BBC News Briefing

25 November, 2024

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. Hezbollah has fired a barrage of rockets at Israel after Beirut came under heavy bombardment over the weekend. Hugo Bachega explains how ceasefire talks are developing against a backdrop of intensifying fighting. From Laos, Rupert Wingfield-Hayes speaks to backpackers about their concerns following the deaths of six tourists in suspected methanol poisoning. In Nigeria, BBC Africa Eye investigates a "cryptic pregnancy" scam. And finally, Dutch police discover an unusual way to smuggle drugs.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Air strikes add pressure for ceasefire deal

People check through rubble near a damaged house in Israel after rocket strike.

Authorities said several people were injured and buildings damaged in the northern and central part of Israel. Credit: Reuters

Israel's military has said around 250 rockets were fired by Hezbollah across the border from Lebanon on Sunday, with some landing near Tel Aviv, in one of the heaviest bombardments of Israel since fighting intensified in September. The attacks followed an Israeli air strike on central Beirut on Saturday, in which the Lebanese health ministry said 29 people were killed. Over the past fortnight, Israel has intensified its campaign against Hezbollah amid international efforts for a ceasefire. This, writes Middle East correspondent Hugo Bachega from Beirut, appears to be a strategy to pressure the Iran-backed group to accept a deal. The talks to end more than one year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah showed initial signs of progress, with the proposal understood to feature a 60-day ceasefire, but disagreements remain.

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Watch: Hugo reports from the scene of Saturday's attack, which destroyed an eight-storey residential building in the densely populated Basta district.

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Combat zone: The Lebanese border town of Rmeish is home to 7,000 Maronite Christians. Despite being surrounded by firing on all sides, residents are determined to stay.

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Zvi Kogan: Israel has vowed to track down the killers of a rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates. His body was recovered after his abandoned car was found an hour's drive away from his home.

WORLD HEADLINES

Trump cabinet: The US president-elect has nominated long-time ally Brooke Rollins for secretary of agriculture, completing his cabinet roster following a flurry of nominations on Friday.

Pakistan protest: Tens of thousands of people are marching towards the capital Islamabad as part of nationwide rallies calling for the release of former prime minister Imran Khan.

Romania election: A far-right, pro-Russia candidate is set for a shock victory in the first round of voting in the presidential election.

COP29 concludes: Developing countries have criticised a deal on climate finance that risked the collapse of the yearly UN climate talks in Azerbaijan. Environment correspondent Matt McGrath sums up five takeaways from the event.

Fire in Manila: Drone footage captured a blaze that engulfed a closely-built shanty community in the port area of the Philippine capital, destroying around 1,000 houses.

AT THE SCENE

Vang Vieng, Laos

Backpackers wary after suspected poisonings

Three young people walk past cafes and bars along a street in Vang Vieng at night

Late November is peak tourist season for Vang Vieng. Credit: BBC

A town transformed by tourism, the popular backpacking destination of Vang Vieng is bustling with activity. But after six people died in the past fortnight in a suspected mass methanol poisoning, tourists are reconsidering their drinks order.

Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, Asia correspondent

For the throngs of young western travellers on South East Asia’s backpacker trail, Vang Vieng has become famous for what is called “tubing.” One described it to me as a water borne pub crawl. “I think we’re going to give the tubing a miss,” two 27-year-old women from Hertfordshire in the UK tell me (they didn’t want to give their names). “The vodka shots are part of the package, but no one wants to drink the local vodka right now.”

Keep reading

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

Inside the 'miracle' pregnancy scam

A woman holds a baby in her lap - only the owmn's hands and the baby's arm are visible

The initial “treatment” usually costs hundreds of dollars. Credit: BBC

Scammers in Nigeria are posing as doctors or nurses to convince women that a "miracle fertility treatment" is guaranteed to get them pregnant. Accounts of how the “delivery” happens vary, but all are disturbing. The women end up with babies they are supposed to have given birth to – but did they? BBC Africa Eye investigates.

Read now

Aerial view of one of Tuvalu's islands, featuring white sand beaches and deep green forest

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Save as metaverse

Tuvalu is building a digital copy of itself as rising sea levels drown the island nation.

Here's how

And finally...

Police officers in the Netherlands found an unusual item among suspected narcotics during a large drug search - a garden gnome weighting nearly 2kg (4lb). Upon further inspection, it turned out it was made of the drug MDMA. Then again, the gnome itself hinted it was holding a secret.

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– Sofia

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