Syrians return to the homes they fled, only to find them levelled

Trevor Phillips challenges Tory MP Chris Philp's claim that the Rwanda scheme was a deterrent, pointing out that it never actually happened despite the £715 million spent on it. Labour scrapped the policy after winning the election, and Keir Starmer emphasizes the need to combat people smuggling gangs to stop small boat crossings, as thousands of migrants continue to make the dangerous journey from France. Full Article

The UK foreign secretary David Lammy has opened diplomatic contact with Syrian rebels who ousted Bashar al-Assad’s regime, while reiterating that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) remains a proscribed terrorist organization in the UK. He announced a £50 million humanitarian aid package for vulnerable Syrians, emphasizing the importance of a representative government, securing chemical weapons stockpiles, and ending violence. The aid will be distributed through UN and NGO agencies to Syrians in the country and refugees...

Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of at least 28 Palestinians, including a journalist and rescue workers, with air and ground attacks specifically targeting the northern Gaza Strip. The airstrikes also hit a civil emergency center and a group of Hamas-linked men, leading to additional casualties. Multiple houses in Gaza City and other towns were bombed, resulting in more fatalities, while the Israeli military claimed to have killed dozens of...

Your support helps The Independent to cover important stories, from reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, with on-the-ground reporting and investigative work. Donations enable journalists to provide unbiased coverage and reach both sides of the story, ensuring quality journalism is accessible to all. Yvette Cooper has not set a deadline for reducing dangerous small boat crossings in the Channel, with 34,880 arrivals so far this year, up 20% from last year, but down...

The article reports that Detroit Red Wings' Jonatan Berggren has been fined for a cross-check on Toronto Maple Leafs' Connor Dewar. The incident occurred during a recent game, resulting in disciplinary action against Berggren. The video content of the incident is available for viewing on the website. Full Article

The Red Sox acquired minor league right-hander Joe Vogatsky from the Pirates in exchange for utility player Enmanuel Valdez. Vogatsky, a 22-year-old drafted out of James Madison University, had a successful college career as a reliever with 14 saves and a 3.43 ERA. Valdez, who made his MLB debut in 2023, played 125 games with the Red Sox, hitting .235 with 20 doubles and 12 home runs. Full Article