- M23 rebels push south from Goma as DRC leader calls for military recruits The Guardian
- Rwanda-backed rebels in eastern Congo say they plan to take their fight to the capital The Associated Press
- Rwanda-Backed Rebels Pressing Toward Bukavu in Congo, UN Says Bloomberg
- DR Congo’s president says country won’t be humiliated after rebels claim takeover CNN
- Rwanda-backed rebels seize control of Congo’s Goma after violent clashes The Washington Post
Is Donald Trump’s plan to force Gaza’s population to neighbouring states?
What has been the response to such a plan and is it even legal?
South Africa warns Rwanda of ‘declaration of war’ after assault in DRC – Financial Times
- South Africa warns Rwanda of ‘declaration of war’ after assault in DRC Financial Times
- Congo losses expose limit of South Africa's diplomatic ambitions Reuters
- DR Congo rebels close in on key city as 13 peacekeepers killed BBC.com
- Six peacekeepers killed fighting rebels in eastern Congo, officials say, as rebels close in on Goma CNN
- Amputations to shrapnel injuries: Shocking details after first day of M23 rebel attack in DRC News24
Sweden donates $1.2 billion aid package to Ukraine – Reuters
- Sweden donates $1.2 billion aid package to Ukraine Reuters
- Sweden’s new $1.2B donation to Ukraine includes drones, missiles and boats Breaking Defense
- Sweden to provide Ukraine with $1.2 billion military aid package Defense News
- Zelensky thanks Sweden for largest defense package for Ukraine Ukrinform
- Sweden unveils its largest military aid package for Ukraine worth $1.2 billion. Kyiv Independent
Man who burned Quran ‘shot dead in Sweden’
Salwan Momika, 38, is reported to have been killed in an apartment in Södertälje, Stockholm.
Thai hostages: Five held in Gaza released by Hamas – BBC.com
- Thai hostages: Five held in Gaza released by Hamas BBC.com
- ‘I told my son to keep strong – let’s wait for dad’: Thailand hopes for return of its last Hamas hostage The Guardian
- What medical condition are the Thai nationals released from Hamas captivity in? The Jerusalem Post
- Israeli doctors say five released Thai hostages in ‘fair’ health after 15 months of captivity The Associated Press
- Five Thai hostages freed by Hamas yesterday are in ‘fair’ health — hospital director The Times of Israel
Tears of joy as five Thai hostages held in Gaza are freed
The five were working on farms in Israel when they were abducted during attacks on 7 October 2023.
British-Egyptian dissident mulls giving up citizenship over failure to be released
Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s family reveal letters showing his despair after initial hopes David Lammy could get him freed from Cairo jail
Alaa Abd el-Fattah, the British-Egyptian political dissident held in a Cairo jail for more than five years, has reached such a state of despair over the UK’s inability to secure his release that he has contemplated renouncing both his British and Egyptian citizenship, his letters reveal.
His family have given permission for some of his private letters to be published to show his situation and his concern for his 68-year-old mother, Laila Soueif, on hunger strike seeking his release.
Continue reading...Rachel Reeves says cabinet ‘united’ in backing Heathrow third runway plan – UK politics live
Chancellor says she has support of cabinet as climate minister Ed Miliband reported to be sceptical over Heathrow plans
Richard Madeley goes next.
Q: The Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary says you are wrong, and the third runway won’t be built until you are 70. You are 45 now. Why is he wrong?
We’re signing off decisions on wind farms, on solar farms, a commitment to a new stadium at Old Trafford. We are upgrading the Transpennine route to make journey times easier between York and Manchester via Leeds and Huddersfield. Those things are happening right now.
Continue reading...European Central Bank cuts interest rates to support growth as eurozone economy stagnates – as it happened
Live coverage of business, economics and financial news as ECB cuts main interest rate by 0.25 percentage points in effort to support European economies
It was a flash reading on the Eurozone economy, so we don’t have the details on what the drivers were. But it’s clear that it was a weak end to 2024.
But the European Central Bank might be able to spur a bit of economic growth in the eurozone with looser monetary policy.
This marks a weak end to last year, following positive growth in the first three quarters of 2024. As a result, first estimates suggest that the currency bloc as a whole grew by 0.7% in 2024. Declining activity in Germany – the Eurozone’s largest economy – has weighed on the bloc’s growth, with German GDP contracting by 0.2% on the quarter. This suggests Germany has now seen annual declines in activity for two consecutive years.
In 2025, further loosening of monetary conditions is expected to provide a modest uptick in activity for both Germany and the Eurozone, with growth expected to amount to 0.3% and 1.0% respectively.
Continue reading...BBC apologises to staff who ‘felt unable to raise’ Russell Brand concerns
A number of people believed comedian ‘would always get his way and therefore they stayed silent’, review finds
The BBC has apologised to staff after a review into the conduct of Russell Brand during his time with the broadcaster found a number of people “felt unable to raise” concerns about his behaviour .
Peter Johnston, the BBC director of editorial complaints and reviews, said on Thursday he had investigated eight complaints about Brand during his review, with only one of those formally made to the BBC.
Continue reading...Chaos and celebrations as eight more hostages released by Hamas
Three Israelis and five Thai nationals comprised the latest group of hostages released since the Gaza ceasefire was announced.
UK to keep ban on asylum seekers claiming modern slavery protections – Reuters UK
- UK to keep ban on asylum seekers claiming modern slavery protections Reuters UK
- New crime of endangering lives to target small boat crossings BBC.com
- Planned UK people-smuggling laws risk ‘criminalising’ asylum seekers, charities say The Guardian
- Small boats tracker: Find out how many people have crossed the Channel The Telegraph
- New UK asylum bill to criminalise those who seek to prevent small boat rescues Financial Times
Bishop of Liverpool quits amid sexual misconduct allegations
John Perumbalath was under pressure from Church of England leadership over sexual assault and harassment claims
A senior Anglican bishop has quit his role amid sexual misconduct claims, plunging the Church of England into fresh crisis.
John Perumbalath, the bishop of Liverpool, bowed to pressure after his senior leadership team called on him to step aside after allegations of sexual assault and harassment surfaced.
Continue reading...Heathrow’s third runway can be built in 10 years, Reeves says – BBC.com
- Heathrow's third runway can be built in 10 years, Reeves says BBC.com
- Backing Heathrow expansion suggests Labour is serious about boosting growth The Economist
- Heathrow’s third runway, Rachel Reeves and the pursuit of growth | Letters The Guardian
- Europe’s busiest airport is set to get bigger, as Britain green-lights tortured Heathrow expansion project CNN International
- U.K. Government Backs Heathrow Expansion in Push for Faster Growth The New York Times
Judge rejects attempt to overturn inquest verdict on Stockport scout’s death
Scout leaders had launched judicial review over verdict of unlawful killing of Ben Leonard, 16, who fell from cliff on expedition
A high court judge has rejected an attempt by a scout leader and an assistant to overturn the findings of an inquest jury that concluded they were responsible for the unlawful killing of a 16-year-old boy who fell from a cliff during an expedition.
Ben Leonard from Stockport, Greater Manchester, became separated from his group during a hike in north Wales and fell about 60m (200ft) from a ledge, suffering a fatal head injury.
Continue reading...Who Are the 3 Israeli Hostages Released Thursday? – The New York Times
- Who Are the 3 Israeli Hostages Released Thursday? The New York Times
- Eight hostages released from Gaza amid chaotic scenes as 110 Palestinian prisoners to be freed CNN
- Hamas releases another eight hostages as part of Gaza ceasefire deal Axios
- Israel Suspends Palestinian Prisoner Release After Chaotic Hostage Handover: Live Updates The New York Times
- Palestinian militants begin handover of three Israeli hostages in latest stage of ceasefire deal Reuters
Sweden points to ‘foreign power’ after Iraqi refugee on trial for Qur’an burnings shot dead
Five arrested after Salwan Momika reportedly killed during TikTok live stream, hours before trial verdict due
Sweden’s prime minister has said a foreign power may have been involved in the fatal shooting of an anti-Islam campaigner just hours before a trial verdict over his burning of the Qur’an was due.
Police arrested five people over the killing of Salwan Momika, 38, who was shot late on Wednesday in a house in the town of Södertälje, near Stockholm. Authorities did not say whether the shooter was among those detained.
Continue reading...Families in India cremate loved ones killed in stampede at religious festival – The Associated Press
- Families in India cremate loved ones killed in stampede at religious festival The Associated Press
- A second crush 3km away claimed 7 lives Hindustan Times
- After Maha Kumbh Mela Stampede, Concerns of Cover-Up The New York Times
- I left the place a few hours before the stampede at Kumbh: Roopa Rao TOI Etimes
- Day after Maha Kumbh stampede: VIP passes cancelled, no-vehicle zone, curbs on routes The Indian Express
Inside a US security firm’s risky Gaza mission – The Jerusalem Post
- Inside a US security firm's risky Gaza mission The Jerusalem Post
- U.S. Security Contractors Going to Gaza to Oversee Truce, Officials Say The New York Times
- US, Egyptian security contractors check for weaponry in cars returning to northern Gaza The Times of Israel
- US security contractor will take charge of key checkpoint in Gaza as Israeli forces withdraw CNN
- U.S. private security contractors will operate key Gaza checkpoint Axios