Taraneh Alidoosti: Top Iranian actress poses without headscarf
A top Iranian actress has posted an image of herself on Instagram without a headscarf to signal solidarity with anti-government demonstrations.
Taraneh Alidoosti - best known for her role in the Oscar-winning film The Salesman - also held a sign reading "Woman, Life, Freedom" in Kurdish.
The slogan has become a common rallying cry among protesters.
Demonstrations sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody are entering their seventh week.
The 22-year-old died after she was arrested by morality police in Tehran for allegedly violating Iran's strict rules requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab, or Islamic headscarf. read more
A top Iranian actress has posted an image of herself on Instagram without a headscarf to signal solidarity with anti-government demonstrations.
Taraneh Alidoosti - best known for her role in the Oscar-winning film The Salesman - also held a sign reading "Woman, Life, Freedom" in Kurdish.
The slogan has become a common rallying cry among protesters.
Demonstrations sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody are entering their seventh week.
The 22-year-old died after she was arrested by morality police in Tehran for allegedly violating Iran's strict rules requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab, or Islamic headscarf. read more
Midterm elections results: Rivalry spills open as Trump lashes out at DeSantis
Rivalry between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis has spilt open after the Republican ex-president came swinging out against his one-time acolyte on Thursday night.
Mr Trump belittled the Florida governor as an "average" politician whose success was owed to his patronage.
Mr DeSantis, 44, stormed to re-election in Tuesday's midterms, making him the Republicans' biggest rising star and a clear challenger to Mr Trump.
The ex-president warned him against it.
In a lengthy statement, Mr Trump dismissed Mr DeSantis as a political lightweight who had come to him "in desperate shape" when running for his first term in office in 2017. read more
Rivalry between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis has spilt open after the Republican ex-president came swinging out against his one-time acolyte on Thursday night.
Mr Trump belittled the Florida governor as an "average" politician whose success was owed to his patronage.
Mr DeSantis, 44, stormed to re-election in Tuesday's midterms, making him the Republicans' biggest rising star and a clear challenger to Mr Trump.
The ex-president warned him against it.
In a lengthy statement, Mr Trump dismissed Mr DeSantis as a political lightweight who had come to him "in desperate shape" when running for his first term in office in 2017. read more
Itaewon crush: Officer under investigation found dead at home
A South Korean police officer, under investigation over the deadly Halloween crush in Seoul, has been found dead at his home in a suspected suicide.
The 55-year-old, identified as Inspector Jeong, was an intelligence officer working with the local police.
Jeong was a suspect in an investigation over the police's response to the crush, which tragically killed 156 mostly young people, and injured 196.
He was suspended on Wednesday, after allegedly covering up police failings.
Jeong was accused of ordering colleagues to delete an intelligence report - written ahead of the Halloween event - which warned of the possibility of a serious incident taking place. read more
A South Korean police officer, under investigation over the deadly Halloween crush in Seoul, has been found dead at his home in a suspected suicide.
The 55-year-old, identified as Inspector Jeong, was an intelligence officer working with the local police.
Jeong was a suspect in an investigation over the police's response to the crush, which tragically killed 156 mostly young people, and injured 196.
He was suspended on Wednesday, after allegedly covering up police failings.
Jeong was accused of ordering colleagues to delete an intelligence report - written ahead of the Halloween event - which warned of the possibility of a serious incident taking place. read more
US midterms: Senate race neck and neck as Democrat Mark Kelly wins Arizona
US President Joe Biden's Democrats have inched closer to keeping control of the Senate, with a projected win in Arizona following the midterm elections.
Three days after Americans voted, the BBC's US partner CBS estimates Democrat Mark Kelly has beaten Republican challenger Blake Masters.
That would leave the Senate at 49 Democratic seats and 49 Republican seats.
Just Nevada and Georgia are yet to be decided.
The vote count in Nevada is neck and neck, while Georgia's race will be settled by a run-off election next month. read more
US President Joe Biden's Democrats have inched closer to keeping control of the Senate, with a projected win in Arizona following the midterm elections.
Three days after Americans voted, the BBC's US partner CBS estimates Democrat Mark Kelly has beaten Republican challenger Blake Masters.
That would leave the Senate at 49 Democratic seats and 49 Republican seats.
Just Nevada and Georgia are yet to be decided.
The vote count in Nevada is neck and neck, while Georgia's race will be settled by a run-off election next month. read more
Twitter drama continues with blue-tick confusion
Twitter halted its new $8 blue tick subscription offering on Friday in the latest head spinning reversal at the social media platform since billionaire Elon Musk bought the company.
The move came as a number of accounts impersonating big brands received the blue tick, previously a signal that the firm had verified the user as real.
In one instance, a user claiming to be drugs firm Eli Lilly said "insulin was free".
Twitter did not comment.
The incident added to the concerns about how Mr Musk's leadership was affecting the spread of misinformation on the platform. read more
Twitter halted its new $8 blue tick subscription offering on Friday in the latest head spinning reversal at the social media platform since billionaire Elon Musk bought the company.
The move came as a number of accounts impersonating big brands received the blue tick, previously a signal that the firm had verified the user as real.
In one instance, a user claiming to be drugs firm Eli Lilly said "insulin was free".
Twitter did not comment.
The incident added to the concerns about how Mr Musk's leadership was affecting the spread of misinformation on the platform. read more
US midterms: Democrats retain control of Senate after key Nevada victory
The Democrats will retain majority control of the US Senate after winning a pivotal race in the state of Nevada.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto is projected to defeat Republican challenger Adam Laxalt, who was backed by former President Donald Trump.
The results amount to the best midterm performance for a sitting party in 20 years.
US President Joe Biden said he was incredibly pleased, and it was time for Republicans to decide "who they are".
Democratic Senate Majority leader, Chuck Schumer, said the results showed the American people had rejected what he called the "violent rhetoric" of the Republican Party. read more
The Democrats will retain majority control of the US Senate after winning a pivotal race in the state of Nevada.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto is projected to defeat Republican challenger Adam Laxalt, who was backed by former President Donald Trump.
The results amount to the best midterm performance for a sitting party in 20 years.
US President Joe Biden said he was incredibly pleased, and it was time for Republicans to decide "who they are".
Democratic Senate Majority leader, Chuck Schumer, said the results showed the American people had rejected what he called the "violent rhetoric" of the Republican Party. read more
Istanbul: Six dead, dozens wounded in Turkey explosion
At least six people have been killed and 81 wounded in an explosion in a busy area of central Istanbul, Turkish authorities have said.
The blast happened at about 16:20 local time (13:20 GMT) on Sunday on a shopping street in the Taksim Square area.
A suspect has now been arrested, the interior minister said.
Vice-President Fuat Oktay earlier said the blast was thought to be a terrorist attack carried out by a woman.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the perpetrators would be punished. read more
At least six people have been killed and 81 wounded in an explosion in a busy area of central Istanbul, Turkish authorities have said.
The blast happened at about 16:20 local time (13:20 GMT) on Sunday on a shopping street in the Taksim Square area.
A suspect has now been arrested, the interior minister said.
Vice-President Fuat Oktay earlier said the blast was thought to be a terrorist attack carried out by a woman.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the perpetrators would be punished. read more
Kherson 'beginning of the end of the war' - Zelensky in liberated city
The liberation of Kherson marks the "beginning of the end" of the war with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on a visit to the city.
Ukraine is "moving forward" and ready for peace, he told soldiers.
Losing the southern city was a major setback for Russia - though Moscow insists it remains Russian territory.
Russia declared it the centre of the illegally-annexed Kherson region, and it was the only regional capital to be occupied since the invasion.
Kherson was captured in March, weeks after the invasion began. The region was then one of four to be illegally annexed after self-styled referendums in September. read more
The liberation of Kherson marks the "beginning of the end" of the war with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on a visit to the city.
Ukraine is "moving forward" and ready for peace, he told soldiers.
Losing the southern city was a major setback for Russia - though Moscow insists it remains Russian territory.
Russia declared it the centre of the illegally-annexed Kherson region, and it was the only regional capital to be occupied since the invasion.
Kherson was captured in March, weeks after the invasion began. The region was then one of four to be illegally annexed after self-styled referendums in September. read more
Xi Biden meeting: US leader promises 'no new Cold War' with China
US President Joe Biden has promised there will be no "new Cold War" with China, following a conciliatory meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
He also said he did not believe China would invade Taiwan.
It was the first in-person meeting between the two superpower leaders since Mr Biden took office.
The pair also discussed North Korea and Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the talks in Bali, a day before the G20 summit on the Indonesian island.
Both said they opposed the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Mr Xi, who has been urged to talk down Vladimir Putin, reiterated China's calls for peace while adding there was "no simple solution to a complex problem". read more
US President Joe Biden has promised there will be no "new Cold War" with China, following a conciliatory meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
He also said he did not believe China would invade Taiwan.
It was the first in-person meeting between the two superpower leaders since Mr Biden took office.
The pair also discussed North Korea and Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the talks in Bali, a day before the G20 summit on the Indonesian island.
Both said they opposed the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Mr Xi, who has been urged to talk down Vladimir Putin, reiterated China's calls for peace while adding there was "no simple solution to a complex problem". read more
Ukraine: Zelensky snubs Russia as he addresses 'G19' at G20
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on "G19" world leaders to end the Russian invasion, in a pointed snub to Moscow at the G20 summit.
Mr Zelensky appeared in a video speech beamed to leaders gathered for the summit in Bali, Indonesia.
Russia is a G20 member but President Putin is not in Bali, sending his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov instead.
Mr Zelensky also pleaded for an extension of a Ukrainian grain export deal due to expire soon.
He repeatedly addressed the leaders as the "G19", excluding Russia. read more
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on "G19" world leaders to end the Russian invasion, in a pointed snub to Moscow at the G20 summit.
Mr Zelensky appeared in a video speech beamed to leaders gathered for the summit in Bali, Indonesia.
Russia is a G20 member but President Putin is not in Bali, sending his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov instead.
Mr Zelensky also pleaded for an extension of a Ukrainian grain export deal due to expire soon.
He repeatedly addressed the leaders as the "G19", excluding Russia. read more
Unlikely that Poland missile fired from Russia - Biden
- Two people have been killed in Poland after missiles landed near the Ukrainian border, reports say
- US President Joe Biden says it is "unlikely" that the missile was fired from Russia
- Russia's defence ministry denies it was behind the blast and says it is a "deliberate provocation aimed at escalation"
- Polish President Andrzej Duda says there is no "conclusive evidence" as to who launched the missile
- In Bali, world leaders have gathered on the side lines of the G20 summit to discuss the situation
- Russia launched one of its biggest barrages of missiles against Ukraine on Tuesday
- The capital Kyiv was among the cities hit, with officials saying at least one person was found dead read more
- Two people have been killed in Poland after missiles landed near the Ukrainian border, reports say
- US President Joe Biden says it is "unlikely" that the missile was fired from Russia
- Russia's defence ministry denies it was behind the blast and says it is a "deliberate provocation aimed at escalation"
- Polish President Andrzej Duda says there is no "conclusive evidence" as to who launched the missile
- In Bali, world leaders have gathered on the side lines of the G20 summit to discuss the situation
- Russia launched one of its biggest barrages of missiles against Ukraine on Tuesday
- The capital Kyiv was among the cities hit, with officials saying at least one person was found dead read more
Ukraine war: Poland says missile deaths an unfortunate incident
Polish President Andrzej Duda has said there are no signs of an intentional attack after a missile strike killed two people on a farm near the western border with Ukraine.
Earlier, US President Joe Biden said it was "unlikely" the missile had been fired from Russia.
The two workers were killed as Ukraine came under fire from one of the biggest barrages of missile strikes of the war.
The Kremlin had insisted it had nothing to do with their deaths.
Poland said initially that the missile that had come down at Przewodow, 6km (4 miles) from the border, was Russian-made.
Accusing Western states of a hysterical reaction, Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Warsaw should have immediately made clear the debris had come from Ukraine's S-300 air defences. read more
Polish President Andrzej Duda has said there are no signs of an intentional attack after a missile strike killed two people on a farm near the western border with Ukraine.
Earlier, US President Joe Biden said it was "unlikely" the missile had been fired from Russia.
The two workers were killed as Ukraine came under fire from one of the biggest barrages of missile strikes of the war.
The Kremlin had insisted it had nothing to do with their deaths.
Poland said initially that the missile that had come down at Przewodow, 6km (4 miles) from the border, was Russian-made.
Accusing Western states of a hysterical reaction, Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Warsaw should have immediately made clear the debris had come from Ukraine's S-300 air defences. read more
G20: Xi accuses Trudeau of leaks to media about China-Canada relations
China's Xi Jinping has been filmed accusing Justin Trudeau of leaking meeting details, days after they held talks at the G20 summit in Bali.
President Xi told the Canadian PM, via a translator, this was inappropriate and accused him of lacking "sincerity".
He was likely referring to reports that Mr Trudeau discussed alleged Chinese espionage and interference in Canadian elections at the sit down.
The talks, which happened behind closed doors, were the pair's first in years.
In the footage, filmed by journalists at the now finished gathering of world leaders, President Xi and Mr Trudeau can be seen standing close to each other and conversing via a translator. read more
China's Xi Jinping has been filmed accusing Justin Trudeau of leaking meeting details, days after they held talks at the G20 summit in Bali.
President Xi told the Canadian PM, via a translator, this was inappropriate and accused him of lacking "sincerity".
He was likely referring to reports that Mr Trudeau discussed alleged Chinese espionage and interference in Canadian elections at the sit down.
The talks, which happened behind closed doors, were the pair's first in years.
In the footage, filmed by journalists at the now finished gathering of world leaders, President Xi and Mr Trudeau can be seen standing close to each other and conversing via a translator. read more
US midterms: Republicans narrowly win back the House
Republicans have secured the 218 seats needed for a majority in the lower chamber of Congress a week after the midterm elections, the BBC's US partner CBS News projects.
While the party's margin in the House of Representatives is razor-thin, it is enough to stall President Joe Biden's agenda for the next two years.
Kevin McCarthy, the Republicans' leader in the House, celebrated the result.
But Democrats will retain control of the upper chamber, the Senate.
The new Congress will convene in January.
The Republicans - who had hoped to win back control of both chambers - underperformed expectations in last week's midterms. read more
Republicans have secured the 218 seats needed for a majority in the lower chamber of Congress a week after the midterm elections, the BBC's US partner CBS News projects.
While the party's margin in the House of Representatives is razor-thin, it is enough to stall President Joe Biden's agenda for the next two years.
Kevin McCarthy, the Republicans' leader in the House, celebrated the result.
But Democrats will retain control of the upper chamber, the Senate.
The new Congress will convene in January.
The Republicans - who had hoped to win back control of both chambers - underperformed expectations in last week's midterms. read more
MH17: Three guilty as court finds Russia-controlled group downed airliner
A Dutch court has found three men guilty of murder for shooting down a passenger jet over eastern Ukraine in 2014, killing 298 people.
The court found that a Russian-made missile supplied from Russia and fired by an armed group under Russian control brought down flight MH17.
The men - two Russians and one Ukrainian - were found guilty in absentia and sentenced to life in jail. A third Russian was acquitted.
The missile attack was one of the most notorious war crimes in Ukraine before allegations of atrocities there became an almost daily reality. read more
A Dutch court has found three men guilty of murder for shooting down a passenger jet over eastern Ukraine in 2014, killing 298 people.
The court found that a Russian-made missile supplied from Russia and fired by an armed group under Russian control brought down flight MH17.
The men - two Russians and one Ukrainian - were found guilty in absentia and sentenced to life in jail. A third Russian was acquitted.
The missile attack was one of the most notorious war crimes in Ukraine before allegations of atrocities there became an almost daily reality. read more
North Korea ICBM had range to hit US mainland - Japan
North Korea has launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with sufficient range to hit the US mainland, Japan's defence minister says.
The missile landed in the sea roughly 210km (130 miles) west of Hokkaido.
The US has condemned the launch, while South Korea has ordered stronger deterrence measures against the North.
On Thursday North Korean FM Choe Son Hui warned of a "fiercer" response to any increased US military presence.
It also launched a short range ballistic missile the same day.
That followed Sunday's meeting between Mr Yoon, US President Joe Biden and Japan's PM Fumio Kishida in Cambodia. read more
North Korea has launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with sufficient range to hit the US mainland, Japan's defence minister says.
The missile landed in the sea roughly 210km (130 miles) west of Hokkaido.
The US has condemned the launch, while South Korea has ordered stronger deterrence measures against the North.
On Thursday North Korean FM Choe Son Hui warned of a "fiercer" response to any increased US military presence.
It also launched a short range ballistic missile the same day.
That followed Sunday's meeting between Mr Yoon, US President Joe Biden and Japan's PM Fumio Kishida in Cambodia. read more
Mohammed bin Salman: Saudi leader given US immunity over Khashoggi killing
The US has determined that Saudi Arabia's de facto leader - Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - has immunity from a lawsuit filed by murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi's fiancé.
Mr Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi critic, was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.
US intelligence has said it believes Prince Mohammed ordered the killing.
But in court filings, the US State department said he has immunity due to his new role as Saudi prime minister. read more
The US has determined that Saudi Arabia's de facto leader - Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - has immunity from a lawsuit filed by murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi's fiancé.
Mr Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi critic, was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.
US intelligence has said it believes Prince Mohammed ordered the killing.
But in court filings, the US State department said he has immunity due to his new role as Saudi prime minister. read more
Bbc
Mohammed bin Salman: Saudi leader given US immunity over Khashoggi killing
Mohammed bin Salman now has immunity against a lawsuit due to his new role as prime minister.
Mohammed bin Salman: Saudi leader given US immunity over Khashoggi killing
The US has determined that Saudi Arabia's de facto leader - Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - has immunity from a lawsuit filed by murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi's fiancé.
Mr Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi critic, was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.
US intelligence has said it believes Prince Mohammed ordered the killing.
But in court filings, the US State department said he has immunity due to his new role as Saudi prime minister. read more
The US has determined that Saudi Arabia's de facto leader - Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - has immunity from a lawsuit filed by murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi's fiancé.
Mr Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi critic, was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.
US intelligence has said it believes Prince Mohammed ordered the killing.
But in court filings, the US State department said he has immunity due to his new role as Saudi prime minister. read more
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes jailed for fraud
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has been sentenced to over 11 years in prison for defrauding investors in her blood testing start-up that was once valued at $9bn (£7.5bn).
The former Silicon Valley star falsely claimed the technology could diagnose disease with just a few drops of blood.
Holmes, 38, who is pregnant, tearfully told the court she felt "deep pain" for those misled by the scam.
She was found guilty in January after a three-month trial.
Holmes is expected to appeal against the sentence, which was handed down on Friday in a California court. read more
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has been sentenced to over 11 years in prison for defrauding investors in her blood testing start-up that was once valued at $9bn (£7.5bn).
The former Silicon Valley star falsely claimed the technology could diagnose disease with just a few drops of blood.
Holmes, 38, who is pregnant, tearfully told the court she felt "deep pain" for those misled by the scam.
She was found guilty in January after a three-month trial.
Holmes is expected to appeal against the sentence, which was handed down on Friday in a California court. read more
Musk lifts Donald Trump's Twitter ban
Twitter's new owner Elon Musk has said Donald Trump's account has been reinstated after running a poll in which users narrowly backed the move.
"The people have spoken," tweeted Mr Musk, saying that 51.8% of more than 15 million Twitter users voted for the ban to be lifted.
But the former US president may not return to the platform, earlier saying: "I don't see any reason for it".
His account was suspended in 2021 due to the risk of incitement of violence.
Twitter's previous management acted just days after Donald Trump's supporters stormed the US Capitol in Washington DC on 6 January. read more
Twitter's new owner Elon Musk has said Donald Trump's account has been reinstated after running a poll in which users narrowly backed the move.
"The people have spoken," tweeted Mr Musk, saying that 51.8% of more than 15 million Twitter users voted for the ban to be lifted.
But the former US president may not return to the platform, earlier saying: "I don't see any reason for it".
His account was suspended in 2021 due to the risk of incitement of violence.
Twitter's previous management acted just days after Donald Trump's supporters stormed the US Capitol in Washington DC on 6 January. read more
Two prominent Iranian actresses arrested - state media
Two prominent Iranian actresses have been arrested for publicly supporting mass anti-government protests, the country's state-run media reports.
Hengameh Ghaziani and Katayoun Riahi are accused of collusion and acting against Iran's authorities, Irna news agency says.
Both women earlier appeared in public without their headscarves - a gesture of solidarity with demonstrators.
The protests erupted in September after the death of a woman in police custody.
Mahsa Amini, 22, was detained by morality police in the capital, Tehran, for allegedly breaking the strict hijab rules. She died on 16 September, three days later. read more
Two prominent Iranian actresses have been arrested for publicly supporting mass anti-government protests, the country's state-run media reports.
Hengameh Ghaziani and Katayoun Riahi are accused of collusion and acting against Iran's authorities, Irna news agency says.
Both women earlier appeared in public without their headscarves - a gesture of solidarity with demonstrators.
The protests erupted in September after the death of a woman in police custody.
Mahsa Amini, 22, was detained by morality police in the capital, Tehran, for allegedly breaking the strict hijab rules. She died on 16 September, three days later. read more