Plus: Musk-led group in surprise bid for ChatGPT maker ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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| Hello. A meeting between Jordan's King Abdullah and US President Donald Trump comes at a critical moment for the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Middle East correspondent Lucy Williamson reports on why the US ally is preparing for a showdown. Also, a BBC Eye investigation looks into the final message of a Saudi trans woman who took her own life after returning home from the US. And we examine a surprise bid for ChatGPT maker OpenAI and a moth-infested London mansion. | |
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TOP OF THE AGENDA | Jordan-US talks to focus on Gaza's future |
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| | Thousands of people protested Trump's plans at a demonstration in Jordan's capital Amman on 7 February. Credit: Reuters | The future of the Gaza ceasefire deal looks uncertain after Hamas on Monday suspended further releases of Israeli hostages. The move is expected to be a key focus of discussions between Jordan's King Abdullah and President Trump at the White House later on Tuesday. Jordan, a key US ally in the Middle East, is one of the regional powers that has opposed Trump's plans for US ownership of Gaza and resettlement of the two million Palestinians living there to neighbouring countries - with no right of return. Jordan is braced for a growing confrontation with the new US president, Lucy Williamson finds. The UN has warned that any forced displacement of civilians from occupied territory is strictly prohibited under international law and "tantamount to ethnic cleansing". |
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| | | | Analysis: Diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams explains why the Gaza ceasefire is under growing strain. A woman's return: A 23-year-old Palestinian described her long journey home to northern Gaza and her joy at being reunited with her fiancé despite the widespread destruction. Take a look. Get the latest: Trump has instructed Hamas to release all Israeli hostages by midday on Saturday, or face the end of the ceasefire agreement. Follow for live news and reaction. | |
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| OpenAI boss rebuffs Musk-led bid | A consortium of investors led by Elon Musk offered $97.4bn (£78.5bn) to take over the maker of ChatGPT. | What to know > |
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| Teacher fatally stabs eight-year-old in South Korea | The female teacher, who is in her 40s, confessed to stabbing the student in the central city of Daejeon, police said. | What happened > |
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| Japan ministry worker on night out loses files | A finance ministry employee lost documents containing personal data of 187 drug smuggling suspects, local media say. | Read more > |
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| Austrian police search for 'shaman fraudster' suspect | Police said they discovered cash, jewellery and gold worth over €10m (£8.3 million) at the woman's house. | Find out more > |
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| Couple can return moth-infested London mansion | A judge ruled that the vendor of the £32.5m ($40.2m) property failed to tell the buyers about the moth problem during enquiries. | Get the details > |
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BEYOND THE HEADLINES | Unpacking Saudi trans student's final note |
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| | | Being transgender in Saudi Arabia is not tolerated by society or government. Credit: X | Before Eden Knight took her own life in March 2023, the trans woman wrote to her thousands of social media followers about the man who, she said, misled her into returning home to Saudi Arabia. The BBC World Service found the man, who worked at the Saudi Arabian embassy in Washington DC, as being linked to the controversial returns from the US of several Saudi students. Neither the man nor the embassy have responded to Katy Ling's questions. |
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SOMETHING DIFFERENT | Dark side of tourism boom | Uzbekistan's ambitious tourism drive raises concerns among heritage experts. | |
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And finally... | For the past decade, the Federal University of Amazonas has been running projects to save the yellow-spotted river turtle from extinction. In a recent operation, some 4,900 baby turtles were released into Brazil's Igapó-Açu River. Judging by the footage, they seemed eager to make a splash. | |
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Health Fix newsletter | Trusted insights for better health and wellbeing rooted in science, every Wednesday to your inbox. | |
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MORE BBC NEWSLETTERS | | US Politics Unspun: No noise. No agenda. Just expert analysis of the issues that matter most from Anthony Zurcher, every Wednesday. Subscribe. | | World of Business: Gain the leading edge with global insights for the boardroom and beyond, every Wednesday. Subscribe. | | The Essential List: The best of the BBC, handpicked by our editors, in your inbox every Tuesday and Friday. Subscribe. | |
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