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João da Silva Business reporter CCTV A meeting between Chinese president Xi Jinping and some of the country’s foremost business leaders this week has fuelled excitement and speculation, after Alibaba founder Jack Ma was pictured at the event. The charismatic and colourful Mr Ma, who was one of China’s most prominent businessmen, had withdrawn from…

Lucy Manning Special Correspondent LIFSCHITZ FAMILY Sharone with her father Oded Lifschitz, whose body was returned from Gaza on Thursday From her house in east London, British-Israeli Sharone Lifschitz never gave up hope that her 84-year-old father Oded would return from the horror of Hamas captivity, after more than 500 days. He was a man…

Getty Images A political tidal wave is crashing across Germany. That’s what the hard-right nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party firmly believes. It is labelled “radical”, “racist” and “anti-democratic” by opponents. Germany’s domestic intelligence service says the party is “anti-constitutional”. But if polls are right, the AfD will become Germany’s second largest political force after…

BBC Eye Investigations BBC World Service BBC An Indian pharmaceutical company is manufacturing unlicensed, highly addictive opioids and exporting them illegally to West Africa where they are driving a major public health crisis in countries including Ghana, Nigeria, and Cote D’Ivoire, a BBC Eye investigation has revealed. Aveo Pharmaceuticals, based in Mumbai, makes a range…

Steven McIntosh Entertainment reporter Getty Images The closing credits of 2021’s No Time To Die, the most recent film in the 007 series, ended with a familiar message: “James Bond will return.” But for the last few years, fans haven’t been so sure. A year after the release of Daniel Craig’s final film in the…

Ros Atkins on… the fight for Ukraine’s critical minerals Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky needs to return to the negotiating table and strike a deal on US access to Ukraine’s critical minerals, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz has said. On Wednesday, Zelensky rejected US demands for a share of its rare earth minerals –…

Donald Trump thinks Ukraine owes the US a substantial slice of its vast mineral resources in exchange for its military support during Kyiv’s war with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected Trump’s demands. The BBC’s Analysis Editor Ros Atkins looks at what the US President wants – and whether he’s likely to get it….

Police in Israel are investigating reports of explosions involving three buses in Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv. Police described the incident as a “suspected terror attack”, adding that “large police forces are at the scenes, searching for suspects”. Footage on social media shows at least one bus on fire in a parking lot, with…

US Senator Mitch McConnell has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2026 following a 40-year career in Congress. McConnell, 83, was the longest-serving party leader in Senate history, but stepped down from Republican leadership while facing health issues. Despite supporting much of Donald Trump’s agenda during his first administration, McConnell has become a…

EPA South Africa’s relationship with the US has become increasingly strained South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has told G20 foreign ministers that a commitment to multilateralism and international law is vital to solving global crises. His comments follow growing concern about the Trump administration’s “America First” policy, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio boycotting…