Nato’s recently released Land Warfighting Concept outlines how the alliance envisages fighting back any Russian invasion by relying especially on drones and long-range strikes. It would necessarily rely heavily on the UK, as one of Europe’s main military powers.
While Russia is currently mired in Ukraine, the war will end someday. The expectation is that it will then commit to a significant reconstitution of its military – especially if Vladimir Putin is still in power.
Although this will take years, as a UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) analyst told The i Paper, it “will have the opportunity to build a new army from the ground up, using its hard-won experience from the war”.
What has happened so far in Meta’s trial over ‘harm to children’
The first hearing day of the lawsuit against Meta over alleged child harm ended yesterday.
A coalition of 29 US states initially brought the action against Meta Platforms in 2023 in California, accusing the company of deliberately designing its platforms to be addictive to young people.
The opening arguments
California’s deputy attorney general Megan O’Neill alleged that Meta hid the truth about the risks its platforms posed to children, chose profit over safety and actively intervened in its own mental health research.
Meta’s lawyer Paul Schmidt argued the company always took safety into account, has a track record of sharing information about social media harms and that enforcing content and age limit policies is complicated.
A whistleblower’s testimony
Meta whistleblower Arturo Béjar said in his testimony that Meta knew its platforms were harming young people, and underplayed the amount of harm among users in its public reports.
During the trial, protestors gathered outside the courthouse.
What happens next?
California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, said the hearing will resume with the continuation of Béjar’s testimony. The trial is expected to last 5-7 weeks.
Whether CEO of Meta Mark Zuckerberg will testify is still “TBD”, according to Bonta.
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How Ulez is improving children’s health in London
A study has revealed that children’s lungs grew bigger and stronger after the introduction of the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez), which restricted the most polluting vehicles from entering London.
The researchers described it as a vindication of the policy, which has been criticised as a burden on motorists.
What you need to know
Previous research showed that by the age of eight or nine, children living in London’s most polluted areas had lung capacity that was 5–10 per cent lower than that of children living elsewhere.
This increased their risk of developing respiratory diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and premature death later in life.
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The study
- Researchers from Queen Mary University of London recruited 1,664 children aged six to nine in London and 1,750 in Luton.
- They then measured the children’s lung health and size annually to assess how air quality changes after the introduction of Ulez affected their lung development.
- The children in London initially had much smaller lungs than those in Luton, but after Ulez, their lungs’ health improved until they were comparable with those in Luton.
For years, politicians and pundits opposed to the Ulez have cynically sought to turn questions of public health into a crude culture war. Today, though, it’s clear that we’re winning the battle against toxic air in the capital – and it’s London’s children who are reaping the rewards.
Sadiq khan, mayor of london
read more from the i paper
The organ in your chest that could be key to living longer
If you ever muse about which parts of your body are most impacted by getting older, your heart, brain or perhaps your muscles may come to mind. One that you probably wouldn’t think of is the thymus.
Erin Patterson challenges convictions over mushroom murders
Erin Patterson was jailed for life last September for murdering three relatives and trying to kill another after giving them a poisonous mushroom meal.
But now, Patterson is returning to court in an attempt to overturn her conviction.
Patterson’s lawyers say there are pieces of evidence the jurors saw which were not relevant and prejudicial, causing a substantial miscarriage of justice.
They include mobile tracking data indicating that she had been to places where death cap mushrooms had recently been seen, and online messages to Facebook friends in which she ranted about her in-laws and estranged husband.
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A closer look at the detail
Patterson’s lawyers also claimed that other evidence had been wrongly excluded.
They pointed to photos relating to her hobby as a long-time mushroom forager that would have supported their argument that the deaths were a tragic accident.
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Issues with prosecution
- Her lawyers argued that the prosecution had been inconsistent over the motive, initially telling the court they would not put forward a specific motive, but later suggesting that one did exist.
- They criticised the five days Patterson was cross-examined by barrister Nanette Rogers.
- Patterson said it was “unfair and oppressive”.
- Because of the global scrutiny on the case, steps were taken to ensure the jury were insulated from outside influences.
- However, Patterson’s lawyers argued a “fundamental irregularity” occurred which “fatally undermined” the integrity of the verdicts.
- This is because the jury shared a hotel with members of the prosecution among others.
- The judge at the time said there was no evidence the jury interacted with anyone linked to the case.
What happens next?
The result of the appeal will not be announced immediately after these hearings, as reaching a decision could take months.
If the three judges overturn her convictions, there are two options – a retrial or acquittal.
If the prosecution’s appeal is successful, Patterson may see her parole period extended, or could face life without parole.
Nick Kyrgios banned from tennis after positive cocaine test
Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from tennis after testing positive for cocaine.
The Australian submitted a sample during the Mallorca Open on 22 June that was later found to contain benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
What you need to know
- Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended since 4 August.
- The International Tennis Integrity Agency said Kyrgios could appeal against the provisional suspension “but has not done so to date”.
- In a post on Instagram, Kyrgios said he made “a huge mistake” and takes “full responsibility” for it.
What the suspension means
Kyrgios cannot play, coach at or attend Grand Slams or any events sanctioned by the men’s and women’s tennis tours.
The 31-year-old has played just four singles matches this season, having struggled with injuries. He last played in the men’s doubles at Wimbledon, where he lost in the first round.
Years of injuries take toll
My body hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it to do. Coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined. None of that excuses what I did.”
said in a written statement
How worried should you be about UK salmonella outbreak
One person has died and more than 200 have fallen ill amid a UK-wide salmonella outbreak, with health officials linking the cases to the consumption of imported eggs.
Source being investigated
The patients affected appear to have eaten the contaminated eggs in restaurants and cafes, not at home. Those affected include babies and people as old as 90.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has ruled out UK-produced eggs or poultry as the source and said the evidence suggests imported eggs are responsible.
Where have the cases been?
Most cases have been in England, including 47 in London and 38 in Yorkshire and the Humber. There have been six cases in Scotland, one in Wales and another in Northern Ireland.
Officials have found that all of the cases are linked to a single strain of salmonella.
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How worried should you be?
- More than a third of those affected have needed hospital care – however, most people get better without treatment.
- Salmonella generally causes a mild illness, though vulnerable people may experience severe illness.
- There are simple steps to prevent the spread of salmonella, including washing your hands after using the bathroom and before handling food.
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What are the symptoms?
- Hannah Charles, the UKHSA’s lead epidemiologist for gastrointestinal infections said: “Symptoms of a salmonella infection include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever.
- “Anyone who is concerned about symptoms should contact their GP or out-of-hours service in the first instance.”
- To prevent the spread, she advised: “Wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before preparing and handling food, cook food thoroughly.
- “If you have any symptoms, avoid handling food for others where possible.”.
The mispronounced words Britons struggle with the most
The most commonly mangled words in the UK have been revealed in a new survey, as well as our attitudes surrounding pronunciation.
Here is everything you need to know.
What you need to know
OnePoll has conducted a survey on the most commonly mispronounced words in the UK.
The research was commissioned by Czech car manufacturer Skoda to highlight the fact that many Britons pronounce the brand’s name wrong – “S-co-der” instead of the correct “Sh-co-da”.
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Mispronounced words – and the correct pronunciations
- 1Acai: Ah-sigh-ee
- 2Segue: Segway
- 3Charcuterie: Shar-koo-tuh-ree
- 4Quinoa: Keen-wa
Mispronounced words – and the correct pronunciations
- 5 Gnocchi: Nyock-kee
- 6 Worcestershire: Wus-ter-sher
- 7 Chipotle: Chi-poht-lay
A closer look at the survey
The survey also revealed how Britons feel about mispronounced words.
- 85 per cent of respondents had someone correct them after a mispronunciation, with 25 per cent feeling embarrassed afterwards.
- 27 per cent admitted they continued using the wrong pronunciation anyway.
- 52 per cent thought it shows respect for language, while 38 per cent thought it made them appear more knowledgeable.
- 34 per cent thought it made them seem more professional.
- 38 per cent said that the way someone pronounces words could affect the impression they have of them.
Ikea is set to launch its own second-hand selling site later this year, which will allow shoppers signed up to its membership to buy and sell pre-owned Ikea items locally.
Already trialled in other countries
The scheme follows trials of online second-hand marketplaces in Spain and Norway.
It also comes five years after the world’s biggest furniture retailer began buying and selling used Ikea items in some of its UK stores.
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Perks for users
- On the Spanish version, selling is made easier with price suggestions given by Ikea and pre-filled product descriptions.
- Ikea also offers sellers 15 per cent extra on the price of the item if they agree to be paid with an Ikea gift card.
- A similar system to Vinted of paying a 5 per cent “protection fee” is being implemented in Spain from January next year to fund various costs related to the sale.
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How some prostate cancers ‘can be diagnosed without biopsy’
Researchers at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) have found MRI scans can be used to detect cancer in some men with a high degree of certainty.
What the research found
- Men may not need to have a biopsy to diagnose prostate cancer.
- Radiologists looked at scan results combined with the patient’s age and their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) score.
- Of the 69 patients deemed to be “99 per cent certain” they had a tumour via their MRI scan, all of them had cancer confirmed through biopsy.
- Researchers said this indicates certain men may not need to have invasive biopsies.
What does this mean?
UCLH consultant radiologist Alex Kirkham said the research indicates prostate cancer could join the list of cancers which can be diagnosed with a scan alone.
Consultant urologist and professor of interventional oncology Mark Emberton said it is particularly important as prostate cancer incidence is only set to rise.
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The expert reaction
Avoiding unnecessary biopsies is an important goal in cancer care, because they can be painful, invasive and can cause infections… Using MRI alone to diagnose these cancers could make the process much safer and easier for men, and less costly for the NHS.
Dr Matthew Hobbs, director of research at Cancer UK
Given that in the modern surveillance age, it would be impossible for Russian preparations for any substantial attack to go wholly unnoticed, in a time of heightened alert Britain would likely increase its commitment to the eastern flank.
British forces also regularly cycle through eastern and central Europe on periodic joint exercises, as well as carrying out sea and air reconnaissance missions and providing allies with additional capacity in times of need. Until late 2024, for example, a battery of Sky Sabre air-defence missiles protected a vital logistics hub near Rzeszów in Poland, through which much military aid to Ukraine flows.
In the event of a Russian attack on Nato’s eastern flank, it would respond with a three-fold strategy. The UK would play a significant role in all three phases.
First, Nato would use its aerial superiority to target missile and drone platforms and bases to prevent the kind of long-range strikes proving so devastating in the Ukraine war. The UK already has significant capabilities, such as air-launched Storm Shadow cruise missiles and sea- and ground-launched Nyan drones. Meanwhile, it is leading a European initiative to develop the next generation of deep precision strike capabilities.
Second, a defensive buffer zone would be established along the borders of Russia and its client state Belarus. This would be secured not by soldiers but by drones, operating on land, in the air and on the water. Already, the thousand-strong British deployment to Estonia is being reprofiled as a larger Mobile Anti-Armour Force, relying on drones and highly mobile missile teams to blunt any tank assault.
Finally, although Nato is very clear that it would not seek territorial gains inside Russia, it would launch strikes deep into the enemy territory to disrupt its military capabilities, using missiles, drones and special forces. Their targets would be crucial airfields, railway lines, arms factories and bridges via which supplies of men and materiel reach the front.
In this, not only would British special forces play a full role but so too would the intelligence services. The UK is accepted even among its peers as having Europe’s most capable intelligence apparatus and, especially if the US is preoccupied with other crises or unwilling to engage fully, this would be crucial in targeting and supporting such operations.
However, any such conflict would not likely be quickly resolved, and equal pressure would fall on the home front. It is not just that a conventional military attack would be accompanied by disinformation, cyberattacks and sabotage. It is also a question of the social resilience and ability to ramp up the production of necessary materiel.
Here the picture is mixed. Modern war is extraordinarily voracious: at peak, Russian forces in Ukraine were firing up to 70,000 artillery rounds a day, and each side expends up to 10,000 drones daily. Although funds have been committed to build up to six new munitions and explosives factories, the UK – like the rest of Nato – will still struggle to meet the expected needs of any longer war.
Hence the importance of deep strikes on Russian factories and supply lines. As the MoD analyst put it, “the next best thing to having enough ammunition yourself is making sure your enemy doesn’t have enough, either.”
Of course, no plan survives contact with the enemy, and Russia’s strategists will no doubt be considering how to foil Nato’s designs. To this end, some have questioned the wisdom of openly discussing the Concept.
The point is, though, that, for all the hopes of the most extreme Western hawks and the claims of their Russian counterparts, Nato wants to deter, not fight a war.
Most Western intelligence assessments agree that the risks of Russia initiating open military conflict with Nato remain extremely low. But defence planners must consider both the unlikely threats and also those over the horizon.
As a Nato official told The i Paper: “We discuss the unthinkable, we plan for it, in the hope that it ensures it remains theoretical.”