Rail services to come under unified state control

BBC News says the government has announced the biggest shake-up in the UK’s railways since privatisation in the mid-1990s.

It will see the creation of a new state-owned body, Great British Railways (GBR), which will set timetables and prices, sell tickets in England and manage rail infrastructure.

But private operators will still be contracted to run most trains.

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Former BBC chiefs told to expect criticism in Diana interview inquiry

The Guardian says the findings of the BBC’s inquiry into the tactics Martin Bashir used to obtain his sensational interview with Princess Diana are due to be published on Thursday, and former senior executives associated with the 1995 Panorama programme have been told to expect criticism in the report.

BBC’s Tim Davie commissioned an independent investigation into how the journalist persuaded the royal to be interviewed, following pressure from Diana’s family prompted by 25th-anniversary coverage of the broadcast last year.

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France’s Sarkozy returns to trial in campaign funding case

France24 says the trial of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who is accused of illegally financing his failed 2012 re-election campaign, resumes on Thursday after being adjourned on opening day in March after a lawyer fell sick with COVID–19.

The trial casts a further shadow over the career of a man who as president from 2007 to 2012 bestrode the national and global stage. Earlier this year, Sarkozy was convicted of corruption in a separate case.

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UAE to allow 100 per cent foreign ownership of companies from June

Arab News says the UAE will allow foreigners to start a company without an Emirati shareholder from next month.

The change comes into effect from June 1, WAM reported.

“The amended Commercial Companies Law aims at boosting the country’s competitive edge and is a part of UAE government efforts to facilitate doing business,” said Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al-Marri.

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Netanyahu ‘determined’ to continue Gaza bombardment

Aljazeera says Israeli fighter jets continued to hit the Gaza Strip on Thursday, as PM Benjamin Netanyahu defied the United States’ call to seek a de-escalation on the path to a ceasefire.

At least 227 Palestinians have been killed in 11 days of violence. The dead include 64 children and 38 women. On the Israeli side, 12 people have been killed.

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Colombians vow to press ahead as anti-govt protests enter fourth week

TRT World says Colombia’s wave of anti-government protests has entered their fourth week, as unions, student groups and others turned out at marches to demand social change amid intermittent talks between the government and strike organisers.

The protests have been marked by violence by both police and civilians. The attorney general’s office has confirmed 15 deaths connected to protests, while one human rights group tallies more than 40.

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US House votes to back probe into January Attack on Capitol

VOA says the U.S. House of Representatives has approved the creation of an independent commission to investigate the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6.

The Democratic-controlled House, joined by 35 Republicans, voted 252-175 to create the commission, similar to one that investigated the 2001 al-Qaida terrorist attacks on the U.S.  

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