Baltimore police prepare for Gray funeral protests

 

Thousands of people have gathered at a church in Baltimore to attend the funeral service for Freddie Gray.

Gray, 25, died 19 April after an encounter with police a week earlier during which he sustained serious and unexplained spinal injuries.
His death has sparked daily protests, some violent, and has renewed a nationwide debate over police use of lethal force against African Americans.
President Barack Obama has dispatched three officials to the service.
The New Shiloh Baptist Church, which holds 2,500 people, was full as the funeral began with hymns and prayers.

Fife paper maker Tullis Russell in administration

 

Fife-based paper maker Tullis Russell has gone into administration with the loss of 325 jobs, and putting a further 149 at risk.

The Markinch-based firm has seen European exports suffer from the value of sterling in relation to the euro.
It has also been hit by rising raw material costs and by a major customer becoming insolvent.
Only last month, a new biomass plant was officially opened at Tullis's Markinch site.
The £200m facility was built by German energy firm RWE and was designed to meet all of the paper maker's electricity and steam requirements.

Operation Elveden: Journalists voice their anger over cases

 

A group of journalists who had been accused of illegally paying public officials for stories have voiced their anger about their treatment.

Ex-Sun managing editor Graham Dudman said police had treated him like "a murderer or a terrorist" when he was first arrested three years ago.
Nine journalists awaiting trial had their cases dropped earlier this month after an urgent legal review.
But the Crown Prosecution Service defended its decision to prosecute.

EU won't send armed force to Ukraine despite clashes

 

EU leaders have told Ukraine they are worried about ceasefire violations in the east of the country but will not send armed peacekeepers there.

"We can only talk about a civilian mission, not military," European Council President Donald Tusk told a news conference in Kiev.
Earlier Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko said the EU or the UN should deploy peacekeepers to eastern Ukraine.

Japan and US to unveil defence deal

 

Japan and the US are expected to unveil new guidelines on their defence co-operation as Japanese leader Shinzo Abe visits the US for talks.

The guidelines are expected to clarify US support for Japan in any Asian conflict and bolster Mr Abe's attempt to strengthen Japan's military muscle.
Japan's pacifist constitution currently allows only for self-defence, but Mr Abe has called for a re-interpretation.
Any change is likely to seriously alarm Japan's East Asian neighbours.
Mr Abe was set to visit the site of the 2013 Boston marathon bombing on Monday before travelling to Washington ahead of talks on Tuesday with President Barack Obama.

David Cameron: 'I'll work the hardest to secure victory'

 

David Cameron has promised to work "the hardest I've ever worked in my life" to secure a Conservative victory on 7 May.

He made the pledge after 5,000 small businesses signed a letter calling for the Conservatives to be "given the chance to finish what they started".
Printed in the Daily Telegraph, it says the coalition has kept the UK "open for business" by keeping interest rates and inflation low and tackling the deficit.
Labour says the Tories "let down" small firms by failing to boost finance.
Business spokesman Chuka Umunna said the government had overseen an increase in business rates of around £1,500 and Labour would cut - then freeze - the rates.

Burundi police tear-gas anti-Pierre Nkurunziza protesters

 

Police in Burundi have fired tear gas at activists protesting against President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to run for a third term in office.

The security forces have also stopped private radio stations from doing live broadcasts about the demonstrations.
Thousands have defied a ban on protests to take to the streets of the capital Bujumbura for a second day.
At least three people were killed on Sunday as police shot live ammunition in the air to disperse them.
One of the country's main radio stations, African Public Radio, known as "voice of the voiceless" has been closed down, after police accused it of links to an insurrection.
Prominent human rights activist Pierre Claver Mbonimpa has been arrested in the building of the local press association.

Nepal earthquake: Dozens of Britons yet to be traced

 

Dozens of British and Irish people have still not been traced following Saturday's earthquake in Nepal.

The International Committee of the Red Cross had said 90 were missing - but 23 have since been accounted for online.
The Disasters Emergency Committee, comprising the UK's leading aid agencies, has announced an appeal to raise money to help survivors.
According to Nepalese officials, at least 3,617 people have died and more than 6,500 people have been injured.
At least 18 people were killed in avalanches on Mount Everest.

America's place in a multi-polar world

 

At a global conference a few years ago, former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers revealed that Americans would really prefer to be the G1.

Not the G7 grouping of the biggest economies, or even the G3, but the G1 - where America would be the sole decision-maker. It may not be too surprising since the US has been the sole economic superpower for most of the post-war period.

Nepal earthquake: International aid effort increased

  

International efforts to bring more aid to Nepal are being increased, as the death toll from Saturday's massive earthquake reached 3,726.

More than 6,500 were injured and thousands are living in tents after their homes were destroyed.
Dozens of people are also reported to have been killed in neighbouring China and India.
At least 200 climbers have now been rescued around Mount Everest, after the quake triggered avalanches.