Palestinian born after father was jailed hugs him for first time

There were jubilant scenes in the West Bank as more Palestinians were released on Thursday.

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Eight Israeli and Thai hostages released from Gaza

Three Israelis and five Thais were freed by Hamas amid chaotic scenes in Gaza.

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Second-class post on Saturdays set to be scrapped

The regulator says reforming postal services could save the loss-making Royal Mail up to £425m.

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Three military-run states leave West African bloc - what will change?

In a huge blow to Ecowas, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are leaving to forge ahead with their own group.

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Far-right vote on asylum rocks German parliament

Germany's Bundestag descends into recrimination after a "firewall" against working with the far-right cracks.

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DeepSeek: How China's 'AI heroes' overcame US curbs to stun Silicon Valley

How did a little-known Chinese start-up build a powerful new AI model despite restrictions?

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China's DeepSeek AI shakes industry and dents America's swagger

The app spooked the markets as well as the bullish sense of American superiority in AI development.

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'We are not lazy' - Working from home criticism sparks anger

Hundreds of BBC readers disagreed with former Asda boss Lord Rose's view that working from home is "not proper work".

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Trump to sign order eliminating DEI from military

The president also will reinstate US servicemembers who were discharged for refusing Covid vaccines.

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DR Congo rebels close in on key city as 13 peacekeepers killed

The UN chief condemned the escalation, calling on Rwanda to halt support for rebels and withdraw.

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My opponents choose jail and exile, Lukashenko tells BBC

On election day, the unchallenged Belarus leader exchanges arguments with the BBC Russia editor.

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S Korean president charged with insurrection over martial law attempt

The unprecedented indictment means the South Korean president faces decades in prison if convicted.

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Pete Hegseth confirmed as US defence secretary in tie-breaking vote

The one-time Fox News television host and combat veteran was narrowly confirmed in the Senate late on Friday.

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IDF said bombed apartments were Hezbollah base - but most killed were civilians

The missile strike on a Lebanese apartment block targeting Hezbollah left mostly civilians dead, BBC finds.

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Meta denies forcing users to follow Trump accounts

The Facebook and Instagram owner says the official profiles were updated to reflect the new position holders.

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Does China 'operate' Panama Canal like Trump says?

The US president says the US should "take back" the famous waterway because China runs it now.

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Tesco, Aldi and Lidl hit back at farm inheritance tax

Tesco, Aldi and Lidl call for rethink of inheritance levy announced in Budget

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US trades Taliban prisoner for two American detainees

Two Americans held by the Taliban were exchanged for an Afghan imprisoned in the US on narco-terrorism charges.

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Government ousts UK competition watchdog chair

Marcus Bokkerink is leaving as the government signals it is serious about growth, the BBC understands.

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Delay to TikTok ban gets Trump sign-off

The order was among a slew of directives Trump signed on Monday evening.

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TikTok restores service in US after Trump pledge

TikTok is resuming services to its 170 million users in US after President-elect Donald Trump said he would give the app a reprieve.

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'I came back to life,' says freed British-Israeli hostage

The 28-year-old is among the first three people to be released from captivity in Gaza.

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Colombian drug gang violence kills 60 people

Attacks between guerrilla groups have also seen thousands displaced from the country's Catatumbo region.

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Two Iranian supreme court judges shot dead

The attacker reportedly used a handgun to shoot both judges, before killing himself.

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Trump illegal migrant raids to start on day one

Tom Homan, the incoming "border tsar", has promised a big raid on illegal immigrants in Chicago and elsewhere.

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'Once-in-a-century' discovery reveals spectacular luxury of Pompeii

A huge private bathhouse is found after lying hidden for 2,000 years under volcanic rock and ash.

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Russia and Iran move to strengthen military ties

The two countries sign a 20-year treaty covering areas ranging from defence and technology to energy and trade.

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Ghanaian music legend who founded Afro-rock band Osibisa dies

Osibisa was one of the first African bands to gain international recognition, in the 1970s.

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Borrowing costs fall after inflation surprise

Investors are now betting on an interest rate cut next month from the Bank of England.

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Watch: Huge clouds of water and fire retardant dumped on LA wildfires

Fire crews have been dropping water and fire retardant on blazes around Los Angeles since last week.

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US markets watchdog sues Musk over Twitter stake disclosure

The complaint filed to a US federal court alleges Musk saved $150m at the expense of Twitter shareholders.

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US to remove Cuba from state sponsors of terror list

President Biden moves to reverse the designation introduced by Donald Trump before he returns to office.

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Tulip Siddiq resigns as Treasury minister

It comes after growing pressure over an anti-corruption investigation in Bangladesh.

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UK bans cattle, pigs and sheep imports from Germany after foot-and-mouth case

The disease is contagious in livestock like cattle, but poses no risk to humans or food safety.

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Ghana to investigate controversial $400m cathedral project

Critics say the money could be put to better use in at a time when the country is struggling economically.

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'Five-minute fine' prompts private car parks review

The review aims to ensure motorists are not penalised if they are unable to pay promptly.

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Canada the 51st US state? Trudeau says 'not going to happen'

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canadians are "very, very proud of being Canadian".

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Austrian woman kidnapped by unknown assailants in Niger

The woman has lived in Niger for over two decades and is a fixture in her community, reports say.

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Online safety laws unsatisfactory, minister says

Peter Kyle responds as internet safety campaigner Ian Russell says laws to protect children need fixing.

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Landlords ripping off LA fire victims, says Selling Sunset star

Real estate mogul Jason Oppenheim says renters are being asked for thousands over previous prices.

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A murder that shook British India and toppled a king

A businessman was shot dead in India 100 years ago. Then, a sensational tale unfolded.

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As winds pick up, LA firefighters desperately battle to contain monster inferno

The Palisades blaze is threatening Brentwood, one of the most affluent enclaves of America's second-biggest city.

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Jack Smith resigns from Justice Department

His exit comes amid a dispute over his report into Donald Trump's handling of classified documents.

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Dozens injured after Strasbourg tram collision

Two trams collide at the French city's main train station, a prefecture spokesperson says.

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Reeves faces 'difficult decisions' on tax and spending

The warning from a former Bank of England official comes in the wake of rising UK borrowing costs.

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Sainsbury's raises pay but is cautious on hiring

The supermarket chain will lift wages to £12.60 but expects costs to increase after Budget measures.

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Gaza war death toll could be significantly higher, researchers say

A study in The Lancet suggests Gaza ministry of health figures over a nine-month period might be too low.

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China bets on kitchen appliances to boost economy

A list of subsidised household goods has been expanded as Beijing tries to increase domestic spending.

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Ads showing banknotes on fire banned by regulator

A regulator says the posters for Wahed Invest, seen on Transport for London services, are offensive.

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Facebook and Instagram get rid of fact checkers

Meta says its platforms will instead rely on "community notes" from its users, an approach pioneered by X.

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Trudeau says 'not a snowball's chance in hell' Canada will join US

The comment follows Donald Trump's threat on Tuesday to use "economic force" to acquire its neighbour to the north.

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Explosive fertiliser in Ivory Coast harbour nothing to fear, officials say

Abidjan residents and environmentalists raise concerns after part of the same shipment was dumped in the UK.

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Trump threatens "very high" tariffs on Denmark over Greenland

Donald Trump also vows to change the Gulf of Mexico's name and repeats promises to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico.

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New York first US city to have congestion charge

The scheme has faced resistance, including from President-elect Donald Trump.

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Why the Trudeau era has come to an end now

A self-described fighter, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ignored calls for him to step down - until he couldn't.

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Trump's eyeing Greenland - but other Arctic investment is frozen

While Trump eyes Greenland, Norway and Russia have put the brakes on their polar region investments.

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China's overqualified youth taking jobs as drivers, labourers and film extras

With high youth unemployment rates, Chinese graduates are resorting to working as waiters, cleaners and movie extras.

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Confidence of firms hit by tax fears - business group

Companies are facing a "pressure cooker" of rising costs and taxes, the British Chambers of Commerce says.

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Sweden's green industry hopes hit by Northvolt woes

Financial problems at battery maker Northvolt have shaken hopes for Sweden's green industry sector.

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New Orleans attacker wore Meta smart glasses - what else do we know?

He placed explosives in the area before changing clothes and driving into pedestrians.

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The year China's famous road-tripping 'auntie' found freedom

Su Min, 60, became a feminist icon after she left her abusive husband and started travelling through China.

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Watch: Michael J Fox, Bono and Anna Wintour awarded Medal of Freedom

President Joe Biden gave the US's highest civilian honour to 19 people, including Denzel Washington and Hillary Clinton.

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Washington Post cartoonist quits after Bezos satire is rejected

The newspaper decided not to run Ann Telnaes' cartoon of tycoons kneeling before Donald Trump.

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China's overqualified youth taking jobs as drivers, labourers and film extras

With high youth unemployment rates, Chinese graduates are resorting to working as waiters, cleaners and movie extras.

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Why does Britain face flight chaos during bad weather?

Delays and cancellations related to British weather may become more common.

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Shops offer grottos and wine to combat 'drab' December

Small businesses are offering incentives to entice customers as consumer confidence remains low.

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Trump to be sentenced over hush money case but judge signals no jail time

The judge in the case said he would not sentence Trump to jail time.

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Person in exploded Cybertruck believed to be elite soldier

Las Vegas police said the the person found in the vehicle with a gunshot wound to the head was Green Beret Matthew Livelsberger.

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Names of 425,000 suspected Nazi collaborators published

The names of Dutch people investigated for working with the Nazis during World War 2 are available online for the first time.

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What CCTV and social media videos reveal about New Orleans attack

BBC Verify’s Jake Horton looks at how the attack in New Orleans unfolded.

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Watch: How day of deadly New Orleans attack unfolded

The FBI is investigating after a man drove a truck into a crowded party district, killing 15 and injuring dozens.

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One killed as cybertruck explodes at Trump Las Vegas hotel

The driver was killed and seven people were injured in the explosion, police said without naming any suspects.

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What we know about the New Orleans attacker

The man who drove into a large crowd in the French Quarter was identified as Shamsud Din Jabbar, a US citizen and Army veteran.

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FBI makes what may be its biggest bomb find ever

More than 150 explosive devices are discovered during a raid on a farm in Virginia.

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Ukraine to end transit of Russian gas into Europe

President Zelensky said his country would not allow Russia to "earn additional billions on our blood".

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Puerto Rico may enter new year in darkness after sudden blackout

More than 1.3 million households - most of the island's population - has been left in the dark.

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