Plus: The small-town mayor accused of spying for China ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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| Hello. We lead today on the fallout from US officials including a journalist in a group chat about strikes in Yemen. From the Philippines we have the story of a mayor accused of being a Chinese spy. And finally, take a look at a portrait of President Trump, which he has described as "truly the worst". | |
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TOP OF THE AGENDA | Senior US officials' chat leak stuns Washington |
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| | The invite to the chat came from an account labelled White House National Security Adviser Michael Waltz. Credit: EPA | The accidental addition of a journalist to a Signal messaging chat in which US national security officials planned a military strike on Yemen "represents a stunning failure of operational security by the Trump administration", writes North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher, noting that the use of the app could violate the Espionage Act. Editor-in-chief of the Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, received an invitation to the chat on the Signal app from an account labelled White House National Security Advisor Michael Waltz. The messages also revealed divisions in the top team, with Vice President JD Vance disagreeing with the president, and attacks on European leaders and their "pathetic" actions. |
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| Pair who spied for Russia tracked down by BBC | The two women were part of a larger cell that took part in elaborate surveillance operations. | More on the investigation> |
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| Palestinian Oscar winner detained by Israeli soldiers | Activists say Hamdan Ballal's house was surrounded in a settler attack, and he was taken by soldiers while in an ambulance. | Read more > |
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| 'Record' payout for longest -serving death row inmate | Iwao Hakamata was found guilty in 1968 of killing his boss, his boss's wife and their two children, but was acquitted last year. | More on Iwao's story > |
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| Glowing sky spiral thought to be due to SpaceX launch | The cloud-like shape is believed to have been caused by leftover fuel released by the rocket in space. | Watch the video > |
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| Meghan launches shop for fans to buy her favourites | The online shop features the Duchess of Sussex's favourite clothing, accessories and jewellery recommendations. | What's for sale? > |
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BEYOND THE HEADLINES | The small-town Philippines mayor accused of being a Chinese spy |
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| | | Alice Guo's political ascent was interrupted by the discovery of a scam operation just minutes from her office. Credit: Getty Images | Elected the first female mayor of a small town north of Manila at the age of 31, Alice Guo's star was on the rise. Yet less than three years later, Guo was behind bars, facing charges of human trafficking and allegations that she was a Chinese spy. So, who really is Alice Guo? |
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SOMETHING DIFFERENT | Preserving paradise | The Cook Islands commit to sustainable tourism to benefit both locals and visitors. | |
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And finally... in Colorado | President Donald Trump doesn't like the portrait of him that was hanging in the Colorado state legislature, describing it as "purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before". See if you agree. He’s yet to give his verdict on a new portrait gifted to him by Russia’s Vladimir Putin. | |
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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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