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BBC News with David Harper.
Iran says it hasn't reached a final decision on a peace deal with the United States. Its Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Bagahi, was quoted by Iranian media as saying that the text of the proposed agreement was currently being reviewed, but Iran would not compromise on its red lines. His comments came hours after President Trump claimed once again that a deal to end the conflict was close. Thomas Morgan reports from Washington. After carrying out two nights of airstrikes, this morning President Trump had again vowed to hit the country very hard. However, within hours he'd cancelled his threat and said a peace deal was very close. Oil prices fell after the U-turn, with the U.S. leader confidently telling reporters in the Oval Office that a deal could be signed within days. The Iranian Foreign Ministry have poured cold water on the idea that the signing is close, saying that it hadn't reached a final conclusion on the agreement. Relatives of those killed in last year's Air India plane crash are marking the first anniversary of the disaster, as the wait continues for a [refi...] final report into the cause. At least 260 people were killed when the aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad. Investigators are due to release an update, but there are concerns about how the inquiry is being carried out. Charanvir Randhawa is the president of the Federation of Indian Pilots. "All through we have been taking up, we again informed the ministry that this is not a fair investigation which is happening. And time and again, things are being done in an inappropriate manner, which is leading to speculations and the investigations are not proceeding as for the evidence given." The men's Football World Cup has got underway with co-host Mexico enjoying a convincing 2-0 victory over South Africa in the opening match. The game took place in front of more than 80,000 fans at the famous Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Here's our sports editor Dan Roan. This tournament's had no shortage of controversy, with concern over high costs and political issues dominating the build-up. But finally, it was time for the first of the 104 matches to be played across Mexico, the United States and Canada. With the eyes of the world on this game, Mexico were desperate to settle any nerves against a South African team playing in the finals for the first time since they hosted in 2010. 2-0 it finished, the hosts tournament off to the perfect start. The Democratic Republic of Congo's men's football team have finally arrived in the United States for the World Cup after undergoing 21 days of quarantine because of the Ebola outbreak in the Central African nation. The squad is now in Houston and will play their opening match against Portugal on Wednesday. This is the DRC's first appearance at World Cup finals since 1974 when they competed under their former name Zaire. This is the latest world news from the BBC. The British Armed Forces Minister Al Carns has resigned over military spending just hours after the Defense Secretary John Healy said he was stepping down. Al Carns said the armed forces were being asked to operate in a more dangerous world on a budget written for a calmer one. The prime minister insisted his spending plans delivered an unprecedented increase in a sustainable way. He's appointed Dan Jarvis as the new defense secretary. A man charged with the targeted killing of a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband in what prosecutors described as an "act of political violence" has pleaded guilty. The move means that Vance Boelter avoids a potential death penalty under a deal with prosecutors. Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband were killed at their Minnesota home last June. There have been more protests in Albania over the creation of a resort linked to the Trump family. Thousands of demonstrators marched through the capital Tirana on Thursday. They are opposed to the construction by Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner of a multi-billion-dollar hotel development in a protected area on the Adriatic coast. Protesters held signs reading "Albania is not for sale" and called on the prime minister to resign. The BBC's chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet, has been announced as the winner of a prestigious writing prize for her debut book, "The Finest Hotel in Kabul." The journalist was awarded the 2026 Women's Prize for Non-Fiction at a ceremony in London. More detail from our culture editor, Katie Razzall. "The Finest Hotel in Kabul" by Lyse Doucet! The BBC's chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet, has won this year's Women's Prize for Non-Fiction for her debut book. "The Finest Hotel in Kabul" was described by the judges as a perfect work which will move you to tears or make you laugh or perhaps both. It's the story of modern-day Afghanistan told through the experiences of both staff and guests in the Afghan capital's once luxurious Intercontinental Hotel. BBC News. |