| | | | | | | Hello. Today I’m sharing with you an investigation from my BBC Panorama colleagues, who report that UK Special Forces blocked Afghan troops they fought with from relocation to the UK after the Taliban seized power. We're also covering the aftermath of Alexei Navalny's death as his family and lawyers have yet to see his body. Also in the news: Baftas, the US-Japan relationship, and 500,000 lemons and oranges. |
|
|
|
| | | | Top of the agenda | | Afghans blocked from UK by special forces’ veto |  | | Some of the Afghan commandos, pictured training with British troops, are now in hiding in Afghanistan. Credit: Ben Taggart |
| | Afghan commandos accompanied British special forces on some of the most dangerous missions of the war in Afghanistan. When the Taliban swept to power in August 2021, soldiers in these units were among the groups most at risk of reprisals. They were eligible to apply for resettlement to the UK. But leaked documents seen by the BBC show UK special forces rejected hundreds of applications, despite some containing compelling evidence of service alongside the British military. Dozens have reportedly been beaten, tortured, or killed by the Taliban since. "I was sure that my British colleagues and friends, who we worked for several years alongside, would help me to evacuate to safety. Now I feel that the sacrifices I made have been forgotten," one told the BBC. "I have been left alone in the midst of hell." The Armed Forces Minister, James Heappey, has now announced a review of about 2,000 applications after admitting the decision-making process behind some rejections was "not robust". | | • | War crimes probe: At the time the applications were vetoed, UK Special Forces were at the centre of an independent inquiry, to which Afghan Special Forces members could have been asked to provide evidence, had they been in the UK. | | • | 'I was betrayed': Back in December, about 200 members of Afghan special forces were facing deportation from Pakistan. Here are some of their stories. | | • | Who are the Taliban?: Read our simple explainer on the hardline Islamist group who retook power in 2021. |
| | |
|
|
| | | | | | | AT THE SCENE |  Moscow, Russia | | Grief and defiance after Navalny death | | The death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny barely made the TV news in Russia. And when word reached his supporters, the disbelief was palpable. Some lay roses and carnations, and lit candles at Moscow's "Wall of Grief" - a memorial to the victims of Stalin-era political repression. |  | | Steve Rosenberg, Russia editor |
|
| | "I saw the news on my phone," Mikhail tells me. "My first reaction was, 'It's just a joke. It can't be real.' But then the news came more and more and more. And I was crying for one hour." Later the riot police try to clear the square in front of the memorial. "Move along. No-one is allowed to gather here," says an officer. "We have the right to be here," shouts a woman. The police don't think so. They start pushing people away and making arrests. |
| | |
|
|
|
| | | | Beyond the headlines | | The sailor straining US-Japan relationship |  | | Ridge Alkonis' release caused outrage in Japan. Credit: Supplied |
| | US Navy officer Ridge Alkonis was sentenced in Japan to three years jail in 2021 for killing two Japanese citizens in a car accident. His release on parole from a US prison after less than two years, following a pressure campaign from his family, drew public anger in Japan. The incident highlighted the resentment and frustration Japanese people hold against the 54,000 US servicemen in the country. | | | | |
|
|
| | | | Something different | | Feeling lost? | | If you struggle with orienteering, here's how you can improve your sense of direction. | | |
|
|
|
| | | | And finally... | | I'm lucky enough to call the French Riviera home, and despite being born and raised there, I'm still struggling to understand our obsession with stacking citrus fruit on top of each other. But there's no stopping the zesty extravaganza that is the Menton Lemon Festival, and where about 500,000 of the fruit are used to build monumental sculptures. This year's theme, of course, is the Paris 2024 Olympics. And all that you can see, is just a yellow lemon horse. |
|
|
| | | | | | US Election Unspun newsletter | | Cut through the noise in the race for the White House, every Wednesday to your inbox. | | |
|
|
|
| | | | More BBC newsletters | | • | Football Extra: Latest news, insights and gossip from the Premier League, weekdays. Subscribe. | | • | Royal Watch: The full story from royal correspondent Sean Coughlan, every Thursday. Subscribe. | | • | Tech Decoded: Timely, trusted tech news from global correspondents, twice-weekly. Subscribe. |
| | |
|
|
Do you have suggestions for what we cover in BBC News Briefing? You can email me to let me know what you think. And why not forward it to friends? They can sign up here.
Find all our newsletters here.
While you're at it, 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!
– Jules |
|
|
| | | | |
|
| | |
|
