Plus: Overjoyed Syrians return to homes but face ruins ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
|
| Hello. Vladimir Putin is "not serious" about holding "real talks" on peace in Ukraine, the country's president, Volodymyr Zelensky has said, after his Russian counterpart chose not to attend negotiations in Istanbul. In Syria, amid an air of optimism over the lifting of US sanctions, we report on the displaced people making their way home after 13 long years of war. And finally, take a look at the potentially world record catch landed by a UK angler in Hungary. | |
|
|
|
|
TOP OF THE AGENDA | Putin 'doesn't want ceasefire', says Zelensky after criticising Russian 'props' sent to Istanbul talks |
|
| | Zelensky was speaking in Ankara where he had held talks with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Credit: EPA | Russia is "not serious" about holding "real talks" to end its war in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, after he made himself available for direct negotiations in Istanbul with Vladimir Putin, but the Russian leader stayed in Moscow and sent a low-level delegation in his place. Talks may now take place on Friday but no timings have been set. It would mark the first time delegations from the two countries have met face-to-face since 2022, although US President Donald Trump predicted "nothing's going to happen" until he and Putin meet. Yet as US State Department correspondent Tom Bateman notes, "Washington is once again setting no deadline on the latest shifting objectives" from Russia. |
|
| | |
|
|
| Iran using criminals for hit jobs abroad, papers show | Reports show a rise in plots by the Iranian regime to kidnap or assassinate dissidents, journalists and political foes living abroad. | Read more > |
|
| Israeli strikes on Gaza kill 114 people, officials say | Some 56 people were killed when homes and tents of displaced families were bombed in Khan Younis, a hospital said. | More on this > |
|
| Mexico judge arrested over 43 students' disappearance | The retired judge is suspected of giving an order that led to the disappearance of footage which investigators said was key. | What happened > |
|
| Ben & Jerry's co-founder arrested after Gaza protest | Ben Cohen was arrested during a protest in the US Senate over military aid to Israel and humanitarian conditions in Gaza. | Watch what happened > |
|
| |
|
|
|
| Overjoyed to return - but Syrians face daunting rebuild after years of war | | Fatima and her family are renting a flat in the city while they repair their old home. Credit: Rolf Andreason/BBC | Bringing home the seven million Syrians who were displaced within their country by the conflict between the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad and rebel forces is perhaps the biggest challenge the new government now faces. Many of those who were displaced no longer have homes to return to. But now, following President Trump's decision to lift US sanctions on Syria, there's new hope that the shattered country can rebuild and the economy revive. |
|
| | Tim Whewell, BBC reporter |
|
| | Thirteen years after civil war forced her to leave, Fatima Hazzouri is back in her native city, Homs, blinking in the sunshine as she steps off a bus crammed with returning women and children, part of a long convoy of coaches and trucks. "I'm overjoyed to be back," Fatima says. She shrieks in delight. The 124 families returning in the convoy have come from the north of Syria, where millions of displaced people live in tents and makeshift shelters. They've been on the road for eight exhausting hours - but it won't be an easy homecoming.
Homs saw some of the fiercest fighting of the war. Whole districts are still in ruins. In 2012, two rockets fired by government forces slammed into Fatima's house, largely destroying it. Just building a roof and tiling the floor would cost about $6-7,000 (£4,500-£5,270), she says. She can't imagine where such money would come from. But today, after 13 years away, she just wants to celebrate. |
|
| |
|
|
SOMETHING DIFFERENT | Doom and gloom | The latest Mission: Impossible is the opposite of an escapist blockbuster. | |
|
| |
|
|
And finally... in Hungary | An angler has caught a record-breaking carp while on holiday with friends at Euro Aqua carp farm in Hungary. According to fishing publication Angling Times, the massive 105lb (47.5kg) common carp beats the previous world record by 1lb (450g). It was such a big fish that Mr Knock could not hold it at arm's length. "I cuddled that carp," he said. Take a look. | |
|
|
|
US Politics Unspun newsletter | No noise. No agenda. Just expert analysis of the issues that matter most, from North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher. | |
|
| |
|
|
|
MORE BBC NEWSLETTERS | | The Essential List: The best of the BBC, handpicked by our editors, in your inbox every Tuesday and Friday. Sign up. | | World of Business: Gain the leading edge with global insights for the boardroom and beyond, every Wednesday. Sign up. | | Tech Decoded: Get timely, trusted tech news direct to your inbox, every Monday and Friday. Sign up. | |
|
|
|
Thank you, as ever, for reading. Send us suggestions for topics or areas of the world to cover in this newsletter. Tell your friends and family about it! They can sign up here. You can take a look at all our newsletters here.
By the way, you can add newsbriefing@email.bbc.com to your contacts list and, if you're on Gmail, pop the email into your “Primary” tab for uninterrupted service. Thanks for reading!
– Alex | | | | Follow us here |
|
| | | | You've received this email because you've signed up to the BBC's News Briefing.
Click here to unsubscribe
To find out how we use your data, see the BBC Privacy Policy
BBC Studios Distribution Limited.
Registered Number: 01420028 England
Registered office: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, W12 7FA, United Kingdom | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
