Ireland won’t participate in Eurovision 2026 if Israel does: Broadcaster
RTE says participating would be 'unconscionable' as a result of Israel's war on Gaza and the 'appalling loss of lives'.
Belarus frees political prisoners in exchange for easing of US sanctions
Fifty-two prisoners have been released, but more than 1,000 political prisoners remain in jail.
Belarus frees political prisoners in exchange for easing of US sanctions – BBC
- Belarus frees political prisoners in exchange for easing of US sanctions BBC
- Belarus pardons scores of prisoners ‘at the request’ of Trump, Lukashenko says CNN
- Alone in no man's land, one freed prisoner refused to leave Belarus Reuters
- 'Europe's last dictator' frees more than 50 prisoners to ease sanctions in Trump trade Sky News
- Belarus frees 52 political prisoners, including foreigners, after visit by US delegation The Guardian
Litton Das guides Bangladesh away from Hong Kong shock in Asia Cup T20
Bangladesh avoid upset in Asia Cup opener after captain Litton Das hits a half-century in seven wicket T20 win.
Updates: Brazil Supreme Court votes to convict Bolsonaro on all charges
Bolsonaro set to be sentenced on charges related to planning coup after three justices vote to convict.
Russia Urges Poland to Reopen Belarus Border – The Moscow Times
- Russia Urges Poland to Reopen Belarus Border The Moscow Times
- Poland sends 40,000 troops to border amid Russia tension TVP World
- Russian Wargames Feed NATO Anxiety After Poland Drone Incursion Bloomberg.com
- Russo-Belarusian military drills trigger concern in Baltics DW
- Russia-Belarus military drills start this week. Here’s what to know Defense News
UK should work with Nato on new missile defence system to counter Russia, experts say
After Russian drones entered Polish airspace, two authors of the UK strategic defence review said Europe would need to build up its defences
Britain should work with Nato allies in developing an integrated air and missile defence system after the incursion of nearly 20 Russian drones into Poland, according to two authors of the UK strategic defence review.
Fiona Hill, a former White House adviser, said that Russia was “testing the limits” of Europe’s defences at a time when the military commitment of the US to Nato was uncertain.
Continue reading...Alone in no man’s land, one freed prisoner refused to leave Belarus – Reuters
- Alone in no man's land, one freed prisoner refused to leave Belarus Reuters
- Belarus pardons scores of prisoners ‘at the request’ of Trump, Lukashenko says CNN
- Belarus prisoners forcibly deported to Lithuania after US deal, says opposition The Guardian
- 'People Are Simply Being Destroyed': Freed Belarusian Prisoners Describe Brutal Conditions Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
- UK says 'great news' British national freed in Belarus release deal BBC
FBI releases photos of person of interest in Charlie Kirk shooting
The FBI has released photos of a person of interest in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Senate mounts new Russia pressure campaign – Axios
- Senate mounts new Russia pressure campaign Axios
- Bipartisan Senators on Designating Russia and Belarus as State Sponsors of Terrorism C-SPAN
- Senate bill would designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism over kidnapping of 20K Ukrainian children New York Post
- Russia, Belarus face terror label in US over abducted Ukrainian children 10News.com
- Senators start new push to punish Russia over kidnapped Ukrainian kids Spectrum News
Fiji ant study provides new evidence of insects’ decline on remote islands
DNA analysis of endemic specimens in museums finds 79% of ant populations in Pacific archipelago are shrinking
Island-dwelling insects have not been spared the ravages of humanity that have pushed so many of their invertebrate kin into freefall around the world, new research on Fijian ant populations has found.
Hundreds of thousands of insect species have been lost over the past 150 years and it is believed the world is now losing between 1% and 2.5% a year of its remaining insect biomass – a decline so steep that many entomologists say we are living through an “insect apocalypse”. Yet long-term data for individual insect populations is sparse and patchy.
Continue reading...Struggling to walk, Elizabeth Tsurkov embraces loved ones after return to Israel from captivity – The Times of Israel
- Struggling to walk, Elizabeth Tsurkov embraces loved ones after return to Israel from captivity The Times of Israel
- Princeton Student Held by Iran-Backed Militia Is Released, Trump Says The New York Times
- Princeton academic Elizabeth Tsurkov freed by Iraqi militia after 2 years in captivity NBC News
- Princeton Doctoral Student Freed After Being Kidnapped in Iraq The Wall Street Journal
- Statement by President Eisgruber on the release of Elizabeth Tsurkov Princeton University
Global Sumud Flotilla determined to continue to Gaza after Tunisia attacks
Attacks on flotilla described as distractions by activists who plan to continue their journey to end Gaza's blockade.
South Sudan vice-president charged with murder and treason
The roads leading to Riek Machar's house are blocked by tanks and soldiers, amid fears of renewed fighting.
Ireland threatens to withdraw from Eurovision if Israel participates
The Irish broadcaster said that Ireland's participation in the contest "would be unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza".
Party like it’s 2018 – Ethiopians celebrate their new year
Photos of new year celebrations in a country with a calendar seven years behind that followed in the West.
No 10 says Starmer found Mandelson’s emails to Epstein ‘reprehensible’ – UK politics live
Despite being repeatedly asked, No 10 declines to say the PM was ‘misled’ by Mandelson
Stephen Doughty, a Foreign Office minister, is responding to the UQ about Peter Mandelson.
He starts by making the point that it is the anniversary of the “despicable” 9/11 terrorism attacks.
Keir Starmer must sack Peter Mandelson without further delay - and come clean about what he knew when, and whether he sanctioned blocking the publication of damaging material.
UK government documents shouldn’t be hidden from the public just because they are damaging to the Labour party - and by backing Peter Mandelson to the hilt, the prime minister’s own reputation is now on the line.
Blackpool hospital neglect contributed to suicide of man who waited 22 hours for help, coroner rules
Jamie Pearson killed himself in toilet at Blackpool Victoria hospital after being admitted over painkiller overdose
The death of a 27-year-old man who killed himself in a hospital toilet after waiting 22 hours to be seen by the mental health team was “contributed to by neglect”, a coroner has ruled.
Jamie Pearson was admitted to Blackpool Victoria hospital’s A&E department after taking an overdose of high-strength painkillers on 17 August 2024.
Continue reading...Trump blamed ‘radical left’ for Charlie Kirk’s death – even as shooter’s identity remains unknown
In Oval Office address, president decried the demonization of political opponents, ignoring his own past rhetoric
In his Oval Office address on Wednesday, Donald Trump sought to blame the “radical left” for Charlie Kirk’s killing while the shooter’s identity and motivations remained unclear. Trump promised an unspecified crackdown that could also target “organizations” that he claimed contributed to political violence.
Trump’s speech underscored an aggressive effort to pin the attack on the left while ignoring his own role in fomenting politically motivated violence.
Continue reading...Man held after suspected arson attack on office of Labour MP Sharon Hodgson
Police investigate after images show roof of building destroyed in Washington, Tyne and Wear
A man in his 20s has been arrested by police after a suspected arson attack wrecked the constituency office of the Labour MP Sharon Hodgson.
There is little left of the first floor office in the Concord area of Washington, Tyne and Wear, after a fire that took place when it was unoccupied in the early hours of the morning.
Continue reading...