-
Sudha Murty: Why her comment over spoons divided Indians
Getty Images By Geeta Pandey BBC News, Delhi Food is used across the world to unite people. But in India, a comment from popular author, philanthropist and educator Sudha Murty on her food habits has set social media abuzz with a lively debate about vegetarianism. The lives of Ms Murty and her husband – Indian…
-
Lee Meng-chu: Taiwan businessman accused of spying in China is freed
By Joy Chang BBC Chinese Tears ran down Lee Meng-chu’s face as he got ready to board a plane at Beijing airport on Monday. The flight out of China marked the end of a harrowing ordeal for the Taiwanese businessman who had been held in the country for more than 1,400 days. “I felt a…
-
Trump, DeSantis and other Republican rivals to share Iowa stage
Getty Images By Brandon Drenon BBC News Republican presidential hopefuls will share a stage for the first time in the 2024 White House race at an Iowa campaign event. Chief rivals Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis will headline the fundraiser at a state Republican party fundraiser. Mr Trump and a dozen other candidates will each…
-
Carlee Russell: Alabama woman who faked kidnapping charged
Hoover Police Department By Madeline Halpert BBC News, New York An Alabama woman who admitted to faking her own kidnapping has been charged over the hoax. Carlee Russell, 25, faces two misdemeanours: one of false reporting to law enforcement and another of falsely reporting an incident. The nursing student called police on 13 July claiming…
-
Stolen dog Twiglet back home with elated owner
Twiglet the dachshund has been safely returned home after being stolen by a burglar who broke into her owner’s property. Jo Vindis spoke to the BBC, saying she was elated that her pet had been found. Security camera footage showed the animal being captured a man holding a hammer. Police shared the video online and…
-
The other American women’s team at World Cup
Getty Images By Joel Guinto in Singapore & Holly Honderich in Washington BBC News One of the shocks of the women’s World Cup was Philippines beating co-hosts New Zealand this week. It was a victory forged thousands of miles away, where most of the triumphant team were born. Sarina Bolden, who made history by scoring…
-
Vietnam jails 50 in mass bribery trial over Covid-19 flights
Getty Images By Nadeem Shad BBC News A court in Vietnam has jailed 54 people, including several high-ranking officials and a former minister, in one of the country’s largest ever bribery and corruption cases. Judges said the accused had extorted money from people taking repatriation flights during the Covid-19 pandemic. One former minister was sentenced…
-
Niger military coup: What you need to know
AFP By Robert Plummer BBC News Niger’s democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum has been overthrown by the very people who were supposed to protect and uphold his office – the presidential guards who stood watch outside his palace. President Bazoum was the first elected leader to succeed another in Niger since independence in 1960. Now…
-
Ukraine moves Christmas Day in snub to Russia
EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock By Jaroslav Lukiv BBC News Ukraine has moved its official Christmas Day state holiday from 7 January to 25 December, the latest move aimed at distancing itself from Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed into law a parliamentary bill that aimed to “abandon the Russian heritage of imposing Christmas celebrations”. In recent years, Kyiv has…
-
How Sinéad O’Connor changed Ireland
Agf/Shutterstock The huge outpouring in the Irish Republic since the death of Sinead O’Connor reflects a late realisation that she helped the country confront its own trauma, writes Una Mullally. Underneath the oversized photographs of the Irish rock and roll Wall of Fame at a vigil this week in Dublin’s Temple Bar, her image stood…