BBC News

In the 2,000th episode of Newscast, Adam and Chris return for second helpings as UK shadow cabinet minister Robert Jenrick’s defection to Reform is confirmed.

Following his dramatic sacking via social media this morning, Jenrick appeared on stage with Reform leader Nigel Farage this afternoon to announce that he was joining the party.

Farage told reporters that although they had been negotiating the possibility of Jenrick joining Reform - the deal wasn’t done until Kemi Badenoch made her move this morning.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news

#BBCNews

A year-long investigation by the BBC Afghan Service has found that two groups are competing for power within the Taliban leadership. One is aligned to the supreme leader and his hardline policies. The other is said to favour more international engagement and giving women wider access to education.

In a leaked clip, the Taliban's supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada can be heard giving a speech saying that internal disagreements could eventually bring them all down. Zabiullah Mujahid, a senior Taliban government spokesman, has categorically denied any split.

Zia Shahreyar, a forensic reporter for the BBC Afghan Service, has been following the story.

Subscribe to the Global News Podcast wherever you get your podcasts or find more episodes here: https://bbc.in/GlobalNewsPodcast

Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news

#BBCNews

Former Conservative shadow minister Robert Jenrick has announced he is joining Reform UK, hours after he was sacked by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch for plotting to defect to Nigel Farage's party.

Jenrick was unveiled at a press conference by Farage, who thanked Badenoch for expelling her former Tory leadership rival and helping "realign the centre-right of British politics".

In a scathing tirade against his old party and former colleagues, Jenrick said the Conservative Party "broke" the country and had "betrayed its voters".

Badenoch said it was a "good day" for the Conservatives and Jenrick was "no longer my problem, he is now Nigel Farage's problem".

Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news

#RobertJenrick #ReformUK #BBCNews

For most of the years since World War 2, many global powers said they adhered to a rules-based international order. Since Donald Trump returned to the White House that idea is falling away. But did it ever exist in reality? And what’s the alternative now?

The BBC’s International Editor Jeremy Bowen wraps up our week of special coverage.

New episodes of The Global Story are released daily. If you’re in the UK, listen on BBC Sounds. If you live outside the UK, listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

https://link.mgln.ai/the-global-story...

Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news

UK Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch has sensationally sacked shadow minister Robert Jenrick claiming he was secretly plotting to defect to Reform UK in a way that was “as damaging as possible”.

Reform has refused to confirm if Jenrick was planning to defect, although party leader Nigel Farage has said he ‘might’ buy him a sympathy pint. While Labour and the Lib Dems have been quick off the mark to take advantage of the political unrest by creating memes.

Adam and Laura are joined from Westminster by BBC chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman and BBC political correspondent Alex Forsyth to break down what we know.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news

#BBCNews #reformuk #ukpolitics

Elon Musk's AI tool Grok will no longer be able to edit photos of real people to show them in revealing clothing in jurisdictions where it is illegal, after widespread concern over sexualised AI deepfakes.

"We have implemented technological measures to prevent the Grok account from allowing the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing," reads an announcement on X.

It also reiterated that only paid users will be able to edit images using Grok on its platform.

This will add an extra layer of protection by helping to ensure that those who try and abuse Grok to violate the law or X's policies are held accountable, according to the statement.

A spokesperson for UK regulator Ofcom said it was a "welcome development" - but added its investigation into whether the platform had broken UK laws "remains ongoing".

X's change was announced hours after California's top prosecutor said the state was probing the spread of sexualised AI deepfakes, including of children, generated by the AI model.

Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news

#Grok #AI #ElonMusk #BBCNews

Donald Trump has said he has been told "the killing in Iran has stopped", but the US president has not ruled out military action against the country over its violent crackdown on anti-government protesters.

According to human rights groups, more than 2,400 people have been killed in the recent crackdown by the Iranian authorities in response to nationwide protests.

Trump had earlier threatened "very strong action" against Iran if the government executed protesters, after reports emerged that a 26-year-old man, who had been arrested during the height of the demonstrations, had been sentenced to death.

Trump's comments on Wednesday came after the US and UK both reduced the number of personnel at the Al-Udeid air base in Qatar.

Officials told CBS, the BBC's US partner, that a partial American withdrawal was a "precautionary measure".

Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news

#Iran #DonaldTrump #BBCNews

Four astronauts who left the International Space Station a month early have returned to Earth, splashing down off the coast of California.

Crew 11 disembarked the Dragon Endeavour at about 01:30 local time (09:30 GMT) after an 11 hour journey back to Earth.

The astronauts, Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Japan's Kimiya Yui and cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, arrived on the ISS on 1 August expecting to complete a standard six and a half month stay.

But last week, a scheduled spacewalk by Fincke and Cardman was called off at the last minute.

Hours later, Nasa revealed a crew member had become ill.

Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news

#Nasa #Astronauts #BBCNews

Donald Trump has again said the US needs Greenland and Denmark cannot be relied on to protect the island, hours after talks in Washington ended without agreement.

Denmark's foreign minister said there was a "fundamental disagreement" with the United States over the issue. Lars Lokke Rasmussen said the meeting with Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House had been "frank but constructive". But he said President Trump’s stated plan to “conquer” Greenland was "totally unacceptable".

All sides at the meeting between the US, Denmark and Greenland did agree to set-up a high-level working group to discuss the future of the autonomous Danish territory. Rasmussen said there were "red lines" the US could not cross, and the working group would meet in the coming weeks in an effort to find a compromise. He added that Denmark and Greenland were open to the possibility of the US opening more military bases on the island.

Following the meeting, Denmark vowed to send armed forces to the island and its European allies offered support. Sweden pledged to send armed forces to Greenland at Denmark's request. France's foreign minister said the country planned to open a consulate on the island. Germany said it would send a "reconnaissance team" to Greenland to "explore the general conditions for possible military contributions, in order to support Denmark in ensuring security in the region".

Clive Myrie presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Katya Adler.

Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news

#BBCNews

US envoy Steve Witkoff has announced the start of phase two of President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza, with a technocratic Palestinian government established in the territory.

Under phase one, Hamas and Israel agreed a ceasefire in October, as well as a hostage-prisoner exchange, a partial Israeli withdrawal, and an aid surge.

Witkoff said the second phase would also see the reconstruction and full demilitarisation of Gaza, including the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian groups.

"The US expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations," he warned, noting these include the return of the body of the last dead Israeli hostage.

Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news

#Gaza #Israel #BBCNews