[Archive 2016-08-15] Wikinews Shorts: August 15, 2016

Historical archive — originally published 2016-08-15. This report records what was known on that date. It is not current news; subsequent events may have changed the situation. Wikinews closed in May 2026.

English actor Kenny Baker, aged 81, died on Saturday after a lengthy illness, at his home, according to relatives. He was known for playing R2-D2 in many of the Star Wars films, as well as his role as Fidgit in Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits.

Record floods have broken out in parts of the US state of Louisiana. Officials said yesterday at least four have died in the event. Some motorists were stranded on Interstate 12 for more than a day. Ochsner's Baton Rouge medical center said they transferred around 40 patients elsewhere to "ensure ongoing continuity of care", many of the patients in critical condition.

Yesterday, in Rio de Janeiro, Olympic swimmers Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, Jimmy Feigen, and Ryan Lochte were robbed at gunpoint by thieves posing as police officers, according to reports from the US Olympic Committee and the swimmers. By Lochte's account to NBC, after he initially refused to cooperate, one of the bandits put a gun to his head. The four men were reported safe, and authorities said they were investigating.

Source and licence

Text adapted from Wikinews Shorts: August 15, 2016 by Wikinews contributors under CC BY 2.5. Paragraphs have been selected and abridged, and formatting adjusted. Contributor history.