A satellite developed by France and China has blasted off on a hunt for the mightiest explosions in the universe, in a rare example of cooperation. The 930kg (2,050-pound) satellite carrying four instruments – two French, two Chinese – took off aboard a Chinese Long March 2C rocket from a base in Xichang. The Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) will seek out gamma-ray bursts, the light from which has travelled billions of light years to reach Earth. The extremely bright cosmic beams can give off a blast of energy equivalent to more than that of a billion suns.(Al Jazeera)
And the White House has grown anxious about Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming address to a joint session of Congress, believing the Israeli prime minister could use the forum to criticize Joe Biden for not supporting the retaliation against Hamas in Gaza enough.
The speech next month could create a diplomatically complicated and politically dicey spectacle for a president running for reelection. Fears among West Wing aides have grown in recent days as Netanyahu has made a series of public statements — including one in a video address delivered in English — accusing the administration of withholding more military aid than has been publicly disclosed. Biden aides increasingly believe that the Israeli leader is prolonging the conflict to stay in power — and that he would prefer Donald Trump return to the White House. Aides also anticipate that Netanyahu will ask for more assistance without any conditions — something they suspect will be icily received by Democrats.