Israeli hostage families and demonstrators hold day of protests
Families of hostages being held by Hamas are protesting across Israel in a day of marches, rallies and demonstrations.
French PM fights for survival as rivals refuse to support confidence vote
Opposition parties say they will not back Prime Minister François Bayrou after a he called the vote over deep budget cuts.
Israel announces permanent occupation of new areas in Syria – thecradle.co
- Israel announces permanent occupation of new areas in Syria thecradle.co
- Israel launches new operations in Syria after strike kills soldiers Al Jazeera
- Syria reports fresh Israeli strike, raid by helicopter-borne troops in Damascus area The Times of Israel
- Israeli drone strikes kill 8 Syrian soldiers in Damascus suburb, officials say NBC News
- Israel conducts landing on former air defence base in southwest Damascus - sources Reuters
Turkish transport minister fined after posting video of himself driving at 140mph
Footage shared by Abdulkadir Uraloğlu under hashtag #TurkeyAccelerates inadvertently shows him speeding
Turkey’s transport minister has been given a speeding fine after posting a video of himself racing down a highway with the hashtag #TurkeyAccelerates.
On Sunday evening, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu shared a video of himself on X driving along a highway near the capital, Ankara, listening to folk songs and clips of speeches by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Continue reading...Trump says he is firing Fed governor Lisa Cook in escalating attack on bank’s independence | First Thing
Cook has said that Trump has no authority to remove her from the job over over allegations she committed mortgage fraud. Plus, a look at the AI-led agency advocating for ‘AI rights’
Good morning.
Donald Trump has said he is firing the Federal Reserve governor, Lisa Cook, over a claim that she committed mortgage fraud, as he intensified his attack on the central bank’s independence.
Why does Trump want Cook out? It would allow him to replace her with someone who could offer him more control over Fed policy, as his demands for lower interest rates have been ignored so far.
What else is the committee seeking? It has also issued deposition subpoenas to figures including Bill and Hillary Clinton, former FBI director James Comey and former attorneys general Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Merrick Garland, William Barr and Jeff Sessions.
Continue reading...Germany and Canada announce deeper ties on critical minerals, defense – politico.eu
- Germany and Canada announce deeper ties on critical minerals, defense politico.eu
- Merz and Carney Vow Deeper Cooperation on Critical Minerals Bloomberg.com
- Germany updates: Canadian and Belgian PMs visit Berlin DW
- Ottawa to back new port infrastructure, signs critical minerals agreement with Germany The Globe and Mail
- Germany, Canada to deepen critical minerals cooperation in supply chain push Reuters
America’s leading physician groups are now openly defying RFK Jr. – vox.com
- America’s leading physician groups are now openly defying RFK Jr. vox.com
- New COVID vaccine guidance leaves some unsure what to do Axios
- What Americans Need to Know About Covid Shots This Season Bloomberg.com
- Want a COVID shot this fall? Bay Area experts say it may not be simple San Francisco Chronicle
- New COVID shots this fall: Who gets them and who pays? WCNC
Israel to keep troops in Syrian territory, defence minister says – Financial Times
- Israel to keep troops in Syrian territory, defence minister says Financial Times
- Six Syrian soldiers killed in Israeli strikes near Damascus: State media Al Jazeera
- Syria says Israel takes some territory around Mount Hermon despite talks Reuters
- Citing October 7, Katz says Israeli troops inside Syria staying put to defend north The Times of Israel
- Israel Katz says IDF to remain in Syria buffer zone, Hermon The Jerusalem Post
Peers who do not participate enough in House of Lords face sack
Ministers will also press ahead with plan for retirement age of 80 after bill abolishing remaining hereditary peers goes through
Labour plans to remove peers who do not contribute enough to the House of Lords and to press ahead with plans for a retirement age of 80 from the upper house.
Writing for the Telegraph, the leader of the House of Lords, Angela Smith, said a select committee would consider the next stage of Lords reform after the abolition of hereditary peers.
Continue reading...Norway wealth fund sells Caterpillar stake over Israel allegations
World’s largest wealth fund says it has excluded bulldozer maker and five Israeli banking groups on ethics grounds
The world’s largest wealth fund has excluded Caterpillar, the construction equipment manufacturer, over Israel’s use of its bulldozers to destroy Palestinian property in Gaza and the West Bank.
Norway’s $2tn (£1.5tn) fund said on Monday it had excluded Caterpillar and five Israeli banking groups on ethics grounds.
Continue reading...Fed Governor Cook in court to block Trump from firing her
The legal case over Trump's move could have lasting implications for the central bank's independence.
One in four UK late-night venues have closed since 2020, figures show
Industry body calls for urgent tax cuts to save ‘cornerstones of community life’ and halt rise of ‘night-time deserts’
More than one in four late-night venues have shut their doors since 2020, figures show, prompting lobbyists to warn that the UK faces a worrying rise in “night-time deserts” without urgent tax cuts.
Nearly 800 late-night businesses have been forced to close over the past five years, according to the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), representing a 26.4% contraction in the late-night sector overall. That compares with a 14.2% contraction across the wider hospitality sector.
Continue reading...Labs are now the most popular dog in America: report – Axios
- Labs are now the most popular dog in America: report Axios
- Data reveals the most popular dog breed in each state LiveNOW from FOX
- German shepherd no longer Ohio's most popular dog breed. American pit bull terrier is. yahoo.com
- National Dog Day: America's favorite breeds ranked by Rover USA Today
- Study reveals Ohio’s most popular dog breed in 2025 FOX 8 News
Dorset police investigate antisemitic hate crimes including swastika graffiti
Officers step up patrols for Bournemouth’s Jewish community after teenage boy shot with air rifle
Dorset police have launched an investigation and stepped up patrols for Bournemouth’s Jewish community after a wave of antisemitic hate crimes in the seaside town.
Over the weekend, a teenage boy was shot with an air rifle and injured, and swastika graffiti appeared on buildings, police said.
Continue reading...Australian Jewish groups applaud expulsion of Iranian diplomats but say community faces renewed fears
Adass Israel synagogue board member says announcement of Iran’s involvement in December arson attack has caused ‘general fear’ among congregation
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Australian Jewish groups have applauded the government’s “entirely appropriate” move to expel the Iranian ambassador in light of Iran’s alleged connections to antisemitic attacks in Australia – but say the “horrendous” news has renewed fears among the already traumatised community.
Responding to news the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps will be listed as a terrorist organisation in Australia, Jewish community members said the action was welcome but overdue.
Continue reading...‘Powerful optics’: China’s Xi to welcome Putin, Modi in grand show of solidarity – Reuters
- 'Powerful optics': China's Xi to welcome Putin, Modi in grand show of solidarity Reuters
- ‘Most stable ties’: Xi Jinping's big statement as China set to host Putin, PM Modi in grand show of solidarity Hindustan Times
- Live: Tianjin Eye – Landmark views of the 2025 SCO host city news.cgtn.com
- SCO will strongly uphold multilateralism ecns.cn
- China Makes Veiled Jab at US Before Hosting Modi, Putin, Erdogan Bloomberg.com
A Peace Deal for Ukraine Could Test German Reluctance to Deploy Troops – The New York Times
- A Peace Deal for Ukraine Could Test German Reluctance to Deploy Troops The New York Times
- Germany's Klingbeil visits Ukraine, vows security guarantees DW
- Germany vows support for Kyiv despite unease about boots on the ground Financial Times
- German finance minister in Kyiv: Ukraine can count on Germany Reuters
- Germany pledges to provide Ukraine with €9bn annually Українська правда
‘Dangerous’ suspect who allegedly killed two officers escaped into bush alone and is believed to be ‘heavily armed’ – as it happened
This blog has now closed
Wangaratta police have confirmed there is still an “active incident” ongoing and are continuing to urge people to avoid the area.
In a statement published to its social media page a moment ago, the local police service said Victoria police “continues to respond to an incident at a property in Porepunkah”.
This is still an active incident and we will provide more information when it’s operationally safe to do so.
We ask people avoid the area.
Tonight’s Ordinary Council Meeting has also been postponed, and will be rescheduled for two weeks’ time. Further details will be provided at a later date.
We thank you for your patience and understanding.
Continue reading...Manhunt under way after two police officers shot dead in rural Australian town
Australian police say a "heavily armed" male suspect escaped into the bush after the shooting in Victoria state.
India’s supreme court orders inquiry into giant zoo run by son of Asia’s richest person
Activists claim Anant Ambani’s Vantara facility has no plan to return its endangered species to the wild
India’s supreme court has ordered an investigation into a vast private zoo founded by the son of Asia’s richest person over allegations of illegal wildlife imports and financial misconduct.
Home to a reported 200 lions, 250 leopards and 900 crocodiles, Vantara in western Gujarat state describes itself as the “world’s biggest wild animal rescue centre”. It is run by Anant Ambani, a son of Mukesh Ambani, the billionaire head of the conglomerate Reliance Industries, and was one of the venues for his extravagant wedding celebrations last year, where celebrities were encouraged to wear “jungle fever” outfits.
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