North Korea Senior North Korean diplomat defects in London and turns up in Seoul The highest ranking North Korean official ever to defect is confirmed in Seoul along with his family after disappearing from his job in the London embassy several weeks ago. 17/08/2016
USA Thousands of homes under threat from southern California wildfires. High winds are driving a huge wildfire in southern California, cutting off the highway connecting Los Angeles with Las Vegas. 17/08/2016
world news Top European Olympic official temporarily steps down after Rio arrest Top European Olympic official Patrick Hickey has temporarily stepped down from his duties, after being arrested in Rio in connection with a police probe into illegal ticket… 17/08/2016
Turkey Turkey releasing thousands of criminals to free jail cells for those arrested over coup Turkey could release as many as 93,000 prison inmates to make room for the many thousands of suspects being arrested over last month's failed military coup. 17/08/2016
Sport Miller dive for 400m gold 'not part of the game plan' Shaunae Miller produced one of the most spectacular finishes in Olympic track and field on Monday when she dived over the line to beat American Allyson Felix and win gold in the women’s 400 metres… 17/08/2016
Greece Greece plans new migrant facilities amid claims of 'dirty' and 'unsafe' conditions Greece is reported to be planning new shelters, to help ease increasing pressure on overcrowded migrant camps. 17/08/2016
Kosovo Kosovo's success is overwhelmingly in US interest - Biden The US Vice President is on a political and personal visit to the Balkans, urging closer regional unity and visiting a road named after his late son, Beau. 17/08/2016
France Train crashes in southern France after hitting tree on the tracks A train crash near Montpellier in southern France has left eight people seriously injured and around 50 slightly hurt or suffering from shock. 17/08/2016
Russia Why has Iran let Russia use its bases for bombing Syria? Images of Russian jets bombing Syria have become commonplace since Russia decided to enter the war in support of the Assad regime last September. 17/08/2016
Russia Four militants killed in Russia anti-terror raid Four militants have been killed after Russian special forces stormed an apartment in St Petersburg as part of an anti-terrorism operation – according to… 17/08/2016
Zimbabwe Police break up bank protest in Zimbabwe Memories are still fresh of 2008 when inflation hit 500 billion percent, wiping out people's pensions and savings. 17/08/2016
Russia Russia hits back at US claims over its Syria raids from Iran Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has rejected US suggestions that it might be violating a UN resolution by using an Iranian air base to launch air strikes in Syria. 17/08/2016
France Around 60 people hurt in train crash in southern France Eight people have been seriously injured and around 50 slightly hurt after a train hit a fallen tree near Montpellier in southern France. 17/08/2016
Sport Rio Olympics: Graffiti mural in honour of Team Refugee Refugees competing in the Olympic Games have been honoured with a gigantic mural on Rio de Janeiro's Olympic Boulevard. 17/08/2016
USA Wildfire rages unchecked in California Hundreds of firefighters are battling a rapidly-spreading wildfire raging unchecked in drought-stricken San Bernardino County. 17/08/2016
South Sudan South Sudan : one year since peace deal One year to the day since the signing of the peace agreement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and there is renewed tension between the two warring factions in South… 17/08/2016
France French PM backs controversial burkini beach bans French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has thrown his support behind controversial burkini beach bans. 17/08/2016
Brazil Rio Olympics: Irish IOC member arrested over illegal ticket sales A member of the International Olympic Committee’s executive board has been arrested in Rio – in connection with a probe into illegal ticket sales. 17/08/2016
Turkey Tens of thousands of prisoners freed in Turkey The government has given no reason for the reform, which is part of a series of measures outlined in two state-of-emergency decrees. 17/08/2016
Russia Russia stripped of Beijing Olympic relay gold for doping RIO DE JANEIRO – Russia was stripped of a relay gold medal from the 2008 Beijing Games on Tuesday after one its athletes failed a retrospective 17/08/2016
world news Manus Island to close Australia and Papua New Guinea say they have finally reached agreement to close the controversial Australia-funded asylum seeker detention centre 17/08/2016
USA US election: Trump overhauls campaign team again Donald Trump has overhauled his election campaign team again, bringing in a new manager and CEO. 17/08/2016
no comment 360° video: experience Sziget Festival 2016 in timelapse The Sziget festival in Hungary, with 500,000 attendees, is the largest in Europe. 17/08/2016
world news What are the political positions of the Clinton-Kaine ticket? What are the political positions of the US presidential candidates on some the main campaign issues? 17/08/2016
USA Cannibal attack stuns Florida "Legal high" drug Flakka is under the spotlight after police find a 19-year-old student chewing the face of a stabbing victim. 17/08/2016
USA Wildfire near Los Angeles forces 80,000 people to evacuate A fast moving wildfire in southern California has forced the evacuation of more than 80,000 people just east of Los Angeles. 17/08/2016
no comment Moscow: wakeboarders take to the streets following torrential rain Russian wakeboard riders seized an opportunity to show off their skills in Moscow after water flooded the city streets following torrential rain on Monday. 17/08/2016
no comment Bolivia: believers of the Virgin of Urkupina break rocks to ask for favours during a religious procession Bolivian believers gathered on the outskirts of the capital La Paz on Monday (August 15) to take part in an annual religious celebration, that includes the breaking of river rocks to ask the Virgin of 17/08/2016
Ukraine Dreaming of peace: civilians suffer as fighting escalates in Eastern Ukraine Last week’s escalation of political tension between Moscow and Kyiv has brought the conflict in Eastern Ukraine back to the top of the news agenda. 17/08/2016
Mexico Son of Mexican drug lord 'El Chapo' Guzman kidnapped A son of Mexico’s infamous drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman was among a group of suspected criminals abducted in a top tourist resort. 17/08/2016
