European Parliament’s gender equality drive thwarted by the right-wing – POLITICO

In a speech to MPs, Sir Keir Starmer urged realism as he faced a rebellion over planned welfare cuts, warning that the government must seize and shape change for the benefit of the British people. Labour MPs expressed disquiet over chancellor Rachel Reeves' proposed cuts for the disabled, amidst concerns about balancing the budget and an upcoming by-election in Runcorn. The meeting was marred by veteran MP Diane Abbott being locked out, while anger simmered...

The deteriorating situation in Gaza due to Israel cutting power, disrupting vital desalination operations, affecting 600,000 people's access to drinking water, with 1.8 million people in need of assistance. In the West Bank, 40,000 Palestinians, including refugees, have been displaced due to Israeli security operations, leading to UNRWA operations being dismantled. Calls for unhindered aid access and political solutions, amidst a funding crisis, with warnings that cutting support prematurely will deepen civilian suffering. Full Article

An oil tanker and cargo vessel collided in the North Sea, resulting in a massive fireball and prompting a May Day call for assistance. Four lifeboat crews responded to the scene, where a number of people had abandoned the vessels, with one crew member still missing. The search for the missing crew member from the Solong vessel, owned by Ernst Russ, is ongoing, while 13 of the 14 crew members have been safely brought ashore....

Belgium's courts in Brussels and Walloon Brabant are facing severe delays due to staff shortages, with the High Council of Justice calling it a "perfect storm" and the Federal Human Rights Institute warning that justice is becoming impossible. The Brussels Court of Appeal lacks funds and mediation courts, highlighting the need for more government support to address the backlog and ensure fair trials for all. The court has introduced new measures, such as special courts...

One sailor is feared missing after an oil tanker and cargo ship collided and caught fire off the coast of East Yorkshire in the North Sea. 36 casualties have been brought ashore, with 13 of the 14 Solong crew members safely rescued. The search for the missing crew member is ongoing, while concerns arise over leaked jet fuel and containers of sodium cyanide on board the ships. Full Article

The wealthy aristocrat Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon went on the run with their baby to avoid her being taken into care, taking her off-grid in winter despite the risk of hypothermia. The couple deprived their daughter of warmth, shelter, food, and safety, leaving her body in a bag-for-life to decompose after concealing her birth. Prosecutors allege that Marten, a trust fund child, perfected lying to an art form and that the infant,...