Plus: Rare "blood moon" seen around the world ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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| Hello. As the eighth week of Donald Trump's second term comes to an end, we wrap up his administration's most significant developments. In Syria, correspondent Feras Kilani speaks to Alawite families seeking refuge after witnessing sectarian violence. And finally, we take a look at pictures of a rare "blood moon" lunar eclipse. But first, test your news knowledge in our weekly quiz. | |
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TOP OF THE AGENDA | Trade wars, peace talks and Doge cuts |
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| | An event on the White House lawn showcased Tesla billionaire Elon Musk's cars, the target of recent protests. Credit: BBC | The Trump administration this week has engaged in a dizzying ping-pong of tariffs and counter-tariffs, as well as talks about ending the war that followed Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The cuts to federal government programs led by the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) continued to make headlines and a legal battle over the potential deportation of a US permanent resident stoked controversy. |
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| Mark Carney sworn in as Canadian prime minister | He presented his new government and discussed priorities in a speech following the ceremony. | What Carney said > |
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| Protests over child rape erupt in Bangladesh | An eight-year-old girl has died after being raped, setting off fierce protests around the country. | What to know > |
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| Alleged massacre in rebel-held Congolese city | Between 17 and 22 people were killed on 22 February within an hour of M23 rebels arriving in Goma's Kasika district. | Orla Guerin investigates > |
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| Woman who grabbed baby wombat leaves Australia | "There has never been a better time to be a baby wombat," said Australia's Home Affairs minister Tony Burke. | What happened > |
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| Families reel after sectarian attacks | | It is not known who was in this car, which was riddled with bullet holes. Credit: BBC | Syria's Alawite minority sect has been targeted in a surge of sectarian violence since last week. The BBC team found thousands of people seeking refuge in a remote Russian airbase in the country's western coastal region. Only a few were willing to talk about what happened. |
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| | Feras Kilani, BBC News Arabic |
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| | The coastal highway has been secured and cleared after an attack by those described by officials as remnants of the former regime. The attack was followed by acts of revenge against members of the Alawite sect. Our team saw dozens of bodies still scattered among the bushes and in mass graves, during a tour accompanied by fighters affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Defence.
In the countryside of Latakia, the Syrian security forces' control ends, and the boundaries of the Russian military's Hmeimim airbase begin. Thousands of Alawite families have taken refuge in this base to escape attacks by various Syrian factions. They are living in very harsh conditions. |
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PICK OF THE WEEK | UK-based spy ring did Russia's dirty work |
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| | At least four operations targeted individuals opposing Putin's regime. Credit: Metropolitan Police Handout and social media | Operational for years, a spy cell made up of six Bulgarian nationals in London tracked Russia's enemies across Europe. Its leaders plotted honeytraps, kidnappings and murders in service of the Kremlin. A recent trial has revealed the group's communications and complex internal dynamics. |
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SOMETHING DIFFERENT | Medieval blockbuster | The legendary tale of "rebel" saint Mary of Egypt was a hit in the Middle Ages. | |
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And finally... in the sky | A total lunar eclipse could be spotted just before dawn on Friday in some areas of the UK, the Americas and some Pacific islands. A stunning "blood moon" was created as the Earth's satellite moved into our planet's shadow, gradually darkening before turning a dusky red. We've gathered pictures of the event from around the world. | |
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US Politics Unspun newsletter | No noise. No agenda. Just expert analysis of the issues that matter most, from North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher. | |
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MORE BBC NEWSLETTERS | | The Essential List: The best of the BBC, handpicked by our editors, in your inbox every Tuesday and Friday. Subscribe. | | World of Business: Gain the leading edge with global insights for the boardroom and beyond, every Wednesday. Subscribe. | | Tech Decoded: Get timely, trusted tech news direct to your inbox, every Monday and Friday. Subscribe. | |
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