DR Congo: Chinese nationals arrested with gold bars and $800,000 cash

Three Chinese nationals have been arrested with 12 gold bars and $800,000 (£650,000) in cash in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, officials say. The gold and money was hidden under…

Northern Ireland: Van driven into business and set alight in arson attack

Police are investigating a report of arson in Belfast city centre on Saturday night. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) received a report that a white Peugeot Partner van…

Wales: Caravan owner ‘felt trapped’ by £20,000 sale loss

A caravan owner has said she felt trapped into selling it back to the holiday park owner for a £20,000 loss after just four months when relocation plans did not…

USA: Washington Post cartoonist quits after Bezos satire is rejected

A Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist has resigned from the Washington Post after the newspaper refused to publish a cartoon satirical of the paper’s billionaire owner Jeff Bezos. Ann Telnaes, a long-time…

USA: Biden plans to send $8bn arms shipment to Israel

The US Department of State has notified Congress of a planned $8bn (£6.4bn) arms sale to Israel, an American official has confirmed to the BBC. The weapons consignment, which needs…

UK: ‘Visit Hull’ invitation to Trump after social post

Donald Trump is being invited to Hull to see for himself the impact of renewable energy on the region after the US president-elect criticised the UK’s move away from oil…

China: Apple offering rare iPhone discounts

Shoppers in China are getting rare discounts on iPhones as Apple faces growing competition from local brands. The four-day promotion, which starts this Saturday (4 January), includes discounts of as…

USA: China’s overqualified youth taking jobs as drivers, labourers and film extras

China is now a country where a high-school handyman has a master’s degree in physics; a cleaner is qualified in environmental planning; a delivery driver studied philosophy, and a PhD…

Sweden: Green industry hopes hit by Northvolt woes

Heavy snow blends into white thick clouds in Skellefteå, a riverside city in northern Sweden that is home to 78,000 residents. It’s also the location of what was supposed to…

USA: Biden blocks Nippon Steel from buying US Steel

US President Joe Biden says he has blocked the proposed $14.9bn (£12bn) purchase of US Steel by Japanese rival Nippon Steel. A White House announcement of his executive order cited…