Monday, April 17, 2017

North Korea warns of nuclear strike • Prince William calls for less 'stiff upper lip' • Facebook reacts to posted killing

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By Justin Parkinson

North Korea warns of nuclear strike on US

It's not backing down. North Korea is promising to keep testing missiles, despite American warnings. Vice-Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol tells the BBC any US plans for an attack on his country will result in a "nuclear pre-emptive strike".

President Donald Trump has sent a navy strike force towards the Korean peninsular and Vice-President Mike Pence has reiterated American "resolve". Meanwhile, China, North Korea's most powerful ally, is urging restraint on all sides.

Unpredictability at play over North Korea

While the state of technological advancement of North Korea's weapons programme matters deeply to the outside world, in particular its near neighbours, the hostile rhetoric is rarely something to take at face value. Read between the lines and, mostly, it is always conditional, peppered with ifs and buts.

Read full analysis >

John Sudworth

BBC News, in Pyongyang

Other top stories

Prince Harry has won widespread praise for revealing that he sought counselling to deal with the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. Now his brother the Duke of Cambridge is urging greater openness over emotional issues, saying British people need to drop the "stiff upper lip" if it's damaging their mental health. Talking about feelings is a "sign of strength" rather than weakness, he tells a magazine produced by the charity Campaign Against Living Miserably.

Childminder Kate Langley had to give up her business because of the pain she suffered after having a vaginal mesh implant on the NHS. They are used to treat pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence after childbirth. But the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme has learned that more than 800 women are taking legal action against the NHS and makers over effects Ms Langley calls "barbaric". One manufacturer said it was "vigorously defending litigation".

“We know we need to do better,” says a Facebook executive, after the company was accused of not dealing adequately with violent content. A video showing the killing of Robert Godwin, a 74-year-old US grandfather, was posted at the weekend and remained up for more than two hours. Police are still looking for the suspect, 37-year-old Steve Stephens.

What the papers say

Much is made of the Duke of Cambridge's comments on mental health. The Sun uses the headline "Stiff upper flip", while the Mail concentrates on his desire to bring up his own children in a way that enables them to talk about their own emotions. The Telegraph says that Prince Harry's revelation that he sought counselling over the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, has prompted ministers to plan for more access to mental health workers in schools.

Meanwhile, the i focuses on North Korea's threat of nuclear strikes against America. And the Guardian visits the site in Afghanistan where what's been described as the "mother of all bombs" was dropped by the US, saying people it spoke to in the area thought so-called Islamic State had taken a "fatal hit".

Daily digest

Turkey referendum - Trump congratulates Erdogan after he wins new powers

'Super sewer' - Work starts on making the Thames cleaner

Cereal sale - US firm expected to buy Weetabix

Malala's mum - What does she make of her daughter's life and campaigns?

Bigly wriggly - First live specimens of giant shipworm found

If you watch one thing today

Rahmah's story: 'I am a Chinese hijabi'

If you listen to one thing today

What accounts for Le Pen's popularity?

If you read one thing today

Does the weather make a difference to arthritis?

Tuesday lookahead

Morning Parents in England find out the primary schools where their children have been offered places.

08:10 Cressida Dick, the new Chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, is interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

19:00 National Front candidate Marine Le Pen holds a rally in Marseille, four days ahead of the first round of France's presidential election.

19:45 Leicester City play the second (home) leg of their Champions League quarter-final match against Atletico Madrid. The first leg ended 1-0 to Atletico.

On this day

1906 An earthquake and a fire in San Francisco kill around 3,000 people and destroy more than three quarters of the city.

1955 Scientist Albert Einstein, originator of the theory of relativity, dies, aged 76. In 1999 Time magazine names him its person of the century.

1968 London Bridge is sold to a US oil company. It will be dismantled and reconstructed in Arizona.

1994 West Indies cricketer Brian Lara scores 375 in a Test match against England, breaking Sir Garfield Sobers' record score of 365.

2015 The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame inducts performers including Ringo Starr, Lou Reed and Bill Withers.

Best of the rest

A father and son go on their final odyssey
(New Yorker)

Getting pregnant with twins helped me fall in love
(Sydney Morning Herald)

How Lisbon transformed itself into the capital of cool
(Guardian)

First woman to run Boston Marathon does it again
(Washington Post)

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