Author Archives: OP King

Pupils should be banned from taking smartphones into school, the minister for school standards in England has told the BBC. Nick Gibb spoke out ahead of the government publishing new guidance for schools, expected to address internet safety, social media and online gaming. It is expected to say children should be taught to limit theContinue reading “Ban phones in schools, says minister Nick Gibb”

Police searching for a 21-year-old student who went missing after leaving a club have said they have “significant concerns” about her safety. Libby Squire was last seen by her friends getting into a taxi outside The Welly on Beverley Road, Hull, at about 23:00 GMT on Thursday. The University of Hull student was then seenContinue reading “Libby Squire: ‘Significant concerns’ for missing Hull student”

Freezing temperatures are continuing to disrupt travel and sports events. A number of League One and League Two football matches have been postponed, some roads remain closed and hundreds of homes are without power. Parts of southern England saw 19cm (7.5in) of snow on Friday, with motorists stuck in vehicles overnight and falling trees blockingContinue reading “UK weather: Snow and ice still causing disruption”

Media captionVirginia governor says sorry for racist photo Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has apologised after his 1984 student yearbook page emerged, showing a photo featuring men in racist costumes. “I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then andContinue reading “Virginia Governor Ralph Northam sorry for racist yearbook photo”

Media captionFamilies are being evacuated Exceptional monsoon rains have caused severe flooding in parts of Australia’s north-eastern state of Queensland. Cars and livestock have been swept away over a large area around the coastal city of Townsville. Emergency crews are evacuating people on rafts. Up to 20,000 homes could be flooded if the downpours continue,Continue reading “Australia weather: Monsoon rains cause floods in Queensland”

The Turkish government is coming under renewed pressure to stop buying gold from Venezuela, the BBC has learned. A senior Western diplomatic source told the BBC that Turkey was now considered the main concern among the countries engaging in the trade. They added that there are growing suspicions that gold exported to Turkey was endingContinue reading “Turkey warned over Venezuela gold trade”

Belgium has agreed to host Ivory Coast ex-President Laurent Gbagbo following his acquittal by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. Under his conditional release, Mr Gbagbo will not be allowed to leave Belgium, pending an appeal. He was the first former head of state to go on trial at the ICC. He hadContinue reading “Ivory Coast ex-President Gbagbo to go to Belgium after ICC acquittal”

Super Bowl LIII: Why Atlanta artist Occasional Superstar paints murals of Colin Kaepernick The building on which a mural of Colin Kaepernick was painted in Atlanta has been demolished on Super Bowl weekend. Fabian Williams, the artist who painted the mural, posted a video of the site on social media on Friday, two days before Atlanta hostsContinue reading “Colin Kaepernick mural demolished on Super Bowl weekend”

Mr Guaidó has urged his supporters to “keep taking to the streets” Venezuela’s self-declared interim president Juan Guaidó has called on his tens of thousands of supporters to mobilise for nationwide demonstrations. Saturday’s protests are intended to ramp up pressure on President Nicolás Maduro to step down and call a snap presidential election. Mr GuaidóContinue reading “Venezuela crisis: Juan Guaidó plans major nationwide protests”

Media captionAre we on the cusp of a new nuclear arms race? Russia has suspended its involvement in the Cold War-era Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) following a similar decision by the US. President Vladimir Putin said Russia would start developing new missiles. On Friday, the US, which has long accused Russia of violating theContinue reading “INF nuclear treaty: Russia follows US in suspending pact”