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Lee Rigby murder trial of Michael Adebolajo

A man has admitted killing soldier Lee Rigby but said it was not murder because “I am a soldier of Allah” and “this is a war”.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, described the killing as a “military operation”.

He also told the Old Bailey he loved extremist network al-Qaeda.

The prosecution says he and Michael Adebowale, 22 – who also denies murder – rammed Fusilier Rigby with a car in Woolwich, south-east London, on 22 May, before attacking him with knives.

They are also both accused of attempting to murder a police officer and conspiracy to murder a police officer.

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Nelson Mandela’s death Daughter Makaziwe tells of final moments

Nelson Mandela’s daughter Makaziwe has told the BBC about the “wonderful” final hours of the former president, who died aged 95 last Thursday.

Ms Mandela said his wife Graca, the children and grandchildren were all there to say goodbye.

South Africa is observing a series of commemorations over the next week, leading up to the funeral on Sunday.

More than 100 current or former heads of state or government will attend the funeral or Tuesday’s national memorial.

Makaziwe Mandela told the BBC’s Komla Dumor: “Until the last moment he had us, you know… The children were there, the grandchildren were there, Graca was there, so we are always around him and even at the last moment, we were sitting with him on Thursday the whole day.”

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Nelson Mandela: Kadir Nelson on painting New Yorker cover

Nelson Mandela’s health had deteriorated in recent years and the world had been preparing for his death long before this week’s announcement finally came.

The New Yorker magazine commissioned African-American artist Kadir Nelson to paint a portrait of the South African prisoner-turned-president for its next edition.

Nelson, who has written and illustrated children’s books on the lives of Mandela as well as Martin Luther King Jr, chose to depict him as a young man on trial.

“He was clearly a leader,” Kadir said. “I wanted to make a simple and bold statement about Mandela and his life as a freedom fighter.”

Uganda gives iPads to all MPs

Uganda’s parliament has given iPads to all MPs at a cost of $370,000 (£230,000), saying it will make them more efficient.

Parliamentary commissioner Emmanuel Dombo says it means MPs can access official documents while travelling.

He also said the funds had been generated by reducing the budget for paper, which would no longer be needed.

However, the BBC’s Patience Atuhaire in Kampala says it has been criticised by many Ugandans as a waste of money.

“Taxpayers are already paying too much to take care of their MPs,” opposition MP Semujju Ibrahim Nganda told the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme.

Mr Dombo described it as an “administrative decision”.

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Thai PM Yingluck dissolves parliament and calls election

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has dissolved parliament and called an election after sustained protests in the capital, Bangkok.

All opposition MPs resigned from parliament on Sunday, and protesters marched again on Government House.

Ms Yingluck won a huge majority in the last election in 2011.

But the protesters say her government is controlled by her brother, ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, and have vowed to continue demonstrating.

Early on Monday, as protesters set off for Government House, Ms Yingluck announced on television that she would call elections.

“The government does not want any loss of life,” she said.

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