BBC World News

There are concerns that dogs are being used to poach deer in Cumbria. Poachers usually use search-lights and rifles, but The South Lakes Deer Management Group said it was becoming more common to use specially-trained lurchers to hunt. In the past year the remains of 17 deer, thought to have been killed by dogs, have been found within a three-mile radius of the village of Rusland. The management group condemned the poaching as "despicably cruel". It is also concerned that venison is being sold via the black market despite it containing dog bite marks and with no checks for disease or contamination. 'Hit and miss' A spokesperson for the group said: "The continuing use of despicably cruel methods by poachers is an affront to our native deer and to those people who live and work in the countryside where the deer are to be found. "We understand that deer numbers need to be controlled, to ensure a healthy and balanced deer population - but ever...

Among a group of marsupials born at an Australian zoo in recent months, one has stood out. The female koala, as yet unnamed, is a rare white joey. According to Queensland's Australia Zoo, the koala's fair coat is not due to albinism but most likely caused by a recessive gene it inherited from its mother. Experts say it would be difficult for such a koala to survive if it lived in the wild. "In veterinary science it is often referred to as the 'silvering gene' where animals are born with white or very pale fur and, just like baby teeth, they eventually shed their baby fur and the regular adult colouration comes through," said Dr Rosie Booth, the zoo's wildlife hospital director. Central Queensland University ecologist Dr Alistair Melzer said he had not seen a white koala in more than 20 years of observing the animals in the wild. "It is something that would be selected against in the wild," he told the BBC, saying koalas had pred...

Iraqi ground forces have begun an operation to retake Tal Afar, one of the last cities in the country held by the Islamic State group, officials say. In a televised speech announcing the offensive overnight, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the jihadists had the choice between "surrender or die". The army targeted Tal Afar after seizing Mosul, IS's main stronghold 55km (35 miles) to the east, in July. Tal Afar, which has a mainly Shia-Muslim population, fell to IS in 2014. It sits on a major road between Mosul and the Syrian border that was once a key supply route for the jihadist group. Anti-IS coalition forces estimate that between 50,000 and 100,000 civilians remain in and around Tal Afar. Mosul defeat a blow to IS, but not the end Where is IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi? The Iraqi towns still under IS control Iraqi warplanes have bombarded IS positions in the city for several days, in preparation for ground operations. On Sunday Mr Abadi, d...

This is the photograph, taken under seven months ago, that shows just how much Donald Trump's administration has rapidly changed. Taken on 28 January, it shows Trump's inner circle as he received a congratulatory phone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin following his inauguration. On Friday, Steve Bannon became the latest casualty, added to a growing list of departures. But where are Trump and his closest allies now? 1. President Donald Trump Almost seven months to the day since his 20 January inauguration, Donald Trump is under pressure on several fronts - but he's still president. His presidency continues to be overshadowed by the ongoing Russia investigation. Key policies like the repeal of Obamacare and his travel ban have faltered. Trump has also faced renewed criticism from senior Democratic and Republican figures alike for his response to events involving white supremacists in Charlottesville. 2. Reince Priebus, (now-former) Chief of Staff...

Last week a threat from North Korea to fire missiles into the sea near Guam led to a spike in war rhetoric from both the US and the North, and put the tiny island territory squarely at the centre of the world's attention. The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes went there to find out why Guam has been caught in the crosshairs. Sitting here on Guam I am in the United States, and yet I am much closer to Manila than Los Angeles. The nearest bit of the US proper, Hawaii, is nearly 4,000 miles (6,400km) to the east. Honolulu sits across the international dateline - so it is still Wednesday there - even though over here the sun is setting on Thursday. Little wonder people in Guam often feel forgotten by the rest of America. Standing in the immigration line it doesn't feel much like America either. The airport is filled with young families flooding off planes from Tokyo and Osaka, Seoul and Busan. Of the 1.5 million tourists who flock to Guam's beaches each year, most...

A very small number of eggs contaminated with a toxic insecticide reached the UK earlier this year. Some of the eggs, which originated from the Netherlands, were also found in France, the country's agricultural ministry said. The UK's Food Standards Agency say the risk to the public is very low. The agency is "urgently investigating" the issue, but to the best of their knowledge, the affected products are no longer on shelves. It says there is no need for people in Britain to avoid eating eggs and any potential exposure is unlikely to harm. The revelations come after the supermarket chain Aldi withdrew all eggs from sale in its stores in Germany last week. Tests had shown the chemical fipronil, which can harm kidneys, liver and thyroid glands, was found in the eggs. It is feared that farmers in the Netherlands may now need to cull millions of birds as it seeks to eradicate traces of the insecticide from production, according to LTO, a Dutch farming...

                                                              water lily are floating on the pond

 jam, gourd, and apple, fruit baskets