Plus: Protests in Georgia against 'Russian law', and the woman suing Tesla for defamation ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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| Hello. Israel's war cabinet spent much of Monday discussing options for a response to Iran's attack. James Landale writes that the country is weighing the need to react while avoiding an all-out war, or alienating its allies. In Georgia, a bill criticised for its similarities to laws used in Russia to crack down on dissent has incensed people inside and outside parliament. We're also hearing from a former Tesla engineer fighting to clear her name in a defamation lawsuit against Elon Musk's company. | |
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TOP OF THE AGENDA | Israel launches 'diplomatic offensive' | | Western allies have urged Israel to have restraint after Iran's attack. Credit: Israeli Government Press Office (GPO)/Handout | Israel's war cabinet has met twice in 24 hours to discuss a response to Iran's weekend barrage of 300 missiles and drones. As diplomatic correspondent James Landale writes, there is internal disagreement over the best course of action. Israel, blamed by Tehran for a deadly bombing of the Iranian embassy complex in Syria on 1 April, has vowed to retaliate. But, according to local media, the government is also seeking to avoid an all-out war and further disagreement with the US, a key ally, which has said it would not support any military action against Iran. For now, Israel's foreign minister Israel Katz has written to dozens of countries calling for sanctions on Iran's missile programme in what he called a "diplomatic offensive".
Iran v Israel: Defence correspondent Jonathan Beale analyses the two countries' military capabilities.
Decades-long enmity: Explaining the hostility between Iran and Israel.
In Gaza: The Israeli military is continuing its operations against Hamas. Get the latest on our live page. | |
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| Protest decries Georgia's 'Russian law' | | Protesters demanded the "foreign agent" law be withdrawn. Credit: Getty Images | Thousands of people demonstrated against a controversial "foreign influence" bill that, critics say, is inspired by laws to crush dissent in Russia. Inside parliament, the discussion got heated. Footage captured opposition leader Aleko Elisashvili punching a fellow MP during the debate. |
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| | Rayhan Demytrie, South Caucasus correspondent |
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| | "No to the Russian law," chanted thousands of protesters outside parliament, many waving EU and Georgian flags. A previous government attempt to introduce a "foreign agents" bill was abandoned in the face of mass street protests last year. This month, the government announced it would reintroduce the legislation, renaming it a bill on the "transparency of foreign influence". Outside parliament, 23-year-old Marisha held a long stick with the Georgian flag hoisted on top. She said: "We are fighting for our freedom." |
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BEYOND THE HEADLINES | Taking on Tesla to clear her name |
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| | | Ms Balan is currently in remission from breast cancer, but worries she might not live to see the end of her case. Credit: Cristina Balan | Cristina Balan won a wrongful dismissal case against Tesla in 2014, but billionaire Elon Musk's company subsequently accused her of embezzlement in the press. So she sued for defamation to prove her innocence to her son. |
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SOMETHING DIFFERENT | Titanic survivor | From the archives: This first-person testimony remains a powerful account. | |
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And finally... | The habitats of hazel dormice in the Forest of Dean, one of England's most ancient woods, had become disconnected following the removal of diseased ash trees. Now, two 20m (65ft) mini rope bridges are helping the tiny rodents travel safely from treetop to treetop. Take a look. | |
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In History newsletter | The past comes to life through the BBC's unique audio, video and written archive, each Thursday. | |
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MORE BBC NEWSLETTERS | | US Election Unspun: Cut through the noise in the race for the White House, every Wednesday. Subscribe. | | Future Earth: Essential global climate news and hopeful developments, every Tuesday. Subscribe. | | Football Extra: Latest news, insights and gossip from the Premier League, weekdays. Subscribe. | |
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