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Guatemalan court overturns former dictator's genocide conviction
Guatemala's constitutional court overturned a genocide conviction against former dictator Efrain Rios Montt, throwing out all proceedings in his case since a dispute broke out last month over who should hear it.
Read more: Who is Efrain Rios Montt?
Rios Montt was found guilty on 10th May of overseeing the deliberate killings by the armed forces of at least 1,771 members of the Maya Ixil population during his 1982-83 rule. He was sentenced to 80 years in prison.
But the constitutional court said it had thrown out all proceedings in the case dating back until 19th April. It was then that the trial against Rios Montt was suspended after a spat between judges over who should take the case.
Study: 120 cot deaths a year could be prevented
Around 120 cot deaths could be avoided if parents stopped sharing beds with their children, research has found.
Currently, NHS officials advise that parents should not bed share if they have been drinking alcohol, taking drugs or if they smoke.
But a new study has found that the guidance should be expanded to dissuade all bed sharing, especially with babies under three months.
The study suggested that 120 deaths a year could be prevented, a reduction of 40%, if parents only brought children into their beds for comfort and feeding, but not sleeping.
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Schmallenberg vaccine is result of 'intensive activity'
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has licensed veterinary pharmaceutical company MSD Animal Health to provide the "Bovolis SBV" vaccine for animals affected by the Schmallenberg virus.
VMD chief executive Pete Borriello said:
This is the culmination of intensive activity on the part of MSD Animal Health and the VMD to make a safe and effective vaccine available to tackle Schmallenberg.
Without in any way compromising the scientific rigour of our assessment process, we accelerated our assessment so that a vaccine will be available this summer.
This means it will be possible to vaccinate sheep and cattle before most of them become pregnant. This is important as it is during pregnancy when exposure to the virus can cause damage to the foetus.
Read: Analysis: Virus is unlikely to affect people, but cannot be ruled out
Winds reached 200 mph in Oklahoma tornado
The powerful tornado, rated the second highest strength level of EF4 and packing winds of up to 200 miles per hour, touched down at mid-afternoon and devastated a wide area of the town.
There have been reports that the tornado could have reached more then 2 miles in diameter at its height.
The tornado grew very quickly giving residents only 45 minutes notice to find shelter. The area damaged around Oklahoma City is around 30 square miles.
Tornado survivors 'thought we would die'
Survivors of the Oklahoma tornado have said they thought they might die as the winds whipped the area.
One man was caught in debris and pushed down the street while another had made it to shelter which was breached by the winds:
Rescue workers still searching for 24 missing children
Rescue workers are continuing to look for around 24 children who remain unaccounted for at an Oklahoma school hot by a tornado, Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb has told Reuters.
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Huge funnel of massive Oklahoma tornado
Video claiming to show the tornado in Oklahoma has been posted online. The massive funnel can be seen tearing through the landscape.
ITV News cannot verify the authenticity of this video.
Princes to urge for step up in law enforcement
The Prince of Wales and Prince William will address guests from 26 countries on the 'serious crime' that is the illegal wildlife trade.
Speaking with Environment Secretary Owen Paterson they will call for a global partnership and urgent action to end wildlife crime. They will call for:
- A reduction in demand for endangered wildlife products in markets around the world
- A step up in law enforcement against the criminals involved
- Help for local/rural communities to find viable alternatives to illegal wildlife trade
Read: Wildlife rangers fight to save elephants from poaching extinction
Search and rescue 'will continue into the night'
Oklahoma authorities have aid that search and rescue efforts will continue throughout the night, as daylight begins to fail.
Children among the dead in tornado
State medical examiner's office has confirmed that 51 people have now been killed in Oklahoma tornado, with children among the dead.
