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Star Wars R2-D2 actor Kenny Baker dies 13 August 2016 From the section Entertainment & Arts British actor Kenny Baker, who starred as R2-D2 in six Star Wars films, has died after long illness, niece confirms This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. If you want to receive Breaking News alerts via email, or on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App then details on how to do so are available on this help page. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts. View the full article

Samia Shahid death: Victim's first husband and father in court 13 August 2016 From the section Leeds & West Yorkshire Image copyright Family photo Image caption Samia Shahid, 28, from Bradford, died while visiting relatives in Pandori in Northern Punjab The father and first husband of a woman who was allegedly murdered in a so-called hon…

IS conflict: Manbij residents celebrate liberation 13 August 2016 From the section Middle East Image copyright Reuters Image caption A woman is shown smoking - one of many interdictions under IS Residents in the northern Syrian town of Manbij have been celebrating new freedoms after being liberated from the rule of so-called Islamic State. …

Syria rebels 'cut off IS escape route' through Manbij 12 August 2016 From the section Middle East Image copyright Reuters Image caption Syrian Democratic Forces fighters led civilians to safety Kurdish and Arab fighters say they have liberated the north Syrian town of Manbij from so-called Islamic State, cutting off its route to Europe. The…

Labour leadership: Party wins appeal against voting rules 12 August 2016 From the section UK Politics comments Image copyright PA Labour was within its rights to stop new members voting in its leadership contest between Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith, the Court of Appeal has ruled. It found Labour had the power "to set the criteria for members to be eligible to vote", effectively reintroducing the voting…

Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe 'to move back to prison' 12 August 2016 From the section England Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Peter Sutcliffe was moved to Broadmoor in 1984 The Yorkshire Ripper is expected to move out of Broadmoor psychiatric hospital and into a prison after medical experts ruled him mentally fit, BBC News und…

Half of women 'sexually harassed at work' - TUC survey 10 August 2016 From the section UK Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Most women won't tell their employer that they have been harassed More than half of women say they have been sexually harassed at work and most admit to not reporting it, new research by the TUC suggests. A su…

Thailand blasts: More explosions strike southern Thailand 12 August 2016 From the section Asia Image copyright Reuters Image caption Twin blasts struck the resort town of Hua Hin on Thursday A series of blasts have hit southern Thailand, hours after two bombs killed one and injured 19 in a seaside resort town. Late on Thursday twin blasts k…

Trump insists 'Obama is founder of IS' 11 August 2016 From the section US & Canada Media captionTrump links Clinton and Obama to ISRepublican Donald Trump has described US President Barack Obama as the "founder" of the Islamic State group. "They honour President Obama," he told a rally in Florida on Wednesday. "He is the founder of Isis [Islamic State]. Mr Trump also attacked his Democratic rival for the White House, Hillary Clinton, calling her a "co-founder". She responded by accusi…

Syria conflict: Aleppo 'chlorine gas attack' investigated 11 August 2016 From the section Middle East Image caption Men, women and children are shown being fitted with oxygen masks by medical staff The UN is investigating evidence of a toxic gas attack on a rebel-held area of the Syrian city of Aleppo. Rebels said the attack - which reportedly left four people dead and many injured - w…

Germany presents new anti-terror plan to foil Islamists 11 August 2016 From the section Europe comments Image copyright AFP Image caption German police surveillance powers are expected to be boosted The German interior minister is announcing new anti-terror measures, following recent attacks linked to Islamist militants. Thomas de Ma…

Woman and three children killed in A34 crash in Berkshire 11 August 2016 From the section Berkshire Image copyright Geoff Woade Image caption Four people died at the scene of the eight-vehicle crash on the A34 in Berkshire A woman and three children have been killed in a crash on the A34 in Berkshire. Police said the group, from Bedfordshir…

Syria conflict: Aleppo medics appeal to Obama for help 11 August 2016 From the section Middle East Image copyright Reuters Image caption Countless civilians have been killed or injured over the past few weeks in Aleppo The last doctors in the rebel-held east of the Syrian city of Aleppo have urged US President Barack Obama to come to the aid…

Clinton says Trump incited violence with 'Second Amendment' remarks 10 August 2016 From the section US Election 2016 Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Mrs Clinton said: "Words can have tremendous consequences." Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has said Donald Trump incited violence when he said gun rights supporters c…

Four killed in eight-vehicle pile-up on A34 in Berkshire 10 August 2016 From the section Berkshire Image copyright Geoff Woade Image caption Four people died at the scene of the eight-car crash on the A34 in Berkshire Four people have been killed in an eight-vehicle crash on the A34. Four lorries and four cars were involved, also injuring …