Deadly blasts hit M23 rebel rally in captured DRC city of Bukavu

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Deaths and injuries reported after explosions at rally attended by thousands in city captured by rebel group

Several people have been killed and dozens more injured after blasts at a mass rally held by the M23 group in Bukavu, the city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo captured by the rebels earlier this month.

Footage posted on social media showed people fleeing the scene. In another video, bloodied bodies lay on the ground and injured people were being carried away.

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King asks Moroccans not to kill sheep for Eid al-Adha as drought reduces herds

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First such request in 29 years blames economic hardship and climate crisis for high livestock prices and shortages

King Mohammed VI has urged his fellow Moroccans not to slaughter sheep for upcoming Eid al-Adha festivities as the country grapples with dwindling herds due to a six-year drought.

The request was delivered on Wednesday by the minister of Islamic affairs, Ahmed Toufiq, who read a letter on the monarch’s behalf on the state-run Al Aoula TV channel. He cited economic hardship and the climate crisis as reasons for the rising prices of livestock and sheep shortage in the north African state.

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Israel and Hamas have something in common – The Economist

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  1. Israel and Hamas have something in common  The Economist
  2. Israel and Hamas have begun negotiating next phase of Gaza ceasefire, Egypt says  The Associated Press
  3. Talks under way in Egypt for second phase of Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza  Al Jazeera English
  4. Anxiety in Gaza and Israel as Cease-Fire Nears End of First Phase  The New York Times
  5. Sa’ar: Delegation heading to Cairo to ‘see whether we have common ground to negotiate’  The Times of Israel
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Cypriot authorities ‘failed’ British teenager who reported alleged gang rape, says ECHR

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Court highlights shortcomings in 2019 police investigation amid ‘certain biases concerning women in Cyprus’

A British woman who alleges she was gang-raped in Ayia Napa has won a “monumental victory” over Cypriot authorities after the European court of human rights (ECHR) ruled they did not properly investigate the case.

The woman, who was 18 and on holiday at the time, told Cypriot police in July 2019 that she had been raped in a hotel room by several Israeli males.

Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html

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Putin Deepens Russia’s Ties with US Adversaries as US-Russia Talks Begin – Institute for the Study of War

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  1. Putin Deepens Russia's Ties with US Adversaries as US-Russia Talks Begin  Institute for the Study of War
  2. With new U.S. stance, Russians envision a return to normalcy — and Ikea  The Washington Post
  3. Putin says US-Russia contacts give ‘hope’ amid talks in Turkey on restoring ties – as it happened  The Guardian
  4. Vladimir Putin hopeful after US talks on Ukraine ceasefire  Financial Times
  5. Putin Praises Trump for Working to Thaw U.S.-Russia Tensions  The New York Times
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Why has PKK leader called on group to dissolve – and why does it matter?

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Abdullah Öcalan’s declaration paves way for end to 40-year conflict between militant Kurdish groups and Turkish state

The jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) has called on the group to disarm and dissolve, a major development that paves the way towards ending the 40-year conflict between militant Kurdish groups and the Turkish state and has far-reaching implications for the rest of the Middle East.

“I am making a call for the laying down of arms and I take on the historical responsibility for this call,” Abdullah Öcalan was quoted as saying in a letter read out by political allies in Istanbul. “All groups must lay down their arms and the PKK must dissolve itself.”

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Israel will not withdraw from Philadelphi corridor as stipulated in ceasefire – ABC News

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  1. Israel will not withdraw from Philadelphi corridor as stipulated in ceasefire  ABC News
  2. As Phase One of the Israel-Gaza Truce Winds Down, What’s Next?  The New York Times
  3. How is Israel violating the Gaza ceasefire deal?  Al Jazeera English
  4. Fragile ceasefire deal in jeopardy as Israeli official says army won't withdraw from strategic Gaza corridor  PBS NewsHour
  5. Israel rules out any terror-linked control of postwar Gaza, Sa’ar says  The Times of Israel
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Trump News and Live Updates: UK Leader Starmer to Visit White House, Seeking Support for Ukraine – The New York Times

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  1. Trump News and Live Updates: UK Leader Starmer to Visit White House, Seeking Support for Ukraine  The New York Times
  2. Trump, Starmer at odds over security guarantees for Ukraine ahead of critical talks  CNN
  3. Trump to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer  CBS News
  4. Europe should provide security guarantees for Ukraine, Trump says ahead of Starmer talks  BBC.com
  5. Keir Starmer to press Donald Trump on US military back-up to Ukraine  Financial Times
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CNN Fact-Checker Floored By Trump Cabinet Meeting: ‘There Was Just So Much’ – Yahoo

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  1. CNN Fact-Checker Floored By Trump Cabinet Meeting: 'There Was Just So Much'  Yahoo
  2. ‘The president keeps using a fictional figure’: Daniel Dale fact checks Trump’s Ukrainian aid claim  CNN
  3. Fact Check: Is U.S. education global bottom, as Trump says?  Newsweek
  4. 'Doozy': CNN fact check catches Trump tall tale getting wilder by the day  MSN
  5. Daniel Dale fact-checks Trump’s first Cabinet meeting  CNN
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Pope Francis clashed with cardinals over Vatican finances before hospitalization – Reuters

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  1. Pope Francis clashed with cardinals over Vatican finances before hospitalization  Reuters
  2. Pope Francis creates Vatican task force to tackle financial crisis  The Times
  3. Pope creates Vatican donations body  The Pillar
  4. Pope Francis creates fundraising commission to solicit Vatican donations  Catholic News Agency
  5. Vatican creates a commission to seek funds and clean up its accounts  ROME REPORTS TV News Agency
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Ocalan orders the PKK to dissolve in a historic statement – Middle East Eye

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  1. Ocalan orders the PKK to dissolve in a historic statement  Middle East Eye
  2. Jailed Kurdish militant leader's message to be shared on Thursday  Reuters
  3. What to Know About the Turkey-P.K.K. Conflict  The New York Times
  4. Kurdish separatist leader calls on followers to disarm, potentially ending a five-decade insurgency with Turkey  CNN International
  5. Kurdish leader Ocalan makes historic call for PKK militants to end war with Turkey  Al-Monitor
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North Korea appears to have sent more troops to aid Russia, Seoul says – Defense News

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  1. North Korea appears to have sent more troops to aid Russia, Seoul says  Defense News
  2. Satellite images show how hundreds of North Korean troops were likely transported to a secluded Russian port  CNN
  3. North Korea providing 50% of Russia's ammunition, Ukraine says  Reuters
  4. North Koreans are back to fighting alongside Russia, South Korean intelligence says  Business Insider
  5. North Korea Is Sending More Troops to Russia, South Korea’s Spy Agency Says  The New York Times
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Anxiety in Gaza and Israel as Cease-Fire Nears End of First Phase – The New York Times

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  1. Anxiety in Gaza and Israel as Cease-Fire Nears End of First Phase  The New York Times
  2. Dispute over disarming Hamas bedevils efforts to extend Gaza ceasefire  The Washington Post
  3. Sa’ar: Delegation heading to Cairo to ‘see whether we have common ground to negotiate’  The Times of Israel
  4. Uncertainty surrounds Gaza ceasefire's future as deadline approaches - analysis  The Jerusalem Post
  5. As the clock ticks down on the Gaza ceasefire, Israel prepares for more war  CNN
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