Switzerland referendum: Voters back carbon cuts as glaciers melt
Voters in Switzerland have backed a new climate bill designed to cut fossil fuel use and reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The government says the country needs to protect its energy security and the environment, as glaciers melt rapidly in the Swiss Alps.
The law will require a move away from dependence on imported oil and gas towards the use of renewable sources.
In Sunday's referendum 59.1% of voters backed the green energy proposals.
Opponents had argued the measures would push up energy prices. read more
Voters in Switzerland have backed a new climate bill designed to cut fossil fuel use and reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The government says the country needs to protect its energy security and the environment, as glaciers melt rapidly in the Swiss Alps.
The law will require a move away from dependence on imported oil and gas towards the use of renewable sources.
In Sunday's referendum 59.1% of voters backed the green energy proposals.
Opponents had argued the measures would push up energy prices. read more
Iraq: displays 2,800-year-old stone tablet returned by Italy
A 2,800-year-old stone tablet has gone on display in Iraq after being returned by Italy following nearly four decades.
The artefact is inscribed with complete cuneiform text - a system of writing on clay in an ancient Babylonian alphabet.
Italian authorities handed it over to Iraq's President Abdul Latif Rashid in the city of Bologna last week.
It is not clear how the tablet was found - or how it made its way to Italy where it was seized by police in the 1980s.
Iraqi Culture Minister Ahmed Badrani said that it might have been found during archaeological excavations of the Mosul Dam, which was built around that time.
Iraq, often described as the "cradle of civilisation", is known, among others, for the world's first writing. read more
A 2,800-year-old stone tablet has gone on display in Iraq after being returned by Italy following nearly four decades.
The artefact is inscribed with complete cuneiform text - a system of writing on clay in an ancient Babylonian alphabet.
Italian authorities handed it over to Iraq's President Abdul Latif Rashid in the city of Bologna last week.
It is not clear how the tablet was found - or how it made its way to Italy where it was seized by police in the 1980s.
Iraqi Culture Minister Ahmed Badrani said that it might have been found during archaeological excavations of the Mosul Dam, which was built around that time.
Iraq, often described as the "cradle of civilisation", is known, among others, for the world's first writing. read more
Titanic tourist submersible: Rescuers scan ocean as clock ticks
US and Canadian search teams are racing against time to find a tourist submarine that went missing during a dive to the Titanic's wreck on Sunday.
Five people were onboard when contact with the small sub was lost about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive.
The rescue operation is continuing overnight in the mid-Atlantic but there has been no sign so far of the vessel.
Government agencies, both countries' navies and commercial deep-sea firms are all helping the rescue operation.
As of Monday afternoon, it was thought the crew members had roughly four days-worth of oxygen left. Among them is the British billionaire businessman and explorer Hamish Harding. read more
US and Canadian search teams are racing against time to find a tourist submarine that went missing during a dive to the Titanic's wreck on Sunday.
Five people were onboard when contact with the small sub was lost about an hour and 45 minutes into its dive.
The rescue operation is continuing overnight in the mid-Atlantic but there has been no sign so far of the vessel.
Government agencies, both countries' navies and commercial deep-sea firms are all helping the rescue operation.
As of Monday afternoon, it was thought the crew members had roughly four days-worth of oxygen left. Among them is the British billionaire businessman and explorer Hamish Harding. read more
US-China tensions: Biden calls Xi a dictator day after Beijing talks
US President Joe Biden has called Chinese President Xi Jinping a dictator at a fundraiser in California.
His remarks come a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Mr Xi for talks in Beijing, which were aimed at easing tensions between the two superpowers.
Mr Xi said some progress had been made in Beijing, while Mr Blinken indicated both sides were open to more talks.
China is yet to respond to Mr Biden's comments.
President Biden, at the fundraiser on Tuesday night local time, also said Mr Xi was embarrassed over the recent tensions around a Chinese spy balloon that had been blown off course over the US. read more
US President Joe Biden has called Chinese President Xi Jinping a dictator at a fundraiser in California.
His remarks come a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Mr Xi for talks in Beijing, which were aimed at easing tensions between the two superpowers.
Mr Xi said some progress had been made in Beijing, while Mr Blinken indicated both sides were open to more talks.
China is yet to respond to Mr Biden's comments.
President Biden, at the fundraiser on Tuesday night local time, also said Mr Xi was embarrassed over the recent tensions around a Chinese spy balloon that had been blown off course over the US. read more
Titan sub: What happens next after sounds detected in search
News that noises have been picked up in the hunt for a missing submersible has offered a glimmer of hope that the five men on board are alive.
The sounds were recorded by sonar buoys in a massive rescue operation, which is racing against time to find the Titan in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It was lost on a deep-sea voyage to the Titanic wreck three days ago.
Underwater operations have been relocated to investigate the noises, the US Coast Guard has said, but so far they haven't found anything.
And with oxygen supplies expected to run out at around 11:00 GMT on Thursday, the next few hours are critical.
US authorities say the noises were heard at half hour intervals for about four hours on Tuesday, according to reports by several outlets. read more
News that noises have been picked up in the hunt for a missing submersible has offered a glimmer of hope that the five men on board are alive.
The sounds were recorded by sonar buoys in a massive rescue operation, which is racing against time to find the Titan in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It was lost on a deep-sea voyage to the Titanic wreck three days ago.
Underwater operations have been relocated to investigate the noises, the US Coast Guard has said, but so far they haven't found anything.
And with oxygen supplies expected to run out at around 11:00 GMT on Thursday, the next few hours are critical.
US authorities say the noises were heard at half hour intervals for about four hours on Tuesday, according to reports by several outlets. read more
Islamic State: Woman jailed in Germany for keeping Yazidi woman as slave
A German woman who joined the Islamic State (IS) group has been jailed for nine years for crimes including keeping a Yazidi woman as a slave.
The defendant was also found guilty of crimes against humanity and membership of a foreign terrorist organisation.
A court in the western city of Koblenz said the 37-year-old had abused the young Yazidi woman for three years while they lived in Syria and Iraq.
It also found she had encouraged her husband to rape and beat the woman.
"All of this served the declared purpose of IS, to wipe out the Yazidi faith," said prosecutors at the start of the trial in January.
In 2014, IS fighters stormed into the ancestral heartland of the Yazidi people in northern Iraq. read more
A German woman who joined the Islamic State (IS) group has been jailed for nine years for crimes including keeping a Yazidi woman as a slave.
The defendant was also found guilty of crimes against humanity and membership of a foreign terrorist organisation.
A court in the western city of Koblenz said the 37-year-old had abused the young Yazidi woman for three years while they lived in Syria and Iraq.
It also found she had encouraged her husband to rape and beat the woman.
"All of this served the declared purpose of IS, to wipe out the Yazidi faith," said prosecutors at the start of the trial in January.
In 2014, IS fighters stormed into the ancestral heartland of the Yazidi people in northern Iraq. read more
Families mourn passengers killed in sub implosion
- Tributes are flowing for the five men killed on board the Titan sub in what US officials say was a "catastrophic implosion"
- The victims were Hamish Harding, 58, Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Suleman Dawood, 19, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, and Stockton Rush, 61
- Their families have expressed "profound grief" and paid tribute to their exploration endeavours
- A robotic diving vehicle found major fragments of the sub on the seafloor about 1,600ft (480m) from the Titanic shipwreck on Thursday
- It's emerged the US Navy originally detected “an acoustic anomaly consistent with an implosion” shortly after the Titan lost contact on Sunday
- Banging sounds reported earlier this week are now thought to have come from other ships in the area
- The sombre find ends a multinational five-day search which spanned more than 20,000 sq km of ocean
read more
- Tributes are flowing for the five men killed on board the Titan sub in what US officials say was a "catastrophic implosion"
- The victims were Hamish Harding, 58, Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Suleman Dawood, 19, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, and Stockton Rush, 61
- Their families have expressed "profound grief" and paid tribute to their exploration endeavours
- A robotic diving vehicle found major fragments of the sub on the seafloor about 1,600ft (480m) from the Titanic shipwreck on Thursday
- It's emerged the US Navy originally detected “an acoustic anomaly consistent with an implosion” shortly after the Titan lost contact on Sunday
- Banging sounds reported earlier this week are now thought to have come from other ships in the area
- The sombre find ends a multinational five-day search which spanned more than 20,000 sq km of ocean
read more
Russia tightens security as Wagner chief accused of mutiny
- Security in Russia has been tightened following a dramatic escalation of infighting
- The head of the Wagner mercenary group is being investigated by security services for inciting mutiny
- Yevgeny Prigozhin claims his forces have crossed the border into Russia from Ukraine, but no evidence of this has emerged so far
- Earlier, he accused the Russian military of launching a deadly missile strike on his troops on Friday
- He said the "evil" in the military leadership must be stopped and vowed to "march for justice", but claimed he was not attempting a military coup
- The Kremlin has denied the missile strike and demanded Prigozhin halt "illegal actions"
- Vladimir Putin is aware of the situation and is receiving "constant" updates, the Kremlin says
- Senior Russian generals have called on Wagner fighters to stand down, saying they are playing "into the enemy's hands"
read more
- Security in Russia has been tightened following a dramatic escalation of infighting
- The head of the Wagner mercenary group is being investigated by security services for inciting mutiny
- Yevgeny Prigozhin claims his forces have crossed the border into Russia from Ukraine, but no evidence of this has emerged so far
- Earlier, he accused the Russian military of launching a deadly missile strike on his troops on Friday
- He said the "evil" in the military leadership must be stopped and vowed to "march for justice", but claimed he was not attempting a military coup
- The Kremlin has denied the missile strike and demanded Prigozhin halt "illegal actions"
- Vladimir Putin is aware of the situation and is receiving "constant" updates, the Kremlin says
- Senior Russian generals have called on Wagner fighters to stand down, saying they are playing "into the enemy's hands"
read more
What will Putin do next? And other key questions
In a startling 24 hours, Vladimir Putin faced the greatest challenge to his authority since coming to power more than two decades ago. While the immediate risk seems contained, Russia experts say Putin does not emerge looking strong, but rather badly bruised.
Mr Putin's widely-noted loathing of betrayal appeared reflected in his stern national TV address on Saturday morning, where he accused Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin of a "stab in the back" and treason.
Russia's president has not been seen in public since, and no new presidential address was being planned in the near future. In a pre-recorded interview on state TV on Sunday - which appeared to have been conducted before the rebellion - Mr Putin said he was confident in the progress of the war in Ukraine.
Anti-terror security measures are still in place in Moscow, but it is unclear whether President Putin is even in the Russian capital at the moment. read more
In a startling 24 hours, Vladimir Putin faced the greatest challenge to his authority since coming to power more than two decades ago. While the immediate risk seems contained, Russia experts say Putin does not emerge looking strong, but rather badly bruised.
Mr Putin's widely-noted loathing of betrayal appeared reflected in his stern national TV address on Saturday morning, where he accused Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin of a "stab in the back" and treason.
Russia's president has not been seen in public since, and no new presidential address was being planned in the near future. In a pre-recorded interview on state TV on Sunday - which appeared to have been conducted before the rebellion - Mr Putin said he was confident in the progress of the war in Ukraine.
Anti-terror security measures are still in place in Moscow, but it is unclear whether President Putin is even in the Russian capital at the moment. read more
Russia: Instability ratchets up pressure on Vladimir Putin
After a weekend of mayhem, I'm beginning to understand why Russia's national symbol is the double-headed eagle: two heads staring in opposite directions.
First, Yevgeny Prigozhin declares he's ready to "go all the way" in his mutiny against the Russian military. Then he makes a sudden U-turn and orders his Wagner fighters back to base.
In a TV address, President Vladimir Putin declares the rebellion "a criminal adventure… a grievous crime… treason… blackmail and terrorism." Yet just a few hours later, as part of an agreement with Prigozhin, it's revealed that all criminal charges against the Wagner leader are being dropped.
So much for "grievous crime".
The Kremlin leader's mixed messages have been raising eyebrows here and changing perceptions of President Putin. read more
After a weekend of mayhem, I'm beginning to understand why Russia's national symbol is the double-headed eagle: two heads staring in opposite directions.
First, Yevgeny Prigozhin declares he's ready to "go all the way" in his mutiny against the Russian military. Then he makes a sudden U-turn and orders his Wagner fighters back to base.
In a TV address, President Vladimir Putin declares the rebellion "a criminal adventure… a grievous crime… treason… blackmail and terrorism." Yet just a few hours later, as part of an agreement with Prigozhin, it's revealed that all criminal charges against the Wagner leader are being dropped.
So much for "grievous crime".
The Kremlin leader's mixed messages have been raising eyebrows here and changing perceptions of President Putin. read more
Vladimir Putin says Wagner mutiny leaders will be 'brought to justice'
Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the leaders of last weekend's Wagner mutiny of wanting "to see Russia choked in bloody strife".
In a short speech full of vitriol, Mr Putin vowed to bring the organisers of the revolt "to justice".
But he called regular Wagner troops "patriots" who would be allowed to join the army, go to Belarus or return home.
He did not directly name Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, who earlier denied trying to overthrow Mr Putin's regime.
Wagner is a private army of mercenaries that has been fighting alongside the regular Russian army in Ukraine. read more
Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the leaders of last weekend's Wagner mutiny of wanting "to see Russia choked in bloody strife".
In a short speech full of vitriol, Mr Putin vowed to bring the organisers of the revolt "to justice".
But he called regular Wagner troops "patriots" who would be allowed to join the army, go to Belarus or return home.
He did not directly name Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, who earlier denied trying to overthrow Mr Putin's regime.
Wagner is a private army of mercenaries that has been fighting alongside the regular Russian army in Ukraine. read more
West Bank: US 'troubled' by Israeli settlement expansion plans
The Israeli government has advanced plans for some 5,700 new homes in the occupied West Bank.
The announcement comes despite US pressure to stop settlement expansion, which it sees as an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians.
A US spokesperson said Washington was "deeply troubled" by the development.
Four Israeli settlers were shot dead by Palestinians last week, prompting days of settler violence.
Violence between Palestinians and Israelis has flared since Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was re-elected last year.
His nationalist-religious coalition has vowed to extend its presence in the West Bank. read more
The Israeli government has advanced plans for some 5,700 new homes in the occupied West Bank.
The announcement comes despite US pressure to stop settlement expansion, which it sees as an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians.
A US spokesperson said Washington was "deeply troubled" by the development.
Four Israeli settlers were shot dead by Palestinians last week, prompting days of settler violence.
Violence between Palestinians and Israelis has flared since Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was re-elected last year.
His nationalist-religious coalition has vowed to extend its presence in the West Bank. read more
Spanish swimming pools in Catalonia told not to ban topless bathing
Activists in Catalonia are celebrating after the government of the Spanish region informed its town and city halls that they must allow women to go topless in public swimming pools.
Going topless is enshrined under a 2020 Catalan equality law.
However, some municipal swimming pools have prevented the practice since the legislation was introduced, drawing dozens of complaints each summer.
Local authorities have now been told to bar any form of discrimination.
Preventing women from going topless "excludes part of the population and violates the free choice of each person with regard to their body", the Catalan government's department of equality and feminism informed them in a letter. read more
Activists in Catalonia are celebrating after the government of the Spanish region informed its town and city halls that they must allow women to go topless in public swimming pools.
Going topless is enshrined under a 2020 Catalan equality law.
However, some municipal swimming pools have prevented the practice since the legislation was introduced, drawing dozens of complaints each summer.
Local authorities have now been told to bar any form of discrimination.
Preventing women from going topless "excludes part of the population and violates the free choice of each person with regard to their body", the Catalan government's department of equality and feminism informed them in a letter. read more
Kramatorsk: Russian missile strike hits restaurants in Ukrainian city
Russian missiles have hit the centre of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine, killing four people and injuring many more, Ukrainian officials say.
A restaurant and shopping area were hit in Tuesday's strike on the city, which is under Ukrainian control but close to Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.
People may be trapped under the rubble and a rescue operation is under way.
An eyewitness told the BBC he saw "dead people, people screaming, people crying, huge chaos".
A 17-year-old girl is reported to be among those who were killed in the attack, which happened at around 19:30 local time (16:30 GMT). read more
Russian missiles have hit the centre of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine, killing four people and injuring many more, Ukrainian officials say.
A restaurant and shopping area were hit in Tuesday's strike on the city, which is under Ukrainian control but close to Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.
People may be trapped under the rubble and a rescue operation is under way.
An eyewitness told the BBC he saw "dead people, people screaming, people crying, huge chaos".
A 17-year-old girl is reported to be among those who were killed in the attack, which happened at around 19:30 local time (16:30 GMT). read more
France shooting: 77 arrested in violent protests over police killing of teenager
At least 77 people have been arrested in France during a second night of unrest triggered by the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old driver by police.
The teenager, named as Nahel M, was shot at point-blank range as he refused a traffic stop and drove away.
Videos shared on social media showed cars being set alight and shops ransacked on Wednesday.
In Nanterre, the suburb Nahel came from, police were forced to partially withdraw, Le Monde reported.
Protesters across Paris were seen targeting police stations with fireworks. read more
At least 77 people have been arrested in France during a second night of unrest triggered by the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old driver by police.
The teenager, named as Nahel M, was shot at point-blank range as he refused a traffic stop and drove away.
Videos shared on social media showed cars being set alight and shops ransacked on Wednesday.
In Nanterre, the suburb Nahel came from, police were forced to partially withdraw, Le Monde reported.
Protesters across Paris were seen targeting police stations with fireworks. read more
Sweden Quran burning sparks anger across Muslim world
Several Muslim-majority countries have condemned the burning of a copy of the Quran in Sweden at a protest.
Salwan Momika, said to be an Iraqi living in Sweden, set fire to a copy of the Muslim text in front of Stockholm's central mosque on Wednesday.
Middle Eastern nations including Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt strongly criticised the burning.
And Turkey, a Nato member with a say over whether Sweden gains membership, called it a "despicable act".
Turkey - which was also angered by a Quran burning protest earlier this year - said it was "unacceptable" to allow such "anti-Islamic actions" to take place "under the pretext of freedom of expression". read more
Several Muslim-majority countries have condemned the burning of a copy of the Quran in Sweden at a protest.
Salwan Momika, said to be an Iraqi living in Sweden, set fire to a copy of the Muslim text in front of Stockholm's central mosque on Wednesday.
Middle Eastern nations including Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt strongly criticised the burning.
And Turkey, a Nato member with a say over whether Sweden gains membership, called it a "despicable act".
Turkey - which was also angered by a Quran burning protest earlier this year - said it was "unacceptable" to allow such "anti-Islamic actions" to take place "under the pretext of freedom of expression". read more
France shooting: Policeman charged over teen's traffic stop death
A French policeman has been charged with homicide and is in custody over the killing of a teenager near Paris on Tuesday.
The 17-year-old, named as Nahel M, was shot at point-blank range as he drove off and crashed soon afterwards.
Anger at his killing has sparked violence across the country. A march led by the boy's mother was marred by clashes on Thursday afternoon.
In a third night of unrest, protesters were arrested in Lille and Marseille.
In the town of Nanterre, where the teenager was killed, a huge fire engulfed the ground floor of a building where a bank is located. read more
A French policeman has been charged with homicide and is in custody over the killing of a teenager near Paris on Tuesday.
The 17-year-old, named as Nahel M, was shot at point-blank range as he drove off and crashed soon afterwards.
Anger at his killing has sparked violence across the country. A march led by the boy's mother was marred by clashes on Thursday afternoon.
In a third night of unrest, protesters were arrested in Lille and Marseille.
In the town of Nanterre, where the teenager was killed, a huge fire engulfed the ground floor of a building where a bank is located. read more
France shooting: Macron accuses rioters of exploiting teen killed by police
Emmanuel Macron has accused protesters of exploiting the death of a teenager shot by police at point-blank range.
At a crisis meeting, France's president said more officers would be deployed to contain the violence, but stopped short of declaring a state of emergency.
He urged parents to keep rioting children at home and social media platforms to remove certain content.
France has been rocked by three nights of unrest after Nahel M, 17, was killed as he drove away from a traffic stop.
More than 915 arrests were made on Thursday night alone, officials said, and the government announced it would deploy 45,000 police officers in a bid to contain further violence. read more
Emmanuel Macron has accused protesters of exploiting the death of a teenager shot by police at point-blank range.
At a crisis meeting, France's president said more officers would be deployed to contain the violence, but stopped short of declaring a state of emergency.
He urged parents to keep rioting children at home and social media platforms to remove certain content.
France has been rocked by three nights of unrest after Nahel M, 17, was killed as he drove away from a traffic stop.
More than 915 arrests were made on Thursday night alone, officials said, and the government announced it would deploy 45,000 police officers in a bid to contain further violence. read more
France shooting: Calmer night despite protests over Nahel M's murder, minister says
France has seen a quieter night of protests over the death of a teenager shot by police at point-blank range, the interior minister says.
There were fewer arrests compared to previous nights - 719 - with the worst clashes in the southern city Marseille.
In the Paris suburb L'Haÿ-les-Roses, attackers rammed a car into the house of the mayor, injuring his wife as she tried to flee with their two children.
French cities have seen unrest since the police shooting of a teenager.
Nahel M, 17, was shot during a traffic stop on Tuesday. Large crowds turned out for his funeral on Saturday. read more
France has seen a quieter night of protests over the death of a teenager shot by police at point-blank range, the interior minister says.
There were fewer arrests compared to previous nights - 719 - with the worst clashes in the southern city Marseille.
In the Paris suburb L'Haÿ-les-Roses, attackers rammed a car into the house of the mayor, injuring his wife as she tried to flee with their two children.
French cities have seen unrest since the police shooting of a teenager.
Nahel M, 17, was shot during a traffic stop on Tuesday. Large crowds turned out for his funeral on Saturday. read more
France teen's family tell BBC police use of lethal force must change
A relative of the French teenager shot by police has told the BBC the family did not want his death to spark riots, but insisted the law around lethal force at traffic stops must change.
Nahel M was shot point-blank by police after failing to stop for a traffic check last Tuesday.
"We never called for hate or riots," the relative said.
France has seen five days of violent rioting.
Speaking to the BBC near the family home in Nanterre, the relative said the rioting - which has seen thousands arrested, shops looted and hundreds of vehicles set alight across France - did not honour Nahel's memory. read more
A relative of the French teenager shot by police has told the BBC the family did not want his death to spark riots, but insisted the law around lethal force at traffic stops must change.
Nahel M was shot point-blank by police after failing to stop for a traffic check last Tuesday.
"We never called for hate or riots," the relative said.
France has seen five days of violent rioting.
Speaking to the BBC near the family home in Nanterre, the relative said the rioting - which has seen thousands arrested, shops looted and hundreds of vehicles set alight across France - did not honour Nahel's memory. read more
Jenin: Israeli military launches major operation in West Bank city
There have been Israeli drone strikes and gun battles between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in Jenin, after Israel launched a major military operation in the occupied West Bank.
Eight Palestinians have been killed and 50 injured, health officials say.
Israel said it had "dealt a heavy blow to terrorist organisations in Jenin". Palestinians accused it of a war crime.
Jenin has seen many Israeli raids in the past year and residents have been linked to multiple attacks on Israelis.
The military said there was no specific timeline for ending the operation, but security sources told Israeli media that it might last several days. read more
There have been Israeli drone strikes and gun battles between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in Jenin, after Israel launched a major military operation in the occupied West Bank.
Eight Palestinians have been killed and 50 injured, health officials say.
Israel said it had "dealt a heavy blow to terrorist organisations in Jenin". Palestinians accused it of a war crime.
Jenin has seen many Israeli raids in the past year and residents have been linked to multiple attacks on Israelis.
The military said there was no specific timeline for ending the operation, but security sources told Israeli media that it might last several days. read more