Plus: Belarus leader claims opponents 'choose' prison or exile ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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| Hello. Dozens of survivors of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz have returned to the site to join world leaders on the 80th anniversary of its liberation. In Colombia, the government has agreed to take deported migrants after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs. And in Belarus, BBC Russia editor Steve Rosenberg shares his extraordinary exchange with Alexander Lukashenko on whether the country’s latest election is really democratic. | |
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TOP OF THE AGENDA | Auschwitz survivors return as world marks liberation 80 years on |
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| | Survivors and relatives lay wreaths at the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Credit: Getty | Survivors have returned to the Auschwitz concentration camp to mark the 80th anniversary of its liberation. Around 50 made the trip to the site in Poland where Nazi Germany murdered more than a million people, most of them Jewish. Polish President Andrzej Duda laid a wreath at the "wall of death", where hundreds of victims were shot, and said that his country preserved the site to help ensure the "world never again lets such dramatic human catastrophe happen". It will be the only speech by a head of state during a solemn series of events. |
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| Colombia agrees to Trump migrant deportation flights | The Trump administration has ended its threat of tariffs after Bogota agreed to accept deportees without condition. | Full story > |
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| Gazans return to northern strip after hostage deal | Thousands of Palestinians have been returning home after Israel and Hamas struck a deal over a civilian hostage. | Live updates > |
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Feathers found in engine of crashed South Korea jet | Experts say they have found evidence of a bird strike on a passenger jet that crashed in December, killing 179 people. | Read more > |
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| Thousands flee as rebels capture DR Congo city | Rebels of the M23 movement say they have taken control of the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. | Get the latest > |
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BEYOND THE HEADLINES | My opponents choose jail or exile from Belarus, Lukashenko tells BBC |
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| | | Alexander Lukashenko takes questions from journalists. Credit: Getty | When the polls opened in Belarus’s presidential election on Sunday, there was never a doubt that Alexander Lukashenko – once dubbed "Europe's last dictator" – would emerge triumphant. Our Russia editor Steve Rosenberg asked him if the election could really be called democratic when his main rivals are either in prison or in exile, and was told: "Everyone has the right to choose. That is democracy. Some chose prison, others chose exile." |
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SOMETHING DIFFERENT | The mind-altering powers of yoga | A yoga workout can get your mind as well as your body working. Now there are hopes it could improve mental health. | |
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And finally... in the Netherlands | Four ancient gold artefacts were stolen from a Dutch museum in the dead of night by thieves who blasted their way in with explosives. Drents Museum in Assen was hosting an exhibition of priceless jewellery dating back 2,500 years from Dacia in modern-day Romania. The thieves got away with three spiral bracelets and the exhibit’s central piece: the strikingly decorated Helmet of Cotofenesti. | |
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