BBC News (World)

Nato jets down drone that entered Lithuanian airspace

Nato fighter pilots have shot down a drone that entered Lithuania's airspace overnight, the Lithuanian president said.

Authorities said the drone likely entered southern Lithuania, near the second-largest city of Kaunas, from neighbouring Belarus shortly after midnight on Tuesday.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda wrote in a statement on X: "A drone that just entered Lithuanian airspace was destroyed by NATO fighter jets."

The origins of the drone are yet to be determined, a spokesperson for the Lithuanian national crisis management centre said. read more

US says it struck Iranian radar sites as Iran targets American forces in Kuwait

The US has said it hit Iranian military sites over the weekend while Tehran said it responded by targeting a US base, marking the third escalation in a week around the Strait of Hormuz.

US Central Command (Centcom) said it launched "self-defence strikes" in response to "aggressive Iranian actions", which included a US drone being shot down over international waters.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had targeted an air base used by US forces for an attack on Iran.
Centcom said two Iranian ballistic missiles targeting US forces in Kuwait had been intercepted and "no American personnel were harmed". read more

🇮🇷🇷🇺 IRAN ASKS RUSSIA FOR ITS ADVANCED GERAN DRONES, TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER COMES FULL CIRCLE

Iran has asked Moscow to supply its newest Russian-developed Geran attack drones for use against Israel and the United States, according to the Financial Times, citing Western security officials and a person close to the Kremlin. It remains unclear whether Russia has agreed to the latest request.

Iran originally supplied Russia with the Shahed technology. Russia then spent four years combat-testing, modifying and mass-producing the platform in Ukraine and Tehran now reportedly wants Russia’s evolved versions back.

The latest jet-powered Geran variants are faster, carry larger warheads and incorporate improved targeting, communications and resistance to electronic warfare. Russia’s adaptation of the Iranian design has become so extensive that CSIS recently concluded that Russia has effectively mastered the platform through continuous battlefield-driven development

Russian online retail warehouses hit by deadly Ukrainian strikes

Eight people have been killed and 62 injured after Ukrainian drones struck two warehouses belonging to Russia's biggest online retailer, Wildberries, according to Russian officials.

Seven deaths and 25 injuries occurred at a warehouse in the city of Tambov, roughly 295 miles (475km) south-east of Moscow. One death and 37 injuries occurred at another Wildberries warehouse in Elektrostal in the Moscow region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attacks had struck "major logistics facilities" which had been used to "supply sanctioned components for drone production and navigation equipment".

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US says it struck Iranian radar sites as Iran targets American forces in Kuwait

The US has said it hit Iranian military sites over the weekend while Tehran said it responded by targeting a US base, marking the third escalation in a week around the Strait of Hormuz.

US Central Command (Centcom) said it launched "self-defence strikes" in response to "aggressive Iranian actions", which included a US drone being shot down over international waters.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had targeted an air base used by US forces for an attack on Iran. read more

Hundreds arrested in France after wild Champions League celebrations

Clashes between football fans and police across France have led to more than 400 arrests following the victory of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League final against Arsenal.

Thousands of officers were deployed to curb unrest that disrupted bus, train and rail services in the capital Paris.

Fireworks and flares were set off, while several police officers were injured in the fray. Police fired tear gas to disperse crowds in the city centre. read more

No deal announced after Trump meeting to make 'final determination' on Iran

US President Donald Trump has held a meeting with top aides to make a "final determination" about a framework for extending the ceasefire with Iran, but it concluded without clarity on the next steps.

Posting on Truth Social beforehand, Trump said Iran must agree to never have a nuclear weapon or bomb, that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened for "unrestricted shipping traffic, in both directions", and that any mines in the strait be "terminated". read more

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed, state media says

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed, state media confirms.

President Donald Trump earlier said Khamenei had been killed by US-Israeli strikes across Iran. read more

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office

We've now seen a statement from Thames Valley police, which says:

"As part of the investigation, we have today (19/2) arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.

"The man remains in police custody at this time.

"We will not be naming the arrested man, as per national guidance. Please also remember that this case is now active so care should be taken with any publication to avoid being in contempt of court."

Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said: “Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office.

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Trump revokes landmark ruling that greenhouse gases endanger public health

US President Donald Trump has reversed a key Obama-era scientific ruling that underpins all federal actions on curbing planet-warming gases.

The so-called 2009 "endangerment finding" concluded that a range of greenhouse gases were a threat to public health. It's become the legal bedrock of federal efforts to rein in emissions, especially in vehicles.

The White House called the reversal the "largest deregulation in American history", saying it would make cars cheaper, bringing down costs for automakers by $2,400 per vehicle. read more

We had sex in a Chinese hotel, then found we had been broadcast to thousands

One night in 2023, Eric was scrolling on a social media channel he regularly browsed for porn. Seconds into a video, he froze.

He realised the couple he was watching - entering the room, setting down their bags, and later, having sex - was himself and his girlfriend. Three weeks earlier, they had spent the night in a hotel in Shenzhen, southern China, unaware that they were not alone.

Their most intimate moments had been captured by a camera hidden in their hotel room, and the footage made available to thousands of strangers who had logged in to the channel Eric himself used to access pornography.

Eric (not his real name) was no longer just a consumer of China's spy-cam porn industry, but a victim. read more

Clintons agree to testify on Epstein as vote looms to hold them in contempt of Congress

Former US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State, have agreed to testify in the congressional investigation into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

It comes days before a vote on whether to hold the couple in criminal contempt for refusing to appear before the House Oversight Committee after a months-long standoff.

Bill Clinton was acquainted with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019, but has denied knowledge of his sex offending and says he cut off contact two decades ago. read more

South Africa and Israel expel each other's envoys in diplomatic row

South Africa has expelled Israel's top diplomat in the country for "violating diplomatic norms", a move that prompted Israel to kick out a South African envoy in retaliation.

The diplomatic row started when South Africa's foreign affairs ministry declared Ariel Seidman, chargé d'affaires at the Israeli embassy, persona non grata and gave him 72 hours to leave the country.

Hours later, Israel announced similar action against South Africa's ambassador to Palestine Shaun Edward Byneveldt. read more

Trump tells Iran to drop nuclear aims and stop killing protesters to avoid military action

Donald Trump says he has told Iran it has to do "two things" to avoid military action, as the US builds up its forces in the Gulf.

"Number one, no nuclear. And number two, stop killing protesters," the US president said, adding that "they are killing them by the thousands".

"We have a lot of very big, very powerful ships sailing to Iran right now, and it would be great if we didn't have to use them."

His latest remarks follow weeks of pressure on Iran to negotiate a deal on its nuclear programme. read more

Iran supreme leader admits thousands killed during recent protests

Iran's supreme leader has for the first time publicly acknowledged that thousands of people were killed, "some in an inhuman, savage manner", during recent protests.

A violent response to protests in Iran has claimed 3,090 lives, according to US-based Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), following unrest that started over the economy on 28 December. An internet blackout has made it extremely difficult to get clear information.

In a speech on Saturday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said thousands had been killed during the unrest, blaming the deaths on "seditionists". read more

At least 55 dead and hundreds missing after fire engulfs Hong Kong tower blocks

At least 55 people have been killed in a huge fire that engulfed multiple high-rise buildings in Hong Kong - the city's deadliest blaze in more than 70 years.

Some residents remain trapped inside the buildings, with more than 270 people unaccounted for.

Hundreds of firefighters have been tackling the blaze, which is now largely under control at all of the affected buildings at Wang Fuk Court. The housing complex had been undergoing extensive renovations when the fire began. read more

Hostage families confirm identities of three of four bodies handed over by Hamas

Israeli hostage families have confirmed the identities of three of four bodies handed over by Hamas in Gaza on Tuesday.

The bodies of Tamir Nimrodi, 20, Eitan Levy, 53, and Uriel Baruch, 35, were part of the latest return, the Hostages Families Forum said. The fourth body does not match any of the known hostages, Israel said.

So far seven hostages' bodies are confirmed to have been sent back from Gaza. Hamas has yet to return the other bodies as agreed under a ceasefire deal brokered by the US. read more

Palestinians celebrate return of detainees freed by Israel

Hundreds of freed Palestinian prisoners and detainees have been welcomed with tears and screams of joy as they were released by Israel to be reunited with their families in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

The release involved about 250 prisoners who had been convicted of crimes including murder and deadly attacks against Israelis - and about 1,700 detainees from Gaza who had been held by Israel without charge.

As prisoners exited a Red Cross bus in Ramallah, many draped in traditional Keffiyeh scarves, they looked pale and gaunt, with some struggling to walk. read more

Trump says Israel and Hamas 'sign off' on first phase of Gaza peace plan

US President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Hamas have "both signed off" on the first phase of a peace plan for Gaza.

"This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The announcement comes after three days of indirect talks in Egypt - mediated by officials from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the US - aimed at bringing an end to the two-year conflict. read more

Key US and regional mediators join talks in push to end Gaza war

Top US envoys and regional figures are taking part in the third day of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas in Egypt on President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza.

Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday along with Qatar's prime minister and Turkey's intelligence chief for what is expected to be a key day indicating whether progress can be made.

A senior Hamas official told the BBC it had shown "the necessary positivity" in the negotiations and submitted a list of the Palestinian prisoners it wanted Israel to release in exchange for the hostages held in Gaza.

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