Britain says it has reached an agreement with Israel over its consulate in east Jerusalem, even as Israel said the building had “ceased to function” as a consulate and 20 diplomats would leave the country. The sign outside it was removed.
Here is the latest news from the Middle East on Thursday. Read our full coverage here.
The sign outside the consulate in East Jerusalem was taken down, but Britain said it had reached an agreement with Israel's government and a small team of diplomats would continue to operate there.
It was the latest development in a diplomatic standoff after Israel's government said it would close the consulate in response to the United Kingdom banning trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in a statement that the consulate had “ceased to function as a consulate today.” He said the U.K. would continue to operate with a “task force” of seven diplomats in the building and that “their scope of activity will be very limited.”
He added that “Israel will no longer turn its cheek to diplomatic attacks against it."
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said in a statement that the building “will not be closing, and will be known as the UK Mission, Jerusalem” after discussions with Israel's government. Saar said 20 British diplomats will leave Israel as a result of the dispute. Miliband said those remaining would continue to deliver "vital services” and work with Palestinians, with no details.
“This will ensure that we maintain our longstanding British presence and the U.K.’s role in support of a two-state solution,” he added. The U.K. said based on the current agreement, it would not take reciprocal action such as expelling Israeli diplomats from London.
This report will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.
A mosque's minaret and buildings are seen in the West Bank village of Abu Dis behind the Israel's separation wall near Jerusalem, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
SINGAPORE (AP) — The FIA has defended its handling of the Formula 1 car software bug which delayed the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia last weekend and pledged it will “strengthen” how the code is tested in future.
Several drivers, including seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, were left stuck on track when their cars lost power and had to be restarted on formation laps before Sunday's race.
The on-board software failed to cope with drivers taking a more cautious approach ahead of the first wet race for the 2026 cars, which have a near 50-50 split between engine and electrical power.
The FIA, the governing body for F1, on Thursday said its investigation found that cars “experienced a loss of power beyond the original intent and that could not be recovered.”
After the cars were stuck on track, the start was suspended as the FIA rushed out a software update. The race eventually started almost an hour later, with no obvious software-related incidents, though the track had dried much more by then.
The FIA says that update will be used again if it rains at this week's Singapore Grand Prix — the forecast says that's likely — with more changes at the following race on Oct. 25.
“As a result, the configuration established for the Sepang event will be reinstated for the Singapore Grand Prix should similar weather conditions be expected,” the FIA said. “Additionally, a further update to the wet weather software will be released for the United States Grand Prix.”
The FIA added that it, the teams and engine manufacturers “will continue to strengthen power unit software testing and verification capabilities, enhancing the overall validation process through independent assessment and collaborative feedback.”
Drivers were scathing of the software bugs last week in Malaysia. Hamilton likened driving the sluggish cars to gimmicky pre-race exhibitions the drivers have done previously and four-time champion Max Verstappen called for a “lesson learned.”
The FIA said it had conducted testing on the software which failed last week, but that took place in two practice sessions which were largely dry ahead of races in Belgium and the Netherlands.
See AP’s full auto racing coverage here
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steps on the podium after arriving in third place at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar of France steers his car during the formation lap prior to the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the formation lap prior to the delayed start of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
