BBC NEWS

US President Joe Biden has said part of his motivation to run for a second term next year is to prevent the return of Donald Trump. "We cannot let him win," Mr Biden told reporters. At a Fox News event, Mr Trump said that he thought Mr Biden was too old for such a political rematch. Mr Trump is the runaway front-runner in the Republican race even as he faces four criminal cases. Mr Biden, as the incumbent president, is the presumptive Democratic nominee. But neither candidate

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called off a high-profile briefing with US lawmakers amid an impasse over future US funding for the country. Virtual appearances in the Senate and House had been scheduled for Tuesday, but were cancelled at the last moment. It came after a top Ukrainian official warned they are in danger of losing the war against Russia if more US military aid is not approved. Senate leader Chuck Schumer did not explain why Mr Zelensky was a no-show #Zelensky #Ukraine#Russia

#OliveOil #Spain #ClimateChange Spain is the world's biggest olive oil producer, covering 70% of European Union consumption and 45% of that of the entire world. But a lack of rain that olive-producing areas around Spain have been seeing has had an enormous impact on both the amount of oil being produced - and its price. In Spain, olive oil prices have increased by more than 70% this year alone after a sharp rise in 2022, with one-litre bottle of extra virgin oil currently costing around €9 ($9.88; £7.79). The rise in the price of olive oil in Spain has been echoed across Europe - however in some countries, the increase has not been quite as sharp. A recent trend, for example, has seen Spaniards who live near Portugal crossing the border to buy slightly cheaper oil there.

#Gaza #BBCNews The United Nations is warning that an "even more hellish" scenario is about to unfold in Gaza as the Israeli military intensifies its ground operations in the south. Unicef says there are "no safe zones" anywhere in Gaza, while the World Health Organisation warns the situation gets "worse by the hour". Israel says its troops are in "the heart of Khan Younis" after bombarding the southern city overnight. Israel also says troops are inside Jabalia, in the north, which was the biggest refugee camp in Gaza. The IDF says it's "the most intense day" of fighting since its ground operation began in late October

More than £50m worth of watches were reported stolen in London, UK in 2022, according to a Metropolitan Police FOI. In the first six months of 2023 alone, 3,190 watches were reported stolen in the capital according to the Met - with a fifth of the thefts involving violence against the victim. With many luxury watches having serial numbers on them - making them easy to trace - it is known that a lot of the timepieces make it out of the country to places such as Paris, Romania and Dubai. In a BBC Three documentary, journalist Tir Dhondy explores the underground world of luxury watch thefts and how the gangs operate.

UK Home Secretary James Cleverly is in Rwanda to sign a new treaty with the east African nation on the government's asylum plan. The planned policy - first announced in April 2022 - would see some asylum seekers sent to Rwanda to claim asylum there. But the plan has hit legal setbacks and was blocked in its previous form by the Supreme Court, which called it unlawful amid concerns about Rwanda's justice system. The government hopes an enhanced treaty - and "emergency" domestic legislation - will prevent its scheme hitting more legal obstacles.

China's largest property developer Country Garden unveiled Forest City - a $100bn (£78.9bn) mega-project - in 2016. In Malaysia, Country Garden's plan was to build an eco-friendly metropolis featuring a golf course, waterpark, offices, bars and restaurants. The company said Forest City would eventually be home to nearly one million people. Eight years on, only 15% of the project has been built and, according to recent estimates, just over 1% of the total development is occupied. Despite facing debts of nearly $200bn, Country Garden told the BBC it is "optimistic" the full plan will be completed.

#Russia #Ukraine #BBCNew #Russia #Ukraine #BBCNews A Russian local official has confirmed the death in action in Ukraine of Maj Gen Vladimir Zavadsky, reported by pro-Kremlin sources last week. Voronezh Governor Alexander Gusev said Maj Gen Zavadsky, 45, died "in the line of duty" but gave no further details. On Wednesday it was reported that he had killed by a mine, but there were conflicting reports about where this happened. He is the seventh Russian general known to have died in the Ukraine conflict.

#BBCNews Palestinian Prisoners' Club said the Israeli army detained at least 260 Palestinians - some of them children - in the West Bank during the first week of the truce in Gaza. That’s more than the number of prisoners released as part of the deal to free Israeli hostages from Hamas. Israeli authorities contacted by the BBC have not disputed the figure. Palestinian mother of six Falestin Nakhle received a call from her son Karim, 12, while he was in Israeli custody.   Karim is now back home in Jalazone but told the BBC he was slapped and beaten and displayed marks on his neck and leg. Israel has launched air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on 7 October

#Kayaking #Norway #BBCNews A kayaker's descent down a 20m (65ft) glacial waterfall in the Arctic Circle is the biggest ever recorded. Catalonian Aniol Serrasolses, 32, paddled through the rapids and ice tunnels of the glacial river, before going down the ice waterfall in Svalbard, Norway. He described the experience as "like kayaking on another planet".

#Covid19 #USPolitics #BBCNews The BBC’s Katty Kay speaks to Doctor Anthony Fauci, who was Chief Medical Advisor to the White House during the Covid-19 pandemic. He discusses why he thinks he became such a divisive figure, the AIDS crisis, and becoming a ‘celebrity’ in his 70s. You’re watching Influential with Katty Kay.

#BBCNews #war #GaZa Allies of Israel have condemned a sharp rise in attacks by armed Jewish settlers on Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. Religious jews in illegal settlements on territory that is occupied by Israel claim the land was given to them by God. The war in Gaza has led to an intensification of violence in the West Bank, with the heavily-armed settlers attacking Palestinian communities. Palestinians say the settlers have been armed by Israel and are protected by Israeli soldiers. The settlers leaders claim they are protecting themselves. Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Jeremy Bowen.

#Edinburgh #Panda #BBCNews The UK's only giant pandas have left Edinburgh Zoo for their return home to China. Tian Tian and Yang Guang will depart from the city's airport for Chengdu this afternoon. A 10-year loan, which was extended by two years during the pandemic, has come to an end. A Boeing 777 cargo plane, operated by China Southern, will carry them on the journey home.

#CycloneMichaung #SevereWeather #BBCNews Over 7,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in south India ahead of a severe cyclonic storm which will cause torrential rains. Cyclone Michaung is expected to land on the coast of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday morning, the country's weather office said, with sustained winds of 90-100 kph (56-62 mph), gusting to 110 kph. Several areas of Tamil Nadu were submerged in knee-deep water and there have been power outages since Monday morning, reports say.

Eleven hikers have been found dead near the crater of Indonesia's Marapi volcano after it erupted over the weekend, rescuers said. Three people were rescued on Monday. The search for 12 others missing has been suspended due to a small eruption. There were 75 hikers in the area at the time of the eruption, but most were safely evacuated. Mount Marapi, one of Indonesia's 127 active volcanoes, spewed ash as high as 3km (9,800ft) into the air on Sunday. For more news, analysis and features #MountMarapi #Indonesia #BBCNews

The IDF says it is shifting the focus of its offensive to southern Gaza on a third day of renewed fighting. The Israeli military says it is targeting Hamas command centres, weapons storage and naval forces after its ceasefire with Hamas fell apart on Friday. The US defence secretary said Israel has a right to defend itself, but it has a "moral responsibility" to protect civilians. Residents of Khan Younis yesterday said the southern city has experienced its heaviest bombardment since the start of the war. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have sought shelter in the area, after being told to flee the north of the territory, which was Israel's main target in the early stages of the war #BBCNEWS #GAZA

Israel has confirmed that a ground offensive has begun in southern Gaza. It said it would be “no less powerful” than its offensive in the north of the territory. The Hamas-run health authorities in Gaza says at least 15,500 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its military operation. Since a week-long ceasefire ended, Israel has resumed its massive bombardment of Gaza. Residents of Khan Younis described it as the heaviest wave of attacks so far. The Israeli authorities say members of the Hamas leadership are hiding in the city, where hundreds of thousands of people have been sheltering after fleeing fighting in the north in the early stages of the war. There has also been spiralling violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Katya Adler presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Jeremy Bowen in Jerusalem.