Nikol Pashinyan’s visit marks Ankara and Yerevan’s second attempt at reconciliation.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is on a rare visit to Istanbul to hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in what Yerevan has described as a “historic” step towards regional peace.
The visit forms part of the two countries’ efforts to normalise ties strained over historical disputes and Ankara’s alliance with Azerbaijan, which has been in a long-simmering conflict with Armenia.
“This is a historic visit, as it will be the first time a head of the Republic of Armenia visits Turkiye at this level. All regional issues will be discussed,” Armenian parliament speaker Alen Simonyan told reporters on Friday. “The risks of war [with Azerbaijan] are currently minimal, and we must work to neutralise them. Pashinyan’s visit to Turkiye is a step in that direction.”
Pashinyan’s visit comes a day after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held talks in Turkiye with Erdogan, during which he praised the Turkish-Azerbaijani alliance as “a significant factor, not only regionally but also globally”, and Erdogan reiterated his support for “the establishment of peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia”.
Baku and Yerevan agreed on the text of a peace deal in March, but Baku has since outlined a host of demands, including changes to Armenia’s constitution, that it wants met before it will sign the document.
Pashinyan is scheduled to meet Erdogan at Istanbul’s Dolmabahce Palace at 15:00 GMT, Erdogan’s office said.
An Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs official told the AFP news agency that the pair will discuss efforts to sign a comprehensive peace treaty.
The regional fallout from the Israel-Iran conflict, which began last Friday when Israel launched several waves of air strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities and military sites, will also be discussed.
Armenia and Turkiye have never established formal diplomatic ties, and their shared border has been closed since 1993.
Attempts at normalisation
Relations between the two nations have been historically strained over the World War I-era mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire – atrocities historians and Yerevan say amount to genocide. Turkiye rejects the label, contending that while many people died in that era, the death toll is inflated and the deaths resulted from civil unrest.
Ankara has also backed its close ally, Turkic-speaking Azerbaijan, in the long-running Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia. This region, which had a mostly ethnic Armenian population at the time, broke away from Azerbaijan with support from Armenia in the late 1980s. In 2020, Turkiye backed Azerbaijan in its second war with Armenia, which ended after six weeks with a Russia-brokered peace deal that saw Azerbaijan gain control of a significant part of the region.
Pashinyan has actively sought to normalise relations with both Baku and Ankara.
Ankara and Yerevan appointed special envoys in late 2021 to lead a normalisation process, and resumed commercial flights in 2022 after a two-year pause.
Earlier this year, Pashinyan announced Armenia would halt its campaign for international recognition of the 1915 mass killings of Armenians as genocide – a major concession to Turkiye that sparked widespread criticism at home.
Pashinyan’s first visit to Turkiye was to attend Erdogan’s inauguration in 2023.
This is Ankara and Yerevan’s second attempt at reconciliation. Turkiye and Armenia reached an agreement in 2009 to establish formal relations and open their shared border, but the deal was never ratified because of strong opposition from Azerbaijan.
Few things are as inevitable as the ball hitting the back of the net when Lionel Messi sizes up the target before executing a free-kick from 20 yards.
Messi reminded world football – if we even needed a reminder – that he is still capable of delivering special moments during Inter Miami’s 2-1 win over Porto at the Fifa Club World Cup.
The 37-year-old’s free-kick was vintage, trademark, and there was nothing goalkeeper Claudio Ramos could do to save it.
This is, of course, a man who scored an eye-watering 73 goals in 60 appearances across all competitions during the 2011-12 season for Barcelona.
Standing centrally and on the edge of the D, the goal was at Messi’s mercy, but he elected for the more difficult of the two options – going both over the wall and to the goalkeeper’s side.
With that strike his 68th goal from direct free-kicks, Messi certainly has no shortage of experience and doesn’t lack in anything when it comes to confidence.
Only Juninho Pernambucano (77), who spent most of his career with Lyon and Pele (70) have scored more direct free-kicks than Messi.
“Touched by God, isn’t he? Incredible. What a player,” former Portugal defender Jose Fonte said on Dazn.
“If you get a chance to go see this guy live – you go and see him. This is what he does,” ex-Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given added on Dazn.
“It’s nearly like a penalty for him – he is so precise. He is a genius.
“You call him maestro, magician, the words run out.”
Messi’s strike followed another stunning finish from team-mate Telasco Segovia and completed a comeback victory to put Inter Miami firmly in the running for a spot in the last 16 at the Club World Cup.
It is the first time the MLS franchise have won a game at the competition and means a draw in their final Group A game against Brazilian outfit Palmeiras, who sit top, would send both teams through.
The majority stake of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball franchise is being sold in what will mark the most expensive sale of a US sports team in history, according to a source familiar with the deal.
The Buss family has owned the team – one of the most iconic in sports globally – since 1979 and now has made a deal with TWG Global CEO Mark Walter, the source said.
The sale is reportedly worth an estimated $10 billion (£7.45bn) – though it could increase once finalised.
Mr Walter also has a controlling stake in the Los Angeles Dodgers, the professional US baseball team that won the World Series last year.
The BBC has contacted the Lakers for comment.
A spokesperson for Mr Walter’s company confirmed the billionaire financier was in the midst of a deal with the Lakers.
“Mark Walter is entering into an agreement to acquire additional interests in the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, of which he has been a stakeholder since 2021,” the spokesperson said.
In 2021, Mr Walter became a co-owner of the team with a 20% stake. He has investments with various sports teams globally, including the Chelsea Football Club and the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, which is set to enter racing in 2026.
The deal comes after the March sale of the Boston Celtics basketball team to Bill Chisholm for $6.1 billion – which at that time was dubbed the priciest sale of a US sports franchise. It had surpassed the 2023 sale of the Washington Commanders American football team for $6.05 billion.
US media reported Wednesday that the National Basketball Association team’s valuation is at least $10 billion. Its sale will surpass those record-breaking deals by about $4 billion.
Jerry Buss bought the team in a $67.5 million deal in 1979 that included the Los Angeles Kings hockey team and a Los Angeles arena, known as the Kia Forum.
Since that time, the Lakers have won more championship titles than any other NBA team. They’ve appeared at the NBA Finals 17 times under the Buss family ownership and won the championship 11 times.
The team – currently led by superstar LeBron James – made it to the playoffs the last three seasons but was eliminated.
After Mr Buss died in 2013, ownership was passed to his six children in a trust. The family owns a 66% stake in the franchise.
Jeanie Buss has served as the Lakers’ governor since that time – a position she’s reportedly going to keep under the terms of the sale to Mr Walter.
The Los Angeles Times reports the trust required the majority of the six children to agree on any sale of the team.
Lakers legend Magic Johnson, who previously owned a stake in the team, said fans should be ecstatic about the sale and that Mr Walter will carry on the team’s legacy – noting his ownership of the Dodgers led to a World Series win.
“I just talked to my sister Jeanie Buss to tell her congratulations, and that I’m so happy for her and family,” Mr Johnson said on X.
“She’s witnessed him build a winning team with the Dodgers and knows that Mark will do right by the Lakers team, organization, and fans!” he said in another post. “Both are extremely intelligent, visionaries, great leaders, and have positively impacted the greater Los Angeles community!”
An historic T20 saw the Netherlands beat Nepal after an incredible three super overs in Glasgow.
It is the first time that any men’s professional match – either List A or T20 – has gone to a third super over with Michael Levitt’s six eventually giving the Netherlands victory.
Having posted 152-7, the Dutch looked set for victory with Nepal needing 16 from the 20th over.
However, tailender Nandan Yadav hit two boundaries, including one from the last ball, to level the scores.
Kushal Bhurtel proceeded to smash 18 from five balls to take Nepal to 19 in the first super over only for opener Max O’Dowd to hit the fifth and sixth balls of the Netherlands’ reply for a six and a four respectively to force a second.
This time the Netherlands batted first and posted 17 with a maximum apiece from O’Dowd and skipper Scott Edwards.
But again it was not enough and the drama continued as Dipendra Singh Airee hit Kyle Klein’s last ball over the ropes to take the match to an unprecedented third one-over shootout.
The Netherlands’ off-spinning all-rounder Zach Lion-Cachet ensured it would go no further, though, as he finished Nepal’s over early with two wickets in four balls, without conceding a run.
Just a single was required but Levitt finished a remarkable contest in style as he thumped the first ball of Sandeep Lamichhane’s over for six.
While the Netherlands have a day to enjoy their most memorable of wins, Nepal are back in action against Scotland on Tuesday as the T20 tri-series continues.
June 13 (UPI) — Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is in the final stage of a historic trial before Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court over his alleged role in an attempted coup following his 2022 election loss.
The trial, now in its final phase of evidence collection, will determine Bolsonaro’s legal fate and could end his political aspirations to reclaim the presidency.
Since mid-May, Bolsonaro and several former aides have faced legal proceedings unprecedented in Brazil’s recent history. On Tuesday, Bolsonaro appeared in court to respond to the charges.
Prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro of plotting to overturn the 2022 election results to stay in power. He faces charges of rebellion and attempting a coup. Local news media report he could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
During the hearing, Bolsonaro apologized to Justice Alexandre de Moraes and other members of the court for previously alleging election fraud, admitting he had no evidence. At one point, Bolsonaro even asked De Moraes if he would consider being his running mate in 2026 — the justice replied, “I reject the offer.”
Bolsonaro admitted discussing with advisers and military leaders the possibility of finding a “legal mechanism” to overturn Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s election victory, but insisted, “There was never a possibility of a coup in my government.”
That statement, though defiant, could alienate parts of Bolsonaro’s base who continue to defend the Jan. 8, 2023, rioters, said Bruno Pazos Barboz, a professor at the Social Observatory of Rio.
On that day, thousands of radical Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília — just one week after Lula took office — vandalizing property and stealing documents and official government symbols.
“This trial, which has drawn both national and international attention, is not only about individual accountability,” Pazos said. “It’s also a test of the strength of Brazil’s democratic institutions. That’s why what’s happening — and how it ends — is so important.”
Bolsonaro is already barred from holding public office until 2030 by the Superior Electoral Court, due to his baseless attacks on the country’s electronic voting system. A conviction in the current case could result in prison time and further extend that ban, effectively ending his short-term presidential ambitions.
Despite the charges, some of his supporters and political analysts have not ruled out his return.
A Genial/Quaest poll conducted between May and June 2025 found that 65% of Brazilians believe Bolsonaro should drop out of the 2026 presidential race and allow another right-wing candidate to take his place, The Rio Times reported — signaling broad rejection beyond his core base of supporters.
Still, “Bolsonarismo” remains active, said Pazos Barboz. The movement holds significant influence in Congress and maintains a loyal base that continues to mobilize periodically. Its rhetoric often centers on themes of “victimization” and claims of “political persecution.”
Two additional factors continue to sustain Bolsonarismo. One is the growth of Brazil’s Protestant evangelical population, a demographic traditionally aligned with Bolsonaro and estimated at about 50 million people. The other is the lack of a unifying leader capable of bringing together the country’s right-wing parties — a gap that could reshape the 2026 electoral landscape.
If convicted, Bolsonaro could appeal to the same court and possibly to the full bench. The entire legal process — including trial and appeals — could extend into late 2025 or early 2026.
SIX of the best-looking pubs have been revealed in the UK, including new modern wonders as well as historic beer houses.
The Pub Design Awards 2025, created by Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA), looks at hundreds of drinking establishments around the UK.
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The UK’s best-looking pubs have been revealedCredit: Camra
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bod Lichfield was named the best new pubCredit: Camra
The awards also works with design and conservation experts alongside Historic England.
Andrew Davison, Chair of the Pub Design Awards judging panel, said the awards “recognise the highest standards of pub architecture, rewarding artistic flair and painstaking historical conservation.”
He added: “From inviting street corner locals to striking medieval coaching inns, there are some stunning pubs in the UK, and the craftmanship involved in making these venues a gorgeous place to enjoy cask beer and real cider or perry should rightfully be applauded.”
The best new build pub – meaning any that were built in 2024 – was bod Lichfield in Stratford.
The “industrial chic design” with “recycled wood, distressed paintwork, quirky light fittings and exposed ceiling pipes,” were praised.
It comes after the bod Alsager in Cheshire was named one of the best by CAMRA last year.
However for a more authentic pub, the Historic England Conservation award (which preserves many of the features) was given to Swan in Suffolk.
Dating back to the 17th century, a new conservatory bar has been added, while many of the Grade-II listed timber frames have been restored.
One person wrote on Tripadvisor: “Love this place. The refurb has just added to just how wonderful this place is.”
When it comes to the best refurbished pub, the Druid Inn in Wales was given the top spot , after it was restored and reopened last year.
Pub With A ‘Floating’ Beer Garden By The Beach
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The Python Arms has sadly since closedCredit: Camra
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Swan in Suffolk was given a top awardCredit: Camra
Lots of previous guests called it a “gem” of a pub and praised the staff as well.
Sadly, one of the joint winning pubs has since had to close for good.
Two pubs were named the best when it comes to converted pubs, one being Borough Beer House in Surrey.
Once a Bailiffs Hall, dating back to the 1600s, has renovated it and turned it into a pub.
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The Swan has a great outdoor area as wellCredit: Camra
However, the Python’s Arms in Herefordshire was praised for being a converted farm building.
The owners, who had run the pub for nine years, cited financial difficulties.
Sadly it has since had to close, with Gary Timmins Chair of CAMRA’s Awards Committee adding: “Within just a year from being converted into a beautiful pub, this rapid closure should be ringing alarm bells.
“Real action is needed to support the pub industry, otherwise we will lose many more locals in the near future.”
From the beginning, the reforms were controversial. Thousands of court workers went on strike to protest the constitutional amendment. Some protesters even stormed the Senate building.
Critics accused the Morena party of seeking to strengthen its grip on power by electing sympathetic judges. Already, the party holds majorities in both chambers of Congress, as well as the presidency.
Opponents also feared the elections would lead to unqualified candidates taking office.
Under the new regulations, candidates must have a law degree, experience in legal affairs, no criminal record and letters of recommendation.
Candidates also had to pass evaluation committees, comprised of representatives from the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government.
And yet, some of the final candidates have nevertheless raised eyebrows. One was arrested for trafficking methamphetamine. Another is implicated in a murder investigation. Still more have been accused of sexual misconduct.
Arias suspects that some candidates slipped through the screening process due to the limited resources available to organise the election.
She noted that the National Election Institute had less than 10 months to arrange the elections, since the reforms were only passed in September.
“The timing is very rushed,” she said.
One of the most controversial hopefuls in Sunday’s election is Silvia Delgado, a lawyer who once defended the cofounder of the Sinaloa Cartel, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman.
She is now campaigning to be a judge in Ciudad Juarez, in the border state of Chihuahua.
Despite her high-profile client, Delgado told Al Jazeera that the scrutiny over her candidacy is misplaced: She maintains she was only doing her job as a lawyer.
“Having represented this or that person does not make you part of a criminal group,” she said.
Rather, she argues that it is Mexico’s incumbent judges who deserve to be under the microscope. She claimed many of them won their positions through personal connections.
“They got in through a recommendation or through a family member who got them into the judiciary,” she said.
President Sheinbaum has likewise framed the elections as part of the battle against nepotism and self-dealing in the judicial system.
“This is about fighting corruption,” Sheinbaum said in one of her morning news briefings. “This is the defence of the Mexican people for justice, for honesty, for integrity.”
Kate Pryke is campaigning to prevent new housing being built in a village where sewage facilities are over capacity
On the edge of Buckingham in southern England, the quiet and leafy village of Maids Moreton, dotted with thatched cottages, is at the heart of a dilemma.
There is a plan – already granted permission – to add 153 new homes to the existing community of 350 houses, a medieval church and a pub.
But the local sewage works has been over capacity for years, and there is no sign of it being upgraded soon.
A choice is looming over what to do if the planned new homes are built.
Leave them standing empty, waiting for upgrades to the wastewater treatment system before they are connected?
Or connect them anyway and let people move in – contributing towards Buckinghamshire Council’s target for new homes, but increasing the sewage pollution of the nearby river, the Great Ouse?
“You wouldn’t dream of building a house that you couldn’t connect to electricity, or that was never going to connect to a road. But for some reason we’re building houses that have nowhere to treat the sewage,” says Kate Pryke, one of the local residents campaigning to prevent the development being built.
Maids Moreton’s dilemma is an increasingly common one across England – as ageing sewage works, water industry under-investment and chronic pollution in many areas appear to threaten the government’s ambitious plans to build 1.5 million homes this parliament.
About 30 miles away in Oxford, concerns over sewage capacity led to the Environment Agency objecting to all new development, placing up to 18,000 new homes in limbo. It led a group of developers, including some of Oxford University’s colleges, to describe the city as “uninvestable”.
“We think the problem is rife across England and Wales,” says Justin Neal, solicitor at Wildfish, an environmental charity that campaigns against river pollution.
The charity has been granted permission for a judicial review at the High Court, challenging Buckinghamshire Council’s decision to grant planning permission for the Maids Moreton development.
It says the case goes to the heart of the gap between plans for new housing and the capacity of the existing sewage infrastructure.
Getty Images
Sewage works in many parts of the country are over capacity – a potential obstacle to building new homes
The area is “a good example of where too many houses have been put in”, and as a result the local sewage works – Buckingham Water Recycling Centre – “won’t be able to deal with all the sewage that’s going to it,” says Mr Neal.
He says sewage from the Maids Moreton development would likely end up being discharged into the Great Ouse as a result, “a river which is already suffering from pollution”.
“We hope that people start listening, particularly in government, and the ministers start thinking, ‘Well, maybe there is a way around this.’ And it’s to put more pressure on water companies to make sure that they have capacity.”
The water companies – along with the regulator Ofwat and the Environment Agency – decide when and where sewerage investment will be made. While this should take account of future housing need, there is no way for a local council or developer to influence investment decisions directly – or even pay for the extra capacity.
In Maids Moreton, Anglian Water stated in planning documents 10 years ago that Buckingham Water Recycling Centre did not have any capacity for new development.
Since the site was flagged as being at capacity in 2015, planning permission has been granted for about 1,500 homes in and around Buckingham, hundreds of which have already been built and connected to the over-capacity treatment works.
Joe Crowley / BBC
Maids Moreton is a village of thatched cottages and mid-20th Century homes
Sewage pollution is listed by the Environment Agency as one of the reasons the Great Ouse is failing to achieve “good ecological status”.
Last year the treatment works released sewage into the river for a total of 2,001 hours – the equivalent of more than two-and-a-half months non-stop – although Anglian Water claims this is not related to site capacity.
“They don’t even have the money to upgrade it for the housing that’s here. The idea that one day it will be upgraded to cope with all the growth is just a pipe dream,” says Mrs Pryke.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Environmental policies in the area’s local plan to protect rivers led to a planning condition that developers have to prove that “adequate capacity is available or can be provided” at wastewater treatment works.
But in the Maids Moreton case, no capacity upgrades have been carried out and there are none currently planned. There was provisional funding to upgrade the capacity of the works between 2020-25 but it was reallocated to priority schemes elsewhere in the region.
“We are currently reviewing and prioritising our growth portfolio for delivery over the next five years,” Anglian Water said, but the company did not respond to questions about whether the upgrades to Buckingham sewage works would take place before 2030.
Unable to meet the planning condition about sewage capacity, the developer – David Wilson Homes South Midlands, part of the UK’s largest housebuilder Barratt Redrow – applied to amend it so construction could start and the council agreed.
“Under pressure from the developer, they’ve watered this down, and it means that these houses can now be built without paying attention to whether or not the sewage works has capacity,” says Mr Neal from Wildfish.
“What we need is proper joined-up thinking where there should be no development unless there is capacity.”
Joe Crowley / BBC
Justin Neal from environmental charity Wildfish says he wants ministers to pressure water companies to add capacity
Buckinghamshire Council’s cabinet member for planning Peter Strachan said the local authority “follows the planning process rigorously” and it has made the new homes subject to “a condition preventing any part of the development from being occupied unless and until confirmation has been provided to the council that wastewater upgrades have been completed”. He added “it is not appropriate for the council to comment further” because of the legal challenge.
Occupation clauses like the one imposed by the council are known as “Grampian conditions”, after a 1984 court case, and are often used when work is required that is beyond the developer’s control. They are increasingly common as local authorities grapple with the challenge of building new homes in areas where the sewage works are at capacity.
However, once homes with planning permission are built, water companies are obliged to connect them to the sewage network, regardless of its capacity.
“The very idea that they are going to sit empty for months, possibly years without being occupied because there’s a condition that hasn’t been met is an utter nonsense,” says Kate Pryke. “And in any event the council will have no interest in enforcing that condition.”
Neither the council nor the developer answered the BBC’s questions about when they expect Buckingham sewage works to be upgraded and how long they would be prepared for the newly built houses to remain unoccupied.
But the developer said it would “ensure a programme of any wastewater upgrades required to support the development has been agreed with Anglian Water”. On the development site itself, the company said there will be “at least a 10% uplift in biodiversity” with the installation of “bat and bird boxes and hedgehog highways”.
Joe Crowley / BBC
Campaigners fear sewage from the new development will be discharged into the Great Ouse
The BBC also asked the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government what should happen in areas where new homes are needed but where there is no available sewage capacity in the foreseeable future – and also whether Buckinghamshire Council had been right to grant planning permission in Maids Moreton.
A government spokesperson said: “Councils must consider sewerage capacity as part of their housebuilding plans and, through our Independent Water Commission, we will clean up our waterways by making sure planning for development and water infrastructure works more efficiently.”
The judicial review could take place later this year. If the charity is successful it could stop the Maids Moreton development going ahead and place future housebuilding in the area in doubt.
It comes at a time when the government says it is “turbocharging growth” and overhauling the planning system – with Chancellor Rachel Reeves promising to reduce “environmental requirements placed on developers when they pay into the nature restoration fund… so they can focus on getting things built, and stop worrying about bats and newts”.
Mr Neal says the charity’s legal case, however, is not about “newt-hugging” or “people caring for fish more than they do for people who are homeless” – but about development being held back by the lack of capacity in sewage works.
“The solution is not to take away the laws that give the environment protection, but to build better sewage works that actually do their job properly.”
Whatever Canon King of Venice High had done earlier this season — he had six home runs — his performance on Tuesday night in the City Section Open Division semifinal game against Sylmar at Cal State Northridge earned him a lofty place few others have attained.
He was five for five with three RBIs and scored the winning run in the eighth inning of a 9-8 victory.
Canon King of Venice after going five for five and scoring the winning run in the B8 inning of 9-8 win over Sylmar that sends team to Dodger Stadium. pic.twitter.com/56cciChhUF
“It felt amazing,” he said. “My approach all day, get on base.”
Canon King going five for five and hitting the ball all different places was one of the great performances in City Section playoff history. Here’s a look at how he placed the ball where Sylmar couldn’t catch them. pic.twitter.com/OMwq1iIulP
He repeatedly looked for holes in Sylmar’s defense and sent the ball wherever they existed. It was an amazing display of bat discipline and knowledge. He had a single in the first inning, a two-run single in the second, a single in the fourth, a single in the sixth and a run-scoring double in the eighth.
You need to purchase tickets for Saturday’s City Section championship games at Dodger Stadium at ticket booths there. Tickets are $15 and $12 for students. Credit cards only. Gates for parking open at 8:30 a.m. Division I 10 a.m., Open at 1 p.m. Clear bag policy.
Now he gets to play in the Open Division final against El Camino Real at 1 p.m. Saturday at Dodger Stadium. He’s committed to Cal State San Marcos and is a three-time Western League MVP.
“Best hitter in the City in my time doing this,” Westchester coach Joshua Saperstein said.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email [email protected].
US President Donald Trump hails deals during his three-country tour of the Gulf region.
United States President Donald Trump has signed several economic deals on his visit to the Gulf region.
One of the biggest deals was signed in Qatar, where Boeing secured its largest-ever order of wide-body jets from Qatar Airways.
Doha also promised to invest more than $10bn in the Al Udeid Air Base, one of the US’s biggest military facilities in the world.
Trump says he’s forging a future with the Middle East defined by commerce, not chaos. But could that mean regional stability and security are now taking a back seat?
And how likely is it that the US president would throw US weight behind ending the devastating war in Gaza?
Presenter: Dareen Abughaida
Guests:
Faisal al-Mudahka – Editor-in-chief, Gulf Times
Andreas Krieg – Senior lecturer, King’s College London’s School of Security Studies
Paul Musgrave – Associate professor of government, Georgetown University in Qatar
A “RARE” 50p coin has hit eBay with a whopping £10,000 price tag – and now collectors are scrambling to check their change.
The coin, is said to mark a significant national celebration and has drawn attention for its sky-high listing.
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The coin was part of a special release to honour those who have shown outstanding courage in battleCredit: EBay
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One seller in Great Yarmouth has listed their version of the coin on eBay for a staggering £10,086.72Credit: Getty
Released by the Royal Mint in 2006, the coin commemorates 150 years since the creation of the Victoria Cross medal, Britain’s highest honour for military bravery.
Two designs were issued: one featuring the medal itself, and the other showing a soldier carrying a wounded comrade to safety.
The Victoria Cross was first awarded during the Crimean War and has remained a powerful symbol of heroism.
The coin was part of a special release to honour those who have shown outstanding courage in battle.
While collectors often believe these coins are rare, the Royal Mint says a combined 22,087,500 of them were put into circulation, meaning there’s still a decent chance of finding one in your spare change.
According to a report by the Eastern Daily Press, the seller has listed the 2006 Victoria Cross Coin- which honours Britain’s highest military bravery medal – for £10,086.72 on the auction site.
In their description, the seller wrote: “Add this circulated 50p coin to your collection to celebrate the bravery of Victoria Cross recipients.
“This coin is a great addition to any collection and is perfect for those interested in British history and military honours.”
The coin is marked as “ungraded and uncertified”, meaning it hasn’t been professionally appraised.
Collectors usually pay top prices for coins in mint condition or with an official grading, so the value of this listing may come down to personal interest or sentiment.
Some sellers on eBay list coins for high prices in hopes that a keen buyer will pay a premium, but it doesn’t always mean the coin is worth that amount.
It’s important to compare with similar listings and see what items have actually sold for.
The Royal Mint has released dozens of 50p designs over the years, many of which have become popular with hobbyists and seasoned collectors alike.
Coins linked to key moments in British history or iconic figures tend to attract the most attention.
The Kew Gardens 50p, issued in 2009, is widely considered the “holy grail” of coin collecting due to its limited run of just 210,000 coins.
Because of its scarcity, it regularly sells for over £140 and has even reached prices of £700.
Another standout is the Blue Peter 50p, designed by nine-year-old Florence Jackson.
Released ahead of the 2012 Olympics, it features a childlike drawing of a high jumper and has gone for over £200 at auction.
Olympic-themed coins remain especially collectible. The 2012 Football 50p, known for its diagram explaining the offside rule, has a strong following and has sold for up to £24.
A VICTORIAN seaside town is set to undergo a significant makeover that could further boost its tourism.
The Welsh town, which features a cliff railway and the country’s oldest pier, will see its historic promenade upgraded as part of the work.
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Aberystwyth is set to undergo a significant revamp, including work to its historic promenadeCredit: Getty
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Work is currently being carried out on the seaside town’s promenade, which dates back to the Victorian eraCredit: Getty
With a population of around 15,000, this seaside resort is thought to date back as far as the Mesolithic Age.
In 1865, Aberystwyth opened the Royal Pier, the first of its kind in Wales.
Though much shorter after decades of storms, the original structure still stands and is home to an ice-cream shop, a pub, a snooker hall, a restaurant, an amusement arcade centre, and also a nightclub.
The town’s historic promenade has also faced wear and tear over the years due to its close proximity to the Irish Sea.
Read More On Seaside Towns
And now the Prom is set to undergo a development to turn it into a “more vibrant, accessible, and attractive space for residents and visitors alike”, according to Ceredigion County Council.
The project involves improvements to the public space, including upgraded street lighting, enhanced footpaths, and new street furniture to “refresh and modernise the promenade”.
“These upgrades will create a welcoming and safe environment, making the promenade an inviting space to enjoy year-round,” the council said.
These improvements, together with a redevelopment of the town’s historic Old College, are funded by a £10.8 million influx from the UK Government.
They are hoped to “breathe new life into an area rich in cultural heritage”.
The Promenade project is set to stimulate new investment, “creating opportunities and boosting confidence in the town”, building on Aberystwyth’s “rightful place as an attractor destination”.
Inside little-known seaside spot right next to the country’s most iconic sites
Councillor Alun Williams, Deputy Leader of Ceredigion County Council spoke about the ongoing work.
“This is a transformative programme of works for Aberystwyth,” he said.
“Combined, we are seeing over £60 million of investment into the town.
“The new promenade will greatly improve links with other attractions like the Castle Grounds and the revitalised Old College.
“It will offer more space for active travel and healthier lifestyles as well as adding to the all-round beauty of the seafront.
‘Downtrodden’ English ghost town where locals feel ‘left behind’ being turned into ‘vibrant’ shopping hub in £9m revamp
By Nicole Cherruault
A “DOWNTRODDEN” English ghost town is being turned into a “vibrant” shopping hub in a £9million revamp.
The town in northern Manchester set to totally transform as the council launches a multi-million pound “vision for change” after locals complained the town felt “left behind”.
More than 600 people were consulted over renovation plans in Eccles, Salford and work has now started on demolishing the town’s shopping centre, which was suffering from falling visitors numbers.
Following the demolition stage, a development partner will be appointed to bring new life to what residents described as a “downtrodden” town, reports Manchester Evening News.
The objective, the council said, is to create a “vibrant” and a “fit for purpose” centre for people to enjoy.
Attracting more independent retailers, and new bars and cafes are among the council’s top priorities.
And just three miles from Salford Quays and Manchester city centre, the redevelopment project looks set to transform the area into a buzzing place for young professionals and business owners.
This comes as locals despaired over the ailing town, saying they felt it had been “left behind” and it was in desperate need of some “drastic” improvements.
The council stressed that the demolition work will be a long process, with the initial phase due only to be completed by the end of the year.
However, Councillor Mike McCusker reassured locals that despite the renovations, the town centre “remains open for business”, stressing that the works only affect a few areas.
He said: “Whilst we work on the town centre of the future, today’s town centre remains open for business,” said Coun Mike McCusker, lead member for planning, transport and sustainable development at Salford council.
“I want to stress that this demolition work only affects certain parts of the town centre.
“The shops and businesses on Church Street are still open for business and unaffected by this work.”
Meanwhile, Councillor McCusker, who represents the Eccles ward, shared his enthusiasm for the project, in particular for its focus on the local community.
In a statement, he spoke of his “excitement” for the times ahead in materialising their vision for a brighter, more dynamic Eccles.
He said “Through our purchase of the shopping centre, we were able to put the future of the town centre in the hands of the council and the community.
“It has enabled us to begin this important and long-overdue programme of work, to deliver the vision we have developed with the community.
“The demolition work will take some time, but there are exciting times ahead for Eccles as we work to bring this vision to life.”
“The consequent increased footfall will then naturally lead to business growth.
“It’s good to see some of the improvements already in place, like the new lighting around the war memorial at Castle Point.”
The overall project is anticipated to conclude this summer.
According to Visit Wales, a visit to Aberystwyth is “quite impossible without a walk, jog, or mindfulness moment on the mile long Victorian promenade”.
The walkway leads to the town’s “best vantage point” at the end of north beach’s promenade, atop the 430 feet that is Constitution Hill.
And if that incline sounds too much, especially on a hot summer’s day which have been known to peak as high as the high 20s in Aberystwyth, don’t worry.
The town’s famous funicular Cliff Railway operates from April to October, leading to the world’s largest Camera Obscura, which includes a cafe and gift shop.
It was first opened in 1896 as a means of transporting people between the arcades and restaurant located at the foot of the hill to the park on top.
Adults can still enjoy a return trip for just £7 per person, while children pay £6.
And as well as enjoying this panoramic view, visitors can also take in the town’s vibrant history.
You can travel through the centuries from Pen Dinas Hill, an Iron Age hillfort to a 1850s monument, erected as a memorial to the first Duke of Wellington.
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The town’s funicular railway offers stunning views of the Welsh coastCredit: Getty
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The town features a castle and the Old University, which was first constructed as a hotel in 1865Credit: Getty
The ruins of Aberystwyth Castle, originally an English castle built to keep the Welsh out in the 13th century, are also worth a visit.
This structure dates back to the same era as the nearby Flint, Rhuddlan, and Builth Wells’ castles.
And in a town where even the local college dates back to 1865, when it was first erected as a luxury hotel, you won’t be short of history to lap up.
But it’s not just ancient attractions in this town, you can also enjoy the town’s beaches, with the South Beach offering a long golden strand compared to the North’s shingle.
However, don’t rule out the latter for a fun family day out as donkey rides are available during the warmer months.
The only two surviving buildings from Terminal Island’s days as a thriving Japanese American fishing village in the early 1900s have been placed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2025 list of America’s 11 most endangered historic places.
The designation, announced Wednesday morning, is meant to elevate the visibility of the site, which stands as a physical reminder of a story that ended with the incarceration of the island’s residents — among an estimated 120,000 people of Japanese descent, most American citizens, who were forcibly removed following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in World War II.
Today, Terminal Island is part of one the country’s busiest container ports, and many people don’t know that it was the first place from which Japanese Americans were uprooted and sent to government camps such as Manzanar in the Owens Valley.
Buildings along Tuna Street on Terminal Island have been placed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2025 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.
(Los Angeles Conservancy)
“It’s a story that hasn’t been really told,” said Los Angeles Conservancy President and Chief Executive Adrian Scott Fine, adding that his organization has been working to preserve Terminal Island’s structures for close to two decades. “And if you go there, you’re not going to know that unless you stumble across these two buildings and then learn the story, because everything, with the exception of these two buildings, has been cleared away.”
The village was home to more than 3,000 people living in small wooden cottages and bungalows. Tuna Street was the main business thoroughfare and home to the two remaining buildings: the dry goods store Nanka Shoten (1918) and the grocery A. Nakamura Co. (1923). The destruction of the village began immediately following its residents’ removal in 1942, and over the years more structures were razed as the island grew into an industrial and commercial port.
Buildings along Tuna Street on Terminal Island have been placed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2025 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.
(Los Angeles Conservancy)
Historic sites on the annual National Trust list are chosen in part “based on the urgency of the threat, the viability of the proposed solution and the community engagement around the site,” said National Trust President and Chief Executive Carol Quillen.
A group of survivors and descendants of the Terminal Island community — the Terminal Islanders Assn., formed in the 1970s — has been crucial to preservation efforts and has partnered with the National Trust and the L.A. Conservancy to propose meaningful and practical preservation solutions. Fine said discussions have included turning the structures into stores selling food and other necessities to port workers, who have few options on the island.
“They were always community-serving, and that would continue the original function and use even today,” said Fine, while helping to tell the history.
The Tuna Street buildings are being considered for a historic-cultural monument designation with the city of L.A., a lengthy process that does not totally protect any site from destruction.
The Port of Los Angeles is reportedly considering demolishing the vacant and deteriorating buildings to make room for more container storage. Fine said the port has done a study that found the buildings to not be historic. But razing the buildings, he said, would contradict a master plan that the port hammered out with the L.A. Conservancy in 2013 after the entire island was placed on that year’s National Trust list of endangered places.
The report allows the port to conduct a streamlined environmental review leading to demolition, “which they’ve done for some of the other tuna canneries and structures that were there just in the last 10 years,” Fine said. “So in pattern and in practice, we believe that that’s very much how they’re approaching this one as well.”
The National Trust’s Quillen said the goal is to highlight “the contributions of these folks to our country’s history and economy, and the ways in which this community fought for the rights that we all subscribe to. So when I think about the promise of this country, the ideals that are expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, I want to honor the people whose lives and work exemplified the fight to realize those ideals.”
A memorial to the Japanese American fishing village on Terminal Island.
(Los Angeles Conservancy)
The other 10 sites on the 2025 National Trust list are:
Cedar Key, Fla.
French Broad and Swannanoa River corridors in western North Carolina
Hotel Casa Blanca, Idlewild, Mich.
May Hicks Curtis House, Flagstaff, Ariz.
Mystery Castle, Phoenix
The Chateau at Oregon Caves, Caves Junction, Ore.
Pamunkey Indian Reservation, King William County, Va.
BERLIN — Conservative leader Friedrich Merz succeeded Tuesday in becoming Germany’s next chancellor, drawing applause and a palpable sense of relief in the parliament chamber after a historic loss in the first round of voting threatened the new government’s promises of stability. No other postwar candidate for German chancellor has failed to win on the first ballot. The stunning but short-lived defeat sent shock waves throughout Europe and dragged down the stock market. The DAX, the index of major German companies, fell by 1.8% at one point.
The first round of voting, which was conducted by secret ballot, could affect Merz’s prospects for success and bring trouble to his coalition’s agenda, which includes reviving a stagnant economy and dealing with the rise of the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party.
As the most populous member state of the 27-nation European Union and the continent’s biggest economy, Germany is Europe’s diplomatic and economic heavyweight. Many had hoped Merz’s ascension would help the continent navigate the war in Ukraine and the confrontational trade policy of U.S. President Trump.
“The whole of Europe, perhaps even the whole world, is watching this second round of elections,” Jens Spahn, the head of the center-right Union bloc in the German parliament, said before the final vote.
The aftermath
Merz had been expected to easily win the vote to become Germany’s 10th chancellor since World War II, but the first ballot in the lower house of parliament unexpectedly left him with 310 votes — well short of the 328 seats held by his coalition.
Hours later in the second round, he earned 325 votes, surpassing the 316 needed to pass in the 630-seat Bundestag.
Because the votes were cast secretly, it was not immediately clear — and might never be — who defected from Merz’s camp.
Merz’s coalition is led by his center-right Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union. They are joined by the center-left Social Democrats led by outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who lost the national election in February.
Volker Resing, Merz’s biographer, said Merz and his new ministers must now focus on the day-to-day business of running the country.
“Tomorrow, this government must work, and it must make people forget how it started,” he said. “It must now show that it can get the economy going again. … It must show that it can get illegal migration under control, and it must show that there is leadership again in Europe, especially in light of the threat from the east.”
Merz did not directly address his first-round loss Tuesday evening in his first speech after being sworn in, saying only that he was grateful to be elected “in the second round of voting.”
“So here we go. I am looking forward to the new task, and I am looking forward to working with you all in this house in a spirit of trust,” he said.
80th anniversary of World War II
Tuesday’s voting came on the eve of the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender in World War II. The ballots were cast in the restored Reichstag building, where graffiti left by victorious Soviet troops has been preserved at several locations.
The shadow of the war in Ukraine also loomed over the vote. Germany is the second-biggest supplier of military aid to Ukraine, after the United States.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that he seeks more European and transatlantic leadership from Germany after Merz’s win.
“Ukraine is deeply grateful for the support of Germany and its people,” Zelensky wrote on X. “Your helping hand has saved thousands and thousands of Ukrainian lives.”
Overall, Germany is the fourth-largest defense spender in the world, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which studies trends in global military expenditures. Only the U.S., China and Russia are ahead.
Germany rose to that rank thanks to an investment of $107 billion for its armed forces, a measure passed by lawmakers in 2022.
Defense spending rose again this year when parliament loosened the nation’s strict debt rules. The move has been closely watched by the rest of Europe as the Trump administration has threatened to pull back from its security commitment to the continent.
Germany and the Trump administration
The U.S. administration has bashed Germany repeatedly since Trump’s inauguration in January. Trump, who has German roots, often expressed his dislike of former Chancellor Angela Merkel during his first term.
This time around, Trump’s lieutenants are at the forefront. Tech billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk has supported Alternative for Germany for months. He hosted a chat with co-leader Alice Weidel that he livestreamed on X this year to amplify her party’s message.
It is the biggest opposition party in Germany’s new parliament after it placed second in February’s elections. Despite its historic gains, it was shut out of coalition talks because of the so-called firewall that mainstream political parties have upheld against cooperating with far-right parties since the end of the war.
Vice President JD Vance, during the Munich Security Conference in February, assailed the creation of the firewall and later met with Weidel, a move that German officials heavily criticized.
Last week, the German domestic intelligence service said it has classified the party as a “right-wing extremist” organization, making it subject to greater and broader surveillance.
The decision by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution prompted blowback from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vance over the weekend. Germany’s Foreign Ministry hit back at Rubio after he called on the country to drop the classification.
The domestic intelligence service’s measure does not amount to a ban of the party, which can be imposed only through a request by either of parliament’s two chambers or by the federal government through the Federal Constitutional Court.
Merz has not commented publicly on the intelligence service’s decision.
Dazio and Grieshaber write for the Associated Press. AP videojournalist Fanny Brodersen in Berlin and writer David McHugh in Frankfurt, Germany, contributed to this report.
Both sides celebrate the landmark agreement, which was several years in the making.
India and the United Kingdom have agreed to a trade deal that comes after three years of negotiations and that they say will boost their economies amid the fallout from US President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The British government said on Tuesday that the deal “is expected to increase bilateral trade by 25.5 billion pounds [$34bn], UK GDP by 4.8 billion pounds [$6.4bn] and wages by 2.2 billion pounds [$2.9bn] each year in the long run”.
“Indian tariffs will be slashed, locking in reductions on 90 percent of tariff lines, with 85 percent of these becoming fully tariff-free within a decade.”
The British alcohol and car industries are some of the main beneficiaries, with tariffs on whisky and gin getting halved to 75 percent before reducing to 40 percent by year 10 of the deal. Automotive tariffs will go from over 100 percent to 10 percent under a quota.
Tariffs will also be reduced on British exports including cosmetics, medical devices, aerospace parts, lamb, salmon, chocolate, and biscuits.
India’s Trade Ministry said 99 percent of Indian exports would face no import duty under the deal.
“This brings us closer to our goal of becoming a global economic powerhouse. It protects our core interests while opening doors to India’s greater participation in global value chains,” Trade Minister Piyush Goyal said.
The deal introduces a “Double Contribution Convention” that exempts Indian workers in the UK from national insurance payments for up to three years, and vice versa.
Advanced negotiations on a separate bilateral investment treaty and further discussions on labour and environmental standards are ongoing as well.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Keir Starmer spoke on the phone on Tuesday to mark the agreement, and Modi invited Starmer to visit the country.
“These landmark agreements will further deepen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and catalyse trade, investment, growth, job creation, and innovation in both our economies,” Modi said in a post on X.
“Strengthening our alliances and reducing trade barriers with economies around the world is part of our Plan for Change to deliver a stronger and more secure economy here at home,” said Starmer, hailing what the government says is the UK’s largest trade agreement since leaving the European Union in 2020.
The two leaders are expected to meet in the coming months to sign and finalise the deal.
India also sought to receive an exemption from the UK’s forthcoming carbon tax – a climate policy tool set to be implemented from 2027 – but officials did not elaborate on the details in their statements on Tuesday.
Friedrich Merz’s failure to clinch a Bundestag majority sent shockwaves through German assets on Tuesday, raising questions about the country’s political stability as economic clouds darken over Europe’s largest economy.
The DAX 40 index slumped 1.5% to 22,924 points by late morning in Frankfurt, threatening to snap a nine-day winning streak. Eurozone-wide losses followed, with the Euro Stoxx 50 index down 1.1% at 5,225.
German government bonds also moved sharply. Benchmark 10-year bund yields rose to 2.54%, the highest since mid-April. The euro slipped from $1.1350 to $1.1310.
“His setback adds fresh uncertainty to Germany’s export-driven economy, which is already under pressure from shifting US trade policies,” said Welt’s Holger Zschäpitz.
“The DAX corrects,” said Daniel Lacalle, chief economist at Tressis. “Germany voted for change. Politicians decided to keep everything unchanged. Now, the coalition of industry and economic destruction cannot even agree to vote a chancellor.”
What went wrong in the Bundestag?
Merz, the leader of the conservative CDU/CSU bloc, had secured a post-election coalition agreement with the Social Democrats.
Yet in a stunning reversal, he received just 310 of the 316 votes needed in the Bundestag to officially become chancellor. It is the first time in postwar Germany that a presumptive chancellor has failed to gain parliamentary approval after a successful coalition deal.
The outcome of the vote sent parliamentary groups scrambling.
According to German law, a second vote must take place within two weeks. If no majority emerges again, a third round may proceed with a simple majority. Failing that, the president has the power to dissolve the Bundestag and call fresh elections.
High hopes, now in limbo
Merz had campaigned on a bold, business-friendly agenda to revive Germany’s stagnant economy. His coalition plan included a €500 billion infrastructure investment package, a pledge of unlimited defence spending capacity, and a clear alignment with Ukraine in its war against Russia.
That programme, heavily anticipated by markets, now hangs in the balance.
Merz had been scheduled to travel to Paris and Warsaw on Wednesday to meet with President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Donald Tusk, aiming to bolster European defence coordination. That trip has been postponed indefinitely, further fuelling perceptions of disarray.
German industrial stocks fall
Germany’s industrial heavyweights were the first to feel the fallout. Rheinmetall AG, the top-performing DAX stock of 2025 amid soaring defence demand, fell 2%. Siemens, MTU Aero Engines, Porsche AG, BASF, Infineon, and Daimler Truck Holding AG all shed about 2.5%.
Only two DAX members emerged in positive territory: Fresenius Medical Care (+3.8%) and Symrise (+0.2%).
Zhao Xintong makes history as he becomes the first player from China to win the World Championship with an 18-12 victory over Mark Williams in Sheffield.
