- Wednesday, 3 December 2025
BBC
Taliban to force Afghan women to wear face veil
Afghan women will have to wear the Islamic face veil for the first time in decades under a decree passed by the country's ruling Taliban militants. Any woman who refuses to comply and ignores official warnings to male members of her family could see a male guardian jailed for three days.
Election results 2022: Boris Johnson admits Tories faced tough night in local elections
The BBC projects Labour would take 35% of votes and the Tories 30%, had all parts of Britain gone to the polls.
India's poor bear the brunt of blistering heatwaves
The heatwave that has struck India this year has been particularly severe, but experts say it is not an isolated incident - they say it is a harbinger of the type of events that might become more common in the future as temperatures rise.
Shares fall in Asia and US as interest rates rise
Stock markets in Asia and America have tumbled after the US central bank this week announced the biggest interest rate rise in 22 years.
True Covid pandemic death toll is 15 million - WHO
The Covid pandemic has caused the deaths of nearly 15 million people around the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates. That is 13% more deaths than normally expected over two years.
Climate change: Spring egg-laying shifts by three weeks
"In some parts of this wood, egg-laying has shifted by three weeks," explains Dr Ella Cole of Oxford University.
White House press dinner returns after two years
US President Joe Biden has resumed the tradition of speaking at the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner after a six-year presidential hiatus. He is the first leader to speak at the event, where the president faces friendly mocking in front of an audience of journalists, since 2016.
How India's drone start-ups could change healthcare
Drones have been touted as a game-changer for India's medical industry, and for what they could do to make healthcare accessible to remote regions. Some operators have run successful test flights ever since India liberalised drone rules last year. The BBC's Andrew Clarance reports on what the future looks like.
Venus and Jupiter to almost touch in night sky
Look up in the sky at the right moment on Saturday and you could see two of the solar system's brightest planets almost touching. Venus and Jupiter will be millions of miles apart, but from Earth, they will appear close to colliding.
Bolsonaro hits out at DiCaprio after election plea
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has hit back at Leonardo DiCaprio after the Hollywood actor and environmentalist encouraged the country's youth to vote in the elections later this year.
Heatwave in India leaves millions struggling to cope
Millions of Indians are experiencing a brutal heatwave that is throwing lives and livelihoods out of gear - and there is no relief in sight. "Temperatures are rising rapidly in the country, and rising much earlier than usual," Prime Minister Narendra Modi told state chief ministers on Wednesday.
India approves two Covid jabs for children under 12
India has approved two homegrown vaccines for children under the age of 12 amid a slight rise in Covid cases. Covaxin, made by Bharat Biotech, has been granted emergency use permission for the six-12 age group, health minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted.
UN chief Guterres to meet Russia's Putin today
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow later today but expectations from the meeting are said to be low after several failed diplomatic efforts so far.
Adenovirus probable cause of mysterious child hepatitis
Health officials say there is mounting evidence that a common virus is linked to rare cases of hepatitis that have been occurring in some young children. Globally, there have been 169 cases recorded and one death.
Nigeria police hunt deadly illegal refinery owner
Nigerian police are looking for the owner of the illegal oil refinery where an explosion killed at least 100 people according to the authorities. Dozens were thought to have been working at the refining plants in Imo state, southern Nigeria when they were caught in the huge fire.
