Plus: Unrwa staff fear 'serious operational impacts', and the fight against 'witch-hunters' in Nigeria ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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| Hello. Voters will decide the next president of the United States in a week.The outcome of the election is not only significant for Americans. Today Lyse Doucet lays out how it matters to the rest of the world - the piece is full of insights on Nato, China and climate policy. We're also reporting on Unrwa, witch-hunting in Nigeria, and the Beatles. | |
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QUESTIONS ANSWERED | What the US election means for the world |
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| | The outcome of the election could significantly affect the Middle East, Ukraine and global economy. Credit: BBC | The world is waiting for Americans to make their choice between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris in just one weeks’ time - and between two clashing visions of Washington's role in foreign affairs. Our chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet reflects on the global consequences of this consequential election. |
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| | Lyse Doucet, chief international correspondent |
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| What's at stake? | We live in a world where the value of US global influence is under question. Regional powers are going their own way, autocratic regimes are making their own alliances, and the devastating wars in Gaza, Ukraine and elsewhere are raising uncomfortable questions about the value of Washington’s role. But America matters by dint of its economic and military strength, and its major role in many alliances. | What about Ukraine? | Washington’s defence spending amounts to two-thirds of the military budgets of Nato’s 31 other members. Trump boasts he’s playing hardball to force other Nato countries to meet their spending targets, which is 2% of their GDP. "Donald Trump is Europe’s nightmare," says Rose Gottemoeller, Nato’s former deputy secretary general. But there’s also a growing sense that no matter who becomes president, pressure will mount on Ukraine to find ways out of this war as US lawmakers become increasingly reluctant to pass huge aid packages. | How is China seeing this election? | Leaders in Beijing believe both Harris and Trump will be tough. Leading China scholar Rana Mitter says that "a small group of establishment types favour Harris as 'better the opponent you know.' A significant minority see Trump as a businessman whose unpredictability might just mean a grand bargain with China, however unlikely that seems." Trump’s proposed 60% tariffs on all imported Chinese goods could be "the biggest shock to the global economy for decades," he says. | | - Campaign latest: Kamala Harris is preparing to deliver her "closing argument" on Tuesday evening in Washington, after Donald Trump branded his New York rally on Sunday a "love fest". More updates are on our live page.
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| Unrwa staff fear 'serious operational impacts' | | Unrwa's director said the organisation is "not sure there is a plan B right now". Credit: Reuters | Israel's allies have condemned last night's vote in the Israeli parliament that would effectively ban the UN Palestinian refugee agency Unrwa. Israel has objected to Unrwa for decades and claims some of the agency's staff were involved in the deadly 7 October attacks. The UN investigated Israel’s claim and fired nine of those accused, but it said Israel had not provided evidence for broader allegations. |
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| | Fergal Keane, special correspondent |
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| | At the Unrwa headquarters in Jerusalem, staff were still absorbing the news of the Knesset vote. Spokesman Jonathan Fowler describes it as “outrageous” and rejected Israel’s assertion that the organisation was colluding with Hamas. The vote "creates an incredibly dangerous precedent, not just for this region, but potentially with international implications in other places", he says. Fowler adds the legislation goes against all norms of international law, Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law, UN resolutions, and rulings by the International Court of Justice.
On the current crisis in Gaza, Fowler says banning dialogue between Unrwa and Israeli officials would affect the logistical platforms getting aid into the Gaza Strip. “We need to have a open channel of dialogue. This is the same in all war zones for the United Nations, an open channel of dialogue with all parties where we're able to actually ensure that our convoys can move safely.” |
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| | | | - The latest: At least 93 people are dead or missing after an Israeli air strike on the town of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry says.
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THE BIG PICTURE | The fight against 'witch-hunters' |
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| | | Some Pentecostal pastors in Nigeria hold services targeting alleged witches. Credit: Advocacy for Alleged Witches | Accusations of witchcraft can destroy lives in Nigeria, as claims based on superstition can sometimes lead to literal witch-hunting and lynching. Activist Leo Igwe set up Advocacy For Alleged Witches, an organisation helping victims of the stigma. But his work has come with a personal cost. |
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FOR YOUR DOWNTIME | November's best TV shows | From small-screen spinoffs to the return of hits, here's what to stream next month. | |
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And finally... in the UK | A console used to record one of the most famous albums ever made - the Beatles' Abbey Road - is set to be auctioned off. It follows a four-year restoration process after it was discovered in a skip - also known across the pond as a dumpster. It had been thrown away by a school it was donated to after staff reportedly didn't know how to use it. | |
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Six Steps to Calm | Discover a calmer future with this course of six science-backed techniques, weekly to your inbox. | |
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