World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 mascot name revealed
The organising committee of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 revealed the official mascot name, Riku One.
Aid freezes and withdrawals leave Sudan’s needy battling famine alone
US aid freeze shuts Sudan’s food kitchens, deepening famine as millions face acute hunger and displacement.
BBC admits it ‘fell short and failed people’ over Tim Westwood
Corporation apologises as inquiry finds it missed opportunities that could have led to action over former Radio 1 DJ’s behaviour
The BBC has admitted it “fell short and failed people” – including its own staff – and apologised after finding evidence of “bullying and misogynistic” behaviour by its former Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood.
A £3.3m external inquiry published on Tuesday found the broadcaster “missed opportunities” during the DJ’s two decades at the organisation that could have led to action. The inquiry was triggered by a 2022 Guardian and BBC News joint investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour by the DJ.
Continue reading...US consumer confidence dives, posts biggest drop in 3.5 years
Tariffs on imports, mass firings of federal workers are some of the issues taking a toll on consumer psyche.
A mystery illness in Congo has killed more than 50 people hours after they felt sick – CNN
- A mystery illness in Congo has killed more than 50 people hours after they felt sick CNN
- ‘Unknown disease’ that can kill within days leaves 53 dead in Congo The Washington Post
- Unknown illness kills more than 50 in north-west DRC The Guardian
- Unknown Deadly Illness Strikes Western Congo The New York Times
- Over 50 deaths linked to 'unknown disease' in Congo ABC News
It’s time to seize Russian assets, not just freeze them, says UK’s Lammy – Reuters
- It's time to seize Russian assets, not just freeze them, says UK's Lammy Reuters
- Ukraine war briefing: Calls grow to spend all of Russia’s frozen billions on Ukrainian defence The Guardian
- EU eyes €200B secret weapon as Trump dominates Ukraine peace talks POLITICO Europe
- Europe considers seizing $200 billion in frozen Russian assets as bargaining chip in Ukraine war peace talks New York Post
- Russia may offer frozen assets for Ukraine's reconstruction, demand funds for occupied territories, Reuters reports Kyiv Independent
AfD readmits two politicians excluded over Nazi-related remarks
After Sunday’s election the far-right party has decided to allow Maximilian Krah and Matthias Helferich to return to the parliamentary group
Two politicians for the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) who were sidelined over remarks they made relating to the Nazis have been welcomed back into its parliamentary group after the party’s historic performance in the German general election.
Maximilian Krah resigned from the AfD’s federal executive board before the European elections last June after telling an Italian newspaper that not all members of Adolf Hitler’s SS had been “automatically criminals”.
Continue reading...Israel ‘wants to extend first phase of Gaza ceasefire deal’ as talks stall
Israel ready to resume fighting if there is no progress in crucial talks this week, reports say
Israel is seeking to extend the first stage of the ceasefire agreement in the war with Hamas in Gaza and is prepared to resume fighting if there is no progress in crucial talks this week, according to reports.
Israel’s Kan Radio, along with Ma’ariv, a daily newspaper, reported on Tuesday that informal talks were under way aimed at extending the first 42-day stage of the ceasefire, which expires on Saturday. Official internationally mediated negotiations on how to implement the second stage – which would involve a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territory – were supposed to begin weeks ago, but have been repeatedly postponed as the fragile truce has lurched from crisis to crisis.
Continue reading...Southwest airliner aborts landing to avoid collision at Chicago airport
A Southwest Airlines jet aborted its landing in Chicago as a smaller jet crossed the runway in front it.
Ukraine Timeline Tells the Tale – Consortium News
- Ukraine Timeline Tells the Tale Consortium News
- Opinion | Three Years: Reflections on the Ukraine War The New York Times
- Western leaders visit Kyiv and pledge military support against Russia on the war's third anniversary The Associated Press
- Ukraine marks 3 years since start of Russia’s invasion as Trump’s stance raises concerns PBS NewsHour
- Ukrainians in New York commemorate anniversary of Russia’s invasion: ‘three years of our resistance’ The Guardian US
Watch: Bulldog puppies stolen in chaotic pet shop heist
A man allegedly faked a seizure to distract a Colorado pet shop's staff as his accomplice grabbed the puppies.
UN biodiversity talks resume with dispute over funding topping the agenda
Annual conference on biodiversity that ran out of time last year resumes in Rome with nations sparring over money.
Iran rules out direct talks with US while Trump exerts ‘maximum pressure’
Iran's foreign minister made the announcement after meeting his Russian counterpart.
German parliament in race against time to sign off on new defence fund
Friedrich Merz, expected to be next chancellor, has spoken of urgent need for ramped-up defence, but ‘blocking minority’ could form in future Bundestag
Germany’s outgoing parliament could be asked to sign off on a new defence fund in its final weeks as the conservative winners of Sunday’s election seek to balance geopolitical demands with the looming pressures of a new Bundestag hostile to military spending.
Since the victory of his CDU/CSU alliance, Friedrich Merz has spoken of the urgent need for Europe to ramp up its own defence capabilities, saying it needs “independence from the USA” amid an unpredictable Trump administration and a looming threat from Russia.
Continue reading...Israel looks to extend phase one of Gaza truce as long-term deal proves elusive – Reuters
- Israel looks to extend phase one of Gaza truce as long-term deal proves elusive Reuters
- As the clock ticks down on the Gaza ceasefire, Israel prepares for more war CNN
- Ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza expires this weekend. What comes next? USA TODAY
- White House envoy may travel to Middle East Sunday in push to extend Gaza deal Axios
- Witkoff: Talks have progressed over the past day The Jerusalem Post
‘There’s no better feeling’: TikTok star Go-Jo to represent Australia at Eurovision 2025
Singer of viral hit Mrs Hollywood hopes his milkshakes bring everyone on board at Basel this year when he sings Milkshake Man, an ode to self-confidence
TikTok star Go-Jo will represent Australia at Eurovision in May, the 10th musical act to head represent his country since Australia joined the annual European song contest a decade ago.
Marty Zambotto, a 29-year-old Sydney-based singer-songwriter, went viral in 2023 after he uploaded a clip to TikTok of himself performing his song Mrs Hollywood while busking around Sydney. To date, the song has racked up more than 60m digital streams and 1bn views across all platforms.
The 2025 Eurovision song contest runs 13 -17 May and will be broadcast on SBS in Australia
Continue reading...BBC Verify: How much has the US spent on aid to Ukraine?
US President Donald Trump claims the US has outspent Europe on aid to Ukraine by over $200bn. BBC Verify's Nick Eardley fact-checks Trump's claims.
‘They took all the women here’: Rape survivors recall horror of DR Congo jailbreak
Women recall being raped in prison in DR Congo, as chaos broke out after rebels advanced on Goma city.
US Supreme Court orders new trial for Oklahoma death row inmate Richard Glossip
Glossip has had nine execution dates postponed, and eaten his "last meal" three times.
Latest Search for MH370 Should Prove Telling – Newser
- Latest Search for MH370 Should Prove Telling Newser
- The search for the missing Malaysian Airlines flight has resumed once again NPR
- Why This Search for MH370 Could Be Different New York Magazine
- New hunt begins for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, over a decade after it disappeared Yahoo
- MH370: search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight resumes after 11 years The Guardian