Plus: Ukraine war at critical juncture, and child labour in perfume industry ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
|
| Hello. Israel is continuing its offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza, despite widespread international condemnation following a strike that killed dozens in a refugee camp. Our correspondents have the latest. In Ukraine, Jeremy Bowen travels through the Kharkiv region, which is under attack by Russian forces. We're also reporting on the children picking flowers that supply luxury perfume houses. Finally, a new prehistoric creature is identified in Australia. | |
|
|
|
|
TOP OF THE AGENDA | Parts of Rafah under heavy bombardment |  | At least 45 people were killed in Sunday's strike, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Credit: EPA | The neighbourhood of Tal al-Sultan in western Rafah is under heavy bombardment and artillery fire. Correspondent Rushdi Abualouf reports that thousands of Palestinians are fleeing the area, which was hit by an Israeli air strike on Sunday that killed dozens of people at a refugee camp. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the strike, which the military said had targeted a Hamas compound, as a "tragic mishap". An international outcry followed, with the UN Security Council due to discuss the matter at an emergency meeting later on Tuesday. Mr Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war against Hamas. But after the UN's top court last week ordered Israel to halt any operations in the Rafah area that might inflict further harm on the Palestinian population, Israel knows "the eyes of the world are on it", writes our diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams.
- Get the latest: Get updates, reaction and analysis - as well as coverage of Ireland, Norway and Spain's moves to formally recognise a Palestinian state - on our live page.
| |
|
|
|
|
WORLD HEADLINES | | - Hush-money trial: The jury in the criminal trial of Donald Trump is due to hear closing arguments later, before it considers its verdict. Nada Tawfik sets out the key evidence from the prosecution and defence.
| - Pope Francis: The head of the Roman Catholic Church has reportedly used extremely derogatory language to refer to the presence of gay people in priesthood training at a closed-door meeting.
| - EU-UK border: A new process to register biometric information of non-EU travellers is due to start in October at UK sites such as Dover, London's St Pancras station, and Folkestone.
| | |
|
|
|
| Critical moment in Ukraine war |  | Some of the people called on to evacuate refuse to leave their homes. Credit: BBC | Ukraine’s capacity to defend itself depends on others. Decisions taken by its Western allies are shaping events in Kharkiv and other cities, and right along more than 1,000km (621 miles) of front line. |
|
| | Jeremy Bowen, international editor |
|
| | Kharkiv, the country’s second city, in the high north-east close to Russia, is to all intents and purposes defenceless against air attacks. Two guided bombs destroyed a DIY superstore and garden centre on Saturday afternoon when it was crowded with shoppers. As the building burned, sending black smoke across Kharkiv, Andrii Kudenov, manager of one of the other stores in the shopping centre looked on in despair. “The Russians want to burn everything down. But we won’t give up.” |
|
| |
|
|
BEYOND THE HEADLINES | Child labour in perfume supply chain |
|
| |  | Basmalla,10, and her siblings pick jasmine through the night to help their mother make ends meet. Credit: BBC | It's difficult to say exactly how many of the 30,000 people involved in Egypt's jasmine industry are children. But during the summer of 2023 the BBC filmed across this region and heard from many pickers who told us the low price available for the flowers - used in luxury perfumes - meant they needed their children to join their work. |
|
| | - Further listening: Ahmed ElShamy and Natasha Cox, from the BBC Eye Investigations team, talk through their investigation with Katya Adler, for The Global Story podcast.
| |
|
|
|
|
SOMETHING DIFFERENT | Sardinia's less-known side | The Italian island is know for its beaches, but there are incentives to go hiking, too. | |
|
| |
|
|
And finally... | Scientists have discovered a bizarre creature dubbed the "echidnapus" which they believe roamed Australia in prehistoric times. Officially named Opalios splendens, the new species' nickname is inspired by its resemblance to the platypus and echidna - which are the only egg-laying mammals in the world today. | |
|
|
|
|
The Essential List newsletter | The week's best stories, handpicked by BBC editors, in your inbox twice a week. | |
|
| |
|
|
MORE BBC NEWSLETTERS | - In History: The past comes to life through the BBC's unique audio, video and written archive, each Thursday. Subscribe.
| - US Election Unspun: Cut through the noise in the race for the White House, every Wednesday. Subscribe.
| - Football Extra: Latest news, insights and gossip from the Premier League, weekdays. Subscribe.
| |
|
|
|
Thank you, as ever, for reading. Send us suggestions for topics or areas of the world to cover in this newsletter. Tell your friends and family about it! They can sign up here. You can take a look at all our newsletters here.
By the way, you can add newsbriefing@email.bbc.com to your contacts list and, if you're on Gmail, pop the email into your “Primary” tab for uninterrupted service. Thanks for reading!
– Sofia | |  |  | |
|
| | You've received this email because you've signed up to the BBC News Briefing newsletter.
Click here to unsubscribe
To find out how we use your data, see the BBC Privacy Policy.
BBC Studios Distribution Limited.
Registered Number: 01420028 England
Registered office: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, W12 7FA, United Kingdom | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
