Russia faces consequences if Ukraine invaded - Truss
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has warned Russia it will face "severe economic consequences" if it invades Ukraine.
She said G7 foreign ministers meeting in Liverpool this weekend would put on a show of unity and make clear such a move would be a "strategic mistake".
Ms Truss said the UK and its allies had to "deter Russia from taking that course of action".
Tensions are growing as Moscow amasses troops on Ukraine's border - but the Kremlin has denied it plans to invade.
Reiterating previous warnings from the US and its allies, Ms Truss said the G7 "are going to absolutely be strong in our stance against aggression... with respect to Ukraine".
She added: "If Russia were to take that action, it would be a strategic mistake, and there will be severe consequences for Russia.
"And what we're doing this weekend is working with like-minded allies to spell that out."
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has warned Russia it will face "severe economic consequences" if it invades Ukraine.
She said G7 foreign ministers meeting in Liverpool this weekend would put on a show of unity and make clear such a move would be a "strategic mistake".
Ms Truss said the UK and its allies had to "deter Russia from taking that course of action".
Tensions are growing as Moscow amasses troops on Ukraine's border - but the Kremlin has denied it plans to invade.
Reiterating previous warnings from the US and its allies, Ms Truss said the G7 "are going to absolutely be strong in our stance against aggression... with respect to Ukraine".
She added: "If Russia were to take that action, it would be a strategic mistake, and there will be severe consequences for Russia.
"And what we're doing this weekend is working with like-minded allies to spell that out."
Mexico truck crash: Crackdown on people smugglers launched
Mexico has announced a working group to combat people-smuggling in the wake of the truck crash that resulted in the deaths of 54 people, the majority said to be Central American migrants.
Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said the group would be made up of Mexico, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and the US.
Meanwhile, authorities are trying to identify the victims of the accident.
The injured are still recovering in hospitals.
More than 150 people were crammed into the truck's trailer. The vehicle was reportedly speeding when it flipped on a sharp bend and hit a pedestrian bridge on a main road leading to the Chiapas state capital, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, on Thursday afternoon local time.
Mexico has announced a working group to combat people-smuggling in the wake of the truck crash that resulted in the deaths of 54 people, the majority said to be Central American migrants.
Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said the group would be made up of Mexico, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and the US.
Meanwhile, authorities are trying to identify the victims of the accident.
The injured are still recovering in hospitals.
More than 150 people were crammed into the truck's trailer. The vehicle was reportedly speeding when it flipped on a sharp bend and hit a pedestrian bridge on a main road leading to the Chiapas state capital, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, on Thursday afternoon local time.
Kentucky tornadoes: Biden reaches out to affected US states
US President Joe Biden has said the government will do everything it possibly can to help central areas of the country devastated by tornadoes.
Mr Biden has signed a Federal Emergency Disaster Declaration, releasing funds for Kentucky, the worst affected state.
He said the storms were among the largest in US history.
More than 70 people died in Kentucky in Friday night's storms, including dozens in a candle factory, and the death toll is expected to rise above 100.
Emergency teams are searching through the rubble of the factory, in the town of Mayfield, which was hit directly.
More than 40 people have been rescued out of some 110 in the factory but Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said it would be a miracle if anyone else was found alive.
US President Joe Biden has said the government will do everything it possibly can to help central areas of the country devastated by tornadoes.
Mr Biden has signed a Federal Emergency Disaster Declaration, releasing funds for Kentucky, the worst affected state.
He said the storms were among the largest in US history.
More than 70 people died in Kentucky in Friday night's storms, including dozens in a candle factory, and the death toll is expected to rise above 100.
Emergency teams are searching through the rubble of the factory, in the town of Mayfield, which was hit directly.
More than 40 people have been rescued out of some 110 in the factory but Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said it would be a miracle if anyone else was found alive.
Italian church apologises after bishop tells children 'Santa does not exist'
A Roman Catholic diocese in Sicily has apologised to parents after its bishop reportedly told a group of children that Santa Claus did not exist.
At a religious event last week, Bishop Antonio Staglianò also said Santa's red costume had been chosen by Coca-Cola for publicity, Italian media report.
The comments infuriated parents.
In an apology, Rev Alessandro Paolino, from the diocese of Noto, said the bishop had tried to underline the true meaning of Christmas.
He also said the comments had been aimed at highlighting the story of Saint Nicholas, the initial inspiration for the figure of Santa Claus and known for giving gifts to the poor.
A Roman Catholic diocese in Sicily has apologised to parents after its bishop reportedly told a group of children that Santa Claus did not exist.
At a religious event last week, Bishop Antonio Staglianò also said Santa's red costume had been chosen by Coca-Cola for publicity, Italian media report.
The comments infuriated parents.
In an apology, Rev Alessandro Paolino, from the diocese of Noto, said the bishop had tried to underline the true meaning of Christmas.
He also said the comments had been aimed at highlighting the story of Saint Nicholas, the initial inspiration for the figure of Santa Claus and known for giving gifts to the poor.
Indian PM Modi's Twitter hacked with bitcoin tweet
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Twitter account was hacked with a message saying India had adopted bitcoin as legal tender and would distribute it to all citizens.
The tweet was swiftly deleted and his office said the account had been very briefly compromised.
It is the second time Mr Modi's Twitter account has been hacked.
He's a prolific tweeter and has more than 70 million followers - the most of any world leader.
The deleted tweet from his main @narendramodi handle said the Indian government had officially bought 500 bitcoin and was "and distributing them to all residents of the country".
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Twitter account was hacked with a message saying India had adopted bitcoin as legal tender and would distribute it to all citizens.
The tweet was swiftly deleted and his office said the account had been very briefly compromised.
It is the second time Mr Modi's Twitter account has been hacked.
He's a prolific tweeter and has more than 70 million followers - the most of any world leader.
The deleted tweet from his main @narendramodi handle said the Indian government had officially bought 500 bitcoin and was "and distributing them to all residents of the country".
France resists US challenge to its values
Six months ago, if asked what they understood by "woke", most French people would have assumed it had something to do with Chinese cooking. And yet today in Paris, the notion of "le wokisme" is suddenly all the rage.
The government warns of a new cultural totalitarianism creeping in from the "Anglosphere". The education minister has set up a Laboratory of the Republic, dubbed an "anti-woke think tank", to co-ordinate the fightback.
And everywhere the precursors of what might be to come are being reported in the media: a new gender-neutral pronoun, a threatened statue of a dead statesman or a meeting on campus only for black students.
For the French, these signifiers of what critics in the UK and US have termed "woke" are all very new and unfamiliar.
Six months ago, if asked what they understood by "woke", most French people would have assumed it had something to do with Chinese cooking. And yet today in Paris, the notion of "le wokisme" is suddenly all the rage.
The government warns of a new cultural totalitarianism creeping in from the "Anglosphere". The education minister has set up a Laboratory of the Republic, dubbed an "anti-woke think tank", to co-ordinate the fightback.
And everywhere the precursors of what might be to come are being reported in the media: a new gender-neutral pronoun, a threatened statue of a dead statesman or a meeting on campus only for black students.
For the French, these signifiers of what critics in the UK and US have termed "woke" are all very new and unfamiliar.
Canada offers up to $40bn to compensate indigenous children
Canada has pledged up to C$40bn ($31bn; £23.6bn) in compensation for indigenous children and families who suffered discrimination while in foster care.
In September, a top court upheld a 2016 ruling that the government underfunded First Nations services compared with those for non-indigenous children.
It ordered C$40,000 ($31,350; £23,340) payouts to each child who was in the on-reserve welfare system after 2006.
The government initially said it would appeal the verdict.
But it has come under intense public scrutiny after the discovery of over 1,100 unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools.
Until as recently as 1996, Canada's residential school system separated indigenous children from their families and sent them to boarding schools where many were malnourished, beaten and sexually abused.
Canada has pledged up to C$40bn ($31bn; £23.6bn) in compensation for indigenous children and families who suffered discrimination while in foster care.
In September, a top court upheld a 2016 ruling that the government underfunded First Nations services compared with those for non-indigenous children.
It ordered C$40,000 ($31,350; £23,340) payouts to each child who was in the on-reserve welfare system after 2006.
The government initially said it would appeal the verdict.
But it has come under intense public scrutiny after the discovery of over 1,100 unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools.
Until as recently as 1996, Canada's residential school system separated indigenous children from their families and sent them to boarding schools where many were malnourished, beaten and sexually abused.
Alibaba fires woman who claimed sexual assault
Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba has fired a woman who said a colleague and a client had sexually assaulted her.
The dismissal letter said she had spread falsehoods that had damaged the company's reputation.
The employee went public with her allegations in August because she said Alibaba had failed to take action. She said the assaults took place during a business trip.
The colleague was then sacked, but a criminal case against him was dropped.
The client is still thought to be under police investigation.
The well-publicised case has highlighted the harassment faced by women in the workplace in China.
The employee told government-backed newspaper Dahe Daily that she was fired late last month. It published a copy of what she said was her termination letter.
The letter said she had spread false information about the assault and about the company not handling the case.
Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba has fired a woman who said a colleague and a client had sexually assaulted her.
The dismissal letter said she had spread falsehoods that had damaged the company's reputation.
The employee went public with her allegations in August because she said Alibaba had failed to take action. She said the assaults took place during a business trip.
The colleague was then sacked, but a criminal case against him was dropped.
The client is still thought to be under police investigation.
The well-publicised case has highlighted the harassment faced by women in the workplace in China.
The employee told government-backed newspaper Dahe Daily that she was fired late last month. It published a copy of what she said was her termination letter.
The letter said she had spread false information about the assault and about the company not handling the case.
Paris' largest taxi firm suspends Tesla Model 3 cars after fatal crash
Paris' largest taxi firm, G7, has suspended Model 3 Teslas from its fleet, after one was involved in a fatal accident over the weekend.
One person was killed and another 20 injured, after a driver lost control of the vehicle.
Tesla has denied any technical problem with the car, after checking its data remotely.
Paris prosecutors have opened an investigation into charges of manslaughter and unintentional injury.
The accident involved an off-duty taxi driver who had been taking his family to a restaurant, reports say.
French media said the vehicle struck two pedestrians, a traffic light and a van.
Tesla's assistive technology allows its vehicles to automatically steer, accelerate and brake.
Paris' largest taxi firm, G7, has suspended Model 3 Teslas from its fleet, after one was involved in a fatal accident over the weekend.
One person was killed and another 20 injured, after a driver lost control of the vehicle.
Tesla has denied any technical problem with the car, after checking its data remotely.
Paris prosecutors have opened an investigation into charges of manslaughter and unintentional injury.
The accident involved an off-duty taxi driver who had been taking his family to a restaurant, reports say.
French media said the vehicle struck two pedestrians, a traffic light and a van.
Tesla's assistive technology allows its vehicles to automatically steer, accelerate and brake.
Hong Kong: Fire at World Trade Centre leaves more than 100 trapped on roof
More than 100 people have been trapped on the roof of Hong Kong's World Trade Centre awaiting rescue after a fire broke out on Wednesday.
Hong Kong police confirmed to the BBC that at least eight people were injured and had been sent to hospital.
Police said the fire broke out in the machine room and moved to the scaffolding around the building. The building is currently under renovation.
No fatalities have been reported and rescue operations are still under way.
The eight who are injured are aged between 31 and 72. A total of 150 people have been evacuated so far, according to authorities.
More than 100 people have been trapped on the roof of Hong Kong's World Trade Centre awaiting rescue after a fire broke out on Wednesday.
Hong Kong police confirmed to the BBC that at least eight people were injured and had been sent to hospital.
Police said the fire broke out in the machine room and moved to the scaffolding around the building. The building is currently under renovation.
No fatalities have been reported and rescue operations are still under way.
The eight who are injured are aged between 31 and 72. A total of 150 people have been evacuated so far, according to authorities.
Covid: France to drastically restrict travel from UK
France is tightening Covid restrictions for travellers arriving from the UK, as the government in Paris tries to slow the spread of the Omicron variant.
The French prime minister's office said that from Saturday all non-residents would have to give a compelling reason for travelling to France.
All arrivals would have to provide a negative Covid test less than 24 hours old and isolate for at least two days.
Confirmed Omicron cases are currently much higher in the UK than in France.
The UK recorded 78,610 new Covid cases on Wednesday - the highest daily number reported since the start of the pandemic.
Slightly more than 10,000 have been confirmed as Omicron, but it is thought that about twice that number are cases of the new variant.
France is tightening Covid restrictions for travellers arriving from the UK, as the government in Paris tries to slow the spread of the Omicron variant.
The French prime minister's office said that from Saturday all non-residents would have to give a compelling reason for travelling to France.
All arrivals would have to provide a negative Covid test less than 24 hours old and isolate for at least two days.
Confirmed Omicron cases are currently much higher in the UK than in France.
The UK recorded 78,610 new Covid cases on Wednesday - the highest daily number reported since the start of the pandemic.
Slightly more than 10,000 have been confirmed as Omicron, but it is thought that about twice that number are cases of the new variant.
Dutch royals regret holding party amid surge in Covid cases
The Dutch royal family has expressed regret over last week's birthday party for the heir-apparent to the country's throne amid surging Covid cases.
The family said 21 guests - all vaccinated and tested - attended Princess Amalia's 18th birthday party in the palace gardens last Saturday.
The guests were also required to follow social distancing.
But King Willem-Alexander later admitted to Prime Minister Mark Rutte that the party was not appropriate.
"The King informed me that on reflection it was not a good idea to organise [the gathering]," Mr Rutte wrote in a letter to parliament.
"The family strived to treat the coronavirus rules responsibly with this outdoor gathering and by taking precautions," Mr Rutte added.
The Netherlands is currently under strict coronavirus restrictions after the country saw a surge in cases in November.
The Dutch royal family has expressed regret over last week's birthday party for the heir-apparent to the country's throne amid surging Covid cases.
The family said 21 guests - all vaccinated and tested - attended Princess Amalia's 18th birthday party in the palace gardens last Saturday.
The guests were also required to follow social distancing.
But King Willem-Alexander later admitted to Prime Minister Mark Rutte that the party was not appropriate.
"The King informed me that on reflection it was not a good idea to organise [the gathering]," Mr Rutte wrote in a letter to parliament.
"The family strived to treat the coronavirus rules responsibly with this outdoor gathering and by taking precautions," Mr Rutte added.
The Netherlands is currently under strict coronavirus restrictions after the country saw a surge in cases in November.
Reddit: Social media platform files to go public
Social media platform Reddit has announced that it has started the process to sell its shares on the stock market.
In a confidential filing, it did not reveal how many shares it planned to sell or the price of the shares.
In August, the company said it had raised $700m (£528m) in new funding, valuing it at more than $10bn.
Reddit was at the centre of the so-called "meme stock" phenomenon earlier this year.
"The initial public offering is expected to occur after the SEC completes its review process, subject to market and other conditions," Reddit said in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Social media platform Reddit has announced that it has started the process to sell its shares on the stock market.
In a confidential filing, it did not reveal how many shares it planned to sell or the price of the shares.
In August, the company said it had raised $700m (£528m) in new funding, valuing it at more than $10bn.
Reddit was at the centre of the so-called "meme stock" phenomenon earlier this year.
"The initial public offering is expected to occur after the SEC completes its review process, subject to market and other conditions," Reddit said in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
AI argues for and against itself in Oxford Union debate
The Oxford Union has heard from many great debaters over the years, but this week added an artificial intelligence engine to its distinguished speakers.
The AI argued that the only way to stop such tech becoming too powerful is to have "no AI at all".
But it also argued the best option could be to embed it "into our brains as a conscious AI".
The experiment was designed to ignite conversation on the ethics of the technology.
The Megatron LLB Transformer, used for the debate, was developed by the Applied Deep Research team at computer chip firm Nvidia and based on earlier work by Google.
It was given access to a huge range of data - including the whole of Wikipedia, 63 million English news articles from 2016 to 2019, and 38 gigabytes worth of Reddit chat.
The Oxford Union has heard from many great debaters over the years, but this week added an artificial intelligence engine to its distinguished speakers.
The AI argued that the only way to stop such tech becoming too powerful is to have "no AI at all".
But it also argued the best option could be to embed it "into our brains as a conscious AI".
The experiment was designed to ignite conversation on the ethics of the technology.
The Megatron LLB Transformer, used for the debate, was developed by the Applied Deep Research team at computer chip firm Nvidia and based on earlier work by Google.
It was given access to a huge range of data - including the whole of Wikipedia, 63 million English news articles from 2016 to 2019, and 38 gigabytes worth of Reddit chat.
Anti-5G necklaces found to be radioactive
Necklaces and accessories claiming to "protect" people from 5G mobile networks have been found to be radioactive.
The Dutch authority for nuclear safety and radiation protection (ANVS) issued a warned about ten products it found gave off harmful ionising radiation.
It urged people not to use the products, which could cause harm with long-term wear.
There is no evidence that 5G networks are harmful to health.
The World Health Organization says 5G mobile networks are safe, and not fundamentally different from existing 3G and 4G signals.
Mobile networks use non-ionising radio waves that do not damage DNA.
Necklaces and accessories claiming to "protect" people from 5G mobile networks have been found to be radioactive.
The Dutch authority for nuclear safety and radiation protection (ANVS) issued a warned about ten products it found gave off harmful ionising radiation.
It urged people not to use the products, which could cause harm with long-term wear.
There is no evidence that 5G networks are harmful to health.
The World Health Organization says 5G mobile networks are safe, and not fundamentally different from existing 3G and 4G signals.
Mobile networks use non-ionising radio waves that do not damage DNA.
GirlsDoPorn victims win rights to their videos
Hundreds of people tricked into making explicit videos for porn websites have been awarded the rights to the videos and millions of dollars in damages.
The sites, GirlsDoPorn and GirlsDoToys, had been the subject of a long-running legal battle.
The US Department of Justice has ruled that rights to videos and images produced by the now-defunct sites belong to the women.
More than 400 victims can now ask for the online footage to be removed.
They are likely to enforce notices ordering the firms, including Pornhub and Google, to take down the material.
GirlsDoPorn producer Ruben Andre Garcia was sentenced in the summer to 20 years in federal prison for coercing women into appearing in sex videos.
Hundreds of people tricked into making explicit videos for porn websites have been awarded the rights to the videos and millions of dollars in damages.
The sites, GirlsDoPorn and GirlsDoToys, had been the subject of a long-running legal battle.
The US Department of Justice has ruled that rights to videos and images produced by the now-defunct sites belong to the women.
More than 400 victims can now ask for the online footage to be removed.
They are likely to enforce notices ordering the firms, including Pornhub and Google, to take down the material.
GirlsDoPorn producer Ruben Andre Garcia was sentenced in the summer to 20 years in federal prison for coercing women into appearing in sex videos.
Man beaten to death for 'sacrilege' attempt at Sikh Golden Temple in India
Police in the Indian city of Amritsar say a man suspected of trying to commit a sacrilegious act at Sikhism's holiest shrine has been beaten to death.
The incident took place during a prayer service at the city's Golden Temple on Saturday, according to local media.
The man allegedly barged into the inner sanctum, where Sikhism's holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, is kept.
He then tried to touch a ceremonial sword placed next to the book, but was overpowered by guards and worshippers.
The scuffle took place at around 17:45 local time (11:45 GMT), and was captured on camera as evening prayers were being broadcast on television.
It is unclear exactly what happened next. Police said the man was found dead once officers arrived at the scene, and an investigation is under way.
Police in the Indian city of Amritsar say a man suspected of trying to commit a sacrilegious act at Sikhism's holiest shrine has been beaten to death.
The incident took place during a prayer service at the city's Golden Temple on Saturday, according to local media.
The man allegedly barged into the inner sanctum, where Sikhism's holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, is kept.
He then tried to touch a ceremonial sword placed next to the book, but was overpowered by guards and worshippers.
The scuffle took place at around 17:45 local time (11:45 GMT), and was captured on camera as evening prayers were being broadcast on television.
It is unclear exactly what happened next. Police said the man was found dead once officers arrived at the scene, and an investigation is under way.
West Bank ambush suspects captured, Israel says
Israel has announced the capture of Palestinian men suspected of carrying out a deadly attack on a car carrying Israelis in the occupied West Bank on Thursday.
An army statement said they had also found the weapon used in the attack.
A 25-year-old passenger, Yehuda Dimentman, was killed and two other occupants were wounded in the shooting near a Jewish settlement in the north.
The incident follows a recent spike in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.
Israel has announced the capture of Palestinian men suspected of carrying out a deadly attack on a car carrying Israelis in the occupied West Bank on Thursday.
An army statement said they had also found the weapon used in the attack.
A 25-year-old passenger, Yehuda Dimentman, was killed and two other occupants were wounded in the shooting near a Jewish settlement in the north.
The incident follows a recent spike in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.
US sanctions drone-maker DJI
The US has imposed more restrictions on Chinese drone-maker DJI and seven other Chinese companies.
On Thursday, the Treasury Department put the companies on an investment exclusion list, banning US citizens from buying and selling shares in them.
It has been alleged that DJI's drone technology has been used for the surveillance of Uyghur Muslims in China.
However the ban is largely symbolic as DJI is not a publicly-traded company.
Consumers in the US can continue to buy and use DJI drones.
The US has imposed more restrictions on Chinese drone-maker DJI and seven other Chinese companies.
On Thursday, the Treasury Department put the companies on an investment exclusion list, banning US citizens from buying and selling shares in them.
It has been alleged that DJI's drone technology has been used for the surveillance of Uyghur Muslims in China.
However the ban is largely symbolic as DJI is not a publicly-traded company.
Consumers in the US can continue to buy and use DJI drones.
Tortured to death: Myanmar mass killings revealed
The Myanmar military carried out a series of mass killings of civilians in July that resulted in the deaths of at least 40 men, a BBC investigation has found.
Eyewitnesses and survivors said that soldiers, some as young as 17, rounded up villagers before separating the men and killing them. Video footage and images from the incidents appear to show most of those killed were tortured first and buried in shallow graves.
The killings took place in July, in four separate incidents in Kani Township - an opposition stronghold in Sagaing District in Central Myanmar.
It's thought the killings were a collective punishment for attacks by militia groups demanding a return to democracy following a military coup in February. A spokesman for the military government did not deny the allegations.
The Myanmar military carried out a series of mass killings of civilians in July that resulted in the deaths of at least 40 men, a BBC investigation has found.
Eyewitnesses and survivors said that soldiers, some as young as 17, rounded up villagers before separating the men and killing them. Video footage and images from the incidents appear to show most of those killed were tortured first and buried in shallow graves.
The killings took place in July, in four separate incidents in Kani Township - an opposition stronghold in Sagaing District in Central Myanmar.
It's thought the killings were a collective punishment for attacks by militia groups demanding a return to democracy following a military coup in February. A spokesman for the military government did not deny the allegations.
UK donates 225 million stolen passwords to hack-checking site
UK law enforcement has donated a tranche of 225 million unique passwords to a cyber-security project helping to protect users from hacking.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) recovered the database from cyber-criminals who had collected real users' email addresses and passwords.
That list has been added to free online service Have I Been Pwned (HIBP).
It lets anyone search through hundreds of millions of passwords to see if theirs is in the hands of criminals.
Troy Hunt, the security researcher who runs the site, announced on Friday that it now has a "pipeline" function for law enforcement to add passwords they have recovered to the service.
UK law enforcement has donated a tranche of 225 million unique passwords to a cyber-security project helping to protect users from hacking.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) recovered the database from cyber-criminals who had collected real users' email addresses and passwords.
That list has been added to free online service Have I Been Pwned (HIBP).
It lets anyone search through hundreds of millions of passwords to see if theirs is in the hands of criminals.
Troy Hunt, the security researcher who runs the site, announced on Friday that it now has a "pipeline" function for law enforcement to add passwords they have recovered to the service.