Israeli hostages and Palestinian inmates freed in latest ceasefire swap
Hamas has freed three Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, in the latest swap under the ceasefire agreed by Israel and the militant group last month.
The three hostages handed over on Saturday are American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, Argentinian-Israeli Yair Horn, 46, and Russian-Israeli Alexander Troufanov, 29.
In return, 369 Palestinians held in Israeli jails were released.
WWF helping facilitate trade in polar bear fur, investigation reveals
Wildlife charity backs policy of exploitation of small number of some endangered species for economic purposes – such as trophy hunting
The wildlife charity WWF has been working to support the trade in polar bear fur at the same time as using images of the bears to raise money, it can be revealed.
Polar bears are severely affected by the loss of Arctic sea ice, which makes seeking prey harder and forces the bears to use more energy. In some regions, polar bears are showing signs of declining physical condition, having fewer cubs, and dying younger.
Despite their endangered status, polar bears are hunted commercially in Canada, the only country that still allows the practice after it was banned by Russia, Greenland, the US and Norway. An annual average of 300–400 skins are exported, primarily to China, where a full pelt sells for an average of $60,000 (£48,000) and is often used for luxury clothing or as a rug.
How Germany's politics is reflected in football stands
Germany's shift to the right has left its mark on the country's national game, causing all kinds of ructions.
Many German football clubs and fan groups have held demonstrations against the far right over the past year, both in the stadiums on match days and in the streets of their cities. Several major clubs from Germany's top two leagues, including Werder Bremen, VfL Bochum, FSV Mainz 05, 1. FC Köln, and Hannover 96, have called on their supporters to oppose right-wing extremism.
The sustained success of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) appears to have sharpened attention leading up to the federal election on February 23: At a recent home game at St. Pauli, a Hamburg-based club with a strong anti-fascist tradition, fans made their feelings known by chanting: "The whole of Hamburg hates the AfD!"
Taiwan cracks down on firms helping residents apply for Chinese identity cardsNearly 4,000 Taiwanese residents have reportedly applied for Chinese IDs in coastal Xiamen city
Taipei is cracking down on Taiwanese people illegally procuring Chinese identity cards, apparently in a bid to contain Beijing’s expanding influence.
The Mainland Affairs Council said it is taking action against residents who hold valid identity documents for both the self-governed island and the mainland.
Interior minister Liu Shyh Fang said investigators have identified several companies that allegedly help people apply for Chinese ID cards.
Record number of online casino users detected by Japan police in 2024
A record-high 279 people were accused by Japanese police of using online casinos in 2024, more than twice the number a year earlier, according to preliminary government data, with many apparently unaware that internet gambling is illegal.
Police have been able to track down more users of online gambling sites by looking at the bank accounts of the businesses handling bets in Japan, an investigative source said. But the source added the data represents "only a small fraction of the real figure," with the number of online casino gamblers estimated at 3 million.
Gambling is illegal in Japan even if an online casino is operating legally overseas. Mediators earn fees from overseas casino operators for providing gambling points in exchange for cash or cryptocurrencies, according to the investigative source.
Sudan army retakes more of capital Khartoum from RSF
Sudan’s military captured a major bridge connecting the east of the capital Khartoum to the south, days after it reclaimed control of its northern part from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
As the conflict in Sudan nears the two-year mark, the army has in recent weeks won back large swaths of the capital and its surrounding areas from the paramilitary group.
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