| | | | | | | Hello. Today we are hearing from our diplomatic correspondent James Landale, who has obtained a copy of a Russian position paper showing Moscow is seeking to get its seat back on the UN's human rights council. Mark Zuckerberg's metaverse is also eyeing a comeback, and you can scroll down for a primer on Doctor Who, which is definitely coming back. Also, as a US government shutdown looms, here's what you need to know if Congress fails to strike a Budget deal. |
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| | | | Top of the agenda | | Russia campaigns to rejoin UN human rights body |  | | Russia was a member of the UNHRC until last April. Source: Getty Images |
| | Russia is seeking to rejoin the UN human rights council, according to a position paper seen by the BBC. Moscow was expelled from the body last April after its forces invaded Ukraine, but Russian diplomats are campaigning aggressively to rejoin the council. Diplomats at the UN general assembly in New York told the BBC's James Landale that Russia was offering small countries grain and arms in return for their votes, and that it was entirely possible for the country to regain its seat next month. Russia blames "the US and its allies" for it losing membership and argues the council increasingly "serves the political will of one group of countries". On Monday, an independent commission told the council there is continuing evidence of Russian war crimes, including torture, rape and attacks on civilians, in Ukraine. | | • | In The Hague: On a separate front, Russia has called on the International Court of Justice to throw out a case brought against it by Ukraine. Kyiv accuses Moscow of falsely using genocide law to justify its invasion. | | • | From the archives: Senior Africa correspondent Anne Soy explains the strong ties between Russia and some African countries, which could be key for the upcoming vote. | | • | Meanwhile, on the front line: BBC Newsnight's Mark Urban spent weeks with the Ukrainian soldiers who can't leave until the war ends - and their families back in Western Ukraine. |
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| | | | | | World headlines | | • | Nagorno-Karabakh: An explosion at a fuel depot in Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh has killed 20 people and injured hundreds more, local Armenian authorities say. It comes as the Armenian government said 13,350 refugees crossed into the country from the enclave. | | • | Obituary: David McCallum, the British actor who became a star by playing a secret agent in 1960s spy drama The Man from U.N.C.L.E., has died at the age of 90. His career started in the 50s and spanned seven decades. | | • | 'Deeply embarrassing': The standing ovation in Canada's parliament for a Ukrainian man who fought for a Nazi unit in World War Two is "extremely upsetting" for Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said. The speaker of the House of Commons, Anthony Rota, faces call to resign. | | • | AI, AI, oh: Spotify will not ban AI-made music, CEO Daniel Ek has told our technology editor Zoe Kleinman. However, he also said tools that enable creators to mimic artists were not acceptable. | | • | The bottom of it: Hans Niemann, the American chess grandmaster in the middle of a cheating row last year, has categorically denied using a vibrating sex toy to find the best moves on the board. Niemann settled a legal dispute with his accuser, world champion Magnus Carlsen, last month. |
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| AT THE SCENE |  Punjab, India | | Row after LGBTQ couple marry in Sikh temple | | While India waits for the Supreme Court's verdict on legalising same-sex marriage, a couple's recent wedding in the northern state of Punjab has created headlines and controversy. |  | | Gagandeep Singh Jassowal, BBC Punjabi |
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| | Dimple, 27 - who uses the pronoun he - and Manisha, 21, married in Bathinda city on 18 September with the blessings of their families - something that's highly unusual in a conservative country like India. But what was even more unusual was that their marriage was solemnised in a gurdwara - a Sikh temple - with the bride and groom performing all traditional rituals. The wedding has been criticised by some religious leaders, including Sikhism's highest priest Giani Raghbir Singh who declared that "same-sex marriage was unnatural and contrary to Sikh ethics". |
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| | | | Beyond the headlines | | What happened to the metaverse? |  | | Meta's VR game Horizon Worlds only has 300,000 monthly users. Source: Getty Images |
| | Remember the metaverse? Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg certainly hasn't forgotten it, and the company holds its annual virtual reality event on Wednesday. But the tech billionaire will have to defend his bet, which looks extremely unprofitable for now. BBC tech reporter James Clayton takes us through the looking-glass. For regular insight from James, sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter. | | | | |
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| | | | Something different | | Doctor Who? | | Everything you need to know about the cult show turning 60 this year. | | |
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| | | | And finally... | | My BBC Sport colleagues have a made-for-TV football story coming from Brazil. Read the tale of Tiago Rech, a man who found viral fame by being the only away fan cheering for his struggling club, and later led his team to glory as its president - going through a few highs and many lows along the way. |
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| | | | | | Football Extra Newsletter | | Get all the latest news, insights and gossip from the Premier League. | | |
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– Jules |
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