UK Considering Recognising Palestine State, Lord Cameron Says | BBC News

Jan 30, 2024 | Britain is ready to bring forward the moment when it formally recognises a Palestinian state, the foreign secretary has suggested. Lord Cameron said Palestinians had to be given a political horizon to encourage peace in the Middle East. He is beginning his fourth visit to the region since being appointed foreign secretary in November. The UK has a responsibility to set out what a Palestinian state would look like, he told a Westminster reception.

Trump Ordered to Pay $83m in Damages in Defamation Trial | BBC News

Jan 26, 2024 | The jury has decided in Donald Trump's defamation trial brought by the writer E Jean Carroll. Trump has been ordered to pay a total of $83.3m (£65.6m) - made up of $18.3m in compensation damages and $65m in punitive damages.

Trump was in court on Friday for closing arguments - but was not in the room when the verdict was read out. A jury in a previous civil fraud trial found Carroll was sexually abused by Trump in the 1990s, but this case is about comments he made in 2019 while he was president.

The case is one of several legal issues unfolding against Trump while he campaigns for the Republican presidential nomination.

Russian Plane Carrying 65 Ukrainian PoWs Has Crashed, Moscow Says | BBC News

Jan 24, 2024 | A Russian Ilyushin-76 military transport plane has crashed in the southern Belgorod region bordering Ukraine. At least 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed, according to Russia's ministry of defence. Ria Novosti news agency said another nine people were on board, including six crew. None of the details surrounding those on board can be independently verified.

Trump Wins New Hampshire Republican Primary | BBC News

Jan 24, 2024 | Donald Trump has won the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary.

It is a significant victory for the former president and puts him in a commanding position to become the party's presidential candidate in November.

His last remaining rival in the race, Nikki Haley, has vowed to fight on and said "this race is far from over".

Speaking at a campaign stop earlier, front-runner Trump told reporters "I don't care" if Haley stays in the race, adding "let her do whatever she wants".

Joe Biden is projected to win the Democratic primary, but because of a fight within the party those results will not be recognised.

American Mercenaries Hired by UAE to Kill in Yemen | BBC News

Jan 23, 2024 | American mercenaries, hired by the UAE to kill in Yemen, have spoken candidly on camera for the first time in an investigation by BBC Arabic.

At a time when Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping have highlighted the international dimensions of the Yemeni conflict, the investigation also reveals how US mercenaries trained Emirati officers to kill the UAE’s political enemies in Yemen.

These extra-judicial killings, conducted in the name of counter-terrorism, started in 2015 and continue to this day.

Firm Linked to Michelle Mone's Husband Should Face 'Fraud Probe' Say Experts | BBC News

Jan 19, 2024 | The husband of ex-Tory peer Michelle Mone, Doug Barrowman, is connected to a company that tax experts say should be investigated for fraud,

BBC Newsnight has found. Doug Barrowman has previously denied involvement in Vanquish Options, a firm that falsely claimed customers could write off money owed to the government.

But BBC News has identified Vanquish bosses with links to Mr Barrowman and seen emails sent by Vanquish from the same IP address as his Isle of Man HQ.

Mr Barrowman has denied any wrongdoing.

Prince Harry Was Victim of Phone Hacking by Mirror Group Newspapers, Judge Rules - BBC News

Dec 15, 2023 | The High Court has ruled that Prince Harry was the victim of mobile phone hacking by Mirror Group Newspapers and has awarded him £140,600 in damages. Mr Justice Fancourt said that his personal phone was targeted between 2003 and 2009. He said 15 of 33 sample articles were “the product of phone hacking … or the product of other unlawful information gathering". He ruled there was "extensive" phone hacking by Mirror Group Newspapers from 2006 to 2011 The publisher said in a statement that they “apologise unreservedly” for “historical wrongdoing”.

Hungary Blocks €50bn of EU Funding for Ukraine | BBC News

Dec 15, 2023 | Hungary has blocked €50bn ($55bn; £43bn) in EU aid for Ukraine - just hours after an agreement was reached on starting membership talks.

"Summary of the nightshift: veto for the extra money to Ukraine," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said after Thursday's talks in Brussels. EU leaders said the aid negotiations would resume early next year.

The aid blocking was announced by Mr Orbán shortly after the EU leaders decided to open membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova and to grant candidate status to Georgia.

Hungary - which maintains close ties with Russia - has long opposed membership for Ukraine but did not veto that move.


Hungary blocks €50bn in EU aid for Ukraine hours after membership talks approved: Viktor Orbán says extra money to Kyiv had been vetoed but talks would resume in the new year »

Putin Described as 'Most Intelligent Gentleman' by Former Austrian Foreign Minister | BBC News

Dec 7, 2023 | The former Austrian foreign minister Karin Kneissl, who hit the headlines when she danced with Vladimir Putin at her wedding in 2018, has moved to Russia. In an interview, Ms Kneissl claimed that “political pressure” had forced her out of Austria and described President Putin as “the most intelligent gentleman". It comes as this month European Union leaders are set to discuss imposing additional restrictions on Russia over the war in Ukraine, in what would be a twelfth round of sanctions.

Israeli Hostages Released by Hamas | BBC News

Nov 24, 2023 | Twenty-four hostages have been released by Hamas and are now back in Israel. Among them are 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and one Filipino, says Qatar, which has been mediating negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

The Israelis include four children - aged two, four, six and nine - as well as an 85-year-old woman.

Palestinian women and teenagers held by Israel have also been released to the West Bank as part of the deal.

Ina Garten on Success, Home Cooking, and Internet Fame | BBC News

Nov 24, 2023 | Ina Garten – also known as the Barefoot Contessa – is an iconic American cook, author, and television personality.

The BBC’s Katty Kay visits Garten’s home in New York for a conversation about success, failure, and how Garten became one of the most influential figures in the culinary world.

You’re watching Influential with Katty Kay.

Dublin Riots: Police Say More than 30 Arrested - BBC News

Nov 24, 2023 | Ireland's police chief says over 30 people were arrested during riots in Dublin on Thursday, following an earlier knife attack in the city centre which left four people injured.

More than a dozen shops were damaged or looted, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said, and several police vehicles and three buses were destroyed. One police officer was seriously injured in the rioting and many more were hurt, Harris added.

The Commissioner described "huge destruction from a riotous mob", which police have blamed on a "lunatic, hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology".

Earlier on Thursday, police said a five-year-old girl was in emergency care following the knife attack. A woman in her 30s and two other children aged five and six were also injured.

Anti-Islam Populist Geert Wilders Wins Dutch Election | BBC News

Nov 23, 2023 | Geert Wilders, a veteran anti-Islam populist leader, has won a dramatic victory in the Dutch general election, according to the latest forecast. After 25 years in parliament, his Freedom party (PVV) is set to win 37 seats, well ahead of his nearest rival, a left-wing alliance. "The PVV can no longer be ignored," he said. His win has shaken Dutch politics and it will send a shock across Europe too.

Javier Milei Wins Argentina Presidential Run-off Election - BBC News

Nov 20, 2023 | Far-right libertarian outsider Javier Milei has won Argentina's presidential run-off poll, according to provisional results. His rival, economy minister Sergio Massa, called him to concede, while former US President Donald Trump congratulated Milei on his victory, saying he would "Make Argentina Great Again!". Milei's proposals, which included "blowing up" the central bank, won support with voters desperate for change amid an economy in crisis.

Another bloody disaster for the world! – © Mark Alexander

Elon Musk criticised by White House over Antisemitic X Post - BBC News

Nov 17, 2023 | The White House has accused Elon Musk of repeating a "hideous lie" about Jewish people, after the X owner appeared to respond approvingly to an antisemitic post on the platform.

On Wednesday, Mr Musk replied to a post sharing an antisemitic conspiracy theory, calling it "actual truth".

Mr Musk has denied that the post was antisemitic. But a White House spokesman said his endorsement of the post, which drew anger online, was "unacceptable".

Asylum Seeker from Supreme Court Case Says He Would Rather Die Than Fly to Rwanda – BBC News

Nov 17, 2023 | An asylum seeker who received a letter informing him he could be sent to Rwanda and was one of those to challenge the government at the Supreme Court has told BBC Newsnight he would rather die than go to the African nation.

The Supreme Court upheld a Court of Appeal ruling on Wednesday that deemed the government’s policy to fly asylum seekers to Rwanda and ban them from returning to the UK was unlawful.

Rishi Sunak says the government will work on a new treaty with Rwanda and he is prepared to change UK laws.

The 49-year-old asylum seeker has asked for his identity to be hidden, and his words have been spoken by a translator.

US and China Agree to Resume Military Communications - BBC News

Nov 16, 2023 | The US and China have agreed to resume military-to-military communications in an effort to ease rising tensions, the US president said. Joe Biden met 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. As well as resuming military communications, the two sides announced several other agreements in areas that have become sources of tension in recent times.

What Is Artificial Intelligence? - BBC News

Sep 14, 2015 | The BBC's quick guide to artificial intelligence.

AI Summit: Tech and World Leaders Talk Artificial Intelligence Safety at Bletchley Park - BBC News

Nov 3, 2023 | British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he believed the UK's first AI safety summit will "tip the balance in favour of humanity" with an agreement from some governments and tech firms to work together on AI safety. At the summit, hosted at Bletchley Park, several leading technology companies agreed to allow governments to safety-test their next generation of AI models before they are deployed. The voluntary document was signed by 10 countries and the EU, including the UK, US, Singapore and Canada. China was not a signatory.

Elon Musk Says AI Is Existential Risk at UK Safety Summit - BBC News

Nov 1, 2023 | Elon Musk says artificial intelligence is "one of the existential risks we face as world leaders attend a AI safety summit in the UK. About 100 world leaders, tech bosses and academics are gathering there over the next two days to discuss how best to maximise the benefits of artificial intelligence - while minimising the risks. Others have warned against speculating about unlikely future threats and said the world should instead focus on the potential present-day risks AI poses, such as replacing some jobs and entrenching bias.