To the us, and made his way to the Demilitarized Zone which separates the two koreas before running to the northern side. Pyongyang has now claimed private king was driven to come to north korea because of inhuman maltreatment and Racial Discrimination while serving in the us army. And the State News Agency goes on to claim that private king has admitted to crossing illegally, and has asked for refuge in the north. It is the first time north korea has knowledge detaining the soldier. The claims have not been verified, and in a Press Briefing the white house has urged people to be mindful of where the statement was made when considering its validity. We when considering its validity. Would caution everyo consider we would caution everyone to consider the source here. That is incredibly important as we are killing the report. We cant verify the comments that are being attributed to private king obviously. We remain focused on his safe return for the past several weeks and we are working through all available channels to achieve that outcome. None of it, it doesnt change anything. We want to make sure he gets home safely, he returns to his family safely and thats going to be our focus. A spokesperson for private kings family, jonathan franks, gave bbc news his reaction to the statement which was released by north korea. I dont know exactly what to make of that statement. Parts of it didnt make a lot of sense. I would of it didnt make a lot of sense. Iwould hesitate, i would caution folks against taking this at face value. North koreans have a long history of trying to exploit racial issues in the United States and we, not having heard from travis, we dont know. Have you heard from Private Travis King . Do you have any sense of his condition and how concerned are you about his safety . Concerned are you about his safe . ~. ,. ,. ,. , safety . We have not heard from him and no safety . We have not heard from him and no reports safety . We have not heard from him and no reports on safety . We have not heard from him and no reports on his him and no reports on his condition. Something about that statement suggested that perhaps, to me at least, hes been not treated terribly but we dont know and yes, his mother is terribly concerned and she wants her son back. Flan and she wants her son back. Can ou cive and she wants her son back. Can you give us and she wants her son back. Can you give us any and she wants her son back. Can you give us any more insight into the way private king might have felt that he was treated when he was a member of the us military because we did hear some hints of that obviously from the north koreans. We also heard something similar from his family earlier. His family earlier. Travis had sent a text his family earlier. Travis had sent a text to his family earlier. Travis had sent a text to an his family earlier. Travis had sent a text to an uncle sent a text to an uncle indicated he was experiencing racism. He did not elaborate so we dont know from whom, what kind of racism, there is a lot that we dont know. Sly would not necessarily see our statement as confirming the north koreans in any way. Private king of course, he wasnt a bit of trouble with south korean when he was stationed there, hed been an south korean prison. Was sent home to the United States he decided to cross the border. Do you have any sense how much those factors could have played into his decision to cross that border into north korea . We dont, border into north korea . We dont. And border into north korea . We dont. And i border into north korea . Dont, and i hesitate tojust guess outright but i will tell you that he had done his time in south korea. He was clear cleared by the south korean courts, he wasjust cleared by the south korean courts, he was just going home to texas to discharge from the military. To texas to discharge from the milita. ,. To texas to discharge from the milita. ,. ,. ,. , military. How aware do you think private military. How aware do you think private king military. How aware do you think private king might. Military. How aware do you l think private king might have been of the dangers of crossing the border of . He was a core stationed in south korea but anyone who is an American Military member could easily be jailed or put on trial if they were to cross this very heavily militarised border between the two countries. I militarised border between the two countries. Two countries. I dont know what he two countries. I dont know what he knew two countries. I dont know what he knew what two countries. I dont know what he knew what he two countries. I dont know. What he knew what he thought two countries. I dont know what he knew what he thought at the time because i never actually got to speak to him but certainly i would imagine that all us troops operating in the republic of korea, south korea, are briefed on the dangers of their neighbour to the north. We dangers of their neighbour to the north the north. We know that president the north. We know that president joe the north. We know that President Joe Biden the north. We know that President Joe Biden will| the north. We know that i President Joe Biden will be President Joe Biden will be hosting the leaders of South Korea And Japan coming up on friday at camp david. What do you hope they might discuss when it comes to travis . I dont know that i have an expectation that they will discuss travis. They have a lot on their agenda. Certainly anything the Us Government can do to facilitate him coming home is much appreciated and as the army and dod said last night, they remain focused on that goal, bringing him home. Of course, this is already been quite an ordealfor of course, this is already been quite an ordeal for travis and his family. How was his Family Coping . His family. How was his family coin . ,. , his family. How was his family cumin . ,. ,. , coping . They are overwhelmed. It is hard to coping . They are overwhelmed. It is hard to become coping . They are overwhelmed. It is hard to become sort coping . They are overwhelmed. It is hard to become sort of it is hard to become sort of involuntarily famous, right . When tv people are showing up your house on the phone number stops ringing. Its hard and thats on top of the emotional burden of being worried so i think they are coping with it heroically. But its difficult. That is the bbc speaking to private kings family spokesperson. Our North America correspondent sean dilley tried to predict what happens next. We are now instead going to stick with the United States where President Joe Biden has announced he will head to the fire Ravaged Hawaii State on monday to meet the survivors and First Responders still hunting for bodies. The number of dead has risen to 110. Mr biden� s announcement comes as the island continues to grapple with the aftermath of the catastrophic blazes. Here youre seeing the devastation in the Historic Town of la haina. Officials are anticipating a long and hard recovery effort. On tuesday, hawaiis governor josh green reported that over a quarter of the burn area had been canvassed by Search And Rescue personnel. According to the states main utility provider, roughly 2,000 homes and businesses were still without power, on top of an additional 2,000 structures that have already been destroyed. Town of la haina. Officials are anticipating a long and hard recovery effort. On tuesday, hawaiis governor josh green reported that over a quarter of the burn area had been canvassed by Search And Rescue personnel. Deanne criswell, from the federal Emergency Management agency, described the Current Situation as active and dynamic. I wanted to be honest with everyone. This is also going to be a very long and hard recovery but our federal, state and local partners are working around the clock to help all of those have been impacted by this disaster. We will be there to support them throughout this recovery process. I know in the present troubles, hes going to be able to bring hope and speak the governor and the states first lady and talk to survivors and hear their stories is that level of hope that i think is going to be a really positive impact for this community. Our North America correspondent John Sudworth sent us this update from hawaii. Theres been some criticism, of course, over the speed of the National Government response to this disaster. So it will be welcome news here on maui that the president and the first lady are coming here. Im in the community, we are some distance away from the devastated town, but nonetheless, you can see from these destroyed homes and businesses the power of the Weather Event that the fire crews were tackling that night. The same Smouldering Wildfire is fanned by the offshore hurricane, bringing destruction to this area as well. The real onerous task, of course, as well as the emotionally challenging work is going on down in the town, as the Forensic Experts continue to come to the wreckage there in the bid to discover the remains of more victims and to identify them. It is this work in the immediate Recovery Rector as well as whats happening down there that the president and the first lady will be able to see for themselves. Tensions remain high in the Taiwan Straight is the chair of the organisation overseeing the unofficial relationship with taiwan will have a meeting later today. China announced the early visits of the taiwanese Vice President william lai. The likelihood of Military Drills taking place on the island could be likely. China considers taiwan to be a breakaway province and does not recognise diplomatic ties. I am joined byjames moriarty, the chair of the organisation the American Institute in taiwan until march. Thank you for joining us. Beijing has warned of resolute and forceful measures in response to this visit but how does diplomatic rhetoric compared to that of, say, the previous incidents when the president tsai met with the us Speaker Of The House nancy pelosi and her visit to the island . I house nancy pelosi and her visit to the island . Visit to the island . I think Nancy Pelosis visit to the island . I think Nancy Pelosis visit visit to the island . I think Nancy Pelosis visit to visit to the island . I think Nancy Pelosis visit to the island ramped up the rhetoric to a new level and therefore beijing cannot let it drop back down to that level too much without looking soft. On the other hand, it hasnt been to mark. The administration has handled this carefully. And i think william lai, the Vice President and appears to be United States and beijing is a Risk Constable Hand compared to what happens in the taiwan election. � ,. , what happens in the taiwan election. , , election. Are you surprised we havent seen election. Are you surprised we havent seen any election. Are you surprised we havent seen any military havent seen any military action from china . They were talking about a good gamejust a few days ago. Talking about a good game ust a few days mi talking about a good game ust a few days agei a few days ago. Well, i think they are a few days ago. Well, i think they are doing a few days ago. Well, i think they are doing some a few days ago. Well, i think i they are doing some exercises up they are doing some exercises up to the north so there is always the possibility that we could see a swing of course. My guess is probably not. Things have changed since the nancy pelosi visit. I think china very much wants to see an improvement or a relationship with us. It is very concerned about the economy right now. Im guessing that they really dont want to add a taiwan crisis to the overloaded issues that xi jinping is facing. That xi jinping is facing. When Vice President that xi jinping is facing. When Vice President william that xi jinping is facing. When Vice President william lai Vice President william lai meeting the chair of the American Institute in taiwan, a position you held until earlier this year, what do you expect them to discuss . I this year, what do you expect them to discuss . Them to discuss . I think william them to discuss . I think william lai will be them to discuss . I think i william lai will be going to Great Lengths to assure the new chair that is not going to be doing anything silly with respect to cross straight ties. That he will basically maintain, do everything you can to maintain the status quo and will not be seen pushing taiwan towards an outright declaration of independence. Of independence. James moriarty. Of independence. James moriarty, thank of independence. James moriarty, thank you of independence. James| moriarty, thank you very of independence. James moriarty, thank you very much forjoining us in the programme. Around the world across the uk, this is bbc news. Bbc news, bringing you different stories from across the uk. Playful and plentiful. These kittens are currently being home in worcestershire but its not the best of times. They are struggling financially and if things dont improve, this could be their final year. Its probably a combination of Rising Energy costs, rising vet bills and the general cost of living crisis everyone is faced with at the moment. Roughly we are losing 20,000 each month, the more months ago is on, the harder it sitting us. The century harder it sitting us. The century has harder it sitting us. The century has been harder it sitting us. The century has been here i harder it sitting us. The century has been here for more than 50 years and this kitty is one of 70 animals being cared for but staff say at the moment, they are having to stop taking in new animals. Its taking in new animals. Its fuite taking in new animals. It� s quite heartbreaking, really. Obviously we have taken a lot of phone calls, we get about 20 phone calls a day from people asking to surrender animals such as dogs and cats and rabbits, its a very good difficult situation to be in. You are with bbc news. To ukraine now, where theres been a Significant Development in the effort by ukraine to continue its exports across the black sea, despite concerns that russia could target cargo ships. A Hong Kong Flagged Merchant Vessel successfully left the Ukrainian Sea Port of odesa on wednesday and does not appear to have come under any danger. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky called the ships movements an important step. With more on that, heres our correspondent in kyiv, James Waterhouse. There are also interesting developments at sea, where since the collapse of a major agreement last month which allowed ukraine to export grain through an agreed route through the black sea, and then announced this humanitarian corridor, without any kind of acknowledgement from russia, which has continued to target commercial vessels stopping it we have a cargo ship leave the port of edessa this morning, it had been trapped since the invasion, it has continued to make its way south towards turkey. Now, there are some in the insurance and Shipping Industry that are rightfully nervous about this, because russia enjoys quite a lot of dominance on the southern ukrainian coast, it has used its vessels to blockade ukrainian ports. And yet this vessel seems to have made its way through. More could follow, but there is a big if here on whether russia decides to leave these vessels alone. Think it is a big if because it is to strike ukrainian ports with drone strikes. That is James Waterhouse in kyiv. We turn to the fiva womens world cup. The will take on spain in the final on sunday. England led i 0 spain in the final on sunday. England led 1 0 after halftime through a goalfrom ella toone. Australia levelled midway through the second half with a potential goal from sam through the second half with a Potential Goalfrom sam kerr. Potential goal from sam kerr. With Potential Goalfrom sam kerr. With a few bad mistakes by the Australian Defence league was two more to close things out and book its place in the final. Heres what the players made of the game in a postmatch news conference. Filth made of the game in a postmatch news conference. News conference. Oh my god, what a feeling. News conference. Oh my god, what a feeling. If news conference. Oh my god, what a feeling. If you news conference. Oh my god, what a feeling. If you like what a feeling. If you like theres no words to describe what we all feel right now. Its an unbelievable achievement getting to a world cup final. It is every kids dream. But, yeah, like i said, ive got no words. Im absolutely knackered right now. Got a few days to recover because weve got to win this now, we have got so far. Im joined by steve georgakis, a senior lecturer in Sports Studies at the University Of Sydney. What did you make of last nights match . There was great anticipation. There was great anticipation. The party is over. This matilda site has brought us altogether. The last few years have been divisive in australia. We have been divided on a number issues, issues related to politics and other things. Once again we were reminded that the institution in australia which really builds us and brings us together is a sport. And of course the matildas delivered in the last couple of weeks. The partys over, but the legacy will endure. The matildas got so far. What do you think how these games have helped womens foot all . The image of it Around The World . ,. , ~ ~ all . The image of it Around The World . ,. , ~ ~. , world . Look, we knew that australia world . Look, we knew that australia is world . Look, we knew that australia is the world . Look, we knew that australia is the country world . Look, we knew that| australia is the country that is able to host these mega events the best. Weve had a very proud tradition of women and girls playing sport in australia. So it was always going to be a success. It was always going to be a success from an organisational point of view, from a spectator experience. But, of course, we needed the matildas to do well. So all of these styles aligned and, of course, this is a very transformative moment, not only in australian sport, but in particular in australian womens sport. Particular in australian womens sort. ,. , womens sport. Sundays final is ffoin to womens sport. Sundays final is going to be womens sport. Sundays final is going to be momentous. Womens sport. Sundays final is going to be momentous. Whatl going to be momentous. What will you say it will be in terms of Sporting Events in australian history, where will it rank . ,. , it rank . Look, the pantheon of australian it rank . Look, the pantheon of Australian Sporting it rank . Look, the pantheon of Australian Sporting history it rank . Look, the pantheon of Australian Sporting history is l Australian Sporting history is always left to the overall winners, people like dawn fraser, cathy freeman, and others. The matildas didnt win, unfortunately, but like i said, in many ways their legacy will be more enduring on a number of different levels. There reminded us of what sport is really all about and what it really is about is about a group of Friends Playing for each other and bringing the nation together. And they have achieved that. And we are all very proud for what they did. We are all a bit flat. The University Of Sydney is completely empty. But the legacy will endure. Completely empty. But the legacy will endure. Lets turn to cambodia legacy will endure. Lets turn to cambodia now. Which has been led by hun sen for decades, with one of his main opponents in exile. Sam rainsy has been trying unsuccessfully to remove hun sen from office and is now facing the prospect of hun sens son taking over the reins of power from his father. Stephen sackur has been talking to sam rainsy for our hardtalk programme. Heres a little of what he had to say. Are you not prepared to give the sign a chance . I are you not prepared to give the sign a chance . The sign a chance . I think women the sign a chance . I think women at the sign a chance . I think women at is the sign a chance . I think women at is a the sign a chance . I think women at is a prisoner i the sign a chance . I think women at is a prisoner of| the sign a chance . I think women at is a prisoner of the system. Rememberwhat women at is a prisoner of the system. Remember what happened to syria in 2000 when al assad was replaced by his son, more educated and more open, presumably, people thought there would be an improvement of the regime. Iriat there would be an improvement of the regime. Of the regime. Not at all. The americans of the regime. Not at all. The americans are of the regime. Not at all. The americans are certainly of the regime. Not at all. The | americans are certainly hoping that. He was partly educated at the Military Academy at westport, and partly in the united kingdom. What the wet season him is possibly the possibility of a leader who is more open than his father. This is exactly more open than his father. This is exactly what more open than his father. This is exactly what the more open than his father. In 3 is exactly what the west expect to from bashar al assad. Actually the sun is worse than the father, because the regime remained the same. Actually, the is a prisoner of the system set up by the father. This is true in syria as well as cambodia. True in syria as well as cambodia. ~. ,. ,. , cambodia. Whether or not that frettin cambodia. Whether or not that getting through cambodia. Whether or not that getting through in cambodia. Whether or not that getting through in couples cambodia. Whether or not that getting through in couples like| getting through in couples Like Washington or london, it certainly doesnt seem to be cutting any ice in the capital that arguably matters most when it comes to diplomacy, that is beating. Raising it seems has an ironclad alliance with wonsan and the current cambodian government. Nothing you say or do is going to change that, is it . Because this Strategy Change that, is it . Because this Strategy Alliance change that, is it . Because i this Strategy Alliance between hun sen and basing is crucial to hun sen. Is existential to hun sen. For china, china has decided to make cambodia a military stronghold, and outpost. Military stronghold, and outpost military stronghold, and outpost. Military stronghold, and outost. , outpost. That is Stephen Sackur s eakin , outpost. That is Stephen Sackur speaking to outpost. That is Stephen Sackur speaking to the outpost. That is Stephen Sackur speaking to the exiles speaking to the Exiles Cambodian Opposition Leader sam rainsy. You can see the full interview on hardtalk on bbc news. Just check the schedule for your recent online. All this week on newsday, weve been bringing you a special series about the people we call game changers. The one thing they all have in common is that they have worked to improve the lives of communities who can sometimes struggle to fit into wider society. Earlier, i spoke tojoshua tay, the co founder and deputy executive director of impart, which is a Non Profit Organisation in singapore that helps youths who become too old to remain in government run facilities to find their way into society. We work with a wide range of them, many with high needs. And an interesting number of them have been increasingly socially reclusive. We are seeing it spread across the world. And also in singapore. Spread across the world. And also in singapore. When you say they isolate also in singapore. When you say they isolate themselves also in singapore. When you say they isolate themselves like they isolate themselves like hermits, why do you thin singapore do this, what is the reasoning behind it when you speak to them youth . It really is an old problem with new legs. Part of what were seeing is this has even predated in part as far as our life as a charity has been. But it has got a new wind with the pandemic and people getting use of the reality that you can actually live at home for a long time. What were seeing for many of these youth there is a sense of hopelessness, there is a sense of social anxiety, but it is also social enablement, whether it is a permissive parents, they stay cooped up at home for various reasons. Shes cooped up at home for various reasons. � ,. , reasons. As the online environment reasons. As the online environment made reasons. As the online environment made it | reasons. As the online environment made it easier for them to stay home . Filth. Environment made it easier for them to stay home . Oh, yeah, definitely them to stay home . Oh, yeah, definitely. That them to stay home . Oh, yeah, definitely. That is them to stay home . Oh, yeah, definitely. That is definitely definitely. That is definitely a major part of it, notjust the online environment, but the ease at which many things are now available online, whether it is food delivery, your communities, or even modes of learning and interest that you can find online. Learning and interest that you can find online. How prevalent is this behaviour . Can find online. How prevalent is this behaviour . We can find online. How prevalent is this behaviour . We saw can find online. How prevalent i is this behaviour . We saw some of this before is this behaviour . We saw some of this before the is this behaviour . We saw some of this before the pandemic, of this before the pandemic, but the pandemic really seemed to give it new legs, where we are getting a lot more anecdotal experience from schools, formal institutions telling us that we have some of them saying lock away at home for more than three years, for a large part of their lives, really, and its an increasingly challenging problem we see. Increasingly challenging problem we see. Increasingly challenging roblem we see. I. , problem we see. Have you spoken to their family problem we see. Have you spoken to their Family Members . Problem we see. Have you spoken to their Family Members . Have i to their Family Members . Have they been able to offer any assistance . Or what has the response been to your organisation . Response been to your orfanisation . , organisation . The challenge oftentimes organisation . The challenge oftentimes is organisation . The challenge oftentimes is exactly organisation . The challenge oftentimes is exactly that, l organisation . The challengel oftentimes is exactly that, as you mentioned, with Family Members, many of them feel equally helpless or stop stop some parents even mirror the childs behaviour or the youth was met behaviour and they try to make sure they are well kept and well connected. So we come in as an organisation, is a simple idea, its people helping people. We come in, we introduce different modes of socialisation. We understand the youth, where they are coming from, and we slowly build it up with steps. Some of them with the communication, it can become quite interesting with people coming in and writing things on slips of paper, trying to communicate electronically though they are physically in the same space. Thats all we have you on this edition of newsday. Im monica miller. Thanks for watching. Hello. Weve seen a change in the weather over the last couple of days, a change to something drier, brighter and warmer. And were going to stick with warm and indeed quite humid conditions over the next couple of days. But on friday, it will turn windy, and some heavy Thundery Rain will arrive. Thursday, though, is going to be quite a quiet day of weather. Therell be some areas of low cloud and mist first thing, tending to lift and clear, and then actually some lengthy spells of sunshine with just the small chance of catching a shower. A bit more of a breeze, though, and with that breeze coming from the east, where youre exposed to it along north sea coasts, temperatures may only get to between 17 20 celsius, but with some shelter from the breeze, parts of western scotland, the north coast of Northern Ireland up to 22 23 celsius, maybe 26 celsius for the west coast of wales and 27 celsius for parts of central southern england. Now as we head through thursday night, we will see again some areas of low cloud developing. The winds will start to pick up across western parts, and we will see a few showers and thunderstorms just starting to break out. Temperatures 12 16 celsius. As we get into friday, it is going to turn really quite windy around western coasts as this Frontal System starts to squeeze its way in. The white Line Squashing together, that shows that we will have some quite strong winds. In fact, gusts potentially of 50 to possibly 60mph in exposed parts of northwest wales. One band of heavy Thundery Rain pushing north eastwards, then a dryer gap, and then some more general heavy rain getting into the southwest later in the day. Depending on how quickly the rain arrives, it could again be very warm indeed, and it will certainly be very humid. Now, friday night looks really wet as this Frontal System drives its way northwards and eastwards, some heavy and thundery bursts of rain. Close to the centre of this area of low pressure on saturday, we will also see some showers, particularly across Northern Ireland, western scotland, maybe some for western fringes of england and wales. Further south and east, not as many showers. In fact, it should be largely dry, and, again, quite warm. Temperatures up to around 25 celsius in the southeast corner, but 21 celsius for glasgow, 22 celsius in belfast. Still mostly dry and fairly warm on sunday, just a few showers around. And then into the start of next week, towards the south of the uk, temperatures could climb a little further. Rabbits, its a very good difficult situation to be in. Us Retail Giant Target becomes the latest casualty in americas culture wars. Plus, have you heard about clean our zones . Well, they opening up over england, but opinions about them remain divided. Hello, and welcome to Asia Business report, i am monica miller. We begin the Quarterly Earnings of us Retail Target which has become the latest corporate victim of americas culture wars. The company saw sales fall in store and on line for the first time in years after a backlash over its pride month offering. Those reactions were so negative that target felt it had to remove items from some of its stores over concerns about staff safety. Our north America Business correspondent Michelle Fleury has more from new york. Between april and june, sales target of 5 compared to year ago. E commerce sales fell 105 . The boss of the so called Big Box Retailer said it was hard to tell how much it was because customers were feeling pressure from higher prices and how much had to do with the boycott and backlash it based over its Pride Month Offerings that lead to items being pulled from the shop floor to protect the safety of its staff. Despite the sales decline, the retailer wanted higher Profit Margins than analysts had