USA US reveals plans to phase out private prisons The US government has announced plans to phase out privately-run prisons after an inquiry found they were less safe and no cheaper than public jails. 18/08/2016
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe police beat up activist who offers them flowers An activist in Zimbabwe offered police flowers as a peace gesture after protests turned violent – only to get the same treatment meted out to others the previous… 18/08/2016
South Sudan South Sudan opposition leader Riek Machar in exile in DRC The United Nations says it intervened on humanitarian grounds to help South Sudan’s former vice president and opposition leader in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of… 18/08/2016
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia: abandoned migrant workers refuse free flights home Thousands of migrant construction workers – abandoned by their employers in filthy desert camps in Saudi Arabia amid the kingdom’s economic slump – say they will not accept a government offer of free 18/08/2016
Turkey Turkey: blasts blamed on PKK militants leave more than a dozen dead At least 14 people are reported dead – mostly police and soldiers – and around 300 injured after three bomb blasts in Turkey’s southeast. 18/08/2016
China Typhoon Dianmu heads for southern China Dianmu, a slow-moving and not particularly strong storm, is expected to cause heavy rainfall over parts of Guangdong, Hainan and Jiangxi provinces. 18/08/2016
Brazil Rio police say US swimmers made up robbery claim Four US swimmers who said they were robbed at gunpoint made up the story police say to cover up a vandalism incident. 18/08/2016
world news FGM provokes fierce debate in Dagestan A report about female genital mutilation (FGM) has sparked a fierce debate in the North Caucasus. Some clerics in Dagestan have defended the practice. 18/08/2016
USA Wildfire still raging out of control in Southern California Dry, hot and windy conditions continue to drive the Blue Cut wildfire in Southern California 18/08/2016
Sport Singapore sling as Schooling returns home to heroes welcome Thousands welcomed home gold medal hero Joseph Schooling after he won Singapore's first ever gold medal by beating none other than the great Michael Phelps in 100-metre butterfly final. 18/08/2016
United Kingdom How could extremist Anjem Choudhary speak to the media so freely? Extremist Islamic cleric StateAnjem Choudary has been convicted of exhorting people to support so-called Islamic State, but why was he given a platform by parts of Britain's media for years? 18/08/2016
France Three facing court over Corsica beach scuffles Three people – described as of ‘North African’ origin – are facing court after scuffles in Corsica, which left five people injured. 18/08/2016
Brazil Olympic Games, commentators and sexism in the press and TV Chis Boardman is the latest BBC commentator to be accused of sexism at the Rio Olympic Games. His comments came after Laura Trott won her second 18/08/2016
Turkey Qatar Airlines plane makes emergency landing in Istanbul Flames can be seen shooting from A330's port engine 18/08/2016
News Tokyo attempts to revive its historical connection with water Hundreds of years ago Tokyo was often referred to as the water city, until the focus shifted to the modern urban expanse that we know today 18/08/2016
no comment Zimbabwe police break up anti-government protest Security forces in Zimbabwe have broken up an anti-government protest in the capital, Harare. 18/08/2016
no comment Bolivia: priest blesses animals with holy water Hundreds of dog owners have had their pets blessed in the Bolivian city of El Alto as part of Saint Roch’s Day – named after the patron saint of dogs. 18/08/2016
United Kingdom World's largest aircraft takes off It is thought to be the world’s largest aircraft. 18/08/2016
no comment India: Kashmiri separatists demand UN intervention Protesters and supporters of Kashmiri separatist groups in Indian-controlled Kashmir have marched on the United Nation’s office in Srinagar, demanding the UN intervene in the Kashmir… 18/08/2016
Turkey Deadly explosions hit Turkey At least six people have been killed and nearly 200 wounded in two seperate car bomb blasts in Turkey. 18/08/2016
Thailand Thailand: 15 arrests following recent bombings Thailand’s military government has announced that 15 people are being detained a week after a series of bombings in the south of the country. 18/08/2016
