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In his final column, the Observer’s foreign affairs commentator says America under Trump is not the first time it has caused trouble for allies America spells trouble for Britain. That’s undoubtedly true in the age of Trump – but maybe it’s always been so. The White House’s undisguised contempt for loyal allies in the UK and Europe necessitates a robust reciprocal rethink. How healthy – and desirable – is this partnership? Has it caused more problems than it’s worth? Those, myself included, who throughout their professional lives have taken close transatlantic ties for granted, face some awkward questions. Is the US-UK “special relationship” an embarrassment, even a strategic liability? Today’s America is evidently not a trustworthy, disinterested friend . Was it ever? Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/uKl6sxp

About 200,00 barrels of jet fuel to be transferred before Stena Immaculate is taken to north-east coast for inspection A US oil tanker that was hit by a container ship in the North Sea is to be towed to the north-east of England after more than 200,000 barrels of jet fuel are removed over the weekend, a maritime company has said. The Solong collided with the anchored tanker Stena Immaculate about 12 miles off the coast of East Yorkshire on 10 March, leaving one man missing, presumed dead. Crowley, which manages the Stena Immaculate, said salvage and recovery operations are moving into the next phase. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/vcmJ5iW

Vice-president criticises Denmark’s treatment of Arctic island and says it should come under US ‘security umbrella’ JD Vance told troops in Greenland that the US has to gain control of the Arctic island to stop the threat of China and Russia as he doubled down on criticising Denmark, which he said “have not done a good job”. Under increasingly strained relations between the White House and Greenland and Denmark, the US vice-president said during a visit to Pituffik space base on Friday: “Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland. You have underinvested in the people of Greenland and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/ANDJCac

Exclusive: early stage trials of drug that uses antibiotics finds benefits for people whose pain is caused by infection Millions of people worldwide with severe back pain may be able to get relief from a new drug that uses antibiotics rather than painkillers to tackle the condition. Doctors who have tested the drug said it could be “a gamechanger” for the one in four people whose lower back pain is caused by an infection rather than a muscular or spinal problem. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/CZhgO5S

About a third of children were living in deprivation even before this week’s benefit cuts. This appalling situation can’t go on A record 4.5 million children in the UK were growing up in poverty in the year to April 2024, according to figures released on Thursday, which provide a chilling backdrop to the government’s newly announced benefit cuts. Staff at a Blackpool charity, Disability First, have received “ terrified phone calls ” as claimants struggle to understand how the disability benefit reductions in the chancellor’s spring statement will affect them. About a third of children live in deprivation. Those with lone parents, or two or more siblings, or in families where someone is disabled are overrepresented among the poorest households. This is hardship of a scale and severity that can be hard to comprehend for those who have not experienced or seen it. Recent research from the Trades Union Congress revealed that 17% of workers surveyed had skipped a meal to save m...

Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/PDCJKpr

Destruction of statue by RAF engineers described as ‘the antithesis of everything Paddington stands for’ Great-aunt Lucy asked Britons to “please look after” Paddington Bear when he arrived on UK shores. Perhaps she was thinking of the risks of him running into two RAF engineers out on a bender in Berkshire. Fortunately, Paddington’s aunt didn’t have to watch the CCTV footage shown to Reading magistrates court on Tuesday of Daniel Heath and William Lawrence tearing apart a newly installed statue of her nephew – before absconding with the severed half. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/MFyTEgV