James Webb telescope takes super sharp view of early cosmos
The first full-colour picture from the new James Webb Space Telescope has been released - and it doesn't disappoint.
The image is said to be the deepest, most detailed infrared view of the Universe to date, containing the light from galaxies that has taken many billions of years to reach us.
US President Joe Biden was shown the image during a White House briefing.
Further debut pictures from James Webb are due to be released by Nasa in a global presentation on Tuesday. read more
The first full-colour picture from the new James Webb Space Telescope has been released - and it doesn't disappoint.
The image is said to be the deepest, most detailed infrared view of the Universe to date, containing the light from galaxies that has taken many billions of years to reach us.
US President Joe Biden was shown the image during a White House briefing.
Further debut pictures from James Webb are due to be released by Nasa in a global presentation on Tuesday. read more
SAS unit repeatedly killed Afghan detainees, BBC finds
SAS operatives in Afghanistan repeatedly killed detainees and unarmed men in suspicious circumstances, according to a BBC investigation.
Newly obtained military reports suggest that one unit may have unlawfully killed 54 people in one six-month tour.
The BBC found evidence suggesting the former head of special forces failed to pass on evidence to a murder inquiry.
The Ministry of Defence said British troops "served with courage and professionalism in Afghanistan". read more
SAS operatives in Afghanistan repeatedly killed detainees and unarmed men in suspicious circumstances, according to a BBC investigation.
Newly obtained military reports suggest that one unit may have unlawfully killed 54 people in one six-month tour.
The BBC found evidence suggesting the former head of special forces failed to pass on evidence to a murder inquiry.
The Ministry of Defence said British troops "served with courage and professionalism in Afghanistan". read more
Sri Lanka: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flees the country on military jet
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled Sri Lanka on a military jet, amid mass protests over its economic crisis.
The country's air force confirmed the 73-year-old flew to the Maldives with his wife and two security officials.
They arrived in the capital, Male, at around 03:00 local time (22:00 GMT), BBC Sinhala understands.
Mr Rajapaksa's departure ends a family dynasty that has ruled Sri Lanka for decades.
The president had been in hiding after crowds stormed his residence on Saturday, and had pledged to resign on Wednesday 13 July. read more
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled Sri Lanka on a military jet, amid mass protests over its economic crisis.
The country's air force confirmed the 73-year-old flew to the Maldives with his wife and two security officials.
They arrived in the capital, Male, at around 03:00 local time (22:00 GMT), BBC Sinhala understands.
Mr Rajapaksa's departure ends a family dynasty that has ruled Sri Lanka for decades.
The president had been in hiding after crowds stormed his residence on Saturday, and had pledged to resign on Wednesday 13 July. read more
SAS killings: How a scandal was uncovered
Panorama has revealed disturbing evidence of war crimes by the SAS in Afghanistan - and of subsequent attempts to cover them up. Hannah O'Grady describes how a series of alleged murders of civilians was finally brought to light.
Getting to the bottom of this story involved four years of painstaking detective work.
Crucial to this was a cache of internal emails from within the headquarters of UK Special Forces (UKSF) - the military directorate that oversees the SAS. These contained a handful of details about previously classified deadly raids that senior UKSF officers had considered suspicious back in 2011. At the time, British troops were still fighting the Taliban alongside allies in Afghanistan. read more
Panorama has revealed disturbing evidence of war crimes by the SAS in Afghanistan - and of subsequent attempts to cover them up. Hannah O'Grady describes how a series of alleged murders of civilians was finally brought to light.
Getting to the bottom of this story involved four years of painstaking detective work.
Crucial to this was a cache of internal emails from within the headquarters of UK Special Forces (UKSF) - the military directorate that oversees the SAS. These contained a handful of details about previously classified deadly raids that senior UKSF officers had considered suspicious back in 2011. At the time, British troops were still fighting the Taliban alongside allies in Afghanistan. read more
Sri Lanka PM tells military to do whatever necessary to restore order
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has told the military to do "whatever is necessary to restore order" after protesters stormed his office on Wednesday.
Mr Wickremesinghe has been appointed acting president by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has fled the country.
But the decision to leave him in charge triggered further protests demanding that the prime minister must also go.
Sri Lanka has been suffering from its worst economic crisis in decades. read more
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has told the military to do "whatever is necessary to restore order" after protesters stormed his office on Wednesday.
Mr Wickremesinghe has been appointed acting president by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has fled the country.
But the decision to leave him in charge triggered further protests demanding that the prime minister must also go.
Sri Lanka has been suffering from its worst economic crisis in decades. read more
Netflix and Microsoft team up for cheaper plan with adverts
Netflix has teamed up with Microsoft to offer a cheaper subscription plan to customers that will show adverts.
The streaming giant says the service will be an "addition" to its existing plans, which do not include adverts.
The company has not yet revealed how much it plans to charge subscribers for the new service.
Netflix announced the move after it reported its first subscriber loss in more than a decade and cut hundreds of jobs earlier this year. read more
Netflix has teamed up with Microsoft to offer a cheaper subscription plan to customers that will show adverts.
The streaming giant says the service will be an "addition" to its existing plans, which do not include adverts.
The company has not yet revealed how much it plans to charge subscribers for the new service.
Netflix announced the move after it reported its first subscriber loss in more than a decade and cut hundreds of jobs earlier this year. read more
Why Biden's Saudi trip has proved so thorny
The day after the White House announced President Joe Biden's trip to Saudi Arabia, a group of activists gathered to christen the street outside its Washington embassy "Khashoggi Way".
They declared it would be a daily reminder to the diplomats "hiding behind those doors" that the kingdom's government was responsible for the 2018 murder of the Saudi journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi.
And they denounced President Biden's decision to meet the man fingered by US intelligence as having ordered the killing - Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, widely known as MBS.
"If you have to put oil over principles and expediency over values," said Khashoggi's fiancé Hatice Cengiz in remarks read at the event, "can you at least ask where is Jamal's body? Doesn't he deserve a proper burial?" read more
The day after the White House announced President Joe Biden's trip to Saudi Arabia, a group of activists gathered to christen the street outside its Washington embassy "Khashoggi Way".
They declared it would be a daily reminder to the diplomats "hiding behind those doors" that the kingdom's government was responsible for the 2018 murder of the Saudi journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi.
And they denounced President Biden's decision to meet the man fingered by US intelligence as having ordered the killing - Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, widely known as MBS.
"If you have to put oil over principles and expediency over values," said Khashoggi's fiancé Hatice Cengiz in remarks read at the event, "can you at least ask where is Jamal's body? Doesn't he deserve a proper burial?" read more
Sri Lanka swears in Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting leader after mass protests
Sri Lanka's prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been sworn in as acting president as the country reels from an economic crisis and unrest.
He replaces Gotabaya Rajapaksa who fled to Singapore after unprecedented mass protests which saw demonstrators overrun the presidential palace.
Protesters defied a curfew to celebrate his resignation during the night.
Sri Lanka is experiencing economic chaos as it faces an acute shortage of food, fuel and other basic supplies.
The process of parliament electing a new president will begin on Saturday, with MPs likely to take a vote in a week's time. read more
Sri Lanka's prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been sworn in as acting president as the country reels from an economic crisis and unrest.
He replaces Gotabaya Rajapaksa who fled to Singapore after unprecedented mass protests which saw demonstrators overrun the presidential palace.
Protesters defied a curfew to celebrate his resignation during the night.
Sri Lanka is experiencing economic chaos as it faces an acute shortage of food, fuel and other basic supplies.
The process of parliament electing a new president will begin on Saturday, with MPs likely to take a vote in a week's time. read more
Saudi Arabia: Biden raised Khashoggi murder with crown prince
US President Joe Biden says he raised the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Mr Biden is in Saudi Arabia to rebuild relations, having previously promised to make the country a "pariah" over its human rights record.
He said he had made it clear the killing in 2018 was "vitally important to me and the United States".
But he also said the two countries reached agreements on other issues.
Mr Biden's visit has been criticised as validating the Saudi government following the murder of the US-based Saudi dissident journalist Khashoggi in October 2018 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. read more
US President Joe Biden says he raised the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Mr Biden is in Saudi Arabia to rebuild relations, having previously promised to make the country a "pariah" over its human rights record.
He said he had made it clear the killing in 2018 was "vitally important to me and the United States".
But he also said the two countries reached agreements on other issues.
Mr Biden's visit has been criticised as validating the Saudi government following the murder of the US-based Saudi dissident journalist Khashoggi in October 2018 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. read more
Shaking head and mean goose among new emojis
A shaking head, new heart colours and a familiar goose are among a new group of emojis set to be released this year.
Unicode Consortium's list contains only 31 new emojis, which expand what can be said through pictures and symbols in text and online messages.
This is a much smaller release than last year's 112 emojis, which included pregnant people, a crutch and a low battery sign.
The succinct release has been met with a mostly positive response online.
The emojis will go through a final round of approval in September before they are released. read more
A shaking head, new heart colours and a familiar goose are among a new group of emojis set to be released this year.
Unicode Consortium's list contains only 31 new emojis, which expand what can be said through pictures and symbols in text and online messages.
This is a much smaller release than last year's 112 emojis, which included pregnant people, a crutch and a low battery sign.
The succinct release has been met with a mostly positive response online.
The emojis will go through a final round of approval in September before they are released. read more
Europe heatwave: Deadly wildfires spread in Mediterranean
Thousands of firefighters are battling wildfires in Portugal, Spain and southwestern France, in the grip of a heatwave that shows no sign of easing.
In northern Portugal, a pilot died when his waterbombing plane crashed in the Foz Coa area, near the Spanish border.
Fires are ravaging areas of France's Gironde region, where more than 12,000 people have been evacuated.
In southern Spain, near the Costa del Sol, about 2,300 people had to flee a wildfire spreading in the Mijas hills. read more
Thousands of firefighters are battling wildfires in Portugal, Spain and southwestern France, in the grip of a heatwave that shows no sign of easing.
In northern Portugal, a pilot died when his waterbombing plane crashed in the Foz Coa area, near the Spanish border.
Fires are ravaging areas of France's Gironde region, where more than 12,000 people have been evacuated.
In southern Spain, near the Costa del Sol, about 2,300 people had to flee a wildfire spreading in the Mijas hills. read more
Pacific Islands urge unity in face of China ambition
The Pacific Islands Forum calls itself a family.
Fourteen islands scattered across the vast Pacific Ocean, along with Australia and New Zealand, connected by their natural environment, faith, culture and traditional knowledge.
Nowadays they also share challenges: a very real threat from rising sea levels, more frequent storms and economies crippled by Covid-19.
But the regional bloc's first face-to-face meeting in almost three years in Fiji's capital Suva didn't turn out to be the warm reunion many expected.
A day before the event began, Kiribati - one of the most isolated islands in the world - made a surprise announcement that it wouldn't attend the summit and quit the bloc altogether. read more
The Pacific Islands Forum calls itself a family.
Fourteen islands scattered across the vast Pacific Ocean, along with Australia and New Zealand, connected by their natural environment, faith, culture and traditional knowledge.
Nowadays they also share challenges: a very real threat from rising sea levels, more frequent storms and economies crippled by Covid-19.
But the regional bloc's first face-to-face meeting in almost three years in Fiji's capital Suva didn't turn out to be the warm reunion many expected.
A day before the event began, Kiribati - one of the most isolated islands in the world - made a surprise announcement that it wouldn't attend the summit and quit the bloc altogether. read more
Ukraine war: Zelensky fires security chief and top prosecutor
President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired the head of Ukraine's security agency (SBU) and the prosecutor general, citing many cases of treason in the two powerful organisations.
He said more than 60 former employees were now working against Ukraine in Russian-occupied areas.
A total of 651 collaboration and treason cases had been opened against law enforcement officials, he added.
The sacked officials, Ivan Bakanov and Iryna Venediktova, have not commented.
In his video address late on Sunday, Mr Zelensky said: "Such an array of crimes against the foundations of the national security of the state... pose very serious questions to the relevant heads [of the two organisations]. read more
President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired the head of Ukraine's security agency (SBU) and the prosecutor general, citing many cases of treason in the two powerful organisations.
He said more than 60 former employees were now working against Ukraine in Russian-occupied areas.
A total of 651 collaboration and treason cases had been opened against law enforcement officials, he added.
The sacked officials, Ivan Bakanov and Iryna Venediktova, have not commented.
In his video address late on Sunday, Mr Zelensky said: "Such an array of crimes against the foundations of the national security of the state... pose very serious questions to the relevant heads [of the two organisations]. read more
Amazon targets 10,000 fake review Facebook groups
Amazon is taking legal action against the administrators of more than 10,000 Facebook groups, the BBC has learned.
It says the groups are generating fake reviews on Amazon marketplaces in the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Japan.
The tech giant says the groups offer money or free goods in exchange for reviews being posted on Amazon.
One of the groups, removed earlier this year by Facebook's parent company Meta, had 43,000 members.
It was called "Amazon Product Review".
Once the people in the group had purchased selected products and left their reviews, the administrators would refund them. A wide range of goods was involved, including car stereos and camera tripods. read more
Amazon is taking legal action against the administrators of more than 10,000 Facebook groups, the BBC has learned.
It says the groups are generating fake reviews on Amazon marketplaces in the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Japan.
The tech giant says the groups offer money or free goods in exchange for reviews being posted on Amazon.
One of the groups, removed earlier this year by Facebook's parent company Meta, had 43,000 members.
It was called "Amazon Product Review".
Once the people in the group had purchased selected products and left their reviews, the administrators would refund them. A wide range of goods was involved, including car stereos and camera tripods. read more
Forwarded from Cryptordinary
ApeCoin price eyes 45% rally following Otherside metaverse demo
ApeCoin (APE) rallied to start the week as traders considered Yuga Labs’ decision to open its Otherside metaverse for selected users. In doing so, the token broke out of a technical pattern that hints at another 45% price rally by September 2022. read more
ApeCoin (APE) rallied to start the week as traders considered Yuga Labs’ decision to open its Otherside metaverse for selected users. In doing so, the token broke out of a technical pattern that hints at another 45% price rally by September 2022. read more
Ukraine war: Putin to visit Iran in rare international trip
Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Iran on Tuesday in just his second foreign trip since he launched the invasion of Ukraine in February.
Mr Putin will meet Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Grain exports, Syria and Ukraine will be discussed in Tehran, a Turkish official said.
The Russian leader has limited his international visits to former Soviet states since war broke out in Ukraine.
In June, Mr Putin made his first international trip since February when he visited Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, both former members of the USSR now led by authoritarian rulers and Russian allies. read more
Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Iran on Tuesday in just his second foreign trip since he launched the invasion of Ukraine in February.
Mr Putin will meet Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Grain exports, Syria and Ukraine will be discussed in Tehran, a Turkish official said.
The Russian leader has limited his international visits to former Soviet states since war broke out in Ukraine.
In June, Mr Putin made his first international trip since February when he visited Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, both former members of the USSR now led by authoritarian rulers and Russian allies. read more
Ukraine war: Russia plans to annex Ukrainian land - US
Russia plans to annex more Ukrainian territory using a similar "playbook" to its takeover of Crimea, the US says.
Citing US intelligence, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Russia is already laying the groundwork for annexation.
Occupied regions of Ukraine could hold "sham" referenda on joining Russia as soon as September, he said.
Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 after a referendum which was widely viewed as illegitimate. read more
Russia plans to annex more Ukrainian territory using a similar "playbook" to its takeover of Crimea, the US says.
Citing US intelligence, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Russia is already laying the groundwork for annexation.
Occupied regions of Ukraine could hold "sham" referenda on joining Russia as soon as September, he said.
Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 after a referendum which was widely viewed as illegitimate. read more
Apple settles US butterfly-keyboard legal action for $50m
Apple has agreed to pay $50m (£41.6m) to settle a legal action by claimants in the US, over its MacBook keyboards.
Customers in seven states claimed the technology giant had sold the "butterfly" keyboards, on MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops, from 2015 to 2019, knowing they had unresponsive and sticky keys that could be damaged by dust or debris.
Apple did not immediately respond to a BBC News request for comment.
But the company denies any wrongdoing. read more
Apple has agreed to pay $50m (£41.6m) to settle a legal action by claimants in the US, over its MacBook keyboards.
Customers in seven states claimed the technology giant had sold the "butterfly" keyboards, on MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops, from 2015 to 2019, knowing they had unresponsive and sticky keys that could be damaged by dust or debris.
Apple did not immediately respond to a BBC News request for comment.
But the company denies any wrongdoing. read more
Italian PM Mario Draghi fails in bid to revive government
When Prime Minister Mario Draghi announced that Italians had persuaded him not to resign, for much of Wednesday it looked as if his national unity government would survive.
He called for a new pact and a vote of confidence in the Senate.
But hours later three parties in the coalition said they would not take part in the vote.
Now, after a year and a half, his broad-based government encompassing right and left is set to collapse. read more
When Prime Minister Mario Draghi announced that Italians had persuaded him not to resign, for much of Wednesday it looked as if his national unity government would survive.
He called for a new pact and a vote of confidence in the Senate.
But hours later three parties in the coalition said they would not take part in the vote.
Now, after a year and a half, his broad-based government encompassing right and left is set to collapse. read more
Nord Stream: Key Russian pipeline resumes pumping gas to Europe
Russia has resumed pumping gas to Europe through its biggest pipeline after warnings it could curb or halt supplies altogether.
The Nord Stream 1 pipeline restarted following a 10-day maintenance break but at a reduced level.
On Wednesday, the European Commission urged countries to cut gas use by 15% over the next seven months in case Russia switched off Europe's supply.
Russia supplied Europe with 40% of its natural gas last year.
Germany was the continent's largest importer in 2020, but has reduced its dependence on Russian gas from 55% to 35%. Eventually, it wants to stop using gas from Russia altogether. read more
Russia has resumed pumping gas to Europe through its biggest pipeline after warnings it could curb or halt supplies altogether.
The Nord Stream 1 pipeline restarted following a 10-day maintenance break but at a reduced level.
On Wednesday, the European Commission urged countries to cut gas use by 15% over the next seven months in case Russia switched off Europe's supply.
Russia supplied Europe with 40% of its natural gas last year.
Germany was the continent's largest importer in 2020, but has reduced its dependence on Russian gas from 55% to 35%. Eventually, it wants to stop using gas from Russia altogether. read more
Russia 'looting' steel bound for Europe and UK, says Metinvest boss
Russia is looting $600m (£500m) worth of steel from plants and ports in Ukraine, according to the boss of Ukraine's largest steel firm Metinvest.
The firm owns the Azovstal plant that became the last holdout of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians during the devastation of the city of Mariupol.
Chief executive Yuriy Ryzhenkov said steel was being transferred to Russia and sold on, some of which had been bound for customers in the UK.
The Kremlin has not commented. read more
Russia is looting $600m (£500m) worth of steel from plants and ports in Ukraine, according to the boss of Ukraine's largest steel firm Metinvest.
The firm owns the Azovstal plant that became the last holdout of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians during the devastation of the city of Mariupol.
Chief executive Yuriy Ryzhenkov said steel was being transferred to Russia and sold on, some of which had been bound for customers in the UK.
The Kremlin has not commented. read more