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Christians in Pakistan rebuild for Christmas months on from attacks | BBC News #Pakistan #Christmas #BBCNews The Christian community in the Pakistan city of Jaranwala saw nearly two dozen churches and tens of homes ransacked by hundreds of protestors in August. In the aftermath, the government promised money to help rebuild. But as they prepare for Christmas, many are still living with the damage and shock of the attack.

Tanker hit off India coast by drone from Iran, says US | BBC News #India #Drones #BBCNews A chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean was hit by a drone launched from Iran on Saturday, the US military said. A fire on board the Chem Pluto was extinguished. There were no casualties. Iran has not commented. Houthi rebels in Yemen - who are backed by Iran, and support Hamas in its war with Israel have recently used drones and rockets to target vessels in the Red Sea. But this event is the first of its kind so far away from there, according to maritime security firm Ambrey.

Russia bans anti-war candidate from challenging President Putin in election | BBC News#Russia #BBCNews A former TV journalist who announced she would challenge President Vladimir Putin in Russia's spring election has been barred from standing. Independent politician Yekaterina Duntsova wanted to run on a platform to end the war with Ukraine. But the electoral commission voted unanimously to reject her candidacy three days after her application, citing 100 "mistakes" on her form. Ms Duntsova said she would appeal the decision at the Supreme Court.

Czech Republic falls silent to mourn Prague university mass shooting victims | BBC News #Prague #CzechRepublic #BBCNews The Czech Republic observed a minute's silence at midday (11:00 GMT) to commemorate those killed in Thursday's mass shooting at a Prague university. Flags on official buildings were flown at half-mast to mark a day of national mourning. Fourteen people were shot dead at the Faculty of Arts building of Charles University in the capital by a student who then killed himself. Police are working to uncover the motive behind the attack.

Czech Republic mourns victims of Prague university mass shooting | BBC News I #Prague #Czech Republic #BBCNews The Czech Republic is holding a day of national mourning for those killed in Thursday's mass shooting at a Prague university. Flags on official buildings are being flown at half-mast and a minute's silence will be observed at midday on Saturday. Fourteen people were shot dead at the Faculty of Arts building of Charles University in the capital by a student who then killed himself. Police are working to uncover the motive behind the attack.

Israel-Gaza war: UN Security Council backs ramping up Gaza aid, but no ceasefire | BBC News #Israel #Gaza #BBCNews The UN Security Council (UNSC) has adopted a resolution urging more aid for the Gaza Strip, but falling short of a call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The vote followed days of negotiations to avoid a veto by the US, a permanent UNSC member and a key ally of Israel. UN chief António Guterres warned that Gaza is at risk of famine if the war continues.

Ukraine moves its Christmas date marking shift away from Russia | BBC News I #Ukraine #Russia #BBCNews For the first time since 1917, Ukraine is celebrating Christmas on 25 December. The move is more than just a change of date from 7 January - the date for Christmas in the Julian calendar, which Russia uses. It's the continuation of a significant cultural shift in the country - the latest attempt to eradicate Moscow's influence in Ukraine. The adoption of the Western, Gregorian calendar is also a sign of Kyiv's continuing bid to align itself with Europe.

Prague shooting: Police confirm gunmen shot himself as officers surrounded him | BBC News I #Prague #BBCNews Fourteen people are known to have died in yesterday's attack at a university in Prague, along with the gunman and his father, in the worst mass shooting in Czech history. Another 25 people were wounded, but they are all expected to recover. The Czech authorities confirmed this morning that the gunman responsible for yesterday's massacre in Prague killed himself when he found he was surrounded by police. There is a day of national mourning tomorrow.

Who are the Houthi rebels attacking Red Sea ships? | BBC News #BBCNews Global supply chains could face severe disruption as a result of the world's biggest shipping companies diverting journeys away from the Red Sea. Attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen on commercial vessels in recent weeks have resulted in many firms deciding to avoid one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. The Houthi group has declared its support for Hamas and has said it is targeting ships travelling to Israel. But who are the Houthis? What are their motivations? And what are their links to Iran? The BBC's analysis editor Ros Atkins explains.

Prague shooting: Czech authorities say 10 killed and dozens injured at central university | BBC News #Prague #BBCNews Czech police say 10 people have been killed and dozens injured in a shooting at a university in central Prague. Police say the gunman has been "eliminated" and that the building is being evacuated. Reports suggest the incident occurred at Charles University, located on Jan Palach Square. University staff were told to "stay put", barricade themselves in rooms and turn off the lights, Reuters reported.

Israel-Gaza war: US expresses support for UN aid resolution - BBC News I #Gaza #Israel #BBCNews The US has expressed support for the UN's latest draft resolution on humanitarian aid for Gaza a vote for which is expected later today. The original draft called for a sustainable cessation of hostilities, but the final version calls for creating the conditions for one. It comes as the World Food Programme says Gaza is at risk of famine within six months if the conflict doesn't end. Earlier this week, the Hamas-run Gaza government said 20,000 people had been killed in the enclave since the war erupted.

Ukraine war: Kyiv forced to cut military operations as foreign aid dries up | BBC News #Russia #Ukraine #BBCNews Ukraine has warned it is already being forced to downsize some military operations because of a drop-off in foreign aid. Top general Oleksandr Tarnavskyi said troops faced ammunition shortages along the "entire front line", creating a "big problem" for Kyiv. It comes as billions of dollars of US and EU aid have been held up amid political wrangles. Ukraine said it hoped to boost its own ammunition industry with western help. But it relies heavily on western supplies, particularly on deliveries of long-range missiles and air defence systems, to fight occupying Russian forces.

Sudan conflict: At least 4.9m at risk of extreme hunger | BBC News#Sudan #BBCNews At least 4.9 million people are at risk of extreme hunger eight amid Sudan's ongoing civil war, the United Nations (UN) has said. It comes after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) advanced into the city of Wad Madani, in al-Jazira state, and attacked a hospital and took over an army base. War between the regular army and the RSF erupted in April following disagreement over an internationally backed political transition plan. The conflict has displaced more than seven million people and, according to UN estimates, killed around 9,000 people.

Israel-Gaza war: US says 'serious negotiations' taking place on new Gaza truce BBC News I #BBCNews The US says "serious negotiations" are taking place on a new Gaza truce and the release of more Israeli hostages. But prospects remain uncertain after Hamas's leader reportedly rejected the prospect of a temporary pause during talks in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Israeli forces say they' ve uncovered a network of tunnels in the heart of Gaza City with entrances connected to the houses of Hamas leaders. On Wednesday, the Hamas-run Gaza government said 20,000 people had been killed there since Israel launched its military campaign against the group.

European Super League: Uefa and Fifa rules banning breakaway league 'unlawful' says court | BBC News I #EuropeanSuperLeague #Football #BBCNews Banning clubs from joining a European Super League was unlawful and Uefa and Fifa are "abusing a dominant position", the European Court of Justice has said. It comes after a case was brought by the ESL and its backers claiming Uefa and Fifa were breaking competition law by threatening to sanction those who joined the breakaway league. Europe's highest court found against the governing bodies, but added that did not mean a breakaway league would "necessarily be approved". The verdict will be seen as a blow to the authority of Uefa and Fifa and how they govern the game.

Israel-Gaza war: 'I walked my kids past explosions and rotting corpses'. #Shorts #BBCNews

Donald Trump speaks following removal from Colorado presidential ballot | BBC News I #Donald Trump #Colorado #BBCNews Former US President Donald Trump has said that he considers indictments against him "a badge of honour". Trump was speaking at a campaign event in lowa, shortly after the state of Colorado's supreme court voted in favour of removing him from the 2024 presidential ballot. The court ruled 4-3 to remove Trump, citing his involvement in the 6 January insurrection in 2021. The Colorado Supreme Court ruling means Donald Trump may be unable to run for re-election in the state next year.

Israel-Gaza war: Hamas leader in Egypt for ceasefire talks | BBC News I #Israel #Gaza #BBCNews The leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, has arrived in Cairo for talks on a fresh ceasefire in Gaza. Egypt, along with Qatar, helped to broker a truce last month which lasted a week and saw a number of Israeli hostages released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has said his country was ready for another humanitarian pause in Gaza to enable the release of hostages. Later today, the UN Security Council is due to vote on a delayed resolution calling for a pause in the fighting.

Netherlands trials legally cultivating cannabis for first time | BBC News I #Netherlands #Cannabis #BBCNews The Netherlands is starting a trial aimed at decriminalising the production and supply of cannabis. The drug is being legally cultivated as part of a small experiment that could eventually be rolled out across the country. The consumption of cannabis has long been allowed in the Netherlands, but the sale of the drug remains illegal, even though it is tolerated. In the pilot, production will be limited to a handful of farms, whose cannabis will be closely monitored before it is supplied to coffee shops. The aim is to crack down on drug dealers and guarantee a high quality and safer product for consumers.

Iceland volcano erupts on Reykjanes peninsula | BBC News I #Iceland #Volcano #BBCNews A volcano has erupted on the Reykjanes peninsula of south-west Iceland after weeks of intense earthquake activity. About 4,000 people were earlier evacuated from the fishing town of Grindavik and the nearby Blue Lagoon geothermal spa was closed. The eruption started north of the town at 22:17 local time (22:17 GMT), the Icelandic Met Office said. The region around the capital Reykjavik has been experiencing an increase in earthquake activity since late October.

US to lead taskforce to protect Red Sea shipping | BBC News I #Shipping #RedSea #BBCNews The US has announced a new international taskforce to protect commercial ships in the Red Sea. Countries joining the security group include the UK, France, Canada, Bahrain, Norway and Spain. It comes after the energy giant BP suspended its shipping operations through the Red Sea because cargo vessels have been attacked by Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen. This is the route taken by around 12% of world shipping, which then passes through the Suez Canal. But several major freight companies have now stopped taking the route.

Growing hunger crisis in Afghanistan following humanitarian aid cuts | BBC News #Afghanistan #BBCNews Afghanistan will face its third winter under the Taliban since they took over and it is expected to be the worst in recent decades because of staggering cuts in humanitarian aid. According to the World Food Programme, a third of the population is facing acute hunger. But there's a huge funding shortfall. Aid has been hit because of a number of factors including global economic conditions, and international sanctions on the Taliban government, but the Taliban's harsh restrictions on women have also played a major role.

What happened to Russia's elite 'Black Berets' in Ukraine? | BBC News I #Russia #Ukraine #BBCNews In October 2022, Russia sent men from its elite 155th Marine Brigade, the "Black Berets" to take the town of Vuhledar in Ukraine. Ramaz Gorgadze, a young aspiring TikTok rapper, was among them. Before the assault, he sent a last message to his mother, and then went missing. Days later, a rare protest letter from the Black Berets emerged online. The men claimed that "inept" commanders threw them into an "incomprehensible offensive" and called them "meat" Using only publicly available footage and testimonies, BBC Eye has shown how glaring tactical mistakes caused one of the highest concentration of losses for a single Russian unit since the beginning of the war a number the Russian authorities have denied.

EU takes action against Elon Musk's X over disinformation BBC News I #BBCNews The European Union has formally announced it suspects X, previously known as Twitter, of breaching its rules in areas including countering illegal content and disinformation. Digital commissioner Thierry Breton set out the alleged infringements in a post on the social media platform. He said X, which is owned by Elon Musk, was also suspected of breaching its obligations on transparency. X said it was "co-operating with the regulatory process".