Dozens of white South Africans arrive in US under Trump refugee plan
Donald Trump says they are victims of "racial discrimination", which is strongly denied by South Africa.
Trump signs executive order to bring down prescription drug prices
President makes push to bring down drug prices that have long been a source of financial strain for US patients.
Modi addresses nation for first time since start of India-Pakistan strikes
His speech comes after a ceasefire was agreed between the two countries following days of intense shelling by both sides.
One in five people in Gaza face starvation, famine watchdog warns
The IPC says a full 100% of Gaza now experiences acute food insecurity while half-a-million people face starvation.
US-Israeli hostage reunites with family after being freed by Hamas
Edan Alexander, 21, is the first hostage to be released by Hamas since a ceasefire ended in March.
Hamas frees last living US citizen held in Gaza in what Trump calls a ‘good faith step’
American soldier Edan Alexander meets family at Israel border after masked fighters hand him over to Red Cross
Hamas has freed the last living US citizen it held in Gaza, soldier Edan Alexander, in a unilateral move US president Donald Trump described as a “good faith step” towards ending the war and bringing home all remaining hostages.
The release of 20-year-old Alexander, who spent 584 days in captivity after he was seized from his base on 7 October 2023, was agreed with little Israeli involvement beyond practical coordination on the ground.
Continue reading...Six Bulgarians jailed for spying for Russia – BBC
- Six Bulgarians jailed for spying for Russia BBC
- 'Minions' spies sentencing live: Ringleader of Bulgarian spy cell jailed for 10 years 8 months BBC
- Russian spy ring leader jailed in UK for nearly 11 years CNN
- Russia spy ring members sentenced to prison in U.K. case involving hidden cameras, love triangle and "honeytraps" CBS News
- Six Bulgarians jailed after spying for Russia in UK The Guardian
Starmer faces opposition of Labour MPs and employers over immigration shift
Some backbenchers already thought PM had moved too far right on issue but aides say aim is to make system ‘fairer’
“We must never accept the Tory or media narrative that often scapegoats and demonises migrants,” Keir Starmer wrote in 2020. “Problems of low pay, housing and public services are not caused by migrants – they are caused by a failed economic model.”
Much has changed since Starmer was running to be leader of the Labour party – not least, that as prime minister he now has a broader electorate to keep on side.
Continue reading...Protesters rally against Israel’s participation in Eurovision
Protesters in Basel condemned Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
Brazil’s president seeks ‘indestructible’ links with China amid Trump trade war
Remark comes as Brazil, Colombia and Chile’s leaders fly to Beijing amid international uncertainty generated by Trump
The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has heralded his desire to build “indestructible” relations with China, as the leaders of three of Latin America’s biggest economies flew to Beijing against the backdrop of Donald Trump’s trade war and the profound international uncertainty his presidency has generated.
Lula touched down in China’s capital on Sunday for a four-day state visit, accompanied by 11 ministers, top politicians and a delegation of more than 150 business leaders.
Continue reading...India-Pakistan ceasefire brings hope and uncertainty
A ceasefire between India and Pakistan is currently holding, bringing relief to civilians who fled after recent attacks.
Can Istanbul talks pave way to end the war in Ukraine?
Volodymyr Zelenskyy agrees to meeting proposed by Vladimir Putin - if he attends in person.
Starmer defends plans to curb net migration after backlash from MPs
Prime minister’s ‘island of strangers’ speech was likened to rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Keir Starmer has defended his plans to curb net migration after an angry backlash from MPs, businesses and industry to a speech in which he said the UK risked becoming an “island of strangers” without tough new policies.
The rhetoric was likened by some critics to the language of Enoch Powell, and the prime minister was accused of pandering to the populist right by insisting he intended to “take back control of our borders” and end a “squalid chapter” of rising inward migration.
Continue reading...Kim Kardashian ‘in serious terror’ when robbers entered suite, court told
Hotel receptionist who was forced at gunpoint to lead thieves to reality TV star’s flat says she was ‘in state of hysteria’
A hotel receptionist who was held at gunpoint while Kim Kardashian was robbed in Paris in 2016 has told a court that the US influencer was in a state of “serious terror” when armed men entered her suite.
Abderrahmane Ouatiki, 48, who was handcuffed and forced at gunpoint to lead two armed robbers to Kardashian’s hotel room, said: “She was terrified, in a state of hysteria.”
Continue reading...Hamas frees soldier Edan Alexander as Gaza faces bombardment, famine risk
Hamas frees Edan Alexander as Israel presses on with its Gaza assault and 71-day blockade of all aid.
British man being held in Saudi Arabia jailed for 10 years, say lawyers
UK Foreign Office criticised by campaigners as Ahmed al-Doush given sentence for charges thought to relate to deleted tweet
A British national arrested in Saudi Arabia on charges that appear to relate to a deleted tweet has been jailed for 10 years, according to British lawyers and campaign groups representing the family.
Ahmed al-Doush was arrested in August and, while it is understood that UK Foreign Office officials were allowed into the Saudi court for his hearing, the British government has been criticised for a lack of action since his arrest.
Continue reading...‘Just wildly illegal’: top Democrats push to censure Trump’s plan to accept Qatar jet
Four senators, including Cory Booker, say they will press for vote against president’s plan to take $400m gift from Qatar
Top Democrats in the US Senate are pushing for a vote on the floor of the chamber censuring Donald Trump’s reported plan to accept a $400m luxury jet from the royal family of Qatar for use as Air Force One and later as a fixture in the Trump’s personal presidential library.
Four Democratic members of the Senate foreign relations committee said on Monday that they would press for a vote later this week. They said that elected officials, including the president, were not allowed to accept large gifts from foreign governments unless authorized to do so by Congress.
Continue reading...Liz Kendall to overhaul DWP’s assessment for disability benefits
Work and pensions secretary calls for groups to engage as she scraps capability assessment and overhauls Pip application
Liz Kendall is to begin an overhaul of the disability benefit assessment process long decried by campaigners as cruel, calling on groups to engage with the changes amid criticism of the government’s forthcoming welfare cuts.
The work and pensions secretary said on Monday she was beginning the process of abolishing the work capability assessment and overhauling the process to apply for the personal independence payment (Pip) – which can be paid to those in or out of work – to form a single assessment process.
Continue reading...Madonna limited series directed by Shawn Levy in the works at Netflix
Queen of pop will partner with the streamer and Deadpool & Wolverine film-maker for a project on her life and music
A television series on Madonna is in development at Netflix – with participation from the trailblazing pop star.
The 66-year-old singer is partnering with Netflix and the Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy for a limited series about her life and music.
Continue reading...Scepticism and cautious hope as PKK takes historic step to disband
There are calls for an amnesty for PKK prisoners, after the end of its 40-year insurgency against Turkey.