By Suzanne BearneBusiness reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption, One study suggests we spend almost five hours a day on our smartphones
In a world where many of us are glued to our sma… [+6549 chars]

The smartphone users who are ditching their handsets to take back more control of their lives.

BBC News

The people deciding to ditch their smartphones

Image source, International Association of Women Judges
Image caption, Justice Ayesha Malik now sits on a bench with 16 other male colleagues
Pakistan's first female Supreme Court judge has been sw… [+1556 chars]

Ayesha Malik now sits on a bench with 16 other male colleagues in the country's top court.

Pakistan's first female Supreme Court judge sworn in

A lone gunman is dead after injuring several people in a university lecture hall in the town of Heidelberg, according to German police. 
They say the gunman was in possession of a "long gun", and th… [+337 chars]

Police say the gunman in the university town of Heidelberg was acting alone and is now dead.

Heidelberg shooting: Gunman dead after injuring several

Image caption, The SDF says its forces have the prison surrounded
Fears are growing over the fate of hundreds of children believed to be held by jihadist extremists inside a besieged prison in north… [+2604 chars]

Kurdish-led forces say they are being used as human shields in the jail they have surrounded in Syria.

Hundreds of children held by IS in besieged prison in Syria

Image source, Getty Images
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned Vladimir Putin that if Russia invaded Ukraine it would be "disastrous" and a "painful, violent and bloody business". 
Speaking as … [+381 chars]

Boris Johnson tells Russia an invasion would be painful and bloody - but says war is not inevitable.

Ukraine: Boris Johnson warns Russian invasion would be 'disastrous'

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has won the latest stage of his fight against extradition to the US. 
He now has the right to try to get an appeal into the Supreme Court over the decision to extrad… [+637 chars]

The Wikileaks founder can now try to get an appeal heard at the UK's Supreme Court.

Julian Assange allowed to seek appeal against US extradition

Image source, Consulate of the Kingdom of Tonga
Image caption, Images from Tonga's shoreline show damage to structures and trees following the tsunami
Tongan officials said up to 84% of its 105,000… [+3786 chars]

The latest update from the Tongan government confirms the scope of damage and the arrival of aid.

Tonga volcano: 84% of population affected by ash fall and tsunami

Image caption, President Kabore pictured at the Paris Peace Forum in November
The President of Burkina Faso, Roch Kabore, has reportedly been detained by mutinying soldiers.
Some troops in the West… [+636 chars]

After gunfire is heard in the capital, President Roch Kabore is reportedly under military arrest.

Burkina Faso president reportedly detained by military

Image source, Getty Images
French fashion designer Thierry Mugler has died at the age of 74, according to his official Facebook account. 
He was widely known for designs with broad shoulders and sh… [+1665 chars]

The French fashion designer created pieces for David Bowie, Sharon Stone and Lady Gaga.

Thierry Mugler: French fashion designer dies aged 73

Image caption, Police released a photo of Cleo Smith after her rescue
An Australian man has pleaded guilty to abducting four-year-old Cleo Smith and holding her at his home for 18 days.
Cleo vanish… [+901 chars]

The four-year-old girl was taken from a campsite and held in a locked house for 18 days.