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Saudi Arabia reforms: Are they good news for women?

A recent announcement gave more freedoms to women, but there are concerns they don't go far enough.

The new rule announced on Friday allows women over the age of 21 to apply for a passport without authorisation, putting them on an equal footing to men. Women are also being given the right to register births, marriage or divorce.

But the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia remains in the spotlight. BBC gender and identity reporter, Megha Mohan explains why.

5 August 2019

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Snowy Saturday as Storm Bert sweeps the UK

With some travel disruption, children and dogs have been enjoying the cold weather

Watch: Scotland under a blanket of snow from Storm Bert

Science & Environment

BBC Middle East correspondent Hugo Bachega at scene of destroyed building in Beirut, Lebanon

Beirut strike 'so powerful it was felt across the city'

BBC Scotland's Judith Ralston says snow will extend into northern Scotland over the next few hours.

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NE, Orkney & Shetland

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Atmospheric river dumps snow and record rain on California

Science & Environment

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BBC News

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Birmingham & Black Country

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BBC Newsline

BBC Newsline signed summary

BBC Scotland weather presenter Christopher Blanchett in front of a weather map of Scotland showing snow warnings.

Watch the Storm Bert weather forecast for Scotland

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Power station demolition captured by drone

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Adam Kassak (on the left) and Ali Baydoun smile at the camera with their arms crossed in front of their chests

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Damaged building in Iran

Strikes on Tehran another big escalation - Jeremy Bowen

Israel has launched air strikes on Iran, with blasts heard in the capital Tehran.

Projectiles in sky over Tehran

Projectiles seen in sky over Tehran

Israel says it has conducted "precise strikes on military targets" in Iran.

Daniel Hagari

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Drivers near the city of Sharjah stopped their cars to watch the spiralling spectacle.

The BBC's Orla Guerin is taken on a tour of Al Sahel Hospital in Beirut

BBC tours hospital Israel says sits above millions in Hezbollah gold

The BBC’s Orla Guerin is taken on a tour of Al Sahel Hospital in Beirut.

Yahya Sinwar

BBC Verify analyses footage of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's killing

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IDF drone footage 'shows Sinwar in final moments'

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Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu says focus on hostages after Sinwar death

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BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, in the BBC newsroom

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The Israel Defense Forces say it has killed the Hamas leader, the man seen as responsible for 7 October.

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Nick Eardley from BBC Verify

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