Germany is back, says Merz, after sealing government deal
The chancellor-in-waiting's conservatives have reached a coalition agreement with Germany's Social Democrats, five months after the last government collapsed.
Exclusive: Trump administration moves to restore some terminated foreign aid programs, sources say – Reuters
- Exclusive: Trump administration moves to restore some terminated foreign aid programs, sources say Reuters
- Trump Administration Cuts Aid Programs It Had Promised to Keep The New York Times
- Trump administration says it cut funding to some life-saving UN food programs by mistake AP News
- USAID foreign officers to be repatriated, local staff fired by Aug. 15 Devex
- USAID reverses course and restores some humanitarian aid contracts after WFP warning of possible deadly consequences CNN
Iran: ‘Not after a nuclear bomb,’ ahead of US talks
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian says the country is “not after a nuclear bomb,” ahead of indirect US-Iran talks.
Germany’s Merz unveils coalition deal with SPD after weeks of drift
German election winner seals deal to form new government aiming to spur economic growth and ramp up defence spending.
Eight charts that reveal the economic impact of Trump’s tariffs – Al Jazeera
- Eight charts that reveal the economic impact of Trump’s tariffs Al Jazeera
- The next round of Trump’s tariffs could hurt even more. Here’s what to expect CNN
- The only thing consistent thing about the White House’s tariffs are the inconsistencies MSNBC News
- Trump's 'reciprocal' tariffs plan kicks in; China vows again to impose countermeasures CNBC
- Reciprocal Tariff Calculations United States Trade Representative (.gov)
Eight charts that reveal the economic impact of Trump’s tariffs
The tariffs have hit dozens of economies, representing the biggest disruption to global trade in decades.
Conservative CDU/CSU and SPD form coalition government in Germany
Two of the country’s biggest parties freeze out rightwing AfD and prepare for impact of Trump’s new tariffs
Germany’s biggest mainstream parties have sealed an agreement to form a government keeping the far right out of power, as Europe’s top economy struggles to reverse a downturn and gird itself for the potentially catastrophic impact of new US tariffs.
The prospective chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative CDU/CSU announced the breakthrough deal with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), which had led the ruling coalition since 2021.
Continue reading...Israeli ‘massacre’ in Gaza’s Shujayea as residential tower targeted
An Israeli strike destroyed an entire residential tower block in Gaza’s Shujayea neighbourhood.
Spain defends closer trade ties with China after US warns against ‘cutting own throat’ – Reuters
Israel pushes on with strategy to keep neighbours weak in Lebanon and Syria
Israel has repeatedly bombed both Syria and Lebanon, experts say it is no mood for peace.
Rescuers search rubble after Dominican Republic club roof collapse
“I know she's fine, I have faith.” Families waited for rescuers to find their loved ones amongst the rubble.
Sexual violence and harassment ‘endemic’ in French entertainment industry, report finds
Attitudes in France ‘barely evolving’ amid ‘collective denial’ years after the #MeToo movement began, according to parliamentary commission
Sexual violence and sexual harassment are “endemic” in France’s entertainment industry, a damning report by French politicians has found, concluding that women and children are still being routinely preyed on, despite the country’s #MeToo movement.
The Green MP Sandrine Rousseau and the centrist Erwan Balanant found that sexual violence, harassment and bullying were “systemic, endemic and persistent” in all sectors of the French culture and entertainment industry, from TV and cinema to theatre, radio, comedy, advertising, rock and classical music.
Continue reading...EU to impose retaliatory 25% tariffs on US goods from almonds to yachts
Bloc says it ‘considers US tariffs unjustified and damaging, causing economic harm to both sides’
The EU has agreed to impose retaliatory tariffs on €21bn (£18bn) of US goods, targeting farm produce and products from Republican states, in Europe’s first act of retaliation against Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The EU plans to introduce 25% tariffs on scores of goods from almonds to yachts, with the first duties being collected from 15 April, while the bulk apply from 15 May and the remainder from 1 December.
Continue reading...Pete Hegseth senior adviser is pushing for Pentagon to cut ties with Scouting America – Yahoo
IDF reportedly kills Hamas leader as it attacks 45 terror targets in 24 hours in Gaza – The Jerusalem Post
- IDF reportedly kills Hamas leader as it attacks 45 terror targets in 24 hours in Gaza The Jerusalem Post
- Israeli Airstrike in Gaza City Leaves Many Dead, Health Officials There Say The New York Times
- At least 35 killed in Israeli attack on Gaza residential block Al Jazeera
- Israeli strike kills 29 people in Gaza City house, medics say Reuters
- Gaza City strike kills at least 23 as Israel reportedly plans to seize Rafah The Guardian
Dozens reported dead in Gaza after Israeli strike on residential block – as it happened
This blog is now closed, you can read more of our Middle East coverage here
The Gaza health ministry said on Wednesday that at least 1,482 Palestinians have been killed since Israel resumed intense strikes on the Gaza Strip on 18 March, taking the overall death toll since the start of the war to 50,846.
Hamas’s October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an Agence France-Presse (AFP) tally based on Israeli official figures.
Continue reading...Starmer rejects claim there are ‘strong arguments’ for suspending fiscal rules amid US tariffs – UK politics live
The PM doubled down on his insistence the government won’t change its fiscal rules, describing them as ‘ironclad’ and ‘non-negotiable’
One person probably more enthusiastic than most about the prospect of Universal opening a theme park in the UK is the Lib Dem leader Ed Davey. He is a great fan of outdoor activity-related photocalls, and he’s been at it again today, and the Gloucester Ski and Snowboarding Centre in Matson, Gloucestershire.
Almost 40 MPs and peers have signed a letter organised by Jeremy Corbyn calling for an independent inquiry into the government’s role in the war in Gaza.
Many people believe the government has taken decisions that have implicated officials in the gravest breaches of international law.
These charges will not go away until there is a comprehensive, public, independent inquiry with the legal power to establish the truth.
Last month, I wrote to the Prime Minister calling for an independent inquiry into the UK’s involvement in Israel’s assault on Gaza.
Today, more than 30 MPs have supported that call.
Continue reading...Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott faces sexual abuse charges
- The 47-year-old is charged with abuse of a boy and a girl
- He defeated Peter Ebdon to win 2006 world title
The former world snooker champion Graeme Dott has been accused of sexually abusing children. The 47-year-old is facing charges of sexual abuse against a boy and a girl.
Court papers allege he abused the girl in Glasgow between 1993 and 1996.
Continue reading...Women should avoid all alcohol to reduce risk of breast cancer, charity says
World Cancer Research Fund goes further than UK and WHO advice on alcohol after review of evidence
Women should avoid alcohol altogether to reduce their risk of breast cancer, a charity has warned.
The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has published a review of evidence on how diet and lifestyle factors can play a role in the development of the disease.
Continue reading...Seven officers injured after police car pileup during chase near Newcastle
A1 closed and man and woman arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and abetting dangerous driving
Seven police officers have been treated in hospital and five police vehicles badly damaged after an early morning car chase on one of the busiest roads in the north-east of England.
Police were pursuing a dark grey BMW M Sport when the collision happened just before 2.30am on Wednesday on the northbound carriageway of the A1, near junction 75, and the Denton Burn roundabout, near Newcastle.
Continue reading...