Here's a look at the key points from The Battle For Number 10, which saw Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn answer questions from a carefully selected studio audience before facing a one-on-one interview with Jeremy Paxman.
:: Jeremy Corbyn
1. In the wake of the Manchester bombing, Mr Corbyn said Labour's approach was not about "softening" Britain's foreign policybut about having a policy that "doesn't leave areas of the world without effective government".
2. He said he attended a "commemoration" of IRA members shot by the SAS because he wanted to "call for a peace and dialogue process in Northern Ireland".
3. The Labour leader told the audience it is necessary to increase corporation tax to 26% and introduce a £10 minimum wage because "we are all better off when everybody is better off".
4. Mr Corbyn admitted renewing Trident had been added to the Labour manifesto because it had been agreed by the party conference, adding: "I'm not a dictator who writes things to tell people what to do".
5. Under Labour, he said, immigration would probably "go down" but he did not "want to be held" to reducing the net flow of people into the country - arguing it is necessary to fill skill shortages.
6. He refused to be drawn on whether he would approve a drone strike on a militant in Syria planning attacks on UK soil and defended his description of Hamas as "friends" by saying he was "promoting the need for dialogue".
7. He also refused to say how much he would pay to get a Brexit deal but said Labour would secure a deal before allowing the UK to leave the EU.
:: Theresa May
1. When asked, the Prime Minister failed to state how many police officers she would recruit in the next parliament but said that "crime is changing" so it is necessary to put money into different things like cybercrime.
2. She reiterated that she was ready to walk away from Brexit negotiations without a deal if the agreement was not good enough.
3. Mrs May was heckled over Conservative plans to cut school funding despite saying it was necessary to look at distributing money "in a fair way" as children in some local education authorities receive twice the funding of those in other areas.
Monday, May 29, 2017
Nigeria University develops Ebola test kits
Scientists at the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, has developed and patented two rapid diagnosis test kits for the Ebola Virus Disease and Lassa Virus.
According to the university, the kits are able to detect the virus in human body fluids in 10 minutes.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Debo Adeyewa, said this on Friday during the signing of a memorandum of understanding on infectious disease surveillance and control between the ACEGID and the Lagos State Government.
Following the role of the university in the 2014 diagnosis and confirmation of the first index case of the EVD, Adeyewa said, the school had established a network of pathogens hunters in Nigeria and Africa in general by training scientists in the field of genomics.
He added that the partnership was to strengthen the capacity of the Lagos State Government in infectious disease diagnostics and epidemics preparedness.
He said, “Redeemer’s University ACEGID researchers discovered two novel Rhabdoviruses (EKV-1 and EKV-2). The centre also developed and patented two rapid diagnostic test kits for diagnosis of Lassa fever virus or Ebola virus in biological fluids. The World Health Organisation and the United States Food and Drug Agency have approved the Ebola virus RDT for use during epidemics.’’
According to the university, the kits are able to detect the virus in human body fluids in 10 minutes.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Debo Adeyewa, said this on Friday during the signing of a memorandum of understanding on infectious disease surveillance and control between the ACEGID and the Lagos State Government.
Following the role of the university in the 2014 diagnosis and confirmation of the first index case of the EVD, Adeyewa said, the school had established a network of pathogens hunters in Nigeria and Africa in general by training scientists in the field of genomics.
He added that the partnership was to strengthen the capacity of the Lagos State Government in infectious disease diagnostics and epidemics preparedness.
He said, “Redeemer’s University ACEGID researchers discovered two novel Rhabdoviruses (EKV-1 and EKV-2). The centre also developed and patented two rapid diagnostic test kits for diagnosis of Lassa fever virus or Ebola virus in biological fluids. The World Health Organisation and the United States Food and Drug Agency have approved the Ebola virus RDT for use during epidemics.’’
Homeland Secretary Kelly considers laptop ban on all flights into US
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said Sunday he’s considering a ban on passengers carrying laptop computers on all international flights in and out of the United States.
“I might,” Kelly said on “Fox News Sunday.” “There's a real threat -- numerous threats against aviation. That's really the thing that they are obsessed with, the terrorists, the idea of knocking down an airplane in flight, particularly if it's a U.S. carrier, particularly if it's full of mostly U.S. folks.”
Since taking over the agency in January, Kelly has already limited laptops in airplane cabins.
He instituted a ban in March on flights from 10 cities, mostly in the Middle East. Beyond laptops, the ban also covers tablets and other electronic devices and requires such equipment larger than a smartphone be checked in.
The ban applies to nonstop U.S.-bound flights from international airports in Amman, Jordan; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Cairo; Istanbul; Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Casablanca, Morocco; Doha, Qatar; and Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. About 50 flights a day, all on foreign airlines, are affected.
Earlier this month, there were reports that the Trump administration would broaden the ban to include planes from the European Union, affecting trans-Atlantic routes that carry as many as 65 million people a year.
U.S. officials have said that the initial ban was not based on any specific threat, but on longstanding concerns about extremists targeting jetliners.
Kelly on Sunday also signaled that aviation security -- dramatically increased since the 9/11 terror attacks -- will get even tighter. And he hinted about soon getting help in such efforts from “new technology … not too far down the road.”
However, the Trump administration's spending plan for the budget year that begins Oct. 1 would make significant cuts to airport security programs.
“I might,” Kelly said on “Fox News Sunday.” “There's a real threat -- numerous threats against aviation. That's really the thing that they are obsessed with, the terrorists, the idea of knocking down an airplane in flight, particularly if it's a U.S. carrier, particularly if it's full of mostly U.S. folks.”
Since taking over the agency in January, Kelly has already limited laptops in airplane cabins.
He instituted a ban in March on flights from 10 cities, mostly in the Middle East. Beyond laptops, the ban also covers tablets and other electronic devices and requires such equipment larger than a smartphone be checked in.
The ban applies to nonstop U.S.-bound flights from international airports in Amman, Jordan; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Cairo; Istanbul; Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Casablanca, Morocco; Doha, Qatar; and Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. About 50 flights a day, all on foreign airlines, are affected.
Earlier this month, there were reports that the Trump administration would broaden the ban to include planes from the European Union, affecting trans-Atlantic routes that carry as many as 65 million people a year.
U.S. officials have said that the initial ban was not based on any specific threat, but on longstanding concerns about extremists targeting jetliners.
Kelly on Sunday also signaled that aviation security -- dramatically increased since the 9/11 terror attacks -- will get even tighter. And he hinted about soon getting help in such efforts from “new technology … not too far down the road.”
However, the Trump administration's spending plan for the budget year that begins Oct. 1 would make significant cuts to airport security programs.
Manchester attacks: Police issue new bomber photo
A new image showing bomber Salman Abedi on the day he attacked Manchester Arena has been released by police.
Officers are appealing for people who might have seen him carrying the blue suitcase between 18 and 22 May.
The BBC has also obtained CCTV footage which appears to show Abedi in a shop the day before the bombing, which killed 22 people.
Police are searching a landfill site on the outskirts of Bury, Greater Manchester.
The 22-year-old visited the Wilmslow Road area of Manchester and the city centre with the suitcase, police said.
Det Ch Supt Russ Jackson, from the North West Counter Terrorism Unit, said: "I want to stress that this is a different item than the one he used in the attack.
"We have no reason to believe the case and its contents contain anything dangerous, but would ask people to be cautious."
He added: "The public should not approach the case if they see it but contact police immediately on 999."
Manchester attack: Who were the victims?
What we know about bomber Salman Abedi
Special report: Manchester bombing
New CCTV footage has also emerged which appears to show Abedi shopping at a convenience store.
The footage was recorded in a store close to the flat where the suicide bomber was just hours before the attack.
Media captionCCTV footage appears to show the Manchester bomber walking around a shop
The BBC has passed the footage to investigating officers.
Greater Manchester Police have asked anyone with information to contact the Anti-Terrorist Hotline in confidence on 0800 789 321.
Media captionAerials of anti-terror search at a landfill site near Bury
Officers have been searching a landfill site in Pilsworth near Bury.
Footage of the search shows investigators in white boiler suits and blue helmets raking through the debris near a large red tent.
Earlier, there were searches in Whalley Range, Manchester and in Chester and Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, where a 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences.
Officers are also currently searching an address in the Rusholme area of Manchester.
In all, 14 men are now being questioned in connection with the investigation into the attack.
Meanwhile, Manchester City Council has announced there will be a vigil in St Ann's Square on Monday just after 22:30 BST - exactly one week after the attack took place.
Manchester Victoria station will also reopen on Tuesday, British Transport Police have said.
The station, which is connected to Manchester Arena where the bomb went off, suffered structural damage in the incident.
NHS England said 52 people injured in the attack were still being treated in hospital - including 19 in critical care.Image captionFlowers and tributes lined St Ann's Square in Manchester on Monday
Abedi detonated a bomb on 22 May at the end of a concert by US singer Ariana Grande.
MI5 said it would hold an inquiry into the way it dealt with warningsfrom the public that he was a potential threat.
The security service, which was alerted to his extremist views three times prior to last Monday's attack, will examine how it dealt with the warnings.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said it was right for MI5 to review its processes.
MI5 has launched a "post incident investigation" into how the Manchester bomber was overlooked, while a separate report is being prepared for ministers and those who oversee the work of the service.
A Whitehall official said previously that Abedi was one of a "pool" of former subjects of interest whose risk remained "subject to review" by the security service and its partners.
BBC Newsnight reported that at 16, Abedi - born in Manchester to Libyan parents - fought against the Colonel Gaddafi regime with his father during the school holidays.
It was while at Manchester College that two people who knew Abedi have confirmed they made separate calls to an anti-terrorism hotline to warn the police about his extremist views.
Officers are appealing for people who might have seen him carrying the blue suitcase between 18 and 22 May.
The BBC has also obtained CCTV footage which appears to show Abedi in a shop the day before the bombing, which killed 22 people.
Police are searching a landfill site on the outskirts of Bury, Greater Manchester.
The 22-year-old visited the Wilmslow Road area of Manchester and the city centre with the suitcase, police said.
Det Ch Supt Russ Jackson, from the North West Counter Terrorism Unit, said: "I want to stress that this is a different item than the one he used in the attack.
"We have no reason to believe the case and its contents contain anything dangerous, but would ask people to be cautious."
He added: "The public should not approach the case if they see it but contact police immediately on 999."
Manchester attack: Who were the victims?
What we know about bomber Salman Abedi
Special report: Manchester bombing
New CCTV footage has also emerged which appears to show Abedi shopping at a convenience store.
The footage was recorded in a store close to the flat where the suicide bomber was just hours before the attack.
Media captionCCTV footage appears to show the Manchester bomber walking around a shop
The BBC has passed the footage to investigating officers.
Greater Manchester Police have asked anyone with information to contact the Anti-Terrorist Hotline in confidence on 0800 789 321.
Media captionAerials of anti-terror search at a landfill site near Bury
Officers have been searching a landfill site in Pilsworth near Bury.
Footage of the search shows investigators in white boiler suits and blue helmets raking through the debris near a large red tent.
Earlier, there were searches in Whalley Range, Manchester and in Chester and Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, where a 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences.
Officers are also currently searching an address in the Rusholme area of Manchester.
In all, 14 men are now being questioned in connection with the investigation into the attack.
Meanwhile, Manchester City Council has announced there will be a vigil in St Ann's Square on Monday just after 22:30 BST - exactly one week after the attack took place.
Manchester Victoria station will also reopen on Tuesday, British Transport Police have said.
The station, which is connected to Manchester Arena where the bomb went off, suffered structural damage in the incident.
NHS England said 52 people injured in the attack were still being treated in hospital - including 19 in critical care.Image captionFlowers and tributes lined St Ann's Square in Manchester on Monday
Abedi detonated a bomb on 22 May at the end of a concert by US singer Ariana Grande.
MI5 said it would hold an inquiry into the way it dealt with warningsfrom the public that he was a potential threat.
The security service, which was alerted to his extremist views three times prior to last Monday's attack, will examine how it dealt with the warnings.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said it was right for MI5 to review its processes.
MI5 has launched a "post incident investigation" into how the Manchester bomber was overlooked, while a separate report is being prepared for ministers and those who oversee the work of the service.
A Whitehall official said previously that Abedi was one of a "pool" of former subjects of interest whose risk remained "subject to review" by the security service and its partners.
BBC Newsnight reported that at 16, Abedi - born in Manchester to Libyan parents - fought against the Colonel Gaddafi regime with his father during the school holidays.
It was while at Manchester College that two people who knew Abedi have confirmed they made separate calls to an anti-terrorism hotline to warn the police about his extremist views.
Landfill site searched in Greater Manchester as part of terror attack investigation
A major search linked to the Manchester terror attack is under way at a landfill site on the outskirts of Bury, Greater Manchester.
A large number of police officers have been seen searching the industrial premises at Pilsworth.
Greater Manchester Police tweeted: "Officers investigating the attack on the Manchester Arena are searching a site in Pilsworth, Bury. The search is currently on-going."
Investigators have been at the site, close to the M66 motorway, "for around three days", according to one resident.
It comes as police continue their search of a flat in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, that was raided earlier.
Image:The man arrested in Shoreham is believed to have lived in a flat above shops
The force said a 23-year-old man was arrested in the coastal town by officers investigating last Monday's suicide bombing.
:: Timeline: Salman Abedi's last-known movements
The hairdresser of a man who lives at the flat said he was training to be a pilot.
Violet Mainda said: "He was a normal bloke, very jovial.
"I think he had finished, or was still training, to be a pilot.
"He told me but I can't quite remember what he said. He was from Libya."
A large number of police officers have been seen searching the industrial premises at Pilsworth.
Greater Manchester Police tweeted: "Officers investigating the attack on the Manchester Arena are searching a site in Pilsworth, Bury. The search is currently on-going."
Investigators have been at the site, close to the M66 motorway, "for around three days", according to one resident.
It comes as police continue their search of a flat in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, that was raided earlier.
Image:The man arrested in Shoreham is believed to have lived in a flat above shopsThe force said a 23-year-old man was arrested in the coastal town by officers investigating last Monday's suicide bombing.
:: Timeline: Salman Abedi's last-known movements
The hairdresser of a man who lives at the flat said he was training to be a pilot.
Violet Mainda said: "He was a normal bloke, very jovial.
"I think he had finished, or was still training, to be a pilot.
"He told me but I can't quite remember what he said. He was from Libya."
Sri Lanka floods death toll rises to 169 as cyclone heads for Bangladesh
The death toll from floods and landslides in Sri Lanka has risen to 169, with close to half a million people displaced.
Bangladesh is now braced for Cyclone Mora to make landfall early Tuesday morning as the storm continues its destructive path across the Bay of Bengal.
The country's ports were warned to expect sea surges of up to two metres, with neighbouring India's north eastern states also on alert for heavy rains.
On Monday, Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Centre reported a higher death toll with 102 people still missing from the torrential rains in the country, which began on Thursday.
More than 75,000 people are sheltering in relief camps, officials added.
Image:Locals in Kalutara district try to escape floodwaters in a makeshift boat
The torrential rains - the worst to hit Sri Lanka since 2003 - have swamped western and southern regions, with some of the most affected areas in Kalutara, Ratnapura and Matara.
Army boats raced up and down waterlogged village streets as they rushed to evacuate people and bring relief supplies.
A dozen military aircraft have also been sent out to rescue marooned villagers.
Bangladesh is now braced for Cyclone Mora to make landfall early Tuesday morning as the storm continues its destructive path across the Bay of Bengal.
The country's ports were warned to expect sea surges of up to two metres, with neighbouring India's north eastern states also on alert for heavy rains.
On Monday, Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Centre reported a higher death toll with 102 people still missing from the torrential rains in the country, which began on Thursday.
More than 75,000 people are sheltering in relief camps, officials added.
Image:Locals in Kalutara district try to escape floodwaters in a makeshift boatThe torrential rains - the worst to hit Sri Lanka since 2003 - have swamped western and southern regions, with some of the most affected areas in Kalutara, Ratnapura and Matara.
Army boats raced up and down waterlogged village streets as they rushed to evacuate people and bring relief supplies.
A dozen military aircraft have also been sent out to rescue marooned villagers.
North Korea fires 'Scud missile' into Sea of Japan
North Korea has fired what appears to be a short-range Scud missile off its east coast, South Korea's military has said.
The missile was launched from around the eastern North Korean coastal town of Wonsan, the South's joint chiefs of staff said in a statement.
It flew about 280 miles (450km) before landing in the sea in Japan's exclusive maritime economic zone.
There were no immediate reports of damage to planes or vessels in the area.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe swiftly condemned the test, saying: "We will never tolerate North Korea's continued provocations that ignore repeated warnings by the international community."
Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said the launch was "a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions".
The White House said President Donald Trump has been briefed about the launch, and he later tweeted his response in terms of Pyongyang's major ally China.
Mr Trump wrote: "North Korea has shown great disrespect for their neighbor, China, by shooting off yet another ballistic missile...but China is trying hard!"
There was no immediate comment from the North's state-controlled media.
Earlier on Sunday, North Korea tested a new anti-aircraft weapon system that Kim Jong Un says will "completely spoil the enemy's dream to command the air".
Pyongyang said glitches detected in an earlier test have been "perfectly overcome", paving the way for the weapon to be mass-produced and deployed nationwide.
State media says the system is designed to "detect and strike different targets flying from any location" - and footage showed the drill taking place.
A satisfied Mr Kim said the system's hitting accuracy had improved since it was first tested in April 2016 and it would stop hostile nations "boasting of air supremacy and weapon almighty".
Image:Kim Jong Un's mood was brightened after the test in sunny North Korea
Three top officials accompanied the leader for the launch - including a veteran rocket scientist, a former air force general and the head of the blacklisted agency which is believed to be developing North Korea's missiles and nuclear weapons.
Last Monday, the secretive state said it had successfully tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile that met all technical requirements and could also be mass produced, but experts have questioned the extent of the country's progress.
A day later, the head of the US Defence Intelligence Agency said North Korea is on an "inevitable" path to obtaining a nuclear-armed missile capable of striking America if action is not taken.
Image:The test was closely watched by Kim Jong Un
However, Western experts believe Pyongyang is a few years away from successfully developing such a weapon.
This is the 12th ballistic missile test to be carried out by the North this year, and the third successful launch this month.
Such actions have created tensions with Washington in recent months.
The reclusive nation has continued with its programme despite painful UN and unilateral sanctions - and described such punishment as an infringement of its right to self-defence.
Pyongyang maintains nuclear weapons are necessary to counter US aggression, but America denies it has any intention to attack the North.
The missile was launched from around the eastern North Korean coastal town of Wonsan, the South's joint chiefs of staff said in a statement.
It flew about 280 miles (450km) before landing in the sea in Japan's exclusive maritime economic zone.
There were no immediate reports of damage to planes or vessels in the area.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe swiftly condemned the test, saying: "We will never tolerate North Korea's continued provocations that ignore repeated warnings by the international community."
Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said the launch was "a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions".
The White House said President Donald Trump has been briefed about the launch, and he later tweeted his response in terms of Pyongyang's major ally China.
Mr Trump wrote: "North Korea has shown great disrespect for their neighbor, China, by shooting off yet another ballistic missile...but China is trying hard!"
There was no immediate comment from the North's state-controlled media.
Earlier on Sunday, North Korea tested a new anti-aircraft weapon system that Kim Jong Un says will "completely spoil the enemy's dream to command the air".
Pyongyang said glitches detected in an earlier test have been "perfectly overcome", paving the way for the weapon to be mass-produced and deployed nationwide.
State media says the system is designed to "detect and strike different targets flying from any location" - and footage showed the drill taking place.
A satisfied Mr Kim said the system's hitting accuracy had improved since it was first tested in April 2016 and it would stop hostile nations "boasting of air supremacy and weapon almighty".
Image:Kim Jong Un's mood was brightened after the test in sunny North KoreaThree top officials accompanied the leader for the launch - including a veteran rocket scientist, a former air force general and the head of the blacklisted agency which is believed to be developing North Korea's missiles and nuclear weapons.
Last Monday, the secretive state said it had successfully tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile that met all technical requirements and could also be mass produced, but experts have questioned the extent of the country's progress.
A day later, the head of the US Defence Intelligence Agency said North Korea is on an "inevitable" path to obtaining a nuclear-armed missile capable of striking America if action is not taken.
Image:The test was closely watched by Kim Jong UnHowever, Western experts believe Pyongyang is a few years away from successfully developing such a weapon.
This is the 12th ballistic missile test to be carried out by the North this year, and the third successful launch this month.
Such actions have created tensions with Washington in recent months.
The reclusive nation has continued with its programme despite painful UN and unilateral sanctions - and described such punishment as an infringement of its right to self-defence.
Pyongyang maintains nuclear weapons are necessary to counter US aggression, but America denies it has any intention to attack the North.
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