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Hello, I'm Eileen McHugh with the BBC News.
President Trump has said he will make his decision on whether to get involved in Israel's war against Iran in the next two weeks. The White House said there was a substantial chance of negotiations. Our North America editor, Sarah Smith, says when weighing up his choices, Mr. Trump will be concerned about the situation escalating. Iran has threatened irreparable damage if America attacks them. And America could be vulnerable. There are U.S. troops in the Middle East in American bases there. If Iran or any of their proxies were to strike against them and kill an American soldier, that would inevitably mean that the U.S. would be dragged into a wider war, exactly the kind of thing Donald Trump wants to avoid. So that's what the calculation is here. With both Israeli and Iranian airspaces closed, most foreigners trying to get out of both countries are making their way by road to neighboring states. Australia has said it's deploying consular staff to Iran's border with Azerbaijan to help those leaving. It has suspended operations at its embassy in Tehran, as has the Czech Republic. Israel's foreign minister says a grenade was thrown at the residence of the Norwegian ambassador to Israel on Thursday evening in Tel Aviv. Gideon Sa'ar said no one had been injured. A former Nicaraguan army officer who was a staunch critic of President Daniel Ortega has been shot dead in Costa Rica. Roberto Samcam was killed in his home in San José. James Reid reports. Roberto Samcam served as a major in Nicaragua's army. But in retirement, he became a critic of the authoritarian rule of President Ortega. He fled the country in 2018 after pro-democracy protests were crushed. From exile in Costa Rica, he continued to speak out against the corruption and brutality of the regime. His wife said he was shot eight times by a gunman who posed as a delivery man and escaped on a motorbike. Nicaragua's opposition groups have blamed the government for his assassination. They've urged the Costa Rican authorities to conduct a full investigation. Zambia's president has ended a period of national mourning for his late predecessor and political rival, Edgar Lungu, amid a feud with the Lungu family over funeral arrangements. The family blocked the body's repatriation from South Africa, accusing the Zambian government of violating funeral agreements by involving President Hakainde Hichilema, something Mr. Lungu had explicitly opposed. President Hichilema said his government was committed to keeping the lines of communication with the family open. "Let us remain united as a nation and maintain the peace we are known for. In this spirit, we say to the Lungu family and indeed the people of Zambia, our hearts remain with you. Our doors as government remain open for further engagement as appropriate." World News from the BBC. A court in Argentina has ruled that the former president, Cristina Kirchner, can step out on the balcony of her Buenos Aires apartment while under house arrest and wave to her supporters as long as she doesn't disturb the neighborhood. ??? has this report. Since last week, when Cristina Kirchner lost her appeal against her fraud conviction, followers have been gathering under her terrace to show their solidarity. Some were waving banners reading, "Your Balcony, Our Joy." But the 72-year-old's lawyers were concerned that her interactions with them may result in additional penalties. In its response, the court said it had never prohibited her from using the space, but added that Ms. Kirchner should use her common sense to decide if her balcony appearances disturb the neighborhood. The court also ordered her to wear an electronic tag from now on. The Dodgers baseball team says it has blocked U.S. federal immigration agents from entering its stadium in Los Angeles. In a statement, the Dodgers said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE agents, arrived at the stadium and requested permission to access the parking lots. A huge part of the team's fan base is drawn from the Latino community. Senegal has cancelled a practice session for its women's basketball team that was due to take place in the U.S. This follows the rejection of visa applications for several players. Senegal is among 36 nations that the U.S. is considering adding to a travel ban barring entry to its territory. Twelve countries, most of them from Africa, are already banned. The Real Madrid football star, Kylian Mbappé, has been released from hospital in the United States after suffering from a stomach bug. Mbappé, who is with his team for the Club World Cup, was admitted for tests and treatment and for gastroenteritis. He missed Madrid's opening match in Miami against Al-Hilal on Wednesday. That's the BBC World News. |