Boris Nemtsov murder: Thousands set to march in Moscow - BBC News

Thousands of people are expected to take to the streets of Moscow to honour opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead on Friday. He was due to lead an opposition march on Sunday but his supporters will now be marching to mourn his death. President Vladimir Putin condemned Mr Nemtsov's murder as "vile and cynical" and vowed to find the killers. Mr Nemtsov's allies call it a political killing linked to his opposition to Mr Putin...

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Lesotho votes in poll aimed at easing political crisis - BBC News

Polling has ended and counting is under way in Lesotho, in a snap election aimed at resolving political tensions after an attempted coup last year. Polling was said to have passed off peacefully. Last year, PM Thomas Thabane suspended parliament to avoid a motion ousting him as the head of the coalition. He later fled, saying he was the target of a coup attempt, after the military - known to have links to the opposition - attacked the police...

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Rwanda urged to take criminal action over BBC genocide film - BBC News

An inquiry in Rwanda has recommended that the government initiate criminal and civil proceedings against the BBC over a documentary which questioned official accounts of the 1994 genocide. Inquiry head Martin Ngoga found that the documentary failed to meet the BBC's own editorial standards. The BBC says it is "extremely disappointed" by the findings. Rwanda suspended broadcasts by the BBC's Kinyarwanda language service after the TV documentary...

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Ebola outbreak: Sierra Leone vice-president quarantined - BBC News

The vice-president of Sierra Leone has put himself into quarantine after one of his bodyguards died from Ebola. Samuel Sam-Sumana said he would stay out of contact with others for 21 days as a precaution. There was optimism the virus was on the decline in Sierra Leone at the end of last year but there has been a recent increase in confirmed cases. Nearly 10,000 people have died in the outbreak, the vast majority in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra...

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Cricket World Cup: Rampant India too strong for UAE in Pool B - BBC News

Defending champions India maintained their perfect start at the World Cup as they outclassed United Arab Emirates in a one-sided contest in Perth. India were on top throughout and dismissed UAE for 102 - the lowest total at the World Cup so far, behind England's 123 against New Zealand. Only a spirited 35 from Shaiman Anwar spared UAE from real embarrassment. India lost just one wicket as they raced to their target in 18.5 overs, Rohit Sharma...

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Cricket World Cup: New Zealand beat Australia by one wicket - BBC News

New Zealand survived a late collapse to beat Australia by one wicket in a thrilling World Cup Pool A game. Chasing a meagre 152 to win, the Kiwis slipped from 131-4 to 146-9 as Mitchell Starc claimed 6-28. However, Kane Williamson (45no) hit Pat Cummins for six to seal victory with 26.5 overs to spare in a wonderfully tense climax at Eden Park in Auckland. Earlier, Australia lost eight wickets for 26 runs as they were bowled out for 151, with...

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Harrison Ford returns to Blade Runner sequel - BBC News

Harrison Ford will reprise his role as police officer Rick Deckard in the forthcoming Blade Runner sequel, it has been confirmed. Denis Villeneuve, who directed Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal in kidnap drama Prisoners, is in talks to direct. The story takes place several decades after the conclusion of the 1982 film, which was based on Philip K Dick novel Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? The film is scheduled to start shooting in the...

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Robin Williams' daughter reflects on her father's death - BBC News

Robin Williams' daughter, Zelda, has spoken out for the first time since her father's death last August. The actor and comedian took his own life at his Californian home at the age of 63. Ms Williams told NBC's Today Show there was "no point" in asking why her father killed himself. "We don't have an explanation," she told reporter Kate Snow. "There's no point questioning it... blaming yourself or the world. It happened." The 25-year-old said...

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US-Bangladesh blogger Avijit Roy hacked to death - BBC News

Attackers in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka have hacked to death a US-Bangladeshi blogger whose writings on religion angered Islamist hardliners. Avijit Roy, an atheist who advocated secularism, was attacked as he walked back from a book fair with his wife, who was also hurt in the attack. No-one has been arrested but police say they are investigating a local Islamist group that praised the killing. Hundreds of people gathered in Dhaka to mourn...

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Google backs down over Blogger porn rule change - BBC News

Google has changed its mind about forcing sexually explicit blogs on its Blogger platform to become private. Earlier this week, the firm warned bloggers that blogs containing sexually explicit images and videos would be made private on 23 March. After "a ton of feedback" the firm has decided to continue with its current policy instead, it says. Explicit blogs must continue to identify themselves as "adult". This means a warning page is shown...

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Leukaemia mutations 'almost inevitable', researchers say -BBC News

It is "almost inevitable" that your blood will take the first steps towards leukaemia as you age, researchers show. The cancer is often associated with children, but some types become more common with age. The study, published in the journal Cell Reports, showed 70% of healthy people in their 90s had genetic errors that could lead to leukaemia. The researchers warn that the number of cases could soar as life expectancy increases. The team...

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Cut music to 'an hour a day' - WHO - BBC News

People should listen to music for no more than one hour a day to protect their hearing, the World Health Organization suggests. It says 1.1 billion teenagers and young adults are at risk of permanently damaging their hearing by listening to "too much, too loudly". It said audio players, concerts and bars were posing a "serious threat". WHO figures show 43 million people aged 12-35 have hearing loss and the prevalence is increasing. In that...

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Greek debt crisis: German MPs back bailout extension - BBC News

The German parliament has voted to extend financial aid to Greece by another four months. The extension - approved by creditors last week in exchange for a series of Greek government reforms - needs to be ratified by eurozone members. Some MPs had expressed doubts about the deal and there is substantial public scepticism but the vote passed easily. It comes after police and protesters clashed during anti-government demonstrations in Athens...

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Leonard Nimoy, Star Trek's Mr Spock, dies at 83 - BBC News

US actor Leonard Nimoy, who played Mr Spock in the cult sci-fi series Star Trek, has died at the age of 83 in Los Angeles, his family has said. His son, Adam, said he died of end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on Friday morning. Nimoy had a long career as both an actor and director. However he was best known for his portrayal of the half-human, half-Vulcan character in both the TV franchise and series of films. Last year, the...

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Eight dead in series of shootings in Missouri - BBC News

Eight people are dead and one person has been injured after a series of shootings in south-central Missouri. Police made the discoveries on late Thursday at five different homes in or near the small town of Tyrone after an emergency call. Officials found Joseph Jesse Aldridge, 36, dead of a self-inflicted gun wound in a vehicle near one of the crime scenes. At least four of the victims have been identified as his family members. Police are...

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'Jihadi John': Prime minister defends security services - BBC News

The prime minister has defended the security services amid criticisms they failed to stop Mohammed Emwazi, known as "Jihadi John'", from joining Islamic State in Syria. David Cameron said the security services made "incredibly difficult judgements" on the UK's behalf. His comments came after it emerged Emwazi was known to authorities. The PM said he would not comment on specific cases but urged the public to back the security services. The...

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Argentina: President Cristina Fernandez case dismissed - BBC News

A federal judge in Argentina has dismissed a controversial case against President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and her foreign minister. They had been accused of covering up alleged Iranian involvement in a bomb attack against a Jewish centre in 1994. Judge Daniel Rafecas has concluded that there was not enough evidence to pursue the charges. The accusation came from special prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who was found dead last month in his...

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'Progress' in US-Cuba talks but no embassy decision - BBC News

Cuban and US diplomats say they have made progress in talks in Washington to restore full relations between the two countries. At issue is the opening of embassies in the two capitals and Cuba's hope it will be removed from a US terror list. The Cuban delegation was optimistic that problems could be overcome. Likewise the head of the US delegation said she hoped that the embassies issue could be resolved before a regional summit in Panama on...

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Copenhagen shootings: Third alleged accomplice arrested - BBC News

A third man suspected of helping a gunman who killed two people in Copenhagen earlier this month has been arrested, Danish police have said. Police gave few details, but said the "young man" would face a custody hearing on Saturday. Two other men were charged shortly after the attacks with helping the gunman, Omar El-Hussein. El-Hussein was shot dead by police after targeting a free speech debate and a synagogue. The shootings left a film...

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Rwanda singer Kizito Mihigo planned to kill Paul Kagame - BBC News

A popular Rwandan singer has been jailed for 10 years after being convicted of planning to kill President Kagame and inciting hatred against the government. Kizito Mihigo had earlier said he was guilty and asked for forgiveness, meaning his sentence was reduced. His co-accused, Cassien Ntamuhanga, the director of a Christian radio station, was jailed for 25 years for terrorism and incitement. He had continued to deny all charges. Mihigo had...

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Robert Mugabe admits Zimbabwe's land reform flaws - BBC News

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has admitted failures in the country's controversial land reform programme. "I think the farms we gave to people are too large. They can't manage them," the 91-year-old leader said in unusually candid comments. In the past he has tended to blame poor agricultural productivity on the weather and Western sanctions. The seizure of land from white farmers is seen as a key factor in Zimbabwe's economic meltdown...

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Somali pirates free Thai fishermen held for four years - BBC News

Four Thai nationals seized from a fishing vessel by Somali pirates nearly five years ago have been released, the UN and local officials have said. It is believed that they spent longer in captivity than any other victims of Somali piracy. The four were among 24 crew members seized in April 2010 after pirates hijacked the Taiwan-flagged fishing vessel FV Prantalay 12. At one time Somali pirates made millions of dollars in ransoms. But their...

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Mexico president hails capture of drug lord Servando 'La Tuta' Gomez - BBC News

Mexican police have captured the country's most wanted drug lord, Servando "La Tuta" Gomez. Mr Gomez, leader of the Knights Templar drug cartel, was arrested in Morelia in Michoacan state without a shot fired. He was taken to Mexico City, where he was paraded before television cameras, before being flown by helicopter to a maximum security prison. President Enrique Pena Nieto wrote on Twitter that the rule of law had been strengthened because...

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US avoids homeland security shutdown as House passes bill - BBC News

US lawmakers have avoided a partial shutdown of homeland security after passing a one-week funding extension just hours before a midnight deadline. The House of Representatives voted 357-60 in favour of the short-term bill after it had been passed in the Senate. It ensures the department's 250,000 employees will be paid while a longer-term funding agreement is discussed. It will now be signed by President Barack Obama, who said he would back...

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Russia opposition politician Boris Nemtsov shot dead - BBC News

A leading Russian opposition politician, former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov, has been shot dead in Moscow, Russian officials say. An unidentified attacker in a car shot Mr Nemtsov four times in the back as he crossed a bridge in view of the Kremlin, police say. He died hours after appealing for support for a march on Sunday in Moscow against the war in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the murder, the Kremlin says. In...

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Lindsay Lohan told to do more community service - BBC News

A Los Angeles judge has told Lindsay Lohan to do 125 more hours of community service after decreeing that activities she performed while appearing in a West End play last year did not count. Superior Court Judge Mark Young annulled credits that Lohan received for time she spent in London in 2014. The 28-year-old was originally ordered to complete 240 hours of community service as part of a 2013 plea deal. It stemmed from a 2012 case involving...

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Brit Awards 2015: Madonna falls off stage - BBC News

Pop star Madonna fell off the stage during her performance at the 2015 Brit Awards, on a night that saw Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran each win two prizes. Madonna tumbled down a set of stairs and landed awkwardly, apparently after a dancer tried to remove a cape she was wearing at the start of her routine. But she recovered and returned to continue her song, Living For Love. The 56-year-old issued a statement later saying she was "fine" and that...

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David Hockney releases artwork of Woldgate fly-tipping - BBC News

David Hockney has released artwork of a landscape that inspired him, after it had been blighted by fly-tipping. The artist issued the work, of Woldgate in East Yorkshire, after a visitor to his latest exhibition decided to visit the scene. Dismayed by what he had seen, visitor Bob Ward took his story to BBC Look North. When Hockney was contacted for his views, he sent the artwork, depicting the littered site in 2011. Bradford-born Hockney,...

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Samsung hit by latest smart TV issue - BBC News

A problem during a server update left many Samsung smart TVs looking not so smart this week. Affected sets were unable to connect for two days, meaning owners could not use their more advanced features. The problem is now fixed, Samsung said. It follows a series of issues for the firm in recent weeks, which admitted that its sets were sharing users' voice data, before opening an investigation into why its TVs were adding adverts to media played...

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China's Lenovo becomes victim of cyber-attack - BBC News

Chinese computer maker Lenovo has become the victim of a cyber-attack following a warning by the US government about software called Superfish. The Superfish adware program - which offered shopping tips - was shipped on some of the company's notebook devices. A hacking group called Lizard Squad claimed responsibility for the Wednesday attack via Twitter. The group has taken credit for several other attacks, including one on Sony. "One effect...

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Prehistoric caiman's bite 'twice as strong' as T-Rex's -BBCC News

A prehistoric caiman that lived in the Amazon region about eight million years ago had a bite twice as powerful as that of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, Brazilian scientists say. A team of Brazilian paleontologists calculated the strength of a bite by the Purussaurus brasiliensis, a reptile that lived in the Late Miocene period. They said it could exert a pressure up to 11.5 tonnes. That is 20 times the strength of a white shark's bite. Tito Aureliano,...

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Infected chickens cause 'growing concern' - BBC News

Concerns are growing about antibiotic resistance of food-poisoning bacteria carried by poultry, according to a new report. Campylobacter, which is present in many shop chickens, is becoming resistant to front-line drugs, a study in 28 EU countries has found. It reduces the options for treating human infections, say scientists. A separate report by the UK's Food Standards Agency found campylobacter in UK chickens remained at high levels. The...

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Killer frog disease: Chytrid fungus hits Madagascar - BBC News

A devastating disease that has wiped out amphibians around the world has been discovered in Madagascar, scientists report. A survey has found that the chytrid fungus is present in numerous sites, although it is not clear whether it is infecting frogs yet. The island is home to 500 frog species, and researchers fear they could be at significant risk. The findings are published in the journal Scientific Reports. One of the authors, Goncalo Rosa,...

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WHO 'taken aback' by measles outbreaks - BBC News

Measles vaccinations must be immediately stepped up across Europe and central Asia after a series of outbreaks, the World Health Organization says. Officials say they have been "taken aback" by more than 22,000 cases in 2014 and the first months of this year. The WHO demands that counties control the outbreaks with "no exception". It say the surges threaten the goal of eliminating measles in the region by the end of 2015. Continue reading...

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Swine flu: India health minister urges calm - BBC News

Indian Health Minister JP Nadda has urged the public not to panic, as the number of deaths so far this year from swine flu passed 900 from 16,000 cases. Rajasthan and Gujarat are among the worst affected states. Officials in Ahmedabad, Gujarat's largest city, have announced restrictions on public gatherings as a precautionary measure. The current outbreak, which began in December last year, is India's deadliest since 2010. Nearly 4,000 people...

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'Give HIV drugs to healthy gay men' - BBC News

Healthy gay men should be offered daily HIV drugs to prevent infections, say campaigners. A UK study, on 545 high-risk men, found one case of HIV could be stopped for every 13 men treated for a year. The research team says it would be similar to the pill for women and would not encourage risky sex. The findings have been described as a "game changer" and the NHS is considering how to adopt them. Read full article he...

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Malaysia's AirAsia posts first loss in two years - BBC News

AirAsia, one of the continent's most successful carriers, has posted its first net loss in two years, citing currency exchange losses and higher taxes. In December, the Malaysian airline's Flight QZ8501 crashed into the Java Sea, with 162 people on board. The firm said its net loss for the three months to December amounted to 429m Malaysia ringgit ($120m; £77.8m). The result compares to a MYR169m profit for the same quarter a year earlier. Read...

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Japan's shares at fresh 15-year high on weaker yen - BBC News

Shares on Japan's main index were up on Friday morning due to a weaker yen against the US dollar and despite a raft of mostly disappointing economic figures. In Tokyo, the benchmark Nikkei 225 was up 0.24% in early trade at 18,805.50 points. The dollar was buying 119.36 yen on Friday, after rising overnight from a Thursday low of 118.68 yen in the US . A weaker yen helps Japan's big exporters. Read the full article her...

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Net neutrality rules passed by US regulator - BBC News

New rules on how the internet should be governed have been approved by the Federal Communications Commission. In what is seen as a victory for advocates of net neutrality, the commission voted in favour of changes proposed by chairman Tom Wheeler. Three commissioners voted in favour and two against. The US Telecommunications Industry Association said that broadband providers would take "immediate" legal action over the rule changes. Read the...

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US spy chief James Clapper highlights cyber threats - BBC News

US intelligence agencies have placed cyber attacks from foreign governments and criminals at the top of their list of threats to the country. Online assaults would increasingly undermine US economic competitiveness and national security, said Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. A report issued by his office said Russia's military was setting up a cyber command to carry out attacks. Read the full article her...

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Greek debt crisis: Violence in Athens ahead of Germany vote - BBC News

Police and protesters have clashed in Athens after the first anti-government demonstration since Greece's far-left Syriza party took power last month. Dozens of activists hurled petrol bombs and stones at police and set cars alight after the march. The unrest came ahead of a vote by the German parliament on Friday on whether to extend financial aid for Greece. The deal, approved by Greece and international creditors last week, has triggered...

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'Jihadi John': Haines widow wants militant caught alive - BBC News

The widow of a man killed by a masked Islamic State militant known as "Jihadi John" says she wants him caught alive. Dragana Haines says the "last thing" she wants for the man who killed her husband, British aid worker David Haines, is an "honourable death". The militant, pictured in the videos of the beheadings of Western hostages, has been named as Mohammed Emwazi, a Kuwaiti-born Briton from west London. British police have not commented...

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HSBC bank 'helped clients dodge millions in tax' - BBC News

Britain's biggest bank helped wealthy clients cheat the UK out of millions of pounds in tax, the BBC has learned. Panorama has seen thousands of accounts from HSBC's private bank in Switzerland leaked by a whistleblower in 2007. They show bankers helped clients evade tax and offered deals to help tax dodgers stay ahead of the law. HSBC admitted that some individuals took advantage of bank secrecy to hold undeclared accounts. But it said it...

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Australian PM Abbott survives leadership challenge - BBC News

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has urged an end to disunity after surviving a party confidence vote on his leadership. Liberal Party MPs voted by 61 to 39 not to open up his position to challengers. The leadership test, initiated by a backbencher on Friday, came after a series of policy mis-steps by Mr Abbott that saw his popularity tumble. But the prime minister said the issue had now been settled, stating "this matter is behind us". Read...

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China executes 'mafia-style' mining tycoon Liu Han - BBC News

Chinese authorities have executed powerful Sichuan-based mining tycoon Liu Han, state media say. The former chairman of Hanlong Group was sentenced to death in May for "leading mafia-style crime and murder". Liu's younger brother, Liu Wei and three other associates were also executed, Xinhua said, after China's top court signed off on the move. Read the full article he...

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Ukraine conflict: Merkel takes peace plan to Obama - BBC News

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has arrived in Washington for talks with President Barack Obama on Monday amid reports of a rift over Ukraine. As well as discussing a way forward in Ukraine, the pair are likely to discuss a range of other issues including counter-terrorism and trade. As the crisis in Ukraine intensifies, America says it will stand with Europe but recent talks exposed divisions. Read the full article he...

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Egypt suspends football league after deadly clashes - BBC News

The Egyptian authorities have suspended football league matches indefinitely after clashes at a stadium in Cairo left at least 22 people dead. People were crushed after police fired tear gas at supporters of Zamalek who were trying to force their way in for a match against city rivals ENPPI. The fans blamed the authorities for opening only a single gate. An arrest warrant has been issued for the leaders of the Zamalek supporters group, the...

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