Iraq frees over 19,000 prisoners under new amnesty, including some ex-ISIL
Officials say prisons at almost double capacity earlier this month.
Will the US-China tariff deal avert a possible global trade war?
The world's two biggest economies agree to de-escalate tariff face-off.
Pope Leo XIV visits the headquarters of his Augustinian order – AP News
- Pope Leo XIV visits the headquarters of his Augustinian order AP News
- In Augustinian Order, Pope Leo XIV Found Unity, Charity and ‘Eternal Friendship’ The New York Times
- Pope! Amigo! Peruvians remember the young American priest who became pope CNN
- Pope Leo XIV makes a surprise visit to his Augustinian brothers in Rome Vatican News
- ‘He’s always been a brother to us’: Villanova Augustinian prior reflects on future Pope Leo XIV OSV News
‘This is my closure’: Emotional Kim Kardashian shares fears and forgives robber in court
The celebrity businesswoman grew tearful as she gave evidence in the trial of 10 people accused of robbing her at gunpoint.
Food security NGO warns of ‘critical’ famine risk in Gaza; Israel says study ‘flawed’ – The Times of Israel
- Food security NGO warns of ‘critical’ famine risk in Gaza; Israel says study ‘flawed’ The Times of Israel
- In Private, Some Israeli Officers Admit That Gaza Is on the Brink of Starvation The New York Times
- WHO warns of permanent impact of hunger on a generation of Gazans Reuters
- One in five people in Gaza face starvation, report warns, as Israel’s months-long blockade continues CNN
- Medical professionals must speak out and act on Gaza now Al Jazeera
By recognizing Israel, ‘you’ll be greatly honoring me,’ Trump tells Saudis – JNS.org
- By recognizing Israel, ‘you’ll be greatly honoring me,’ Trump tells Saudis JNS.org
- This is Trump’s moment to deliver peace to the Middle East Al Jazeera
- Poll: 61% of Israelis back Saudi normalization; 69% support hostage deal, ending war The Times of Israel
- Trump calls on Saudi Arabia to join Abraham Accords recognizing Israel New York Post
- Trump hopes for Saudi Arabia to join Abraham Accords and stability in region The Jerusalem Post
Is Trump allowed to accept $400m luxury plane as a gift?
The US leader has faced criticism over his plan to accept a plane from Qatar worth an estimated $400m.
France mosque killing should be investigated as terrorism, says lawyer
The murder of Aboubakar Cisse at a French mosque should be investigated by anti-terror police, according to a lawyer.
Microsoft to lay off 6,000 workers despite streak of profitable quarters
Cuts follow push to slim management ranks, despite headcount still being up year-on-year in March
Microsoft says it is laying off nearly 3% of its entire workforce.
The tech giant didn’t disclose the total amount of lost jobs, but it will amount to about 6,000 people. Microsoft employed 228,000 full-time workers as of last June, the last time it reported its annual headcount. About 55% of those workers were in the U.S.
Continue reading...Cassie Ventura claims ‘physical abuse’ from ex Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in sex-trafficking trial
Singer said on the stand there were ‘violent arguments’ and ‘dragging’ in former relationship with the hip-hop mogul
The singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and central character in the case against him, took the stand on Tuesday as the high-profile federal trial of Combs enters its second day in lower Manhattan.
She is expected to testify against her former partner for several days.
Continue reading...Trump 2.0 takes quid pro quo fears to new heights with $400m flying grift
Accepting a ‘gift’ of a luxury jet from Qatar is just the most eye-catching of the president’s ethically questionable acts
Fox & Friends, the show beamed into millions of rightwing Americans’ homes every morning, is not generally considered to be the place where Donald Trump faces the tough questions. The “& Friends” in the show’s title gives that away.
But on Monday morning, the show’s co-host Brian Kilmeade put the billion-dollar question to the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt. News had just broken that Trump had decided to accept a gift of a $400m luxury jumbo jet from the government of Qatar, a petro-state which the president once denounced as a “funder of terrorism”.
Continue reading...US and Saudi Arabia agree to $142bn weapons sale during Trump visit
The White House says an agreement with Saudi Arabia includes investments in weapons and technology totaling $600bn.
Iran proposes partnership with UAE and Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium
A consortium would help Tehran deal with US objections and tie in Gulf states to its enrichment programme
Iran has floated the idea of a consortium of Middle Eastern countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to enrich uranium as a way of overcoming some US objections to Iran continuing to have its own enrichment programme.
The proposal would be one way of locking the Gulf states into supporting the Iranian position that it must be continued to be allowed to enrich.
Continue reading...Gérard Depardieu found guilty of sexually assaulting two women
French actor, 76, convicted of assaulting set dresser and assistant director during film shoot in Paris in 2021
Gérard Depardieu has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women during a film shoot in 2021 and given an 18-month suspended prison sentence, in a turning point for the #MeToo movement in France.
Depardieu, France’s biggest film star who has made more than 200 films and TV series, is the highest-profile figure in the French film industry to be convicted of sexual assault after years of the country being accused of being slow to take women’s claims of abuse seriously.
Continue reading...Zelenskyy to travel to Turkey for peace talks regardless of Putin’s plans – Financial Times
- Zelenskyy to travel to Turkey for peace talks regardless of Putin’s plans Financial Times
- What To Expect From Proposed Talks In Turkey On Russia's War Against Ukraine Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
- Russia, Ukraine set for first direct talks since war began with U.S. present The Washington Post
- Zelenskyy says he will be waiting for Putin in Ankara for talks AP News
- Zelensky Asks Trump to Attend Peace Talks, but Putin’s Plans Remain Unclear The New York Times
Starmer ‘completely rejects’ suggestion he echoed Enoch Powell in immigration speech, No 10 says – as it happened
This blog is now closed, you can read more on this story here
David Lammy, the foreign secretary, has just started taking questions in the Commons. In response to the first question, Hamish Falconer, minister for the Middle East, said the UK has joined calls for an urgent meeting of the UN security council this afternoon to discuss the situation in Gaza.
After Foreign Office questions, Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, is asking an urgent question about the Mansion House accord – a deal with pension companies intended to get them to invest more in UK firms.
Continue reading...Legacy of Diane Sindall’s murder lives on as 1987 conviction is overturned
As Peter Sullivan is released after serving 38 years for a crime he didn’t commit, efforts turn to finding the killer
People still lay flowers at the granite memorial stone close to the place in Birkenhead where Diane Sindall met her horrific, shocking death. It reads: “Murdered 2.8.1986 because she was a woman. In memory of all our sisters who have been raped and murdered. We will never let it be forgotten.”
On Merseyside, the killing has a legacy that is still felt today. For nearly four decades, many assumed justice had been served and the right man had been convicted. On Tuesday, that was turned on its head when the court of appeal ruled Peter Sullivan was an innocent man.
Continue reading...Government seeks to disqualify Lex Greensill from managing a UK firm for 12 years
Lawyers tell high court the founder of Greensill Group made misrepresentations to insurers and investors that led to big losses
The government is seeking to disqualify the Australian financier Lex Greensill from managing a UK company for 12 years, the high court has heard.
Greensill, a former Australian sugar farmer, is the founder and chief executive officer of Greensill Group – which specialised in supply-chain finance – the UK wing of which entered into administration in March 2021.
Continue reading...Carney names new foreign minister in Canada cabinet shake-up
PM, who led Liberals to re-election, replaces Mélanie Joly – who becomes industry minister – with Anita Anand
Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, has announced a major cabinet shake-up, including a new foreign minister, as he shapes a newly re-elected Liberal government.
Carney, who replaced Justin Trudeau earlier this year and won the election last month, named Anita Anand as foreign minister, replacing Mélanie Joly, who becomes the minister of industry. Anand previously served in roles including defense minister.
Continue reading...Gutted
Fault Lines, Mother Jones investigate how private equity firm gutted a hospital chain for profit, endangering patients.