UK Joins US, France in Backing Morocco Plan for West Sahara
The UK backed Morocco's plan to administer the disputed territory of Western Sahara, in a historic shift mirroring moves by France and the US.
London considers Morocco's proposal, under which it would keep sovereignty over the territory while granting it limited autonomy, the 'most credible, viable and pragmatic basis' to resolve the half-century dispute, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Sunday.
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Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
UK government ready to take Abramovich to court over Chelsea sale proceeds for Ukraine
Three years after Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich was forced to sell Premier League club Chelsea, the British government said on Tuesday it was prepared to go to court to ensure the proceeds reached war victims in Ukraine. Abramovich was sanctioned in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and sold two-time Champions League winner Chelsea to a consortium fronted by Americans Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital for 2.5 billion pounds ($3.2 billion) in May of that year. Abramovich said before the sale that net proceeds would go to a charitable foundation 'for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine.' But the money remained frozen in a bank and the British government said it was still to make its way to those in need. A joint statement by Treasury chief Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the government was ready to mount legal action. 'The government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia's illegal full-scale invasion. We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far,' they said. 'While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.' Abramovich was sanctioned when the British government targeted what then-Foreign Secretary Liz Truss described as 'oligarchs and kleptocrats' with close links to Russian President Vladimir Putin and 'complicit in his aggression.' The funds from the sale, however, still belong to Abramovich even though they are frozen. They cannot be used or moved without the issue of a licence from the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation. The government insists they must be used for humanitarian purposes in Ukraine. ___ James Robson is at ___ AP soccer:
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Washington Post
We finally may be able to rid the world of mosquitoes. But should we?
They buzz, they bite and they cause some of the deadliest diseases known to humanity. Mosquitos are perhaps the planet's most universally reviled animals. If we could zap them off the face of the Earth, should we? The question is no longer hypothetical. In recent years, scientists have devised powerful genetic tools that may be able to eradicate mosquitoes and other pests once and for all. Now, some doctors and scientists say it is time to take the extraordinary step of unleashing gene editing to suppress mosquitoes and avoid human suffering from malaria, dengue, West Nile virus and other serious diseases. 'There are so many lives at stake with malaria that we want to make sure that this technology could be used in the near future,' said Alekos Simoni, a molecular biologist with Target Malaria, a project aiming to target vector mosquitos in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet the development of this technology also raises a profound ethical question: When, if ever, is it okay to intentionally drive a species out of existence. Even the famed naturalist E.O. Wilson once said: 'I would gladly throw the switch and be the executioner myself' for malaria-carrying mosquitos. But some researchers and ethicists warn it may be too dangerous to tinker with the underpinnings of life itself. Even irritating, itty-bitty mosquitoes, they say, may have enough inherent value to keep around. Target Malaria is one of the most ambitious mosquito suppression efforts in the works. Simoni and his colleagues are seeking to diminish populations of mosquitoes in the Anopheles gambiae complex that are responsible for spreading that deadly disease. In their labs, the scientists have introduced a gene mutation that causes female mosquito offspring to be born without functional ovaries, rendering them infertile. Male mosquito offspring can carry the gene but remain physically unaffected. The concept is that when female mosquitoes inherit the gene from both their mother and father, they will go on to die without producing offspring. Meanwhile, when males and females carrying just one copy of the gene mate with wild mosquitoes, they will spread the gene further until no fertile females are left — and the population crashes. Simoni said he hopes the project can move beyond the lab and deploy some of the genetically modified mosquitoes in their natural habitats within the next five years. 'We believe that this technology can really be transformative,' he said. At the heart of Target Malaria's work is a powerful genetic tool called a gene drive. Under the normal rules of inheritance, a parent has a 50-50 chance of passing a particular gene on to an offspring. But by adding special genetic machinery — dubbed a gene drive — to segments of DNA, scientists can rig the coin flip and ensure a gene is included in an animal's eggs and sperm, nearly guaranteeing it will be passed along. Over successive generations, gene drives can cause a trait to spread across an entire species' population, even if that gene doesn't benefit the organism. In that way, gene drives do something remarkable: They allow humans to overwrite Charles Darwin's rules for natural selection, which normally prods populations of plants and animals to adapt to their environment over time. 'Technology is presenting new options to us,' said Christopher Preston, a University of Montana environmental philosopher. 'We might've been able to make a species go extinct 150 years ago by harpooning it too much or shooting it out of the sky. But today, we have different options, and extinction could be completed or could be started in a lab.' When so many wildlife conservationists are trying to save plants and animals from disappearing, the mosquito is one of the few creatures that people argue is actually worthy of extinction. Forget about tigers or bears — it's the tiny mosquito that is the deadliest animal on Earth. The human misery caused by malaria is undeniable. Nearly 600,000 people died of the disease in 2023, according to the World Health Organization, with the majority of cases in Africa. On the continent, the death toll is akin to 'crashing two Boeing 747s into Kilimanjaro' every day, said Paul Ndebele, a bioethicist at George Washington University. For gene-drive advocates, making the case for releasing genetically modified mosquitoes in nations such as Burkina Faso or Uganda is straightforward. 'This is not a difficult audience because these are people that are living in an area where children are dying,' said Krystal Birungi, an entomologist for Target Malaria in Uganda, though she added that she sometimes has to fight misinformation, such as the false idea that bites from genetically modified mosquitoes can make people sterile. But recently, the Hastings Center for Bioethics, a research institute in New York, and Arizona State University brought together a group of bioethicists to discuss the potential pitfalls of intentionally trying to drive a species to extinction. In a policy paper published in the journal Science last month, the group concluded 'deliberate full extinction might occasionally be acceptable, but only extremely rarely.' A compelling candidate for total eradication, according to the bioethicists, is the New World screwworm. This parasitic fly, which lays eggs in wounds and eats the flesh of both humans and livestock, appears to play little role in ecosystems. Infections are difficult to treat and can lead to slow and painful deaths. Yet it may be too risky, they argue, to use gene drives on invasive rodents on remote Pacific islands where they decimate native birds, given the nonzero chance of a gene-edited rat or mouse jumping ship to the mainland and spreading across a continent. 'Even at a microbial level, it became plain in our conversations, we are not in favor of remaking the world to suit human desires,' said Gregory Kaebnick, a senior research scholar at the institute. It's unclear how important malaria-carrying mosquitos are to broader ecosystems. Little research has been done to figure out whether frogs or other animals that eat the insects would be able to find their meals elsewhere. 'The eradication of the mosquito through a genetic technology would have the potential to create global eradication in a way that just felt a little risky,' said Preston, who contributed with Ndebele to the discussion published in Science. Instead, the authors said, geneticists should be able to use gene-editing, vaccines and other tools to target not the mosquito itself, but the single-celled Plasmodium parasite that is responsible for malaria. That invisible microorganism — which a mosquito transfers from its saliva to a person's blood when it bites — is the real culprit. 'You can get rid of malaria without actually getting rid of the mosquito,' Kaebnick said. He added that at a time when the Trump administration talks cavalierly about animals going extinct, intentional extinction should be an option for only 'particularly horrific species.' But Ndebele, who is from Zimbabwe, noted that most of the people opposed to the elimination of the mosquitoes 'are not based in Africa.' Ndebele has intimate experience with malaria; he once had to rush his sick son to a hospital after the disease manifested as a hallucinatory episode. 'We're just in panic mode,' he recalled. 'You can just imagine — we're not sure what's happening with this young guy.' Still, Ndebele and his colleagues expressed caution about using gene-drive technology. Even if people were to agree to rid the globe of every mosquito — not just Anopheles gambiae, but ones that transmit other diseases or merely bite and irritate — it would be a 'herculean undertaking,' according to Kaebnick. There are more than 3,500 known species, each potentially requiring its own specially designed gene drive. And there is no guarantee a gene drive would wipe out a population as intended. Simoni, the gene-drive researcher, agreed there are limits to what the technology can do. His team's modeling suggests it would suppress malaria-carrying mosquitoes only locally without outright eliminating them. Mosquitoes have been 'around for hundreds of millions of years,' he said. 'It's a very difficult species to eliminate.'
Associated Press
3 hours ago
- Associated Press
Rugette Expands into U.S. Market with Stylish, Washable Rugs Designed for Modern Living
United Kingdom, June 3, 2025 -- Rugette, a UK-based brand known for its design-forward approach to washable rugs, has officially launched in the United States. With a focus on combining contemporary aesthetics and practical functionality, the brand aims to reshape how rugs are viewed and used in everyday interiors. Washable rugs are increasingly influencing interior design trends, offering an alternative to traditional high-maintenance options. Rugette has positioned itself at the forefront of this movement by designing rugs that are both visually impactful and suited to the needs of today's households. The collection ranges from soft neutrals to bold patterns, with each design crafted to balance artistic expression with utility. A Design-Led Approach to Everyday Functionality 'Our goal is to create rugs that are as practical as they are beautiful,' said the CMO of Rugette. 'We're passionate about offering rug designs that make life more practical without compromising on aesthetics. That's why we produce washable rugs that are hypoallergenic and pet-friendly—ideal for busy homes, families, and design lovers alike.' All Rugette rugs feature a low-pile surface, making them gentle on feet and paws while ensuring easy maintenance. The range is designed to be dust-free and durable, with options suitable for a variety of spaces including area rugs, outdoor rugs and kitchen rugs. Meeting the Needs of Diverse Households The brand's expansion into the U.S. brings a wide selection of rug sizes, including runners and extra-large area rugs, to accommodate different room layouts. The collection is designed to complement a wide spectrum of interiors, from clean-lined modern spaces to vibrant bohemian settings. With washable materials and user-friendly features, Rugette rugs are well-suited to environments where spills, pet hair, and high foot traffic are part of daily life. This practical orientation has helped the brand build a loyal customer base in the UK, and now, Rugette aims to bring the same level of design-conscious convenience to households across the United States. Extensive Size and Shape Range To ensure a precise fit for any space, Rugette offers rugs in 67 different size variations across five distinct shapes: rectangle, runner, square, round, and oval. This extensive range provides versatility for furnishing rooms both large and small, from compact entryways to open-plan living areas. The variety in shapes also supports diverse layout styles, allowing customers to integrate rugs seamlessly into both traditional and unconventional room configurations. Shipping and Returns Policy To support its U.S. rollout, Rugette offers complimentary shipping, and a 30-day return policy. The goal of these services is to make the shopping experience more accessible and reassuring for potential buyers. About Rugette Rugette is a UK-based rug brand focused on creating high-quality, machine-washable rugs with distinctive design and dependable functionality. With an emphasis on thoughtful patterns, modern color palettes, and everyday practicality, Rugette rugs are made to complement and withstand contemporary lifestyles. Following strong reception in the United Kingdom, the brand is now expanding its reach to the United States. Contact Info: Name: Betul Konuralp Unsal Email: Send Email Organization: Rugette Website: Release ID: 89161371 In case of identifying any errors, concerns, or inconsistencies within the content shared in this press release that necessitate action or if you require assistance with a press release takedown, we strongly urge you to notify us promptly by contacting [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our expert team is committed to addressing your concerns within 8 hours by taking necessary actions diligently to rectify any identified issues or supporting you with the removal process. Delivering accurate and reliable information remains our top priority.
