Arab mediators scramble to save Gaza ceasefire as Israel bolsters troop numbers

Both sides accuse other of violating terms of truce, but Hamas says there are ‘positive signals’ hostage exchange will go ahead

Arab mediators are scrambling to save the Gaza ceasefire as the Israeli military bolsters troop and tank deployments to the strip’s periphery in advance of the possibility the truce breaks down this weekend.

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Wednesday to “discuss ways to end the current crisis”, the Palestinian militant group said. Meanwhile, Egyptian and Qatari mediators were working “intensively” to compel Israel to address Hamas’s new demands before Saturday’s scheduled release of three Israeli hostages, Egypt’s state-run al-Qahera television reported.

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Congo Catholic delegation meets rebel leader as forces advance – Reuters

  1. Congo Catholic delegation meets rebel leader as forces advance  Reuters
  2. Fighting in Africa’s mineral-rich DRC killed over 3,000 in less than 2 weeks. Here’s how your phone plays a part  CNN
  3. As the DRC battles Rwanda-backed M23, what’s needed to stop the fighting?  Al Jazeera English
  4. EU Bishops appeal for urgent intervention in DRC  Vatican News - English
  5. Fresh fighting flares in eastern DR Congo  Voice of America
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‘Supercommuter’ mom travels to work by plane every day — because it’s cheaper than renting there – New York Post

  1. 'Supercommuter' mom travels to work by plane every day — because it's cheaper than renting there  New York Post
  2. Indian-origin woman takes a flight to work daily in Malaysia, says it's cost-efficient  India Today
  3. Meet the mom who flies to work everyday and 'saves money'  The Times of India
  4. Indian-Origin Mother Flies 5 Days A Week To Balance Work And Family  NDTV
  5. Indian-origin mom of two flies 5 days a week to work in Malaysia: 'Super-commuter'  Hindustan Times
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Rare Sighting of This ‘Seadevil’ Is a ‘Dream Come True’ – Newser

  1. Rare Sighting of This 'Seadevil' Is a 'Dream Come True'  Newser
  2. A Deep-Sea Fish of Nightmares Strays Into Shallow Waters  The New York Times
  3. Scientists capture rare footage of black seadevil anglerfish in shallow water  ABC News
  4. Watch this creepy deep sea creature see the light of day, a first in recorded history  USA TODAY
  5. Rare deep-sea anglerfish seen for first time in broad daylight  Oceanographic Magazine
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‘Reverse flow’: Illegal immigrants streaming back home after being blocked by Trump’s border – Washington Times

  1. 'Reverse flow': Illegal immigrants streaming back home after being blocked by Trump's border  Washington Times
  2. 'New trend' of migrants turning around and heading back toward home under Trump border crackdown  New York Post
  3. Migrants turning back due to tighter border security, CBP memo shows  Fox News
  4. Dozens of Migrants Seen Traveling South as They Give Up US Dream  Newsweek
  5. Illegals retreat to Canada and Mexico to evade US detection  The Times of India
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Watchdog: Israel behind most reporter deaths in 2024; IDF: Many were terror operatives – The Times of Israel

  1. Watchdog: Israel behind most reporter deaths in 2024; IDF: Many were terror operatives  The Times of Israel
  2. 2024 was deadliest year for journalists with 124 reporters killed, Committee to Protect Journalists says  CBS News
  3. IDF rejects report accusing it of being responsible for 70% of journalist deaths in 2024, says many were terrorists  The Times of Israel
  4. Record number of journalists killed in 2024, Israel mostly responsible, CPJ says  Reuters
  5. The risks of journalism in Haiti: Nation ranks among deadliest places on global list  Miami Herald
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Attempt to form Austria’s first government led by far right collapses – Reuters

  1. Attempt to form Austria's first government led by far right collapses  Reuters
  2. Austrian Coalition Talks Collapse, Averting, for Now, a Far-Right Chancellor  The New York Times
  3. Austria's political crisis deepens as far right fails to form government  BBC.com
  4. Austria goes back to the drawing board after far right fails to form government  Reuters
  5. Talks to form far-right-led coalition government in Austria collapse  The Guardian
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Emergency declared on a second Greek island as a string of earthquakes persists – The Associated Press

  1. Emergency declared on a second Greek island as a string of earthquakes persists  The Associated Press
  2. Nonstop Quakes Leave a Tourist Island Empty and Its Residents on Edge  The New York Times
  3. Seismic activity moving northeastward  Kathimerini English Edition
  4. Greece earthquakes: Aftershocks hit Santorini and surrounding islands  BBC.com
  5. Greek island of Santorini sees strongest quake yet in weeks of highly unusual seismic swarm  ABC News
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Sacking of Christian school worker over posts about LGBTQ+ lessons unlawful, court rules

Kristie Higgs was dismissed after sharing posts on plans to teach equalities programme at her son’s C of E school

A Christian school worker who was sacked after she shared Facebook posts raising concerns about lessons in LGBTQ+ relationships for primary schoolchildren has won her battle in the court of appeal.

Kristie Higgs was dismissed from her role as a pastoral administrator and work experience manager at Farmor’s, a secondary school in Fairford, Gloucestershire, in 2019 after an anonymous complaint from a parent at the school.

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Democratic Senator accuses FBI head nominee Kash Patel of orchestrating agency purge

Patel’s alleged purge of FBI calls into question if he perjured himself at his Senate confirmation hearing

A senior Democrat has accused Kash Patel, Donald Trump’s controversial nominee as FBI director, of having already secretly orchestrated a purge of the bureau’s agents even as senators debate whether to confirm him in the post.

Dick Durbin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate judiciary committee, said he had “highly credible information” that Patel had given orders to sack senior personnel when he had no power to do so as a private citizen – directly contradicting testimony he had given at a confirmation hearing.

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