Plus: US grapples with Helene aftermath and rise in vaping among young people ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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| Hello. One year on from the 7 October Hamas attacks, we bring you new accounts showing how an Israeli military base fell to Hamas gunmen. Our reporting by Alice Cuddy raises questions about the military's readiness ahead of the assault. We also have news from the US, where Brandon Drenon and Ana Faguy report on the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. And read on to find out how a stale cookie sparked a social media storm. | |
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TOP OF THE AGENDA | Tough questions for Israeli military | | Questions have hung over how the military responded to the 7 October attacks. Credit: BBC | The Israeli military is facing questions over how Hamas was able to easily overrun an army base during the 7 October attacks last year, Alice Cuddy reports from Jerusalem. More than 60 Israeli soldiers are reported to have been killed – with others taken hostage – after the Nahal Oz base was caught off guard. The BBC has heard accounts given to families from a military inquiry, according to which many soldiers at the base were unarmed and official protocols had them standing back when under attack. The military also appears to have failed to act on suspicious activity witnessed by soldiers in the days ahead of the attacks. Read our investigation here.
In Lebanon: Israeli bombing caused large explosions in Beirut, including one close to the international airport during a further night of air strikes targeting Hezbollah. David Gritten has more.
Video: Footage appears to show the moment explosions were seen near Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Thursday night.
Interview: Our international correspondent Jeremy Bowen spoke to the most senior leader of Hamas outside Gaza about the 7 October attacks in a wide-ranging interview in Doha. | |
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WORLD HEADLINES | | Melania Trump: In a short clip promoting her new book, the former first lady expressed support for abortion rights - putting her at odds with her husband, ex-President Donald Trump. | | Garth Brooks: A former hairstylist and make-up artist for the country music legend has accused him of rape, sexual assault and battery in a lawsuit filed in California state court. | | Haiti violence: At least 20 people have been killed after an armed gang attacked a small town in the Caribbean country. | Mr Prada: The TikTok star, who boasts 4.3 million followers, has been charged with second degree murder in the death of a 69-year-old Louisiana therapist. | | Tiger deaths: Some 47 tigers have died in zoos in south Vietnam after a bird flu outbreak, according to state media. Three lions and a panther were also reported to have died of the virus since August. | |
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| Hurricane Helene havoc | | Hurricane Helene caused extensive damage along the US east coast. Credit: Getty Images | The death toll from Hurricane Helene has surpassed 200 – with more than half the deaths in North Carolina – making it the deadliest storm since 1,800 people were killed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Hundreds of people across the US south-east are still missing and 780,000 homes are without power, Brandon Drenon and Ana Faguy report, as President Joe Biden continues a tour of the region. |
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| | Brandon Drenon & Ana Faguy, BBC News |
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| | President Biden arrived in Georgia and Florida on Thursday to survey the enormous damage caused by Helene. The president has approved federal disaster assistance for survivors in five states, telling residents in Ray City, Georgia that his administration would "have your back". But the scale of the devastation is enormous, with some locals telling the BBC that they feel like they survived "the apocalypse". |
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BEYOND THE HEADLINES | Sharp rise in vaping among non-smokers |
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| | | Many people who take up vaping have not been regular smokers. Credit: Getty Images | The number of adults in England to have started vaping despite never previously being regular smokers has reached one million, Smitha Mundasad reports. Scientists say about one out of every seven 18-24-year-olds who never regularly smoked now use e-cigarettes. Experts warned that the rise – which marks a sharp increase on previous figures – could be a cause for concern. |
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SOMETHING DIFFERENT | 'Mind bomb' pictures | How shock photos led to a global whaling ban. | |
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And finally... | Australian foodies are in uproar after forking out A$17.50 ($12;£9) for cookies supposedly from a popular US chain - only to find they were eating stale, days-old goods flown in from Hawaii. The row forced Crumbl Cookie to explain that the local vendor was not actually affiliated with the chain at all. | |
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