Six In The Morning Friday 16 May 2025

 

Nearly 100 people killed in Israeli attack on north Gaza, Hamas-run civil defence says

Rushdi Abualouf, Cairo; Yolande Knell, Jerusalem; Mallory Moench, London

BBC News

Nearly 100 people, including children, have been killed in a large-scale Israeli ground, air and sea attack launched early Friday in north Gaza, the Hamas-run civil defence and residents have said.

The civil defence said at least nine homes and tents housing civilians had been bombed overnight and it had received dozens of calls from people trapped.

Witnesses also reported smoke bombs, artillery shelling and tanks in Beit Lahia.

Ukraine says major prisoner swap agreed after first talks with Russia since 2022 

Russia says it is 'satisfied' after Ukraine talks end after just two hours

Despite the considerable fanfare, talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegation lasted under two hours.

A Ukrainian source speaking to Reuters described Russian demands as “non-starters,” while another speaking to the Associated Press accused the Kremlin of introducing “unacceptable demands” for Kyiv to withdraw its forces from swaths of territory.

However, Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov told reporters that the meeting did produce the largest prisoner swap deal of the war, where both sides will exchange 1000 prisoners. Talks focused primarily on a ceasefire, a prisoner exchange and a possible presidential meeting, he added.

Germany: Dozens injured at Berlin pro-Palestinian protest

Multiple injuries were reported at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Berlin commemorating the Nakba and criticizing Israel on Thursday. Police and politicians have condemned the violence.

Several protesters and police officers sustained injuries during violent confrontations at a pro-Palestinian demonstration marking Nakba Day in Berlin on Thursday.

According to police, who made over 50 arrests, approximately 1,100 people took part in the demonstration in the Berlin district of Kreuzberg in remembrance of the Nakba and protesting against Israel's continuing military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Nakba means "catastrophe" in Arabic and refers to the forced displacement or fleeing of Palestinians during the Arab-Israeli War of 1948 after Israel's founding. About 700,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes in the years before and after the proclamation of the State of Israel.

The Bright Side: Women in Ivory Coast celebrate reconstructive surgery after FGM

Adele Koue Sungbeu, a 45-year-old midwife from Ivory Coast, is among 28 women who recently underwent reconstructive surgery to repair the effects of female genital mutilation (FGM). The procedure, carried out at a public hospital in Abidjan, is part of a groundbreaking initiative aimed at offering free surgeries to FGM victims, to help heal both physical and psychological scars.

Adele Koue Sungbeu underwent female genital mutilation as a teenager but now holds her head up high and smiles broadly as she walks to work in Abidjan after reconstructive surgery.

The 45-year-old midwife is one of 28 women from the west African country who underwent the procedure last month at a public hospital in Ivory Coast's economic capital.

Mayor wants off-season Mount Fuji hikers to pay costs of their rescue operations

By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24

Being located at the foot of Mount Fuji is a source of pride for the Shizuoka Prefecture town of Fujinomiya and its residents. That proximity to Japan’s tallest and most famous mountain, though, has also become a problem for the city.

Mount Fuji’s has an official climbing season, which runs from mid-summer to early fall. However, it’s not like there’s a fence running around the whole mountain, so even as Shizuoka and Yamanashi (the two prefectures Mount Fuji straddles the border of) tell people to refrain from hiking its upper trails during the off season, every year a number of people ignore the warnings, and a number of them need to be rescued.

UAE delegation visited No 10 before law change that paves way for stake in Telegraph

Exclusive: delegates met officials weeks before UK set out higher-than-expected cap on foreign state ownership of newspapers

Michael Savage Media editor

Fri 16 May 2025 16.04 BST

A delegation from the United Arab Emirates met Downing Street officials weeks before ministers announced a law change that allows the state to take a 15% stake in the Telegraph titles, the Guardian understands.

Ministers disclosed the cap this week as part of a long-awaited clarification on the rules around state ownership of British newspapers. It is higher than the 5-10% ceiling envisaged by the previous Conservative government.

It has now emerged that a few weeks earlier in March, a senior Emirati delegation held a meeting in No 10 with officials including Varun Chandra, the business adviser to Keir Starmer. While details of the meeting are unknown, it is understood the delegation sought clarity on the state ownership law. Downing Street and IMI declined to comment. The UAE government has been approached for comment.

Late Night Music: DUB TECHNO 2024 // LONELY CITY

Pirates - Simple sailors or brutal thieves?

Pirates of the high seas still enjoy a romantic image, today. Many legends surround the most famous buccaneers. But who were these men? Simple sailors or brutal thieves? How did they live? This film journeys back in time for answers. The period between 1690 and 1730 is considered the golden age of piracy. Pirates continue to occupy a special place in the legends of sea adventure: As romantic figures and heroes of stories, pirates still enjoy a positive image today. But does this image -- shaped by Hollywood and fiction -- correspond to reality? So far, only a few wrecks of pirate ships have been located and little is known about the everyday lives of the crews. On Mauritius, and in the bay of the Sainte Marie Island off Madagascar, two research missions are seeking concrete answers to these questions.

Six In The Morning Thursday 15 May 2025

 

Zelensky to send defence minister to talks on Ukraine but says Russia 'not serious' about peace

Zelensky Says Putin Is 'Not Serious' About Peace

BBC News

Summary

• Ukraine's President Zelensky says he's sending his defence minister to peace talks in Istanbul with Russia - but adds that Russia is "not serious" about "real talks"

• Speaking in Ankara, Zelensky says he's sending his minister out of "respect" for Turkey's President Erdogan and US President Donald Trump

• Talks between Ukrainian and Russian teams were scheduled for Istanbul today - Zelensky had challenged Putin to attend in person

• But when Putin didn't attend, Zelensky accused him of sending "stand-in props"

• Russia's foreign ministry hit back, calling Zelensky a "clown and a loser"

• And Donald Trump said "nothing's going to happen" on Ukraine peace talks until he and Russian President Putin meet in person

Russia 'ready' to discuss 'possible compromises' - delegation leader

We can now bring you some more lines from the Russian delegation that is in Istanbul for peace negotiations with Ukraine.

As we just reported, Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinksy has been addressing the media in Istanbul.

He says Russia considers the talks in Istanbul as a continuation of the last face-to-face talks held between Ukraine and Russia in 2022.

Medinsky says Russia is "ready" to discuss "possible compromises" and is in a "working mood".

He adds that his delegation - which Zelensky earlier called "low-level" - consists of "chief officials of all relevant authorities".

Fifa breaching own human rights rules over Saudi Arabian World Cup, lawyers say

• Fifa ‘under an obligation’ to see ‘human rights are upheld’
• Group including ex-Fifa adviser makes official complaint

Paul MacInnes

Thu 15 May 2025 13.12 BST

A group of leading lawyers has submitted an official complaint to Fifa, alleging the governing body has failed to follow its own human rights rules in relation to the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia. The 30-page complaint has been filed via Fifa’s official grievance mechanism and calls for immediate action in five areas.

The complaint has been authored by Fifa’s former anti-corruption adviser Mark Pieth, the Swiss lawyer Stefan Wehrenberg and the British barrister Rodney Dixon, who submitted a report to Fifa a year ago warning of the risks of awarding the tournament to the Gulf state.

Germany backs 5% NATO defense spending target

After meeting with his US counterpart at a gathering of NATO foreign ministers in Turkey, Germany's foreign minister said Berlin is willing to "follow" US President's Trump's demand for increased defense spending.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Thursday that Berlin accepts in principle the demand from the United States that NATO member states increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.

Speaking on the sidelines of an informal gathering of NATO foreign ministers in Antalya, Turkey, Wadephul said: "The result is the 5% that President [Donald] Trump has called for, and we will follow him in this respect."

Japan to seek 3rd round of U.S. trade talks next week

By Yoshifumi Takemoto and Leika Kihara

Japan's top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, could travel to Washington as soon as next week for a third round of trade talks with the U.S., two sources with knowledge of the plans told Reuters on Thursday.

The date of his visit was fluid and would depend on how much progress the two countries can make in narrowing differences in staff-level negotiations, one of the sources said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak publicly.

Israel kills over 100 in Gaza as Palestinians mark 77 years since the Nakba

New attacks kill at least 115 in Gaza as Israeli far right urges occupied West Bank assault on Nakba anniversary.

At least 115 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in a wave of Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip, deepening an already catastrophic toll after 19 months of unrelenting bombardment.

This comes as Palestinians mark the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, or catastrophe, when more than 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled by Zionist paramilitary groups during the creation of Israel in 1948.

Beware unkempt tourists: Latvia tells citizens how to spot Russian spies

Security agency warns people in Baltic state to be wary of nosy small talk and tourists with specialist equipment

Deborah Cole and agencies

Thu 15 May 2025 15.12 BST

One of Latvia’s intelligence services has warned its citizens that there may be Russian saboteurs and spies in their midst, and given them a handy guide on how to spot them.

In its annual report, the Baltic state’s Defence Intelligence and Security Service, known as MIDD, offered advice to its nearly two million-strong population on how to scope out possible operatives sent by Russia.

A shabby, unkempt appearance and “insufficient hygiene” might be one telltale sign an agent has gone underground. Other red flags include overly nosy small talk with locals, a short, military-style haircut, or tourists who do not know the terrain but have an unusual amount of outdoor survival equipment such as specialised medical kits, maps or radios.

Late Night Music: City Nights - Deep House Mix

Six In The Morning Wednesday 14 May 2025

 

Israeli bombing wave kills dozens in Gaza including at least 22 children, say reports

Bombardment signals new escalation after Netanyahu said Israel would ‘go in with full force to complete the operation’

Jason Burke

Wed 14 May 2025 11.37 BST

An intense wave of Israeli bombing has reportedly killed dozens of people in Gaza, including many children, signalling a new escalation at a critical moment in regional politics.

The exact number of deaths from the attacks was unclear, with estimates ranging from about 30 to more than 50, making it one of the highest tolls in a single morning for many weeks.

The Associated Press, citing local hospitals, reported that at least 22 children were killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza overnight on Tuesday and early on Wednesday. Reuters quoted local authorities and medical officials who said at least 50 died in strikes on Wednesday morning on houses in Jabaliya, in northern Gaza

India blocks Chinese, Turkish news agencies from X

India has blocked X accounts belonging to state media from China and Turkey. The move comes as disinformation has been rife in both India and Pakistan amid last week's tit-for-tat military strikes.

The X accounts of Chinese state news agency Xinhua, English-language Communist Party media Global Times, and Turkey's TRTWorld were blocked in India as of Wednesday afternoon local time.

The blocked accounts come as India claims misinformation is being spread by foreign media outlets about last week's military clashes with arch-rival Pakistan. 

India and Pakistan reached the brink of war last week with the nuclear-armed nations exchanging missile, drone and shell fire.

Turkey eyes legal steps after Kurdish militant group PKK disbands

After the decision by the Kurdish militant group PKK to disband, Turkey was eyeing Wednesday a raft of legal and technical measures to ensure its full implementation and finally end a four-decade insurgency.

Monday's announcement sought to draw a line under a bloody chapter that began in 1984 when the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) took up arms, triggering a conflict that cost more than 40,000 lives.

"What matters most is the implementation," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday, pledging to "meticulously monitor whether the promises are kept".

The pro-Kurdish DEM party, a key player that facilitated contact between jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan and the political establishment, urged Ankara on Tuesday to take "confidence-building steps" such as freeing political prisoners.

What to know about possible Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Turkey

The talks have taken place in the warring capitals of Moscow and Kyiv, from Washington and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to countries across Europe. Now, all eyes are finally turning to Istanbul to seek an end to Russia’s 3-year-old, full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed restarting direct peace talks Thursday with Ukraine in the Turkish city that straddles Asia and Europe. And President Volodymyr Zelenskyy challenged the Kremlin leader to meet in Turkey in person.

Relief on China's factory floors as US tariffs put on hold

Laura Bicker

China correspondent

Reporting fromGuangdong

There's a vast empty space in the middle of the factory floor in Foshan in southern China where workers should be welding high-end air fryers for the US market.

Derek Wang says his American customers were wowed by his air fryer models - which are controlled via smartphones and can also bake, roast and grill.

But then on 2 April, Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs hit all Chinese goods entering the US, eventually reaching 145% - and his clients asked him to pause production.

Taking Inches in Battle, Russia Demands Miles in Talks

Moscow thinks it’s winning in Ukraine and can play hardball diplomatically. Washington sees costly, incremental gains and an unrealistic negotiating position.

By Paul Sonne and Adam Entous

Paul Sonne reported from Berlin and Adam Entous from Washington.

May 14, 2025Updated 11:03 a.m. ET

As the world waits to to see if he shows up in Turkey for cease-fire negotiations this week, President Vladimir V. Putin has been sending a clear message, reinforced by his officials. They are winning on the battlefield, so they should get what they want.

Mr. Putin said in late March that Russian forces had the advantage on the entire front and suggested Moscow was close to vanquishing the Ukrainians — an argument the Kremlin has used to underpin hardball demands. “We have reason to believe that we are set to finish them off,” Mr. Putin said, adding: “People in Ukraine need to realize what is going on.”