Syrian leader admits war strains
Syria’s President Assad publicly acknowledges that his army is short of manpower and is unable to hold on to every region in the civil war. BBC News – Middle East
Craig Taylor
Tsar to target late payment billions
A small business commissioner will help firms tackle the problem of the billions of pounds in late payments they are owed, under government plans. BBC News – Business
Bomb kills soldiers in tense Turkey
A bomb attack on a military convoy in south-eastern Turkey kills two soldiers, amid tension with Kurdish activists and air strikes on the separatist PKK. BBC News – Europe
Colombia halts air strikes on Farc
Colombia’s president suspends air strikes against camps belonging to Farc rebels, in a fresh bid to de-escalate the conflict and boost peace talks. BBC News – Latin America & Caribbean
Lord Sewel quits after drugs claims
Lord Sewel is facing a police inquiry after quitting as House of Lords deputy speaker over a video allegedly showing him taking drugs with prostitutes. BBC News – UK
Hundreds attend Sandra Bland funeral
Hundreds of people gather in Illinois for the funeral of Sandra Bland, who died in a Texas prison cell nearly two weeks ago after being arrested. BBC News – US & Canada