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Travis King arrives back on US soil from N Korea
By Malu Cursino BBC News US soldier Travis King has arrived back in the US after being expelled from North Korea following his two-month detention. He was shown on video disembarking from a plane in San Antonio, Texas, at about 01:30 eastern time (05:30 GMT). The 23-year-old reconnaissance specialist illegally crossed into North Korea from…
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Nagorno-Karabakh state will cease to exist in January, says leader
By Kathryn Armstrong BBC News The leader of Armenia’s self-declared Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh has said it will cease to exist in the new year. Samvel Shahramanyan announced on Thursday that he had signed an order dissolving all state institutions from 1 January. The region, which had been controlled by Armenians for three decades, was seized…
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Ujjain: India anger as minor rape victim walks around for help
By Meryl Sebastian BBC News, Kochi A video showing a young girl walking around seeking help after being raped has sparked anger in India. Many people expressed outrage after CCTV footage showed a man appearing to wave the girl away when she approaches him. But police told local media that the girl, who walked around…
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Burkina Faso junta says it foiled coup attempt
By Wycliffe Muia & Beverly Ochieng BBC News Burkina Faso’s security and intelligence services foiled a coup attempt on Tuesday, according to the country’s military government. It alleged that officers and others had planned to destabilise the country and throw it into chaos. It has been almost a year since the interim President Capt Ibrahim…
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The Robot wolves trying to scare off Japan’s bears
Bear attacks in Japan have been rising at an alarming rate, so the city of Takikawa installed a robot wolf as a deterrent. The robot wolf was originally designed to keep wild animals from farmlands, but is now being used by local governments and managers of highways, golf courses, and pig farms. Japan’s environment ministry…
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BBC helps free suspected migrants stuck in refrigerated lorry
By Khue B. Luu BBC News Vietnamese, London Six suspected migrants have been rescued from the back of a lorry in France, after the BBC helped track them down and alert the police. The four Vietnamese women and two Iraqi women were trapped inside, panicking and struggling to breathe. One of them spoke to the…
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Russians queue up to see Barbie film despite sanctions
By Steve Rosenberg Russia Editor Officially, the Barbie movie isn’t showing in Russia. But unofficially… I’m in a Moscow shopping centre. A giant pink house has been erected next to the food court. Inside: pink furniture, pink popcorn and life-size cardboard cut-outs of Barbie and Ken who are beaming from ear to ear. No wonder…
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Evergrande: China property giant suspends shares amid reports of detained leaders
By Mariko Oi Business reporter Shares in crisis-hit Chinese property giant Evergrande have been suspended in Hong Kong amid reports its chairman has been placed under police surveillance. It follows reports earlier this week that other current and former executives had also been detained. Thursday’s market statement did not give a reason for the trading…
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Haikun: Taiwan unveils new submarine to fend off China
By Tessa Wong Asia Digital Reporter, BBC News Taiwan has unveiled its first domestically-made submarine as it bolsters its defences against a possible Chinese attack. President Tsai Ing-wen presided over the launch ceremony in the port city of Kaohsiung on Thursday. US officials have warned that China could be militarily capable of mounting an invasion…
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Danushka Gunathilaka: Sri Lankan cricketer found not guilty of rape
By Tiffanie Turnbull BBC News, Sydney A Sri Lankan cricketer accused of raping a woman while in Australia for the T20 World Cup has been found not guilty. Danushka Gunathilaka, 32, was accused of assaulting the Sydney woman at her home after a Tinder date in November. Initially he was charged with multiple counts of…