Global Pulse

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  • Three men sentenced to life in jail over Nigeria school kidnappings

    Three men sentenced to life in jail over Nigeria school kidnappings

    Nigeria’s Federal High Court in Abuja has handed down life sentences to three men tied to the deadly coordinated mass kidnapping of pupils and teachers from three Oyo State schools earlier this year, after the trio pleaded guilty to a series of criminal charges linked to the attack. The convicts — Abdulrazak Umar (also known by his aliases Abu Khalifa and Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani — confessed to two key offences: hiding critical information about the masterminds behind the May abductions in Oriire district, and acknowledging their membership in an affiliate faction of the notorious Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

    The sentencing comes just two weeks after Nigerian security forces announced the successful rescue of all 44 abducted students and educators, a conclusion to a 56-day hostage ordeal that drew national outrage and renewed scrutiny of the country’s worsening security crisis. While the three men admitted to concealing information about the attack organizers, they entered not guilty pleas to charges of conspiracy to carry out the kidnappings between January and May 2026. Umar, however, made additional confessions: he admitted to running a WhatsApp training network that provided instructions to jihadist recruits, and confirmed his involvement in unregulated illegal mining operations that often fund militant activity across the country.

    The Oriire abductions marked a worrying expansion of jihadist violence in Nigeria, a threat that has long been concentrated in the country’s northeastern region, where Boko Haram has waged an insurgency for more than a decade. The arrival of large-scale school kidnappings linked to the group in the southwestern state shocked many observers and triggered widespread protests from parents, education unions, and human rights groups, all demanding urgent government action to secure soft civilian targets like schools.

    Hostage accounts have laid bare the brutal conditions the abductees endured during their captivity. Speaking to reporters just three days after her rescue in early July, Rachael Folawe Alamu, headteacher of Oriire Community Grammar School, described being forced to move almost constantly through dense bushland at the orders of their kidnappers, often walking for hours through the night. Alamu said the group was forced to sleep and stay in open forest, exposed to extreme sun and heavy rain for most of their 56 days in captivity. She also confirmed that two male teachers were executed by the kidnappers to pressure the Nigerian government to meet their ransom demands: one from her school killed shortly after the abduction, and a second from the local Baptist Nursery and Primary School killed in June.

    Following the rescue operation, security officials confirmed they had taken multiple additional suspects into custody, including one individual identified as a top kingpin behind the coordinated kidnapping plot. Mass abductions of civilians for ransom have become an increasingly common tactic for armed groups across Nigeria in recent years, with criminals and militants consistently targeting vulnerable, unguarded locations such as educational institutions, houses of worship, and remote rural communities.

    Nigeria currently grapples with a web of overlapping security threats, including banditry (the local term for criminal gangs that carry out looting and ransom kidnapping), a long-running Islamist insurgency, intercommunal clashes over land and water resources, and separatist unrest in the country’s southern regions. The persistent failure of authorities to curb widespread insecurity has emerged as a defining political issue ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with voters increasingly criticizing the government for its inability to protect civilian populations.

  • India activist ends hunger strike after 26 days

    India activist ends hunger strike after 26 days

    Prominent Indian education reform activist Sonam Wangchuk has brought his 26-day hunger strike to a close, after extended talks with authorities reached preliminary agreements on his core demands, according to an official announcement posted to the social platform X by Wangchuk himself.

    The 59-year-old activist, widely known to his supporters as “Sonam sir”, launched the fast to back youth-led demonstrations organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a grassroots movement pushing for sweeping changes to India’s national education framework. Beyond systemic education reforms, the CJP has also publicly called for the resignation of India’s sitting education minister, a demand that Wangchuk has publicly endorsed.

    Prior to calling off the strike, Wangchuk had outlined several non-negotiable conditions for ending his fast, chief among them a formal commitment from government officials that security forces would not use excessive force to disperse peaceful civilian protesters. In his X post, Wangchuk explained that his decision to end the fast came both as a result of progress in negotiations and to de-escalate tensions that risked spilling over into broader civil unrest across the country.

    Throughout the strike, Wangchuk documented his declining physical condition, noting that he had already lost 11 kilograms (24 pounds) by the 21st day of his fast, while emphasizing he remained resolute in his commitment to the protest movement. Last Saturday, authorities forcibly removed the activist from his protest site in central Delhi and transferred him to a local hospital for medical evaluation, a move that drew widespread condemnation from protest supporters.

    This is an ongoing developing story, with new details emerging as negotiations continue. Updates will be published as more information becomes available. Readers can access real-time updates via the BBC News mobile application or by following the official @BBCBreaking account on X for the latest breaking alerts.

  • Trump backtracks on Saudi nuclear deal, demands Israel normalisation

    Trump backtracks on Saudi nuclear deal, demands Israel normalisation

    In a surprise shift announced Thursday, former U.S. President Donald Trump has revised his stance on the landmark U.S.-Saudi Arabia civil nuclear cooperation deal, stating that final approval of the agreement will only move forward if Riyadh agrees to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords.

    Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump clarified the parameters of the proposed deal, emphasizing that the agreement would strictly limit Saudi Arabia’s nuclear activities to civilian non-military applications, barring any uranium enrichment capabilities. “The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!)… pertains only to non-military use such as the ones that Iran and UAE (and others) already have, will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords,” Trump posted. He added that Washington does not oppose the development of civilian, non-enrichment nuclear facilities in the kingdom.

    The framework for this nuclear partnership was officially unveiled by the U.S. Department of Energy just one day before Trump’s announcement, with the agency describing the 10-year agreement as a cornerstone for long-term bilateral cooperation between Washington and Riyadh. According to the DOE’s statement, the deal is designed to lay the groundwork for a multi-billion-dollar long-term partnership that advances core U.S. economic and strategic priorities, including global nuclear nonproliferation goals. Under U.S. law, the agreement now heads to Congress for a 90-session-day review period, during which lawmakers have the authority to block the deal from taking effect.

    The agreement paves the way for Saudi Arabia to construct civilian nuclear power reactors using U.S. nuclear technology, a development that has already sparked fierce opposition from Israel and pro-Israel advocacy groups operating in the United States. Earlier unconfirmed reports had suggested the deal could allow Saudi Arabia to conduct domestic uranium enrichment without committing to the strict rapid inspection protocols that Washington has long demanded of Iran’s nuclear program. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously pushed back against these concerns, affirming that any nuclear agreement with Riyadh would not contribute to the spread of nuclear weapons in the Middle East.

    Saudi Arabia has for months maintained a firm position on Israeli normalization, stating publicly that it will not establish full formal relations with Israel without a binding, credible roadmap that leads to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. This requirement puts Riyadh directly at odds with the condition Trump has now attached to the nuclear deal, creating a new point of tension in the complex trilateral dynamic between the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Israel.

  • ‘Everything on the table’ as Canada plans response to US tariffs

    ‘Everything on the table’ as Canada plans response to US tariffs

    A growing trade rift between Canada and the United States has entered a critical new phase, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirming that no policy options are off the table as the two nations race to reach a resolution before new sweeping US tariffs take effect mid-August. Carney’s remarks followed a Thursday gathering with provincial and territorial leaders, where representatives from across the country gathered to coordinate a unified response to the Trump administration’s recent announcement of 50% tariffs targeting roughly CA$20 billion worth of Canadian goods. The levies, scheduled to go into force on August 19, have pushed trade negotiations between the two North American neighbors into overdrive, according to Carney. The meeting with regional leaders came amid growing pressure from some provincial heads, who have demanded Ottawa adopt a firmer negotiating stance and deliver faster results to mitigate potential economic harm. During a press briefing after the meeting, Carney outlined multiple paths the Canadian government could pursue, including accelerating long-running efforts to diversify Canada’s trade partnerships beyond the US market and rolling out targeted support for industries that stand to be hit hardest by the new import taxes. When pressed for details on potential reciprocal punitive measures against US imports, Carney only noted that a full spectrum of direct response tools remained under consideration, declining to elaborate on specific countermeasures. “We are going to support Canadian workers, families, businesses, full stop,” he affirmed. The Trump administration first unveiled the new tariff schedule this past Monday, justifying the move with claims that Canada engages in “unequal treatment” of American automobiles, dairy products, and alcoholic beverages. The tariff target list includes both everyday consumer goods ranging from wine to hockey sticks and industrial materials such as cement, but several of Canada’s highest-value exports have been excluded from the new levies — among them energy products, potash, critical minerals, and fish. With roughly four weeks remaining between the tariff announcement and the implementation date, Carney characterized the approaching August 19 deadline as a dual-edged dynamic: it serves as an intentional pressure tactic crafted by the Trump administration, but also creates a window of opportunity to accelerate stalled talks toward a tangible agreement. The current trade dispute is unfolding against the backdrop of long-stalled efforts to renegotiate the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the trilateral trade deal that replaced the original North American Free Trade Agreement during Donald Trump’s first presidential term. Earlier this year, the White House declined to extend the existing USMCA framework, pushing for sweeping revisions to the original terms. Negotiations on the updated agreement have moved at a glacial pace in recent months, however. On Wednesday, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told congressional representatives that his team aims to finalize interim trade agreements with both Canada and Mexico for legislative consideration by the end of 2026. That said, Greer acknowledged that the most contentious sticking points — including Washington’s demands for stricter automotive rules of origin and revised labor and environmental standards — will likely extend into 2027 before they can be resolved. Greer also defended the newly announced tariffs on Canadian goods, framing them as a core component of the administration’s broader economic strategy to protect American manufacturing workers and shrink the persistent US trade deficit, which he labeled a “national emergency” for the country. As the clock ticks down to the August implementation date, Canadian consumers and businesses have already begun expressing frustration over the impending trade barriers, with many voicing concern that the tariffs will drive up prices for everyday goods and disrupt cross-border supply chains that have been in place for decades.

  • Iran says it will pursue ‘eye for an eye’ as US attack near Iraq border kills two

    Iran says it will pursue ‘eye for an eye’ as US attack near Iraq border kills two

    Tensions across the Middle East have surged to new heights this week, after the United States carried out its 12th consecutive day of strikes on Iranian territory, prompting Tehran to formalize a retaliatory “an eye for an eye” defense doctrine in response to explicit threats from former President Donald Trump to target Iranian civilian infrastructure.

    Iranian state media confirmed Thursday that a U.S. strike on the border town of Shalamcheh, which lies along Iran’s frontier with Iraq, left two civilians dead and at least 11 others injured. The strikes also extended to Bushehr, the site of Iran’s only operational civilian nuclear power plant, where two U.S. missiles impacted the area.

    U.S. Central Command has publicly confirmed the 12th straight night of offensive operations, framing the campaign as an effort to “further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters.”

    In a provocative social media post, Trump laid out an explicit new red line for future U.S. action: every time Iran targets a vessel moving through the Strait of Hormuz — the strategically critical global chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s total oil and liquefied natural gas supplies transit — the U.S. will destroy key Iranian civilian infrastructure. “Any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT,” Trump wrote.

    Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi pushed back immediately on the social platform X, making clear Tehran’s new position: “Our defense doctrine is clear: eye for an eye. Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response.” He added that any third party providing support to the U.S. campaign would also be treated as a legitimate target for retaliation.

    Iranian military spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia, speaking on state television, reinforced this stance, noting: “The armed forces’ retaliatory attacks will continue as long as the US attacks on the country’s infrastructure and coastal areas continue.”

    Retaliatory strikes have already spread beyond Iran’s borders. On Thursday morning, both Jordan and Kuwait confirmed they intercepted incoming attacks, which Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed targeted U.S. military assets hosted in both countries. The Iranian army announced it deployed “destructive drones” to strike multiple U.S. facilities across Kuwait, including ammunition and logistics depots at Camp Doha, fuel storage tanks at Ali al-Salem Air Base, and an ammunition depot at Camp Arifjan.

    In the Strait of Hormuz itself, the IRGC announced it had halted three transiting oil tankers on Thursday, asserting full control over the waterway. “The Strait of Hormuz is under our control… and any ship that is deceived by the US and intends to pass without coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran will suffer the same fate,” the corps said.

    The conflict has now expanded to the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Houthi movement — which recently entered the fray and declared a blockade on Saudi ports — claimed responsibility for missile and drone strikes on two Saudi oil tankers overnight. The Houthi movement identified the targeted vessels as the *Encelia* and the *Layla*. UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the British body that monitors naval security in the region, confirmed the master of one tanker reported being struck by an unidentified projectile roughly 70 nautical miles southwest of Saudi Arabia’s Al Shuqaiq, adding that the projectile sparked a fire that the crew was working to extinguish. Saudi Arabia has confirmed the *Encelia* was hit, but has not yet issued comment on the second tanker.

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Iran of manipulating the Houthis into joining the conflict, saying, “The Houthis largely were smart and stayed out of all this throughout the conflict, but they now apparently have gotten themselves suckered into this, going after Saudi Arabia and their ships. I hope they will de-escalate, because I think the Houthis, frankly, got snookered into this thing by the Iranians.”

    As regional powers move to contain the escalation, Oman announced Thursday it is facilitating the resumption of de-escalation talks between the Houthi movement and the Saudi government to lower tensions in the Red Sea and Yemen.

  • Rights groups sue France over inaction on financial ties to illegal Israeli settlements

    Rights groups sue France over inaction on financial ties to illegal Israeli settlements

    In a landmark legal challenge that tests global compliance with international law, five leading human rights organizations have brought a case against the French government before the Conseil d’État, France’s highest administrative court, accusing Paris of failing to uphold its binding legal obligations to block French corporate financial activity in Israel’s illegally occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).

    The suit, filed Wednesday, directly calls out the French government for refusing to implement the binding recommendations laid out in a landmark July 2024 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). That historic ruling confirmed that Israel’s decades-long presence in the OPT violates international law, and mandated that all UN member states take proactive steps to prevent any economic activity that serves to entrench the illegal occupation. In the months following the ICJ’s ruling, a number of European Union member states including Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain have already moved to enact targeted regulatory measures to crack down on commercial and financial activity tied to Israeli settlements in the OPT. But France has not taken any substantive action beyond formally recognizing the state of Palestine last September and issuing a verbal declaration that the Israeli occupation is illegal. On the policy front, Paris has only issued non-binding warnings to French businesses operating in the West Bank, noting that their activities could carry a risk of international law violations, without imposing any enforceable restrictions.

    Named as respondents in the suit are France’s prime minister and multiple cabinet ministers with oversight over trade, economic affairs, and foreign policy. Legal representatives for the claimants argue that the French government’s deliberate inaction itself violates French and international law, and are asking the high court to order immediate intervention to compel Paris to enact binding regulatory measures. These requested measures include the creation of a mandatory public registry of all French entities operating in illegal Israeli settlements, formal prohibitions on all trade and public financial support for activities linked to settlements, and a ban on companies with settlement ties from accessing French government procurement contracts.

    James Goldston, executive director of the Open Society Justice Initiative, which provides legal advisory support to the five nongovernmental organizations bringing the challenge, emphasized that the ICJ left no ambiguity about member states’ legal responsibilities. “International law only has force if states are prepared to implement it in practice,” Goldston said.

    The five claimant organizations are the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Jurists for the Respect of International Law (JURDI), the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), La Ligue des Droits Humains (LDH), and Law for Palestine. In their court filing, the groups presented documented evidence showing that multiple French companies continue to operate across key sectors in the OPT, including transportation, construction, finance, and commercial services. One high-profile example cited is Egis Rail Group, which the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has already listed for its role in constructing Jerusalem’s light rail system, a project that connects West Jerusalem to Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem.

    Legal proceedings are expected to take up to 12 months to reach a final ruling. Following the initial filing this week, the process will enter a written procedural phase: the named government ministers will first file a formal response to the claims, after which the claimants will submit a rebuttal brief. Once this written exchange is complete, a public hearing will be scheduled before the Conseil d’État, a step that typically takes several months for high-stakes administrative cases of this nature.

    If the claimants prevail, legal analysts note the ruling would set a critical global precedent that clarifies how national governments are required to regulate corporate conduct tied to serious breaches of international law. Tayab Ali, director of the ICJP, outlined the stakes of the challenge in a press statement from the claimant groups, noting that the case “seeks to move beyond expressions of concern toward accountability, asserting that international legal obligations must be enforceable before independent courts.”

    Rights groups and independent United Nations experts have long documented that Israel generates significant financial profit from its illegal occupation of the OPT, leveraging its military and administrative control over Palestinian land, natural resources, and industries to entrench its economic grip, while continuing to expand illegal settlements and advance de facto annexation across the West Bank.

  • Ready to ‘conquer Earth’ – Joshua embraces comeback spotlight

    Ready to ‘conquer Earth’ – Joshua embraces comeback spotlight

    As fight week kicks off in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 36-year-old British heavyweight icon Anthony Joshua has cut a noticeably different figure for his much-anticipated comeback bout on Saturday, greeting reporters with warm laughter, thanking traveling fans and even inviting a large group of Albanian supporters to bring their loudest energy to the ring. This weekend’s clash against Albanian contender Kristian Prenga marks Joshua’s first fight since a devastating car crash in Nigeria last December claimed the lives of two of his closest friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.

    A win this Saturday would put Joshua one step away from a blockbuster all-British heavyweight title fight against Tyson Fury, provided Fury secures a victory in his own warm-up bout against Poland’s Mariusz Wach in Thailand this Friday. Speaking at Thursday’s pre-fight press conference in the sweltering Jeddah heat, Joshua laid out his long-term ambition while keeping his focus firmly on the immediate task ahead. “We’ve been working since January, working hard, keeping my head down and aligning all my stars,” Joshua explained. “I’m fully focused. I understand there’s a big picture. The goal is to conquer the universe, right? But first we must conquer Earth. And this is my target here.”

    Joshua’s last fight before the tragic crash was a stoppage win over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami, but the British star has not claimed victory over a top-tier established heavyweight since outpointing Otto Wallin in December 2023. His upcoming opponent, 35-year-old Prenga, now trains out of New Jersey and holds an impressive 20-1 professional record with all 20 wins coming by knockout. Even so, Prenga has never faced an opponent of Joshua’s caliber, a fact that did not stop the underdog from predicting a knockout upset this weekend. When asked for his reaction to Prenga’s bold claim, Joshua remained calm and confident. “Can he knock me out? I really don’t believe it,” he said. “But only God knows that.” Prenga’s manager has framed the bout as a “real-life Rocky moment” for the little-known challenger.

    Long-time observers of Joshua have noted a clear shift in his demeanor this fight week. For most of his career, the Watford-born fighter has been reserved during media obligations, often keeping interactions brief and staying guarded behind his signature headphones. This time around, the headphones were nowhere to be seen. He joked with the press conference host about wearing a formal blazer in the oppressive desert heat, and greeted cheering fans before taking his place on stage. With a professional record of 29 wins (26 by stoppage) and four losses, Joshua says his decades of experience in the sport have left him ready for any challenge Saturday will bring. “I’ve been in the ring with some of the quickest heavyweights, some of the fittest heavyweights. I’ve fought some of the strongest heavyweights,” Joshua said. “I’ve fought contenders. I’ve fought champions. I’ve been knocked down. I’ve been knocked out. I stand strong today and I’m ready for the challenge one million per cent.”

    When an Albanian fan shouted from the crowd “You ain’t ready”, Joshua welcomed the confrontation instead of brushing it off, responding: “We’re going to find out on Saturday and I want to hear your voice shouting. I want that energy in the ring.”

    Talk predictably turned to Fury, who is scheduled to travel to Jeddah from Thailand immediately after his Friday warm-up bout to scout Joshua’s performance. Promoter Eddie Hearn says that if both men win this week, the long-negotiated all-British showdown between Joshua and Fury could take place later this year, adding that “many, many more chapters to write” remain in Joshua’s career. Joshua, however, declined to be drawn into discussion of the potential superfight, choosing to keep all attention on Prenga and his team. “We don’t want to talk about Tyson Fury,” he said. “Respectfully, I’ve done all the media I can about what the future holds. Our focus is [Prenga] and his team. Let’s focus on the job. Anyone can be there on Saturday. The more tickets sold, the better.”

  • ‘Stifle the magic’: Melbourne coach Steven King on his uncomplicated brand

    ‘Stifle the magic’: Melbourne coach Steven King on his uncomplicated brand

    Ahead of a pivotal Friday night showdown against perennial contender Geelong at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, first-year AFL senior coach Steven King has opened up about the unorthodox philosophy that has turned the Melbourne Demons around from a disappointing 14th-place finish in 2023 to a top-six contender with five weeks remaining in the 2024 season.

    King’s winning formula upends the modern trend of hyper-structured, data-heavy coaching: he prioritizes innate player talent and instinct over rigid game plans and information overload, a choice that has unlocked an exciting brand of football that draws fans to stadiums.

    “The last thing I want to do is paralyse our group with too much structure, too much information, and I feel like that will stifle the magic we’ve created within,” King told reporters, repeating a core belief that has guided his first season at the helm.

    The 2024 AFL season has seen a clear shift toward faster, higher-scoring football, and King has adapted his approach to match this new era. He notes that top teams across the competition now capitalize on momentum to put up big scores quickly, a trend he has built the Demons’ game plan around.

    “All players get drafted because they’ve got talent and they can play – you still have to respect the contest and defence side of the game, that’s a must,” King explained. “But players love to show, express themselves with ball in hand, play the game – that’s why they’re all here because they can play.”

    King argues that a passive, pressure-absorbing style of play is no longer competitive in today’s game, where momentum swings can decide outcomes in minutes. “If you can’t put a hundred points on the board now and fight with the big boys, you’re sort of down a weight class or two,” he said. While hitting that score mark is not an official team key performance indicator, King says he wants the Demons to be dangerous in all phases of play, particularly when they have possession.

    A former Geelong captain himself, King admits he is still learning the craft of senior coaching, and counts the “delicate art” of stepping back as one of the most important lessons he has picked up in his debut season. Early on, he says he recognized his own tendency to overcomplicate game plans by adding extra layers to try and push the team into the top four.

    “But I feel like everything you add as a coach, there’s a risk that you take something off the group as well,” he noted. King relies on a mix of his experienced assistant coaching staff and veteran Demons leaders, including captain Max Gawn, who is fully aligned with King’s open game plan, to strike the right balance between structure and freedom. “We sort of lean on each other on how much info the group needs,” he said.

    This approach has already delivered results: after finishing 14th last season, the Demons currently sit sixth on the ladder, well positioned to qualify for the post-season. King has made it clear from the start that he wants his side to play an exciting, “bums-on-seats” brand of football that appeals even to neutral fans, and he says the team is eager to showcase that style in the high-profile Friday night MCG clash against his old club.

    “We’ve been craving it and playing a brand of footy that stacks up and people will want to watch,” King said. “To get this prime-time slot is a great recognition for our playing group, for what they’ve been doing throughout the year. We want to make sure we do the occasion proud by playing a brand of footy that even neutrals go, ‘That was entertaining and a good game of footy’.”

  • UK secretly considered suspending Israel trade deal during Gaza famine

    UK secretly considered suspending Israel trade deal during Gaza famine

    A secret internal trade policy review conducted by the British government, which examined whether to suspend Israel’s tariff-free trade access to UK markets, was hidden from Parliament and the general public before officials ultimately opted to keep the preferential agreement in place, according to reporting from Sky News.

    The review was commissioned in August 2025 by the Department for Business and Trade during Keir Starmer’s tenure as prime minister. At that time, widespread famine was already unfolding across the besieged Gaza Strip, a humanitarian catastrophe widely documented as a deliberate consequence of Israeli restrictions on food, water and aid access to the territory.

    Ministers launched the impact assessment against a backdrop of rapidly growing global outcry over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, as well as its accelerating expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, entrenched apartheid governance over Palestinian populations, and ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestinian communities across occupied territories. Three months prior to the review, the ruling Labour party had already paused negotiations for an expanded bilateral free trade agreement with Israel, after then-Foreign Secretary David Lammy called remarks from Israel’s defense minister — who openly stated the goal of “cleansing” Gaza and “destroying what’s left” of the enclave — “repellent” and “monstrous”. Despite this public rebuke, the existing 2019 UK-Israel Trade Partnership Agreement, which grants tariff-free entry to nearly all Israeli goods entering the UK, remained fully intact.

    When the question of modifying the trade deal was raised in Parliament that October, then-Trade Minister Chris Bryant defended the government’s choice to retain preferential access. He argued that existing export ties to Israel supported thousands of UK domestic jobs, and warned that suspending the agreement would carry risks of unpredictable outcomes and major economic harm to British businesses. What Bryant did not disclose during the parliamentary debate is that he has longstanding deep ties to Labour Friends of Israel, a prominent pro-Israel lobbying group within the UK Labour party. Bryant previously served as vice chair of the organization, and has accepted all-expenses-paid trips to Israel funded jointly by the group and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    The existence of the classified impact assessment only came to light after advocacy organization Global Justice Now submitted a formal freedom of information request to the Department for Business and Trade. Even following the confirmation that the review took place, government officials have refused to release any details about the assessment’s scope, its findings, its scheduled timeline, or any policy outcomes that came from the internal examination.

    The secret review unfolded at a moment of mounting global pressure for targeted economic measures against Israel over its actions in Palestinian territories. Around the same time the UK conducted its internal assessment, the European Union faced growing public and political demands to suspend portions of its own trade agreement with Israel, and ultimately tabled a proposal to roll back some of Israel’s preferential trade concessions. The UK review also came more than one year after the International Court of Justice issued a landmark ruling requiring all UN member states to end any trade or commercial activity that supports Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise in occupied Palestinian land.

  • Weekly quiz: What creepy-crawly cuisine could land a Michelin-starred restaurateur in jail?

    Weekly quiz: What creepy-crawly cuisine could land a Michelin-starred restaurateur in jail?

    As the seventh week of 2024 draws to a close, a wide array of notable developments have unfolded across the globe, from ongoing geopolitical conflicts to cultural milestones and sporting tributes. Compiled by editor Ben Fell, this weekly current events quiz challenges readers to test how closely they have followed the stories making headlines over the past seven days.

    The lead item on the roundup centers on the unrelenting military conflict between Ukraine and Russia, with Kyiv continuing its targeted operations against Russia’s biggest e-commerce platform this week, with no end to the hostilities in sight. Beyond the geopolitical sphere, the global sporting community entered a period of mourning this week, following the passing of two of its most iconic figures: legendary English footballer Kevin Keegan and celebrated West Indian cricket star Sir Garfield Sobers. Across the Atlantic in the British royal family, Prince George, second in line to the British throne, celebrated his 13th birthday this week, marking another milestone in the young prince’s life.

    In a nod to curious niche topics from around the world, this week’s roundup also teases a question related to insect-based food served at restaurants in South Korea, leaving quiz participants to prepare for unexpected topics beyond major headline stories. For those eager to test their knowledge further, additional quizzes are available from the outlet’s archives, including the previous week’s challenge that covers earlier global events.