David Shadrach

Santa Barbra threatened as California fires rages on by Rob Reynolds an hour ago whatsapp More evacuation orders have been issued in southern California as wind gusts continue to spread huge wildfires threatening coastal towns. Firefighters are warning the Thomas Fire near Santa Barbara could become the worst in the state's history.

UN urges immediate evacuation of 137 Syrian children NEWS / SYRIA'S CIVIL WAR READ MORE Siege of Eastern Ghouta: A blot on world's conscience Middle East Syria's Civil War Humanitarian crises UN Many children in Eastern Ghouta are suffering from acute malnutrition [Linda Tom/OCHA] The UN children's agency has called for the immediate evacuation of scores of sick Syrian children from a besieged rebel-held enclave on the outskirts of Damascus amid continued violence. Five children in Eastern Ghouta have reportedly died, while 137 others require immediate medical assistance, UNICEF said in a statement on Sunday. The children, aged seven-months to 17- years, are unable to access medical help for conditions ranging from kidney failure and severe malnutrition to wounds sustained from conflict. "The situation is getting worse day-by- day," said Fran Equiza, UNICEF's Syria representative in Syria. "The health system is crumbling and schools have now been clos...

US Jerusalem move dominates Macron-Netanyahu talks NEWS / FRANCE READ MORE Tense scenes as unrest over US Jerusalem move continues OPINION The spectacle of Palestine by Yara Hawari Jerusalem France Israel Palestine Israeli–Palestinian conflict Macron (right) called on Netanyahu to negotiate with the Palestinians [Reuters] French President Emmanuel Macron has criticised a US decision to call Jerusalem the capital of Israel, while urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the construction of illegal settlements. In a joint press conference after meeting Netanyahu in the French capital, Macron urged the Israeli leader to negotiate with the Palestinians. "France remains convinced that the only solution in accordance to international law is to enable the establishment of two states living side by side in peace - and this can only happen through negotiations," he said on Sunday. "I invite the prime minister to make courageous gestures regarding the Palestinians ...

Why Jerusalem is not the capital of Israel FEATURE / EAST JERUSALEM Zena Tahhan Zena al-Tahhan is an online journalist and producer for Al Jazeera English. Farah Najjar Farah Najjar is an online producer at Al Jazeera English. Jerusalem East Jerusalem Palestine Israel Middle East SIGN UP US President Donald Trump called Jerusalem the capital of Israel on December 6 and began the process of moving his country's embassy to the city. The move sparked global condemnation from world leaders. Israel occupied East Jerusalem at the end of the 1967 War with Syria, Egypt and Jordan ; the western half of the holy city had been captured in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war . Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem effectively put the entire city under de facto Israeli control. Israeli jurisdiction and ownership of Jerusalem, however, is not recognised by the international community, including the United States . The status of Jerusalem remains one of the main sticking points in efforts to resolve th...

UN, North Korea agree security situation 'most tense' NEWS / NUCLEAR WEAPONS WATCH: How developed is North Korea's nuclear programme? North Korea Nuclear weapons UN Asia Pacific In a rare show of mutual consent, the United Nations and North Korea have both agreed that the current security situation in the Korean Peninsula is "the most tense and dangerous" in the world today. UN's Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman wrapped up his four-day trip to North Korea, where he held a series of meetings with Pyongyang's officials, including Foreign Minister Ri Yong- Ho, on Friday. The high-profile visit came amid increasing tensions in the region after North Korea conducted its latest ballistic missile test at the end of last month. "They exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula and agreed that the current situation was the most tense and dangerous peace and security issue in the world today," UN Secretary-General spokesman Stepha...

How will US Jerusalem move affect Israel's far right? NEWS / ISRAEL WATCH: 'Dangerous and unacceptable' - Arab League condemns US move WATCH: Trump's Jerusalem move roundly condemned at UN Jerusalem Israel United States Middle East Trump's seal of approval for Israel's takeover of Jerusalem is likely to intensify the city's religious symbolism for Jews - and the importance of Israeli sovereignty over al-Aqsa Mosque compound [Ronny Hartmann/Photothek via Getty Images] Jerusalem - Trump's recognition this week of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, overturning seven decades of US policy in the region and effectively ending hopes of a two-state solution, has provoked dire warnings. But the focus by commentators on Palestinian reactions, rather than the effect on the Israeli public and leadership, might have underestimated the longer-term fallout from Trump's move, analysts say. Predictions have included the threat of renewed violence - even an uprising ...

2017 Nobel Peace Prize: What is ICAN? NEWS / EUROPE INSIDE STORY: Will the US pull out of the Iran nuclear deal? (25:30) Nuclear weapons Europe SIGN UP Beatrice Fihn of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) at the award ceremony [Audun Braastad/EPA] The Geneva-based International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN ) has received the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Sunday. ICAN has been at the forefront of pushing for an end to the use of nuclear weapons through the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which has 50 signatories including Brazil, South Africa and Vietnam to date. The Nobel committee cited ICAN's efforts "for its work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, and for its groundbreaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition on such weapons", in an announcement in Oslo, Nowary on October 6. ICAN Executive Director Beatrice Fihn told reporters tha...

Bahraini delegation visits Israel NEWS / ISRAEL Bahrain Israel Middle East Members of ''This is Bahrain'' group will stay in Israel for four days [Screen Grab: Hadashot TV] Amid ongoing controversy over the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem , a Bahraini delegation has arrived in Israel to "send a message of peace", according to media reports. A report in the Times of Israel on Sunday said the visit indicated a warming of ties between the two countries, which do not maintain diplomatic relations. Comprising two dozen members of a group called This Is Bahrain, the delegation will stay in Israel for four days to "send a message of religious tolerance and coexistence", according to the Times. Bahraini officials have previously suggested that stronger ties between Israel and Bahrain could benefit both countries in confronting their mutual rival, Iran . Documents released by WikiLeaks in 2011 highlighted Bahrain's contacts with Israel ...

Singer Chris Rea collapses on stage Singer Chris Rea is said to be in a stable condition after collapsing during a performance. Fans posted on Twitter that they saw the 66-year- old "fall backwards" on stage at the New Theatre Oxford. South Central Ambulance Service said it was called at 21:30 GMT to an incident at the venue and that one patient had been taken to hospital. Rea, who is known for his hits "Driving Home for Christmas" and "Road to Hell", is on tour to promote his new album. Darren Fewins, who was in the audience, said the musician from Middlesbrough had collapsed halfway through a song. He told the Press Association that Rea was "playing the best I have ever seen" before his fall. Staff at the theatre tweeted that they "appreciate everyone's patience" and will update people with news when they have it. Rea suffered a stroke in 2016, but recovered to launch an album in September and embark on his tour around Europe from...

Abbas snubs US Vice President Pence over Jerusalem move NEWS / PALESTINE OPINION Trump on Jerusalem: a quintessential Netanyahu by Marwan Bishara READ MORE Tense scenes as unrest over US Jerusalem move continues Israeli–Palestinian conflict Palestine United States Israel Middle East Pence's Middle East visit involves stops in Egypt, Israel and the occupied West Bank [Aaron P Bernstein/Reuters] Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not meet US Vice President Mike Pence during the latter's visit to the region this month, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki has said. The snub over the US' recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital came after Egypt's Coptic Church on Saturday also cancelled an upcoming meeting with Pence in protest against Washington's move on Jerusalem. The policy change will also see the US embassy to Israel move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a decision that has sparked anger and protests throughout the occupied Palestinian territories, an...

Palestinians clash with police at US Embassy in Lebanon NEWS / ISRAELI–PALESTINIAN CONFLICT READ MORE Tense scenes as unrest over US Jerusalem move continues READ MORE Arab League condemns US Jerusalem move Lebanon Israeli–Palestinian conflict Middle East United States Palestine Security forces responded by firing tear gas canisters and using water canon to disperse the protesters [Wael Hamzeh/EPA] Lebanese security forces fired tear gas at protesters near the US Embassy in Lebanon during a demonstration against President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Protesters threw stones at security forces who had barricaded the main road leading to the US Embassy in the Awkar area, north of Beirut, on Sunday. Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr, reporting from Awkar, said several hundred Palestinians clashed with the security forces. "There is a lot of anger here. What they're chanting is "Palestine forgive us, they closed the door on us"...