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The theme tune to the series that made actor George Cole a TV favourite has been played at his funeral.

Cole, who died on 5 August aged 90, was best known as Cockney wheeler-dealer Arthur Daley in Minder, a role he played for 15 years from 1979 to 1994. Reading a eulogy during the ceremony at Reading Crematorium, Dennis Waterman, said of his time as Cole’s co-star: « We laughed all day long, every day ».
The upbeat song « I Could Be So Good for You » was a hit for Waterman in 1980.

Waterman, 67, played Arthur Daley’s likeable bodyguard Terry McCann in the hit series. Delivering the eulogy at the 30-minute service, he said: « People are always asking me for anecdotes. Working with George was an anecdote. It was non-stop. « It’s a wonderful day I suppose, but a horrible one. Personally I would rather be doing Hamlet with no rehearsals than this. »

Speaking after the service, Waterman added: « He was just the most popular person in showbiz and the nicest and the best. « He was happiest when he was at home, when he was getting a few winners, and with his family and in his garden. » Cole’s widow Penny, whom he married in 1967, read David Harkins’ poem He Is Gone during the service.

She read the line: « You can open your eyes and see all that he has left », before jokingly adding, « all those television repeats ». Cole’s defining role, as the small-time crook who dreamt of bigger things, regularly drew audiences of 17 million for the ITV show.

The actor, who lived in Stoke Row near Henley, Oxfordshire, also played Flash Harry in four St Trinian’s films between 1954-66, starred opposite Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in Cleopatra, as well as gothic horror The Vampire Lovers.

He began acting in the early 1940s, appearing with Lawrence Olivier in The Demi-Paradise, and taking a small role in Olivier’s star-studded Henry V.
Cole was « surrounded by his family » when he died at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, his agent has said.

Lord Coe has described allegations of widespread doping in athletics as a « declaration of war » and says it is time to « come out fighting » to protect the sport’s reputation.

The Sunday Times published data from 5,000 athletes, which it says reveals an « extraordinary extent of cheating ».
Athletics’ world governing body, the IAAF, said the blood results were not positive tests or proof of doping. « The fightback has to start here, » said Coe, an IAAF vice-president. « It is a declaration of war on my sport. There is nothing in our history of competence and integrity in drug testing that warrants this kind of attack. »

What Exactly Are The Allegations?

The Sunday Times and German broadcaster ARD/WDR examined leaked data from the IAAF database of results of 12,000 blood tests between 2001 and 2012.
The reports by the British and German media outlets said that more than 800 athletes – and a third of all medallists in endurance events at recent Olympics and World Championships – had suspicious blood-test results and that they were not followed up by the IAAF.

To review the data, the Sunday Times and ARD/WDR used two of the world’s « foremost anti-doping experts », scientists Robin Parisotto and Michael Ashenden, and they said that while « abnormal » results were not proof of doping, they were suspicious.

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Kelly Osbourne has denied she is a racist but says she takes responsibility for her « poor choice of words » in a TV interview.

Kelly Osbourne has denied she is a racist but says she takes responsibility for her « poor choice of words » in a TV interview. She said: « If you kick every Latino out of this country, then who is going to be cleaning your toilet, Donald Trump? »

Appearing on American talk-show The View, Kelly was discussing comments Donald Trump had made.

In June he questioned Hispanic immigration into the United States and made controversial comments.

The businessman is campaigning to be the next President of the USA after Obama leaves office.
He said: « [Mexico] are sending people that have lots of problems, and they are bringing those problems to us. They are bringing drugs, and bringing crime, and their rapists. »

Gasps can be heard from the audience after Kelly spoke and her co-hosts looked taken aback by what she said. She tried to clarify on TV she did not mean it « like that ». Posting a statement on Facebook Kelly says: « I want to start by saying I ALWAYS take responsibility for my actions. « In this particular case I will take responsibility for my poor choice of words but I will not apologize for being a racist as I am NOT. I should have known better as I was on The View and it was live. « I’ve learned a very valuable lesson. It is my hope that this situation will open up a conversation about immigration and the Latin community as a whole. « By the way I clean my own toilets. »

US air power has been used for the first time to defend US-trained forces fighting in Syria, a Pentagon spokesman has confirmed.

Capt Jeff Davis said « defensive support fire » was provided last Friday. This was during clashes between the Free Syrian Army, fighting alongside US-trained members of the New Syria Force, and suspected al-Nusra fighters.

Capt Davis said the US would provide defensive fire support to the NSF « no matter whom they came up against ».
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described as « counter-productive » US comments that Washington could take extra measures to defend the US-trained Syrian rebels.

Speaking at a news conference in Qatar, Mr Lavrov said this « could complicate the task of fighting terrorism » in Syria.
Russia is a key ally of Syria’s embattled President Bashar al-Assad.

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The widow of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung has travelled to the North, hoping to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula.

It is unclear whether Lee Hee-ho, who is on a private trip, will be able to meet top North Korean officials, including leader Kim Jong-un.
In 2000, Dae-jung held inter-Korean reconciliation talks – later winning a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. The two Koreas are technically still at war.

Dae-jung, who died in 2009, was a supporter of rapprochement with Pyongyang. The summit between him and Kim Jong-un’s father, and former leader Kim Jong-il, led to a time of relatively better relations between the two Koreas. « Lee voiced hope that the two Koreas could heal pain and wounds from a 70-year-long inter-Korean division and promote reconciliation and co-operation,  » said Kim Sung-jae, from the Kim Dae-jung Peace Centre which organised the trip, according to Yonhap news agency. « She expressed wishes that this visit could pave the way for continuous dialogue, exchanges and co-operation between the two Koreas. »

However, the BBC’s Stephen Evans in Seoul says the visit seems unlikely to unthaw relations, particularly while Kim Jong-un pursues nuclear weapons.
Mrs Lee’s official itinerary says she will visit a maternity clinic, an orphanage and a children’s hospital.