China Marriages Fall to Record Low as Demographic Crisis Deepens – Bloomberg
- China Marriages Fall to Record Low as Demographic Crisis Deepens Bloomberg
- New marriages in China crash to record low, while divorces on the rise CNN
- Marriages in China plunged by a record last year, fanning birthrate concerns NBC News
- China’s birth crisis deepens as marriage registrations plunge to 40-year low South China Morning Post
- World's second-biggest economy faces a threat as Chinese are not getting married The Economic Times
SPD’s Scholz and CDU’s Merz spar on migration, economy, AfD – DW (English)
- SPD's Scholz and CDU's Merz spar on migration, economy, AfD DW (English)
- Scholz Fails to Land Decisive Blow in German Election TV Debate Bloomberg
- Merz and Scholz clash on migration, economy and Trump: ‘How dumb can somebody be?’ POLITICO Europe
- Greens: Climate change ignored in German election TV debate Yahoo
- Germany's Scholz, Merz clash over far-right AfD in election debate The Pryor Information Publication
Sudan army plans new government as it advances in capital – BBC.com
- Sudan army plans new government as it advances in capital BBC.com
- Sudan army-aligned foreign ministry sets path to elections amid civil war Al Jazeera English
- Sudan’s Army Close to Retaking Its Own Capital From Rebels The Wall Street Journal
- Sudan’s Tagadum to split, recommends name change amid parallel government dispute Sudan Tribune
- Sudan army nears biggest victory of civil war with assault on capital Financial Times
Australia holds its nose for the 3rd rancid bloom of a rare corpse plant in 3 months – ABC News
- Australia holds its nose for the 3rd rancid bloom of a rare corpse plant in 3 months ABC News
- Corpse flower: Plant with 'rotting flesh smell' blooms in Australia Sky News
- Corpse flower blooms at Canberra's Australian National Botanic Gardens for the first time ABC News
- AP Strange SummaryBrief at 2:53 a.m. EST News Item
- Plant smartens up: Not so much rotting meat now, more like dirty laundry The Canberra Times
Kosovo PM’s party leading but short of majority – partial results
Monday briefing: Why the brutal fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo could spiral into wider war
In today’s newsletter: As Rwandan-backed M23 rebels seize more territory and the humanitarian crisis worsens, what’s the background to the war and prospect of peace?
Good morning. Over the weekend, the presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda – Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame – were among those who took part in a regional summit aimed at ending the resurgent violence in eastern DRC. The summit ended with a call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. But while there was a lull in the fighting yesterday, many fear that a ceasefire is less likely than escalation to a wider regional war.
Rwanda does not officially admit to its involvement in the latest episode of the long-running and devastating conflict in eastern DRC. But M23, an armed group with Rwanda’s tacit and practical support, has taken the capital of North Kivu province, Goma, and is now moving south to expand the territory under its control. At stake is control of a mineral-rich region of crucial strategic significance, and the fate of civilians there who are frequently the subject of ethnically targeted attacks – but also the question of whether national borders can act as any sort of constraint.
Arms trade | Britain’s system for controlling arms exports is broken, subject to political manipulation and has seen conduct that crossed the threshold into complicity with war crimes, a former UK diplomat has claimed. Mark Smith said officials were instructed to manipulate findings on the misuse of UK arms by allies.
Immigration | The Home Office is launching a fresh wave of immigration raids as Labour attempts to counter the growing political threat from Reform UK. Amid anger from critics who believe the approach echoes Theresa May’s “hostile environment” regime, the government will broadcast footage of deportations from detention to removal centres and on to waiting planes.
Israel-Gaza war | Israeli forces have withdrawn from the strategic corridor that divides northern and southern Gaza, as part of a ceasefire plan that has brought a fragile pause to the 16-month war. Despite the withdrawal – and the release of hostages and prisoners – little progress has been made on negotiating the second phase of the deal.
Air pollution | More than 1,100 people a year in the UK are developing the most prevalent form of lung cancer as a result of air pollution, the Guardian can reveal. Health experts, cancer charities and environmental campaigners said the UK findings were “devastating”
Trump tariffs | Donald Trump has said he will announce new 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the US on Monday that would affect “everybody’, including its largest trading partners Canada and Mexico, in another major escalation of his trade policy overhaul.
Continue reading...Ed Sheeran stopped from busking in Bengaluru by Indian police
Ecuador election ends in a ‘tie’ prompting run-off
‘Be Cruel’: Inside Russia’s Torture System for Ukrainian POWs – The Wall Street Journal
- ‘Be Cruel’: Inside Russia’s Torture System for Ukrainian POWs The Wall Street Journal
- Russian Prison Authorities Approved Widespread Brutality Against Ukrainian POWs – WSJ The Moscow Times
- Russia must provide medical care to Crimean prisoners: UN torture expert The Times of India
- The Plague of Sexual Violence Against Ukraine’s Prisoners of War Center for European Policy Analysis
- Russian prison officials ordered guards to ‘be cruel’ to Ukrainian POWs from first weeks of war, encouraging torture — WSJ Meduza
Taylor Swift, Lionel Messi, Jay-Z and Trump among big names at Super Bowl
Taylor Swift, Lionel Messi, Jay-Z and Trump among big names at Super Bowl
Serbia: Students mark 100 days since deadly canopy collapse – DW (English)
- Serbia: Students mark 100 days since deadly canopy collapse DW (English)
- Serbia’s Protests Test the President’s Grip on Power The New York Times
- Serbian protesters block key bridge and roads to mark 100 days since deadly canopy collapse The Associated Press
- Serbia’s students are showing the world how to restore democratic hope | Adriana Zaharijević The Guardian
- Marta Kos and the dilemma of Serbian protests European Western Balkans
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl show was one big tease
New Zealand raises ‘concern’ as Cook Islands prepares to sign China deal
Deputy PM says New Zealand hasn’t been adequately consulted on an agreement the Cook Islands leader is expected to sign in Beijing this week
A diplomatic row has erupted between two tight-knit Pacific countries, after New Zealand said the Cook Islands failed to properly consult on its plans to deepen ties with China amid growing concerns over Beijing’s push for influence in the region.
The Cook Islands was a dependent New Zealand colony from 1901-1965 but has since operated as a self-governing nation in “free association” with New Zealand. Its roughly 17,000 citizens hold New Zealand citizenship. There are obligations between the two nations to regularly consult on matters of defence and security.
Continue reading...Jordan Mailata makes history as first Australian to win a Super Bowl
- Eagles player completes journey from reserve-grade rugby league
- Mailata plays big hand in Phildelphia’s 40-22 win over Kansas City
Jordan Mailata, the giant rugby league convert from Bankstown, has made history by becoming the first Australian to play in a Super Bowl victory. The offensive tackle, taking part in his second NFL championship decider, played no small part in the Philadelphia Eagles’ stunning win over the Kansas City Chiefs in this year’s showpiece game held in New Orleans.
In front of a star-studded Superdome crowd and a global audience of tens of millions, Mailata’s journey from humble beginnings in Sydney’s south-west to the pinnacle of world sport was completed, as he helped the Eagles to a one-sided 40-22 win over the Chiefs, whose hopes of securing a three-peat were dashed in spectacular fashion.
Continue reading...Kosovo faces political uncertainty as ruling party fails to secure election majority
PM Albin Kurti claims ‘victory’ and vows to form government but analysts warn of prolonged crisis and instability
The governing party of the prime minister, Albin Kurti, is on track to secure the most seats in Kosovo’s parliament but will lack the numbers for a majority, the election commission has said.
Sunday’s vote pitted Kurti’s campaign to stamp out the influence of Serbia, more than 15 years after Kosovo declared independence, against the opposition’s vow to boost the economy in one of the poorest corners of Europe.
Continue reading...Torrential rain and flash floods hit Sydney as massive storms roll across NSW and eastern Victoria
Bureau of Meteorology warns severe conditions will continue as parts of NSW coated in hail
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Thunderstorms across New South Wales and eastern Victoria on Monday brought flash flooding, destructive winds and hail, as the Bureau of Meteorology warns severe conditions would continue.
A major storm rolled across the Sydney CBD around midday on Monday, bringing dark skies and heavy rainfall. By mid-afternoon, he city had recorded 52.8mm of rain at Observatory Hill since 9am, according to the BoM. Horsley Park, 50km west of the city, had recorded 87.8mm.
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