Lebanon has declared a two-week state of emergency after at least 78 people were killed and more than 4,000 injured following an explosion on Tuesday evening at a warehouse in the capital, Beirut. According to the country's President, Michel Aoun, 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate had been unsafely stored in the port building for six years. Three days of official mourning will also begin on Wednesday. The Lebanese Red Cross has described the blast as a "huge catastrophe", saying there were "victims and casualties everywhere".
Eye-witnesses have told the BBC of buildings collapsing after the explosion and cars being smashed by concrete.
You can see pictures of the aftermath of the blast here, and video of the damage it has caused.

Lebanon is in the midst of an economic crisis which has rekindled old divisions as it struggles with the coronavirus pandemic. Tensions are also high ahead of Friday's verdict in a trial over the killing of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005. You can find out more about the present situation in Lebanon here.

The children's commissioner for England has said that schools should only close as a last resort if another lockdown is needed to tackle a resurgence of the coronavirus. Anne Longfield said pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops should be among the first to be closed, arguing that children played a smaller role in spreading the virus and were less likely to get ill. Ms Longfield added that young people should be at the heart of planning for the future and called for regular testing of school children and their teachers so confirmed cases and their contacts could be isolated - especially during the winter when flu clusters could be mistaken for Covid-19.
Ms Longfield also wants ministers to prioritise students who have exams in the coming academic year, as well as bolstering mental health support for children who have struggled during lockdown.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said that getting all children back into the classroom full-time next month "is a national priority, as this is the best place for them to be".
Elsewhere, a committee of MPs has said that a lack of border measures earlier in the pandemic was a "serious mistake", and that ministers underestimated the risk of importing coronavirus from Europe rather than Asia.
And, after another day of worrying coronavirus headlines - our health correspondent Nick Triggle has been examining whether the UK might actually be in a better position than we think.

With most of the nation confined to their homes and having to spend more time indoors during the coronavirus lockdown, the findings from broadcasting watchdog Ofcom's latest survey about our viewing habits may confirm many people's experience - namely that we watched a lot more TV and streaming services.
According to the report, British adults spent six hours and 25 minutes each day during lockdown looking at screens. And while streaming is usually associated with younger people, Ofcom found that one-third of 55-64 year olds signed up for services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime during the early weeks of the pandemic.
Traditional broadcasters also saw their highest combined monthly share of broadcast TV viewing (59%) in more than six years in March, as people turned to trusted news services for updates on the virus.

Several of Wednesday's papers lead on coronavirus, although no one line stands out. The Daily Mail says the pandemic has taken a "huge toll" on the nation's health, as two-thirds of non-coronavirus patients face lengthy waits for treatment. The Mail, along with Metro, Daily Express and Daily Mirror, also feature a picture of the Duchess of Cambridge wearing a face covering on their front pages. Pictures of the smoke plume caused by the Beirut explosion are on the front of the Guardian and the Times - with the latter leading on a story about the BBC facing a "revolt" by pensioners over the end of free TV licences for those who are not receiving pension credits. You can get more from the front and inside pages in our paper review.

Allen Blue, who co-founded professional network LinkedIn, reveals how start-ups can achieve growth, as well as the secrets of his own success. You can watch our video with him here. And architects are urging the government not to knock down old, draughty, buildings but provide help to get them upgraded - because new construction projects create more carbon due to the production of steel, cement and bricks. You can read Roger Harrabin's report here.

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