a postmortem in new york city has determined that the death of the disgraced us financierjeffrey epstein was suicide by hanging. us media had earlier reported speculation that epstein — who was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges — could have been murdered. air—travellers across the united states have been facing major delays — following a computer systems failure, that caused chaos at airports. the us customs and border service says its computers are beginning to come back online — and so far, there's no indication the disruption is malicious in nature. the veteran hollywood star peter fonda has died at his home in los angeles from lung cancer. he was 79. the actor, seen as a counter—cultural icon, was best—known for the 1969 film, easy rider, which he co—wrote and produced.

detectives investigating the murder of a police officer in berkshire have sealed off a nearby caravan site. pc andrew harper who only got married four weeks ago died after he was dragged along by a vehicle while attending reports of a burglary. daniel sandford reports. on a rural stretch of the a4 outside reading, police officers doing what they dread — investigating the death of one of their own. pc andrew harper, 28—years—old, married to his wife lissie just four weeks ago, described by his chief constable as highly regarded, popular and a significant loss to the force. the officer was well known across the force. you know, so, it's felt very personal, despite the size of the force, it's felt very personally by the whole of the police family. pc harper was responding with his crewmate to reports of a burglary late last night, a routine call that has

ended in tragedy. yellow marks on the road made by scenes—of—crime officers give an indication of what happened here. pc harper appears to have been struck by a vehicle at the bottom of landon‘s hill and then dragged across the busy all, being left where those blue forensic tents are at the bottom of ufton lane. ten people have been arrested on suspicion of his murder. they are all male — the oldest is 30, the youngestjust 13. this evening, there was a heavy police presence at this caravan site, which police said formed part of their investigation. well, the murder of pc andrew harper is a mindless and a brutal crime, and obviously all our thoughts are with his family, his friends and his colleagues. the sense of shock and expressions of sympathy for the officer's death were universal. my condolences to andrew harper's family and his colleagues,

who must be absolutely devastated. he was doing his duty, examining, apparently, what had happened at a burglary, and was killed in the line of duty. as flags flew at half mast on the force's stations, the chief constable said that he felt violence against the police was increasing, though pc harper was the first to die at work since pc keith palmer was killed in the westminster bridge attack. he leaves behind his new wife and a wider grieving family, who said today that they were devastated. daniel sandford, bbc news, ufton green. now on bbc news, it's time for the travel show. this is it japan's this is itjapan‘s most northerly main island of hokkaido. for decades, travellers have been drawn here by its stark contrast to the rest of the country. it's another

japan, one that is wild, challenging and remote. distinctive communities. i've come to me them and find out more about the country ‘s northern frontier. so, if you look up to where i'm heading, that is japan's most northerly point. on the other side, just a0 kilometres from the japanese coastline is the great landmass, russia. that is important because it was russia expanding eastwards that led to japan 150 years ago to annex

at island and give it the name, hokkaido. the island isn't small. it's around one fifth of japan's total landmass but nearly a century and a half over the move to fully populate upon matt, still only around a% of japan's people live here. hello, diplomat. —— hokkaido. because of this relatively recent migration, the island that was developed by the first sisters took on his own characteristics — make its own characteristics making it different from the mainland. one of the immediate issues was how to live alongside what many agreed to be the islands indigenous inhabitants. i'd come to meet someone who recently returned to his heritage following

in his ancestors footsteps. hunting animals was key to survival. today this means a fusion of modern hunting techniques like making use of every part of the animal. when the japanese settled here, the ainu were made to assimilate into japanese society. the traditional lifestyle was bad and a little of the old of life remains.

there are bears in this forest was up there are bears in this forest was up i'm sticking close to him. so tommy, hugo hunting every day? —— so tell me, you go hunting until recently, those who opened the —— openly showed their ainu status based discrimination. but they are starting to get recognition and

japanese law as indigenous people with their own distinct language and culture, things are beginning to change. so this is where the deer trappers. he is clear disappointed that there isn't a deer in his trap, his adjusting a bit. between you and me, i'm a bit relieved. for young people seeking opportunities, this island doesn't make things easy. over the years japan has wrestled with economic challenges. hokkaido has been one of the areas hardest hit. in the previously thriving mining city, 90% of their populations have moved away in 50 years.

demographically, this is the oldest city in japan. probably demographically, this is the oldest city injapan. probably the oldest city injapan. probably the oldest city injapan. probably the oldest city in the world and quite possibly the oldest city ever. and 80 years old, and of its sedans has achieved celebrity status around japan. —— one of its citizens. mascots are big business in this country and they don't get much bigger or scarier than the melon bear. not to the city is famed and prized fruit. why do you do it?

but there is a much more serious side to come back melon air. to entice tourist to yubari. and maybe in one sense it has worked because travellers are coming in. women slapped by economic turbulence bitterjapan‘s women slapped by economic turbulence bitter japan's landscapes and women slapped by economic turbulence bitterjapan‘s landscapes and here it has sprung up the hobby which

explores the abandoned buildings. look at this, this is industrial history, isn't it? overa look at this, this is industrial history, isn't it? over a decade ago, yubari was declared bankrupt. those who remained a made to move into a central area of the city living everything else abandoned. that places like the old above powerplant which hosts art projects and helps people to explore. walking around, i'm left with mixed feelings because it is so powerfully symbolising the decline of a once prosperous place but i can also see why people love exploring here. there is a mysterious beauty to what is left behind.

iam making i am making the most of disused buildings —— and making the most, i've arranged to stay in a unique guesthouse. this man worked on trends most of his life.

when he's not working on trans, he restored an old tissue station house back to its former glory. so this is to bea back to its former glory. so this is to be a railway line? in contrast to the japanese mainland, much of the urban life in hokkaido developed around the rail infrastructure. some of the old trade routes closed with the loss of industry but for some people, this is not the end of the line. this is an incredible experience. on an old disused railway line, very shuddering, but exhilarating, absolutely exhilarating. it's great,

pretty good. it's a world away from this country is high—speed bullet trans but what a way to experience the nature this is famous for.

i have got my sleeper courage berth, so i have got my sleeper courage berth, so let's see where the night train ta kes so let's see where the night train takes me. good night. —— carriage. when the japanese came to colonise hokkaido, they sent former sam wright with a mission to cultivate this island. —— samurai. that is one of the distinct way it has developed. miles upon miles of suitable landscapes. one way to get close to nature as a traveller would be to hike. but there is another uniquely japanese way. this

be to hike. but there is another uniquelyjapanese way. this is mochi pounding. what might look to the untrained eye as hitting rice as you can with a wooden mallet until it turns is done to create a sweet delicacy known as mochi. i am about to have a lesson in the —— from the real expert as to how to be a proper pounder. this is extremely heavy. stomp, stomp, stomp. hokkaido‘s climate is perfectly suited to cultivating the sweet sticky rice needed to make mochi. the region around naoro has become known for this, every year they hold competition to find the best mochi

pounders. how do you become a good mochi pounder like you? 7 pounders. how do you become a good mochi pounder like you? ? here we go. how does al-qaeda rate in terms of its mochi? —— hoc ido. —— hokkaido. this is where he risks the use of his hands for the rest of his life. (laughs). it takes 100 strikes of

the mochi to make itjust right. and it is not just the mochi to make itjust right. and it is notjust about the mochi to make itjust right. and it is not just about speed. the mochi to make itjust right. and it is notjust about speed. i am told how you hit will affect that all—important final told how you hit will affect that all—importa nt final taste. told how you hit will affect that all—important final taste. i am obviously holding back here for fear of outshining my hosts. (applause). the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. tasted... let's see what thejudges think. pudding. tasted... let's see what the judges think. (laughs). that was not in the script! i reckon that was a fix. and after all that exertion, it is time for a well earned rest. i am

heading south, where my trip comes to an end in hokkaido‘s main city of sapporo. it is a fitting place to finish the trip around hokkaido, because here in sapporo, they are hosting a dance festival that pays homage to the whole island's connection to the sea. it is the fifth largest city injapan, sapporo, and hokkaido‘s by some distance. and just and there is where the festival is taking place. yosakoi where the festival is taking place. yosa koi soran where the festival is taking place. yosakoi soran is one of the region's biggest international dancing competitions. teams dance to music which is all inspired by the hokkaido folk song soran. it has come off a long way then! —— come an awful long way. and one of the teams

here with their own take on this danceis here with their own take on this dance is the russians. interesting, considering the history between the two nations. hats off to them, really good. i had arranged to meet someone who had taken part in this festival many, many times, since she was a child. but finding one dancer amongst 30,000 others was proving a little trickier than i had expected. hi! 50 you are a veteran trickier than i had expected. hi! 50 you are a veteran of this dance, you are going to teach me? fantastic. so what makes this festival unique in

japan? yosakoi soran in hokkaido, you have two rules. this one, every team, every dancer, has this. the second rule is that soran music. so even though all the music might sound a bit different, and there is dancing and... inside each one is the same melody. how does the melody go? # soran, soran... and while it is something that clearly takes a lot of practice, i'm told that in my case, one hour should do it. that's what i have to wear? yes, yes. very happy. ok.

# soran, soran... a very public training session for newcomers like me will be followed with a chance to take this dance around the city. the first time that you entered the festival, tell me about how it felt for you and what you did? ? you! a bit of attitude. attitude is really important. 0k, from the top.

from the top! is dance move, on dan smith, on dance moves. so, located! many of these dance moves are based on the tasks fishermen performed like dragnet, holding robes and letting luggage over their shoulders. can't you tell? that is only the practice. we haven't even started the real thing yet! i have just had a rigourous workout, i supposedly know my moves, and now to cap it all off we're going to do the whole dance around the square in front of the crowds. help! thank you to your wonderful teaching, i feel quite confident now that... oh, let's go! # soran, soran... the nerves have

all gone. who cares how good you are! this is about community. festival! i'm getting it now! are! this is about community. festival! i'm getting it nomm are! this is about community. festival! i'm getting it now! it is exciting! electronic music plays.

is the festival comes to a dramatic close, my time in hokkaido finishes in what feels like a world away from where it started. i have found a place that has ensured time adopted so place that has ensured time adopted so much of japanese culture, but within that has found its own way of expressing itself. —— in a short time. who knows what the next 150 yea rs time. who knows what the next 150 years might bring to this unique japanese island ? check years might bring to this unique japanese island? check that out, thatis japanese island? check that out, that is an axe. —— act. # sapporo, sapporo... sapporo, sapporo...

hello there. we can all look forward to seeing some sunshine this weekend, it was a poor day though on friday, especially across england and wales, the wettest weather in snowdonia. that rain—bearing weather front is putting away from the south—east of england but this area of low pressure is going to be the one constant right the way through the weekend. that will focus the showers towards the north—west of the uk — some of them will be heavy. we'll get some sunshine, yes, but they will be accompanied by some blustery winds as well. those showers continue into the morning, these are the temperatures first thing, 12—15 degrees, but some heavy

showers from overnight especially in scotland and the north—west of england. it will be western scotland and northern ireland that sees the bulk of the showers on saturday, wetter weather in the north—west and the winds really picking up later on. one or two fleeting showers for england and wales but not many, good chance it will stay dry at lord's for the cricket, but we will have these strong winds, not as strong as last weekend, and those temperatures back into the low 20s now that we have the sunshine across eastern parts of england. those showers, though, continue in scotland and northern ireland again, heavy and thundery, gusty winds as well, we have thickening cloud across southern counties of england, maybe threatening a bit of rain. in between, clearer skies and temperatures around 11—13. the wetter weather in the south and south—east courtesy of this weather front here, that should pull away on sunday morning. still got that area of low pressure, it is a bit closer to scotland this time, and again it will focus the more frequent and heavy showers into scotland, into northern ireland, again some thundery downpours, gusty winds too,

probably a few more showers in northern england, north wales, the south—west of england the best of the sunshine, and dry weather through the midlands and eastern england. strong, gusty west to south—westerly winds, probablyjust taking the edge of the temperatures but sunday is probably going to feel quite similar to saturday. as we head into the beginning of next week, we still have an area of low pressure but it is starting to move away from scotland slowly but surely, the winds beginning to ease down a bit as well. there will still be a focus of heavy showers across scotland and northern ireland, and a few scattered showers coming into england and wales, always heavier further north. some spells of sunshine around again and those temperatures are still 16 degrees in the central belt, to a high of 21 or so in the south—east of england. further into next week, we will find some spells of sunshine. warm in the sunshine, temperatures not particularly impressive for the time of year, there will be some showery bursts of rain, mainly in the north and west, the winds, though, should be lighter.

good morning. welcome to breakfast, with steph mcgovern and charlie stayt. our headlines today: the police officer killed a week before his honeymoon — detectives continue to question ten people. labour warns of a retail apocalypse as it calls for action to tackle empty shops. hollywood actor peter fonda who starred in the cult movie easy rider has died aged 79. in the cricket at lord's, there should be better weather for england today. after more rain on day three, they say they need to get australia out by lunch to have a good chance of winning the second ashes test.