Nepal earthquake: More than 100 killed in remote western Nepal
More than 100 people have been killed after an earthquake struck remote western Nepal on Friday.
Security forces have been deployed to help rescue efforts in the rugged districts of Jajarkot and West Rukum, 500km (310 miles) west of Kathmandu.
Strong tremors were felt far away in the Nepalese capital and in cities in neighbouring India, including Delhi.
The army spokesman said more than 100 people had been injured. Jajarkot's hospital is packed with the wounded.
Three more tremors were felt within an hour of the quake, and many people have spent the rest of the night in the open because of fear of further quakes and damage to their houses. read more
More than 100 people have been killed after an earthquake struck remote western Nepal on Friday.
Security forces have been deployed to help rescue efforts in the rugged districts of Jajarkot and West Rukum, 500km (310 miles) west of Kathmandu.
Strong tremors were felt far away in the Nepalese capital and in cities in neighbouring India, including Delhi.
The army spokesman said more than 100 people had been injured. Jajarkot's hospital is packed with the wounded.
Three more tremors were felt within an hour of the quake, and many people have spent the rest of the night in the open because of fear of further quakes and damage to their houses. read more
Moussa Dadis Camara: Guinea ex-ruler sprung from jail by armed men
Guinea's former military ruler, Moussa Dadis Camara, has been sprung from prison by armed men, the country's justice minister says.
The group stormed a jail in the capital, Conakry, early on Saturday morning - freeing Capt Camara and three others. One has since been found.
The fugitives are currently on trial for their alleged roles in deaths of more than 150 people in a 2009 protest.
The country's borders have been closed as the authorities hunt for them. read more
Guinea's former military ruler, Moussa Dadis Camara, has been sprung from prison by armed men, the country's justice minister says.
The group stormed a jail in the capital, Conakry, early on Saturday morning - freeing Capt Camara and three others. One has since been found.
The fugitives are currently on trial for their alleged roles in deaths of more than 150 people in a 2009 protest.
The country's borders have been closed as the authorities hunt for them. read more
Hamburg Airport hostage drama is over, police say
A hostage situation at Hamburg Airport involving a young child has ended after 18 hours, according to local police.
The man drove through a security barrier and on to the airport tarmac on Saturday night with his four-year-old daughter in the car and parked under a plane.
He eventually gave himself up to the authorities "without resistance", according to police, and was arrested.
"The child appears to be unharmed," they wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The incident caused the disruption of several flights in and out of the airport. Efforts are now under way to resume operations. read more
A hostage situation at Hamburg Airport involving a young child has ended after 18 hours, according to local police.
The man drove through a security barrier and on to the airport tarmac on Saturday night with his four-year-old daughter in the car and parked under a plane.
He eventually gave himself up to the authorities "without resistance", according to police, and was arrested.
"The child appears to be unharmed," they wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The incident caused the disruption of several flights in and out of the airport. Efforts are now under way to resume operations. read more
Donald Trump clashes repeatedly with judge during New York testimony
Former US President Donald Trump clashed repeatedly with a judge while testifying in New York at a civil fraud trial that threatens his property empire.
An exasperated Judge Arthur Engoron told Mr Trump the hearing in Manhattan was not a political rally.
New York's attorney general is seeking a $250m (£202m) fine and severe restrictions on the family business.
Judge Engoron has already ruled the Trump Organization committed fraud. read more
Former US President Donald Trump clashed repeatedly with a judge while testifying in New York at a civil fraud trial that threatens his property empire.
An exasperated Judge Arthur Engoron told Mr Trump the hearing in Manhattan was not a political rally.
New York's attorney general is seeking a $250m (£202m) fine and severe restrictions on the family business.
Judge Engoron has already ruled the Trump Organization committed fraud. read more
Ohio votes to enshrine abortion rights in state constitution
Ohio voted to enshrine abortion rights in its constitution on Tuesday, marking a major victory for pro-choice campaigners in the state.
The BBC's US partner CBS News projected a decisive victory for the amendment.
Early returns showed almost 58% of voters in the conservative-leaning state had backed it.
Its projected success is likely to bolster Democrats' hopes that abortion rights remain a winning issue ahead of elections in 2024. read more
Ohio voted to enshrine abortion rights in its constitution on Tuesday, marking a major victory for pro-choice campaigners in the state.
The BBC's US partner CBS News projected a decisive victory for the amendment.
Early returns showed almost 58% of voters in the conservative-leaning state had backed it.
Its projected success is likely to bolster Democrats' hopes that abortion rights remain a winning issue ahead of elections in 2024. read more
Optus outage: Millions affected by Australian network failure
Millions of Australians were left without mobile and internet after a network failure at telecoms firm Optus.
The failure caused transport delays, cut hospital phone lines, and shut down payment systems.
Optus, the country's second-largest provider, said more than 10 million people and thousands of businesses were affected.
Services were restored after around 12 hours of disruption. Optus said there was no evidence of a cyber attack. read more
Millions of Australians were left without mobile and internet after a network failure at telecoms firm Optus.
The failure caused transport delays, cut hospital phone lines, and shut down payment systems.
Optus, the country's second-largest provider, said more than 10 million people and thousands of businesses were affected.
Services were restored after around 12 hours of disruption. Optus said there was no evidence of a cyber attack. read more
European Commission calls for talks on Ukraine membership
The European Commission has recommended that formal talks should begin with Ukraine on joining the European Union.
The step takes Kyiv closer to the coveted prize of EU membership, five months after the 27 member states gave it candidate status.
Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen praised its "excellent progress, even as it's fighting an existential war."
She said talks should also start with Moldova and that Georgia should become a candidate, if it passed reforms. read more
The European Commission has recommended that formal talks should begin with Ukraine on joining the European Union.
The step takes Kyiv closer to the coveted prize of EU membership, five months after the 27 member states gave it candidate status.
Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen praised its "excellent progress, even as it's fighting an existential war."
She said talks should also start with Moldova and that Georgia should become a candidate, if it passed reforms. read more
'I’m calling from Israeli intelligence. We have the order to bomb. You have two hours'
The call to Mahmoud Shaheen came at dawn.
It was Thursday 19 October at about 06:30, and Israel had been bombing Gaza for 12 days straight.
He'd been in his third-floor, three-bedroom flat in al-Zahra, a middle-class area in the north of the Gaza Strip. Until now, it had been largely untouched by air strikes.
He'd heard a rising clamour outside. People were screaming. "You need to escape," somebody in the street shouted, "because they will bomb the towers". read more
The call to Mahmoud Shaheen came at dawn.
It was Thursday 19 October at about 06:30, and Israel had been bombing Gaza for 12 days straight.
He'd been in his third-floor, three-bedroom flat in al-Zahra, a middle-class area in the north of the Gaza Strip. Until now, it had been largely untouched by air strikes.
He'd heard a rising clamour outside. People were screaming. "You need to escape," somebody in the street shouted, "because they will bomb the towers". read more
Kenya's Ogiek people being evicted for carbon credits - lawyers
Kenya's government is illegally evicting hunter-gatherers from their ancestral lands to profit from carbon offsetting schemes, human rights lawyers say.
Hundreds of members of the Ogiek community are being evicted from the Mau Forest, say their representatives.
Ogiek leader Daniel Kobei said armed forest rangers were "pulling down the houses with axes and hammers".
Kenya's government says such operations are to protect the environment. read more
Kenya's government is illegally evicting hunter-gatherers from their ancestral lands to profit from carbon offsetting schemes, human rights lawyers say.
Hundreds of members of the Ogiek community are being evicted from the Mau Forest, say their representatives.
Ogiek leader Daniel Kobei said armed forest rangers were "pulling down the houses with axes and hammers".
Kenya's government says such operations are to protect the environment. read more
Macron calls on Israel to stop killing Gaza's women and babies
Israel must stop killing babies and women in Gaza, French President Emmanuel Macron has told the BBC.
In an exclusive interview at the Élysée Palace, he said there was "no justification" for the bombing, saying a ceasefire would benefit Israel.
While recognising Israel's right to protect itself, "we do urge them to stop this bombing" in Gaza, he said.
But he also stressed that France "clearly condemns" the "terrorist" actions of Hamas. read more
Israel must stop killing babies and women in Gaza, French President Emmanuel Macron has told the BBC.
In an exclusive interview at the Élysée Palace, he said there was "no justification" for the bombing, saying a ceasefire would benefit Israel.
While recognising Israel's right to protect itself, "we do urge them to stop this bombing" in Gaza, he said.
But he also stressed that France "clearly condemns" the "terrorist" actions of Hamas. read more
Five US troops die in training air crash in eastern Mediterranean
Five American service members have died in a helicopter crash in the eastern Mediterranean, the US military says.
It says the aircraft suffered a mishap while refuelling as part of a routine training exercise.
The US has increased its operations in the region since the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
President Joe Biden paid tribute to the victims, saying service members were putting "their lives on the line for our country every day". read more
Five American service members have died in a helicopter crash in the eastern Mediterranean, the US military says.
It says the aircraft suffered a mishap while refuelling as part of a routine training exercise.
The US has increased its operations in the region since the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
President Joe Biden paid tribute to the victims, saying service members were putting "their lives on the line for our country every day". read more
Iceland quake evacuees return to collect belongings
Residents of an Icelandic town struck by hundreds of earthquakes have briefly been allowed back to their homes to collect belongings.
More than 500 quakes hit the south-western Reykjanes Peninsula on Monday.
Thousands of people have been evacuated from the town of Grindavik, under which most of the tremors have taken place.
A volcanic eruption is still expected, scientists say, despite the quakes being weaker in recent days. read more
Residents of an Icelandic town struck by hundreds of earthquakes have briefly been allowed back to their homes to collect belongings.
More than 500 quakes hit the south-western Reykjanes Peninsula on Monday.
Thousands of people have been evacuated from the town of Grindavik, under which most of the tremors have taken place.
A volcanic eruption is still expected, scientists say, despite the quakes being weaker in recent days. read more
Gaza war: US and UK raise pressure on Israel to protect hospitals
Israel is facing mounting international pressure to protect civilians trapped in Gaza's hospitals, as it released what it said was evidence of a Hamas base in one medical facility.
US President Joe Biden said that Al-Shifa hospital "must be protected" from intense fighting around the complex.
His comments came as Israel released video of what it said was a Hamas hideout under the Rantisi hospital.
It accuses Hamas of using hospitals to hide military bases. Hamas denies this. read more
Israel is facing mounting international pressure to protect civilians trapped in Gaza's hospitals, as it released what it said was evidence of a Hamas base in one medical facility.
US President Joe Biden said that Al-Shifa hospital "must be protected" from intense fighting around the complex.
His comments came as Israel released video of what it said was a Hamas hideout under the Rantisi hospital.
It accuses Hamas of using hospitals to hide military bases. Hamas denies this. read more
Israel-Gaza war: US says Hamas has command centre under Al-Shifa hospital
The US says it has intelligence that Hamas has a command centre under Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City.
National Security spokesman John Kirby said the group stored arms there and were prepared for an Israeli attack.
This is the first time the US has independently backed claims by close ally Israel that Hamas uses hospitals to hide its bases. Hamas denies this.
The statement came as Israel faced mounting global pressure to protect civilians trapped in the hospitals. read more
The US says it has intelligence that Hamas has a command centre under Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City.
National Security spokesman John Kirby said the group stored arms there and were prepared for an Israeli attack.
This is the first time the US has independently backed claims by close ally Israel that Hamas uses hospitals to hide its bases. Hamas denies this.
The statement came as Israel faced mounting global pressure to protect civilians trapped in the hospitals. read more
Xi Jinping arrives in the US as his Chinese Dream sputters
When Xi Jinping stepped off his plane in San Francisco for the Apec summit, it was in circumstances very different to the last time he landed on American soil.
Five years ago, when he was wined and dined by Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Mr Xi was in charge of a China still on the ascendancy.
It had a buoyant economy outperforming forecasts. Its unemployment rate was among the lowest in years. While consolidating his power for a second term, Mr Xi proudly pointed to China's "flourishing" growth model as something other countries could emulate. read more
When Xi Jinping stepped off his plane in San Francisco for the Apec summit, it was in circumstances very different to the last time he landed on American soil.
Five years ago, when he was wined and dined by Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Mr Xi was in charge of a China still on the ascendancy.
It had a buoyant economy outperforming forecasts. Its unemployment rate was among the lowest in years. While consolidating his power for a second term, Mr Xi proudly pointed to China's "flourishing" growth model as something other countries could emulate. read more
US and China agree to resume military communications after summit
The US and China have agreed to resume military-to-military communications in an effort to ease rising tensions, President Joe Biden says.
"We're back to direct, open, clear communications," he said following a rare meeting with China's President Xi Jinping in California on Wednesday.
It was the first time the pair had spoken in person in more than a year.
But there were still signs of tension between the two - Mr Biden repeated his view that Mr Xi is a dictator. read more
The US and China have agreed to resume military-to-military communications in an effort to ease rising tensions, President Joe Biden says.
"We're back to direct, open, clear communications," he said following a rare meeting with China's President Xi Jinping in California on Wednesday.
It was the first time the pair had spoken in person in more than a year.
But there were still signs of tension between the two - Mr Biden repeated his view that Mr Xi is a dictator. read more
Al-Shifa Hospital director in Gaza says no water or oxygen left
The director of the Gaza Strip's main hospital raided by Israeli soldiers says the facility has now run out of oxygen and water, and patients "are screaming from thirst".
Muhammad Abu Salmiya said the conditions were "tragic" in Al-Shifa, where there were more than 650 patients, 500 medical staff and 5,000 displaced people.
Israeli tanks were surrounding the hospital in Gaza City, he said, with drones buzzing overhead and Israeli soldiers still moving around inside, as their search of the complex lasted a second day. read more
The director of the Gaza Strip's main hospital raided by Israeli soldiers says the facility has now run out of oxygen and water, and patients "are screaming from thirst".
Muhammad Abu Salmiya said the conditions were "tragic" in Al-Shifa, where there were more than 650 patients, 500 medical staff and 5,000 displaced people.
Israeli tanks were surrounding the hospital in Gaza City, he said, with drones buzzing overhead and Israeli soldiers still moving around inside, as their search of the complex lasted a second day. read more
Bowen: Ceasefire demands will grow without proof of Hamas HQ at Al-Shifa
It is now days since Israeli forces entered Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, and what appears to be happening on Friday is that they are continuing their search for evidence of this being a key Hamas command centre.
We have to remember that there is no independent scrutiny inside the hospital; journalists cannot move freely into Gaza, and any who are reporting from the site are working under the aegis of the Israeli military.
The evidence Israel has produced, so far, I do not believe to be convincing in terms of the kind of rhetoric Israelis were using about the set-up at the hospital, which suggested this was a nerve centre for the Hamas operation. read more
It is now days since Israeli forces entered Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, and what appears to be happening on Friday is that they are continuing their search for evidence of this being a key Hamas command centre.
We have to remember that there is no independent scrutiny inside the hospital; journalists cannot move freely into Gaza, and any who are reporting from the site are working under the aegis of the Israeli military.
The evidence Israel has produced, so far, I do not believe to be convincing in terms of the kind of rhetoric Israelis were using about the set-up at the hospital, which suggested this was a nerve centre for the Hamas operation. read more
China navy used sonar pulses against divers, Australia says
Australia has accused China's navy of using sonar pulses in an incident in international waters that resulted in Australian divers suffering injuries.
The Australian defence minister said a Chinese warship had resorted to "unsafe and unprofessional" actions during the encounter off Japan earlier this week.
The warship approached an Australian frigate as divers were clearing fishing nets from its propellers, he said.
The Chinese ship then emitted dangerous sonar pulses, the minister added. read more
Australia has accused China's navy of using sonar pulses in an incident in international waters that resulted in Australian divers suffering injuries.
The Australian defence minister said a Chinese warship had resorted to "unsafe and unprofessional" actions during the encounter off Japan earlier this week.
The warship approached an Australian frigate as divers were clearing fishing nets from its propellers, he said.
The Chinese ship then emitted dangerous sonar pulses, the minister added. read more
WHO says Gaza's al-Shifa hospital a death zone, as hundreds leave
The World Health Organization (WHO) has described al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City as a "death zone" after a visit to the complex.
A joint UN team led by the WHO assessed the hospital for one hour following its occupation and evacuation by the Israeli military.
The team said they saw evidence of shelling and gunfire and observed a mass grave at the hospital's entrance.
They were told it held the remains of 80 people.
Following an evacuation which the hospital director said was ordered by the Israeli army but which the army said was requested by the director, 300 critically ill patients remain in al-Shifa - formerly the largest and most advanced hospital in Gaza. read more
The World Health Organization (WHO) has described al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City as a "death zone" after a visit to the complex.
A joint UN team led by the WHO assessed the hospital for one hour following its occupation and evacuation by the Israeli military.
The team said they saw evidence of shelling and gunfire and observed a mass grave at the hospital's entrance.
They were told it held the remains of 80 people.
Following an evacuation which the hospital director said was ordered by the Israeli army but which the army said was requested by the director, 300 critically ill patients remain in al-Shifa - formerly the largest and most advanced hospital in Gaza. read more
Sacked OpenAI boss Sam Altman to join Microsoft
Sam Altman is joining Microsoft, the tech-giant has announced, ending speculation he might return to OpenAI just 48 hours after his chaotic ousting.
Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Mr Altman would be joining Microsoft to lead "a new advanced AI research team".
Meanwhile, ex-Twitch CEO Emmett Shear will become OpenAI's new boss.
Writing on X, he called the job a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity". read more
Sam Altman is joining Microsoft, the tech-giant has announced, ending speculation he might return to OpenAI just 48 hours after his chaotic ousting.
Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Mr Altman would be joining Microsoft to lead "a new advanced AI research team".
Meanwhile, ex-Twitch CEO Emmett Shear will become OpenAI's new boss.
Writing on X, he called the job a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity". read more