Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky says new peace talks in Turkey tomorrow after previous fail to end conflict
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The Independent
19 minutes ago
- The Independent
Italy constitutional court says non-biological mother in same-sex union entitled to paternity leave
Italy's constitutional court has ruled that the non-biological mother in a same-sex union is entitled to paternity leave, equating her role with that of the father and therefore entitled to bonding time with a newborn. The court found Monday that a 2001 decree on parental leave was unconstitutional because it didn't recognize that the non-biological mother in a lesbian civil union was also entitled to Italy 's mandatory 10-day paternity leave. The court argued that the child's interest in having time with both parents, and the parents responsibilities, didn't depend on their sexual orientation. It's the second ruling in as many months hailed by LGBTQ+ activists amid efforts by the far-right-led government of Premier Giorgia Meloni to crack down on surrogacy and promote traditional family values. In May, the constitutional court ruled that two women can register as parents of a child on a birth certificate, saying recognition of parental rights can't be restricted to the biological mother alone in families with same-sex parents. Italy has strong restrictions on IVF and has had a ban on surrogacy since 2004. Last year, under the Meloni government, the country expanded the ban to criminalize Italians who go abroad to have children through surrogacy. Monday's ruling addresses women who have gone abroad for legally procured IVF treatments. As with the May ruling, the association Pro Life and Family criticized the court's decision as 'ridiculous,' citing it as further evidence of how 'gender craziness' was impacting Italy's social and legal order. Lawmaker Alessandro Zan, who has long pushed for greater LGBTQ+ rights in Italy, hailed the ruling as an historic end to an 'unjust and cruel discrimination.' ' Justice reminds the government of a simple principle: love is family, and every boy and girl is entitled to the care and protection of both parents, without discrimination,' he said in a social media post.
The Independent
19 minutes ago
- The Independent
US to leave UN agency again, citing anti-Israel bias
The United States is set to withdraw from UNESCO again, citing the agency's perceived anti-Israel bias. This marks the second instance of the US leaving UNESCO during a Trump administration, following a previous withdrawal and subsequent rejoining under the Biden administration. The decision to pull out will become effective at the end of December 2026. The move is a setback for the Paris-based agency, established after the Second World War to foster peace through international cooperation in education, science, and culture. The US had previously withdrawn from UNESCO in 1984 over alleged financial mismanagement and anti-American bias, rejoining in 2003.
Daily Mail
20 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
AstraZeneca to invest $50B in US as tariff threat looms
AstraZeneca plans to plough billions of pounds into US manufacturing as the drugs giant faces the threat of looming tariffs. There are also reports the FTSE 100 pharmaceuticals giant plans to abandon London as its home. AstraZeneca on Tuesday said it would invest $50 billion (£37.1 billion) in the US by 2030, creating 'tens of thousands' of highly skilled 'direct and indirect' jobs, while 'powering growth and delivering next generation medicines'. Boss Pascal Soriot told investors in April the drugmaker is 'firmly committed to investing and growing in the US' as the White House continues to threaten the sector with looming tariffs on US imports. President Donald Trump last week outlined a plan to introduce levies that would steadily climb higher over time with the potential to hit 200 per cent after a 'year, year and a half'. Trump said: 'We're going to start off with a low tariff and then give the pharmaceutical companies a year or so to build and then we're going to make it a very high tariff. 'There's two ways you do it. You make money and/or you have them move here so they don't have to pay the tariff.' Howard Lutnick, US Secretary of Commerce, said on Thursday: 'For decades Americans have been reliant on foreign supply of key pharmaceutical products. President Trump and our nation's new tariff policies are focused on ending this structural weakness.' It also comes amid reports Soriot is weighing moving AstraZeneca's headquarters away from the UK as well as its main stock market listing. Soriot, 66, has lambasted the UK and the rest of Europe for falling behind other countries such as the US and China in developing medicines. AstraZeneca is planning its 'largest single manufacturing investment in the world' in the state of Virginia, with the site earmarked to produce drug substances for its weight management and metabolic portfolio. 'The facility will leverage AI, automation, and data analytics to optimise production,' AstraZeneca said. The rest of the investment will boost AstraZeneca's existing R&D and manufacturing facilities among other plans. AstraZeneca said the investments will help deliver its target of reaching $80 billion in total revenue by 2030, of which it expects 50 per cent would be generated in the US. Soriot said: 'Today's announcement underpins our belief in America's innovation in biopharmaceuticals and our commitment to the millions of patients who need our medicines in America and globally.' UK government 'will be kicking itself' AstraZeneca's decision will come as a blow to the Labour government as it struggles to encourage firm's to invest in the UK. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said the government 'will be kicking itself', with the country set to miss out on associated economic benefits of the investment. He added: 'That money, if invested in the UK, would have created a large number of jobs and help shine a light on the country for scientific excellence. 'AstraZeneca pulling out of a £450 million vaccine plant expansion in Liverpool earlier this year was the big clue that it was losing patience with the UK government. 'At the time, it hinted that without a certain level of support, it wasn't financially viable to invest that money. The previous government had pledged £90 million in grants and other aid, but the support was cut when Labour came to power. 'The more business it does in...[the US], the greater the likelihood that investors might push for AstraZeneca to switch its main stock listing to the US. That would be bad for the UK stock market as it is one of the biggest names in the FTSE 100.'
