David Shadrach

Jerusalem status: Saudis condemn Trump's announcement Saudi Arabia has condemned the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, amid growing international criticism of the move. In a statement, the Gulf kingdom said President Donald Trump's announcement was "unjustified and irresponsible". But Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu hailed it as "a historic day". President Trump's move reversed decades of US policy. The fate of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest issues between Israel and the Palestinians. Eight of the 15 nations who are currently members of the United Nations Security Council have called for the body to hold an urgent meeting on the US decision by the end of the week. Why is this significant? Mr Trump's Wednesday announcement puts the US at odds with the rest of the international community's view on Jerusalem's status. The Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state, and according to the 1993 Isra...

Australian parliament approves same-sex marriage Same-sex marriage will become legal in Australia after a historic bill was passed in the House of Representatives. An overwhelming majority of MPs voted to change the Marriage Act, eight days after a similarly decisive result in the Senate. The vote set off immediate celebrations in parliament, prompting cheers, applause and even a song. The result brings an end to more than a decade of robust and often bitter debate on the issue. Many same-sex marriage supporters travelled to Canberra to witness the outcome in the lower house. The legislation sailed through parliament without amendments after Australians overwhelmingly supported the reform in a voluntary national poll. Australia's governor-general is expected to approve the bill in the coming days, marking its official passage into law. Australians decisively back gay marriage How the campaign became heated 'Too old for all the fuss' Emotional MPs hugged each other before su...

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Jerusalem: Trump recogniti on 'kiss of death' for peace An expected announcement by President Donald Trump that the US will become the first country to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital has been dubbed a "kiss of death" for the Middle East peace process by the Palestinians. But an Israeli minister urged other countries to follow the US lead. Mr Trump, expected to confirm the decision later on Wednesday, described the announcement as "long overdue". "Many presidents have said they want to do something and they didn't do it." The president's remarks came ahead of his planned speech in Washington. Mr Trump will also start the process of moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The two decisions - which would fulfil a campaign promise and appeal to Mr Trump's right-wing base - risk a heated reaction from US allies in the Muslim world and, potentially, protests and unrest. They also make it difficult for the US to be seen ...

World reacts to US Israel embassy relocation plan NEWS / EAST JERUSALEM Reactions in short Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish president: A red line for Muslims King Abdullah II, Jordan: Dangerous repercussions Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian president: Dangerous consequences Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas chief: Igniting the sparks of rage Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Egyptian president: Undermining chances of peace Saudi Arabia, statement: Grave and deep concern Syrian government: Culmination of the crime of usurping Palestine Iran's Supreme Leader: Result of US failure Sigmar Gabriel, German FM: Fuelling conflict Haider al-Abadi, Iraqi prime minister: Utmost concern Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, Arab League chief: Dangerous measure Antonio Guterres, UN chief: Opposed to unilateral action Frederica Mogherini, EU diplomatic chief: Resolve Jerusalem status through negotiations Pope Francis: Status quo should be respected Jerusalem East Jerusalem Donald Trump Israeli–Palestinian conflict Jordan US President Donald Trump...

Person of the Year: Time honours abuse 'silence breakers' Time magazine has named "the Silence Breakers" - women who spoke out against sexual abuse and harassment - as its "Person of the Year". The movement is most closely associated with the #MeToo hashtag which sprung up as allegations emerged against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. But Time says the hashtag is "part of the picture, but not all of it". "This is the fastest-moving social change we've seen in decades," editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal said. He told NBC's Today programme that it "began with individual acts of courage by hundreds of women - and some men, too - who came forward to tell their own stories". The magazine illustrates the ubiquitous nature of sexual harassment by showcasing women from markedly different backgrounds on its cover. Two celebrities are featured - Ashley Judd, one of the first to speak out against Mr Weinstein, and pop singer T...

What is next for Yemen's Houthis? NEWS / YEMEN What is next for Yemen Houthis: Saleh was 'conspiring' with Saudi- led coalition Houthis Yemen Middle East Politics SIGN UP The death of Yemen's former President Ali Abdullah Saleh in the capital at the hands of the rebel Shia-backed Houthi group, his former allies-turned- adversaries, has plunged the war-torn country into further disarray, analysts said. The Houthis, who protested against Saleh during the country's 2011 uprisings, formed a shaky alliance with the long-time leader and his General People's Congress party (GPC) against the government of the internationally recognised President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi in 2014. This unusual cooperation, termed as a "partnership of convenience" broke last week as Houthi fighters and Saleh loyalists clashed. Two days before he was killed, Saleh publicly stated his willingness to engage in talks with Saudi Arabia, who has been leading a military coalition against ...

Egyptian mummy's secrets revealed at hi- tech laboratory By Sean Coughlan BBC News education and family correspondent Scientists at a leading laboratory in the United States are using a cutting-edge form of X-ray to scan inside an Egyptian mummy that has never been unwrapped since its excavation a century ago. This is the first time that such a high intensity synchrotron X-ray will have been used on a mummy, with the aim of producing an extremely detailed three-dimensional analysis of the body and any other objects hidden below the linen bindings. This is also an unusual mummy, because not only has the body been preserved, but so too has a portrait of the child's face. This mummy, from a collection on the campus of Northwestern University in Chicago, is believed to contain the body of a five-year-old girl, who died about 1,900 years ago. 'Mummy portraits' Not only was her body mummified, her portrait was painted and placed on top of the cloths wrapped tightly around her...

Johnny Hallyday: French rock star dies at 74 France's biggest rock star Johnny Hallyday has died from lung cancer, his wife says. He was 74. The singer - real name Jean-Philippe Smet - sold about 100 million records and starred in a number of films. He was made a Chevalier of the Legion D'Honneur by President Jacques Chirac in 1997. The French have simply called him "Our Johnny". However, outside the Francophone zone, Hallyday was almost unknown. In a statement, his wife Laeticia said: "Johnny Hallyday has left us," the AFP news agency reports. "I write these words without believing them. But yet, it's true. My man is no longer with us. "He left us tonight as he lived his whole life, with courage and dignity," she said. Reacting to the news, French president Emmanuel Macron referenced the title of a recent tribute album by saying: "There is a little bit of Johnny in all of us". "Across generations, he carved himself into the...

GCC structure may have to change: Kuwait's Sheikh Sabah NEWS / KUWAIT WATCH: Qatar blockade - GCC summit unlikely to resolve crisis (2:41) READ MORE Qatar-Gulf crisis: All the latest updates GCC Kuwait Qatar Saudi Arabia Bahrain SIGN UP Tuesday's meeting took place six months after the announcement of Qatar siege [HI Mohammed/Reuters] The structure of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) might have to change in the near future to face upcoming challenges, the emir of Kuwait has said. Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al Sabah made the remarks as a summit of the GCC in Kuwait City concluded abruptly on Tuesday instead of Wednesday, with all the delegates leaving Kuwait after a closed session. "We might change the system of the GCC to have mechanisms to better face challenges," Sheikh Sabah said, referring to the GCC crisis that began on June 5. On that day, Saudi Arabia , Bahrain and the UAE - all GCC members - cut ties with Qatar after accusing it of supporting "ter...

Storm Caroline to hit Scotland followed by snow for wider UK The UK's next named storm has been forecast to hit Scotland on Thursday. Storm Caroline is expected to see winds gusting to 80mph near north-facing coasts, and reaching speeds of 60 to 70mph more widely in northern and north east Scotland. The Met Office warned that the conditions could disrupt travel. Snow and freezing temperatures have been forecast for Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales on Friday and Saturday in the wake of Caroline. The two previous named storms were Aileen in September and Brian in October. A yellow "be aware" warning is in place for Scotland between 08:00 and 23:55 on Thursday. Yellow warnings have also been issued by the Met Office for 00:05 Friday to 18:00 Saturday. The Met Office said snow showers were expected to become increasingly frequent over northern Scotland late on Thursday. Snow is expected to fall across many other parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and west...

Russian doping: IOC bans Russia from 2018 Winter Olympics 5 Dec Russia has been banned from competing at next year's Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang by the International Olympic Committee. But Russian athletes who can prove they are clean would be allowed to compete in South Korea under a neutral flag. It follows an investigation into allegations of state- sponsored doping at the 2014 Games hosted by Russia in Sochi. The IOC made the announcement on Tuesday.

Manchester Arena attack 'could have been stopped' The Manchester Arena bomber had been a "subject of interest" and opportunities to stop him were missed, a review says. Its author, David Anderson QC, said it was conceivable Salman Abedi's attack, which killed 22 people, could have been avoided had "cards fallen differently". But he said it was "unknowable" whether reopening investigations into Abedi would have thwarted his plans, adding: "MI5 assesses that it would not." Greater Manchester Police said its officers would "never stop learning". After the Manchester bombing and three terror attacks in London this year, counter-terror police and MI5 conducted internal reviews. Mr Anderson carried out an independent assessments of their findings. The reviews, which remain largely secret, are summarised in Mr Anderson's report, and show: Abedi had been a "Subject of Interest" for MI5 - meaning someone they were inves...

Trump tells Abbas he will move US embassy to Jerusalem NEWS / PALESTINE WATCH: What message is Trump sending with plan to relocate embassy? Israeli–Palestinian conflict Palestine Donald Trump Middle East SIGN UP Abbas gave Trump warning of "dangerous consequences" of such a move [File: Getty Images] US President Donald Trump has told Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas that he intends to relocate the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, according to Palestinian officials. Wafa, the official news agency of the Palestinian Authority (PA), reported on Tuesday that Trump called Abbas to inform him of his "intention". "President Abbas warned of the dangerous consequences such a decision would have to the peace process and to the peace, security and stability of the region and of the world," Nabil Abu Rudeina, the Palestinian president's spokesperson, said. No further details were given about when Trump plans to move the embassy. Shortly after, a s...

GCC summit cut short by a day amid diplomatic rift NEWS / KUWAIT GCC Kuwait Middle East Qata The GCC summit in Kuwait is among the most significant official encounters since a Saudi-led group of countries imposed a blockade on Qatar [Ahmed Hagagy/Reuters] A key regional summit of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC ) countries has been cut short and will conclude on Tuesday instead of Wednesday, with all the delegates leaving Kuwait after a closed session. The Kuwait summit takes place exactly six months after three of the member states severed diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar . The move comes as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that it had formed a new economic and military partnership with Saudi Arabia separate from the GCC. It is clear now that Emiratis and Saudis have no intention of supporting stability in the GCC, no intention of supporting Kuwait's mediation efforts, and no intention to end the crisis one or other. MAJED AL-ANSARI, QATAR UNIVERSITY ...

Jerusalem: Turkey warns Trump against crossing 'red line' Turkey's president has warned it could sever ties with Israel if the US recognises Jerusalem as its capital. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said such a move would cross a "red line" for Muslims. A growing number of countries have urged Donald Trump not to make his anticipated announcement. Reports say the president will dramatically shift the US position on the status of Jerusalem this week. Its fate is one of the thorniest issues between Israel and the Palestinians. "Mr Trump! Jerusalem is a red line for Muslims," Mr Erdogan said in a televised speech on Tuesday. "We could go as far as cutting diplomatic ties with Israel over the issue." The alternatives to a two-state solution Why settlement issue is so difficult Donald Trump missed a deadline on Monday to sign a waiver which would postpone moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a campaign pledge he has delayed fulfilling. If Washingt...

Jerusalem: New warnings over US shift on city status French President Emmanuel Macron has told Donald Trump he is "concerned" the US leader could unilaterally recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Any decision on the contested city's status must be "within the framework of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians", Mr Macron said. Earlier, similar warnings came from a number of Arab and Muslim nations. Reports say the US president will recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital this week. Both Israelis and Palestinians claim the city as their capital. The White House said Mr Trump would miss Monday's deadline to sign a waiver delaying the relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. But White House spokesman Hogan Gidley stressed that "the president has been clear on this issue from the get-go: It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when". Every president, including Mr Trump, has signed the waiver every six mont...

FA Cup third-round draw: Liverpool v Everton, Man Utd v Derby, Forest v Arsenal 4 Dec Liverpool meet Everton in the Premier League on Sunday, meaning Toffees manager Sam Allardyce will experience two Merseyside derbies in his first six weeks in the job Liverpool will face Everton in the FA Cup third round, while holders Arsenal will travel to Nottingham Forest. Premier League leaders Manchester City have a home tie against Burnley, Manchester United host Derby and Chelsea are away at Norwich. Slough Town, the lowest-ranked side in the draw, will travel to Doncaster if they beat Rochdale on Monday. Fellow seventh-tier side Hereford will face Leicester if they overcome Fleetwood in a replay. Four non-league sides were involved in the draw, though none are guaranteed a place in the third round. National League side AFC Fylde will head to Premier League Bournemouth if they see off Wigan in a replay. Woking, who also play in the fifth tier, know victory over Peterborough in their replay wil...

Trump shrinks Utah monuments angering environmentalists President Donald Trump has dramatically scaled back two public outdoor parks, or national monuments, in Utah. He declared an 85% cut to the state's 1.3m acre Bears Ears National Monument and a 50% cut to its 1.9m acre Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The policy is likely to provoke lawsuits from Native American tribes and environmental groups. But it will be welcomed by ranchers and business interests who view such monuments as federal land grabs. The fight for Utah's national monuments Speaking in the capitol building in Salt Lake City, Mr Trump said: "Some people think the natural resources of Utah should be controlled by a small handful of very distant bureaucrats located in Washington. "And guess what, they're wrong." He said former presidents had "severely abused" the law by declaring swathes of territory off limits to drilling, mining, grazing, road traffic and other activitie...