World News Hub

Iran's shadow oil billions vanish as trusties flee, Interpol red notices issued

🔴 Live: Macron vows to 'rebuild a different kind of forest' on visit to fire-ravaged southwest France

New UK PM Burnham assures Zelenskyy of continuing Ukraine support

Burnham is the fifth British prime minister to deal with President Zelenskyy since the war on Ukraine started in 2022.

Trump foe Comey urges judge to toss ‘86 47’ seashell post case

Former FBI director James Comey urged a judge on Monday to throw out federal charges against him, arguing that a photo of seashells arranged on a beach he posted on social media was not a call to violence against President Donald Trump but protected political speech. Comey’s lawyers argue the government cannot prove the Instagram photo of seashells in the numerical arrangement of “86 47” constitut...

James Comey says seashells post was a political speech, not a threat against Trump

Former FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) director James Comey urged a judge on Monday to throw out federal charges against him, arguing that a photo of seashells arranged on a beach he posted on social media was not a call to violence against US President Donald Trump but protected political speech. Comey’s lawyers argue the government cannot prove the Instagram photo of seashells in the numer...

Hummingbird hawkmoths may have their own version of being left-handed or right-handed

Hummingbird hawkmoths exhibit a distinct preference for one eye and feeding tube side when accessing nectar. This lateralization enhances efficiency by conserving cognitive resources during intricate maneuvers. Researchers found that this trait is instinctive, evident even in their initial flower interactions. By aligning a dominant eye with a favored proboscis side, these insects streamline compl...

Will UNESCO’s heritage listing halt Israeli plans for West Bank’s Sebastia?

Sebastia, a 3,000-year-old site, faces threats as Israel intensifies plans for land seizures and settlement expansions.

Netflix executive reveals at company's trust-building retreat he once used ketamine, got fired from his $1.1 million job after return

What drove Venezuela’s decision to leave the ICC?

The ICC says its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity will continue despite the withdrawal.

American surgeon restores sight to thousands at war-torn border of South Sudan

An American eye surgeon and his team performed over 1,000 cataract surgeries in Abyei along the South Sudan border, restoring sight to thousands in a region with one of the world's highest blindness rates. NBC News' Molly Hunter reports.

Hull funeral director broke families’ trust on ‘almost industrial scale’, court hears

Robert Bush, owner of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, left bodies ‘rotting away’, family members sayA fraudulent funeral director broke the trust of families on an “almost industrial scale” as their loved ones’ bodies were left “rotting away”, a court has heard.Robert Bush, owner of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull, appeared at Hull crown court on Monday for a five-day sentencing...

Cracker Barrel CEO to step down after overseeing logo backlash last year

Julie Masino faced criticism as restaurant chain was called ‘woke’ and ‘soulless’ after unveiling modernized logoCracker Barrel’s CEO, Julie Masino, is stepping down, the restaurant announced Monday, nearly a year after the company was swept into a political maelstrom over proposed modernizations to its branding.Critics on social media denounced the Tennessee-based rustic restaurant chain as “woke...

Andy Burnham seeks cross-party agreement on future of social care

PM promises lasting solution for England but Tories rule out backing changes funded by tax rises or borrowingAndy Burnham has pledged to work collaboratively with other parties to find a lasting solution on social care, though the Conservatives ruled out backing changes funded by tax rises or borrowing.Senior Labour and Liberal Democrat figures have privately cast doubt on Burnham’s ability to fin...

In 1802, an explorer released pigs on Kangaroo Island; 224 years later, Australia has removed them

Australia celebrates a significant conservation victory with the successful removal of all feral pigs from Kangaroo Island. This initiative stands as the largest project worldwide to eradicate a persistent pest population. Launched post the devastating 2019/20 bushfires, it employed a blend of innovative technology and traditional hunting techniques to safeguard native wildlife and farming interes...

Ronnie Le Drew, puppeteer behind Zippy and David Bowie’s goblins, dies aged 78

Canadian-born British operator, president of the British Puppet Guild, died after a ‘short illness’Ronnie Le Drew, best known for operating the puppet Zippy on the classic children’s television programme Rainbow has died aged 78, after a “short illness”. The news was confirmed by the British Puppet Guild, of which Le Drew was president.The Canadian-born British puppeteer was also known for working...

India suspends police officer for firing AK-47 at student protesters

An Indian police officer has been suspended after firing an AK-47 rifle at students protesting over leaked exam papers.

What you need to know if you're travelling to France or Spain

The BBC’s cost of living correspondent explains how to handle holiday cancellations as a result of European wildfires.

Chad to join raft of withdrawals from International Criminal Court

Chad becomes the fifth country to withdraw from the ICC recently, amid rising US pressure and accusations of bias.

France and Spain wildfire witnesses describe 'wall of flames', fear and stress

Local and visitors tell the BBC of disbelief and anxiety as wildfires force more than 300,000 people to evacuate.

Paramount-WB merger: Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming and Benedict Wong urge UK to block deal

Actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming and Benedict Wong have called on the UK government to block the proposed $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, warning that the deal could cause "immense harm on the British public" by threatening jobs, independent filmmaking and media diversity. Their comments come as Paramount agreed to delay completing the takeover until a U.S. court rul...

Spurs’ plans for new training facility in London park blocked by high court

Judge quashes Enfield council’s decision to grant planning permission for new women and girls’ football academyA council’s decision to allow Tottenham Hotspur to build a new training facility in a park in north London has been quashed by a judge at the high court.The campaign group Guardians of Whitewebbs told a hearing in June that Enfield council’s decision to grant planning permission for a new...

Bill Oddie, wildlife champion and Goodies star, dies at 85

UK television personality Bill Oddie, best known for his role in the television comedy series The Goodies and presenter of nature shows, has died aged 85, his agent said on Monday. “Bill was a multitalented celebrity – wildlife presenter, broadcaster, comedian, writer, songwriter, musician and conservationist,” Oddie’s agent, David Foster, said in a statement. “Yet it was never fame that he valued...

Bill Oddie, wildlife presenter and star of British comedy series The Goodies, dies at 85

UK television personality Bill Oddie, best known for his role in the television comedy series The Goodies and presenter of nature programmes, has died aged 85, his agent said on Monday. “Bill was a multitalented celebrity – wildlife presenter, broadcaster, comedian, writer, songwriter, musician and conservationist,” Oddie’s agent David Foster said in a statement. “Yet it was never fame that he val...

Burnham brings members of Socialist Campaign Group into government

Appointment of three ministerial aides is first time members of Labour’s most leftwing faction have held government positionsAndy Burnham has appointed three new ministerial aides from Labour’s most leftwing faction, the first time members of the Socialist Campaign Group have been part of the government.The new chief whip, Anneliese Midgley, has also promised MPs that the government will beef up t...

New York school district halts plan to use humanoid robot amid backlash

Salamanca City Central says it is pausing project with Realbotix as it addresses concerns including data privacyA New York school district has walked back plans to introduce a humanoid robot at its high school after the proposal sparked backlash from educators and community members.The Salamanca City Central school district announced on 24 July in a social media post that its pilot project with To...