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.

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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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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The biggest gainer was Elon Musk, the world’s richest person and one of Trump’s most outspoken and dedicated supporters, whose wealth jumped $26.5 billion to $290 billion Wednesday, according to Bloomberg.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ wealth grew $7.1 billion a week after defending his decision to withhold the Washington Post’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris. Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, another Trump supporter, saw his net worth rise by $5.5 billion on Wednesday.

Other gainers include former Microsoft executives Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, former Google executives Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett.

Although none of these billionaires endorsed a candidate this year, they have spoken in favor of Democratic candidates and causes in the past.

Collectively, the top 10 richest people gained $64 billion.

Bloomberg notes it’s the “biggest daily increase” of wealth it’s seen since the index began in 2012.

The market rallied Wednesday as the election concluded swiftly, with expectations that Trump will usher in a new era of deregulation and other pro-business laws and policies that investors believe could benefit the stock market overall — especially billionaires who hold much of the world’s wealth.

“There is this huge perception of a business-friendly, tax-friendly regime coming into place, especially with them winning the Senate,” said Michael Block, chief operating officer at AgentSmyth.

Truth Social owner Trump Media & Technology Group, Trump’s social media company, also cashed in, with shares skyrocketing in value after CNN and other media outlets projected Trump won. The stock rose as much as 35% at one point before fading.

Trump is the dominant shareholder in the conservative social media company, which has scant revenue and is losing money.

The president-elect’s 114.75 million shares were briefly worth about $5.3 billion based on those early gains, up from $3.9 billion when trading ended on Election Day.

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Donald Trump is set to return to the White House, having promised action on issues including immigration, the economy and the war in Ukraine.

He looks likely to enjoy plenty of support for his political agenda in Congress after his Republican Party regained control of the Senate.

In his victory speech, Trump vowed he would “govern by a simple motto: Promises made, promises kept. We’re going to keep our promises”.

But in some cases, he has given little detail of how he might achieve his aims.

Asked in 2023 by Fox News whether he would abuse his power or target political opponents, he replied he would not, “except for day one”.

“No, no, no, other than day one. We’re closing the border, and we’re drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I’m not a dictator.”

The statement confirms the immediate suspension of Ebang Engonga from his party membership, part of an internal disciplinary process initiated under the direction of Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue.

This suspension marks the first step toward his potential dismissal and expulsion from public office.

Additionally, both the PDGE and the government have urged the Attorney General to pursue legal action against anyone who shares or views explicit videos on social media, aiming to protect the country’s moral standards and image.

The PDGE also calls on citizens to disregard any rumours or misinformation circulating about these developments, reinforcing its commitment to national integrity and respect during this period of heightened public concern.

Biden called Harris “a tremendous partner and public servant full of integrity, courage, and character” following Harris’ public concession speech at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

The incumbent president dropped out of the race mere months before Election Day due to mounting pressure around his age and fitness, paving the way for Harris to take a space at the top of the Democratic Party’s ticket.

On Wednesday, he noted that Harris inherited “extraordinary circumstances” and lauded the “clear vision” of her “historic campaign.”

“As I’ve said before, selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made when I became the nominee for president in 2020. It was the best decision I made,” Biden shared on X.

“Her story represents the best of America’s story. And as she made clear today, I have no doubt that she’ll continue writing that story.”

Biden’s statement hit similar notes to Harris’ concession speech, in which she urged Democrats to keep fighting and avoid giving in to despair.

“She will continue the fight with purpose, determination, and joy. She will continue to be a champion for all Americans,” Biden said.

“Above all, she will continue to be a leader our children will look up to for generations to come as she puts her stamp on America’s future.”

Below is Joe Biden’s post:

This follows his imprisonment on corruption charges and involvement in a highly publicized scandal over explicit videos.

The presidential decrees were issued on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.

Taking over the position is Zenón Obiang Obiang Avomo, a seasoned legal professional who previously served as a magistrate at the Court of Accounts of Equatorial Guinea.

Obiang Avomo holds a law degree from the National University of Equatorial Guinea (UNGE) and brings extensive experience across several high-level government roles.

His career includes positions as Magistrate Judge in Malabo, Director General of Contract and Market Studies at the Ministry of Finance, General Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Economy, and Planning, and General Secretary of Mines, Industry, and Energy.

The government’s swift action to appoint Obiang Avomo aims to restore confidence in ANIF as it navigates through the aftermath of the recent scandal.

Kamala Harris has lost her bid to become America’s first woman leader, as her Republican rival Donald Trump surged to a decisive victory in the US presidential election.

The vice-president is yet to speak, despite it becoming clear by Wednesday morning that Trump had secured wins in several key swing states.

Harris cancelled her expected election night appearance at Howard University in Washington DC, where she was an undergraduate, after Trump gained momentum as early results began to trickle in.

The Republican swept the key battleground states – racking up wins in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Wisconsin – to claim 279 electoral votes to 223. Several states are yet to be announced

Republicans are projected to have retaken control of the US Senate, after flipping Senate seats in West Virginia and Ohio.

The projected results move the Senate to a 51-49 split in favour of the Republicans.

Jim Justice, West Virginia’s current governor, is projected to win the seat vacated by the former Democrat Joe Manchin, while Bernie Moreno in Ohio unseated Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown.

In the House of Representatives, Republicans so far are leading – though several races are still undecided.

The US dollar has surged as Donald Trump is now projected to have won the presidency and will re-enter the White House.

Bitcoin has also hit a record high while traders bet on potential tax cuts, increased tariffs, and rising inflation under Trump’s second term.

This election result will have a major impact on the global economy.

The Republican Party is also set to take control of the Senate, although there are still votes left to count.

This is surely the most dramatic comeback in US political history.

Four years after leaving the White House, Donald Trump is set to move back in, after millions of Americans voted to give him a second chance.

The election campaign was one for the history books: he survived two assassination attempts and his original opponent President Joe Biden dropped out just months before election day.

Although final votes are still being counted, the majority of Americans in key battleground states chose to vote for him, with many citing the economy and immigration as a chief concern.

AP

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AFP

Reuters

A week after flash floods hit eastern Spain, recriminations are flying over who was to blame for the country’s worst natural disaster in living memory, amid angry scenes on the part of those affected.

An initial image of cross-party unity has been replaced by disputes over which institutions had jurisdiction in the disaster areas, where at least 218 people lost their lives.

In the immediate aftermath of the floods, Valencia regional leader Carlos Mazón of the conservative People’s Party (PP) welcomed Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and thanked him for his government’s support.

It was an unusual sight in the context of Spain’s deeply polarised politics, with Mazón even calling Sánchez “dear prime minister”.

Valencia’s regional leader has faced criticism for taking around 12 hours to respond to a red weather warning by Spain’s national meteorological office (Aemet) on 29 October and issue an alert directly to people’s phones, by which time the flood was already causing enormous damage.

However, the national leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, questioned the information provided by the Aemet, which is supervised by the central government. He also complained that the prime minister’s administration had not co-ordinated with the regional government.

In the days since, pressure has mounted on Mazón, with many commentators and political adversaries calling on him to resign for his actions on that day, as well as for eliminating the Valencia Emergency Unit (UVE) on taking office last year.

In response, he has taken a more confrontational approach, in line with that of his party boss.

That has included blaming the CHJ hydrographic agency, which is controlled by Madrid, for allegedly activating and then de-activating an alert on the day in question.

“If the CHJ had re-activated the hydrological alert, the alarm message would have been sent immediately” by the regional government, Mazón said.

The CHJ has responded by explaining that it provides data on rainfall and related matters but that it does not issue alerts of this kind.

Fifteen thousands troops, civil guards and police have now arrived in the Valencia region, double the number from last weekend.

Mazón has countered claims that his government did not request enough support from the military in the wake of the weather event, insisting that the armed forces themselves were responsible for such decisions.

The head of the military emergency unit (UME), Javier Marcos, responded by saying that protocol dictated that the regional government had to request any such support.

“I can have 1,000 men at the door of the emergency but I can’t go in, legally, without authorisation from the head of the emergency,” he said, referring to the Valencia leader.

Mazón’s comments about the military reportedly enraged the defence minister, Margarita Robles, who expressed her anger during a crisis meeting of ministers with King Felipe on Monday.

Meanwhile, the political situation has been further complicated after calls by Núñez Feijóo for the prime minister to declare a national state of emergency, which would centralise management of the crisis in Madrid, wresting powers from Valencia’s regional government.

The leader of the far-right Vox party, Santiago Abascal, has also backed such a measure, which has been ruled out by the government.

“Sánchez is the one responsible for not activating all the state resources when lives could have been saved,” he said, denouncing the “evil and incompetence” of the administration.

The king, Sánchez and Mazón were all hit by the blowback of public anger over the handling of the tragedy on Sunday, when people in the Valencian town of Paiporta, the worst hit by the floods, threw mud and jeered at them, calling them “murderers”.

As the scenes became increasingly violent, the prime minister’s security detail led him away to his car. Mazón stayed near the king and Queen Letizia, who both engaged with some of the local people in an effort to reassure them that everything possible was being done to help.

While the wisdom of that visit has been widely questioned, Mazón has since presented a €31.4bn proposal for the reconstruction of the flood-devastated areas, to be financed by the central government.

Sánchez, meanwhile, has announced a separate initial aid package worth €10.6bn.

“What Spaniards want is to see their institutions, not fighting with each other, but working shoulder to shoulder,” he said as he announced it.

The words in Donald Trump’s victory speech were nothing out of the ordinary – but the moment itself was truly extraordinary.

Flanked by family and key supporters such as the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, the 45th – and soon to be the 47th – President of the United States strolled on stage and revisited many of the themes and anecdotes I have become so familiar with, as I followed around in this campaign.

But this time, the circumstances – a near-certain victory and a return to the White House – meant everything took on a new significance. He spoke of an actual programme that could become reality.

Around me, hundreds of enthusiastic supporters were delirious with happiness over his success – some in tears, others hugging complete strangers.

Throughout his campaign, the Republican president-elect and his running mate, JD Vance, have cast strong doubts on continued US commitment to Kyiv as the war drags on more than two and half years after Russian forces invaded. Moreover, Trump has made comments that suggest the US could pressure Ukraine into an uneasy truce with Russia.

Trump’s victory comes at a precarious moment in the conflict for Kyiv. Russia has steadily been making gains in the eastern Donbas region, which Russia’s President Vladimir Putin aims to capture in full.

Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said the situation on the front line “remains difficult” and certain areas “require constant renewal of resources of Ukrainian units” in a statement on Telegram Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, Russia is understood to be bolstering its manpower with North Korean forces. As many as 10,000 North Korean troops are in Russia’s Kursk region and are expected to enter combat against Ukraine in the coming days, US officials have warned.

Under the Biden administration, the US has provided tens of billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine, in the form of both weapons and budget assistance. The administration plans to continue to surge as much support as possible to Kyiv before Trump takes office.

Trump has repeatedly praised Putin – and repeatedly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with whom he has a complicated history. Trump’s efforts to leverage US military aid to Ukraine to force Zelensky to investigate the former president’s political rivals were the key focus of Trump’s first impeachment in 2019.

Zelensky congratulated Trump on Wednesday and said he appreciates Trump’s commitment to “peace through strength.”

“We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump’s decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States,” Zelensky wrote in a social media post. “We are interested in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both of our nations.”

Trump has repeatedly claimed that the Ukraine-Russia war would not have started if he had been president. He has also vowed to end the war, sometimes even claiming he would stop the years-long conflict before even taking office. In July, he said he could settle the conflict in one day.

In August’s presidential debate, Trump refused to say he was committed to Ukraine defeating Russia. In September, he suggested that Ukraine should have “given up a little bit” to Moscow, saying at a campaign event that “any deal, even the worst deal, would have been better than what we have right now.”

“If they made a bad deal, it would have been much better. They would have given up a little a bit and everybody would be living,” Trump said.

Just days after those comments, when Trump met with Zelensky in New York City, he stressed that he would work to get a good deal for “both sides.”

“We have a very good relationship, and I also have a very good relationship, as you know, with President Putin. And I think if we win, we’re going to get it resolved very quickly,” he said.

“I think long before I, before January 20, before I would take the presidency – it’s January 20 – but long before that, I think that we can work out something that’s good for both sides. It’s time,” he added.

Zelensky has drawn up a “victory plan,” and has said Ukraine is not opposed to negotiations, but they must be from “a position of strength.” At a press conference in late October, the Ukrainian president said that “Trump talks a lot, but I didn’t hear him say he would reduce support for Ukraine.”

Zelensky said Wednesday that in their September meeting, he and Trump “discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine.”

Still, in an interview with South Korea’s KBS, Zelensky acknowledged that “the next US president may strengthen or weaken support for Ukraine.”

“If that support weakens, Russia will seize more territory, it would prevent us from winning this war. That is the reality. Our stance isn’t about territorial compromises but exploring potential diplomatic paths that rely on the US maintaining its commitment. A genuine desire from the United States to end this war swiftly is crucial,” he said.

Ahead of the election, the US and its allies sought ways to “Trump-proof” that support. Earlier this year, NATO announced it would establish a mission to coordinate the provision of military equipment and training for Ukraine – an effort that has been largely led by the US. The Biden administration put forward $20 billion of the G7’s $50 billion loan package to Ukraine, which is also funded by frozen Russian assets.

As Donald Trump declares victory in the US presidential race, this result would represent the more complicated outcome for the UK government.

There’s one big reason for this: Trump’s wild unpredictability.

Right now, in foreign ministries around the world, including in London, hypothetical game plans for this scenario are becoming the real deal.

The prep has been done. But the prep may only count for so much.

Reuters

Kamala Harris appears to be on course to lose her bid to become America’s first woman president, as her Republican rival Donald Trump is projected to sweep all key battleground states.

The vice-president has yet to concede, though projections from the BBC’s US partner, CBS, suggest that Trump is standing on the precipice of an historic victory.

Harris cancelled her expected election night appearance at Howard University in Washington DC, where she was an undergraduate, after Trump gained momentum as early results began to trickle in.

The Republican subsequently swept the key battleground states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia, the BBC’s US partner CBS projects.

Speaking at West Palm Beach, Florida, during his victory speech, the 47th president, who has yet to be sworn into office after what many have called a historic comeback, said, “Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason.”

He continued, explaining that the reason was to “save our country and restore America to greatness. And now we’re going to fulfill that mission together.”

Donald Trump acknowledged that the task ahead would not be easy, but he promised, “I will bring every ounce of energy, spirit, and fight that I have in my soul to the job you have entrusted me with,” adding, “This is a great job; this is the most important job in the world.”

Trump has faced multiple threats to his life before this election. Recently, he survived a close call when a bullet grazed his ear at a campaign rally.

Trump also stated that he is determined to make America great again. He promised to improve America’s healthcare, immigration system, economy, and international relations.

He emphasized his commitment to cutting taxes and making America attractive once again.

“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” he said to jubilant supporters, as he declared a “magnificent victory.”

Just before Trump spoke, Fox News projected that he had won the election; other US TV networks are yet to do so.

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Just after midnight, a few hundred feet from where Kamala Harris was expected to stand on stage for her election night party at Howard University in Washington, DC, a handful of students sat in a huddle.

They began their night ecstatic, they said, ready to celebrate the ascent of a Howard alum to the highest office in the US. The Democratic presidential nominee had chosen to return to her alma mater for the special night, but later, she cancelled her planned appearance.

“I felt so excited, like this is history in the making,” said Cori Ross, 20. “No other campus has the future president, or at least the current vice-president on their grounds.”

But with the first two calls from the country’s seven swing states – Georgia and North Carolina, both projected for Donald Trump – the collective change in mood was obvious.

“We’re freaking out,” said Ross’s fellow student Dru Strand. “It’s just such a close race, so the minute that someone loses one state or gains in one state… it’s just super stressful.”

The crowd packed inside Howard’s Yard, the grassy quad at the centre of the university, started to thin out, seemingly hundreds of people streaming off campus in the cool night air.

Those who stayed seemed to hold on to the enthusiasm of hours before, dancing and singing along to the music by Usher, Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé, blasting from the speakers dotting the yard.

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Donald Trump is projected to have won three out of seven crucial swing states in the US presidential election, putting him on the cusp of taking back the White House.

The projected results in three swing states – North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania – come as signs suggest at least one other state is leaning towards the Republican former president.

It could still be some time before we find out the final detailed results in the race between Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris.

Results are declared state-by-state, and the BBC is keeping you updated with a running tally as we go.

The outcome remained uncertain in six other states expected to determine the winner.

But Trump was showing strength across broad swaths of the country. He had won 227 Electoral College votes to Harris’ 165 as of 11:30 p.m. ET (0430 GMT on Wednesday).

A candidate needs a total of at least 270 votes in the state-by-state Electoral College to claim the presidency.

Decision Desk HQ projected Trump would also win Georgia, narrowing her path to victory through the Rust Belt trio of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, though she was behind in all three states.

Trump picked up more support from Hispanics, traditionally Democratic voters, and among lower-income households that have keenly felt the sting of price rises since the last presidential election in 2020, according to exit polls from Edison.

Trump won 45% of Hispanic voters nationwide, trailing Harris with 53% but up 13 percentage points from 2020.

Voters whose top issue was the economy voted overwhelmingly for Trump, especially if they felt they were worse off financially than they were four years ago.

About 31% of voters said the economy was their top issue, and they voted for Trump by a 79%-to-20% margin, according to exit polls. Some 45% of voters across the country said their family’s financial situation was worse off today than four years ago, and they favoured Trump 80% to 17% for Harris.

U.S. stock futures and the dollar pushed higher while Treasury yields climbed and bitcoin rose, a sign that investors were reading early results as favouring Trump. Still, investors said it was too early and the trades lacked conviction.

“Everyone’s trying to take the few inches of data we’ve got right now and turn it into a mile,” said Alex Morris, president and CIO of F/M Investments in Washington.

TRUMP OUTPERFORMS 2020

Trump was earning a bigger share of the vote than he did four years ago in nearly every corner of the country, from suburban Georgia to rural Pennsylvania.

By 11 p.m. ET, officials had nearly completed their count of ballots in more than 1,200 counties – about a third of the country – and Trump’s share was up about 2 percentage points compared to 2020, reflecting a broad if not especially deep shift in Americans’ support for the president they ousted four years ago.

He had improved his numbers in suburban counties, rural regions and even some large cities that are historically bastions of Democratic support.

Control of both chambers of Congress is also up for grabs. Democrats had only a narrow path to defend their Senate majority after Republican Jim Justice flipped a West Virginia seat on Tuesday. The House of Representatives looked like a toss-up.

In Florida, a ballot measure that would have guaranteed abortion rights failed to reach the 60% threshold needed to pass, according to Edison, leaving a six-week ban in place. Nine other states have abortion-related measures on the ballot.

Nearly three-quarters of voters say American democracy is under threat, according to the exit polls, underscoring the depth of polarization in a nation where divisions have only grown starker during a fiercely competitive race.

Trump employed increasingly apocalyptic rhetoric while stoking unfounded fears that the election system cannot be trusted. Harris warned that a second Trump term would threaten the underpinnings of American democracy.

Hours before polls closed, Trump claimed on his Truth Social site without evidence that there was “a lot of talk about massive CHEATING” in Philadelphia, echoing his false claims in 2020 that fraud had occurred in large, Democratic-dominated cities. In a subsequent post, he also asserted there was fraud in Detroit.

“I don’t respond to nonsense,” Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey told Reuters.

A Philadelphia city commissioner, Seth Bluestein, replied on X, “There is absolutely no truth to this allegation.”

‘AM I GOING TO WIN?’

Trump, whose supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, after he claimed the 2020 election was rigged, voted earlier near his home in Palm Beach, Florida.

“If I lose an election, if it’s a fair election, I’m gonna be the first one to acknowledge it,” Trump told reporters.

Millions of Americans waited in orderly lines to cast ballots, with only sporadic disruptions reported across a handful of states, including several non-credible bomb threats that the FBI said appeared to originate from Russian email domains.

Trump was watching the results at his Mar-a-Lago club before speaking to supporters at a nearby convention centre, according to sources familiar with the planning. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a prominent Trump backer, said he would watch the results at Mar-a-Lago with Trump.

Trump attended a morning meeting about turnout but appeared bored by the data talk, according to one source briefed on the meeting. All Trump wanted to know, the source said, was: “Am I going to win?”

Harris, who had previously mailed her ballot to her home state of California, spent some of Tuesday in radio interviews encouraging listeners to vote.

Later, she was due to address students at Howard University, a historically Black college in Washington where Harris was an undergraduate.

“To go back tonight to Howard University, my beloved alma mater, and be able to hopefully recognize this day for what it is, is really full circle for me,” Harris said in a radio interview.

Tuesday’s vote capped a dizzying race churned by unprecedented events, including two assassination attempts against Trump, President Joe Biden’s surprise withdrawal and Harris’ rapid rise.

No matter who wins, history will be made.

Harris, 60, the first female vice president, would become the first woman, Black woman and South Asian American to win the presidency.

Trump, 78, the only president to be impeached twice and the first former president to be criminally convicted, would also become the first president to win non-consecutive terms in more than a century.

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A photo posted by Bonino on social media showed them both sitting in wheelchairs on her sun-drenched terrace in Rome.

Bonino, 76, was released from hospital last month after suffering from respiratory and heart problems. Last year, she said she had recovered from an eight-year battle with lung cancer.

Francis, 87, has himself been dealing with occasional health issues.

He has frequently expressed opposition to abortion, calling it “murder” and tantamount to “hiring a hit man“. But he has also struck up relationships with several anticlerical Italian figures.

Bonino was first elected to the Italian parliament in 1976 as a member of the anti-establishment Radical Party, which pushed passage of a law to legalise abortion in 1978, later confirmed by a national referendum in 1981.

A human rights and social justice champion, she was also a member of the European Commission in the 1990s and served as foreign, trade and EU affairs minister in Italian centre-left governments of the 2000s and 2010s.

Francis was seen stopping in at her apartment in central Rome after a morning visit to the nearby Pontifical Gregorian University. The Vatican press office confirmed the pope’s visit, but said it would not provide further details.

In her social media post, Bonino praised Francis’ “extraordinary humanity” and said he had called her “an example of freedom and resistance”. He also brought her roses and chocolates, she said.

As he was leaving Bonino’s home, Francis was asked by a La Repubblica journalist how the politician was doing.

“Very well,” he replied, according to a video published by Italian media outlets.

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Jim Justice, West Virginia’s current governor, is projected to win the seat vacated by the former Democrat Joe Manchin, while Bernie Moreno in Ohio unseated Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown.

The projected results would move the Senate to a 51-49 split in favour of the Republicans. Results in other seats are pending, however.

The party also currently holds a majority in the House of Representatives. Winning the Senate would give it greater leverage to enact its agenda.

Republican control of the House, Senate and the White House would give it broad power to pass laws and enact the president’s partisan agenda.

In Ohio, Brown was projected to lose to Moreno, a Colombian immigrant and former car sales magnate who portrayed the veteran politician as “too liberal for Ohio”.

The contest has been called the most expensive Senate race in US history.

Brown told supporters that the result was a “disappointment but not a failure”, adding: “I’m not giving up on our fight for workers and I know you won’t either”.

The seat in West Virginia is projected to flip Republican. It was contested after the retirement of Manchin, who frequently clashed with members of his own party before turning independent.

Justice had himself been a Democrat before switching parties to Republican at a Trump rally in 2017.

A total of 34 Senate seats are being contested on Tuesday. Republicans were projected to retain control of seats throughout the country.

In Texas, Trump ally Ted Cruz fended off a robust challenge from former NFL player Colin Allred to win a third term.

Democrats had launched a concerted effort to beat Cruz but the party has not won a state-wide election in the state for more than 30 years.

Rick Scott, a Republican incumbent in Florida, was projected to retain his seat despite a challenge by former Miami-area Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a Democrat who migrated from Ecuador as a child.

Speaking at a victory rally, Scott predicted that Republicans would seize the majority in the Senate and that he would be selected as Senate Majority Leader.

“Florida is the centre of the Republican party of this country,” he told the crowd. “Washington can learn a hell of a lot from what we’ve done right here in this great state.”

Democrats held a seat in Delaware, a state that President Joe Biden represented as a senator for 36 years, with a victory for fourth-term Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester.

In Maryland, the Democrats retained a seat vacated by Ben Cardin, with Angela Alsobrooks beating the popular Republican Governor Larry Hogan.

They will become the first black female senators to represent their respective states.

In New Jersey, Democrats retained a seat that was vacated by Bob Menendez, who resigned after he was found guilty of accepting bribes for political favours. Andy Kim, 42, will become the first ever Korean-American senator.

Other contests that would swing control of the upper chamber are taking place in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Montana, Michigan, Nevada, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

Both parties are also vying for control of the House, although the balance of power there will not be known for several days.

The vast majority of House elections are happening in “safe districts” – regions where one party is nearly certain to win. But a handful of other races in swing districts could determine who controls Washington DC.

House races that could swing the balance are taking place a wide variety of states, with closely watched elections happening in California, New York, Washington, Maine and Alaska.

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President Bola Tinubu had already called for the release of all the minors – some as young as 14 – after footage of four of them collapsing in court on Friday, apparently due to malnourishment, sparked outrage.

He also said the police and other officials involved in the arrests and subsequent legal processes should be investigated.

The viral videos of the young people writhing in pain led to a renewed debate over their treatment, as well as the length of their detention.

Initial reports had talked of 27 young people being affected, but details of another set of detainees, including more between the ages of 14 and 17, have emerged since.

The suspects had been in custody for nearly three months after participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests which swept the country in August over a deepening cost-of-living crisis.

The demonstrations turned violent in some places when protesters clashed with security forces.

Police say seven people died – though rights groups put the death toll at 23. Nearly 700 people were arrested.

Some of those in court in the capital, Abuja, on Friday were accused of flying Russian flags and planning to overthrow the Nigerian government.

In a statement on Monday, President Tinubu’s spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the Nigerian humanitarian affairs ministry had been asked “to ensure the safe return of all the minors to their families while an investigation has been opened into the circumstances leading to their prolonged detention”.

When the courtroom footage emerged, Nigerian rights organisation Enough is Enough said they had been subjected to “institutional child abuse”.

Amnesty International described the children’s detention as “one of the deadliest attempts to suppress freedom of assembly” so far.

Observers say the move to drop the charges and release the children was a face-saving measure and that the government would have avoided the embarrassment if it had not engaged in a high-handed approach against protesters demanding better governance.

Source: BBC

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While past elections have been narrowly decided – George W Bush’s 2000 victory over Al Gore came down to a few hundred votes in Florida – there’s always been some sense of which direction the race was tilting in the final days.

Sometimes, as in 2016, the sense is wrong. In that year, polls overestimated Hillary Clinton’s strength and failed to detect a late-breaking movement in Donald’s Trump favour.

This time around, however, the arrows are all pointing in different directions. No-one can seriously make a prediction either way.

Getty

As millions of people cast their ballots in the US election, claims have been spreading online questioning the integrity of the vote.

Election officials have been quick to reject some accusations of voting malpractice, as well as clarifying some legitimate problems which have been taken out of context.

BBC Verify is tracking and investigating the most widely shared claims – here’s four.

The move comes in light of over 400 explicit videos circulating on social media, featuring Baltasar Ebang Engonga, the former Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), involved in intimate acts, some reportedly filmed in his workplace.

The decision, announced on November 2, 2024, by government spokesperson Fernando Ferry Mitogo, is part of a broader effort to uphold professional standards and foster a respectful work environment across both public and private sectors.

The authorities are aiming to reinforce values of responsibility, ethics, and professionalism within the workplace.

The scandal involving Ebang Engonga, also known as “Bello,” has drawn widespread attention. Videos showed Ebang Engonga in intimate encounters with multiple women, including some married individuals, in various locations—including his office, reportedly with the national flag visible in the background.

According to reports, these encounters were consensual, but their occurrence in a professional setting has fuelled public outrage and calls for government action.

Officials stated that these new disciplinary measures are intended to serve as a firm precedent for acceptable conduct within Equatorial Guinea’s institutions.

By taking a stand, the government seeks to address the damage to the country’s image and ensure a more respectful and ethical workplace culture moving forward.

The directive has sparked conversation both within Equatorial Guinea and beyond, with citizens debating its implications for workplace standards and privacy.

Nonetheless, authorities remain firm in their stance that any behaviour undermining the integrity of national institutions will not be tolerated.

Vice President Harris zoned in on cities across Pennsylvania while former President Trump made stops in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

The Democratic candidate was joined by pop culture figures including Lady Gaga and Oprah Winfrey, while Trump called to stage his sons and former Fox News host Megyn Kelly, with whom he once had a contentious relationship.

What are the latest updates from the polls?

The race continues to remain tight according to the latest polls, with key swing states presenting narrow leads for both candidates.

According to FiveThirtyEight’s daily tracker, Harris has a 1.2-point lead over Trump nationally, a margin that has remained fairly static in recent days, though it has shrunk compared with a month ago.

In swing states, Harris has a one-point advantage in Michigan and Wisconsin, according to FiveThirtyEight.

The union said members voted 59% in favour of the new contract, which includes a 38% pay rise spread over four years, easing pressure on new Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg after two previous offers were voted down in recent weeks.

The end of the first strike in 16 years by Boeing’s largest union provides welcome relief for a company that has lurched from one setback to the next since a door panel blew off a near-new 737 MAX plane in mid-air in January.

Around 33,000 machinists who work on the best-selling 737 MAX jet, as well as the 767 and 777 widebodies, have been on strike since Sept. 13, demanding a 40% wage increase and the restoration of a defined-benefit pension lost a decade ago.

It will now take weeks to ramp up plane production and boost cash flow, with 737 MAX output expected to languish in the single digits per month for some time, according to two people briefed on the matter, far short of the 38-a-month targeted before the strike.

Workers can start building planes again from Wednesday and must be back to work by Nov. 12, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) said, although Boeing has warned that some people will have to be retrained due to the prolonged period away from the factory floor.

The strike was costing Boeing around $100 million a day in lost revenue, analysts said, prompting the planemaker to raise $24 billion from investors last week in a bid to preserve its investment-grade credit rating.

Ortberg now needs to reset relations with machinists in the Pacific Northwest who have used the strike to vent anger built up over a decade when wages have lagged inflation and the cost of living in the Seattle area has soared.

Boeing has said the average annual machinists’ pay at the end of the new four-year contract will be $119,309, up from $75,608 previously.

The pay increase may add $1.1 billion to Boeing’s wage bill over the four years, while a $12,000 ratification bonus for each union member could result in another $396 million in outflows, according to analysts at Jefferies.

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Ebang Engonga, the General Director of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), is already behind bars on corruption charges, but recent explicit videos circulating on social media have sparked a new wave of scrutiny.

These videos reportedly show Ebang Engonga engaging in unprotected sexual activities with several women, including those married to prominent figures in Equatorial Guinea, as well as high-profile single women and even some pregnant.

It is claimed that these encounters were filmed with the women’s consent, which may shield him from charges of violating personal integrity.

However, the public health implications of such behavior are raising serious concerns, especially regarding the risk of sexually transmitted infections.

The Attorney General has noted that while the footage suggests that the women involved were not coerced, consensual sexual relations do not constitute a crime unless there is evidence of coercion or violence.

This situation highlights the critical importance of victims reporting incidents of sexual abuse or assault.

Moreover, the Attorney General emphasized that the health risks extend beyond the individuals directly involved to their partners and the wider community.

The potential for contagious diseases to spread through these interactions adds urgency to the ongoing investigation.

Nzang Nguema has also called for a supportive environment for victims, stressing the need for individuals to feel safe and empowered to report such incidents.

The scandal emerged in the course of a fraud investigation against the 54-year-old Economist which resulted in the search of his house and office on impromptu notice by ANIF officials who came across several CDs that later revealed his sexcapades with different married women.

The videos reportedly include encounters with high-profile individuals, such as his brother’s wife, his cousin, the sister of the President of Equatorial Guinea, the Director General of Police’s wife, and about 20 of the country’s ministers’ wives, among others.

The footage, discovered in his personal office, was said to have been recorded with consent and has since been leaked online, causing a media uproar.

In a report by a local media platform, Ahora EG, since last October, Engonga has been involved in a sexual scandal unprecedented in the history of Equatorial Guinea.

The former ANIF DG better known as “Bello” had sexual relations with several women, some of them married, and filmed these intimate encounters.

The report read, “The most striking thing is that some scenes took place in his work office, including moments in which he is seen sleeping with a woman next to the National Flag. Based on this sexual scandal, the Executive has stated that the measure is a direct response to the acts that have affected the image of the country.

“With these new measures, the Government hopes to establish a clear precedent on the expected conduct of public officials in order to create a more respectful work environment in the public and private administration of Equatorial Guinea. For days now, erotic videos have been circulating on social media featuring Baltasar EBANG ENGONGA, better known as “Bello”, who is currently the Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF) and is currently imprisoned for alleged corruption issues.

“Baltasar EBANG ENGONGA is said to have filmed these scenes with the consent of the women themselves, which exonerates him from a possible crime of violation of integrity. In the videos, he is seen having unprotected sex with several women, including those married to powerful and well-known people in the country, but also with the most “diva and influential” single women in Equatorial Guinea. Some scenes take place in hotel rooms, houses, even in the protagonist’s office at the Ministry of Finance,” it added.

However, speaking on the viral sextapes, the Attorney General of the country, Nzang Nguema, has stressed that, although the images suggest that the women involved were not forced to participate, the law does not consider consensual sexual relations to be a crime, unless coercion or violence is proven. This highlights the importance of victims reporting situations of sexual abuse or assault.

Nguema also emphasised that the risk is not only for the women involved but also for their partners and the wider community, adding, “The possibility of a contagious disease being spread through these sexual interactions makes the situation even more critical.

He further pointed out that the onus is on victims to come forward in cases of rape or assault, highlighting the need for an environment where people feel safe and supported to report such incidents.

Reacting to the development on Monday, Equatorial Guinea has decided to take action by immediately suspending all officials who have had sexual relations in the offices of the country’s ministries.

The government claimed that the decision was part of its “zero tolerance” policy towards behaviour that compromises the integrity of the public service.

The Vice President of the Republic, Nguema Mangue, has pointed out that these behaviours constitute a flagrant violation of the Code of Conduct and the Public Ethics Law.

In his publication on X, he emphasized that “ethics and respect are fundamental in our Administration,” and that irresponsible attitudes that put citizen trust at risk will not be allowed.

At least six people died after a volcano erupted several times in eastern Indonesia, officials said.

The eruptions occurred at Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki which is located on the island of Flores.

What else do we know about the eruption?

“According to our coordination with the local authorities, six fatalities have confirmed,” Abdul Muhari, the spokesman for Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency, said in an interview for the Kompas TV broadcaster.

Avi Mangota Hallan, the head of emergency response and logistics for East Flores district, told Germany’s DPA news agency that rescue teams were still searching for potential victims trapped under the ruble of collapsed homes.

The crater erupted just before midnight and again at 1:27 a.m. (1727 UTC Sunday) and 2:48 a.m. local time.

The volcano has been spewing ash up to 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) into the air every day since Thursday.

Firman Yosef, an official at the volcano’s monitoring post, said that several houses were burned down, including a convent of Catholic nuns.

Government declares state of emergency

Hallan said that the government had declared a state of emergency in affected areas until December 31.

Indonesia’s volcanology agency raised the alert level to its highest mark.

It told locals and tourists not to carry out activities within a seven-kilometer (4.3-mile) radius of the crater.

“There has been a significant increase in volcanic activity on Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki,” it said in a press release.

It warned there was a potential for rain-induced lava floods and told locals to wear masks to avoid the effects of volcanic ash.

The mountain on Indonesia’s Flores island had several major eruptions in January, prompting authorities to raise the alert status to its highest level and evacuate at least 2,000 residents.

Indonesia experiences frequent eruptions and is part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire” area, which sees intense volcanic and seismic activity.

In May, thousands were evacuated on the Sangihe Islands in North Sulawesi after the Ruang volcano erupted.

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Shouts of “murderer” and “shame” were directed at the royal couple, Spain’s prime minister and other leaders as they walked through the town of Paiporta – one of the worst affected in the region.

With mud on their faces and clothes, King Felipe and Queen Letizia were later seen consoling members of the crowd.

More than 200 people were killed in the floods, the worst in Spain for decades. Emergency workers are continuing to comb through underground car parks and tunnels in the hope of finding survivors and recovering bodies.

There has been anger at a perceived lack of warning and insufficient support from authorities after the floods.

Footage showed the king making his way down a pedestrian street, before his bodyguards and police were suddenly overwhelmed by a surge of protesters, hurling insults and screaming.

They struggled to maintain a protective ring around the monarch, as some of the protesters threw mud and objects.

The king engaged with several, even embracing them.

Images showed mud on the faces and clothes of the king, queen and their entourage, who held umbrellas over the monarch as they departed.

On Sunday, the death toll from the flooding rose to 217, with many more feared missing.

Almost all of the deaths confirmed so far have been in the Valencia region on the Mediterranean coast.

Some areas have been particularly devastated. Authorities in Paiporta, the town visited today by the royal delegation, have reported at least 62 deaths.

Spain’s meteorological agency AEMET issued its highest level of alert on Sunday for parts of southern Valencia – including the cities of Alzira, Cullera and Gandia.

Intense storms forecast to pass the area will not be on the scale of Tuesday’s, the agency said, with 90mm (3.45 inches) of rainfall expected.

In his first comments since 56 Commonwealth leaders signed a joint letter in October stating that “the time has come” for a conversation about reparations, Lammy told the BBC that this was not “the debate people are wanting to have.”

“I’m keen to emphasise that there’s a sort of simplistic press debate in part of the media that thinks this is about the transfer of cash,” he said.

Speaking in Nigeria, Lammy indicated that the UK wanted to focus on developing relations with the continent based on the sharing of skills and science.

“It’s not about the transfer of cash, particularly at a time of a cost of living crisis around much of the globe, and certainly in the UK,” Lammy said. “That is not the debate I think that people want to have. They’re wanting to think about the future.”

Speaking in Lagos, a Nigerian port city once central to the transatlantic slave trade, during his first visit to Africa as foreign secretary, Lammy acknowledged that the UK had previously apologized for its role in slavery.

He stated, “When we look back on that period, there were many horrors. It was horrific and horrendous in many, many ways. And there are scars that were left, and let’s be clear – I am the descendant of enslaved people, so I recognize that. When we were last in government, we said sorry, and we commemorated the abolition of the slave trade.”

Lammy acknowledged that Caribbean nations had made a 10-point plan for reparatory justice, but he believed that developing nations would benefit as part of that through initiatives such as the transfer of technical skills and scientific expertise from the UK.

The foreign secretary’s remarks on reparations follow discussions on the issue last month at CHOGM in Samoa. The UK has faced growing calls from Commonwealth leaders to pay reparations for the country’s role in the slave trade.

Before the Samoa summit, Downing Street had stated that the issue was not due for discussion, but Sir Keir Starmer later signed a document calling for talks on “reparatory justice” alongside other Commonwealth leaders.

Lammy spoke to the BBC at the beginning of a trip during which he will visit Nigeria and South Africa, two of the continent’s biggest economies.

He said he wanted to launch a five-month consultation period with African nations.

“I think the UK needs a new approach to Africa,” the foreign secretary said. “Much has changed since the last time my party was in government under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, when there was a huge commitment to the continent, but it was largely based on development.

“The dynamism and energy here in Lagos, along with the potential for growth and opportunity in a range of areas, present so much potential.

“What I hope over the coming months and years is that the UK can partner more here in Nigeria and on the continent.

“And that the UK is present once more, because what I’ve heard is that the UK has stepped back somewhat over the last few years, as reflected in our trading figures.

“There’s much that I think we can do together over the coming months and years.”

Asked about other issues relating to Africa, Lammy said the conflict in Sudan was of “tremendous concern” and noted that the UK planned to make that a priority during November when it has the rotational presidency of the United Nations Security Council.

He stated: “The loss of life is unbelievable and outstrips other conflicts around the world. The humanitarian catastrophe that has been unfolding for many months is something of tremendous concern.

“We have just become the chair of the UN Security Council, and I intend to make Sudan my priority over the course of this next month. I will be in New York raising the issues – both the humanitarian issues and how we can bring the parties together to try and reach a peaceful outcome.

“It’s been a subject of huge concern that Sudan has not commanded the international attention it requires, given not just the suffering involved, but also the way it is frankly unpicking stability in the wider region, which will have huge implications if Sudan becomes a totally failed state.

“Huge implications not just for East Africa and the African continent, but of course for Europe as well.”

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A letter sent to the broadcaster’s director general, Tim Davie, and CEO Deborah Turness on Friday said: “Basic journalistic tenets have been lacking when it comes to holding Israel to account for its actions.”

First reported by The Independent newspaper on Friday, the signatories included more than 100 anonymous BBC staff and more than 200 from the media industry, as well as historians, actors, academics and politicians.

“The consequences of inadequate coverage are significant. Every television report, article and radio interview that has failed to robustly challenge Israeli claims has systematically dehumanised Palestinians,” the letter said.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 43,259 Palestinians and wounded 101,827 since October 7, 2023. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks that day and more than 200 were taken captive.

The signatories called on the BBC to implement editorial commitments including “reiterating that Israel does not give external journalists access to Gaza; making it clear when there is insufficient evidence to back up Israeli claims; making clear where Israel is the perpetrator in article headlines; including regular historical context predating October 2023; and robustly challenging Israeli government and military representatives in all interviews”.

The letter said British media organisations such as the BBC, ITV and Sky “enjoy high levels of public trust” and have a “duty to fearlessly follow the evidence”.

It also noted that the BBC “is licence fee funded, and the erosion of its own editorial standards has put its impartiality and independence at serious risk”.

Last November, more than a month after Israel began its war in Gaza, eight United Kingdom-based journalists employed by the BBC wrote a letter to Al Jazeera and said the BBC is guilty of a “double standard in how civilians are seen”, given that it is “unflinching” in its reporting of alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

“This organisation doesn’t represent us,” one of the co-writers told Al Jazeera.

“For me, and definitely for other people of colour, we can see blatantly that certain civilian lives are considered more worthy than others – that there is some sort of hierarchy at play.”

Israel’s war has now expanded to Lebanon, where at least 2,897 people have been killed and 13,150 wounded in Israeli attacks since the war on Gaza began.

The BBC has defended its coverage of the war in Gaza.

According to UK media reports on Friday, a BBC spokesperson said: “When we make mistakes or have made changes to the way we report, we are transparent.

“We are also very clear with our audiences on the limitations put on our reporting – including the lack of access into Gaza and restricted access to parts of Lebanon, and our continued efforts to get reporters into those areas,” the spokesperson added.

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A young girl aged six or seven was among the dead, he added.

People were sitting on benches under the outdoor overhang at the station in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second city, at the time of the collapse around noon local time (11:00 GMT), Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) reported.

Three people are in hospital. Among them are two women who were pulled alive from under the rubble a few hours after the collapse.

In an address to the nation, Mr Vučić said he hoped the number of dead would not rise beyond 14, adding that five of those killed had still not been identified.

“Those responsible, I assure you, will be punished,” he said, quoted by AFP.

Around 80 rescuers from all over the country are involved in the search, using heavy machinery, which is still ongoing.

The railway station building was renovated in 2021, and renovated again this year in order to be officially opened on 5 July.

Serbian media quoted Railway Infrastructure of Serbia, the body responsible for the concrete canopy, as saying it had not been reconstructed with the station. It was built in 1964.

Prime Minister Miloš Vučević said Friday was one of the most difficult days in Novi Sad’s post-war history.

“This is a great, terrible tragedy for Novi Sad and for all of Serbia,” he added, sending condolences to the families of the victims and thanking first responders.

The government declared Saturday as an official day of mourning.

Unsurprisingly, the economy – and especially costs of living – have been key concerns for American voters this election.

But how do their plans differ? Here is a quick breakdown on what each candidate is proposing:

Democratic nominee Harris:

• Harris has stated that her day-one priority would be to reduce food and housing costs for working families. She has planned on doing so by banning gouge-pricing on groceries, helping first-time home buyers and increasing the minimum wage
• She has vowed to raise taxes on big businesses and Americans making $400,000 (£305,000) a year, while raising the capital gains tax slightly to 28%. Harris has also promised to expand child tax credits for families and cut taxes for small businesses
• On trade, Harris has indicated she will have a targeted approach on taxing imports – like the current Biden-Harris tariffs on Chinese imports like electric vehicles

Republican nominee Trump:

• Trump has also tackled high costs of living, pledging to “end inflation and make America affordable again”. Among his plans are increasing oil drilling, which he says will lower energy costs.
• He also promised to deport migrants, which he says will ease pressure on housing, and has vowed to remove taxes on tips and social security benefits for seniors
• He has proposed tax cuts worth trillions, including an extension of a tax cut he enacted in 2017 that mostly helped the wealthy. Trump says these taxes will be paid by higher tariffs on imports – a plan that economists have warned will add to the US ballooning deficit and that would push up prices for consumers.

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Police say they believe Venâncio Mondlane – a part-time pastor and independent candidate who insists he was the true winner of the polls – is in neighbouring South Africa.

He has been imploring his supporters in social media videos to demonstrate over the next week against the official poll results, which gave victory to Daniel Chapo from the ruling Frelimo party.

Mondlane disappeared from public view 12 days ago, accusing the police of threatening behaviour not long after two of his aides were shot dead in the run-up to the release of the results.

He has described the killing of his lawyer Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe, an official from the opposition Podemos party that backed him, as politically motivated – an allegation denied by the government.

Mondlane went into hiding before the results were released, saying officers had encircled his home and he had been tear-gassed at protests called after the murders.

Demonstrations also erupted after the results were announced on Thursday last week.

At least 10 people are known to have been shot dead by security forces during post-election protests, according to a report from Order of Doctors, an independent medics’ association, while dozens suffered non-fatal gunshot wounds.

Police chief Bernardino Rafael has denied Mondlane’s accusations and said his officers had been called to intervene in 58 protests, “of which 38 were violent, very violent”.

Internet watchdog NetBlocks said restrictions to WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram began on Thursday, while there had been disruption to mobile data soon after election day on 9 October.

For the past day WhatsApp, for example, gets cut off for hours at a time – and although a connection can be made intermittently, making calls on the app has not been possible for the whole of Friday.

The government has not commented on claims it has deliberately stifled access to the internet to hamper protesters’ ability to co-ordinate.

President-elect Chapo will be taking over from Filipe Nyusi, who is stepping down after serving the two-term limit.

Mozambique has only ever been governed by one party – Frelimo – which has ruled since independence from Portugal.

The official election results gave Chapo 71% of the vote. Mondlane was runner-up with 20%, and Ossufo Momade, of former rebel group Renamo, came third with 6%.

But that result is being challenged at the Constitutional Court by Podemos.

International election observers have also said the elections were flawed, pointing to doctored numbers and other irregularities during the counting process.

The electoral commission has now been ordered by the Constitutional Court to hand over all the records and tally sheets.

On Thursday, Podemos leader Albino Forquilha met the police chief for talks, calling for “institutions that administer justice” to “carry out work that honours the vote the Mozambican people entrusted to political parties”.

As of Friday, relative calm has returned to the streets of the capital, Maputo, and other cities after days of demonstrations.

Some markets, shops and companies that were forced to close their doors have now reopened, but complain of having very few customers.

The impact on business has been “worse than Covid-19”, said the president of the National Trade Association CTA, coming “at a time when the country is struggling with the issue of unemployment, mostly affecting the youth”.

Mozambicans have largely opted to stay home instead of going to work as normal, because of safety fears and scarce public transport.

Beyond the capital, schools are still running but with fewer pupils attending class.

Mondlane is now urging Mozambican industry to back what he calls a week-long “paralysis”, saying on Facebook Live that “seven days without work are better than five years of misery”.

Four young suspects – who were arrested during major anti-government protests in August – collapsed on the courtroom floor, writhing in pain, before being removed to get medical help.

Human rights activists have criticised the justice system, as at least one-third of those brought in for the initial court hearing were boys aged between 14 and 18.

All 76 defendants pleaded not guilty to charges of treason, felony and inciting mutiny.

Activists said the defendants had been in custody since August, when protests over a deepening cost-of-living crisis ignited across Nigeria.

The demonstrations turned violent in some places as protesters clashed with security forces. At least seven people died, according to police, though rights groups have put the death toll at 23.

There were also nearly 700 arrests.

In response to Friday’s dramatic court hearing, which took place in the capital, Abuja, rights group Amnesty International said: “Putting minors through these horrifying detentions for participating in protests against hunger and corruption is – so far – one of the deadliest attempts to suppress freedom of assembly.”

A Nigerian rights organisation, named Enough is Enough, called the situation “institutional child abuse”.

“These teenagers have been remanded in prison for saying they were hungry. Their place is in school, not prison. Release them now,” the organisation demanded.

Some of those who appeared in court on Friday were charged with flying Russian flags during the protests.

Video footage of the demonstrations showed a small number of protesters waving Russian flags and calling on Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for help.

Two months ago, 10 other suspects appeared in court, charged with treason and other serious offences.

They were accused of working with a British citizen “to destabilise Nigeria by calling on the military to take over government from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, according to the charge sheet.

All of the suspects in this case pleaded not guilty.

In total, 114 of those arrested during the protests were charged with treason. A judge has granted each of the defendants a 10m naira ($6,000; £4,700) bail.

Nigeria is experiencing its worst economic crisis in a generation – annual inflation stands at more than 30% and food prices have rocketed.

Voters in Botswana have rejected the country’s long-serving governing party in a result that marks a political earthquake in the diamond-rich southern African nation.

The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) – in power since independence in 1966 – has won only four parliamentary seats as of Friday afternoon. It will be replaced by the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).

In a phone call to UDC leader Duma Boko, President Mokgweetsi Masisi conceded and congratulated his opponent.

Despite overseeing a dramatic change in Botswana, recent poor economic growth and high unemployment dented the BDP’s popularity.

“You can learn about nature, indigenous culture and our history,” says tour guide Jack Rivers.

These are three reasons why he thinks more people should take a chance on holidaying in Canada.

Mr Rivers, who is Indigenous, leads organised walks around Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, in Ontario.

It’s an unspoiled area, where dense forests line the shore of Lake Huron.

The walking tours are part of Wiikwemkoong Tourism, an indigenous tourism organisation that teaches visitors about native history and the land.

Mr Rivers says his job is “great”, but he admits that it is not for everyone. “It’s not an 8-4 job,” he says, adding that “it relies on people working weekends and being away from their family”.

Aa a result, Wikwemikong Tourism has struggled to retain staff, a problem that’s reflected across a Canada-wide tourism sector still said to be short of hundreds of thousands of workers.

These staffing shortfalls will have to be addressed if the Canadian government is successful in its new drive to increase visitor numbers to the country.

The push, led by government body Destination Canada, comes as visitor numbers to Canada have failed to recover post-Covid to their 2019 peak of 22 million people. Last year the total was 18.3 million, 17% lower.

The new strategy called A World Of Opportunity, aims to increase revenue from Canada’s tourism sector to $CA160bn ($116bn; £89bn) by 2030, up from $CA109bn last year.

It also wants to see Canada become the world’s seventh most-visited country, up from the current 13th place.

More than 3,000km (1864 miles) west of Manitoulin Island, sits the popular tourist town of Jasper in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains.

Back in July, a wildfire dubbed “the biggest in the region for a century” destroyed a third of the town’s buildings.

One of those hit was Maligne Lodge, a hotel that has been welcoming guests since the 1960s. Owner Karyn Decore says the fire was “devastating”.

“There is a lot to do, but I try and focus on what I have to do today and leave tomorrow to tomorrow,” she says.

Thankfully for Ms Decore, Maligne Lodge was insured, and she hopes to rebuild it before next summer. But how long will it take for all the other hotels in the town to reopen?

“Jasper is an international tourist destination, and the hotels here are booked 100% between 1 June and the middle of October,” she explains. “We’re already sold out for next summer. The challenge is that not as many people will be able to visit Jasper until all the hotels are rebuilt, and we don’t know how long that will take.”

Another big issue for the Canadian tourism sector is a fall in the number of Chinese visitors.

Relations between the two countries have been fraught since a diplomatic row back in 2018.

That year the chief financial officer of Chinese telecoms firm Huawei was arrested in Canada in response to a US warrant. China responded by detaining two Canadian citizens living in China on spying charges.

The trio were not released until 2021.

Some analysts say this row is the main reason why, following the Covid pandemic, China still hasn’t put Canada back on its list of approved countries for Chinese citizens to visit.

James Griffiths, Asia correspondent for the Canadian newspaper Globe & Mail, says that “the freeze in bilateral relations [between China and Canada] still hasn’t really recovered”.

He also points to the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which means that Western airlines can no longer fly through Russian airspace.

“A lot of North American and European carriers have really struggled with routes to China because they can’t fly through Russia or over Russia, and by avoiding Russia, you add about three hours to the flight time, which is more expensive for the airlines and onerous for passengers.”

Canada’s Minister of Tourism Soraya Martinez Ferrada is the politician in charge of bringing more tourists to the country. She tells the BBC that she also wants them “to stay longer” and “spend more money”.

When asked about the drop in Chinese visitors, she says Canada is focused on its largest markets, Europe and the US. Though “with Chinese visitors, we see that Canada is still of interest to them,” she adds.

Tackling climate change is another of the government’s priorities, which Ms Martinez Ferrada accepts is an “existential threat to Canadian tourism”.

Yet Canada, she says, is a big country, and “it’s not the whole country that’s on fire”. “We have to make sure travellers understand that there might be threats around climate change, but there are so many other places to discover that aren’t impacted.”

As for staffing shortages hampering firms like Wiikwemkoong Tourism, she admits: “I do think that we need to do a better job of promoting the sector and the career opportunities that we have.

“Having the skills and having the training to do that, I think it’s important.”

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This beats the early voter turnout record set in the 2020 election – when around 158 million people voted in total.

Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are in the south-west hitting the campaign trail, with just five days to go until the election.

Earlier, Elon Musk failed to attend court for a lawsuit hearing concerning his million-dollar cash giveaways in swing states – US officials suggest the giveaways may break electoral law, which Musk denies.

The race for the White House is on a knife edge – check our poll tracker here.

The Akron, Ohio native went on to say that he was motivated by his family when he decided to back the Democratic candidate.

“What are we even talking about here?? When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me,” he wrote, before adding: “VOTE KAMALA HARRIS!!!”

James joins a flurry of celebrities in recent weeks to throw their support behind Harris.

Beyoncé and Bruce Springsteen both appeared alongside the vice-president at campaign events earlier this month, while Arnold Schwarzenegger – the former Republican governor of California – endorsed her on X this week.

Elon Musk, Kanye West and Buzz Aldrin, the second man to step foot on the moon, have all endorsed Trump.