Palestine and Israel

At least 80 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza as violence intensified and ceasefire talks stalled. Some local sources put the toll at over 120. The renewed assault follows Donald Trump’s regional tour, where he proposed turning Gaza into a “freedom zone” managed by the US — a revival of an earlier controversial plan that implied permanent displacement of Gaza’s population.

Thursday’s headlines see coverage of the government’s plans to ease the pressure on prisons across England and Wales, as a report says prisons will run out of space by November. The government has announced a series of measures which include early release for some offenders as part of the plans to tackle the overcrowding. The government also announced they will build three new prisons – but despite the dire state of the prison system, the plans still might not be enough to tackle the problem.

The UK economy grew unexpectedly in the first three months of 2025 – a major win for the government, especially the chancellor, who’s been under increasing pressure over the state of the economy and the government fiscal plans. The ONS said the growth was driven by the service sector and production. But the joy might be short-lived, the figures mark the period just before the US imposed tariffs.

More than 40 people have been killed in a wave of intensified Israeli air strikes across the Gaza Strip, according to hospital officials. At least 36 bodies were taken to medical facilities in the south, including 26 killed overnight in Khan Younis, amid continued bombardments.

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