Plus: Watch US convict scale a prison wall, and fines for fashion crimes in China
| | | | | | | Washington has U-turned and agreed to provide depleted uranium shells to Ukraine. We explain why they're so dangerous - and controversial. Also today, check out the cache of ancient swords found by researchers in a Dead Sea cave, and scroll to the bottom for a heart-warming tale of a blind boy in war-torn Yemen who has helped rebuild his school. |
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| | | | Top of the agenda | | US shells among further $1bn for Ukraine | | | | The shells used by Abrams tanks can pierce conventional armour. Credit: Getty Images |
| | With 31 M1 Abrams tanks already bound for Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken used a visit to Kyiv to announce a supply of shells to equip them – as part of another $1bn (£800m) in military and humanitarian aid. The shells can bore through armour, and ignite after contact. But they are controversial, being made from depleted uranium - a waste product in the production of nuclear fuel. And Russia has condemned the move. President Vladimir Putin described the weapons as having a “nuclear component”, when the UK sent similar shells for use in its Challenger 2 tanks, earlier this year. However, depleted uranium cannot generate a nuclear reaction and the International Atomic Energy Agency says it’s "considerably less radioactive than natural uranium". | | | | |
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| | | | | | World headlines | | • | Prison breaks: Police in the UK are hunting a terror suspect who escaped prison by clinging to the underside of a food delivery van. Follow the story live. Meanwhile, in the US, Pennsylvania police have released footage of a Brazilian murderer escaping a prison by scaling the walls. Watch the video. | | • | Fashion crimes: People in China could soon be locked up for 15 days and fined up to 5,000 yuan ($680; £550) for wearing clothing and symbols that "undermine the spirit or hurt the feelings of the Chinese nation". The draft law has legal analysts puzzled. | | • | Pop predator: The boss of Japan's biggest pop talent agency has resigned after finally admitting the sexual abuse committed by its late founder, her uncle, Johnny Kitagawa. Investigators last week found Mr Kitagawa - the subject of a hard-hitting BBC investigation - had "extensively" abused young idols over a six-decade career. | | • | Middle East: Saudi Arabia is demanding security guarantees from the US as part of a deal that would see it formally recognise Israel for the first time. But, as Tom Bateman explains from Jerusalem, to accept the deal, the Palestinian Authority is seeking $200m in Saudi aid and more control of land in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. | | • | Ancient swords: Israeli researchers discovered a cache of four Roman swords in a cave overlooking the Dead Sea. It’s thought the 1,900-year-old weapons - three in wooden scabbards - were hidden by Judean rebels. Read the remarkable tale of their discovery. |
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| | | | AT THE SCENE | Delhi, India | | Putting on a show at G20 'carnival' | | India is preparing to host leaders of the world’s major economies at the G20 summit - here's what's on the agenda. And the government is keen to send the message India has arrived on the world stage. | | | | Delhi has been spruced up. Sculpted fountains, flower pots and the Indian flag have been installed around the city. Dozens of historical monuments have been lit up with the summit logo. The city's famed gardens have received a facelift, their foliage freshly pruned, and flags of participating nations put up. But there is another side to the beautification drive. Temporary cloth walls have been erected in front of many slums to hide them from view and, in some cases, residents have been relocated. Beggars have been evicted from the heart of the city. |
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| | Beyond the headlines | | Vancouver is letting go of green lawns | | | | Brown stretches of unkempt grass are now common sights in tourist areas. Credit: Gerald Narciso |
| | It's known for its vibrant natural beauty: snow-capped mountains, pristine beaches and manicured parks, specifically the renowned Stanley Park, which is billed as a "magnificent green oasis". But as Vancouver-based writer Gerald Narciso reports, his city has been turning brown. | | | | |
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| | | | Something different | | Your laptop is a gold mine | | The UK's Royal Mint has an ingenious way to extract precious metals from circuit boards. | | |
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| | | | And finally... | | Two years ago, the BBC filmed charismatic nine-year-old blind boy Ahmed, leading an assembly at a bombed-out primary school in Yemen. The story struck a nerve with viewers, with donors responding to provide new facilities. Our senior international correspondent Orla Guerin has returned to the city of Taiz, to get Ahmed's verdict. Watching to the end is a must, to hear about his ambitions in life. |
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– Andy |
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