NEWS_KF17THMAY20240830

French police have killed an armed man attempting to set fire to a synagogue in Rouen. The attacker's identity and motive are unknown. The UK Home Secretary plans to increase the number of sex offenders in jail after training more police officers to investigate rape cases. Over 4,500 officers have completed the specialist training. The Ukrainian city of Kharkiv has been attacked with drone strikes, causing concern for the Russian leadership. A funeral will be held for a 14-year-old boy who was killed in a sword attack in East London. Scottish singer Katie Tunstall will receive an award for her song collection. With the latest, I'm Kyle Fraser. French police have shot dead an armed man who was trying to set fire to a synagogue in the northern city of Rouen, the country's interior minister has said. It happened early this morning in the city centre, which is 130km northwest of Paris. The attacker's identity and motive are unclear. France has the third largest Jewish community after Israel and the United States, as well as Europe's largest Muslim community. The Home Secretary has vowed to put more sex offenders behind bars after thousands of police officers were specially trained in investigating rapes. James Cleverley hailed the figure as a significant milestone in the bid to overhaul how rape and sexual offences are handled. According to the College of Policing, over 4,500 officers in England and Wales have completed the specialist training, but Labour's called the progress limited. The Ukrainian city of Kharkiv has been attacked overnight, with the region's governor reporting at least five drone strikes. It was under an air raid alert for more than 16 hours. That's the longest since Russia's invasion began in February 22. Keir Giles is a specialist in Russian politics at Chatham House and says there's been a recent increase in military activity in the Kharkiv region. That, of course, is deeply uncomfortable for the Russian leadership. But, of course, it's only part of the offensive operations that Russia is undertaking all the way along that front line. And Ukraine is also watching for where it may come under pressure next. A funeral will be held later for the 14-year-old boy who died in a sword attack in East London two weeks ago. Daniel Andrewin was killed as he walked to school in Hainault in an attack which left four others injured, including two police officers. A GoFundMe page set up in his honour has received more than £150,000. And in showbiz, Scottish singer Katie Tunstall is to receive the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection. To commemorate the honour, a demo of her attack, Suddenly I See, which she recorded alone in her basement flat 20 years ago, will be released on Amazon Music. The 48-year-old will accept the trophy at the awards ceremony in London next week. There's more news online at gado.co.uk