BBC News (World)

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2022-11-07 09:02:05 Twitter users jump to Mastodon - but what is it?

In the wake of Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter, some users have been seeking alternative platforms. One of the biggest beneficiaries has been Mastodon. But what is it?

The social network says it now has over 655,000 users - with over 230,000 having joined in the last week.

On the surface Mastodon looks like Twitter - account users write posts (called "toots"), which can be replied to, liked and re-posted, and they can follow each other.

Under the bonnet, though, it works in a different way.

That's one of the reasons it is attracting fresh users, but it has caused some confusion to new people signing up. read more Open / Comment

2022-11-06 16:02:23 Tanzanian Precision Air plane crashes into Lake Victoria

A Tanzanian passenger plane has crashed into Lake Victoria as it attempted to land in the lakeside town of Bukoba, killing at least three people.

The Precision Air flight was carrying 43 people, 26 of whom have been rescued and sent to hospital, an official said.

The two pilots survived the crash but remain trapped inside the cockpit and have been speaking to local officials.

Rescue workers and local fishermen are on the scene trying to rescue those still inside the aircraft. read more Open / Comment

2022-11-05 09:01:10 Twitter: Musk defends deep cuts to company's workforce

Twitter's new owner Elon Musk has defended sacking about half the company's workforce, saying he had "no choice" as Twitter was losing more than $4m (£3.5m) a day.

A tweet from Yoel Roth, Twitter's head of safety and integrity, referred to "approximately 50% cuts company-wide".

But Mr Musk said the social media giant's commitment to content moderation was "absolutely unchanged".

Mr Musk, the world's richest man, took over Twitter in a $44bn (£38.7bn) deal.

The billionaire insisted in his own tweet that all those losing their jobs were offered three months of severance pay, "which is 50% more than legally required". read more Open / Comment

2022-11-04 16:00:01 Iran security forces and state media cover up protester's death - source

Iranian security forces are working with state media to claim falsely that a killed protester was a loyalist Basij militiaman, BBC Persian has found.

Milad Ostad-Hashem, 37, was shot in the back with a live round in Tehran on 25 September, his death certificate says.

His family alleged that security forces fired it, a close source told the BBC.

However, security officials pressured them to go along with state media reports that he was a Basij member killed by "rioters", the source added.

"Security forces threatened to kill their [Milad's parents] two other sons and bury Milad's body secretly in a remote place if they did not co-operate," the source said. read more Open / Comment

2022-11-04 08:00:32 Twitter to make job cuts after Elon Musk takeover

Twitter says it will inform its staff on Friday about whether they will be laid off following the firm's takeover by Elon Musk.

In an internal email, the social media company said the cuts are "an effort to place Twitter on a healthy path".

The firm added that its offices would be temporarily closed and badge access would be suspended.

The multi-billionaire will be Twitter's chief executive after buying the firm last week in a $44bn (£39.3bn) deal. read more Open / Comment

2022-11-03 18:01:37 Pakistan ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan shot and wounded at protest march

Pakistan's former prime minister, Imran Khan, has been shot and wounded in the leg in an attack on his protest march in the eastern city of Wazirabad.

It is unclear whether the politician was deliberately targeted as one of his senior aides claimed, or if he was hit by indiscriminate gunfire.

Members of his PTI party said another four people were hurt in the shooting.

Mr Khan, 70, was leading the march on the capital Islamabad to demand snap elections after he was ousted in April.

The former prime minister was seen being taken to a hospital in Lahore. A party spokesman said he had been hit in the shin. read more Open / Comment

2022-11-03 09:00:58 US midterms: Biden warns election denial is 'path to chaos'

US President Joe Biden has warned any candidates who refuse to accept defeat in next week's midterm elections could set the nation on "the path to chaos".

He also urged Americans to unite in opposition to "political violence" in the vote on 8 November.

Mr Biden, a Democrat, said former President Donald Trump and his supporters were peddling "lies of conspiracy and malice".

Republicans hit back that Mr Biden was seeking to "divide and deflect".

Control of both chambers of Congress and key state governorships are hanging in the balance in next week's elections. read more Open / Comment

2022-11-02 17:00:01 South hits back as North Korea fires most missiles in a day

North and South Korea have fired a number of missiles into waters near each other's coasts in a marked escalation of hostilities.

The North launched its most missiles in a single day - at least 23 - including one that landed less than 60km (37 miles) off the South's city of Sokcho.

Seoul responded with warplanes firing three air-to-ground missiles over the disputed maritime demarcation line.

Later Pyongyang fired six more missiles and a barrage of 100 artillery shells.

The North says the launches are in response to large-scale military exercises current being held by South Korea and the United States, which it calls "aggressive and provocative". read more Open / Comment

2022-11-02 09:06:03 North and South Korea fire missiles off each other's coasts for first time

North and South Korea have both fired missiles landing in waters off each other's coasts for the first time.

Seoul retaliated on Wednesday three hours after Pyongyang launched a missile that landed less than 60km (37mi) off the South's city of Sokcho.

The South's military said this was an "unacceptable" breach of its territory.

It fired three air-to-ground missiles in response, which officials said landed a similar distance past the Northern Limit Line (NLL).

The demarcation line marks the rough midway-point in the sea between North and South Korea, but the North has never accepted the boundary.

North Korea fired at least 10 missiles in both east and west directions on Wednesday, South Korean officials say. read more Open / Comment