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Niger coup: Russia warns Ecowas not to take military action
Getty Images By Sean Seddon BBC News Military action against coup leaders in Niger would lead to a “protracted confrontation”, Russia has warned. On Friday, the West African bloc Ecowas approved a “standby force” in response to the military takeover in Niger, and Ivory Coast’s president said it could be deployed “as soon as possible”.…
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Taylor Swift’s 1989: The return of a pop music masterpiece
With the announcement this week of Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version), Rob Freeman revisits the moment that changed the artist’s career forever. On Wednesday, Taylor Swift announced that the re-recorded version of her 2014 album 1989 was set to be released in October. Since 2021, pop music fans have been excitedly consuming these re-recorded albums,…
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Lost homes and missing loved ones after Maui wildfires
By Max Matza in Maui, Hawaii A long line of at least 100 cars stretched towards Maui’s War Memorial Stadium on Thursday, even as the shelter began reaching capacity. Scores of evacuees have arrived here and set up camp after wildfires tore through the Hawaiian island, destroying entire neighbourhoods and leaving many residents with nowhere…
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Special counsel to investigate President Biden’s son Hunter
Joe Biden’s son Hunter will now be investigated by a special counsel with additional powers, the US attorney general announces This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC…
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Why weren’t Maui residents warned about the fire sooner?
Reuters By Bernd Debusmann Jr in Washington & Max Matza in Maui BBC News As the scale of the fire’s destruction in Maui becomes clear, questions are mounting over whether officials warned residents fast enough. Local evacuations first took place on Tuesday, followed by an announcement that the flames were “100% contained”. By the following…
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Robotaxi expansion gets green light in San Francisco
Cruise Two “robotaxi” firms have been given the green light to start charging for service throughout San Francisco. The move marks a major expansion for the companies, which previously faced limits on when or where they could charge for rides. Approval from regulators came despite objections from police and fire officials, activists and others. Analysts…
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Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelensky launches military anti-corruption purge
EPA By Sean Seddon BBC News Ukrainian conscription officials accused of taking bribes and smuggling people out of the country have been sacked in an anti-corruption purge. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed more than 30 people face criminal charges after an inspection of local army offices exposed corruption. He said bribery at a time of war…
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Why William Friedkin’s undersung masterpiece Sorcerer represents everything Hollywood has lost
Friedkin, who died this week, may be best known for The Exorcist, but this wild 1977 thriller, which was a huge flop at the time, deserves just as much recognition, writes Christina Newland. Following news of the loss of filmmaker William Friedkin this week, aged 87, social media seemed to be in rare relative agreement about…
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K2: Climbers deny walking by dying sherpa in bid to break record
Wilhelm Steindl By Mattea Bubalo & Bethany Bell BBC News A well-known Norwegian mountaineer has denied accusations that her team climbed over an injured sherpa during a bid to break a world record. The sherpa, named as Mohammed Hassan, had fallen off a ledge on Pakistan’s K2 – the world’s second-highest mountain. Video posted by…
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Mission to the Moon: Who will win Russian and India’s race to the lunar South Pole?
Two spacecraft – one built by India and the other by Russia – are hurtling on missions towards our Moon by very different routes. But does it matter which touches down first? Right now, a mini space race is afoot. Two spacecraft, one Russian and the other Indian, are headed for the South Pole of…