We've saved £6,000 on holidays by swapping homes with strangers

ByDaniel Thomas

BBC News

Would you swap homes with a stranger in exchange for a cheaper holiday? Or would the idea of someone sleeping in your bed and using your kitchen while you were away put you off?

Waiting for Moses: Africa’s sons in Russia’s war

Douala, Cameroon – Mama Regina’s home sits wedged between the vast container port of Douala and the city’s sprawling slums. Cargo ships come and go. Trucks rumble past carrying timber, cocoa and oil towards the Atlantic. Inside her home, time barely moves.

Canadian PM visits Saudi Arabia to strengthen energy, mining partnerships

Carney and Saudi Crown Prince Bin Salman strengthen partnerships after years of strained relations under Trudeau.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney paid a visit to Saudi Arabia, marking the first state visit in more than a quarter-century as Ottawa and Riyadh explore deeper mining and energy ties.

South African protesters intimidate migrants as aid group issues warning

NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warns of growing humanitarian needs as tens of thousands of African migrants displaced.

Anti-migrant protests are continuing across South Africa, with humanitarian groups and regional countries on alert as vigilantes search for undocumented migrants.

Why the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve matters amid US-Iran tensions

Last month, the United States Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) fell to its lowest level since 1983 as renewed tensions between the United States and Iran raised concerns about the stability of global oil supplies and prices.

Andy Burnham apologises for Labour’s stance on Gaza and says it ‘didn’t get it right’

Andy Burnham has apologised for Labour’s initial response to Israel’s military action in Gaza, saying the party “didn’t get it right” and needs to “do better” under his leadership signalling a significant shift in the UK’s approach to the Middle East.

Former US Olympian pleads not guilty in DC reflecting pool vandalism case

Former Olympic canoeist David Hearn denies damaging US President Donald Trump’s Washington, DC reflecting pool renovation.

A former US Olympian has pleaded not guilty to vandalising the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, in a case that has drawn national attention amid accusations that the administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to shift blame for a troubled renovation.

Capita expects to lose up to £40m over UK civil service pension scheme fiasco

Capita has revealed that the bill for cleaning up its mess at the crisis-hit civil service pension scheme could wipe up to £40m off annual profits – a day after its chief executive apologised to MPs for a “very poor service”.

Suspect in Charlie Kirk killing said ‘he wishes he hadn’t done it’, roommate testifies

Tyler Robinson, the 23-year-old charged with murdering the far-right pundit Charlie Kirk, told his roommate a day after the fatal shooting that he wished “he hadn’t done it”, according to testimony heard on Thursday in court.

Pontypridd, Birkenhead and Isle of Bute shortlisted for first UK Town of Culture

Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham are among the larger places in the running for the title of the UK's first Town of Culture.

The 15-strong shortlist, released on Thursday by the government's department for Culture, Media and Sport (CMS), also includes Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd, and Port Talbot.