Pakistan mosque blast: Bomber used police uniform as disguise, official says
The man who attacked a mosque in the Pakistani city of Peshawar on Monday used a police uniform to gain access the area, police have said.
The suicide bomber reportedly entered through the main gates of the secure zone where the mosque is located.
Police chief Moazzam Jah Ansari said they had CCTV footage revealing the man's final movements, and were closing in on the "terror network" responsible.
He also confirmed a head found at the site was the attacker's.
Monday's blast - one of the deadliest attacks in Pakistan in years - took place at a 50-year-old mosque in a high-security police zone called Police Lines.
At least 100 people were killed, of whom most were police officers. read more
The man who attacked a mosque in the Pakistani city of Peshawar on Monday used a police uniform to gain access the area, police have said.
The suicide bomber reportedly entered through the main gates of the secure zone where the mosque is located.
Police chief Moazzam Jah Ansari said they had CCTV footage revealing the man's final movements, and were closing in on the "terror network" responsible.
He also confirmed a head found at the site was the attacker's.
Monday's blast - one of the deadliest attacks in Pakistan in years - took place at a 50-year-old mosque in a high-security police zone called Police Lines.
At least 100 people were killed, of whom most were police officers. read more
US tracking suspected Chinese surveillance balloon
The US is tracking a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been spotted flying over sensitive sites in recent days.
Defence officials said they were confident the "high-altitude surveillance balloon" belonged to China. It was most recently seen above the western state of Montana.
But military leaders decided against shooting it down as there were concerns over the danger of falling debris.
China has not yet commented.
US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation.
The object flew over Alaska's Aleutian Islands and through Canada before appearing over the city of Billings in Montana on Wednesday, officials said. read more
The US is tracking a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been spotted flying over sensitive sites in recent days.
Defence officials said they were confident the "high-altitude surveillance balloon" belonged to China. It was most recently seen above the western state of Montana.
But military leaders decided against shooting it down as there were concerns over the danger of falling debris.
China has not yet commented.
US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation.
The object flew over Alaska's Aleutian Islands and through Canada before appearing over the city of Billings in Montana on Wednesday, officials said. read more
Ismail Mashal: Taliban arrests Afghan professor who backed girls' education
A university professor in Afghanistan who is an outspoken critic of the Taliban's ban on education for women and girls has been arrested in Kabul.
Prof Ismail Mashal was detained on Thursday while handing out free books.
He rose to prominence after he tore up his academic records live on television in protest against the Taliban's ban on university and secondary school education for women and girls.
Prof Mashal, 37, has been accused of "provocative actions" by the Taliban. read more
A university professor in Afghanistan who is an outspoken critic of the Taliban's ban on education for women and girls has been arrested in Kabul.
Prof Ismail Mashal was detained on Thursday while handing out free books.
He rose to prominence after he tore up his academic records live on television in protest against the Taliban's ban on university and secondary school education for women and girls.
Prof Mashal, 37, has been accused of "provocative actions" by the Taliban. read more
Elon Musk found not guilty of fraud over Tesla tweet
Tesla founder Elon Musk has been cleared of wrongdoing for a tweet in which he said he had "funding secured" to take the electric carmaker private.
Mr Musk faced a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of Tesla shareholders who argued he misled them with his posts in August 2018.
The proposed $72bn (£60bn) buyout never materialised.
If the San Francisco jury had found Mr Musk liable he could have been ordered to pay billions of dollars in damages.
It took the nine jurors less than two hours to reach their verdict on Friday afternoon.
Mr Musk - who had wanted the trial moved to Texas, where Tesla is based, arguing he could not get a fair trial in San Francisco - welcomed the outcome. read more
Tesla founder Elon Musk has been cleared of wrongdoing for a tweet in which he said he had "funding secured" to take the electric carmaker private.
Mr Musk faced a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of Tesla shareholders who argued he misled them with his posts in August 2018.
The proposed $72bn (£60bn) buyout never materialised.
If the San Francisco jury had found Mr Musk liable he could have been ordered to pay billions of dollars in damages.
It took the nine jurors less than two hours to reach their verdict on Friday afternoon.
Mr Musk - who had wanted the trial moved to Texas, where Tesla is based, arguing he could not get a fair trial in San Francisco - welcomed the outcome. read more
Japan PM fires aide over derogatory LGBT remarks
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has fired a government aide who made derogatory remarks about LGBT couples.
Masayoshi Arai reportedly said he would not want to live next to, or look at, people in same-sex relationships.
Mr Arai also warned that permitting gay marriage in Japan would lead to many abandoning the country.
Mr Kishida said the remarks were "outrageous" and "completely incompatible" with his government's policies.
Japan - a country still largely bound by traditional gender roles and family values - is the only G7 nation that does not recognise same-sex marriage.
However, recent polling suggests most Japanese support gay marriage. read more
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has fired a government aide who made derogatory remarks about LGBT couples.
Masayoshi Arai reportedly said he would not want to live next to, or look at, people in same-sex relationships.
Mr Arai also warned that permitting gay marriage in Japan would lead to many abandoning the country.
Mr Kishida said the remarks were "outrageous" and "completely incompatible" with his government's policies.
Japan - a country still largely bound by traditional gender roles and family values - is the only G7 nation that does not recognise same-sex marriage.
However, recent polling suggests most Japanese support gay marriage. read more
China balloon: US shoots down airship over Atlantic
The US has shot down a giant Chinese balloon that it says has been spying on key military sites across America.
The Department of Defence confirmed its fighter jets brought down the balloon over US territorial waters.
China's foreign ministry later expressed "strong dissatisfaction and protest against the US's use of force to attack civilian unmanned aircraft".
Footage on US TV networks showed the balloon falling to the sea after a small explosion.
An F-22 jet fighter engaged the high-altitude balloon with one missile - an AIM-9X Sidewinder - and it went down about six nautical miles off the US coast at 14:39 EST (19:39 GMT), a defence official told reporters. read more
The US has shot down a giant Chinese balloon that it says has been spying on key military sites across America.
The Department of Defence confirmed its fighter jets brought down the balloon over US territorial waters.
China's foreign ministry later expressed "strong dissatisfaction and protest against the US's use of force to attack civilian unmanned aircraft".
Footage on US TV networks showed the balloon falling to the sea after a small explosion.
An F-22 jet fighter engaged the high-altitude balloon with one missile - an AIM-9X Sidewinder - and it went down about six nautical miles off the US coast at 14:39 EST (19:39 GMT), a defence official told reporters. read more
Huge earthquake in south-east Turkey kills more than 100
A powerful earthquake has hit a wide area in south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border, killing more than 100 people and trapping many others.
The US Geological Survey said the 7.8 magnitude tremor struck at 04:17 local time (01:17 GMT) at a depth of 17.9km (11 miles) near the city of Gaziantep.
In Turkey, officials confirmed more than 76 deaths so far and 10 cities hit, including Diyarbakir.
In Syria, more than 50 people were killed, state media reported.
There are fears the death toll will rise sharply in the coming hours.
Many buildings have collapsed and rescue teams have been deployed to search for survivors under huge piles of rubble. read more
A powerful earthquake has hit a wide area in south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border, killing more than 100 people and trapping many others.
The US Geological Survey said the 7.8 magnitude tremor struck at 04:17 local time (01:17 GMT) at a depth of 17.9km (11 miles) near the city of Gaziantep.
In Turkey, officials confirmed more than 76 deaths so far and 10 cities hit, including Diyarbakir.
In Syria, more than 50 people were killed, state media reported.
There are fears the death toll will rise sharply in the coming hours.
Many buildings have collapsed and rescue teams have been deployed to search for survivors under huge piles of rubble. read more
Second balloon over Latin America is ours - China
The Chinese government has admitted a balloon spotted over Latin America on Friday is from China - but claimed it is intended for civilian use.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the aircraft had deviated from its route, having been blown off course.
A similar balloon was shot down in US airspace by military jets on Saturday amid allegations that it was being used for surveillance.
China has denied accusations of spying, saying it was monitoring the weather.
The incident has led to a diplomatic row between Washington and Beijing. read more
The Chinese government has admitted a balloon spotted over Latin America on Friday is from China - but claimed it is intended for civilian use.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the aircraft had deviated from its route, having been blown off course.
A similar balloon was shot down in US airspace by military jets on Saturday amid allegations that it was being used for surveillance.
China has denied accusations of spying, saying it was monitoring the weather.
The incident has led to a diplomatic row between Washington and Beijing. read more
Turkey quake: Heavy rain hampers rescue efforts
Rescuers are battling heavy rain and snow as they race against the clock to find survivors of a devastating earthquake in south-east Turkey.
More than 4,300 people were killed and 15,000 injured in Turkey and over the border in Syria when the quake struck in the early hours of Monday.
The World Health Organization has warned the toll may rise dramatically as rescuers find more victims.
As day breaks rescue teams are stepping up their search for survivors.
Many people in the disaster zone have been too scared to go back into buildings.
The 7.8 magnitude tremor struck at 04:17 (01:17 GMT) on Monday at a depth of 17.9km (11 miles) near the city of Gaziantep, according to the US Geological Survey. read more
Rescuers are battling heavy rain and snow as they race against the clock to find survivors of a devastating earthquake in south-east Turkey.
More than 4,300 people were killed and 15,000 injured in Turkey and over the border in Syria when the quake struck in the early hours of Monday.
The World Health Organization has warned the toll may rise dramatically as rescuers find more victims.
As day breaks rescue teams are stepping up their search for survivors.
Many people in the disaster zone have been too scared to go back into buildings.
The 7.8 magnitude tremor struck at 04:17 (01:17 GMT) on Monday at a depth of 17.9km (11 miles) near the city of Gaziantep, according to the US Geological Survey. read more
Turkey-Syria earthquake: Newborn baby pulled from collapsed building
A newborn girl has been saved by rescuers from beneath the rubble of a building in north-west Syria that was destroyed by an earthquake on Monday.
Her mother went into labour soon after the disaster and gave birth before she died, a relative said. Her father, four siblings and an aunt were also killed.
Dramatic footage showed a man carrying the baby, covered in dust, after she was pulled from debris in Jindayris.
A doctor at a hospital in nearby Afrin said she was now in a stable condition.
The building in which her family lived was one of about 50 reportedly destroyed by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Jindayris, an opposition-held town in Idlib province that is close to the Turkish border.
The baby's uncle, Khalil al-Suwadi, said relatives had rushed to the scene when they learned of the collapse. read more
A newborn girl has been saved by rescuers from beneath the rubble of a building in north-west Syria that was destroyed by an earthquake on Monday.
Her mother went into labour soon after the disaster and gave birth before she died, a relative said. Her father, four siblings and an aunt were also killed.
Dramatic footage showed a man carrying the baby, covered in dust, after she was pulled from debris in Jindayris.
A doctor at a hospital in nearby Afrin said she was now in a stable condition.
The building in which her family lived was one of about 50 reportedly destroyed by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Jindayris, an opposition-held town in Idlib province that is close to the Turkish border.
The baby's uncle, Khalil al-Suwadi, said relatives had rushed to the scene when they learned of the collapse. read more
Turkey quake: President Erdogan accepts some problems with response
Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has defended his government's response to two catastrophic earthquakes, saying it was impossible to prepare for the scale of the disaster.
At least 15,000 people are confirmed dead in Turkey and northern Syria.
Critics claimed the emergency services' response was too slow and the government was poorly prepared.
Mr Erdogan accepted the government had encountered some problems, but said the situation was now "under control".
The leader of Turkey's main opposition party, Kemal Kilicdaroglu disagreed.
"If there is one person responsible for this, it is Erdogan," he said. read more
Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has defended his government's response to two catastrophic earthquakes, saying it was impossible to prepare for the scale of the disaster.
At least 15,000 people are confirmed dead in Turkey and northern Syria.
Critics claimed the emergency services' response was too slow and the government was poorly prepared.
Mr Erdogan accepted the government had encountered some problems, but said the situation was now "under control".
The leader of Turkey's main opposition party, Kemal Kilicdaroglu disagreed.
"If there is one person responsible for this, it is Erdogan," he said. read more
Ukraine war: Zelensky takes fighter jet bid to EU leaders
Ukraine's leader has called on EU leaders to provide fighter jets and arms for the war against Russia, on his second trip abroad since the war began.
"We have to enhance the dynamics of our co-operation, we have to do it faster than the aggressor," said Volodymyr Zelensky.
He was earlier given a standing ovation at the European Parliament in Brussels.
Several EU leaders have already stressed that a decision on warplanes would be a collective move.
Some are keen to avoid having the debate being played out in public, while there is also concern about escalation and playing into Russian narratives.
The Kremlin warned on Thursday that the line between direct and indirect Western involvement in the conflict was disappearing. read more
Ukraine's leader has called on EU leaders to provide fighter jets and arms for the war against Russia, on his second trip abroad since the war began.
"We have to enhance the dynamics of our co-operation, we have to do it faster than the aggressor," said Volodymyr Zelensky.
He was earlier given a standing ovation at the European Parliament in Brussels.
Several EU leaders have already stressed that a decision on warplanes would be a collective move.
Some are keen to avoid having the debate being played out in public, while there is also concern about escalation and playing into Russian narratives.
The Kremlin warned on Thursday that the line between direct and indirect Western involvement in the conflict was disappearing. read more
Starship: SpaceX tests the most powerful ever rocket system
Elon Musk's SpaceX company has performed a key test on its huge new rocket system, Starship.
Engineers conducted what's called a "static fire", simultaneously igniting 31 out of 33 of the engines at the base of the vehicle's lower-segment.
The firing lasted only a few seconds, with everything clamped in place to prevent any movement.
Starship will become the most powerful operational rocket system in history when it makes its maiden flight.
This could occur in the coming weeks, assuming SpaceX is satisfied with the outcome of Thursday's test.
The static fire took place at SpaceX's R&D facility in Boca Chica on the Texas/Mexico border. read more
Elon Musk's SpaceX company has performed a key test on its huge new rocket system, Starship.
Engineers conducted what's called a "static fire", simultaneously igniting 31 out of 33 of the engines at the base of the vehicle's lower-segment.
The firing lasted only a few seconds, with everything clamped in place to prevent any movement.
Starship will become the most powerful operational rocket system in history when it makes its maiden flight.
This could occur in the coming weeks, assuming SpaceX is satisfied with the outcome of Thursday's test.
The static fire took place at SpaceX's R&D facility in Boca Chica on the Texas/Mexico border. read more
High-altitude object shot down off Alaska, US says
US President Joe Biden ordered a fighter jet to shoot down an unidentified "high-altitude object" off Alaska on Friday, the White House says.
Spokesman John Kirby said the unmanned object was "the size of a small car" and posed a "reasonable threat" to civilian aviation.
The object's purpose and origin was unclear, Mr Kirby said.
It comes a week after the American military destroyed a Chinese balloon over US territorial waters.
Speaking at the White House on Friday, Mr Kirby said the debris field of the object shot down on Friday was "much, much smaller" than the balloon shot down last Saturday off the coast of South Carolina.
He said that the object was flying at 40,000ft (12,000m) over the northern coast of Alaska. read more
US President Joe Biden ordered a fighter jet to shoot down an unidentified "high-altitude object" off Alaska on Friday, the White House says.
Spokesman John Kirby said the unmanned object was "the size of a small car" and posed a "reasonable threat" to civilian aviation.
The object's purpose and origin was unclear, Mr Kirby said.
It comes a week after the American military destroyed a Chinese balloon over US territorial waters.
Speaking at the White House on Friday, Mr Kirby said the debris field of the object shot down on Friday was "much, much smaller" than the balloon shot down last Saturday off the coast of South Carolina.
He said that the object was flying at 40,000ft (12,000m) over the northern coast of Alaska. read more
Turkey earthquake failures leave Erdogan looking vulnerable
Turkey's most devastating earthquake since 1939 has raised big questions about whether such a large-scale tragedy could have been avoided and whether President Erdogan's government could have done more to save lives.
With elections on the horizon, his future is on the line after 20 years in power and his pleas for national unity have gone unheeded.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has admitted shortcomings in the response, but he appeared to blame fate on a visit to one disaster zone: "Such things have always happened. It's part of destiny's plan." read more
Turkey's most devastating earthquake since 1939 has raised big questions about whether such a large-scale tragedy could have been avoided and whether President Erdogan's government could have done more to save lives.
With elections on the horizon, his future is on the line after 20 years in power and his pleas for national unity have gone unheeded.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has admitted shortcomings in the response, but he appeared to blame fate on a visit to one disaster zone: "Such things have always happened. It's part of destiny's plan." read more
Quake-hit Turkey issues 113 building arrest warrants
Officials in Turkey say 113 arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the construction of buildings that collapsed in Monday's earthquake.
Turkish police have already taken at least 12 people into custody, including building contractors.
Meanwhile, unrest in southern Turkey has disrupted rescue efforts in some places.
The number of people confirmed to have died in Turkey and Syria has risen to more than 28,000.
More arrests are expected - but the action will be seen by many as an attempt to divert overall blame for the disaster. read more
Officials in Turkey say 113 arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the construction of buildings that collapsed in Monday's earthquake.
Turkish police have already taken at least 12 people into custody, including building contractors.
Meanwhile, unrest in southern Turkey has disrupted rescue efforts in some places.
The number of people confirmed to have died in Turkey and Syria has risen to more than 28,000.
More arrests are expected - but the action will be seen by many as an attempt to divert overall blame for the disaster. read more
No tents, no aid, nothing: Why Syrians feel forgotten
The tents are so close to the border wall between Syria and Turkey, they are almost touching it.
Those living here on the Syrian side may have been displaced by the country's more than decade-old civil war. But they could also be survivors of the earthquake. Catastrophes overlap in Syria.
The earthquake, untroubled by international borders, has brought havoc to both countries. But the international relief effort has been thwarted by checkpoints. In southern Turkey, thousands of rescue workers with heavy lifting gear, paramedics and sniffer dogs have jammed the streets, and are still working to find survivors. In this part of opposition-held north-west Syria, none of this is going on. read more
The tents are so close to the border wall between Syria and Turkey, they are almost touching it.
Those living here on the Syrian side may have been displaced by the country's more than decade-old civil war. But they could also be survivors of the earthquake. Catastrophes overlap in Syria.
The earthquake, untroubled by international borders, has brought havoc to both countries. But the international relief effort has been thwarted by checkpoints. In southern Turkey, thousands of rescue workers with heavy lifting gear, paramedics and sniffer dogs have jammed the streets, and are still working to find survivors. In this part of opposition-held north-west Syria, none of this is going on. read more
Chinese balloon sensors recovered from ocean, says US
The sensors from a suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down after crossing the US have been recovered from the Atlantic Ocean, the US military says.
Search crews found "significant debris from the site, including all of the priority sensor and electronics pieces identified", said US Northern Command.
The FBI is examining the items, which the US says were used to spy on sensitive military sites.
The US has shot down three more objects since the first one on 4 February.
"Large sections of the structure" were also recovered on Monday off the coast of South Carolina, military officials say. read more
The sensors from a suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down after crossing the US have been recovered from the Atlantic Ocean, the US military says.
Search crews found "significant debris from the site, including all of the priority sensor and electronics pieces identified", said US Northern Command.
The FBI is examining the items, which the US says were used to spy on sensitive military sites.
The US has shot down three more objects since the first one on 4 February.
"Large sections of the structure" were also recovered on Monday off the coast of South Carolina, military officials say. read more
BBC India offices searched by income tax officials
BBC offices in India have been searched as part of an investigation by income tax authorities.
The searches in New Delhi and Mumbai come weeks after the broadcaster aired a documentary in the UK critical of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The documentary focused on the prime minister's role in anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat in 2002, when he was chief minister of the state.
The BBC said that it was "fully co-operating" with authorities.
"We hope to have this situation resolved as soon as possible," a short statement added. read more
BBC offices in India have been searched as part of an investigation by income tax authorities.
The searches in New Delhi and Mumbai come weeks after the broadcaster aired a documentary in the UK critical of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The documentary focused on the prime minister's role in anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat in 2002, when he was chief minister of the state.
The BBC said that it was "fully co-operating" with authorities.
"We hope to have this situation resolved as soon as possible," a short statement added. read more
US suspects three unidentified objects it shot down were 'benign'
The White House has said there is no indication three flying objects blasted out of the sky over the weekend by the US military are linked to alleged Chinese spying.
The objects may be "tied to commercial or research entities and therefore benign", spokesman John Kirby said.
US and Canadian officials have not yet located or recovered any wreckage from the three downed aircraft.
Beijing earlier accused the US of "a trigger-happy overreaction".
China has denied one of its balloons, which was destroyed by a US fighter jet earlier this month off South Carolina, was being used for espionage, saying it was merely a weather-monitoring airship that had blown off course. read more
The White House has said there is no indication three flying objects blasted out of the sky over the weekend by the US military are linked to alleged Chinese spying.
The objects may be "tied to commercial or research entities and therefore benign", spokesman John Kirby said.
US and Canadian officials have not yet located or recovered any wreckage from the three downed aircraft.
Beijing earlier accused the US of "a trigger-happy overreaction".
China has denied one of its balloons, which was destroyed by a US fighter jet earlier this month off South Carolina, was being used for espionage, saying it was merely a weather-monitoring airship that had blown off course. read more
Elon Musk donates almost $2bn of Tesla shares to charity
Tesla chief executive Elon Musk says he donated around $1.95bn (£1.6bn) worth of shares in his electric carmaker to charity last year.
The donation of 11.6 million shares was described in a filing with US regulators as "a bona fide gift".
The filing did not name the recipient, or recipients, of the donation.
Also on Wednesday, Mr Musk said that towards the end of this year would be a "good time" to find someone to succeed him as the chief executive of Twitter.
The document lodged with the US Securities and Exchange Commission showed the donation was made between August and December last year. read more
Tesla chief executive Elon Musk says he donated around $1.95bn (£1.6bn) worth of shares in his electric carmaker to charity last year.
The donation of 11.6 million shares was described in a filing with US regulators as "a bona fide gift".
The filing did not name the recipient, or recipients, of the donation.
Also on Wednesday, Mr Musk said that towards the end of this year would be a "good time" to find someone to succeed him as the chief executive of Twitter.
The document lodged with the US Securities and Exchange Commission showed the donation was made between August and December last year. read more