General news

• Myanmar villagers reveal 'desperate' illegal kidney sales

  25-02-2025 23:15 via bbc.com
  
  Two Burmese men tell the BBC they used forged documents and middlemen to undergo surgery in India.
  
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• Unknown illness kills more than 50 in north-west DRC

  25-02-2025 23:00 via theguardian.com
  
  The outbreak, first discovered in three children who ate a bat, has caused 431 cases and 53 deathsAn unknown illness first discovered in three children who ate a bat has killed more than 50 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) over the past five weeks, according to health workers.As of 16 February there have been 431 cases and 53 deaths in two outbreaks across remote villages in Équateur province, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a bulletin. Continue reading...
  
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• Couple's trauma after body placed next to them on flight

  25-02-2025 23:00 via bbc.com
  
  Cabin crew placed the body of a passenger who died mid-flight in an empty seat beside the pair.
  
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• James Landale: Will Starmer's defence hike win over Trump?

  25-02-2025 21:53 via bbc.com
  
  The prime minister has set out plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of national income by 2027.
  
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• Eubank Jr slaps Benn with egg at chaotic face-off

  25-02-2025 21:37 via bbc.com
  
  Chris Eubank Jr slaps Conor Benn across the face with an egg during a head-to-head at an extraordinary media conference for their fight in Manchester.
  
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• Starmer Goes On The Defensive Before Trump Showdown

  25-02-2025 21:30 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The PM raises defence spending to 2.5% by 2027.
  
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• Taliban says ‘misunderstanding’ led to arrest of British couple in Afghanistan

  25-02-2025 20:53 via theguardian.com
  
  After an evaluation a Taliban spokesperson said Peter and Barbie Reynolds would be released as soon as possibleA British couple were arrested in Afghanistan due to a “misunderstanding” that they had fake Afghan passports, the Taliban said on Tuesday.Peter and Barbie Reynolds, 79 and 75, were detained by the Taliban’s interior ministry on 1 February while returning to their home in the central province of Bamiyan. Continue reading...
  
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• Pope Francis in critical but stable condition, has CT scan, Vatican says

  25-02-2025 20:04 via foxnews.com
  
  Pope Francis remains in critical but stable condition after undergoing a CT scan on Tuesday, the Vatican announced.Vatican officials say the pope, 88, returned to work in the evening, making a phone call to the parish priest of Gaza. He also expressed gratitude for "all the people of God who have gathered to pray for his health in recent days.""The Holy Father’s condition remains critical, but stable. No acute respiratory episodes have occurred and the hemodynamic parameters continue to be
  
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• BBC sorry for 'missed opportunities' over DJ Tim Westwood's 'bullying behaviour'

  25-02-2025 19:54 via bbc.com
  
  A report into what the BBC knew about DJ's conduct found it was "too deferential to high-profile individuals".
  
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• American loses UK appeal to become legally non-binary

  25-02-2025 19:45 via bbc.com
  
  Lord Justice Singh says the issue is "better suited to resolution in Parliament than the courts".
  
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• Israel ‘wants to extend first phase of Gaza ceasefire deal’ as talks stall

  25-02-2025 19:37 via theguardian.com
  
  Israel ready to resume fighting if there is no progress in crucial talks this week, reports sayIsrael 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 expi
  
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• 'Trump effect' on display as UK's Starmer boosts defense spending on eve of US visit

  25-02-2025 17:50 via foxnews.com
  
  The United Kingdom took steps on Tuesday to ramp up its defense spending ahead of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s meeting with President Donald Trump this week.Starmer said that in the face of continued Russian aggression against Ukraine and, by extension, Europe, the UK will increase its defense spending to 2.5% of its gross domestic value, up from the 2.3% it currently spends – an increase that amounts to £13.4 billion, or nearly $17 billion more each year on defense.In
  
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• Ex-US security officials urge funding for science research to keep up with China

  25-02-2025 15:40 via theguardian.com
  
  Appeal from officials, including two senior figures from Trump’s first term, comes amid reports National Science Foundation’s budget will be slashedChuck Hagel, the former US defense secretary, and other former US national security officials, including two senior figures from Donald Trump’s first term, on Tuesday warned that China was outpacing the US in critical technology fields and urged Congress to increase funding for federal scientific research.The appeal comes a week aft
  
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• Trapped in Gaza: Residents speak out as Egypt blocks exit, rejects Trump’s relocation plan

  25-02-2025 15:12 via foxnews.com
  
  As Egypt reportedly rejects President Donald Trump’s resettlement proposal, citing the need to protect the Palestinian cause and its national security while coordinating with Arab leaders on an alternative plan, voices from war-ravaged Gaza say they want out.Gazans, desperate to escape, told Fox News Digital they support President Donald Trump’s relocation proposal – to turn Gaza into a "Riviera of the Middle East" after emptying it of its more than 2 million Pal
  
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• Taiwan coast guard detains Chinese-crewed vessel suspected of cutting undersea cable

  25-02-2025 14:27 via foxnews.com
  
  Taiwan's coast guard (CGA) detained the Chinese crew of a Togolese-registered vessel suspected of severing an undersea fiber optic cable connecting the islands of Taiwan and Penghu on Tuesday.The CGA says the vessel, the Hong Tai 168, had been loitering within roughly 925 meters of the cable since 7 p.m. local time on Feb. 22. A coast guard vessel was dispatched to the ship at 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday, demanding that the vessel leave the area, Taiwan's state-owned media said.Coast guard officials re
  
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• Putin says Russia is open to economic cooperation with US on rare earth minerals

  25-02-2025 13:44 via foxnews.com
  
  Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Moscow is willing to consider cooperating with the U.S. in mining rare earth minerals both in Russia and parts of Russian-occupied Ukraine.Putin, in an interview broadcast on Russian state television Monday, emphasized Russia’s vast deposits of rare-earth minerals and their importance for the Russian economy but said his nation needs to do more to capitalize on its resources. He also said he is open to making an energy deal with the U.S.His co
  
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• US votes against condemning Russia for Ukraine war as Trump admin chases peace deal

  25-02-2025 13:42 via foxnews.com
  
  The United States voted against a United Nations resolution laying blame on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and demanding Moscow remove its troops from Ukrainian territory, as the Trump administration is chasing a peace deal between both sides. Russia and North Korea joined the U.S. in voting against the Europe-backed Ukrainian resolution, which cleared the General Assembly by 93-18 with 65 abstentions.  The U.S. then abstained from voting on its own competing resolution after Europ
  
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• Activists call for state of emergency in Nigeria over gender-based violence

  25-02-2025 12:28 via theguardian.com
  Deaths of 22 women reported this year include 240% rise in January, campaigners say, as abusers act ‘with impunity’Almost two dozen women have died due to gender-based violence across Nigeria in 2025 alone, activists and civil society organisations have said in a call for a state of emergency.According to Femicide Observatory, run by the Lagos-based nonprofit Document Our History (DOHS) Cares Foundation, there were 17 cases reported in January, a 240% increase from the same period la
  
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• Rudy Giuliani satisfies judgment in defamation case brought by former Georgia election workers

  25-02-2025 06:22 via nbcnews.com
  
  A judge previously ruled the former Trump attorney had defamed Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss by falsely claiming they committed election fraud in 2020.
  
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• More than 160 Gazan medics held in Israeli prisons amid reports of torture

  25-02-2025 06:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Senior doctors claim they were subjected to months of physical abuse, as UN calls for release of those still detained‘No rules’: Gaza’s doctors say they were tortured, beaten and humiliated in Israeli detentionAt least 160 healthcare workers from Gaza, including more than 20 doctors, are believed to still be inside Israeli detention facilities as the World Health Organisation expressed deep concern about their wellbeing and safety.Healthcare Workers Watch (HWW), a Palestinian m
  
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• Remains of U.K. man missing for more than 2 years found in Georgia woods, FBI says

  25-02-2025 05:54 via nbcnews.com
  
  The remains of a United Kingdom man missing for nearly two-and-a-half years have been found in a privately owned wooded area near Kingsland, Georgia, the FBI said.
  
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• 46.1 million people counted in Iraq’s first census in nearly 40 years

  25-02-2025 04:24 via nbcnews.com
  
  The final results of Iraq’s first census in nearly 40 years released Monday show the population has reached 46.1 million.
  
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• China’s Xi affirms 'no limits' partnership with Putin in call on Ukraine war anniversary

  25-02-2025 04:05 via nbcnews.com
  
  Chinese President Xi Jinping affirmed his “no limits” partnership in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, China’s state media reported, on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
  
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• After heated town halls, Republicans seek more information — and compassion — from DOGE 

  25-02-2025 03:49 via nbcnews.com
  
  Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., said he planned to use a previously scheduled meeting at the White House on Tuesday to "bend" President Trump's ear on the issue.
  
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• Woman who admitted killing previous partner is on the run after fatal stabbing of firefighter wife

  25-02-2025 03:28 via nbcnews.com
  
  A California woman who admitted killing her estranged husband more than two decades ago and is now wanted in the fatal stabbing of her wife is being sought by federal authorities, a law enforcement official said Monday.
  
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• Australia news live: Woodside doubles profits thanks to record production of oil; funnel-web spider shortage threatens antivenom program

  25-02-2025 03:22 via theguardian.com
  
  Australia’s largest oil and gas producer has doubled its profits to $5.6bn. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSenate estimates will be back under way today, and AAP has flagged a little of what we can expect:Creative Australia bosses, including the chief executive, Adrian Collette, will front an estimates hearing and it’s expected they’ll be questioned about the selection body’s shock decision to ditch the Venice Bien
  
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• Shimmering oarfish rarely seen near ocean surface pops up on Mexico beach

  25-02-2025 03:15 via theguardian.com
  
  Distinctive, slender deep-sea creature, also known as ‘doomsday’ fish, seen wriggling on Baja California beachA shimmery, slinky oarfish – a deep-sea creature that is rarely seen near the surface – was spotted in Baja California Sur, along Mexico’s Pacific Coast, this month. A group of people visiting the area noticed the shiny, wriggling fish along the beach, and tried to guide it back into the water.The slender creatures live at depths between 660 and 3,280ft unde
  
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• Nebraska father in limbo after daughter’s name incorrectly listed as 'Unakite Thirteen Hotel'

  25-02-2025 03:00 via nbcnews.com
  
  A man is fighting to get a Social Security number and birth certificate for his toddler, Caroline — whose name is listed in state records as “Unakite Thirteen Hotel.”
  
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• Thieves fake seizure, steal bulldog puppies worth over $8,000 in videotaped pet store heist

  25-02-2025 02:55 via nbcnews.com
  
  A trio of thieves staged a seizure to divert attention as a pair of valuable bulldog puppies was snatched from a Denver-area pet store over the weekend, authorities said.
  
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• Sydney writers’ festival chair resigns amid debate over Israel-Palestine programming

  25-02-2025 02:52 via theguardian.com
  Outgoing chair Kathy Shand says ‘freedom of expression cannot and should not be used as a justification to accept language and conversations that compromise the festival’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe chair of the Sydney writers’ festival board has resigned over concerns about the festival’s balancing of views on matters such as the Israel-Gaza war, saying “freedom of expression ca
  
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• Man sentenced to 105 years for murdering Dutch soldier outside Indiana hotel

  25-02-2025 02:48 via nbcnews.com
  
  An Iman convicted of murder in the fatal shooting of a Dutch solider in downtown Indianapolis after a fistfight in 2022 was sentenced to 105 years in prison.
  
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• Lester Holt to exit NBC Nightly News as MSNBC cuts Ayman Mohyeldin’s show

  25-02-2025 02:46 via theguardian.com
  
  Holt to step down as anchor as Katie Phang and Jonathan Capehart, whose shows also canceled, to remain at MSNBCNBC’s Lester Holt is stepping down as anchor of its Nightly News show, while MSNBC host Ayman Mohyeldin is losing his weekend evening show as the networks’ owners continue a major programming shake-up.MSNBC has announced significant changes to its lineup in recent days. One day after news broke that MSNBC had canceled the longstanding anchor Joy Reid’s show, The ReidOu
  
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• Ten to pay Lisa Wilkinson $1.1m to cover legal costs of Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial

  25-02-2025 02:37 via theguardian.com
  Network Ten agrees to pay journalist more than $1.1m to cover legal costs of defending defamation case by Bruce LehrmannGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA long-running dispute between Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson has ended with the network agreeing to pay $1.15m to cover her costs of defending Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case.On Monday afternoon, the federal court approved this amount after months of disagreement over exactly how much Ten should pay Wilkinson
  
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• Federal workers free to ignore Elon Musk email ultimatum, US personnel office says – as it happened

  25-02-2025 02:18 via theguardian.com
  
  This blog is now closed. Here’s our latest politics storyHere’s a little more on Dan Bongino, the Maga podcaster Donald Trump has named as deputy director of the FBI and who will oversee the bureau alongside newly appointed director Kash Patel.The president announced the appointment on Sunday night in a post on his Truth Social platform, praising Bongino as “a man of incredible love and passion for our country”. He called the announcement “great news for law enforce
  
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• Dan Bongino's yearslong history of FBI criticism and conspiracy theories

  25-02-2025 01:44 via nbcnews.com
  
  Dan Bongino, the conservative podcaster named deputy director of the FBI, has spent the past seven years publicly criticizing the agency he will now help run.
  
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• G7 nations still discussing joint statement on third anniversary of Ukraine war – as it happened

  25-02-2025 01:36 via theguardian.com
  
  This blog has now closed. In the meantime you can read our full report on French President Emmanuel Macron’s talks with Donald Trump here and all our coverage of the war in Ukraine here.The EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas earlier said that she would be travelling to the US tomorrow to meet with US secretary of state Marco Rubio, adding that what she called the “Russian narrative” is “strongly represented” in comments being made by the second Donald Trump adminis
  
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• Deadline looms for federal workers over Musk’s demand

  25-02-2025 01:07 via nbcnews.com
  President Trump praised Elon Musk’s demand for federal workers to outline in an email what they accomplished last week – or face dismissal. But there is also confusion after the Trump administration tonight said the request by the Office of Personnel Management was “voluntary”. NBC News’ Gabe Gutierrez reports.
  
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• Trump says peace deal to end war in Ukraine could happen 'within weeks'

  25-02-2025 01:02 via nbcnews.com
  President Trump met with France’s President Macron regarding the war in Ukraine. Trump is pushing for a deal to access Ukraine’s minerals as a way to repay the U.S. for billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine. Macron warned that any peace deal would require U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine. NBC News’ Richard Engel reports.
  
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• Women hold almost 45% of seats on FTSE 100 boards, report says

  25-02-2025 01:01 via theguardian.com
  
  New high tempered by dip in number of female CEOs at 100 biggest listed firms to fewer than 10 last yearWomen occupy more than two in five seats on the boards of Britain’s biggest listed companies after further progress was made last year, but the number of female FTSE 100 chief executives dipped for a time to fewer than 10, according to a report.The proportion of board positions held by women at FTSE 350 companies rose to a new all-time high of 43.4% last year, up from 42.1% in 2023, acco
  
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• Sayeeda Warsi and Mishal Husain back new lobby group for British Muslims

  25-02-2025 01:01 via theguardian.com
  
  British Muslim Network aims to bring together experts to identify challengesthe community faces to policymakersProminent British Muslims in politics, media, business and sport have come together to influence government policy on behalf of 4 million British Muslims.The minister for faith Wajid Khan, the Tory MP and deputy speaker Nusrat Ghani, the former Conservative party chair Sayeeda Warsi, the broadcaster Mishal Husain, the ex-England cricketer Azeem Rafiq and the anti-racism group Hope Not H
  
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• Police to get new powers to find stolen phones in England and Wales

  25-02-2025 01:01 via theguardian.com
  
  Warrant will not be required where tracker shows an item is present, as part of raft of measures in crime and policing billPolice will be able to search properties without a warrant for stolen phones or other electronically geotagged items under the government’s crime and policing bill.The measure is among dozens in the bill, which will be put before parliament on Tuesday and would mostly apply to England and Wales. It has a particular focus on lower-level offences such as theft and wider
  
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• Ofcom calls on tech firms to step up action against ‘revenge porn’

  25-02-2025 01:01 via theguardian.com
  
  Watchdog recommends use of ‘hash-matching’ to allow images to be identified at scale wherever they are sharedTech platforms should combat the rapid rise in explicit deepfakes and “revenge porn” by using a database of images to protect women and girls online, according to new guidance being drawn up by the UK communications watchdog.The move is part of a raft of measures proposed by Ofcom to tackle online misogyny, harassment and the sharing of intimate images without the
  
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• Norman Foster on shortlist to design Queen Elizabeth II memorial

  25-02-2025 01:01 via theguardian.com
  
  Architect who was once highly critical of King Charles is part of team that is one of five finalists for schemeThe shortlist of teams competing to design a national memorial to the late Queen Elizabeth II has been unveiled and includes an architect once highly critical of King Charles.Five finalists are in the running for what has been described as one of the most significant design initiatives in modern British history, in tribute to the UK’s longest-serving monarch. Continue reading...
  
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• Ministers urged to add audiobooks to England’s new schools curriculum

  25-02-2025 01:01 via theguardian.com
  
  Charity calls for move after poll finds ‘crisis’ levels of reading for pleasure and rise in 8- to 18-year-olds enjoying audioThe government has been urged to include audiobooks in the new schools curriculum in England, after research showed fewer children were reading books for pleasure and more were listening to them instead.A poll by the National Literacy Trust (NLT) found that children’s enjoyment of listening to audio and podcasts had risen compared with the previous year,
  
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