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The UK has sanctioned a Russian military officer accused of helping poison former double agent Sergei Skripal with novichok in Salisbury.The Foreign Office has imposed 56 new sanctions on people and entities linked to Russia, including those in the Wagner mercenary group that operates unofficially on Vladimir Putin's behalf, and companies based in China, Turkey and central Asia supplying parts to Russia. Denis Sergeev, who the Met Police charged over the attempted murder of double agent Mr Skripal, has been sanctioned under the chemical weapons sanctions regime.Politics latest: Trump victory dominates European leaders' summit"Sergeev provided support in the preparation and use of the chemical weapon novichok in Salisbury...and provided a coordinating role in London on the weekend of the at...

Israeli strikes in eastern Lebanon have killed 40 people, according to the country's health ministry. The strikes also wounded 53 more people around the eastern city of Baalbek in the Beqaa Valley on Wednesday, as Israel's operation against the Hezbollah militant group continues.The Israeli military has not commented.More than 3,000 people have been killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon in the past year, but most deaths have happened over the past six weeks as violence between the Iran-backed militants and the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) escalated.Late on Wednesday and earlier on Thursday, further strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs, after the Israeli military ordered residents to evacuate several locations.This morning, one large airstrike hit a site next to Lebanon's only international ...

A "dangerously fast" wildfire in California fuelled by strong winds has spread, destroying dozens of homes and forcing thousands of people to flee - as forecasters warned of the potential for "extreme and life-threatening" blazes.The fire in Ventura County grew from less than half of a square mile to 16 square miles in just over five hours. Image: Firefighters have been racing to homes to save lives. Pic: AP "This fire is moving dangerously fast," Ventura County fire chief Dustin Gardner said."Bushes are burning, grass is burning, hedgerows are burning, agricultural fields are burning, and structures are burning." Image: Santa Paula, California. Pic: AP Th...

Australia's government has pledged to introduce what it described as "world-leading" legislation to ban children under the age of 16 from social media."Social media is doing harm to our kids and I'm calling time on it," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. "I've spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. They, like me, are worried sick about the safety of our kids online."The legislation will be introduced in the country's parliament during its final two weeks in session this year, beginning on 18 November.Mr Albanese said the age limit would take effect a year after the law is passed - with platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Elon Musk's X and Bytedance's TikTok using those 12 months to work on how to exclude Australian children under 16. Alphabet's...