heading home — the american soldier travis king, who fled to north korea injuly, is back in us custody. hundreds gather for the first funerals of the victims of a fire at an iraqi wedding, in which around 100 people were killed. the largest untapped oilfield in the uk gets the go—ahead. hundreds ofjobs could be created, but environmental campaigners say it is reckless. us republican presidential hopefuls face off at ronald reagan's presidential library for the second debate. and crisis at the uk channel gb news as two of its presenters are suspended after comments made about a female politicaljournalist. live from our studio in singapore... this is bbc news. it's newsday.

hello and welcome to the programme. the us soldier travis king, who was being held in north korea, is due home in the coming hours. he was handed over to us officials in china, although the circumstances of his return have not been fully revealed. private king entered north korea by running across the demilitarised zone from south korea injuly. he had been due to be flown to the us to face military disciplinary proceedings, when he escaped his escort. north korea earlier said it would expel the soldier for illegally entering its territory. us national security adviser jake sullivan has thanked both china and sweden for their assistance in gaining private king's release. jean mckenzie reports. jean mackenzie reports. this is travis king moments before he ran into north korea during a tour of the demilitarised zone. the us soldier had been in trouble with the south korean authorities and was being

sent home to be disciplined by the army. the north koreans have kept his whereabouts a total secret. but behind the scenes, an extraordinary operation has been unfolding. sweden played chief negotiator, acting on behalf of the us. they went into north korea to get private king and took him across the border to china, where a us team was waiting to fly him home. there is a slither of geopolitical hope in all this that, despite current military tensions between north korea and the united states, both sides were able to arrange travis king's safe return, and with help from china. a us official said this showed the importance of keeping channels of communication open, while adding they'd made no concessions to the north to make this happen. private king is said to be in good health and good spirits, excited to be heading home.

any disciplining will wait, the us says, until his medical and emotional needs have been met and he's been reunited with his family. jean mackenzie, bbc news, in seoul. earlier, i spoke to our north america correspondent sean dilley about the case. sketchy. little sketchy. us officials had said that they'd been told through diplomatic channels that he probably would be released at some point. the release — or technically, it's an expulsion by the north korean authorities — came rather abruptly. the country essentially says it treated him as a criminal who they've removed rather than potentially having used him as more of a bargaining chip. the white house says that that decision�*s probably motivated to a degree by the fact that, as a low—ranking soldier, they didn't feel that they could have got any more diplomatic capital out of it. but it's certainly a welcome

development for his family and the us army who, no matter what they do down the line, are just pleased to have their soldier back. sean, it's still a bit of a mystery about why he crossed over, of course, what happened after that. what do we know from us officials about the case till now? well, us officials have said that their focus is obviously on reintegrating private king into the united states. they'll look after his medical, his physical and his mental health needs because they will want to debrief him. they'll want to know how he was treated in north korean custody. he obviously will face the consequences of unlawfully crossing into north korea. he already was declared, of course, as being absent without leave. and he had already been on his way back to the united states to face disciplinary action after serving time in a south korean prison on an assault conviction. the us authorities are obviously going to be very concerned for his welfare, first and foremost.

and almost, you can kind of divide this into two sections, really, two considerations — that of making sure that the us citizen, their soldier is safe. and then, obviously, secondly, they will be particularly eager to say to other servicemen and women that, obviously, the consequences are something that you would face in due course — not their priority for the moment. certainly in terms of future relations with north korea, the us government say they don't believe that this is any breakthrough moment. the release itself, the north koreans have said previously that private king had claimed discrimination and racism. mrs gates, his mother, had also said that she had been concerned about similar expressions that he had made to her. but the full motivation is obviously very unclear. live now to ambassador robert r king, former special envoy for north korea human rights issues at the us

department of state. thank you very much. at the time of his injury, many experts predicted that this could be a long, drawn out process in order to return mr king to the us. how do you react to the speed at which this has happened?- react to the speed at which this has happened? much faster than i think _ this has happened? much faster than i think most _ this has happened? much faster than i think most of— this has happened? much faster than i think most of us - than i think most of us expected. the circumstances are different, though. this is a person who was not detained while he was in north korea visiting for some purpose or another, but someone who had crossed the border and wanted to get into north korea, was trying to escape from the us and from south korea. so, it's and from south korea. so, it's a little different from most cases. in most cases, these are american citizens trying to leave north korea to go home. this is kind of the opposite twist. �* , ., ., ., twist. ambassador king, what do ou think twist. ambassador king, what do you think could _ twist. ambassador king, what do you think could have _ twist. ambassador king, what do

you think could have been - twist. ambassador king, what do you think could have been the i you think could have been the likely process that was undertaken to try and secure the release of travis king? could some kind of deal have been struck? let could some kind of deal have been struck?— could some kind of deal have been struck? let me begin by sa in: i been struck? let me begin by saying i have _ been struck? let me begin by saying i have no _ been struck? let me begin by saying i have no special - been struck? let me begin by| saying i have no special inside knowledge. i haven't talked with any senior officials that have been involved. i'm just giving you my guest. —— my guess. i'm not sure that there's not much involved. most there's not much involved. most the time in the past, north korea has held onto citizens travelling to the country because there's an interest in their being permitted to leave north korea. there is a case where someone was unhappy with his situation in the military, was returning to the us for possibly disciplinary action, and he made the decision to run across the border and get into north korea in order to avoid being sent back to the united states. so, the circumstances are quite different, and where

to get the opposite direction of what would go back one usually finds. —— what one usually finds. —— what one usually finds. —— what one usually finds. this doesn't strike me as necessarily an indication of trying to improve the relationship with the united states. there are few and if indications of progress in other areas, and this is simply a case of dealing with an american who ended up there without expecting to be... without their expecting him. i think one thing that may have caused the north koreans to be a little more cautious is the experience they had involving the americans, who died when he was a north korean custody. the north koreans were cautious

this time to avoid something like that happening again. infer? like that happening again. very briefl , like that happening again. very briefly. you _ like that happening again. very briefly, you don't _ like that happening again. very briefly, you don't think- like that happening again. very briefly, you don't think this really shows any kind of an example of the us and north korea possible negotiations or something like that? hat something like that? not reall , something like that? not really. i _ something like that? not really, i don't _ something like that? not really, i don't think... . something like that? not really, i don't think... if. really, i don't think... if we're going to progress on negotiations dealing with any kind of political issues, it's got to be something... there's got to be something... there's got to be conditions that lead in that direction. with the kind of things that have been going on recently, the lack of access to north korea by anyone, with the problems of north korea and china cooperating on ukraine, this is not likely to lead anywhere as

far as i can see the point all right, ambassador robert king, thank you for your time here on newsday. thanks. to iraq now, where the first funerals have been held for the victims of a fire in northern iraq, in which around 100 people died. the blaze started when fireworks were set off in the hall in al—hamdaniya. 14 people have been arrested — including the owner of a wedding venue. the iraqi government says the findings of the investigation will come out in a few days, but what they know so far is safety precautions were not fulfilled. a warning — you may find some of laura trant�*s report distressing. the clean—up for many in the community. hope has died out. translation: we buried i6 hope has died out. translation: we buried 16 persons today from our family. we buried 16 persons today from ourfamily. adults we buried 16 persons today from our family. adults and

children.— our family. adults and children. , ., ., , children. hundreds of mourners attended a _ children. hundreds of mourners attended a funeral— children. hundreds of mourners attended a funeral for— children. hundreds of mourners attended a funeral for some - children. hundreds of mourners attended a funeral for some ofl attended a funeral for some of the victims. theirfaces attended a funeral for some of the victims. their faces seen on images carried by their loved ones. translation: we have no more feelings, we no longer— we have no more feelings, we no longer feel— we have no more feelings, we no longer feel anything because we all know— longer feel anything because we all know each other here. each one of— all know each other here. each one of us— all know each other here. each one of us has a relative or a neighbour— one of us has a relative or a neighbour or a family member. we were— neighbour or a family member. we were all one family here. this— we were all one family here. this is— we were all one family here. this is the _ we were all one family here. this is the moment when tragedy sparks. hundreds gathered together to celebrate this christian wedding. as a writing group dance, the fire spread fast and trapped many. witnesses and officials that it was sparked by fireworks fuelled by flammable panels covering the hall. those who are injured have been transferred to hospitals across the area, including this nearby city and in neighbouring kurdistan region. police made

arrests, including workers, the owner in the hall, and people who set off the fireworks. it's been reported that the iraqi interior ministers said the blaze was caused by fireworks, which led to the roof burning heavily and collapsing on the citizens. there's been criticism of the materials used. the prime minister said there would be building and safety inspections, with the relevant authorities held accountable for any negligence. the findings of the inspection are expected in the coming days. laura trant, bbc news. the go—ahead has been given to develop the uk's largest untapped oil and gas field in the north sea. rosebank, which is about 80 miles — or 130 kilometres — west of shetland, is expected to produce the equivalent of 300 million barrels of oil during its lifetime. the companies behind it, and the government, say it will create hundreds ofjobs and raise billions of pounds. but last month, 50 mps and peers from all major

parties raised concerns the oil field could produce 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide at a time when the uk is trying to reduce emissions to tackle climate change. here's our business editor simonjack. for over 50 years, the waters around the uk have provided oil, gas, jobs, tax and carbon emissions. but reserves are dwindling and the uk is now a net importer of oil and gas, while the owners are the biggest new development for decades say this is a good day for the uk. it's an investment into energy security and jobs in the uk. there's a continued need for oil and gas through the entire transition and even after net zero, we will need oil and gas in our daily lives and to run the society as we know it. so, will this decision help improve the uk's energy security?

no, says the man who conducted a landmark energy and climate review. it will not improve the uk's energy security. it will be sold on world markets. if we were in a crisis, we couldn't really divert it to the uk. and, of course, it may slow us down in the development of onshore, offshore when the renewables are the ones which are most secure and that's where we should be looking for security. even energy industry bodies concede that rosebank will do little, if anything, to increase security and lower prices, but is there a positive economic impact? yes, says the government and the other partner in the project. we're talking about an £8 billion investment in the uk over the lifetime of rosebank. that is a huge amount ofjob creation, that's a huge amount of tax revenue that will be created. we're talking about communities that live up in scotland and communities across the uk that will benefit from investment. countries, by and large, like it when there are large investments of infrastructure

at scale in theirjurisdiction, and this is a large investment at scale. so there's a lot of benefits to the uk. but the benefits are hotly disputed by others. there is no real economic profit to be had for the uk public from this field. all of those profits are going to these private, multi—billion pound companies and it's not going to make a scrap of difference in the everyday life of most people across the uk. this is a huge mistake — on economic grounds, on energy security grounds and on climate grounds, and that the uk public do not stand to benefit from this field. and what will today's decision mean for the climate? experts say when it comes to emissions, what happens between now and 2050 matters. it's today's emissions - plus tomorrow's emissions, plus the emissions the dayl after — all the way to 2050. and you add those up l to get your contribution to global warming. so, to pretend that all that i matters is net zero by 2050 is to misunderstand the science.

the government insists that home grown oil and gas has a lower carbon footprint than importing it from halfway around the world. but others argue that the climate doesn't care where oil is drilled and carbon emitted and the best way to increase energy security, bring down bills emissions and createjobs is to invest more heavily in renewable energy sources. simon jack, bbc news. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news in the uk. a teenage boy has been arrested after a 15—year—old girl was stabbed to death in croydon in south london on her way to school. police say the boy, who may have known the victim, was arrested shortly after she died at the scene. she was attacked after getting off a bus. the uk's first consumption room for illegal drugs has been approved by officials in glasgow. the facility is backed by the scottish government as

a way to tackle the country's drugs deaths crisis. the pilot scheme will be based at a health centre and users will take their own drugs under the supervision of trained health professionals. mps are calling for a much bolder approach to reducing persistent school absence in england. the latest figures show, more than a fifth of pupils the latest figures show more than a fifth of pupils are missing at least 10% of lessons — about double the pre—pandemic total. ministers say they're increasing support for schools, including introducing mentors to work with families. you're live with bbc news. let's turn to india now, where there has been a second day of violent protests in the north eastern state of manipur after the discovery of the bodies of two students who disappeared in july. the state has seen a spate of violence between different communities over the past few months. samira hussain reports.

protests, rubber bullets, tear gas. this latest flare—up is the largest since ethnic violence began back in may. these protesters were marching in the capital when they were met by security forces. several dozens have been injured — an internet ban imposed, a controversial anti—insurgency law in effect, giving security forces full control of the state. this comes after photos emerged of the two teenagers who had been missing since july. the bbc spoke with the girl's fatherjust last month — he was hopeful to the end. translation: | expected| that she would come back, with this hope, i keep living even though there is so much sorrow.

for the kind of person she is, i am hopeful they will let her go. the photos confirm news that no parent wants to hear. the situation in manipur has been tense, since violence broke out between the two communities. since may, 200 have been killed. and the violence continues. both communities say it is impossible to live with each other after all of these atrocities, making it hard to see when this conflict will end. samira hussain, bbc news, delhi. to the us now, and in california, republican presidential hopefuls are gearing up for another debate. seven candidates seeking the republican nomination will be on stage at the reagan presidential library

in california. it is the second of three televised debates. the bbc�*s caitriona perry is in simi valley in california in front of ronald reagan presidential library. she's with us to talk us through what we are expecting. the former president donald trump remains dominant over the rest by a margin of more than 40 rest by a margin of more than a0 points. how crucial is this debate for the other republican hopefuls? it's really important. this is their chance to speak to the nation, to break through a lot of the space that's occupied by donald trump a lot of the time. this is an opportunity when people will look to see what they have to say, where they can remind people of what the republican party stands for. we're here at the ronald reagan presidential library to remind people at a time where the

republican party was... what it's like to be a conservative. but their policies are and what they stand for, and the age that we live in at the moment is less about the people who are going to sit down and watch this debate and the people might see a cliff on their phone tomorrow. who might get all of the two hours summarise for them intojust all of the two hours summarise for them into just a all of the two hours summarise for them intojust a quick all of the two hours summarise for them into just a quick ten takeaways. forthe for them into just a quick ten takeaways. for the seven candidates, they want to be one of those top ten takeaways. they want their moment, their performance to be the standout one for voters. yes, donald trump is ahead in almost all the polls by a0 points or so, but opinion polls are opinion polls and the ones that matter are the ones are when voters actually go to the polls and put their money where their mouth is. put their money where their

mouth is— put their money where their mouth is. ., ., ., mouth is. you mentioned donald trum - mouth is. you mentioned donald trump and _ mouth is. you mentioned donald trump and this _ mouth is. you mentioned donald trump and this is _ mouth is. you mentioned donald trump and this is marked - mouth is. you mentioned donald trump and this is marked by - mouth is. you mentioned donald trump and this is marked by his| trump and this is marked by his absence. how has that played out so far?— out so far? just as it was in milwaukee, _ out so far? just as it was in milwaukee, a _ out so far? just as it was in milwaukee, a month - out so far? just as it was in milwaukee, a month ago, i out so far? just as it was in i milwaukee, a month ago, it's out so far? just as it was in - milwaukee, a month ago, it's an unusual situation for a party to have its front runner not come along to the debate. not to tell people what it is to be a conservative, what is to be a republican. it will be interesting to see if we have a situation as we had in milwaukee where the other candidates which almost an hour ago. so, we'll see if the same approach is taken here tonight. 0f approach is taken here tonight. of course, he is in detroit, he is addressing auto workers, although he has angered the union there. joe biden went to a picket line of the uaw trade union last night. donald trump and joe biden themselves already in head—to—head campaign mode there. but again,

donald trump seeking to steal some of the thunder the republican party, from what is one of their marquee moments. caitriona perry, we'll connect with you again on subsequent shows to get more on that. thanks very much. british tv channel gb news has suspended two of its main presenters after comments they made on air. the broadcaster described the remarks about a female political journalist as completely unacceptable. 0ur entertainment correspondent david sillito reports. let's move on to the bbc, laurence... dan wootton, gb news presenter, talking to actor and regular gb news contributor laurence fox, in a discussion about a debate that had taken place on the bbc, featuring the journalist ava evans. laurence fox was asked what he made of it. we're past the watershed, so i can say this. show me a single self—respecting man who would

like to climb into bed with that woman ever. he then went on to repeat the comments, but in rather more blunt language — this time, with laughter from dan wootton. who'd want to shag that? look, she... a few hours later, the channel had some breaking news of its own. we begin this bulletin with some breaking news. i can tell you that gb news, this company, has suspended its presenter dan wootton. a few hours later, the channel had some breaking news of its laurence fox has also been suspended and ava evans has received a formal apology. honestly, not to cast doubt on our media landscape, but i didn't actually think anything was going to happen, especially not when i first saw the clip last night. i didn't think anything was going to come off it. i don't want to say i'm pleased by it. i just think that that's probably the best outcome i could have hoped for. it is, of course, not the first time the channel

has run into trouble. this, one of three breaches of tv rules about impartiality and politicians presenting news. you're watching gb news... and on tonight's dan wootton show it was... ..mark dolan. laurence fox may be unrepentant, but for gb news, this has crossed a line. we have freedom of speech, but not freedom from the fallout. i david sillito, bbc news. you can find more details on that story on the bbc news website. you can get all the details of all the interviews as well as videos on the news website. next very much for watching. to stay on the bbc news. —— do stay on with bbc news. hello there. well, it's rather stormy on wednesday out towards

the north and the west, storm agnes clearing, of course, overnight. and then thursday, it's looking a lot calmer. it'll still be rather blustery, particularly through the morning. still some coastal gales in northern scotland, but some sunshine around for most, clouding overfrom the west into the afternoon. so, there goes storm agnes, that deep area of low pressure, gradually filling the winds, lightning and the rain pulling away, too. it is a mild start to thursday morning. temperatures no lower for most of us than 13—15 celsius, so more or less what some spots would expect to see by day at this time of year. now, we're between weather systems, so it's a dry and a bright start. still rather blustery out there. brisk south—westerly winds, possibly some coastal gales for northern scotland. clouding over from the west as we head through the afternoon and parts of northern ireland and western scotland, maybe western wales will see some showers a bit later on through the day as well. temperatures a little lower than they were on wednesday, but still mild for the time of year — 16—20 celsius for most. now, on thursday night,

it does stay very mild indeed. we'll still see some outbreaks of rain, possibly a little feature just moving into the south and the east as we head into friday morning, too, potentially. a mild start to the day — lows between 12—16 celsius at this time. now, a little feature could possibly give us some outbreaks of rain towards the south and the east on friday morning, perhaps, but that is set to clear away. some showers towards the north—west of scotland again. but in the middle, there'll be a lot of dry, bright weather, plenty of sunshine around. the winds are a lot lighter, and again, temperatures are expected to peak at around 17—20 celsius. so, again, above the seasonal average, and that's generally where they're expected to stay as we head through the course of the weekend as well. now, there will be some wet weather around at times, i think particularly on saturday, from this area of low pressure just pushing in from the west there. so, turning rather wet, rather windy, towards western areas of scotland, northern ireland, possibly western wales as well as we head through the afternoon. but further south and east, it does look as if it

will stay largely dry. again, temperatures in the mid to the high teens for most, maybe 20 celsius in the south. those temperatures in the south and the east climbing further on sunday for the start of october. bye— bye.

after a sitting president, a presidential hopeful. donald trump set to visit auto workers in michigan a day after president joe biden's visit. golden week is just around the corner. will one of china's major holidays give its economy a much needed boost? hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm arunoday mukharji. we begin in michigan where in a few hours the former president donald trump is expected to speak, as an auto?workers�* strike continues to target some of the country's largest car manufacturers. unlike presidentjoe biden who visited michigan yesterday, trump will not be joining the picket line and will instead visit at a non?union auto manufacturer. one of the main issues at the heart of this labour dispute which has triggered these high profile visits is the transition to electric vehicles.

workers are determined these new green jobs