Plus: The man held with the hostages Israel mistakenly killed, and how Bollywood deals with AI.
| | | | | | | Hello. Today we're following the eruption of a volcano in south-west Iceland. It won't have the same impact as the Eyjafjallajökull 13 years ago, but experts say the region can expect decades of volcanic activity. In Bangkok, Jonathan Head speaks to a freed Thai hostage about his experience in Hamas captivity. More stories are coming from the United Nations, Bollywood and Colorado. |
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| | | | Top of the agenda | | Massive eruption lights up Iceland's sky | | | | Police have warned people to stay away from the area. Credit: Civil Protection of Iceland |
| | After weeks of intense seismic activity, a volcano has finally erupted on the Reykjanes peninsula of south-west Iceland. One eyewitness there told the BBC that half of the sky in the direction of the town was "lit up in red" from the eruption, and smoke could be seen billowing into the air. But that smoke will not bring the same level of disruption as the notorious Eyjafjallajökull eruption that brought European air travel to a halt in 2010. Even flights to and from Iceland are maintained. About 4,000 people had been evacuated from the fishing town of Grindavik, long before the eruption. "There was a lot of uncertainty. It was a difficult period of time for local people," said Dr Evgenia Ilyinskaya, an Iceland-based volcanologist. | | • | Watch live: You can catch our coverage of the eruption, including spectacular helicopter footage, on our live feed. | | • | Before the eruption: Footage showed giant cracks near Grindavik, where Icelandic authorities are now preparing for destruction. | | • | The long haul: Iceland's south-western peninsula could face decades of volcanic instability, the Icelandic Met Office (IMO) has warned. Here's why. |
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| | | | | | World headlines | | • | China earthquake: At least 126 people have been killed in north-west China in the country's deadliest earthquake in 13 years. Icy conditions are complicating the rescue operations. | | • | Gaza vote: The UN Security Council is expected to vote later on a new ceasefire motion, as calls grow for a cessation of hostilities. Follow the vote on our live page. | | • | Oil fears: The price of oil and other goods could rise as shipping firms avoid the Red Sea, following attacks on commercial ships, analysts have warned. | | • | Ukraine aid: Kyiv has warned it is already being forced to downsize some military operations because of a drop-off in foreign aid. | | • | Sisi wins third term: Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi won last week's presidential election with 89.6% of the vote, the electoral commission has announced. Leading opposition candidate Ahmed Tantawy had pulled out months ago, claiming intimidation and violence against his campaign. |
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| | AT THE SCENE | Bangkok, Thailand | | The man held with the hostages Israel mistakenly killed | | Wichian Temthong is one of 23 Thai hostages who were released by Hamas last month. Now back in Thailand, he recalls his captivity alongside the three Israeli hostages mistakenly shot dead by Israeli soldiers. | | | | Jonathan Head, South Asia correspondent |
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| | "Every day my foreign friends and I tried to support each other. We would shake hands and do fist bumps. They would cheer me up by hugging me and clapping my shoulder. But we could only communicate by using our hands." He found out that Yotam was a drummer, and Sammy loved riding his motorbike, and worked in a chicken farm. Wichian tried to teach them some Thai words. He says he was treated leniently by his captors, but that in their first weeks underground two of the Israelis were sometimes beaten with electric cables. "We were always hungry. We could only sip our water. A large bottle had to last four to five days, a smaller bottler for two days." |
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| | | | Beyond the headlines | | How AI may affect the world's biggest film industry | | | | Weapon features a de-aged version of actor Sathyaraj, generated by AI. Credit: Guhan Seniappan. |
| | This year's writers' and actors' strikes have raised the issue of artificial intelligence in Hollywood. But how is this affecting Bollywood and its 850,000-strong industry? Some filmmakers have been eager to rely on AI for scriptwriting or cutting costs on visual effects. But some stars have started to protect their likenesses. | | | | |
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| | | | Something different | | Waste not | | A designer's tips on creating stylish outfits and gifts from scraps. | | |
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| | | | And finally... | | Here's a crime story with what police in Commerce City, Colorado, describe as "an unexpected and ironic twist". Three men alleged to have carried out an armed robbery at a cheque-cashing business had their escape foiled when their getaway car was stolen. Here's how it all unfolded. |
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– Andy |
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