A woman in Thailand has been sentenced to death in the first of a string of cases in which she is accused of murdering 14 friends with cyanide.

The court in Bangkok found Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, 36, guilty of putting poison in a wealthy friend’s food and drink while they were on a trip last year.

Relatives of the friend refused to accept she died of natural causes, and an autopsy found traces of cyanide in her body. Police arrested Sararat and uncovered other similar deaths going back to 2015. One person she allegedly targeted survived.

Police say Sararat, dubbed Am Cyanide by Thai media, had a gambling addiction and targeted friends she owed money to, then stole their jewellery and valuables.

The Alobam crooner described music as a “jealous and tasking” career, emphasizing that juggling marriage or any other career with it is incredibly difficult.

According to him, most celebrities’ careers crash when they get married.

Speaking in a recent episode of the In My Opinion podcast, Phyno said:

“Check everybody, statistically, I feel so [most celebrities’ careers crash when they get married].

“Music basically is a jealous career. That’s why people drop out of school to face music. The ones that had to juggle the two, you have to give them kudos because it’s not easy.

“Sometimes, some people get to a certain fame level and rush back to school and come back to continue from where they stopped because you have to actually face one. Music is tasking; it takes all your time.

“Another thing about music is that it is what you pass through that you put into it—life experiences—except if you use songwriters. But if you write your songs, you can’t be talking about happiness when you’ve got a girlfriend that’s stressing you.”

Denmark has agreed on how to implement the world’s first tax on agricultural emissions, including flatulence by livestock.

This comes after months of negotiations between the country’s major parties, farmers, the industry, trade unions and environmental groups. The Green Tripartite agreement was first announced in June.

From 2030, farmers will have to pay a levy of 300 kroner ($43; £34) per tonne of methane (as per carbon dioxide equivalent) on emissions from livestock including cows and pigs, which will rise to 750 kroner in 2035.

The Green Tripartite minister said they will “do what it takes to reach our climate goals” after receiving a “broad majority” in parliament.

His arrest in New York came amid a series of civil suits alleging sexual assault and physical violence, some going back to the 1990s.

More than two dozen people have filed lawsuits against the rapper, accusing him of using his influence in the entertainment industry to do everything from drugging, assaulting and raping people.

The latest batch of lawsuits include allegations from two men who were underage at the time of the alleged sexual assaults. Both described being hopeful that Mr Combs could help jumpstart their careers in the entertainment industry.

The Harlem-born rapper has denied all the allegations, both those laid out in lawsuits and in his federal indictment.

Effective November 8 2024, the Canadian government is increasing the maximum allowable work hours from 20 to 24 hours per week.

This policy change aims to help students balance their studies with part-time employment, offering more flexibility as they navigate life in Canada.

According to Immigration News Canada(INC), the new rule is part of a broader effort by the Canadian government to enhance the support system for international students, allowing them to gain more work experience and financial independence while continuing their education.

New work hour cap: what students need to know 

INC reports that under the updated regulation, international students can now work up to 24 hours per week during the academic term, a notable increase from the previous 20-hour limit. Also, students can work full-time during scheduled breaks, provided they are enrolled full-time before and after the break period.

This change,  as reported, is designed to offer more opportunities for students to supplement their income while maintaining their academic focus.

Who Is eligible to work off-campus? 

Not all international students will automatically be eligible to work off-campus, reports note.

To qualify, students must meet certain conditions:  

• They must be enrolled full-time at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and must be enrolled in a program that lasts at least six months and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
• Students must also have a valid study permit that allows off-campus work, and they must apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to be eligible to work in Canada.

However, reports note that students who are enrolled in language programs, preparatory courses, or general interest studies are not permitted to work off-campus. Similarly, those whose study permits restrict off-campus employment will be unable to take advantage of this opportunity.

Steps for students to start working 

Before students begin working, they must first ensure their study permit includes the necessary conditions to work off-campus. If the permit does not specify work eligibility, students can request an amendment at no cost, INC informs.

Once they have the proper work authorization, students need to apply for a SIN, which is required for all work in Canada.

Finally, students must ensure they comply with the new 24-hour per week work limit during the academic terms and track their hours carefully.

Consequences for non-compliance 

Reports warn that it is important for students to adhere to the new work hour limits and other regulations. Violating the rules—such as working more than 24 hours per week during the academic term—can result in severe consequences.

These may include losing student status, becoming ineligible for future immigration benefits, and potentially being asked to leave Canada. Students, therefore are encouraged to keep accurate records of their working hours and follow the rules carefully.

Changes for transfers and graduates 

The new rules also affect students transitioning between institutions. Beginning in November 2024, international students transferring from one Designated Learning Institution to another will be required to apply for a new study permit before making the switch.

• This measure, INC reports, aims to ensure greater program integrity and accountability.
• For graduates, the new policy allows students to work full-time while they await the approval of their Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), as long as they are eligible for off-campus work during their studies.

Students who are moving into a new program of study may also work full-time during the transition period, subject to specific conditions.

Kenya’s Catholic Church has rejected a donation of about $40,000 (£32,000) made by President William Ruto.

He offered the money towards the building of a priest’s house and as a gift to the choir during Mass on Sunday at the Soweto Catholic Church in the capital, Nairobi.

The donation followed a recent statement by Catholic bishops, who had hit out at the government for failing to fulfil their electoral promises.

Churches have been under pressure this year from young anti-tax protesters who have accused them of being too close to politicians.

Initially expected to conclude within days, the conflict has now spanned 1,000 days, marked by immense Ukrainian resilience and defiance.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, Ivan Lukachuk, Chargé d’Affaires of Ukraine in Ghana, reflected on this grim milestone.

“Today, Ukraine is marking the 1,000th day of Russia’s unprovoked full-scale aggression against Ukraine. This period has been marked by immense resilience, sacrifice, and defiance by the Ukrainian people and their armed forces,” he remarked.

He highlighted Ukraine’s counteroffensive achievements, such as reclaiming territories in Kharkiv and Kherson, and acknowledged the widespread international support that has been critical to Ukraine’s efforts.

“This milestone serves not only as a moment to honor those who have fought and sacrificed but also as a rallying call to maintain international pressure on Russia through sanctions and diplomatic measures,” he added.

The Humanitarian and Diplomatic Toll

Mr. Lukachuk emphasized the humanitarian devastation caused by the war, noting countless lives lost, destroyed cities, and millions displaced. He pointed to Ukraine’s pursuit of peace through President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula, first proposed at the G20 Summit on November 15, 2022.

Explaining the initiative, he said, “The Peace Formula…serves as a comprehensive approach to achieving a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. It aims not only to end Russia’s aggression but also to preserve the global security system from further erosion.”

The Chargé d’Affaires stressed the urgent need for global support: “The ongoing escalation of the war by Russia risks normalizing aggression and undermining the international order. We see this, for example, in North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.”

International Support and Pathways to Peace

Ukraine’s peace initiative has gained significant backing, with 141 states supporting a UN General Assembly resolution in February 2023. Additionally, the First Global Peace Summit, held in Switzerland in June 2024, reinforced international commitment, with 101 delegations adopting a Joint Communiqué on a Peace Framework.

On the contentious issue of Russian participation in peace talks, Mr. Lukachuk stated, “At some point, Russian representatives may need to be involved. However, this cannot happen while Russia continues its aggression and disregards international law. Until then, it falls upon the global community to pressure Moscow to commit to peace.”

Ukraine’s Victory Plan

To strengthen Ukraine’s position and end the conflict, President Zelenskyy introduced a Victory Plan on October 16, 2024. The plan outlines five priorities: NATO membership, a robust defense strategy, deterrence against future threats, economic cooperation, and a framework for post-war recovery.

“The aim is to strengthen Ukraine sufficiently to end the war within the next year. If successfully implemented, it will create a pathway to lasting peace and deter potential aggressors,” explained Mr. Lukachuk.

A Call for Collective Action

In closing, Mr. Lukachuk reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to peace and sovereignty. “Achieving peace requires a collective effort and unwavering commitment to justice and international law. Ukraine is ready to continue working with global partners to build a secure, peaceful future,” he affirmed.

As Ukraine marks this sombre milestone, the world watches closely, hopeful for a resolution that ensures justice and lasting peace.

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Novo Nordisk has launched its weight-loss drug Wegovy in China after it was approved by local health authorities in June.

It is set to intensify competition with rival Eli Lilly, whose popular weight-loss treatment also got the green light months ago but has yet to go on sale in the world’s second largest pharmaceutical market.

More than 180 million people live with obesity in China, which has a population of 1.4 billion.

According to Chinese business news website Yicai, a dose of four Wegovy injections will cost 1,400 yuan (£153; $194), a fraction of the drug’s price in the United States.

Faye sought a clear parliamentary majority in Sunday’s vote to implement the reform agenda that helped sweep him to power in a landslide election victory in March.

But analysts say creating a budget catering both to his voters’ needs and to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with which his government is currently in talks, will be challenging.

Former president Macky Sall, who headed an opposition coalition, on Monday congratulated Pastef on its win. Former prime minister Amadou Ba, who ran against Faye in the presidential election, also conceded defeat, as did other opposition leaders.

Senegal’s sovereign debt rose in price on Monday, Tradeweb data showed, while most other African nations’ bonds lost ground. The yield on its 2033 dollar bond was down about 10 basis points by 1145 GMT at 9.28%.

“If confirmed by the electoral bodies, Pastef’s victory could give a free hand in passing budgets and implementing its programmatic reforms,” said Wendyam Lankoande, a consultant at Africa Practice.

But, he noted, voters are “looking for quick solutions to unemployment, rising cost of living, and limited reach of public services in remote rural areas in the hinterland”.

In September, a government audit revealed that Senegal’s debt and budget deficit were much wider than the previous administration had reported. A $1.9 billion IMF programme agreed in June 2023 has been on hold since.

Negotiations with the IMF to restart disbursements could last until mid-2025.

“We see Pastef’s majority as a positive development as it clears the path for President Faye and (Prime Minister Ousmane) Sonko to begin work on a budget for 2025 that aligns broadly with IMF requirements,” said Leeuwner Esterhuysen, senior economist at Oxford Economics Africa.

“That said, some of these requirements won’t necessarily go down well with Senegalese citizens.”

He said the Fund was likely to show some leniency, as it appears to have good relations with the new administration.

“We think the government may be able to delay the implementation of harsh measures such as removing VAT exemptions on farming inputs or increasing household electricity prices, while energy subsidies will be phased out gradually to limit the impact on consumers,” Esterhuysen said.

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Ghana has once again been ranked among the top 25 countries globally for sending students to the United States, securing the 18th position in the 2024 Open Doors Report.

According to the report, 9,394 Ghanaians were studying in the U.S. during the 2023–2024 academic year, representing a 45.2% increase and marking an all-time high.

Published annually by the Institute of International Education (IIE), the Open Doors Report tracks and analyzes international student enrollment in the U.S.

Ghana has also achieved a notable milestone, ranking ninth worldwide for sending graduate students to the U.S., with 6,337 Ghanaians pursuing graduate degrees—a 54% increase from the previous year.

Additionally, Ghanaian students received nearly $9.2 million in scholarships across over 680 universities in all 50 U.S. states, according to the U.S. Embassy in Ghana.

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Ukraine has said it will never give in to Russia’s aggression as it marks 1,000 days since the Kremlin launched a full-scale invasion of the country.

“Ukraine will never submit to the occupiers, and the Russian military will be punished for violating international law,” the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Zelensky will later address a special session of the European Parliament as the country marks the milestone.

It comes as eight people, including a child, were killed in a drone attack on Ukraine’s northeastern region of Sumy overnight, where 89 were also killed in a separate strike on Sunday.

The Kano State Fire Service spokesperson, Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, confirmed the incident in a statement.

According to Abdullahi, the deceased, a driver for the first wife of the Minister of Defence, had dropped off some guests at a nearby residence.

While stepping out to urinate, he unknowingly walked onto the cover of an abandoned well, which gave way, causing him to fall in.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene within 15 minutes of receiving a distress call.

The rescue crew retrieved Yusha’u from the well unconscious and rushed him to a Specialist Hospital for medical attention. However, he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His body was handed over to the Police Division for further arrangements.

The tragedy highlights the dangers posed by uncovered or poorly maintained wells in residential areas, as residents mourn the untimely loss of Sabi’u Yusha’u.

Monique Gilbertson, 68, was found inside the icebox of her home after police responded to a wellness check request by an employee in her 55-and-older community, 8 News Now reported.

“She called you guys about two weeks ago,” the employee told a dispatcher in the 911 call obtained by the local station. “She had a roommate issue, and she called because in her roommate’s stuff, she had found a gun, but I don’t know how far she got with that phone call. She said that she couldn’t get a hold of you guys she was going to like throw it in the trash.”

The roommate, 37-year-old Daniel Roush, met Gilbertson at a store and she invited him to move in with her, according to arrest documents obtained by 8 News Now.

Though originally they got along, Gilbertson became “upset about how filthy Roush was,” and kicked him out around Oct. 22 and changed the locks, the outlet reported.

The employee who called for the wellness check told police that Gilbertson would call the property management office several times a day, but around the same date — Oct. 22, the calls stopped.

Police said that when they conducted the wellness check on Nov. 6, Roush and a woman were inside the house with Gilbertson nowhere to be found, the station reported.

Roush asked the officers if they had a warrant to look at the freezer, according to documents, and that he found Gilbertson slumped over in a dining room chair and decided to “put her in the icebox” because he didn’t know what to do.

He allegedly told police that he suspected Gilbertson had overdosed on cocaine or fentanyl she purchased from him.

The employee who requested the welfare check told the 911 dispatcher that she didn’t believe Gilbertson used drugs or drank alcohol, according to the station.

Roush has been charged with second-degree murder for the death of Monique Gilbertson. As of Friday, Gilbertson’s cause and manner of death were still pending.

His death was confirmed by the Mariinsky Theater, a venue in the city of St. Petersburg where Shklyarov was the highest-ranking dancer.

“This is a huge loss for the entire Mariinsky Theater team,” it said.

While Russian authorities have launched an investigation into Shklyarov’s death, the “preliminary cause” has been judged an accident, Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti reported.

“He died a natural death. It’s not a crime,” a source in the emergency services told RIA Novosti.

Shklyarov died two days before he was due to undergo complex spinal surgery and had been taking “serious painkillers” for some time, Russian media reported.

Diana Vishneva, a fellow principal dancer at the Mariinsky, said Shklyarov’s death is a “tragedy” for the ballet world.

“You were so loved by your audience. You were the favorite partner of many ballerinas,” she wrote in a tribute on Instagram.

Born in Leningrad — now St. Petersburg — Shklyarov studied at the prestigious Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet and graduated in 2003. He joined the Mariinsky Theater the same year and has served as a principal dancer — the highest-ranking position in the company — since 2011.

In a career spanning more than two decades, Shklyarov starred in productions of “Swan Lake,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Romeo and Juliet” and “Don Quixote.” He also performed starring roles as a guest artist with companies outside Russia, including London’s Royal Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre in New York.

He received numerous accolades during his career, including the Léonide Massine International Prize in 2008, and in 2020 he was appointed an Honored Artist of Russia.

In the days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Shklyarov was quoted as speaking out in support of peace.

“I am against the war in Ukraine! I am for the people, for a peaceful sky above our heads!” he was quoted as saying in a Facebook post by Alexei Ratmansky, a Russian-Ukrainian former ballet dancer.

Ratmansky, a former director of Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet, had been collecting anti-war messages from other figures in the ballet world.

Shklyarov was married to Maria Shirinkina, a fellow dancer at the Mariinsky. The couple had two children, a son and a daughter.

Veteran Australian broadcaster and former Wallabies coach Alan Jones has been charged with sexually abusing seven men and a 17-year-old boy.

The 83-year-old was taken into custody at his Sydney apartment early on Monday morning, as detectives from the New South Wales (NSW) Police Child Abuse Squad searched the harbour-front property and seized electronic devices.

Mr Jones is one of Australia’s most influential media figures, and has previously denied allegations of abuse, first published by The Sydney Morning Herald in 2023.

He now faces 24 charges over alleged incidents between 2001 and 2019, including 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault.

An Australian mining company, Resolute Mining, says it will pay Mali’s military government $160m (£126m) to settle a tax dispute, after the company’s British boss and two other staff were unexpectedly detained 10 days ago.

Reports say Terry Holohan and his colleagues were arrested while travelling to the capital city, Bamako, for what they were expecting to be routine negotiations.

Resolute, which owns a gold mine in Mali, said on Sunday it would pay $80m immediately from existing cash reserves, and the rest in the coming months.

Mali is one of Africa’s top gold producers.

Now a housekeeper in Maryland, the Bolivian national is one of at least 13 million undocumented migrants living in the US – an umbrella term that includes those who entered the US illegally, overstayed their visas or have protected status to avoid deportation.

Across the US, migrants like Gabriela are grappling with what the incoming Trump administration’s vow to conduct mass deportations could mean for their future.

In over a dozen interviews, undocumented immigrants said it was a topic of heated discussion in their communities, WhatsApp groups and social media.

Some, like Gabriela, believe it won’t impact them at all.

“I’m not scared at all, actually,” she said. “That’s for criminals to worry about. I pay taxes, and I work.”

“In any case, I’m undocumented,” she added. “[So] how would they even know about me?”

In an election campaign where immigration loomed large as a major concern of US voters, Trump frequently pledged to deport migrants en masse from US soil from his first day in office if he were to return to the presidency.

But nearly two weeks after his sweeping election win, it remains unclear what exactly these immigration enforcement operations will look like.

The president-elect has insisted cost won’t be an issue, but experts have cautioned that his promises may run into enormous financial and logistics challenges.

His newly appointed “border tsar”, Tom Homan, has said that undocumented migrants deemed to be national security or public safety threats will be a priority. And he has suggested workplace raids – a practice ended by the Biden administration – could return.

Speaking to Fox News on Saturday, the former acting director of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement during Trump’s first term challenged the notion that “those who enforce the law are the bad guys and those who break the law are the victims”.

“What member of Congress, what governor or what mayor is against taking public safety threats out of their community?” he asked, adding that the new administration would “follow through on the mandate that American people gave President Trump”.

US authorities deporting migrants is nothing new. More than 1.5 million people have been expelled under President Joe Biden, in addition to millions swiftly turned away from the border during the Covid-19 pandemic.

During the eight-year administration of Barack Obama – whom some dubbed the “deporter-in-chief” – about three million people were deported, with a focus on single men from Mexico who could easily be deported from border regions.

Trump’s promised plans, however, are more wide-ranging and aggressive, including enforcement operations in the US far from the border. Officials are reportedly also mulling using the National Guard and military aircraft to detain and ultimately deport people.

JD Vance, Trump’s running mate and incoming vice-president, has said that the deportations could “start” with one million people.

Still, some undocumented migrants believe that they will benefit from a Trump presidency instead of being kicked out.

“A lot of Latinos, those who can vote, did so because they think he [Trump] can improve the economy. That would be very good for us too,” said Carlos, an undocumented Mexican who lives in New York City. His son is a US citizen.

According to the American Immigration Council – a non-partisan organisation that conducts research and advocates for an overhaul of the US immigration system – there are more than five million Americans who were born to undocumented parents and have the security of US citizenship.

Carlos says he is “a little” worried about getting swept up in immigration raids. But that fear is tempered by the possibility of an improved economy under Trump and more work.

“Things may be a bit tense right in our communities right now, but being worried isn’t a solution,” he said. “The best thing to do is avoid problems and not commit any crimes.”

There are many others who don’t share in this optimism and are living in fear.

Among them is California resident Eric Bautista, a so-called “Dreamer”, who benefits from a longstanding programme that protects from deportation those who were brought illegally into the US as children.

At 29, Mr Bautista has only fleeting memories of life in Mexico, the country in which he was born and left at the age of seven.

For the last four years, he has taught US history to high schoolers – including details of how waves of immigrants from Italy, Ireland, China, Japan and Mexico settled in the country and often faced xenophobia.

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way, even after more than 20 years here,” Mr Bautista told the BBC. “It feels like we’re at a turning point, a new wave of nativism like those I teach about.

“It’s just a future of fear and uncertainty for us.”

Advocates and legal experts said there was no guarantee that undocumented migrants without criminal convictions would not be ensnared in ramped-up deportation efforts.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council, said that he foresaw an uptick in “collateral arrests” – a term used in the first Trump administration to describe immigrants swept up during enforcement actions even though they may not have been the original targets.

“Let’s say they go after somebody with a criminal record, and that person lives in a house with four other [undocumented] people,” he said. “We saw with the first Trump administration, they’ll arrest those people as well.”

In a recent interview with CBS, the BBC’s US partner, Homan was asked about a hypothetical situation in which a grandmother was caught up in a “targeted” enforcement operation going after criminals.

When asked if she would be deported, Homan responded “it depends”.

“Let the judge decide,” he said. “We’re gonna remove people that a judge has ordered deported.”

The arrest and potential removal of such collateral arrests would mark a drastic departure from the Biden administration, which has focused on public safety threats and deporting people soon after their apprehension at the border.

While Homan recently dismissed suggestions that there could be “a mass sweep of neighbourhoods” or large detention camps set up, the stock prices of companies that could be involved in building detention facilities have jumped by as much as 90% since the election. They include publicly traded prison firms GEO Group and CoreCivic.

Undocumented migrants are employed throughout the US economy – from agricultural fields to warehouses and construction sites.

Mr Reichlin-Melnick said operations targeting such workplaces could lead to “indiscriminate” detentions.

“I don’t think that being a person with no criminal record [who] pays taxes protects anybody,” he said. “One of the first things that Trump will do is get rid of the Biden administration’s enforcement priorities. And we’ve seen that when there are no priorities, they will go after whoever are the easiest targets.”

The possibility of becoming “an easy target” has worried many migrants – particularly those from families with mixed legal statuses. Their biggest fear is finding themselves separated.

Brenda, a 37-year-old Mexico-born “Dreamer” in Texas, is currently protected from deportation but her husband and her mother are not.

Her two children were born in the US and are American citizens.

While Brenda told the BBC she does not believe that “good people” would be the first targets for deportation, she can’t escape the thought that her husband could be sent back to Mexico.

“It’s important for us that we see our sons grow up,” she said. “Of course, the thought of being separated leaves one frightened.”

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President-elect Donald Trump made immigration a central element of his 2024 presidential campaign – but unlike his first run, which was spent largely focused on building a border wall, he’s turned his attention to interior enforcement and the removal of undocumented immigrants already in the United States.

People close to the president and his aides are laying the groundwork for expanding detention facilities to fulfill his mass deportation campaign promise, including reviewing metropolitan areas where capabilities exist.

But they are also preparing executive actions that are a call back to his first term in office and could be rolled out as soon as Trump takes office, sources say.

Taken together, it amounts to the return of hardline immigration policies that garnered fierce criticism from Democrats and immigrant advocates during Trump’s first term – and a dramatic change for migrants and immigrants in the United States.

The executive actions and reviews underway include the return of the program informally known as “remain in Mexico,” which requires migrants to stay in Mexico during their immigration proceedings in the US, revising asylum restrictions, revoking protections for migrants covered by Biden’s humanitarian parole programs and undoing ICE’s enforcement priorities, according to two sources briefed on transition policy discussions.

Another executive order that is being considered would make detention mandatory and call for an end to releasing migrants, which often happens across administrations because of limited federal resources. It’s that type of executive order, sources say, that would pave the way for detaining and eventually, deporting people at a large scale.

Trump’s team is also reviewing regional capability for housing migrants – a process likely to lead to consideration of the construction of new detention facilities in larger metropolitan areas, according to two sources. Homeland Security officials have previously identified multiple cities in which to build up detention capability in preparation for border surges.

Plans also include bringing back family detention, which has been widely criticized by immigrant advocates and a practice that President Joe Biden ended.

“The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin, giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail. He will deliver,” Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told CNN in a statement.

But key to any plan is money. In the absence of additional congressional funding, people working on the plans have cited the reprogramming of agency funds to shore up resources, as previous administrations have done.

But they are also evaluating a potential national emergency declaration to unlock Pentagon resources – which was done during Trump’s first term and faced lawsuits – and tailoring that declaration to pave the way for expanding detention space, according to one of the sources.

The private sector, which the federal government heavily relies on for detention space, is also preparing to add more beds. In a recent eaomrnings call, CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger noted the increased need for detention capacity. CoreCivic is one of the largest private prison operators in the US.

“We think that the outcome of this election is probably going to be notable for ICE for a couple of different reasons. One is that we do think that there’s going to be increased need for detention capacity,” Hininger told investors.

The federal government also works with county jails – and the Trump team is expected to rely on them to find additional space for undocumented immigrants.

The team who will be charged with seeing that through has come into shape including veteran immigration official Tom Homan as “border czar,” immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff for policy, and loyalist South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to head the Department of Homeland Security.

Miller has previously described plans that include large staging facilities near the border to detain and deport migrants, and worksite raids, which the Biden administration discontinued in 2021.

Behind the scenes, other border security officials are also involved in discussions, including ex-US Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott, and Michael Banks, a special adviser to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on the border, according to two of the sources.

The people shaping operational plans are well versed on the immigration system, particularly Homan, who was also the architect of family separation. He’s repeatedly stressed that operations will be targeted and focused on public safety and national security threats.

Current and former Homeland Security officials have privately argued that the selection of Homan indicates a level of seriousness by the incoming administration because of his familiarity with immigration enforcement. He also held a senior role at Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the record level of deportations under the Obama administration.

“(In the) first few days, you’ll see those executive orders come out to stem the flow (of migrants) and impact that flow that’s coming during that time. The immediate focus is about who’s already here,” according to a source familiar with the plans. “Those are the first two things prioritized in the first few days.”

During his first term, Trump deported more than 1.5 million people, according to Kathleen Bush-Joseph, a policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute. But that’s about half the 2.9 million deportations undertaken during Barack Obama’s first term and fewer than the 1.9 million deportations during Obama’s second term.

Those figures do not include the millions of people turned away at the border under a Covid-era policy enacted by Trump and used during most of Biden’s term.

“What he’s trying to accomplish is really complex,” a former administration official told CNN, referring to Homan.

It follows last month’s disputed presidential election, won by Frelimo, the party which has governed Mozambique since 1975.

The weeks-long protests have led to violent clashes with the police and at least 18 people have been killed, according to Human Rights Watch.

Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda has urged Mozambicans to cooperate with the authorities to stop the protests, terming them “acts of terrorism”.

Demonstrations started at the end of last month in the capital, Maputo, after Daniel Chapo, the Frelimo candidate, was officially declared the winner with more than 71% of the vote.

Opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane, who came second with 20% of the vote, went into hiding before the results were announced.

He cited fears for his safety after his aide and lawyer were killed as they were preparing to challenge the results.

Last week, soldiers were deployed to help keep order during Thursday’s post-election protests, the biggest since the unrest started on 9 October.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse thousands of protesters who lit fires and barricaded roads in Maputo.

Ronda has said that the protests have now been “forbidden” because of their “severity”.

“I no longer call these protests, I call them acts of subversion and terrorism because they terrorise people and children. That woman selling bananas can no longer sell them. People can’t go to work; this is terror,” said Ronda.

The interior minister accused protest organisers of using “drugged” youth to “destabilise” the country, saying their plans would not succeed, as “crime will be fought”.

Some rights groups have put the death toll at more than 30 overall.

A South African TV station has said two of its journalists who were covering the unrest in Maputo have been detained in unclear circumstances.

News Central TV in a statement said attempts to establish communication with the journalists have been unsuccessful since their arrest.

“The detention of our colleagues while performing their professional duties is deeply concerning,” it said, adding that “we are working through all available diplomatic and official channels to secure their immediate release.”

The authorities have restricted access to the internet across the country in what Human Rights Watch said was an attempt to “suppress peaceful protests and public criticism of the government”.

Opposition groups and observers argued that last month’s elections were unfair and rigged, a claim that the government denies.

Current President Filipe Nyusi is stepping down after serving the two terms allowed under the constitution.

His defence secretary pick Pete Hegseth denies a sexual assault allegation and potential attorney general Matt Gaetz is at the centre of an ethics investigation.

Trump’s health secretary nominee, Robert F Kennedy Jr, is facing severe criticism for his vaccine scepticism.

Trump will need the US Senate to confirm these nominees when he takes office in January, and though the chamber will be controlled by his fellow Republicans, his cabinet contenders will face an intense grilling during bipartisan hearings.

On Friday, police said that Hegseth, the Pentagon nominee, had been investigated for an alleged sexual assault in California in 2017.

Hegseth, a Fox News host and veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, was never arrested and denies wrongdoing.

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said: “Mr Hegseth has vigorously denied any and all accusations, and no charges were filed.”

Meanwhile, the BBC’s US partner CBS reported that Hegseth had once been flagged as a potential “insider threat” by fellow military personnel who thought he had a white-supremacist tattoo.

Hegseth has denied any connection to extremist groups.

A former member of the Minnesota National Guard, he has a tattoo on his bicep reading “Deus Vult”, a latin phrase meaning “God wills it”, a rallying cry for Christian crusaders in the Middle Ages.

Retired Master Sgt DeRicko Gaither told CBS: “I looked it up and that tattoo had ties to extremist groups.” He said he had flagged the body ink to leadership.

US Vice-President-elect JD Vance rushed to Hegseth’s defence, saying the latin phrase is a nothing more than a Christian motto. He accused the Associated Press, which first reported the story on the tattoo, of “disgusting anti-Christian bigotry”.

Hegseth was stopped from serving as an officer in Washington DC during President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021. In a book published earlier this year he said he was turned down for the duty because of his tattoos.

Meanwhile, Trump’s pick for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, is battling allegations of misconduct while he was a congressman.

He resigned from his Florida seat in the US House of Representatives on Thursday within hours of Trump nominating him to lead the US Department of Justice.

His exit halted the release of a congressional report into allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use and misuse of campaign funds.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, asked on Friday that the report remains under wraps as Gaetz is no longer a member of the body – even amid bipartisan requests that it be shared as part of his vetting for the role of a top prosecutor in the US.

Hours later, an attorney for two women who provided testimony to the House Ethics Committee about Gaetz urged lawmakers to release the panel’s report.

The lawyer, Joe Leppard, told CBS that one of his clients had witnessed Gaetz having sex with an underage girl in Florida in 2017. Mr Leppard urged lawmakers to release the House Ethics Committee report.

However, the justice department last year investigated the allegations and declined to press charges against Gaetz.

He has previously denied claims he had sex with a 17-year-old while he was an adult at a party in Orlando.

The 42-year-old Florida lawmaker wrote on Friday on X that “lies were weaponised to try to destroy me”.

Robert F Kennedy Jr, Trump’s nominee to serve as the head of the US Department of Health and Human Services, is meanwhile facing backlash over his vaccine scepticism.

Shares in vaccine makers and healthcare firms around the world slid sharply on Friday, as investors reacted to the nomination of a campaigner who has vowed to crack down on “Big Pharma”.

The head of the American Public Health Association, which has a 25,000-strong membership of health professionals, told the BBC that Kennedy’s criticism of immunisations had “already caused great damage in health in the country”.

George C Benjamin added that Kennedy was “just absolutely the wrong guy for it”.

Trump himself has so far not directly addressed the criticism of his picks.

The president-elect is still hiring for his incoming administration, with posts such as FBI director and treasury secretary yet to be named.

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In a memo sent to employees and obtained by CNN, McDonald’s is spending $35 million on marketing, which includes a value deal focused on its chicken nuggets, plus $65 million directed toward franchisees that have lost business in states where the outbreak happened.

Visits and sales took a nosedive in October after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said that fresh slivered onions served on the Quarter Pounders were the likely source of an E. coli outbreak.

More than 100 people got sick across 14 states and several lawsuits have been filed against the chain. Shares of McDonald’s (MCD) slipped about 7% over the past month.

“The relevance, trust, and love for the Golden Arches has been hard-earned over nearly 70 years by our unwavering commitment to do the right thing. The past three weeks have only further exemplified that,” said the memo, which was signed by Michael Gonda, the chain’s chief impact officer for North America, and Tariq Hassan, chief marketing and customer experience officer.

McDonald’s has said recent tests showed no E. coli in its food, and in the memo noted its Quarter Pounder burgers topped with slivered onions are now back on menus nationwide.

In an earnings call after the outbreak, CEO Chris Kempczinski said the chain is “ready to do more if we need to to make sure that we are bringing the full resources of McDonald’s” to win back customers.

The new marketing campaign includes television ads touting a 10-piece McNuggets deal for $1 that can be redeemed weekly in the app until early next month. The chain is also continuing its successful $5 meal deal.

Emmanuel was arrested along with two others, 28-year-old Olajide Kareem and 33-year-old Mike Emmanuel, who are accused of robbing residents and sexu@lly assaulting a 65-year-old woman on the Ilesa-Osu Expressway in Osun State while taking her husband to the hospital.

Parading the suspects on Friday, the Spokesperson of Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola explained that “the three suspects rob motorists and passengers of their belongings.”

In one of the incidents, a bus driver was shot in his leg but was subsequently rushed to Seventh-day Adventist Hospital in Ile-Ife where he received treatment.

“Consequently, Olajide was arrested in the bush and he confessed that he was a member of a five-man gang of armed robbers who came from the Ikorodu area in Lagos state to perpetrate their acts in Osun State. The other two suspects were arrested.”

Speaking with newsmen, Godwin said:

“I was arrested for armed robbery. When I was been transported to the Police Command in Osogbo, inside the police patrol van that I was conveyed, I stole a phone. I don’t know that it is a police phone. I beg to make una no vex.I told the police not to be angry with me. I don’t know when I did that. I took the phone into the police cell without them knowing. I removed the SIM card, I want to use the phone to call my people because they don’t know I have been arrested for armed robbery.I have been here for about 2 months. They later came to search me in the cell where I was and discovered the phone on me. Please tell them to forgive me. I won’t do it again.”

Donald Trump has moved speedily since winning the US presidential election to set the foundations of his second term in the White House.

He has made his early priorities clear – and stunned some in Washington and around the world while doing so.

Here’s what we’ve learned from his rollercoaster first week as president-elect.

Trump on Thursday announced the selection, confirming CNN’s earlier reporting, saying he was thrilled to share the pick.

“The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country,” Trump said in a post on X. “Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!”

Kennedy, who accepted the offer Thursday, has been one of the nation’s most prominent anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists for years and has frequently spread false conspiracy theories about the safety and efficacy of vaccines. He has been in Palm Beach, Florida, for several days following the election.

In a statement Thursday, Kennedy emphasized the importance of ridding the department of “corruption” and vowed to “provide Americans with transparency” so they can make individual health decisions.

“I look forward to working with the more than 80,000 employees at HHS to free the agencies from the smothering cloud of corporate capture so they can pursue their mission to make Americans once again the healthiest people on Earth,” Kennedy said.

If confirmed as the top public health official in the country, Kennedy would oversee the operations of the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid. Though Trump has moved away from seeking to fully repeal Obamacare, it remains to be seen whether he and his health officials will release a plan to improve the law, as Trump promised on the campaign trail.

Kennedy would also be involved in any changes Trump and congressional Republicans attempt to make to Medicaid, which provides health care coverage for low-income Americans. In Trump’s first term, the agency tried to institute work requirements, which was largely blocked in court, and lawmakers unsuccessfully sought to reduce the program’s funding. The program, which covers nearly 72.5 million Americans, is expected to be a target in Trump’s second term, especially as the GOP seeks savings to offset the tax relief they hope to implement.

Kennedy’s selection, first reported by Politico, is a notable one given that only days before the election, Trump’s transition co-chair Howard Lutnick told CNN that Kennedy was “not getting a job for HHS.”

“He would not be in charge of HHS?” he was asked on “The Source with Kaitlan Collins.”

“No,” Lutnick said, “of course not.”

That answer set off an internal uproar in Trump’s orbit, with Trump making clear to Kennedy that he would make the ultimate decision.

Kennedy had launched his own presidential bid last year – first as a Democratic challenger to President Joe Biden, then as an independent – focused largely on reversing “the chronic disease epidemic.” He proposed numerous policies aimed to overhaul food safety and environmental guidelines, promote holistic medicines and restructure public funding for vaccine research.

In the final days of Kennedy’s campaign, he met with Trump on multiple occasions, in which the two discussed the possibility of him endorsing Trump in exchange for a role in his administration. Kennedy suspended his campaign in August and endorsed Trump that same day.

In October, Trump teased Kennedy would oversee a public health portfolio while speaking at a rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City, telling the audience he would let Kennedy “go wild on health,” “go wild on the food” and “go wild on medicines” if reelected.

On Thursday, shares of prominent vaccine makers plunged after Trump’s announcement that he’d selected Kennedy for the top health post.

Kennedy, since Election Day, has pledged to take major steps to reshape the nation’s public health guidelines. Last week, Kennedy said he would “immediately” begin studying vaccine safety and efficacy but promised to not “take vaccines away from anybody.” He also committed to formally recommending states and municipalities remove fluoride from public water.

Kennedy has also floated significant employee turnover at public health agencies. He said in an interview with MSNBC that he would cut workers in “the nutrition departments” at the US Food and Drug Administration. While speaking at a conference in Arizona on Saturday, Kennedy proposed replacing 600 officials at the National Institutes of Health with hand-picked staff.

In an interview with NPR News following the election, Kennedy laid out his areas of focus in Trump’s administration.

“President Trump has given me three instructions,” Kennedy said. “He wants the corruption and the conflicts out of the regulatory agencies. He wants to return the agencies to the gold standard, empirically-based, evidence-based, science and medicine that they were once famous for. And he wants to end the chronic disease epidemic with measurable impacts on a diminishment of chronic disease within two years.”

The actor’s death was announced on Thursday by his colleague, Oluwaseun Adejumobi, who shared the news via his verified Instagram account.

Adejumobi expressed his grief, saying, “Heaven’s Gain Again. A General Has Gone to Rest.”

Tributes have since poured in for the late actor, whose work left a lasting impact on the gospel film industry. Gospel actor Zoe Adeola, reflecting on Are’s legacy, wrote on X, “Rest in peace, Baba Gbenro. Your role in Abattoir will definitely leave a great memory of you in our minds. So painful.”

Moses Korede Are, fondly known as Baba Gbenro, was born on June 11, 1959. He spent his early years in Kano State, Nigeria, later continuing his education in Plateau State and ultimately completing his studies in southwestern Nigeria.

An estimated 4,000 illegal gold miners are hiding underground in South Africa after the government cut off food and water in an effort to “smoke them out” and arrest them.

The miners have been in a mineshaft in Stilfontein, in the North West province, for about a month.

They have refused to cooperate with authorities as some are undocumented – coming from neighbouring countries like Lesotho and Mozambique – and fear being deported.

Illegal miners are called “zama zama” (“take a chance” in Zulu) and operate in abandoned mines in the mineral-rich country. Illegal mining costs the South African government hundreds of millions of dollars in lost sales each year.

Many South African mines have closed down in recent years and workers have been sacked.

To survive, the miners and undocumented migrants go beneath the surface to escape poverty and dig up gold to sell it on the black market.

Some spend months underground – there is even a small economy of people selling food, cigarettes and cooked meals to the miners.

Local residents have pleaded with the authorities to assist the miners, but they have refused.

“We are going to smoke them out. They will come out. We are not sending help to criminals. Criminals are not to be helped – they are to be persecuted [sic],” said Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni on Wednesday.

Police are hesitant to go into the mine as some of those underground may be armed.

Some are part of criminal syndicates or “recruited” to be in one, Busi Thabane, from Benchmarks Foundation, a charity which monitors corporations in South Africa, told the BBC’s NewsDay programme.

Without any access to supplies, conditions underground are said to be dire.

“It is no longer about illegal miners – this is a humanitarian crisis,” said Ms Thabane.

On Thursday, community leader Thembile Botman told the BBC that volunteers had used ropes and seat belts to pull a body out of the mine.

“The stench of decomposing bodies has left the volunteers traumatised,” he said.

It’s not clear how the person died.

Although the authorities have been blocking food and water, they have temporarily allowed local residents to send some supplies down by rope.

Mr Botman said they had been communicating with the miners by notes written on pieces of paper.

Police have blocked off entrances and exits in an effort to compel the miners to come out.

This is part of the Vala Umgodi, or “Close the Hole”, operation to curb illegal mining.

Five miners were pulled out on Wednesday by rope, but they were frail and weak. Paramedics attended to them, and then they were taken into police custody.

In the last week, 1,000 miners have emerged and been arrested.

Police and the army are still at the scene waiting to detain those who are not in need of medical care after resurfacing.

“It’s not as easy as the police make it seem – some of them are fearing for their lives,” said Ms Thabane.

Many miners spend months underground in unsafe conditions to provide for their families.

“For many of them it’s the only way they know how to put food on the table,” said Ms Thabane.

Local residents have also attempted to convince the miners to come out of the mineshaft.

“Those people must come out because we have brothers there, we have sons there, the fathers of our kids are there, our children are struggling,” local resident Emily Photsoa told AFP.

The South African Human Rights Commission says it will investigate the police for depriving the miners of food and water.

It said there is concern that the government’s operation could have an impact on the right to life.

Minister Ntshavheni’s remarks have provoked mixed reaction from South Africans, with some praising the government’s unyielding approach.

“I love this. Finally, our government is not tiptoeing on these serious matters. Decisiveness will help this country,” one person wrote on X.

While others felt the stance was inhumane.

“In my view, this kind of talk from the Minister in the Presidency is disgraceful and dangerous hate speech,” one user said.

Another wrote: “They are criminals but they have rights too.”

Illegal mining is a lucrative business across many of South Africa’s mining towns.

Since December last year, nearly 400 high-calibre firearms, thousands of bullets, uncut diamonds and money have been confiscated from illegal miners.

This is part of an intensive police and military operation to stop the practice that has severe environmental implications.

A man suspected of being a significant supplier of small boats equipment to people smugglers has been arrested in Amsterdam following a joint operation by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and Dutch and Belgian police.

The man is alleged to have supplied engines and boats to smugglers in northern France, according to the NCA.

The Turkish national, 44, was arrested at Schiphol Airport on Wednesday and will be extradited to Belgium to face charges of human smuggling.

NCA director general for operations Rob Jones called the arrest a milestone in one of the agency’s “most significant investigations into organised immigration crime”.

A well-known Iranian human rights activist has killed himself in protest at what he called the dictatorship of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In a post on social media, Kianoosh Sanjari said he would take his own life if four political prisoners were not released by 19:00 local time (15:30 GMT) on Wednesday.

His death was confirmed hours later by fellow activists.

In a post before he died, he said he wished that “one day Iranians” would “wake up and overcome slavery”.

Sanjari was a vocal critic of Iran’s leaders and advocate for democracy.

Apple is facing a legal claim accusing it of effectively locking 40 million British customers into its iCloud service and charging them “rip off prices.”

Consumer group Which? says the legal action – which it has launched – could result in a £3bn payout if it is successful, equivalent to £70 per customer.

Apple has rejected the suggestion its practices are anti-competitive, saying users are not required to use iCloud, many rely on third-party alternatives and insisting it “works hard to make data transfer as easy as possible.”

It is another example of the “growing tide of large class actions against Big Tech” which has “operated without sufficient constraint”, Toby Starr from legal firm Humphries Kerstetter told the BBC.

Facebook, Google, gaming giant Steam and the UK’s leading mobile providers are among the others facing legal claims at the same court, the the Competition Appeal Tribunal.

“Although most of these claims are in their infancy and take a long time to resolve, there will be more decisions coming out over the next couple of years and there will be settlements – these will start to affect the tech giants’ businesses,” said Mr Starr.

The former headteacher of a French school has revealed the shocking sequence of events that led to the beheading of Samuel Paty by a Chechen refugee.

Audrey F told the court in Paris how she had tried to stop a row spiralling out of control that began with a 13-year-old student lying to her parents.

What began with Samuel Paty giving a lesson on freedom of expression in October 2020 escalated when the father of the girl, who had not even been in the class, turned up at the headteacher’s office with a local Islamist activist.

“I didn’t manage to protect him,” Audrey F said of her late colleague – a well-liked history and geography teacher in the Paris suburb of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine.

Brazil’s Supreme Court has been evacuated and a man has been found dead after two explosions were heard outside the building on Wednesday evening.

The blasts hit the centre of Brazil’s capital – where the Supreme Court, parliament and presidential palace are all located.

Brasilia’s deputy governor said the explosions occurred after a man attempted to enter the court and was stopped. Police confirmed that they discovered a body outside the building, but have yet to offer further details.

The country’s solicitor general, Jorge Messias, condemned what he said was a deliberate attack and vowed a full investigation into the blasts would be launched.

In a message to readers, it said the US presidential election “underlined” its concerns that its owner, Elon Musk, had been able to use X to “shape political discourse.”

Mr Musk strongly backed Donald Trump and has now been given a role in cutting government spending in his incoming administration.

The BBC has contacted X for comment.

The Guardian said users would still be able to share articles and it was likely to continue to embed X posts in its coverage of world events.

It also said its reporters would be able to carry on using the site “for news-gathering purposes.”

But it said the “benefits of being on X are now outweighed by the negatives.”

“This is something we have been considering for a while given the often disturbing content promoted or found on the platform, including far-right conspiracy theories and racism,” it added.

The decision was also posted on X itself, where some users reacted with vitriol, with those who paid for prominent replies accusing the Guardian of “woke propaganda” and “virtue signalling”.

Mr Musk and the Guardian are far from political bedfellows, so in that sense, it is not surprising that the newspaper has responded to his and X’s increasing alignment with Trump in this way.

But it can also be argued the election result is an opportunity for the paper, which describes itself as “the world’s leading liberal voice.”

It is positioning itself as a key part of the “resistance” to Donald Trump, using the US election to highlight that is a media organisation without a billionaire proprietor – while also asking its readers for donations.

The day after the election, readers pledged more than $1.8m (£1.4m), a record for a single day.

Ben Mullin, the New York Times’ media reporter, described the media group’s fundraising as “a sign that some outlets are tapping a surge of enthusiasm for adversarial journalism post-election”.

The Guardian’s departure is also likely to intensify questions about whether others will follow.

X’s rivals already appear to be benefiting.

Meta’s Threads has continued to expand, and Bluesky – set up by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey – briefly topped the download charts in the UK and US Apple App Stores.

Its users have grown by four million in two months, and Bluesky said in a post on Tuesday that it had picked up a million new users in the seven days since Trump’s win.

However, it remains comparatively tiny, with 15 million users worldwide.

A Moscow-based clinic, Altravita, has claimed that the tech boss, who has fathered several children through sperm donation, is offering free IVF treatment to women willing to use his sperm.

The facility said that women wanting to undergo IVF treatment can use Pavel Durov’s donated sperm, but only if they meet certain requirements.

What does the clinic claim?

“We are happy to offer you a unique opportunity! Only in our clinic can you undergo IVF for free, using Pavel Durov’s sperm—one of the most famous and successful entrepreneurs of our time. This opportunity is one of a kind, and the number of slots is limited,” reads an announcement on the clinic’s official website.

It further states, “Pavel Durov is willing to finance all the IVF protocols that use his sperm. It is a very generous contribution to society from someone who wants to help those dreaming of becoming parents.” Reportedly, the Telegram boss shared a post about the clinic on his platform with a link to the website but didn’t mention anything about the free treatment.

What are the requirements?

According to the clinic, the maximum age of the participant should not exceed 37. Also, their “health condition should be satisfactory,” which will be determined based on the clinic’s “reproductologist’s medical report.”

The website claimed that only their “cryobank has the exclusive right to store and use the biomaterial of Pavel Durov.”

How did Pavel Durov become a sperm donor?

In his earlier post, Durov shared, “Fifteen years ago, a friend of mine approached me with a weird request. He said that he and his wife couldn’t have kids due to a fertility issue and asked me to donate sperm at a clinic for them to have a baby. I laughed my ass off before realizing he was dead serious.”

However, he later fulfilled their request and was told by a fertility clinic that he was a “high-quality donor material.” This incident led him to sign up as a sperm donor.

Dawit Isaak, who holds dual Eritrean-Swedish citizenship, was given the Edelstam Prize “for his exceptional courage,” the foundation behind the award said in a statement.

Dawit, one of the founders of Setit, Eritrea’s first independent newspaper, was detained in 2001 after his paper published letters demanding democratic reforms.

He was among a group of about two dozen individuals, including senior cabinet ministers, members of parliament, and independent journalists, arrested in a government purge.

Over the years, the Eritrean government has provided no information on his whereabouts or health, and many who were jailed alongside him are presumed dead.

The Edelstam Prize, awarded for exceptional courage in defending human rights, will be presented on November 19 in Stockholm.

Dawit’s daughter, Bethlehem Isaak, will accept the prize on his behalf as he remains imprisoned in Eritrea.

His work with Setit included criticism of the government and calls for democratic reform and free expression, actions that led to his arrest in a crackdown on dissent.

The Edelstam Foundation has called for Dawit’s release, urging the Eritrean authorities to disclose his location and allow him legal representation.

“Dawit Isaak is the longest-detained journalist in the world. We are very concerned about his health and his whereabouts are unknown. He is not charged with a crime, and he has been denied access to his family, consular assistance, and the right to legal counsel – effectively, it is an enforced disappearance,” said Caroline Edelstam, the chair of the Edelstam Prize jury.

His “indefatigable courage stands as a testament to the principle of freedom of expression.”

The Edelstam Foundation also urged the international community to pressure Eritrea for Dawit’s release and to advocate for human rights reforms.

The Edelstam Prize honors individuals who show exceptional bravery in defending human rights, in memory of Swedish diplomat Harald Edelstam.

Eritrea is the only African country without privately owned media, having shut down its private press in 2001 under the pretext of “national security.”

Dawit, who fled to Sweden in 1987 during Eritrea’s war for independence, returned after the country gained independence in 1993 after becoming a Swedish citizen.

There have been no elections in Eritrea since its independence, and President Isaias Afwerki has held power for nearly 31 years.

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Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis remanded 21-year-old David Ssengozi, alias Lucky Choice, and Isaiah Ssekagiri, 28, to Kigo prison until Wednesday when they will make an initial court appearance.

They are accused of hate speech and spreading malicious information against the first family and musicians linked to the governing National Resistance Movement (NRM).

Appearing in court on Monday, the two denied the charges.

They are jointly charged with Julius Tayebwa, 19, who had already been brought before court and remanded in prison for the same offences.

Prosecutors allege that they posted information on TikTok meant to “ridicule degrade, demean, and promote hostility” against the first family and others

The magistrate allowed their detention after police said they were still making inquiries on the matter.

“You will come back on the 13 November, when the case will come up for mention. You are remanded at Kigo prison till then,” the magistrate ordered.

In September, police spokesman Rusoke Kituuma warned that abusing the president, who he termed the “fountain of honour”, was an offence. He mentioned a TikToker with the name Lucky Choice who he said they were investigating. He was later arrested.

It is not clear which post led to the arrest, but a video released in April on TikTok on the page LuckyChoice70, with the title My First Enemies, criticised the first family using sexually explicit terms.

In July, a 24-year-old man was sentenced to six years in prison for insulting the president and the first family on a TikTok video. He had pleaded guilty and asked for forgiveness.

It comes as the government has been criticised for restricting people’s ability to criticise actions by the state or its officials.

The US government in a report last year accused Uganda of restricting internet freedom through the use of criminal punishments.

Rights groups also regularly denounce the Ugandan authorities over violations of human rights and the freedom of expression.

In 2022, award-winning Ugandan author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was charged with two counts of “offensive communication” after making unflattering remarks about the president and his son on Twitter.

He fled the country to Germany after spending a month in jail, where he said he had been tortured.

Musk and Ramaswamy “will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies,” Trump said in a statement.

Trump said their work would conclude by July 4, 2026, adding that a smaller and more efficient government would be a “gift” to the country on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The appointments reward two Trump supporters from the private sector.

Musk leads electric car company, Tesla, social media platform X and rocket company SpaceX, while Ramaswamy is the founder of a pharmaceutical company who ran for the Republican presidential nomination against Trump and then threw his support behind the former president after dropping out.

Musk gave millions of dollars to support Trump’s presidential campaign and made public appearances with him.

Trump had said he would offer Musk, the world’s richest person, a role in his administration promoting government efficiency.

The acronym of the new department – DOGE – coincides with the name of the cryptocurrency Dogecoin that Musk promotes.

“This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in government waste, which is a lot of people!”

Musk said, according to Trump’s statement, which called the new government initiative “potentially ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time,” referring to the U.S. plan to build the atomic bomb that helped end World War Two.

However, Nigeria once again leads the continent in provisional delegate numbers for COP29 in Baku, despite a decrease of 777 delegates.

Nigeria ranks 8th overall, positioned below Azerbaijan, Brazil, Turkey, the UAE, China, Russia, and Indonesia.

The West African country has 634 delegates registered so far, with 214 as party delegates and 420 as overflow.

At COP28 in Dubai, Nigeria had the largest African delegation, sending a total of 1,411 delegates—590 party delegates and 821 overflow delegates.

Uganda sent the second-largest delegation with 412 delegates, including 251 party delegates and 161 overflows, taking Morocco’s position at COP28.

However, the East African country, which ranked sixth at COP28, sent a larger delegation of 606 delegates to this year’s event.

The Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, and the United Republic of Tanzania ranked third, fourth, and fifth, with 401, 387, and 353 delegates, respectively.

The Democratic Republic of Congo replaced Kenya’s position, Chad took Tanzania’s place, and the United Republic of Tanzania overtook Ghana’s position from COP28.

Ghana registered 343 delegates this year, a decrease of 275 from last year’s 618, which led to a drop from fifth to sixth position in delegate numbers.

However, the country still ranks 23rd overall, placing ahead of nations like Germany, the Netherlands, and France.

Morocco, Somalia, Côte d’Ivoire, Zambia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Egypt, Benin, and Madagascar ranked seventh to sixteenth, with 335, 328, 298, 291, 288, 282, 273, 238, 233, and 227 delegates, respectively.

Azerbaijan leads overall delegations with 2,229 Registrants

COP29 host Azerbaijan has the largest delegation at the summit, with 2,229 people registered. Brazil follows with the second-largest delegation (1,914), and Turkey comes in third with 1,862 delegates.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), host of COP28 in Dubai, has the fourth-largest delegation with 1,011 delegates, while China ranks fifth with 969.

China’s delegation is smaller compared to COP28, where it had 1,296 delegates.

However, both COP28 and COP29 mark a significant increase in China’s presence, as the country typically averaged around 100 named participants in the previous 10 COPs.

Over 66,000 delegates have registered for the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, making it potentially the second-largest COP in history.

However, this figure is more than 15,000 lower than the record-breaking COP in Dubai last year, marking the first time in seven years that a COP has not surpassed its predecessor in size.

COP28 in Dubai remains the largest COP in nearly 30 years of summit history, with over 83,000 attendees, far surpassing the previous record of around 50,000 set in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, the year before.

For COP29 in Baku, the total number of registered delegates stands at 66,778, placing it between the totals of the last two COPs. Including 3,975 virtual participants, the provisional delegate total for COP29 exceeds 70,000.

The UNFCCC will release the final delegate numbers, based on participants who collect a physical badge at the venue, once the summit ends.

The review found that Justin Welby, 68, “could and should” have reported John Smyth’s abuse of boys and young men to police in 2013.

In a statement, Mr Welby said that “it is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility” for his response after he was first told about the abuse.

“I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England.”

“I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church.

“As I step down I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse,” he added.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he “respects the decision that has been taken and his thoughts remain first and foremost with all the victims”.

It was not immediately clear when the archbishop would leave his post but the process of finding a replacement is likely to take at least six months.

Last week, an independent report found inaction from the Church was a “missed opportunity” to bring Smyth to justice before his 2018 death.

In his resignation statement, Mr Welby said he was “told that police had been notified” at the time and that he “believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow”.

He also spoke of his “profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures” of the Church over the days since the report was published.

“For nearly 12 years I have struggled to introduce improvements. It is for others to judge what has been done,” he said.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is the head of the Church of England and leads 85 million Anglicans in 165 countries around the world.

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell said the Church had made “real progress” in safeguarding under Mr Welby’s leadership but added: “There is much further to go.”

The Church’s lead safeguarding bishop, Joanne Grenfell, said the archbishop’s resignation “does not absolve any of us from bringing about the wholesale changes in culture and leadership that are essential”.

Former vicar Mark Stibbe, a survivor of Smyth’s abuse, said Mr Welby had “done the right thing” in resigning.

“What I think the survivor group would like is more resignations because that means more accountability,” he told Channel 4 News.

The archbishop had been facing mounting pressure to resign in the days since the report’s publication.

A member of the Church’s parliament, the General Synod, who had started a petition calling for Mr Welby’s resignation, said: “I think it’s sad that it’s taken so long for meaningful action to take place.”

The Rev Dr Ian Paul added that he hoped that Mr Welby’s decision would be the first step towards “cultural change in [the Church’s] senior leadership”.

Clare MacLaren, Canon Provost of Sunderland Minster, told the BBC Mr Welby’s resignation was “not before time”.

“It’s something that’s been brewing for the last 24 hours at least,” she said. “It would have been good if he’d done it immediately.”

The independent report into the Church’s handling of John Smyth’s abuse published last week found that from July 2013, “the Church of England knew, at the highest level, about the abuse that took place in the late 1970s and early 1980s,” naming Mr Welby specifically.

It found that “several opportunities were missed” to formally report the abuse to police.

One survivor of Smyth’s abuse told the BBC the archbishop and the Church had effectively been involved in a “cover-up”.

The archbishop said in his statement that the report had exposed a “conspiracy of silence” about the abuse.

Smyth was a prominent barrister as well as a lay preacher – a member of the congregation who delivers sermons but is not ordained – who ran summer camps for young Christians.

The report accused him of attacking up to 30 boys he had met at the summer camps during the 1970s and 1980s with a “clearly sexually motivated, sadistic regime” of beatings.

He singled out boys attending the camps and in sessions at leading public schools, including Winchester College, before taking them to his home and beating them with a garden cane in his shed.

Smyth then relocated in the 1980s to Zimbabwe, and later South Africa, where he is alleged to have abused a further 85 to 100 “young male children aged 13 to 17”.

Smyth is believed to have continued his abuse in South Africa until he died in Cape Town in 2018, aged 75.

Mr Welby was educated at Eton and the University of Cambridge. He spent 11 years in the oil industry before retraining as a priest.

He was ordained in 1992 and became a vicar in Warwickshire, a Canon of Coventry Cathedral, the Dean of Liverpool, and the Bishop of Durham before being appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 2013.

Mr Welby will be remembered as a political archbishop.

He spoke frequently in the House of Lords, attacked the payday lender Wonga, openly backed Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum, and heavily criticised the Conservative government over its immigration and welfare policies.

He tried to move the Church away from focusing on its internal debates. But he leaves a national church that is smaller, and as divided as ever.

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell told the BBC the ordination of women as bishops and his work in racial justice were key parts of Mr Welby’s legacy.

In his resignation letter on Tuesday, Welby said he must take “personal and institutional responsibility” for a lack of action on the “heinous abuses.”

“The last few days have renewed my long-felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England,” Welby said.

“I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church. As I step down I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse,” he said.

Welby, 68, resigned five days after the independent Makin Report singled him out for criticism over his handling of abuse allegations dating back to the 1970s.

The report found that John Smyth, a British lawyer, had subjected more than 100 boys and young men to “brutal and horrific” abuse over a 40-year period.

Smyth beat some victims with up to 800 strokes of a cane and supplied nappies to absorb the bleeding, the report said.

He would then drape himself over the victims, sometimes kissing them on the neck or back.

Smyth was the chairman of the Iwerne Trust, which funded the Christian camps in Dorset in England, which is where Welby worked as a dormitory officer before he was ordained.

The report said Smyth moved to Africa in 1984 and continued to carry out the abuse in Zimbabwe and South Africa until close to his death in 2018.

‘Failures and omissions’

The report said the Church of England at its highest level knew about the sexual abuse claims at the camps in 2013, and Welby found out about the accusations in the same year, months after he had become archbishop.

Welby apologised for “failures and omissions” but said he had “no idea or suspicion” of the allegations before 2013. The report concluded this was unlikely, accusing him of failing in his “personal and moral responsibility” to ensure a proper investigation.

It added that if the claims had been reported to the police in 2013, there could have been a full investigation and Smyth might have faced charges before he died.

Church procedures for the appointment of a new archbishop of Canterbury require a body of clerics and a chairperson nominated by the British prime minister to put two names forward to him.

Bishop of Norwich Graham Usher and Bishop of Chelmsford Guli Francis-Dehqani have been tipped to succeed Welby and become the 106th archbishop of Canterbury.

A 62-year-old male driver, surnamed Fan, is alleged to have driven an SUV through a barrier and into Zhuhai Sports Centre in what local police described as a “serious and vicious attack”. Chinese media reported that many elderly people, as well as teenagers and children, were among the injured.

Fan was arrested while trying to flee, police said, and is currently in a coma as a result of self-inflicted wounds.

The incident took place despite heightened security in the city, which is hosting a major civil and military airshow.

Police have said initial investigations suggest the ramming attack was triggered by Fan’s dissatisfaction with the outcome of a property settlement following his divorce.

However, due to his coma, he is unable to be questioned by the authorities.

Most videos of the incident posted by eyewitnesses had been scrubbed off Chinese social media by internet censors by Tuesday morning, but some footage still circulating online showed many people lying on the ground and being attended to by paramedics and bystanders.

An eyewitness, Mr Chen, told Chinese news magazine Caixin that at least six groups of people had gathered at the stadium for their regular walks when the incident happened.

The groups use a designated walking path that traces the stadium’s perimeter.

Mr Chen said his group had just completed its third lap around the stadium when a car suddenly charged towards them at a high speed, “knocking down many people”.

“It drove in a loop, and people were hurt in all areas of the running track – east, south, west, and north,” another eyewitness told Caixin.

It is unclear whether the incident was linked to the high-profile Airshow China, which started on Tuesday at a venue just 40km (24 miles) away from the stadium. China is showcasing its latest warplanes and attack drones at the show, and top Russian official Sergei Shoigu is expected to attend.

Several entrances and exits to the sports centre have been closed during the airshow to facilitate “control”, the centre’s management said on Tuesday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his deep concern over the incident, instructing authorities to make every effort to treat the injured and calling for the perpetrator to be severely punished.

In response, the central government dispatched a working group to help handle the incident.

Investigations into the case are ongoing.

China has seen a spate of violent attacks on members of the public in recent months.

In September, a man went on a stabbing spree at a supermarket in Shanghai, killing three people and injuring several others.

In that same month, a 10-year-old Japanese student died a day after he was stabbed near his school in southern China.

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The Miss Universe organization announced her departure, referencing an “exhaustive evaluation by our disciplinary commission.”

However, the organization did not provide specific details or reasons behind Mora’s dismissal, leaving many questions unanswered.

As a result of her disqualification, Panama now finds itself without a representative in the pageant, which is set to take place on November 16 in Mexico City.

This situation has sparked discussions and speculations among fans and participants alike, as Mora’s absence impacts not only her aspirations but also the representation of her country on the international stage.

© © IG: @italy.mora

Italy’s Response to the Speculation

Italy recently addressed the rumors in an interview with “La Mordida,” expressing disappointment at the online misinformation.

She shared that the ordeal has taken an emotional toll, stating, “There’s a lot of speculation that needs to be cleared up because it’s impacting my reputation, and emotionally, it’s been difficult.”

Joined by her boyfriend, Juan Abadía, Italy added, “If I weren’t with my boyfriend, I’d be struggling even more.”

Events Leading to the Disqualification

Italy provided a detailed timeline of events, revealing that tensions arose on Friday night after dinner when she met with her boyfriend.

According to Italy, the head of Señorita Panamá, César Anel Rodríguez, was aware of the meeting and even coordinated the room access with her boyfriend. “I was talking to my boyfriend, and he told that he was going to give me some things, and asked me to go to the hotel’s gym,” she said.

“There are chats, where he says: ‘You have to give Italy the key to go up to the room at dawn.'”

She also noted financial challenges, explaining that her boyfriend covered the hotel room fees, which César reportedly couldn’t afford.

“César said that he did not have money to pay for it, and how would we do my makeup? Well, the room was paid for, and everything was planned to do my makeup at dawn,” she said, referencing her look at the Catrina’s Gala on Saturday night.

© @italy.mora

In her statement, Italy clarified, “Miss Universe just followed their rules. I take responsibility for my actions and accept the consequences.”

Italy admitted to a dispute with César over the preparations, and noted that tensions escalated when he abruptly left the room after the argument.

The Moment Italy, Mora Was Informed about her Disqualification

Italy shared that only 20 minutes after César left, pageant staff arrived at her room, where her boyfriend was present. Although pageant staff only saw the two of them, Italy explained that César had been there earlier, which fuelled speculation.

“They never entered the room, they didn’t know if there were more people there. Clearly they saw my boyfriend, because he opened the door and obviously they saw us alone,” she said.

“They have every right to make thousands of speculations, because there were only the two of us and he couldn’t be there. What people don’t know is that Cesar stayed in that room.”

Her Boyfriend’s Support Amid the Drama

Juan, Italy’s boyfriend, defended her actions, explaining that he provided critical financial and logistical support.

He shared, “Italy didn’t have essentials — not even shoes or a dress. I covered those costs, including a $7,000 Carolina Herrera dress.” He also clarified that he was not staying at the same hotel and was only present that night due to César’s request.

Her Final Meeting with Pageant Officials

Italy recalled meeting with pageant officials, thinking she was receiving a warning for the incident. However, she was told of her disqualification, which she tearfully tried to overturn. Despite her efforts, the decision was final.

© @italy.mora

Miss Panama Organization’s Role

On Instagram, the Miss Panama Organization shared that they arranged flights for Italy’s return. However, Italy clarified that a mutual acquaintance and César’s covered the travel expenses.

So far, César Anel has not commented publicly on Italy’s or Juan’s statements. He remains in Mexico, posting updates about the Miss Universe 2024 pageant preparations on social media.

According to the 22 year old musician, being close to her loved ones helps her cope with the pressures of fame.

“When I go back home, I’m still living with my family. My brothers might be making noise and playing video games, so the house is still very much full,” she noted.

The ‘Rush’ hitmaker in intimate conversation with American singer and actress Coco Jones, shared her experiences navigating fame and the pressures of the music industry.

The two stars, as captured by Rolling Stone, discussed the realities of being women in the limelight, shedding light on the often unseen challenges that come with their careers.

“I feel like it’s always a lot. People only see about 1%, but for an artist, it takes a village. It takes so much to get things done right,” he said.

Talking about what she does to stay inspired and energised for her work, she said, sometimes, she disappears when it gets overwhelming.

Spirit Airlines Flight 951 from Fort Lauderdale in Florida was diverted to the neighbouring Dominican Republic, where it landed safely at Santiago Airport.

A flight attendant suffered minor injuries, the airline said in a statement, adding that no passengers were hurt.

It is the second time in three weeks that aircraft have been shot at over the Haitian capital.

Haiti is in the grip of a deep political crisis, with armed gangs controlling large parts of the country.

On Monday, a new prime minister was installed by the country’s ruling council after the previous leader, Garry Conille, was ousted less than six months into the job.

The Spirit Airlines flight had been scheduled to land at Toussaint Louverture International Airport on Monday just before noon local time (17:00 GMT) when it was hit.

An unverified video of the incident shared on social media appeared to show several bullet holes on the inside of the aircraft, where the crew sit during take-off and landing.

Spirit Airlines said that damage “consistent with gunfire” was found when the plane was inspected at Santiago Airport. The aircraft was taken out of commission, Spirit added.

The airline said it had also suspended flights to Haiti “pending further evaluation”.

Two other US airlines, American Airlines and JetBlue, have also suspended flights to Haiti until at least Thursday.

The security situation has further deteriorated in Haiti in recent months. In October, gang members opened fire at a UN helicopter, causing some airlines to temporarily cancel flights to the Caribbean nation.

A UN-backed policing mission, led by officers from Kenya, had begun in June in an attempt to wrest back control from gangs.

Spirit is a low-cost airline, based in Florida, which flies throughout the United States, Caribbean and Latin America.

An executive order, signed by eight of the council’s nine members, named businessman and former Haiti Senate candidate Alix Didier Fils-Aime as Conile’s replacement.

Conille, a former United Nations official, was brought in to lead Haiti through an ongoing, gang-led security crisis and had been expected to help pave the way for the country’s first presidential elections since 2016.

He described his ousting as illegal, saying in a letter – seen by Reuters news agency – that it raised “serious concerns” about Haiti’s future.

Haiti currently has neither a president nor parliament and, according to its constitution, only the latter can sack a sitting prime minister.

Conille was sworn in on 3 June.

“This resolution, taken outside any legal and constitutional framework, raises serious concerns about its legitimacy,” Conille’s letter was quoted as saying.

Haiti’s transitional presidential council (TPC) was created in April after Ariel Henry, Conille’s predecessor, was forced from office by a network of gangs that had taken over parts of the capital Port-au-Prince.

Henry left Haiti to attend a summit in Guyana on 25 February 2024 and gang members subsequently seized the city’s international airport, preventing him from returning.

The TPC was tasked with restoring democratic order to the Caribbean country, where such violence is rife.

More than 3,600 people have been killed in Haiti since January and more than 500,000 have had to leave their homes, according to the UN, which describes Haiti as being one of the poorest countries in the world.

Two million Haitians currently face emergency levels of hunger, UN data shows, while almost half the population “do not have enough to eat”.

One of the country’s most powerful gang leaders, Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue, previously said he would be prepared to end the violence if armed groups were allowed to be involved in talks to establish a new government.

Presidential elections were last held in Haiti eight years ago, when Jovenel Moïse of the Tèt Kale party was elected.

Since his murder in July 2021, the post of president has been vacant.

Gangs in Haiti have capitalised on the power vacuum and expanded their control over swathes of the country, which has effectively been rendered lawless in places.

Last month, it was reported that hundreds of police officers had been deployed to Haiti from Kenya, with hundreds more set to join them.

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At 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births, Africa’s most populous nation has the fourth-highest maternal mortality rate in the world and the lack of access to Caesareans is thought to be one of the reasons.

Many pregnant women, particularly in rural Nigeria are unable to receive emergency medical care partly due to the cost.

“No woman should lose her life simply because she can’t afford a C-section,” Health Minister Muhammad Pate said while announcing the “powerful move”.

While the price may vary across Nigeria’s different states, on average, a Caesarean costs around 60,000 naira ($36; £28) – which can be beyond the reach of many.

More than 40% of Nigerians live below the international extreme poverty line of $2.15 per day, according to 2023 data from Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics.

The Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative launched on Thursday will now allow all eligible women to access Caesarean sections in public hospitals.

To be a beneficiary, one must be registered under the country’s public health insurance scheme.

“By removing financial barriers to this life-saving procedure, we ensure that no woman in need is denied critical care due to cost,” Pate added.

The health scheme covers emergencies only, Tashikalmah Hallah, a communication adviser to the health minister, told the BBC.

Social welfare units in public hospitals would help determine eligibility and identify those who can not afford the procedure, Mr Hallah added.

Pate said maternal mortality remained “unacceptably high”.

Caesareans are seen as essential for preventing obstructed labour in cases where a woman’s pelvis is too small, the baby is in a breech position or is too large to exit the birth canal.

Without intervention, a constricted baby may fatally rupture the uterus, or cause tears that catastrophically haemorrhage.

While offering to support the new initiative, the World Bank’s Trina Haque, described it as a “game-changer”.

“If implemented right, this initiative will deliver. We’re here to support every step of the way,” Kazadi Mulombo, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) country representative, said.

Causes of maternal deaths include severe haemorrhage, high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia and eclampsia), unsafe abortions and obstructed or prolonged labour.

The new policy would “improve maternal and child health outcomes in the country”, said Rhoda Robinson, executive director of HACEY, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) advocating for healthcare access for vulnerable populations in Nigeria.

“Especially for women from low-income communities who might resort to alternative and often unsafe care options,” she told the BBC.

Mabel Onwuemena, national coordinator of the Women of Purpose Foundation, another NGO advocating for better maternal health access in Africa, praised the initiative and urged the Nigerian government to expand it to include free drugs and ultrasound for pregnant women.

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The country plans to tackle tens of billions of dollars of local government debt to prevent it from being a drag on growth.

Trump won the US election on a platform that promised steep import taxes, including tariffs as high as 60% on Chinese-made goods.

His victory is now likely to hinder Xi Jinping’s plans to transform the country into a technology powerhouse – and further strain relations between the world’s two biggest economies.

A property slump, rising government debt and unemployment, and low consumption have slowed down Chinese growth since the pandemic.

So the stakes are higher than ever for the latest announcement from the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the executive body of China’s legislature.

During his first term in office Trump hit Chinese goods with tariffs of as much as 25%.

China analyst Bill Bishop says Trump should be taken at his word about his new tariff plans.

“I think we should believe that he means it when [he] talks about tariffs, that he sees China as having reneged on his trade deal, that he thinks China and Covid cost him the 2020 election”.

The pressure from Washington did not ease after Trump left the White House in 2021. The Biden administration kept the measures in place and in some cases widened them.

While the first wave of Trump tariffs were painful for China, the country is now in a much more vulnerable position.

The economy has been struggling to return to pre-pandemic levels of growth since abruptly abandoning its tight Covid restrictions two years ago.

Instead of delivering a widely expected fast-paced recovery, China became a regular source of disappointing economic news.

Even before Trump’s election victory and after China began rolling out measures to support its economy in September, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lowered its annual growth target for the country.

The IMF now expects the Chinese economy to expand by 4.8% in 2024, at the lower end of Beijing’s “about 5%” target. Next year, it projects China’s annual growth rate will drop further to 4.5%.

The latest plan involves using an additional 6 trillion yuan ($840bn) from now until 2026 to bail out local governments which have piled up unsustainable levels of debt.

For decades, local governments have helped drive growth throughout the country by borrowing massive sums of money – much of which paid for infrastructure projects. But a downturn in the property industry has left some cities unable to pay their bills.

But the country’s leaders were not caught entirely off guard by the end to decades of super-fast growth.

Speaking in 2017, President Xi said his country planned to transition from “rapid growth to a stage of high-quality development.”

The term has since been used repeatedly by Chinese officials to describe a shift to an economy driven by advanced manufacturing and green industries.

But some economists say China cannot simply export itself out of trouble.

China risks falling into the type of decades-long stagnation that Japan endured after a stock and property bubble burst in the 1990s, Morgan Stanley Asia’s former chairman, Stephen Roach, says.

To avoid that fate, he says China should draw “on untapped consumer demand” and move away from “export and investment-led growth”.

That would not only encourage more sustainable growth but also lower “trade tensions and [China’s] vulnerability to external shocks,” he says.

This more robust economic model could help China fend off the kind of threats posed by Trump’s return to power.

New economy, old problems

But China, which has long been the world’s factory for low-cost goods, is trying to replicate that success with high-tech exports.

It is already a world leader in solar panels, electric vehicles (EVs) and lithium ion batteries.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) China now accounts for at least 80% of solar panel production. It is also the biggest maker of EVs and the batteries that power them.

The IEA said last year that China’s investments in clean energy accounted for a third of the world’s total, as the country continued to show “remarkable progress in adding renewable capacity.”

“For sure there is an overall effort to support high-tech manufacturing in China,” says David Lubin, a senior research fellow at London based-think tank, Chatham House.

“This has been very successful”, he adds.

Exports of electric vehicles, lithium ion batteries and solar panels jumped 30% in 2023, surpassing one trillion yuan ($139bn; £108bn) for the first time as China continued to strengthen its global dominance in each of those industries.

That export growth has helped soften the blow to China’s economy of the ongoing property crisis.

“China’s overcapacity will increase, there is not doubt about it. They have no other source of growth,” said Alicia Garcia-Herrero, chief economist for the Asia Pacific region at investment bank Natixis.

But along with those increased exports, there has been a rise in resistance from Western countries, and not just the US.

Just last month, the European Union increased tariffs on Chinese-built EVs to as much as 45%.

“The problem right now is that large recipients of those goods including Europe and the US are increasingly reluctant to receive them,” said Katrina Ell, research director at Moody’s Analytics.

Today, as Trump is set to head back to the Oval Office with a pledge to hammer Chinese imports, Beijing will have to ask itself whether its latest measures to boost its slowing economy will be enough.

It happened near the junction of Rochdale Road and Livesey Street, on the edge of the city centre, at 8:34 am.

Nine ambulances, an air ambulance, two response vehicles and an advanced paramedic were sent to the scene.

North West Ambulance Service said 17 injured people were taken to hospitals around Manchester but no one was seriously hurt.

Pictures show the front of one bus badly mangled and the glass smashed.

A witness told the Manchester Evening News they collided, with one going through a metal fence.

The paper said passengers climbed out of the wreckage but one person had to be rescued from the upper deck by fire crews.

Stephen Rhodes, Transport for Greater Manchester’s bus director, wished injured passengers a “speedy recovery” and said it involved two Bee Network buses.

Rochdale Road has now reopened but officials said there could be lingering delays.

Queen Camilla will not attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening, nor the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph on Sunday, a statement said.

This is while she recovers from a chest infection and to minimise the risk to others, the palace added.

“While this is a source of great disappointment to The Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week,” the statement said.

The King and the Princess of Wales are attending both events. Charles, 75, is still receiving cancer treatment but has resumed public duties. The princess, 42, has finished preventative chemotherapy following her diagnosis.

This weekend will be the first time the princess has carried out two consecutive days of official engagements since the start of the year.

It is understood there is no cause for concern for Camilla, 77, nor any downturn in her condition. Her husband and daughter-in-law have appeared to be limiting their contact with others to protect their health.

Camilla was forced to pull out of other engagements earlier this week.

At the time, a palace spokesperson said the Queen’s doctors had “advised a short period of rest”. On Friday, officials said the Queen’s appearance at the events would depend on medical advice nearer the time.

The King, who recently returned from a tour of Australia, will lay a wreath of poppies at the base of the Cenotaph on Sunday, leading the nation in tribute to its fallen servicemen and women.

The monarch carried out fewer engagements than usual on his and his wife’s last tour. The palace said this was to allow for days of rest during the King’s treatment.

2024 ‘brutal’ for Royal Family

It comes after Prince William said 2024 has been “brutal” and “probably the hardest year in my life”, due to his wife and father’s cancer diagnoses.

Speaking on a tour of Cape Town this week, he said: “Honestly? It’s been dreadful.

“It’s probably been the hardest year in my life. So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.”

On how his relatives have coped with their health struggles, he added: “I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done.

“But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal.”

Around 500 guests, including President Akufo-Addo, senior ministers of state, diplomats, Members of Parliament, businesses, the diaspora, and civil society, gathered to toast the King and the UK-Ghana relationship.

The event took place at the Residence of the High Commissioner.

This year’s edition of the annual event was held under a theme centered around youth, reflecting His Majesty’s commitment as Head of the Commonwealth to support young people and his enduring passion for youth development.

Young chefs from the Ghana Food Movement collaborated with residence staff to provide a British-Ghanaian fusion menu, featuring creations such as Scotch Ne Mako and Plantain Mess alongside the traditional fish and chips.

Guests enjoyed the best of British hospitality at the pop-up Accra Arms pub, with classics such as gin and tonic and Pimm’s.

Youthful innovation was also at the forefront of the entertainment, with High Commission staff taking to the catwalk to model sustainable fashion brands by young Ghanaians.

Guests were further treated to the best of Ghana’s young talent, including a dance performance by DWP, a live set by the band Fra, and a spotlight on Earthshot Prize winners Green Africa Youth Organization – fresh from their triumph in Cape Town the night before.

The High Commissioner, Harriet Thompson, and Ghana’s National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, gave speeches celebrating the UK-Ghana relationship.

The British High Commissioner said, “The UK cares deeply about Ghana’s success because of the strong bonds and democratic values we share. We know that the economy and security of both our countries are enhanced by working closely together. A strong and enduring bilateral partnership – one that learns from the past and looks to the future – will improve the lives of people in both our countries.”

Mr. Dapaah added, “Last month, at the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa, our Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, was elected as the new Secretary-General. This achievement reflects the international community’s trust in Ghana. We sincerely thank the King, the UK government, and all Commonwealth members for their support.”

He further indicated, “I am delighted to highlight the extensive economic cooperation and diverse partnerships between the UK and Ghana, as demonstrated during the 9th UK-Ghana Business Council Meeting in Accra. The UK has committed millions of pounds to various initiatives, including a £40 million pledge to support up to 150 Ghanaian SMEs and a £3.9 million UK Gold programme aimed at combating the illegal gold trade.”

Additionally, the launch of the UK-Ghana Science, Tech, and Innovation Strategy will enhance health security, foster new investment opportunities, and fortify our collaboration in global life science priorities.

These investments underscore the mutual benefits and enduring strength of the UK-Ghana relationship.

More than 60 percent of the Commonwealth’s 2.7 billion people are under the age of 30.

The Commonwealth has designated 2024 as its Year of Youth, and empowering young people was among the objectives of last month’s Commonwealth Heads of Government summit in Samoa.

The British High Commission thanks its sponsors, guests, caterers, and entertainers for making the event a success.

We look forward to building on the friendships forged and strengthening the UK-Ghana partnership, particularly for our young people.

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A secret recording shows the chief executive of Azerbaijan’s COP29 team, Elnur Soltanov, discussing “investment opportunities” in the state oil and gas company with a man posing as a potential investor.

“We have a lot of gas fields that are to be developed,” he says.

A former head of the UN body responsible for the climate talks told the BBC that Soltanov’s actions were “completely unacceptable” and a “betrayal” of the COP process.

As well as being the chief executive of COP29, Soltanov is also the deputy energy minister of Azerbaijan and is on the board of Socar.

Azerbaijan’s COP29 team has not responded to a request for comment.

Oil and gas accounts for about half of Azerbaijan’s total economy and more than 90% of its exports, according to US figures.

COP29 will open in Baku on Monday and is the 29th annual UN climate summit, where governments discuss how to limit and prepare for climate change, and raise global ambition to tackle the issue.

However, this is the second year in a row the BBC has revealed alleged wrongdoing by the host government.

The BBC has been shown documents and secret video recordings made by the human rights organisation, Global Witness.

It is understood that one of its representatives approached the COP29 team posing as the head of a fictitious Hong Kong investment firm specialising in energy.

He said this company was interested in sponsoring the COP29 summit but wanted to discuss investment opportunities in Azerbaijan’s state energy firm, Socar, in return. An online meeting with Soltanov was arranged.

During the meeting, Soltanov told the potential sponsor that the aim of the conference was “solving the climate crisis” and “transitioning away from hydrocarbons in a just, orderly and equitable manner”.

Anyone, he said, including oil and gas companies, “could come up with solutions” because Azerbaijan’s “doors are open”.

However, he said he was open to discussions about deals too – including on oil and gas.

Initially, Soltanov suggested the potential sponsor might be interested in investing in some of the “green transitioning projects” Socar was involved in – but then spoke of opportunities related to Azerbaijan’s plans to increase gas production, including new pipeline infrastructure.

“There are a lot of joint ventures that could be established,” Soltanov says on the recording. “Socar is trading oil and gas all over the world, including in Asia.”

Soltanov then described natural gas as a “transitional fuel”, adding: “We will have a certain amount of oil and natural gas being produced, perhaps forever.”

The UN climate science body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, acknowledges there will be a role for some oil and gas up to 2050 and beyond. However, it has been very clear that “developing… new oil and gas fields is incompatible with limiting warming to 1.5C”.

It also goes against the agreement the world made at the last global climate summit to transition away from fossil fuels.

Soltanov appeared eager to help get discussions going, telling the potential sponsor: “I would be happy to create a contact between your team and their team [Socar] so that they can start discussions.”

A couple of weeks later the fake Hong Kong investment company received an email – Socar wanted to follow up on the lead.

Attempting to do business deals as part of the COP process appears to be a serious breach of the standards of conduct expected of a COP official.

These events are supposed to be about reducing the world’s use of fossil fuels – the main driver of climate change – not selling more.

The standards are set by the UN body responsible for climate negotiations, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The UN said it could not comment directly on our findings but remarked that “the same rigorous standards” are applied to whoever hosts the conference, and that those standards reflect “the importance of impartiality on the part of all presiding officers”.

Its code of conduct for COP officials states they are “expected to act without bias, prejudice, favouritism, caprice, self-interest, preference or deference, strictly based on sound, independent and fair judgement.

“They are also expected to ensure that personal views and convictions do not compromise or appear to compromise their role and functions as a UNFCCC officer.”

Christiana Figueres, who oversaw the signing of the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rises to well below 2C, told the BBC that she was shocked anyone in the COP process would use their position to strike oil and gas deals.

She said such behaviour was “contrary and egregious” to the purpose of COP and “a treason” to the process.

The BBC has also seen emails between the COP29 team and the fake investors.

In one chain, the team discusses a $600,000 (£462,000) sponsorship deal with a fake company in return for the Socar introduction and involvement in an event about “sustainable oil and gas investing” during COP29.

Officials offered five passes with full access to the summit and drafted a contract which initially required the firm to make some commitments to sustainability. Then it pushed back, one requirement was dropped and “corrections” were considered for another.

The BBC asked Azerbaijan’s COP29 team and Socar for comment. Neither responded to the requests.

The findings come a year after the BBC obtained leaked documents that revealed plans by the UAE to use its role as host of COP28 to strike oil and gas deals.

COP28 was the first time an agreement was reached on the need to transition away from fossil fuels.

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