- Iran sceptical over coming US talks, Iranian officials say Reuters
- An emboldened US and a weakened Iran will hold nuclear talks. Is there space for a deal? CNN
- State Department says talks with Iran are not a negotiation, will be direct ABC News
- Trump envoy Witkoff to lead high-stakes nuclear negotiations with Iran Axios
- Iran insists on 'indirect' talks with the U.S., refuting Trump NPR
Ukraine captures two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia
President Zelensky says two soldiers were captured while fighting in Ukraine's Donetsk region.
Gaza is a ‘killing field’, says UN chief, as agencies urge world to act on Israel’s blockade
Israel has blocked all supplies from entering for five weeks - the longest period since the war began.
Germany halts UN refugee resettlement programme
The next German government, likely to be led by the centre-right CDU, is expected to be tougher on migration.
King and Queen visit Colosseum during state visit to Italy – BBC
- King and Queen visit Colosseum during state visit to Italy BBC
- UK royals meet Italy’s president and enjoy a special tour of Rome’s Colosseum AP News
- King Charles and Queen Camilla Star in New Photos Taken at an Italian Villa to Mark 20th Anniversary People.com
- King Charles makes state visit to Italy Vatican News
- The King and Queen visit Italy The Royal Family
Dominican Republic nightclub collapse kills 98
More than 150 people are injured as rescuers continue to search for survivors in Santo Domingo.
Two Chinese nationals caught fighting for Russia in Ukraine, Zelenskyy says
Ukrainian president says men’s capture shows Moscow is trying to involve Beijing in the war ‘directly or indirectly’
Ukrainian forces have captured two Chinese nationals fighting with the Russian army in the eastern Donetsk region, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Ukrainian president said they were two of many more Chinese members of the Russian armed forces, and he accused the Kremlin of trying to involve Beijing in the conflict “directly or indirectly”.
Continue reading...San Sebastián locals write to Fifa saying they don’t want to host 2030 World Cup
- Six neighbourhood associations join forces in letter
- Fears it would add to ‘touristification’ of city
Six neighbourhood associations in the Basque city of San Sebastián have asked Fifa to withdraw it as a venue for the 2030 men’s World Cup. The letter – which was criticised by the city’s mayor on Tuesday – comes three months after the city was named as one of 11 Spanish venues for the tournament taking place in Spain, Morocco and Portugal.
Signed by associations representing several areas around the San Sebastián’s historic centre as well as a platform of residents pushing for “tourism degrowth,” the letter said: “Hosting the Fifa World Cup will only worsen living conditions in our city,” adding that it would “further exacerbate the touristification” of the city.
Continue reading...Are Iran and the US having ‘direct’ talks on the nuclear file?
Iran's foreign minister confirms indirect talks with the US via Oman, questions sincerity of Washington's approach.
Fifty hippos killed by anthrax in DR Congo
Efforts are now under way to recover the animals and bury them to prevent further spread.
Fifty hippos killed by anthrax in DR Congo
Efforts are now under way to recover the animals and bury them to prevent further spread.
Global executions at highest level since 2015, report says
But Amnesty International also says only 15 countries carried out the death penalty, the lowest on record
Executions at highest level since 2015, Amnesty International says – BBC
- Executions at highest level since 2015, Amnesty International says BBC
- Executions at 10-year high after huge increases in Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia The Guardian
- Global execution figures hit highest level in almost a decade, says Amnesty Euronews.com
- Iran responsible for majority of executions as 2024 marks deadliest year since 2015 The Jerusalem Post
- Global: Recorded executions hit their highest figure since 2015 Amnesty International
Global executions at highest level since 2015, report says
But Amnesty International also says only 15 countries carried out the death penalty, the lowest on record
Rachel Reeves rejects calls for a ‘Buy British’ campaign amid tariffs crisis – UK politics live
Chancellor also says fiscal rules will not be changed, saying ‘we saw what happened when the previous government lost control of the public finances’
Half of Britons (51%) think the government should impose retaliatory tariffs on imports from the US, according to polling by More in Common, a campaign group. Last week, just before the Trump tariffs were announced, YouGov published figures suggesting 71% of Britons would favour retaliatory tariffs against the US.
Yesterday YouGov also released polling suggesting that only around a third of voters think Keir Starmer and the government played a significant role in ensuring the US tariffs imposed on the UK are relatively low.
Continue reading...Coalition releases long-awaited modelling showing energy plan could drive down household gas bills by 7%
Peter Dutton says policy would be ‘gamechanger’ despite experts questioning whether it would work
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The Coalition’s plan to create a domestic gas reservation for the east coast would drive down household gas bills by 7% and industrial gas bills by 15%, newly-released estimates.
The opposition’s long-awaited modelling by Frontier Economics, released on Tuesday evening, estimated the changes would bring down new domestic gas supplies to $9 or $10 a gigajoule, and came after experts shed doubt on whether the policy could drive down prices through a government market intervention.
Continue reading...London mural by key postwar artist saved from demolition
William Mitchell artwork saved but Blackheath community centre in which it was housed will be torn down
A rare piece of postwar art that was under threat of being demolished along with the south London building it was housed in has been saved.
The work, a mural by William Mitchell, was created for a community centre in Blackheath that is to be torn down to make way for social housing. The mural will now be preserved by Heritage of London Trust (Holt).
Continue reading...Ukraine detains suspected Russian assassin
Indictment comes amid an uptick in targeted attacks on Ukrainian officials and public figures.
Albanese and Dutton face-off in first Australia election debate
Cost of living issues dominated the debate and the political rivals were asked about Trump's tariffs.
Devastation after deadly flooding in DR Congo’s capital
Hundreds of people have been moved to emergency shelters after flooding in DR Congo’s capital, Kinshasa.