The latest five minute news bulletin from BBC World Service.Από τον BBC World Service

Israeli air strikes are continuing in Gaza ahead of the ceasefire agreement and hostage deal with Hamas, which comes into effect on Sunday, subject to the Israeli cabinet's approval.The strikes killed 73 people overnight following the announcement of the deal, Gaza's Hamas-run civil defence agency reported. Victims include 12 people living in a res…

UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced five government-backed local inquiries and a new national-level "rapid audit" of grooming gangs. The government faced calls for a full national inquiry after interventions by tech billionaire Elon Musk. Adam is joined by Henry Zeffman, chief political correspondent, and social affairs editor Alison Holt…

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol has refused to take part in a second day of questioning in a criminal trial into his attempt to impose martial law. He was arrested on January 15 on charges of insurrection for a failed martial law order on 3 December that plunged the country into turmoil.Lawyers for the president said he would not take part in…

Israel and Hamas have agreed a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal following 15 months of war.Qatari Prime Minister Al Thani said the agreement would come into effect on 19 January, as long as it was approved by the Israeli cabinet.Hamas attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 back to Gaza as hostag…

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said the cabinet will delay a planned meeting to discuss approving the Gaza ceasefire deal, accusing Hamas of seeking last-minute concessions. Meanwhile, the health ministry in Gaza has said dozens of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes ahead of a ceasefire deal between Hamas a…

Israel and Hamas have agreed a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal following 15 months of war. The agreement would come into effect on Sunday so long as it was approved by the Israeli cabinet, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani said. US President Joe Biden said it would "halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much needed-…

President Volodymyr Zelensky has held talks with Poland’s PM Donald Tusk after infrastructure in Ukraine was hit in what local officials are describing as “a massive Russian attack.”Ukraine says Russia targeted gas infrastructures and other major energy facilities near Lviv.During the conference, Tusk said “all of Europe is committed to spending mo…

Winds that have fanned wildfires in the US city of Los Angeles are again expected to kick up in the early hours of Wednesday - after a 25th death from the huge, week-long outbreak was confirmed. Forecasters have again identified an area of "extreme fire danger", emphasising the risk level in a region to the north-west of the city centre. The antici…

Talks have resumed in Qatar amid hopes that a ceasefire in Gaza is within reach. All sides have indicated that an agreement is closer than ever, with both Israel and Hamas openly expressing that a deal can be reached. It is hoped that a ceasefire deal will mean an agreement to stop the war which has been raging in Gaza. It is also expected to see a…

As Los Angeles faces its most destructive wildfires in history, tens of thousands of buildings have been destroyed, and hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee their homes. The largest blaze, in the Pacific Palisades area, has burned more than 23,000 acres, making it the city’s worst fire on record.To grasp the scale, the affected area stret…

South Korean authorities have arrested President Yoon Suk Yeol, who faces charges of insurrection following an unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law. Yoon is now at the Corruption Investigation Office. He said he agreed to the interrogation "even though it is an illegal investigation, in order to prevent any unsavoury bloodshed". Authorities s…

Today, the Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq has resigned after growing pressure over an anti-corruption investigation in Bangladesh.The Labour MP last week referred herself to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s standards adviser Sir Laurie Magnus - but insisted she has done nothing wrong. She said in a letter today that whilst Sir Laurie found she had not…

Former Fox News host and military veteran Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's nominee for defence secretary, has been questioned by a Senate committee. He's been challenged over previous comments made about women in the military; elsewhere he vows to restore a "warrior ethos" to the Pentagon. Pete Hegseth also dismissed questions over reports of his heavy…

South Korean investigators are trying once more to arrest impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol following a failed attempt earlier this month. They had tried to arrest Yoon on 3 January but had to turn back after being locked in an hours-long stand-off with members of the Presidential Security Service (PSS). The arrest is expected to be carried out wit…

Some of the 25 people who survived a dive-boat capsizing in the Red Sea have described what happened and why the incident has raised safety questions. Two britons are believed to be among the 11 people who died or have been missing since the incident. As well as describing the terror of being trapped in a rapidly sinking boat, the survivors accuse …

The Princess of Wales has revealed she is in remission from cancer after making an emotional return to the hospital where she received treatment. In a message posted on social media, Catherine spoke of her "relief" and said she remained "focused on recovery". "As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a …

Firefighters in the Los Angeles area are facing a crucial day, as forecasters warn that particularly dangerous winds in north-west LA could spread blazes.A red flag weather warning for wind gusts of up to 70mph has begun, while elsewhere LA residents have been told to stay indoors to avoid dust and ash.At least two large blazes and two smaller ones…

The wife of a Ukrainian prisoner of war explains how Russia attempted to recruit her for sabotage. The 42-year-old had been waiting for news of her husband Dima, an army medic captured by Russia, for more than two years when she suddenly received a phone call. The voice at the end of the phone told her that if she committed treason against Ukraine,…

South Korea's Constitutional Court has held its first hearing to decide if suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol should be removed from office after his shock martial law attempt last month. The hearing ended within four minutes because of Yoon's absence - his lawyers had earlier said he would not attend for his own safety, as there is a warrant out fo…

President Joe Biden has said a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages is "on the brink" of coming to fruition and his administration is working urgently to achieve it.Palestinian officials have confirmed that the terms of a deal are being finalised, while the Israelis said talks are at an advanced stage with a deal possible in hou…

Today, we look at the announcement of a new AI Action Plan and the UK government’s hope that it will make the UK a world leader in AI.In a speech, the UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer laid out the government's plans to use AI across the UK to boost growth and deliver public services more efficiently. Adam and Chris are joined by the BBC’s AI Corr…

Three wildfires are still burning in the LA area - the largest, the Palisades Fire, is just 14% contained. LA City mayor Karen Bass said "urgent preparations" are being made, with close to hurricane-force winds forecast which could spark new fires across the region. US President Joe Biden said he is "deeply saddened by the devastation" caused by th…

Three wildfires are still burning in the Los Angeles area and the largest, the Palisades Fire, is just 14% contained. LA City mayor Karen Bass said "urgent preparations" are being made after the National Weather Service forecasted close to hurricane force winds this week.Some 24 people have been killed by the fires, with at least 23 still unaccount…

In recent weeks, US President-elect Donald Trump has shown renewed interest in taking control of Greenland, a largely autonomous territory of Denmark in the Arctic and the world's largest island. When asked if he would rule out using military or economic force in order to take over the island, as well as the Panama Canal, he responded: "No, I can't…

One of the world's largest religious festivals kicks off today in India, the Maha Kumbh Mela – which happens every 12 years. Over the next 45 days, officials are expecting 400 million Hindus to make their way to where the three rivers, the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati meet. By bathing in the waters, devotees believe their sins will be …

Artificial intelligence (AI) presents a "vast potential" for rejuvenating UK public services, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said. In a speech setting out the government's plans to use AI across the UK to boost growth and deliver services more efficiently, the prime minister said the government had a responsibility to make AI "work for working…

The launch of Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin rocket has been postponed due to a “vehicle subsystem issue”.The reusable rocket had been due to set off from Florida, but was delayed multiple times.Bezos has plans for his company to become a rival to Elon Musk's SpaceX and the rocket, New Glenn, is named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth.Su…

US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have spoken by phone - in Biden's final week in office - as momentum builds towards a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. Israel and Hamas are understood to be making progress but uncertainty remains over key aspects of the potential agreement. The White House said Biden disc…

The BBC visited the so-called Shein village in Guangzhou, China, and found workers making clothes for the fast fashion giant were labouring for around 75 hours a week - which breaks the country's labour laws. Shein said it is committed to the welfare of all employees in its supply chain. Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog For more news, analysis…

The fires in Los Angeles could "take off" again on Tuesday or Wednesday, the Pasadena fire chief has told the BBC. High winds are forecast - and Pasadena fire chief, Chad Augustin, said they are at a "fork in the road" in the fight against the blaze. There are three wildfires still burning in the LA area - the largest, the Palisades fire, is just 1…

The authorities in Los Angeles warn that scammers and looters are taking advantage of victims of the wildfires that have devastated large parts of the city. One man is reported to have dressed as a firefighter in order to burgle a home and dozens of others have been arrested.16 people are now known to have died in the fires with another 16 missing.…

At least 16 people have been killed and another 13 missing from the devastating Los Angeles fires, the LA Medical Examiner's Office has confirmed. Eleven deaths are linked to the Eaton fire, and five to the Palisades fire, but officials expect those numbers to rise. Firefighters are making an all-out assault to prevent the largest of the deadly wil…

The UK government has announced plans to cap the price of resale tickets in a clamp-down on ticket touts who bulk buy tickets and then resell them for huge profits. They are also putting out a call for evidence on dynamic pricing after Oasis fans were charged £200 more than advertised for tickets to their reunion tour. The cap would also apply to t…

Donald Trump refused to rule out using military force to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal at a press conference. While the president-elect appeared to rule out the possibility when it came to Canada, Trump did say he would use “economic force” to annex Canada and described their shared border as “an artificially drawn line”. The Americast tea…

Donald Trump’s re-election as US President this month is seen by many Israeli settlers as an opportunity to press ahead with the annexation of the occupied West Bank. Israeli settlements have doubled in the last five years and are now home to more than 500,000 settlers. The settlements are viewed as illegal by the UN's top court and most other coun…

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is preparing to launch his first orbital rocket into space on Sunday with his space company Blue Origin. The launch at Cape Canaveral in Florida marks a major milestone for Blue Origin as it competes with Elon Musk’s SpaceX and the New Zealand firm Rocket Lab - both of which are already running missions for Nasa and others…

The US president-elect has previously promised he will negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. Now, Donald Trump has said that a meeting is being arranged between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin.The US president-elect gave no timeline for when the meeting might take place.The Kremlin said in response that it was open to the talks, but …

At least 10 people have been killed in devastating fires blazing across Los Angeles. So far, it's estimated 10,000 homes and other structures have been destroyed. A forecast for more strong winds is raising fears that the blazes could spread further. BBC Correspondent Helena Humphrey has spoken to a family after they returned to their home to find …

Firefighters are still struggling to contain the wildfires raging across Los Angeles for four days.The US National Guard has been deployed and nightime curfews announced in some areas, to prevent looting. President Biden has said the city resembles a 'war scene.' Around 10 thousand homes and buildings have been destroyed. Early estimates suggest th…

The planet has moved a major step closer to warming more than 1.5C, new data shows, despite world leaders vowing a decade ago they would try to avoid this. The European Copernicus climate service said on Friday that 2024 was the first calendar year to pass the 1.5C threshold, as well as being the world's hottest year on record. This does not mean t…

Today, we look at Donald Trump avoiding jail, and any punishment, over charges of fraud relating to hush money paid to adult-film star Stormy Daniels. Adam is joined by Caitriona Perry, the BBC’s chief presenter in Washington, and Gary O’Donoghue, the BBC’s senior North America correspondent. And, 2024 was the first year to exceed the key global wa…

A night-time curfew has been imposed in areas impacted by the devastating wildfires blazing across Los Angeles.The rule will be in effect in the Pacific Palisades and Eaton Fire areas as police warn that anyone involved in "despicable" looting will be arrested.At least 10 people have been killed in the fires so far and it's estimated 10,000 homes a…

US President-elect Donald Trump has been spared jail time or a fine in New York in the hush-money case.Last May, Trump was convicted on 34 counts relating to hush money paid to adult-film star Stormy Daniels. On Friday, he was sentenced to "unconditional discharge" on all counts. Paying hush money is not illegal in New York, but the charges stem fr…

Wildfires in Los Angeles have killed at least 10 people, as officials warn more high winds could further fan the flames.The wind forecasts and drought conditions mean a red flag warning, indicating critical fire conditions, is in place across Southern California.Five fires are still burning and a man has been detained on suspicion of starting the l…

Wildfires in Los Angeles have killed at least ten people, the city’s medical examiner confirms on Thursday evening. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna says it hasn't been safe to reach many hard-hit areas and the death toll is "absolutely going to change”. Forecasters have warned more high winds may fan the flames further. Subscribe here: http:…

The devastating wildfires in California are continuing to spread despite the efforts of firefighters. More than 10,000 homes and other buildings have been destroyed with entire neighbourhoods reduced to ashes. 180,000 people have been told to leave their homes with hundreds of thousands more on high alert.Arson investigators are looking into the ca…

Tech millionaire Elon Musk has interviewed the co-leader of the German party Alternative for Germany (AfD), Alice Weidel. Musk praised Weidel as “very reasonable” on Thursday, urging Germans to vote for the far-right party. The AfD party is currently polling at about 19% in the run up to Germany's elections next month. Subscribe here: http://bit.ly…

Today, we look at the wildfires still raging across Los Angeles, where five people have been killed and more than 175,000 have been evacuated.Adam speaks with BBC’s Los Angeles correspondent Emma Vardy about the extent of the damage and the rescue operations. And Politico’s California environment reporter Camille von Kaenel explains why President-e…

Wildfires are ripping across parts of Los Angeles, leading to at least five deaths and burning down hundreds of buildings. Nearly 180,000 LA residents have been told to evacuate and authorities say they're doing what they can to ascertain if any more people have died. The Palisades fire, one of the five still burning, is thought to be "one of the w…