-
Cape Verde boat disaster: ‘My brother died for a dream we all have’
Mamour Ba By Mayeni Jones BBC West Africa correspondent The brother of man who died after a boat carrying dozens of migrants was found off Cape Verde has told the BBC they were trying to reach Spain. Almost all those on board the boat, which was at sea for over a month, are thought to…
-
Graham Linehan: Second venue cancels Father Ted writer’s comedy show
Father Ted writer Graham Linehan has appeared at a comedy show outside the Scottish Parliament, after it was cancelled twice by Edinburgh venues. Comedy Unleashed moved the gig to Holyrood on Thursday when a second venue declined to host the show. The original venue, Leith Arches, had pulled out amid concern about Mr Linehan’s views…
-
Belarus declares 19th Century nationalist poems ‘extremist’
Reuters By Robert Greenall BBC News Two Belarusian poems from the 19th Century have been declared “extremist”, in a sign of an expanding crackdown on criticism of the authorities. Vincent Dunin-Martsinkevich’s poems relate to a nationalist uprising against the Russian Empire. Authoritarian Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko has tightened his grip on power since elections in…
-
Spain’s Queen Letizia to attend World Cup final against England
EPA Spain’s Queen Letizia will fly to Australia to attend Sunday’s World Cup final in Sydney but no British royals will be present. England’s Lionesses take on Spain in what is both teams’ first final in the women’s event. Football Association President Prince William will cheer on the England team from the UK, Kensington Palace…
-
Saeed Roustaee: Martin Scorsese backs director jailed in Iran for Cannes screening
Getty Images By Annabel Rackham & Ian Youngs BBC News Martin Scorsese has lent his support to an Iranian director who has been jailed for screening a film at the Cannes Film Festival without government permission. Saeed Roustaee, who premiered Leila’s Brothers at the French festival in 2022, was reportedly sentenced to six months in…
-
Watch: Flood waters surge down Frankfurt escalator
Video shared on social media shows floodwaters cascading down into Frankfurt’s main underground station. The German city experienced severe weather conditions, with thunderstorms and heavy rain disrupting travel. At Frankfurt airport, flights were temporarily affected by the thunderstorms.
-
‘We’re our own soldiers’ – Volunteers mobilise to rebuild Lahaina after fire
By Holly Honderich in Maui, Hawaii When deadly fires torched the Hawaiian town of Lahaina, improvised groups of volunteers were some of the first to respond. In convoys of trucks, they delivered supplies and began the painful process of rebuilding the town many of them called home. Along an industrial road in Kahului, not far…
-
World Cup: Matildas score TV rating record in semi-final loss to England
Getty Images By Marita Moloney BBC News The Matildas’ semi-final defeat to England in the Women’s World Cup has become the most watched television show in Australia on record. The game drew 11.15 million viewers at its peak on Wednesday as football fever gripped the host nation. Host broadcaster Channel Seven said an average audience…
-
Gotthard: World’s longest rail tunnel shut for months after freight crash
Getty Images By Thomas Mackintosh BBC News The world’s longest rail tunnel has been shut to passenger services after a derailment in Switzerland causing damage that will take months to repair. Swiss authorities said there was “no indication” when the Gotthard Base Tunnel would reopen. Sixteen carriages derailed and are still stuck inside, a week…
-
Pakistan: More than 100 arrested after churches burned
Reuters By Carrie Davies & Derek Cai in Islamabad and Singapore More than 100 people have been arrested in an east Pakistan city after thousands of Muslims burned churches and vandalised homes. The violence in Jaranwala was sparked by claims that two Christian men had torn pages from the Quran. The historic Salvation Army Church…