Austria opens door to Romania, Bulgaria in EU free-travel zone – POLITICO

At least 56,000 primary school children in England, with one in nine pupils in some London schools homeless, are living in temporary accommodation, according to Shelter's analysis of Ministry of Housing data. Shelter's chief executive, Polly Neate, is calling on the government to speed up the construction of social housing rentals to address the issue. The government has announced nearly £1bn in new funding for English councils to combat and reduce homelessness, as figures show...

In County Durham, Danielle Massey was jailed for manslaughter after her baby son, Charlie Goodall, drowned in a bathtub while she played a cooking game on her phone. Massey pleaded guilty to manslaughter, admitting fault for the unstable bath seat and possession of cannabis. She claimed she left Charlie briefly unsupervised to get a towel and found him unresponsive upon her return, calling emergency services. Full Article

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is seeking assurances of continued military support from European leaders ahead of Trump's return to Washington, where he plans to prioritize Europe's role in backing Ukraine's defense and managing future cease-fire agreements. Zelenskyy has already met with French President Macron and is scheduled to meet with leaders from Germany, Italy, Poland, as well as European Council President Costa and European Commission President von der Leyen in Brussels to solidify allies' support and...

Sir Keir Starmer's proposed deal with Mauritius to hand over the Chagos Islands has raised concerns that China could build a rival base elsewhere in the archipelago, potentially jeopardizing the joint UK/US airbase on Diego Garcia. Mauritian Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam rejected the deal as inadequate, prompting renegotiations to ensure better outcomes for the nation. The UK government assured that the Diego Garcia base's operations will remain secure and protected from malign influence under...

Your donation to The Independent helps support on-the-ground reporting on critical issues like reproductive rights and climate change. Trusted by Americans across the political spectrum, The Independent provides quality journalism without paywalls. Your support allows journalists to cover both sides of the story, ensuring that important information is accessible to all. Full Article

Nike is a leading global brand in sportswear and athleticism, with operations in over 190 countries, including Israel. Despite operating in Israel, Nike has not publicly declared support for the country, sparking criticism from activists advocating for boycotting companies with ties to Israel, such as the BDS campaign. Critics accuse Nike of being complicit in Israeli policies and human rights violations, urging the company to take a stand on the issue. Full Article