Deadly floods in Eastern Australia as torrential rains continue
Heavy rains in New South Wales have caused record-breaking floods, killing two people and isolating tens of thousands of
Drop in work visas and students halved net migration, ONS figures show – BBC
- Drop in work visas and students halved net migration, ONS figures show BBC
- UK net migration almost halves in 2024, falling to 431,000, ONS estimates - follow live BBC
- Fewer study and work visas lead to halving in net migration in the UK in 2024 AP News
- Indian students, workers lead exodus trend in UK's latest migration data The Economic Times
- UK net migration halves in 2024 after visa rule changes Reuters
House passes Trump’s sweeping tax-cut bill, sends it to Senate
Measure would tighten eligibility for health and food programs for the poor and could add $3.8tn to US debt
The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives narrowly passed a sweeping tax and spending bill that would enact much of President Donald Trump’s policy agenda on Thursday and saddle the country with trillions of dollars in debt.
The bill would fulfill many of Trump’s populist campaign pledges, delivering new tax breaks on tips and car loans and boosting spending on the military and border enforcement. It will add about $3.8tn to the federal government’s $36.2tn in debt over the next decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Continue reading...Ministers said to be considering bill to wipe out British Steel’s debts
Chinese owner owed almost £1bn as government weighs up how best to attract buyer for Scunthorpe works
Ministers are reportedly considering legislation to relieve British Steel of debts that have risen to nearly £1bn, as the government considers how best to prepare the Scunthorpe steelworks for sale.
The government took control of the business last month after it said its Chinese owner, Jingye Steel, planned to close the plant within days. The move required emergency legislation that was passed in a historic recall of parliament.
Continue reading...Ugandan activist alleges she was raped while in Tanzanian detention
Tanzanian authorities are not commenting on the allegations, which include sexual assault.
What we know about the killing of two Israeli embassy staff in DC
Video has captured the moment police arrested the man believed responsible for killing two young Israeli embassy staff.
Israeli strikes kill 51 in Gaza as aid groups collect limited supplies
At least 51 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since dawn, medical sources told Al Jazeera.
Net migration to UK down by half in 2024 compared with year before
Office for National Statistics estimate shows fall from 860,000 in 2023 to 431,000 last year
Net migration to the UK has nearly halved over the year to 431,000, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said, publishing figures that will bring some relief to Keir Starmer.
The drop from 860,000 in the year to December 2024 follows a series of policies implemented by the last Conservative government that have been continued by the present Labour government.
Continue reading...UK petrol prices poised to fall further as oil production may be stepped up
Global oil prices tumble after reports that Opec+ is ready to raise output despite weaker demand for fossil fuels
Global oil prices have tumbled by more than $1 a barrel in a sign that pressure on households at the petrol pumps could ease further.
The price of Brent crude fell to $63.86 a barrel on Thursday following reports that the Opec oil cartel and its allies may increase their production for July, despite weaker global demand for fossil fuels.
Continue reading...Philippines accuses China of ‘aggressive’ tactics in South China Sea
China's coastguard says Philippine vessel 'dangerously' approached its ship, resulting in a collision.
Eva, one half of performance art duo ‘from the future’ Eva & Adele, has died
Post on the pair’s Instagram page says ‘Eva returned to the future today’, having died at their home in Berlin after surgery on her spine
Eva, one half of the pioneering German performance art duo Eva & Adele, has died, her partner has announced.
“Eva returned to the future today,” a post on the pair’s Instagram page said on Wednesday. “She has left this world and stepped on to the eternal stage. Her faith in the power of art was never-ending.”
Continue reading...Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay dead at 65
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay died peacefully in his sleep.
Pakistan recommits to China bond amid Trump shadow over India ceasefire
After a four-day standoff with India, Pakistan looks to its trusted partner China for post-conflict support.
Julian Assange’s t-shirt tribute to Gaza victims at Cannes Festival
Julian Assange wore a shirt at Cannes Film Festival listing 4,986 Palestinian children killed in the Gaza war.
Trump: Putin Doesn’t Want Peace Because He’s Winning – But Is He? – Kyiv Post
- Trump: Putin Doesn’t Want Peace Because He’s Winning – But Is He? Kyiv Post
- Exclusive | European Officials Say Trump Tells Their Leaders Putin Isn’t Ready to End War WSJ
- Trump Hands Putin Another Victory The Atlantic
- Opinion | Trump’s road to failure in Ukraine The Washington Post
- Peace in Ukraine looks further away after Trump’s call with Putin CNN
Satellite imagery appears to show construction of new aid distribution sites in Gaza – ABC News
- Satellite imagery appears to show construction of new aid distribution sites in Gaza ABC News
- Netanyahu says war will continue until all parts of Gaza under Israeli control BBC
- Some bread and baby food reaches Gazans as blockade eases, Palestinians call for more Reuters
- Netanyahu promises new Gaza aid delivery plan as supplies still fail to reach Palestinians AP News
- What Israeli Officials Are Privately Saying About Starvation in Gaza The New Yorker
Daredevil biker stuns Indonesia’s night fair crowd with fearless stunts
Riding the Wall of Death since 17, Wahyuni thrills audiences with daring stunts in Indonesia’s North Sumatra.
UK government urged to introduce GCSE in Ukrainian for child refugees
Children’s commissioner joins Kyiv in asking DfE to create new qualification to cope with ‘immense upheaval’ of fleeing war
The children’s commissioner has joined Kyiv in lobbying the UK government to introduce a new GCSE in Ukrainian to help child refugees cope with the “immense upheaval” of fleeing war in their country.
In December, the Guardian revealed that Ukraine was “deeply concerned” to discover many Ukrainian teenagers are being pressed into learning Russian in British schools because no GSCE in Ukrainian is available.
Continue reading...Israel’s Envoy to EU Warns Europe Turning on Gaza War: ‘They Say, End It, Free the Hostages’ – Haaretz
- Israel's Envoy to EU Warns Europe Turning on Gaza War: 'They Say, End It, Free the Hostages' Haaretz
- Israel's ambassador warns of EU shift: 'Support is no longer there' The Jerusalem Post
- EU Trade Threat Brings Israel a Little Closer to Pariah Status Haaretz
- Israel’s plans for Gaza draw rebuke, review of trade ties from allies The Washington Post
- Israeli EU envoy says world tired of war| 'How many times can we tell the Bibas story?' Ynetnews
Government considers sale of Brexit border checkpoint in Kent – reports
New trade deal with EU could make 41 border control posts built after Brexit redundant
The UK government is reportedly considering selling a post-Brexit border check facility in Kent that could fall out of use as a result of this week’s trade pact with the EU.
The site, based in Sevington, Ashford, was erected in 2021 with capacity for 1,300 lorries that were expected to face extra checks on plants and animal goods, including dairy and meat, entering and leaving Britain after Brexit.
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