Mass burials and market looting in eastern DRC
A man sifts through the smouldering remains of boxes and materials left behind by looters after clashes at a World Food Programme warehouse in Bukavu Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images
Two men sit on a grave in front of a dumpsite observing from a distance as members of the Congolese Red Cross conduct a mass burial for victims of clashes in eastern DRC at Musigiko cemetery in Bukavu Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images
Observers casts shadows as a member of the Congolese Red Cross sprays disinfectant on body bags during the mass burial Photograph: AFP/Getty Images
Congolese Red Cross members pass women selling maize Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images
M23 fighters stands guard for senior members of the group during a public meeting in Bukavu's Place de l'Indépendance after M23's takeover of the city Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images
Flags fly on flagpoles in Bukavu's Place de l'Indépendance Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images
A mass burial at Musigiko cemetery in Bukavu, 20 February Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images
An M23 fighter walks through a pool of water as residents clean the streets after the takeover of Bukavu Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images
Bukavu and Lake Kivu at dawn Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images
An M23 fighter stands guard during the Place de l'Indépendance public meeting, 20 February Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images
Another fighter in the Place de l'Indépendance Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images
People stand on a wall for a view of the public meeting in Bukavu Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images
Jolie Mataniko (right) lies on a hospital bed nursing wounds on her face next to other injured women at the general provincial hospital in Bukavu, 19 February Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images
People venture out on to the streets after clashes at Kadutu market in Bukavu, 18 February Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images
People gather around stalls at Kadutu market Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images
A woman carrying her belongings on her head at a border post in Cyangugu, 17 February Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images
A woman inspects damage caused by looters at Kadutu market in Bukavu Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images
A framed poster of Félix Tshisekedi and discarded papers in an office at Kadutu market
Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images
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Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Property Tax: Rachel Reeves eyes new Stamp Duty shake-up
New plans could soon mean selling your home leaves you with less in your pocket 🏡 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering replacing stamp duty with a new tax on home sales Homeowners selling properties worth over £500,000 could face a levy, instead of buyers paying upfront stamp duty A £600,000 home sale could mean a tax bill of around £3,240; £1.2m could cost about £8,500 The plan is aimed at easing costs for buyers, particularly first-time buyers, and could pave the way for wider council tax reform Any changes would be announced in the Autumn Budget, expected in late October or early November 2025 Selling your home could soon come with a new tax bill attached, as the Treasury weighs up a radical overhaul of the way property is taxed in the UK. According to reports, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is 'looking at' scrapping the existing stamp duty system – where buyers pay a levy when purchasing property – and replacing it with a tax on sellers of homes worth more than £500,000. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Currently, stamp duty kicks in on properties costing over £125,000, with buyers footing the bill Under the proposals being considered, this responsibility would shift to homeowners, who would pay a government-set rate when they sell up – but only if their property is worth above the £500,000 threshold. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves during a visit to Studio Ulster on August 12, 2025 in Belfast, Northern Ireland (Photo: Oliver McVeigh - Pool/Getty Images) | Getty Images What could change? Details remain under discussion, but one model floated by former government adviser Tim Leunig would see a levy of 0.54% on the sale price of homes over £500,000, plus a 0.278% supplement on values above £1 million. That would mean: Selling a £600,000 home could cost you around £3,240. A £1.2 million sale could trigger a tax bill of around £8,500. This would replace stamp duty for buyers of owner-occupied homes. Second homes and buy-to-lets, however, may remain under a separate system. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad If Rachel Reeves pushes ahead, homeowners and buyers in England and NI would be directly affected. But Scotland uses the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT), and so changes wouldn't apply there unless the Scottish Government decided to introduce similar reforms to LBTT. Why is this being considered? The move would aim to make it easier for people to buy their first home, by removing one of the biggest upfront costs of moving. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It could also create a model for broader reform, with the possibility of replacing council tax with a property-based levy in the medium term. The Treasury insists no decision has yet been made. A spokesperson said the focus remains on 'growing the economy' and keeping taxes on working people 'as low as possible', pointing to existing pledges not to raise income tax, national insurance, or VAT. What does it mean for you? If you own a home worth more than £500,000, this change could mean factoring in a tax bill when you eventually sell. While the rate looks lower than stamp duty on equivalent purchases today, sellers may feel the sting of losing a chunk of their proceeds. Buyers, meanwhile, could find moving less expensive, especially first-timers, who often struggle to save for both a deposit and stamp duty. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad When is the Autumn Budget? Reeves is expected to outline any concrete tax changes at a future Budget. The Autumn Budget 2025 has not been officially scheduled yet, but following tradition, it is most likely to be delivered in late October or early November 2025. It is broadly expected to fall between October 28 and November 4. For now, homeowners and buyers alike will be watching closely, as this shift could reshape one of the biggest financial transactions of our lives.
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Haunting abandoned Ukraine ghost town deserted after Russia flattened it
Thousands were forced to flee their homes as Putin's forced unleashed a brutal assault on their city. Now it lies as a ghost town ion the Russian border. A Ukrainian border city was left desolate after it was flattened by Russian forces with 17,000 souls fleeing more than half of their homes being floored by Vladimir Putin's war. Vovchansk was an administrative centre in the north-east of the region, divided by the Vovcha River, just five kilometres from the Russian border. In 2022, Vovchansk had 17,000 inhabitants. However, by 2024 AFP and Bellingcat reported that 60 percent of buildings in Vovchansk were destroyed, with damage to a further 18 percent. This left just 22 percent of the city in tact as of late September 2024. Caught in the trail of destruction were Kindergartens, schools, religious sites, factories and libraries. A ghost town exists in their place. Residents now live as refugees in nearby Kharkiv, and describe desperately fleeing the town under heavy bombardment. The director of the local library, Nelia Stryzhakova lost all 12,500 of the books she carefully looked after for the city. She told Bellingcat: 'I don't have enough fingers to count what was there. "There was a technical school, a medical school, seven schools, many kindergartens. How many factories did we have? An oil extraction factory, a butter factory, a furniture factory, a carriage factory, of which there were only two in Ukraine.' 'I took my documents from work and a couple of personal items,' Stryzhakova said. 'That's all I have. Objects are not the most important.' The city centre suffered the worst with 90 per cent of infrastructure reduced to its skeleton according to the city's mayor. In Vovchansk, control of the town has fluctuated between Ukrainian and Russian forces. After Russian troops rolled in at the start of the country's full invasion in February 2022, Ukraine forced a retreat with an autumn counter-offensive. Lieutenant Denys Yaroslavsky of Ukraine's 57th Brigade Reconnaissance Unit fought in both Bakhmut and Vovchansk. 'The pace of destruction was so fast. What happened in Bakhmut in two or three months happened in Vovchansk in two or three weeks. Perhaps it was due to the proximity of the border, or the increase in the number of guided aerial bombs and the intensification of heavy fire,' he said. 'Currently, Vovchansk is destroyed. Yes, it is under control. Yes, we have taken out the enemy and are trying to take physical control of these ruins. But the city does not exist. Seventeen-thousand people lost their homes, and why? Because someone did not build fortifications,' he said, blaming 'negligence or corruption'. Many have remained in the city as refugees since the beginning of the summer when the most intense fighting began. Several citizens described the trauma of the constant barrage of artillery and of watching their neighbours die. Galyna Zharova, a 50-year-old described living in the north of the city. 'We were right on the front line, you understand? No one could get us out of there,' Zharova said. 'All the buildings burned down and we were crammed into cellars,' her husband, Victor, 65, continued. The couple eventually fled the city in June 2024. 'The drones were flying (around us) like wasps, like mosquitoes,' Galyna Zharova added.
Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Zelensky wins major concessions from Trump at peace talks after turning up in suit following THAT dressing down
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VOLODYMYR Zelensky and Donald Trump had a love-in as he turned up in a suit for their crunch Ukraine peace talks. Six months after a White House row — where Mr Zelensky was ridiculed for wearing combat gear — they laughed and joked in the Oval Office. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Zelensky and President Trump had a love-in as he turned up in a suit for their crunch Ukraine peace talks Credit: AFP 9 Trump met with Putin in Alaska last week Credit: Reuters Complimented on his smart new look, the Ukrainian president joked his outfit was 'the best I have'. He also called out the US reporter who had a pop at him last time — for wearing the same suit. At their meeting Mr Zelensky vowed he was ready to eyeball Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin to end the three-year war. That opens the door to an historic trilateral meeting between the Americans, Russians and Ukraine that insiders suggest could come within weeks or even days. READ MORE ON UKRAINE FLAG FURY Warped Russian soldiers taunt Ukraine by flying an AMERICAN flag into battle President Trump declared 'the war is going to end' as he publicly confirmed for the first time he will underwrite a peace deal. He said 'if there's peace there is going to be peace for a long time', adding: 'When it comes to security there's going to be a lot of help, we will be involved.' And in a remarkable turnaround, the President did not rule out committing US troops. Mr Trump, watched by his Vice President JD Vance, also backed a fresh meeting with Putin, after their Alaska summit last week. He said: 'I think if everything works out well today, we'll have a trilat, and I think there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that.' But he insisted European powers remained front and centre of policing a future peace. Trump and Zelensky speak in Oval Office kicking off high stakes summit as Ukrainian wears his SUIT He said European nations 'will take a lot of the burden, but we are going to help them'. And he said talks would 'take in consideration the exchange of territory' but suggested any Russian land grabs would take into account current front lines. But Mr Trump warned Ukraine could never join Nato, despite a 2024 agreement that put the nation on a path to membership being signed by the US. That put him at odds with Sir Keir Starmer who is still pushing for Ukraine to join the Western defence alliance as a full member. Asked whether 'Nato-like protection' could still be offered to deter future Russian aggression, Mr Trump said he would 'help them out with that'. He later held talks with EU, Nato and European leaders. 'NATO-LIKE PROTECTION' He told them: 'The Alaska summit reinforced my belief that while difficult, peace is within reach. 'I believe that in a very significant step President Putin agreed Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine and this is one of the key points that we need to consider, also like who will do what? 'I'm optimistic that collectively we can reach an agreement that would deter any future aggression against Ukraine.' The PM told Mr Trump: 'Your indication of security guarantees fits with what we've been doing with the 'Coalition of the Willing'. 'With you coming alongside what we've already developed, I think we could take a really important step forward today — a historic step, actually, could come out of this meeting in terms of security for Ukraine and security in Europe.' In contrast to February's dust up, Mr Zelensky arrived at the White House in a black shirt and jacket. And he was quick to thank Mr Trump after being accused of not being sufficiently grateful for aid worth billions of dollars Greeting him, the President declared of Mr Zelensky's new look: 'I can't believe it, I love it.' Mr Zelensky joked it was 'the best I have' 9 President Trump declared 'the war is going to end' Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 9 Zelensky speaks, watched by Starmer, Macron and Trump Credit: AP 9 Zelensky laughed with journalists as they made references to his suit Credit: AFP Reporter Brian Glenn then told Mr Zelensky: 'You look fabulous in that suit . . . you look good.' Mr Trump replied: 'I said the same.' He then pointed out 'he's the one who attacked you last time'. Mr Zelensky laughed and replied: 'I remember.' Glenn apologised, to which Mr Zelensky noticed he was wearing the same suit as last time and joked: 'I changed, you did not'. After coaching from British officials about handling Mr Trump, Mr Zelensky echoed Sir Keir handing over a letter from the King inviting the President to visit Britain. Mr Zelensky presented Mr Trump with a letter from his wife, written to the First Lady of the United States. He said she wished to thank Melania Trump for her plea to President Putin to stop slaughtering innocent Ukrainian children. 'GAME-CHANGING' Asked what he needs from the US, Mr Zelensky insisted 'everything' — listing troops, weapons, training and intelligence. White House aides have previously touted Nato-style assurances for Kyiv that would see allies come to its defence if Putin were to betray a peace deal. Mr Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, who took part in the talks with Putin last week, said the Russians would allow such guarantees in a 'game-changing' concession. 9 Reporter Brian Glenn asked Zelensky about wearing a suit to the Oval Office earlier in the year Credit: Sky News 9 US President with smartly-dressed Ukraine leader Credit: AFP But Downing Street insisted it still supported Mr Zelensky's long-term ambition to join Nato. Sir Keir's spokesman said Kyiv was on a 'irreversible path' to membership and that 'Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine's pathway to the EU or Nato'. Putin has previously claimed Nato expansion was an act of Western aggression and Ukrainian accession to the alliance was a red line. No10 tried to downplay splits with the US, saying the two countries were working 'hand in glove'. Further tensions were sparked when Mr Trump claimed Mr Zelensky 'can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight'. Mr Trump later said Ukraine would have to accept there was 'no getting back' Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Britain and other European nations insist 'international borders must not be changed by force'. Haggling over territory will centre on the Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Russia continued to attack in Ukraine yesterday in what Mr Zelensky called 'demonstrative and cynical' strikes to destabilise the Oval Office meeting. He railed: 'That is precisely why we are seeking assistance to put an end to the killings. That is why reliable security guarantees are required. That is why Russia should not be rewarded for its participation in this war.' 9 Mr Trump was watched by his Vice President JD Vance Credit: AFP 9 Trump greets Zelensky at the White House yesterday Credit: Reuters
