UN agencies to start rollout of Gaza polio vaccines
UN agencies and local health officials in the Gaza Strip are launching an ambitious campaign to vaccinate 640,000 children against polio.
The rollout relies on a series of localised pauses in fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters, with the first window set to begin on Sunday.
To be effective, the World Health Organization (WHO) says at least 90% of children under 10 must be immunised in a short time frame. read more
UN agencies and local health officials in the Gaza Strip are launching an ambitious campaign to vaccinate 640,000 children against polio.
The rollout relies on a series of localised pauses in fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters, with the first window set to begin on Sunday.
To be effective, the World Health Organization (WHO) says at least 90% of children under 10 must be immunised in a short time frame. read more
Top Brazil court to vote on ban of Musk's X
Brazil's Supreme Court will vote on Monday on whether or not to uphold a ruling to ban social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Justice Alexandre Moraes called for the vote after the platform was suspended in the country in the early hours of Saturday.
It came after X failed to appoint a new legal representative in Brazil before a court-imposed deadline. read more
Brazil's Supreme Court will vote on Monday on whether or not to uphold a ruling to ban social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Justice Alexandre Moraes called for the vote after the platform was suspended in the country in the early hours of Saturday.
It came after X failed to appoint a new legal representative in Brazil before a court-imposed deadline. read more
'Chinese spy mayor' wanted by Philippines arrested
A former Philippine mayor who was on the run for weeks after being accused of spying for China has been arrested in Indonesia.
Philippine authorities have been pursuing Alice Guo across four countries even since she disappeared in July following an investigation into her alleged criminal activities.
She has been accused of protecting online casinos, which were a front for scam centres and human trafficking syndicates in her sleepy pig farming town, Bamban. read more
A former Philippine mayor who was on the run for weeks after being accused of spying for China has been arrested in Indonesia.
Philippine authorities have been pursuing Alice Guo across four countries even since she disappeared in July following an investigation into her alleged criminal activities.
She has been accused of protecting online casinos, which were a front for scam centres and human trafficking syndicates in her sleepy pig farming town, Bamban. read more
Michel Barnier named by Macron as new French PM
French President Emmanuel Macron has named Michel Barnier as prime minister almost two months after France's snap elections ended in political deadlock.
Mr Barnier, 73, is the EU's former chief Brexit negotiator and led talks with the UK government between 2016 and 2019.
A veteran of the right-wing Republicans (LR) party, he has had a long political career and filled various senior posts, both in France and within the EU. read more
French President Emmanuel Macron has named Michel Barnier as prime minister almost two months after France's snap elections ended in political deadlock.
Mr Barnier, 73, is the EU's former chief Brexit negotiator and led talks with the UK government between 2016 and 2019.
A veteran of the right-wing Republicans (LR) party, he has had a long political career and filled various senior posts, both in France and within the EU. read more
Telegram CEO Durov says his arrest 'misguided'
Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov has hit out at French authorities, calling his arrest last week in relation to allegations of insufficient moderation on the messaging app "misguided".
In his first public statement since he was detained, he denied claims that Telegram is "some sort of anarchic paradise" as "absolutely untrue".
Mr Durov was arrested on 25 August at an airport north of Paris and has since been charged over suspected complicity in allowing illicit transactions, drug trafficking, fraud and the spread of child sex abuse images to flourish on his site. read more
Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov has hit out at French authorities, calling his arrest last week in relation to allegations of insufficient moderation on the messaging app "misguided".
In his first public statement since he was detained, he denied claims that Telegram is "some sort of anarchic paradise" as "absolutely untrue".
Mr Durov was arrested on 25 August at an airport north of Paris and has since been charged over suspected complicity in allowing illicit transactions, drug trafficking, fraud and the spread of child sex abuse images to flourish on his site. read more
Thousands protest over Macron's choice of PM
Thousands of people are demonstrating across France over the nomination of right-wing Michel Barnier as the new prime minister, after an inconclusive election in which the left won the largest number of seats.
More than 100 protests are expected to take place on Saturday, in cities including Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice and Le Mans. read more
Thousands of people are demonstrating across France over the nomination of right-wing Michel Barnier as the new prime minister, after an inconclusive election in which the left won the largest number of seats.
More than 100 protests are expected to take place on Saturday, in cities including Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice and Le Mans. read more
Three Israelis shot dead at West Bank-Jordan border
Three people have been killed in an attack at the border between Jordan and the occupied West Bank, Israeli officials say.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said three Israeli civilians were killed in the shooting at the Allenby Bridge crossing.
The attacker approached the area from the Jordanian side in a truck, then got out and opened fire, the IDF said. read more
Three people have been killed in an attack at the border between Jordan and the occupied West Bank, Israeli officials say.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said three Israeli civilians were killed in the shooting at the Allenby Bridge crossing.
The attacker approached the area from the Jordanian side in a truck, then got out and opened fire, the IDF said. read more
Hamas says Israeli strikes kill 40 in Gaza safe zone
At least 40 people have been killed in southern Gaza and dozens more injured in Israeli strikes on a designated humanitarian zone, the Hamas-run Civil Defence authority said.
The Israeli military said its aircraft attacked an operations centre in Khan Younis belonging to Hamas fighters, and that it had taken steps to mitigate risk of harming civilians.
Local residents said three strikes targeted tents housing displaced people in the humanitarian zone of al-Mawasi, west of the city of Khan Younis, causing huge craters seven metres deep. read more
At least 40 people have been killed in southern Gaza and dozens more injured in Israeli strikes on a designated humanitarian zone, the Hamas-run Civil Defence authority said.
The Israeli military said its aircraft attacked an operations centre in Khan Younis belonging to Hamas fighters, and that it had taken steps to mitigate risk of harming civilians.
Local residents said three strikes targeted tents housing displaced people in the humanitarian zone of al-Mawasi, west of the city of Khan Younis, causing huge craters seven metres deep. read more
Putin draws new red line on long-range missiles
The headline in this morning’s Kommersant newspaper captured the drama.
“Vladimir Putin draws his red line.”
Will the West cross it? And, if it does, how will Russia respond?
Speaking in St Petersburg, President Putin sent a clear warning to the West: don’t allow Ukraine to use your long-range missiles to strike Russian territory.
Moscow, he said, would view that as the “direct participation” of Nato countries in the war in Ukraine. read more
The headline in this morning’s Kommersant newspaper captured the drama.
“Vladimir Putin draws his red line.”
Will the West cross it? And, if it does, how will Russia respond?
Speaking in St Petersburg, President Putin sent a clear warning to the West: don’t allow Ukraine to use your long-range missiles to strike Russian territory.
Moscow, he said, would view that as the “direct participation” of Nato countries in the war in Ukraine. read more
Gunman lurked for hours before Trump's last-minute game of golf
A gunman hid for nearly 12 hours in bushes before Donald Trump played an unscheduled game of golf at his oceanfront club in Florida – leaving locals stunned at what authorities say appears to be the second attempt to assassinate the former president in as many months.
It was hot and cloudy on Sunday afternoon when Trump and his good friend, real estate developer Steve Witkoff, arrived on the course of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. read more
A gunman hid for nearly 12 hours in bushes before Donald Trump played an unscheduled game of golf at his oceanfront club in Florida – leaving locals stunned at what authorities say appears to be the second attempt to assassinate the former president in as many months.
It was hot and cloudy on Sunday afternoon when Trump and his good friend, real estate developer Steve Witkoff, arrived on the course of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. read more
Israel says 100 Hezbollah rocket launchers hit in Lebanon
Israel has carried out extensive air strikes on southern Lebanon, saying its warplanes have hit more than 100 Hezbollah rocket launchers and other "terrorist sites" including a weapons storage facility.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the launchers were ready to be fired against Israel. It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties. read more
Israel has carried out extensive air strikes on southern Lebanon, saying its warplanes have hit more than 100 Hezbollah rocket launchers and other "terrorist sites" including a weapons storage facility.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the launchers were ready to be fired against Israel. It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties. read more
Israeli air strikes kill 492 people in Lebanon
At least 492 people have been killed in intense and wide-ranging Israeli air strikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon, the country’s health ministry says, in the deadliest day of conflict there in almost 20 years.
Thousands of families have also fled their homes as the Israeli military said it hit 1,300 Hezbollah targets in an operation to destroy infrastructure that the armed group had built up since the 2006 war.
Hezbollah, meanwhile, launched more than 200 rockets into northern Israel, according to the military. Paramedics said two people were injured by shrapnel. read more
At least 492 people have been killed in intense and wide-ranging Israeli air strikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon, the country’s health ministry says, in the deadliest day of conflict there in almost 20 years.
Thousands of families have also fled their homes as the Israeli military said it hit 1,300 Hezbollah targets in an operation to destroy infrastructure that the armed group had built up since the 2006 war.
Hezbollah, meanwhile, launched more than 200 rockets into northern Israel, according to the military. Paramedics said two people were injured by shrapnel. read more
Marine Le Pen on trial for alleged EU funds misuse
Marine Le Pen, long-time leader of France’s far-right National Rally and presidential hopeful, goes on trial in Paris on Monday accused of misusing European parliamentary funds.
More than 20 other senior figures in the party are also facing the same charges. They are accused of hiring assistants who worked on party affairs rather than for the European parliament which paid them. read more
Marine Le Pen, long-time leader of France’s far-right National Rally and presidential hopeful, goes on trial in Paris on Monday accused of misusing European parliamentary funds.
More than 20 other senior figures in the party are also facing the same charges. They are accused of hiring assistants who worked on party affairs rather than for the European parliament which paid them. read more
US warships and planes strike Houthi targets in Yemen
The US military says it has launched strikes on the Iranian-backed Houthi group in Yemen, hitting 15 targets.
The Pentagon said it used aircrafts and warships to launch the attacks in order "to protect freedom of navigation".
Several explosions were reported in some of Yemen’s main cities, including the capital Sanaa. read more
The US military says it has launched strikes on the Iranian-backed Houthi group in Yemen, hitting 15 targets.
The Pentagon said it used aircrafts and warships to launch the attacks in order "to protect freedom of navigation".
Several explosions were reported in some of Yemen’s main cities, including the capital Sanaa. read more
Lebanon hospitals close as Israeli strikes hit health facilities
At least four hospitals in Lebanon announced on Friday that they were suspending work because of Israeli strikes, while a Hezbollah-affiliated health organisation said that 11 paramedics had been killed in the past 24 hours.
The four closures capped two weeks of Israeli strikes on hospitals and healthcare workers in Lebanon that have shuttered at least 37 facilities and killed dozens of medical staff, according to the World Health Organisation. read more
At least four hospitals in Lebanon announced on Friday that they were suspending work because of Israeli strikes, while a Hezbollah-affiliated health organisation said that 11 paramedics had been killed in the past 24 hours.
The four closures capped two weeks of Israeli strikes on hospitals and healthcare workers in Lebanon that have shuttered at least 37 facilities and killed dozens of medical staff, according to the World Health Organisation. read more
Israeli strikes on Gaza mosque and school kill 26, health ministry says
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says 26 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes on a mosque and school housing displaced Palestinians in the centre of the territory.
Dozens of people were also injured in strikes that hit Ibn Rushd school and Al-Aqsa Martyrs mosque in Deir al-Balah early on Sunday morning, the ministry said.
The Israeli military said it had targeted Hamas militants operating within "command and control" centres at the sites. read more
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says 26 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes on a mosque and school housing displaced Palestinians in the centre of the territory.
Dozens of people were also injured in strikes that hit Ibn Rushd school and Al-Aqsa Martyrs mosque in Deir al-Balah early on Sunday morning, the ministry said.
The Israeli military said it had targeted Hamas militants operating within "command and control" centres at the sites. read more
Bowen: Year of killing and broken assumptions has taken Middle East to edge of deeper, wider war
Millions of people in the Middle East dream of safe, quiet lives without drama and violent death. The last year of war, as bad as any in the region in modern times, has shown yet again that dreams of peace cannot come true while deep political, strategic and religious fault lines remain unbridged. Once again, war is reshaping the politics of the Middle East.
The Hamas offensive came out of well over a century of unresolved conflict. After Hamas burst through the thinly defended border, it inflicted the worst day the Israelis had suffered. read more
Millions of people in the Middle East dream of safe, quiet lives without drama and violent death. The last year of war, as bad as any in the region in modern times, has shown yet again that dreams of peace cannot come true while deep political, strategic and religious fault lines remain unbridged. Once again, war is reshaping the politics of the Middle East.
The Hamas offensive came out of well over a century of unresolved conflict. After Hamas burst through the thinly defended border, it inflicted the worst day the Israelis had suffered. read more
'Godfather of AI' shares Nobel Physics Prize
The Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to two scientists, Geoffrey Hinton and John Hopfield, for their work on machine learning.
British-Canadian Professor Hinton is sometimes referred to as the "Godfather of AI" and said he was flabbergasted.
He resigned from Google in 2023, and has warned about the dangers of machines that could outsmart humans. read more
The Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to two scientists, Geoffrey Hinton and John Hopfield, for their work on machine learning.
British-Canadian Professor Hinton is sometimes referred to as the "Godfather of AI" and said he was flabbergasted.
He resigned from Google in 2023, and has warned about the dangers of machines that could outsmart humans. read more
22 killed in Israeli strikes on Beirut, Lebanon says
Twenty-two people have been killed and 117 injured in Israeli air strikes on central Beirut on Thursday evening, Lebanon's health ministry said.
BBC reporters heard loud explosions echoing from the site of the strikes in Bachoura, a small Shia area in the capital. Rescuers were seen digging through rubble at the scene.
Ambulances rushed many injured to the American University hospital. read more
Twenty-two people have been killed and 117 injured in Israeli air strikes on central Beirut on Thursday evening, Lebanon's health ministry said.
BBC reporters heard loud explosions echoing from the site of the strikes in Bachoura, a small Shia area in the capital. Rescuers were seen digging through rubble at the scene.
Ambulances rushed many injured to the American University hospital. read more
Man with guns arrested near Trump rally, then released
A man in illegal possession of a shotgun and a loaded handgun was arrested at an intersection near Donald Trump's rally in Coachella, California, on Saturday, police said.
The 49-year-old suspect, Vem Miller, was driving a black SUV when he was stopped at a security checkpoint by officers, who located the two firearms and a "high-capacity magazine".
Mr Miller was then taken into custody "without incident", the Riverside County Sheriff's office said. He was later released and told US media he was a Trump supporter who was not planning to harm the Republican presidential candidate. read more
A man in illegal possession of a shotgun and a loaded handgun was arrested at an intersection near Donald Trump's rally in Coachella, California, on Saturday, police said.
The 49-year-old suspect, Vem Miller, was driving a black SUV when he was stopped at a security checkpoint by officers, who located the two firearms and a "high-capacity magazine".
Mr Miller was then taken into custody "without incident", the Riverside County Sheriff's office said. He was later released and told US media he was a Trump supporter who was not planning to harm the Republican presidential candidate. read more
One Direction star Liam Payne dies after balcony fall
Liam Payne, the former One Direction star, has died aged 31 in Argentina after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, police say.
In a statement, police said they discovered Payne's body after an emergency crew responded to an call in the upscale neighbourhood of Palermo on Wednesday.
Payne had risen to global fame as part of the much-loved boyband created on the X Factor TV show in 2010, along with Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik. read more
Liam Payne, the former One Direction star, has died aged 31 in Argentina after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, police say.
In a statement, police said they discovered Payne's body after an emergency crew responded to an call in the upscale neighbourhood of Palermo on Wednesday.
Payne had risen to global fame as part of the much-loved boyband created on the X Factor TV show in 2010, along with Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik. read more