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geopolitical · geopolitical

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What the UK's new government says about the country's political turn

S6

Andy Burnham gathered his new cabinet on July 21 as he got down to work on his first full day as Britain's prime minister. This comes after he unveiled an energy tax cut aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures. The new government gathers many fresh faces as Burnham ousted most of Starmer's supporters, signalling a new left-ward direction for the government. FRANCE 24's Rochelle Ferguson-Bouyahi tells us more.

14 days ago

social demographic · culture

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BBCPhil/Noseda/Selaocoe review – a proms concert that was everything the festival does best

S7

Royal Albert Hall, London A programme – Bach, Beethoven and a Jessie Montgomery premiere – that looked odd on paper made perfect sense in the hall, with Abel Selaocoe a mesmerising soloist in Montgomery’s ‘These Righteous Paths’ ‘Thy magic power reunites / All that custom has divided / All men become brothers / Under the sway of thy gentle wings.” The BBC can’t have known when they booked Manchester’s BBC Philharmonic to perform Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony – culminating in Schiller’s ode to fellowship and unity – that it would mark Andy Burnham’s appointment as prime minister. Our new leader’s “gentle wings” will need the span of a 747 to embrace every warring faction beneath them, but what a welcome from a Proms concert that was everything the festival does best. A strange programme on paper – Bach, Beethoven and a brand new cello concerto – made absolute sense in the hall, where musical past and future were held suspended together in a rapt continuous present. Bach’s Fantasia and Fugue in G minor set the tone. Arranged for orchestra by Andrew Davis, it had a distinct twinkle in its eye. Dutiful, even dogmatic, string exegesis takes a sudden sideways turn as the wind bend and distort the theme. And is that a celesta doubling the flute – a shimmering ghost in the orchestral machine, a childish distortion of the original organ? It’s wittily done, and under former chief conductor Gianandrea Noseda, the orchestra relished this fusion of sonic worlds. Continue reading...

14 days ago

geopolitical · geopolitical

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Ann Widdecombe death: UK ex-minister was struck with hammer 21 times

S6

The ⁠man accused of murdering former ⁠government minister Ann Widdecombe struck her 21 times on the top of her head with a hammer during the attack at her home earlier this ‌month, prosecutors told a London court on Tuesday. Widdecombe, 78, who was a prominent figure in Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK but no longer a member of parliament, was found dead at her home in rural southwest England on ⁠July 9 after being attacked the day before. Joshua Kerry, a 28-year-old ‌white British national...

14 days ago

social demographic · culture

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Israel and Lebanon trial 'safe zones' in southern Lebanon as part of deal

S6

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is in Washington to meet with US President Donald Trump in the first official visit by a Lebanese head of state since 2009. It comes at a moment of high stakes for the country. Israeli forces are now occupying a significant portion of southern Lebanon following rocket attacks by Hezbollah on northern Israel. Tel Aviv insists that the Iran-backed militia be disarmed before it withdraws, something the Lebanese army is likely unable to accomplish. As a result, Israel has launched a '"pilot programme'" for "safe zones", which effectively sees Israel hand control of three Lebanese villages to the Lebanese Army, as Beirut tries to assert its authority.

14 days ago

social demographic · culture

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Entangled and Woven review – exquisitely spun textiles that cross borders, culture and time

S6

The Whitworth, Manchester Manchester’s past as a centre of textile production forms the starting point of this seamless showcase of skills How many hands did it take to make this show? That is to say, how many artisans, craftspeople, weavers and artists’ hands did these pieces pass through? For this is a textile exhibition that doesn’t just celebrate a short list of singular artists, but rather the many highly skilled craftspeople and communities repeating the stitches and specialities of their ancestors. Take Entangled Memories, Interwoven Stories by Péro for example: it was made by 50 artisans and took 18,000 hours to complete. And that’s one piece, in an exhibition that spans three galleries. These many hands and hours make Entangled and Woven an exquisitely beautiful exhibition. Every slip of fabric is layered with delicate detail and texture. Fabrics are airy and ethereal one moment, and weighty and dipped in deep indigo the next. It is hot, the fabrics sway and flicker in the fans, and hands flicker quickly in the video works capturing the creation of the pieces. I am mesmerised. Continue reading...

14 days ago

natural disaster · natural disaster

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DR Congo: Ebola outbreak still expanding, WHO sees signs of stabilization

S7

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), UN health teams and partners are still racing to contain the rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak, despite ongoing insecurity in eastern areas where the virus has taken hold. As of 19 July, the DRC Government has recorded 2,423 confirmed cases, including 967 deaths and 469 recoveries.

14 days ago

military · geopolitical

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'All we wanted was to bury him': How a Gaza family struggled to recover their dead son

S9

'All we wanted was to bury him': How a Gaza family struggled to recover their dead son Submitted by Maha Hussaini on Tue, 07/21/2026 - 12:55 As Israel's ‘Yellow Line’ cuts across the Strip, relatives say loved ones killed near the military zone are left beyond reach for days or even months Mourners weep next to the body of one of the Palestinians killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on 21 July 2026 (Omar al-Qattaa/AFP) Off When Muhammed Abu Khammash disappeared, his family feared the worst. The 29-year-old Palestinian father of three had lived with severe mental illness for years. Since Israel 's genocide in Gaza began in October 2023, his condition had deteriorated dramatically. Afraid he would wander into one of the enclave's increasingly dangerous areas, relatives took turns staying by his side. One day, he slipped away. He never returned. "As soon as I realised he was gone, I searched everywhere for him," his father, Oda Abu Khammash, told Middle East Eye. "I shared his photograph across social media and begged people to contact me if they found him." Three days later, the family received devastating news. "I was told he had gone towards the Yellow Line, where the Israeli army fired a shell at him and killed him." Since the October ceasefire, the Gaza Strip has effectively been divided into areas with vastly different levels of access and control. There is no ceasefire in Gaza Read More » The so-called Yellow Line, introduced on 10 October, became the main reference point for the areas where Israeli forces remained deployed. Covering more than 60 percent of Gaza’s territory, the line has in practice confined the majority of Palestinians to a limited area where population density and humanitarian needs have intensified. Israeli forces later installed yellow concrete markers along sections of the boundary, including in places that appeared to extend beyond the original line. Palestinians who approach or attempt to cross the line are routinely shot by Israeli forces. Scores have been killed along the line since the ceasefire took effect. Because the area has been declared off limits, many families have been unable to recover relatives killed near or beyond the line, leaving bodies stranded for weeks or even months. While families, journalists and humanitarian organisations have documented dozens of cases, the true scale remains unknown. Muhammed was one of them, where his body remained out of reach for days. Mental health deteriorates According to Oda, Muhammed had lived with psychosis for years, suffering from paranoia, delusions and constant suspicion of those around him. "Before the war, we used to take him to the Gaza Community Mental Health Centre whenever he experienced an episode," Oda said. 'He kept praying for his own death and repeatedly tried to head towards the Yellow Line' - Oda Abu Khammash, Palestinian father "He would stay there for between two weeks and a month, where doctors cared for him and closely monitored his condition." After the war began, however, relentless bombardment and repeated attacks on hospitals made treatment impossible. Instead, the family cared for Muhammed inside the displacement tents where they were living. But keeping him safe became increasingly difficult. He repeatedly tried to return to the family's destroyed home in eastern Deir al-Balah. "I had to stay with him all the time, but I wasn't the only one," Oda said. "Nine members of the family took turns watching him to stop him wandering into dangerous areas. "Before the war, his episodes usually lasted no more than a month. This time they continued for months." Palestinians launch #TheyLiedtoYou campaign to debunk Gaza 'ceasefire' narrative Read More » Muhammed's condition worsened further after his younger brother, Osama, was killed in August 2025. According to Oda, Osama had been helping secure humanitarian aid for an orphanage when he was killed in an Israeli air strike. "After Osama was killed, Muhammed couldn't cope," he said. "He kept praying for his own death and repeatedly tried to head towards the Yellow Line, saying he wanted to avenge his brother. "He constantly called out Osama's name. He never accepted that his brother was gone and kept going out to look for him, as though he were still alive." Just four months earlier, the family had suffered another devastating loss. Muhammed's younger brother, Marwan, 20, was killed by Israeli forces while trying to collect flour for the family during Gaza's hunger crisis. Locating the body After learning of Muhammed's death, the family began trying to recover his body. With access to the area heavily restricted and information scarce, they turned to people with contacts inside the Israeli-backed militias operating along the Yellow Line. Members of the militias located the spot where Muhammed had been killed, but said they could not retrieve his body without the Israeli army's approval. Palestinians living along the 'Yellow Line' endure daily Israeli attacks Read More » The militias are armed groups operating in Israeli-controlled parts of Gaza with Israeli backing. In June 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly acknowledged that Israel had "activated" armed groups in Gaza to undermine Hamas and disrupt public order. The militias have been accused of a wide range of abuses against Palestinians, including killing and abducting civilians, as well as looting humanitarian aid. Some groups have also sought to portray themselves as providing assistance, occasionally helping civilians before encouraging them to post videos on social media expressing their gratitude. According to Oda, militia members told him the Israeli army had refused to allow them to recover Muhammed's body. "All we wanted was to bring my son's body home so we could bury him with dignity," he said. Despite the uncertainty, relatives and neighbours dug a grave in anticipation of his burial. "The grave remained open for days because we couldn't retrieve his body." A mother's search For nine days, Muhammed's body lay exposed where he had been killed. "When every attempt failed, my wife lost all sense of fear," Oda said. "She couldn't sleep and kept saying, 'I'll go and bring him back myself.' She entered the area, and the Israeli army almost shot her." Holding a white flag, she walked towards the Yellow Line day after day. 'She told them, "If you want to shoot me, then shoot me. I'm not leaving until I bring back my son's body.''' - Oda Abu Khammash "For at least two days, she left at dawn to search for him and returned only after sunset to a relative's house near the Yellow Line," Oda said. In a Facebook post written during the search, Oda described his wife's anguish. "I haven't seen her for two days. Before that, I avoided seeing her so she wouldn't ask me: 'What kind of life is this that we have, and what meaning does it hold?' I am tired of being pitied." On the final day of her search, an Israeli quadcopter flew overhead. Through its loudspeaker, an Israeli officer ordered her to turn back, warning that soldiers would open fire if she continued. "My wife refused," Oda said. "She told them, 'If you want to shoot me, then shoot me. I'm not leaving until I bring back my son's body.'" Unable to find Muhammed's remains, she eventually returned empty-handed. Nine days after he was killed, coordination between the militias and the Israeli army finally allowed the body to be recovered. "The militias retrieved Muhammed's remains, and we were finally able to lay him to rest," Oda said. Photographs shared by local journalists showed Muhammed's mother clutching a black plastic bag containing what appeared to be her son's remains, which had badly decomposed after days of exposure. Middle East Eye could not independently verify the contents of the bag. "I don't exaggerate when I say the ordeal of recovering him was even harder than losing him," Oda said. Israel's genocide in Gaza Gaza City, occupied Palestine News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

14 days ago

military · geopolitical

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Israeli troops opens fire near Lebanese army in pilot zones

S8

Israeli troops opens fire near Lebanese army in pilot zones Israeli troops fired near Lebanese soldiers during the Lebanese army's deployment into one of the pilot zones, the Lebanese military said in a statement. "While the military units were deploying into Zawtar al-Gharbiya, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire near these units," the army said. "This offence would impede the deployment into the pilot zones," the statement added.

14 days ago

military · geopolitical

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Ukraine plunges into political crisis as anger over defence minister's dismissal grows

S9

Street protests were held for a fifth day on July 19 in Ukraine, over the firing of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Fedorov was dismissed following frequent clashes with top Army general Oleksandr Syrsky, sparking indignation particularly among young Ukrainians, who credit the tech-savvy 35-year old Fedorov with innovative drone tactics that have given Ukraine new battlefield momentum against the Russian invasion. Fedorov has publicly blamed the 60-year-old Syrsky for his ouster. President Volodymyr Zelensky is now seeking to defuse the mounting political crisis and restore unity to the country's military.

14 days ago

social demographic · culture

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Splatoon Raiders review – Nintendo’s inky shooter fades to grey

S7

Nintendo Switch 2 The single-player offshoot of the quirky and colourful multiplayer series is disappointingly run-of-the-mill Splatoon is among Nintendo’s most ingenious inventions of the last decade: a series of shooting games whose paint-splattered turf war nature means being bad at shooting is just as valuable as – if not more so than – being good. It is also blessed with an abundance of personality, with vibrant characters, a richly imagined world, and a hipness that the competition can only dream of achieving. Unfortunately, Splatoon Raiders makes it difficult to remember all of this. The first spinoff in the ink-soaked franchise, Splatoon Raiders is advertised as a single player-focused entry in this primarily multiplayer series. While this is true enough – one can play through the entire game solo just fine – Raiders is clearly best enjoyed cooperatively with up to three others. Players start each session on a hideout ship where they can upgrade their equipment and tweak their play style before heading out on bite-sized repeatable missions, and this structure is tailor-made for teaming up with friends or helping out strangers (the game lets you do either), as each person works towards creating their ultimate squid-kid avatar of chaos. Splatoon Raiders is out 23 July; £41.99 Continue reading...

14 days ago

geopolitical · geopolitical

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Asia’s oil buyers face US$100-per-barrel risk as Houthis threaten Saudi blockade

S9

Asia’s oil buyers are facing the risk of a second maritime chokepoint being disrupted after Iran-aligned Houthi militants threatened to impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, even as shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remain severely disrupted by the US-Iran conflict. Analysts said any serious disruption in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could leave Asia with fewer alternatives for Middle Eastern crude, threatening Saudi shipments and increasing the risk of oil prices rising above US$100 per...

14 days ago
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