BBC News - Home

• US diplomats to boycott 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

  The White House says no US diplomats will attend the games in China, over human rights concerns.

• Chelsea host non-league Chesterfield in FA Cup, Villa go to Man Utd

  National League leaders Chesterfield will visit last season's runners-up Chelsea in the third round of the FA Cup, while Steven Gerrard's Aston Villa travel to Manchester United.

• Omicron spreading in the community, UK's Javid says

  The new variant is spreading in multiple regions of England, the health secretary says.

• US boss fires 900 employees over Zoom

  "Last time I did this I cried," said the head of the online mortgage lender laying off 15% of his staff.

• Nasa unveils new class of astronaut candidates

  The six men and four women could fly to the space station and on future missions to the Moon.

• Amid shortage, Canada taps into emergency maple syrup reserves

  The Canadian province of Quebec produces 70% of the world's maple syrup supply.

• New York's workers must all have vaccine by 27 December

  The city's mayor is introducing a vaccine mandate for all private sector employees from 27 December.

• Sylvester Oromoni: Nigerians demand justice over Dowen College death

  The father of Sylvester Oromoni, 12, believes he was attacked for refusing to join a “cult group”.

• Olesen 'sexually assaulted woman during flight', court hears

  Thorbjorn Olesen "grabbed and rubbed the breast" of a woman and urinated in the aisle during a flight in 2019, a court is told.