BBC news with David Austin.
Syria says it hopes its compliance with the international weapons inspectors will help change minds about its government. The inspectors said earlier that all Syria's declared chemical weapons production facilities have been destroyed or made inoperable. James Robbins reports.
For weeks now, the specialist inspectors of the OPCW have been visiting Syria's chemical weapon factories, under their supervision, the Syrian government did much of the actual destruction often in that simply meant smashing out containers and pipework. The inspectors were only able to make a full visit to 21 of 23 chemical sites, the other two are in areas being X fought over in the civil war. But they are satisfied all material there has also been destroyed.
Here in Britain, the jury on the trial of eight former employees of Rupert Murdoch's media empire have been told two of the defendants were having in an affair. Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson are both former editors of the News of the World and areaccused of charges related to phone-hacking. Among the voicemail messages access were those of a 13-year-old girl, Milly Dowler who disappeared and was murdered. Robin Brant reports.
The prosecution said the jury needed to know about the affair because it showed the trust between the two people, a key element to the claim that they conspire to hack voicemails. The letter from 2004 was found hidden in a cupboard at Rebekah Brooks's house, she writes: You are my very best friend, I tell you everything, I confide in you, I seek your advice, I love you. The court was also told that the two and another defendants were involved in a criminal conspiracy to hack Milly Dowler's phone in the weeks after she disappeared over a decade ago.
Airline passengers in the United States will from next year be able to read eBooks, play games and browse the internet throughout their flights following a change in safety rules. Mobile phone calls will still be banned. Jonny Dymond reports.
For America's frequent flyers, it's one of the great frustrations of modern life, turning off their e-readers, tablets and electronic game in case that interfere with communications equipment on take-off or landing. But for those who fear reading a book and old fashioned newspaper or even the inflight magazine, relief is at hand. The Federal Aviation Administration says it will ease the take-off and landing rule. The vast majority of flights on US carriers should be electronic-device friendly very soon.
Reports from the Palestinian territories say that the members of the Palestinian negotiating team involved in peace talks with Israel have submitted their resignations. It's not clear whether the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will accept the resignations which include that of his lead negotiator, Saeb Erekat. On Wednesday, Israel announced plans to build 1,500 new settlement homes in east Jerusalem hours after releasing a number of Palestinian prisoners in a supposed confidence building measure.
World News from the BBC.
The United States government official has told the BBC that Israel launched an airstrike on a Syrian port city of Latakia.
The official who did not want to be named said the intended target was Russian made missiles. The airstrike is believed to have taken place late on Wednesday. Israeli officials have refused to comment on the allegations.
The International Criminal Court has postponed until February next year the trial of the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. Lawyers for Mr. Kenyatta asked for a delay, saying he was needed at home to deal with the aftermath of attack on the Westgate shopping center in Nairobi. Anna Holligan reports from The Hague.
President of Kenyatta is one of the big three accused of the organizing and orchestrating the post-election violence during which more than 1,000 Kenyans were shot, hacked or burnt to death. It is the first time a serving head of a state will face justice at an International Court, a 3-month delay reflects the complexities involved in preparing for such a high-profile trial. For the thousands of victims, their representative has told the BBC, this is unfortunate delay, they will be met with deep disappointment and frustration.
The French President Francois Hollande has told the representatives of the country's leading football clubs that he will not drop plans to levy a 75% super tax on people earning more than a million Euros a year. The clubs have threatened strike action in November unless they grant an exemption from the tax.
The head chef of the Elysee Palace in the French capital has been revealing the secret of several Presidents eating habits on the day he officially retires. Bernard Vaussion who's cooked for 40 years in the President's official residence, says Jacques Chirac was a true gourmands who likes specialities like calf's head while Nicolas Sarkozy avoided cheese and current boss, Francois Hollande simply likes eating.