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At least 23 dead in clashes at Venezuelan prison

At least 23 dead in clashes at Venezuelan prison

At least 23 inmates have died after clashes broke out at a jail inside a Venezuelan police station, according to a rights group.At least 14 police officers were wounded, Una Ventana a la Libertad said.The jail, in Acarigua, is designed to hold 250 people but currently has around 540 inmates, the Venezuelan Prison Observatory said.…

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Man convicted of Jayme Closs kidnapping

Man convicted of Jayme Closs kidnapping

Image copyright FBI HANDOUT Image caption The teenager was kidnapped from her house in October 2018 A man in Wisconsin has been convicted of kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme Closs and killing her parents. Jake Patterson, 21, will serve two life terms without parole for the murder charges and 40 years for kidnapping. Patterson said he chose…

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Trump to bypass Congress over Saudi weapons sale

Trump to bypass Congress over Saudi weapons sale

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (R) said that “Iranian malign activity” required the “immediate sale” of weapons US President Donald Trump is clearing the sale of billions of dollars’ worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia, citing Iranian threats to its arch rival.Mr Trump evoked a rarely used aspect of…

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US museum sorry for racist ‘no watermelons’ remark

US museum sorry for racist ‘no watermelons’ remark

Image copyright Jeff Greenberg/Getty Image caption The Museum of Fine Arts has apologised for the “challenging and unacceptable experiences” The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has apologised after a teacher alleged her group of pupils suffered racist language and treatment during a visit. Marvelyne Lamy said staff had followed the black and other minority 12…

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Thousands mourn India’s ‘most wanted’ militant

Thousands mourn India’s ‘most wanted’ militant

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionSupporters thronged the funeralThousands of people have attended the funeral of Zakir Musa, described as “India’s most wanted” militant, who was killed in Indian-administered Kashmir. The army said that Musa was shot dead on Thursday after they trapped him in a house in south Kashmir’s Tral district.Musa…

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US to send 1,500 troops to Middle East

US to send 1,500 troops to Middle East

Image copyright AFP Image caption The US deployed an aircraft carrier to the Gulf earlier this month The US is to send 1,500 additional troops to the Middle East for “mostly protective” reasons, President Donald Trump has announced.”We want to have protection in the Middle East,” he told reporters on Friday. He described the latest…

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India college fire kills at least 17 students

India college fire kills at least 17 students

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The fire ripped through tuition classes in the western state of Gujarat At least 17 students have died as a fire ripped through their classrooms in India, officials said. Students were seen jumping and falling from the building in the western city of Sura as black smoke billowed from…

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Explosion injures pedestrians in Lyon

Explosion injures pedestrians in Lyon

Image copyright Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Prefecture Image caption The area has been sealed off A suspected parcel bomb has exploded in the centre of the eastern French city of Lyon, injuring eight people.Those hurt in the explosion on Victor-Hugo Street, including a girl aged eight, appear to have suffered superficial injuries.A cyclist was seen leaving the parcel…

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Five reasons why Modi won India’s election

Five reasons why Modi won India’s election

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won a second five-year term in office after his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stormed to a resounding election victory. The party is likely to build on the commanding majority it secured in 2014.So how did Mr Modi manage to exceed expectations and win by a landslide? Here are five…

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Why Mt Everest’s summit gets so crowded

Why Mt Everest’s summit gets so crowded

Image copyright AFP PHOTO / PROJECT POSSIBLE Image caption Nepal issued 381 permits at $11,000 each for this spring’s climbing season If you imagine the summit of Mount Everest, you might picture a quiet, snowy peak far from civilisation.But a striking photo, taken by mountaineer Nirmal Purja, shows how the reality can be a lot…

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Alabama sued over ‘extreme’ abortion ban

Alabama sued over ‘extreme’ abortion ban

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionThe abortion battle explained in three minutesThe American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Planned Parenthood, an abortion and healthcare provider, have sued Alabama over its ban on abortion.The groups called the “extreme” law a “manmade public health emergency”.The ban, which offers no exceptions for rape or incest,…

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Kenya upholds law criminalising gay sex

Kenya upholds law criminalising gay sex

Image copyright AFP Image caption Several gay Kenyans have been prosecuted in the past few years Kenya’s High Court has ruled against campaigners seeking to overturn a law banning gay sex.The judges rejected claims that the colonial-era law violated the new constitution, which guarantees equality, dignity and privacy.The penal code criminalises “carnal knowledge against the…

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Ex-marine calls Russia spy case ‘political kidnap’

Ex-marine calls Russia spy case ‘political kidnap’

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Mr Whelan was arrested in Moscow on 28 December after taking a group of wedding guests on a tour of the Kremlin museums A former US marine imprisoned in Russia on suspicion of spying has complained of “abuses and harassment” and says he is a “victim of political kidnap”. Mr…

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Here’s what’s just happened in UK politics

Here’s what’s just happened in UK politics

Image copyright Reuters It’s the question that has kept British politics awash with rumours for months – when will Theresa May resign? Her Brexit plans failed again and again to impress squabbling MPs in parliament, but she soldiered on regardless. Until now. In an emotional statement outside her office in Downing St, Mrs May finally…

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‘Sabotaged’ tanker in Gulf of Oman leaked oil

‘Sabotaged’ tanker in Gulf of Oman leaked oil

Image caption Oil flattens the sea surface, reflecting radar energy away from the satellite. Oil therefore appears dark A sizeable oil slick developed in waters where tankers were damaged off the United Arab Emirates on 12 May.Finnish company Iceye says one of its radar satellites detected a long trail leading from the Saudi-flagged vessel Amjad…

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Three more die on Everest amid overcrowding

Three more die on Everest amid overcrowding

Image copyright AFP Image caption There have been calls to limit the number of permits issued to climbers Three more climbers have died on Mount Everest, taking the death toll to seven in a week – more than the total for the whole of last year.The three died of exhaustion while descending on Thursday.It comes…

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Theresa May to resign as prime minister

Theresa May to resign as prime minister

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionIn a speech outside Downing Street, Theresa May said the failure to deliver Brexit was a matter of “deep regret”Theresa May has said she will quit as Conservative leader on 7 June, paving the way for a contest to decide a new prime minister. In an emotional…

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Latest as May statement expected outside No 10

Latest as May statement expected outside No 10

Posted at 9:399:39’Nobody could have worked harder’Scottish Secretary David Mundell said he was “very sorry it has come to this”. In a statement he said: “Nobody could have worked harder, or shown a greater sense of public duty, in delivering the result of the EU referendum than Theresa May. “She has my utmost respect for…

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Why Assange charges are a challenge to free press

Why Assange charges are a challenge to free press

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Wikileaks co-founder faces a US extradition request For over a decade, there has been a raging debate over precisely what Julian Assange is – whistleblower, journalist, or spy. Now that question will have to be answered after the United States hit him with 17 new counts under the…

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Trump boosts spying inquiry over Mueller report

Trump boosts spying inquiry over Mueller report

Image copyright AFP Image caption US Democrats have accused Mr Barr of acting on behalf of the president US President Donald Trump has ordered US intelligence agencies to co-operate with an investigation into whether he was spied on during the 2016 election.The probe, headed by Attorney General William Barr, is examining the origins of the…

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Weinstein ‘to settle with accusers for $44m’

Weinstein ‘to settle with accusers for $44m’

Image copyright Getty Images Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein and his former studio’s board members have reached a tentative deal with women who accuse him of sexual misconduct, US media report.Lawyers said the settlement to resolve civil lawsuits and compensate alleged victims was worth about $44m (£34.7m). Mr Weinstein denies sexually harassing or abusing over…

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Students walk out in global climate strike

Students walk out in global climate strike

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Climate protests are under way in Melbourne School students in Australia and New Zealand have gone on strike, marking the start of a worldwide day of climate change protests.Organisers expect more than one million young people will participate in at least 110 countries on Friday.The protesters are calling for politicians…

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SpaceX puts up 60 internet satellites

SpaceX puts up 60 internet satellites

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The coming wave: There are several satellite broadband projects in development The SpaceX company has begun the roll-out of its orbiting broadband system.A Falcon-9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida late on Thursday, packed with 60 satellites capable of giving users on the ground high-speed connections to the…

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Brazil’s top court votes to make homophobia crime

Brazil’s top court votes to make homophobia crime

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The decision will give real protection to gays and transgender people, activists say (file photo) A majority in Brazil’s Supreme Court has voted in favour of making homophobia and transphobia crimes. Six out of 11 judges voted to consider discrimination against gays and transgender people equivalent to racism. The…

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Trump says Huawei could be part of trade deal

Trump says Huawei could be part of trade deal

Image copyright Getty Images US President Donald Trump has said Huawei could be part of a trade deal between the US and China, despite branding the telecoms firm “very dangerous”. The US-China trade war has escalated in recent weeks with tariff hikes and threats of more action. Washington has also targeted Huawei by putting the…

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Tarantino ‘rejects’ Margot Robbie question

Tarantino ‘rejects’ Margot Robbie question

Director Quentin Tarantino rejected a question from a reporter at the Cannes press conference for his latest movie Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood.The reporter asked why he had not given Margot Robbie more lines in the film. She defended the director by saying, “to show those wonderful sides of her [the character Sharon] could…

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Three couples and a wedding in Taiwan

Three couples and a wedding in Taiwan

Taiwan has become the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, with a new law taking effect on Friday. These three couples decided to mark the occasion together, with a very special ceremony last weekend.Video by Cindy Sui and Tessa Wong.

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Ministers expect May to confirm exit date

Ministers expect May to confirm exit date

Image copyright EPA Theresa May is expected to announce the date of her departure from Downing Street on Friday, senior cabinet ministers have told the BBC.Sources say they expect the PM to give a timetable for her successor to be chosen, with 10 June likely to be the start of the official leadership race.Mrs May…

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Canada indigenous chief cleared of treason

Canada indigenous chief cleared of treason

Image copyright O.B. Buell/Library and Archives Canada Image caption Chief Poundmaker Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has exonerated a Cree leader who was convicted in 1885 on a charge of “treason-felony”. Chief Poundmaker was wrongfully accused as being one of the instigators in a brief rebellion against the Canadian government. He is now remembered as…

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BBC meet Blackpink backstage

BBC meet Blackpink backstage

They’re one of the world’s biggest K-pop superstars, and their YouTube views currently stack up to more than 6 billion.Recently, Blackpink played at Coachella where they continued to break records as the first ever female K-pop stars to take to the stage.They were even spotted by Will Smith when they were ‘K-pop trainees’ in Korea…

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US lays new charges against Assange

US lays new charges against Assange

Image copyright AFP The US justice department has filed 17 new charges against Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange, who is facing extradition from the UK.The latest charges accuse him of receiving and unlawfully publishing the names of classified sources.He was previously charged last month on one count of conspiring with ex-intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to gain…

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EU citizens in UK turned away from polls

EU citizens in UK turned away from polls

Image copyright PA EU citizens living in the UK have told of their anger after they were unable to vote in the European elections.The Electoral Commission said the “very short notice” from the government about the UK’s participation in the elections had an impact on the process.EU citizens can vote in the country they live…

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The Bittersweet Symphony dispute is over

The Bittersweet Symphony dispute is over

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Richard Ashcroft referred to Bittersweet Symphony as a “masterpiece” One of rock music’s most famous injustices has finally been resolved.For the last 22 years, The Verve haven’t made a penny from Bittersweet Symphony, after forfeiting the royalties to The Rolling Stones.The song was embroiled in a legal battle shortly…

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Modi thanks India for ‘historic mandate’

Modi thanks India for ‘historic mandate’

Image copyright AFP Image caption Mr Modi’s Hindu nationalist politics were under scrutiny in the marathon election Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked the people of India for giving him a “historic mandate” of five more years in office, after a landslide victory in the general election.”We all want a new India. I want to…

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Pelosi calls for family ‘intervention’ with Trump

Pelosi calls for family ‘intervention’ with Trump

Image copyright Mark Wilson/Getty images Image caption Speaker Pelosi said she is concerned for the President Trump’s well being and that of the country The US House of Representatives’ Democratic leader has said President Donald Trump’s family should stage an “intervention” with him.Speaker Nancy Pelosi also said she was concerned for the president’s well-being, a…

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No end in sight for Baltimore ransomware shutdown

No end in sight for Baltimore ransomware shutdown

Image copyright Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images Image caption Baltimore’s government servers have been attacked by ransomware The US city of Baltimore’s government, long plagued by dysfunction, is now battling a ransomware attack that has crippled its systems for more than two weeks and counting.Hackers breached the Maryland city’s servers on 7 May and demanded $100,000 (£79,000)…

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Anger as ‘American Taliban’ released

Anger as ‘American Taliban’ released

Image copyright AFP/Getty Image caption John Walker Lindh expressed regret for joining the Taliban in 2002, but people have raised doubts about this contrition John Walker Lindh – the so-called “American Taliban” – has been released from prison, a move Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared “unconscionable”.Lindh served 17 years of a 20-year sentence after…

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Rush wins Australia’s biggest defamation payout

Rush wins Australia’s biggest defamation payout

Image copyright EPA Image caption Geoffrey Rush had been accused of acting inappropriately towards a former co-star Actor Geoffrey Rush has been awarded the largest ever defamation payout to a single person in Australia.The Oscar-winner was last month awarded A$2.9m (£1.57m; US$1.99m) after winning the case against Nationwide News, which publishes Australia’s Daily Telegraph.The Sydney…

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Woman of 102 suspected of care home murder

Woman of 102 suspected of care home murder

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption File image of elderly woman A 102-year-old woman is suspected of having murdered her 92-year-old neighbour in a French retirement home.The suspected killer is now in a psychiatric hospital. Earlier she told one of the carers that she had “killed someone”, a prosecutor said.A carer at the home in…

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Secret spectacles

Secret spectacles

The story of a migrant spy By Joel Gunter BBC Africa Eye It was close to midnight when the young man crawled into the desert. All around him was darkness. A hundred metres away, a handful of Tuareg rebels and people smugglers, who worked together ferrying migrants through this unforgiving stretch of the Sahara, were…

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Iraq’s Christians ‘close to extinction’

Iraq’s Christians ‘close to extinction’

Image caption Iraq’s Christian community is one of the oldest in the world The Archbishop of Irbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, has accused Britain’s Christian leaders of failing to do enough in defence of the vanishing Christian community in Iraq. In an impassioned address in London, the Rt Rev Bashar Warda said Iraq’s Christians…

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Wreck of ‘last US slave ship’ found in Alabama

Wreck of ‘last US slave ship’ found in Alabama

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Clotilda was a slave ship similar to the one on the left The last ship known to have smuggled slaves from Africa to the US is said to have been discovered after a year-long investigation.The remains of the Clotilda were found at the bottom of the Mobile river…

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‘Violent’ US tornado kills three people

‘Violent’ US tornado kills three people

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Extensive damage has been reported around the state At least three people have been killed as tornadoes sweep across Missouri in the US Midwest, local officials say.The fatalities were confirmed in Golden City, 170 miles (270km) southwest of state capital Jefferson City.A tornado struck the state capital itself, bringing heavy…

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Last-place UK does even worse in Eurovision

Last-place UK does even worse in Eurovision

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Despite the last place finish, Rice said he enjoyed his Eurovision experience The UK’s last-placed Eurovision Song Contest entry has had its score lowered by five points, organisers say.A revision of scores means Michael Rice’s song Bigger Than Us picked up only 11 points from Saturday’s final.The contest said an…

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Panasonic halts business with Huawei

Panasonic halts business with Huawei

Image copyright Getty Images Japan’s Panasonic said it was halting business with Huawei to comply with US restrictions, dealing a fresh blow to the Chinese telecoms firm.Last week the US put Huawei on a list of companies that American firms cannot trade with unless they have a licence.The ban applies to goods having 25% or…

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Sixth death of migrant child in US custody

Sixth death of migrant child in US custody

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionFive numbers that explain US border crisisA 10-year-old girl from El Salvador died in US custody last year, a previously unreported case that brings to six the number of migrant children known to have died after being detained by border authorities in eight months.The girl had a…

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India set for all-important results day

India set for all-important results day

SummaryWith 900 million eligible voters, the election for India’s lower house of parliament was the largest vote the world had seenPrime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP is battling the Congress party of Rahul Gandhi and powerful regional partiesMore than 2,000 parties and 8,000 candidates are contesting 543 seats. A party or coalition needs at least 272…

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Not your average chase: Stolen motorhome causes chaos

Not your average chase: Stolen motorhome causes chaos

The motorhome heist caused at least six traffic collisions and three people were sent to hospital for minor injuries.But the driver wasn’t the only passenger – two dogs were also seen in the front seat – and one made a daring leap in traffic.

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New US $20 bill with Harriet Tubman delayed

New US $20 bill with Harriet Tubman delayed

Image copyright Reuters Image caption The redesign of the $20 bill to include a picture of Harriet Tubman was announced in 2016 A redesign of the $20 bill featuring anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman, due to be unveiled next year, has been postponed until 2028, the US treasury secretary says. Steven Mnuchin said the focus was…

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Homes hanging over river bank in US

Homes hanging over river bank in US

Residents have been evacuated in Oklahoma after severe flooding left homes hanging over the edge of a river bank.Extreme weather has hit the US in recent days with tornadoes sweeping across states including Texas and Kansas.This video has no sound.

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May faces pressure after minister resigns

May faces pressure after minister resigns

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionAndrea Leadsom: “I couldn’t support the Brexit bill”Theresa May is continuing to face pressure from her own MPs to resign after one of her senior ministers quit the cabinet.The Leader of the House, Andrea Leadsom, stepped down on Wednesday night over the PM’s Brexit policy.Several cabinet ministers…

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What happens when you release a ‘traitor’?

What happens when you release a ‘traitor’?

Image copyright AFP John Walker Lindh and hundreds more have been sent to prison for terrorism, treason and other crimes. The release of the “American Taliban”, scheduled for Thursday, shows how little the US has done to prepare for the moment they are set free. The American-born Lindh was captured on the battlefield during the…

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China confirmed as source of rise in CFCs

China confirmed as source of rise in CFCs

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Much of the CFC-11 gas has been used in home insulation Researchers say that they have pinpointed the major sources of a mysterious recent rise in a dangerous, ozone-destroying chemical. CFC-11 was primarily used for home insulation but global production was due to be phased out in 2010. But…

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‘You can’t cheat?’ asks Queen at check-out

‘You can’t cheat?’ asks Queen at check-out

The Queen paid a visit to a replica of the first Sainsbury’s shop to mark the supermarket chain’s 150th anniversary. While being shown how to use the self-service check-out, she asked: “You can’t cheat?”

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UN backs end to UK control of Chagos Islands

UN backs end to UK control of Chagos Islands

Image copyright Science Photo Library Image caption One of the Chagos Islands – Diego Garcia – is home to a US military base The UN has passed a resolution demanding the UK return control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.In the non-binding vote in the General Assembly in New York, 116 states were in favour…

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India to find out if Modi returns as PM

India to find out if Modi returns as PM

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Many see the election as a referendum on Mr Modi who won a landslide in 2014 Indians will finally find out on Thursday who won the general election after a long and bitter campaign.Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stormed to power in 2014, campaigned hard to…

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World Cup: Fifa drops plans to expand Qatar 2022 to 48 teams

World Cup: Fifa drops plans to expand Qatar 2022 to 48 teams

France won the 2018 World Cup in RussiaPlans to expand the 2022 World Cup to 48 teams have been abandoned by Fifa.Fifa president Gianni Infantino said last year the expansion from 32 teams could be brought forward from 2026 to the 2022 tournament in Qatar.The change would have required Qatar to share hosting duties with…

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Russian church scheme halted after protests

Russian church scheme halted after protests

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Residents of Yekaterinburg voted against plans to build a cathedral in a park Residents of Russia’s fourth-largest city, Yekaterinburg, have rejected plans to build a church in a popular park, ending a week of unrest. The governor of the surrounding region, Sverdlovsk, said the church would not be built…

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Outrage over Pakistan child killing

Outrage over Pakistan child killing

Image copyright Handout Image caption Farishta went missing on 15 May but police did not formally register a case until 19 May The family of a 10-year-old Pakistani girl who was abducted and murdered have said they were ignored by police when they tried to report her missing.They say police told them the child might…

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Commons leader quits government over Brexit

Commons leader quits government over Brexit

Image copyright EPA Image caption As Commons Leader, Andrea Leadsom was in charge of organising government business Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom has quit the cabinet, saying she no longer believes the government’s approach will deliver Brexit. Her resignation comes amid a backlash against Theresa May’s Brexit plan from Conservative MPs.Several cabinet ministers have told the…

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Stormy Daniels ex-lawyer charged with cheating her

Stormy Daniels ex-lawyer charged with cheating her

Image copyright Reuters US lawyer Michael Avenatti has been charged with defrauding Stormy Daniels, the porn star he represented in a lawsuit against President Donald Trump, federal prosecutors say.They said Mr Avenatti, 48, took the money Ms Daniels was supposed to get from a book deal. The high-profile lawyer already faces a number of fraud…

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May under pressure as Leadsom quits

May under pressure as Leadsom quits

Posted at 19:3019:30Watch: ‘This can’t go on’Posted at 19:2619:26’We cannot go on like this’Like Mr Pursglove, Steve Double – the MP for St Austell and Newquay – has offered his support to Mrs Leadsom.Posted at 19:2519:25’A very honourable and decent stand’Mrs Leadsom’s fellow Northamptonshire MP, Tom Pursglove, has signalled “respect and admiration” for his colleague.Posted…

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Natalie Portman calls Moby a ‘creep’

Natalie Portman calls Moby a ‘creep’

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Moby and Portman pictured at an event in 2001, with members of the hip-hop group The Roots Natalie Portman has denied dating Moby in her teens, calling the musician’s behaviour “inappropriate”.The actress was responding to Moby’s new memoir, in which he claims Portman asked him out after a show…

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Trump hits back at Democratic claims of ‘cover-up’

Trump hits back at Democratic claims of ‘cover-up’

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionTrump to Pelosi: “I don’t do cover ups”US President Donald Trump has angrily lashed out at Democratic leaders’ claims he is engaged in a “cover-up.””I don’t do cover-ups,” the Republican president said in an unscheduled statement from the White House.His remarks came after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi…

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Angry Duterte orders waste shipped back to Canada

Angry Duterte orders waste shipped back to Canada

Image copyright EPA Image caption Environmental campaigners have also pressured Canada to take back its rubbish Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered Canadian waste shipped back to its country of origin, his spokesman says. It is the latest move in a row between the two countries over the disposal of waste wrongly labelled as recyclable.The…

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US lawmaker ‘punched wife for undressing slowly’

US lawmaker ‘punched wife for undressing slowly’

Image copyright George County Police/Mississippi House A Mississippi state lawmaker has been arrested accused of drunkenly assaulting his wife because she was taking too long to undress for sex.Doug McLeod, 58, was arrested on Saturday night in George County on a minor domestic violence charge.His fellow Republicans in the state said Mr McLeod should resign…

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Inquiry unsure if US governor was in racist photo

Inquiry unsure if US governor was in racist photo

Image copyright The Washington Post via Getty Images Image caption Ralph Northam’s page in the 1984 yearbook of Eastern Virginia Medical School – one of several blackface photos in the publication An independent inquiry into a racist photo on Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s 1984 college yearbook page has ended with no conclusive findings.The report could…

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May urges MPs to back her Brexit plan

May urges MPs to back her Brexit plan

The prime minister is facing calls to resign amid a backlash against her Brexit plan from Conservative MPs.There have been growing calls for her to quit from her own MPs unhappy with the compromises she has set out in her Withdrawal Agreement Bill.Several cabinet ministers have told the BBC that Mrs May cannot stay on,…

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Why N Korea called Biden an ‘imbecile’

Why N Korea called Biden an ‘imbecile’

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Joe Biden described Kim Jong-un as a “tyrant” on Saturday North Korean state media had strong words for Joe Biden – the former US vice-president and current presidential candidate – on Wednesday.Mr Biden had “gone reckless and senseless, seized by ambition for power”, a commentary on the news website KCNA…

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China’s latest weapon in the trade war: Karaoke

China’s latest weapon in the trade war: Karaoke

Image copyright WeChat Image caption China’s new propaganda anthem features a fist with rings of fire exploding from it A Chinese propaganda song about the ongoing Sino-US trade war is getting a lot of interest – and raising a few eyebrows – on Chinese social media. Trade War, written by a former Chinese official, appeared…

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Kenyan author and gay rights activist dies

Kenyan author and gay rights activist dies

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Binyavanga Wainaina was one of the first high-profile Kenyans to openly declare he was gay Prize-winning Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainaina has died in Nairobi after a short illness at the age of 48.He won the Caine Prize for African writing in 2002 and was best known around the world…

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Huawei faces break with UK chip giant ARM

Huawei faces break with UK chip giant ARM

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Huawei unveiled new phones powered by ARM-based chips, on Tuesday UK-based chip designer ARM has told staff it must suspend business with Huawei, according to internal documents obtained by the BBC.ARM instructed employees to halt “all active contracts, support entitlements, and any pending engagements” with Huawei and its subsidiaries…

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Calls for inquiry after teen dies at US border

Calls for inquiry after teen dies at US border

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Border officials say their facilities for processing migrants are at breaking point Opposition Democrats in the US have demanded an inquiry after a 16-year-old migrant died at a detention centre on the border with Mexico.Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vásquez, who died on Monday, is the fifth child to die after…

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Ada Hegerberg named BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2019

Ada Hegerberg named BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2019

Media playback is not supported on this device Watch the moment BBC surprises Hegerberg with awardLyon striker Ada Hegerberg has been voted the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2019.The award, voted for by fans across the world, comes four days after she scored a hat-trick in the Champions League final as her side lifted…

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Dozens arrested after violent Indonesia clash

Dozens arrested after violent Indonesia clash

Image copyright AFP Image caption Indonesian police were pictured shooting tear gas to disperse protesters Six people have been killed and 200 injured during mass rallies against the re-election of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, said Jakarta’s governor.Police said they could not confirm the figure but said they had received information that “some [had] died”, Protests…

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US firms fear ‘retaliation’ against Huawei curbs

US firms fear ‘retaliation’ against Huawei curbs

Image copyright Getty Images A top business lobby group representing American firms in China said they have “real concerns” over how Beijing may respond to US action taken against Huawei. Speaking to the BBC, AmCham China chairman Tim Stratford said its members were worried about Beijing’s response. The US recently added Huawei to its “entity…

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The US abortion battle explained

The US abortion battle explained

Alabama banned all abortions, but what does that mean for women across the US going forward? Produced by Ritu Prasad, Ben Bevington and Franz Strasser

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Duterte tightens control over Philippines

Duterte tightens control over Philippines

Image copyright AFP Image caption Mr Duterte was not on the ballot but many see the vote as a verdict on him Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has won resounding support in last week’s mid-term elections.Wednesday’s official results show his allies now control the senate which so far has served as a check on some of…

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Protests across US against abortion bans

Protests across US against abortion bans

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Large crowds gathered in New York City Thousands of people have taken part in co-ordinated rallies across the United States to protest against several states passing tough laws to restrict abortions. The anti-abortion bills, approved by Republican state legislatures amid a nationwide push for new restrictions by opponents of abortions,…

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PM under fire over new Brexit plan

PM under fire over new Brexit plan

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionOn Tuesday night, Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin said Mrs May’s latest plan could “accelerate a leadership election”Theresa May will make the case for her new Brexit plan in Parliament later, amid signs that Conservative opposition to her leadership is hardening.The prime minister will give a statement…

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UN appeals to Yemen rebels over ‘diverted’ aid

UN appeals to Yemen rebels over ‘diverted’ aid

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionThe hidden victims of the Yemen warThe UN says food aid is being diverted by some corrupt and uncooperative officials in Houthi-held areas of Yemen, where millions of people are believed to be on the verge of famine. David Beasley, head of the World Food Programme (WFP),…

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Amazon set for facial recognition revolt

Amazon set for facial recognition revolt

Image copyright Amazon Image caption Rekognition can match photos to databases holding millions of people’s faces Opposition to Amazon’s sale of its facial recognition technology to US police forces is set to come to a head at its annual general meeting on Wednesday. Shareholders will vote twice on the matter.First, over whether the company should…

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How much do female characters in Game of Thrones speak?

How much do female characters in Game of Thrones speak?

*Warning: this article contains some spoilers for the series – but none for the final episode* Image copyright HBO/Sky Atlantic Female characters in Game of Thrones speak about three times less than male characters in the show, according to new data.Although the hugely popular show ended this week after eight seasons, the debate on how…

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US state is first to legalise human composting

US state is first to legalise human composting

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Loved ones are given the soil to keep Washington has become the first state in the US to legalise human composting.Under the new law, people there can now choose to have their body turned into soil after their death.The process is seen as an alternative to cremations and burials,…

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Virginia Uber driver was Somali war criminal, jury finds

Virginia Uber driver was Somali war criminal, jury finds

Image copyright David Ross Image caption Mr Warfaa, tortured during the Somali civil war, is “very happy” with the verdict A US jury has found that a former Uber driver living in Virginia committed acts of torture during Somalia’s civil war in the late 1980s. Somali citizen Farhan Tani Warfaa testified last week in the…

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Trump impeachment pressure grows from Democrats

Trump impeachment pressure grows from Democrats

Image copyright Reuters Image caption The judiciary committee had issued a subpoena to hear Mr McGahn’s testimony, but his seat remained empty House Democrats have renewed calls for impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, after a former White House counsel failed to appear before Congress despite a subpoena.Donald McGahn skipped a hearing on Tuesday about…

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Shoe giants urge Trump to end trade war

Shoe giants urge Trump to end trade war

Image copyright Getty Images Some of the world’s biggest footwear firms are urging Donald Trump to end the US trade war with China, warning of a “catastrophic” effect on consumers.In a letter signed by 170 companies, including Nike and Adidas, they said the President’s decision to lift import tariffs to 25% will disproportionately impact the…

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Libya at start of ‘long and bloody war’

Libya at start of ‘long and bloody war’

Image copyright AFP Image caption A photo posted on Facebook by the government of national accord reportedly shows armoured personnel vehicles arriving at Tripoli port The UN envoy for Libya has warned that the battle for Tripoli is “just the start of a long and bloody war”.Ghassan Salame is calling for immediate steps to cut…

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Canada zoo owner charged with cruelty

Canada zoo owner charged with cruelty

Image copyright Humane Society International Image caption A lion in an enclosure at a Quebec zoo A Canadian zoo owner has been charged with criminal animal cruelty and the animals on the premises are being seized by authorities. The owner of the St-Édouard Zoo in Quebec faces two counts of cruelty and neglect covering over…

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Argentina ex-president’s corruption trial begins

Argentina ex-president’s corruption trial begins

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Cristina Fernández de Kirchner appears in court in Buenos Aires for the opening of her corruption trial The corruption trial of Argentina’s former president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, has begun in Buenos Aires.Ms Fernández is accused of accepting bribes from construction firms in exchange for lucrative government contracts while in…

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Iranian threats ‘put on hold’, says US

Iranian threats ‘put on hold’, says US

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan said the US had been “very prudent” Potential attacks by Iran have been “put on hold” by US counter-measures, acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan said on Tuesday.The US has warned in recent weeks of a threat from Iran but has not given any…

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‘Alexa, are you perpetrating bias?’

‘Alexa, are you perpetrating bias?’

Image caption Most smart-speaker assistants have a female voice AI-powered voice assistants with female voices are perpetuating harmful gender biases, according to a UN study.These female helpers are portrayed as “obliging and eager to please”, reinforcing the idea that women are “subservient”, it finds.Particularly worrying, it says, is how they often give “deflecting, lacklustre or…

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‘One last chance’ to get Brexit done, says PM

‘One last chance’ to get Brexit done, says PM

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media captionTheresa May says failure to back her deal risks “no Brexit at all”.Theresa May has told MPs they have “one last chance” to deliver Brexit, as she set out a “new Brexit deal”.MPs will get a vote on whether to hold another referendum if they back the…

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HIV outbreak hits hundreds of children in Pakistan

HIV outbreak hits hundreds of children in Pakistan

Image copyright AFP Image caption At least one doctor has been arrested in Pakistan over the outbreak, which has disproportionately affected children The first sign that something was wrong in the small southern Pakistani town of Ratto Dero appeared in February.A handful of worried parents had taken their children to the doctor, complaining that their…

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