Zoe Kleinman
Technology reporter, BBC News

Image source, Andy Paradise

The Royal Albert Hall has unveiled a £2m speaker system designed to give the audience the same sound quality no matter where they are inside the auditorium.

It comprises 465 speakers and more than 15,000m (49,000ft) of cable.

It took 693 days to install, with most of the work carried out at night.

The last major improvement made to the hall's acoustics was in 1969, when giant discs were attached to the ceiling.

The fibreglass "mushrooms", as they became known, fixed an echo caused by the domed roof that had dogged the 148-year-old auditorium.

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Some 4,000 cricket fans are set to launch the tournament by having a party on the Mall on 29 May.

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says he has "no doubt" the club will qualify for the Champions League next season.

The skyscraper would be the second tallest structure in western Europe and feature rotating pods.

Essex Live

A biker killed in a crash that shut a road in Dagenham has been named as Vinny Mitchell, the brother of professional boxer Kevin., external

Image source, DBOX for Foster + Partners

Planning permission has been granted for construction of The Tulip, a new tourist venture for the City of London which will come into bloom next to the Gherkin.

The 300m high tower will offer visitors "an engaging experience with sky bridges, internal glass slides and gondola pod rides on the building’s façade". There'll be a bar and restaurants of course too. And it's aiming for low energy, reduced resource use too.

A key feature will be educational facilities aimed at London's state school children.

It's a project from J. Safra Group and Foster + Partners, owners and architects respectively of the Gherkin site, aka 30 St Mary Axe.

Firefighters risked their lives to save residents of Grenfell Tower, but could they have rescued more than they did?

Hannah Richardson
BBC News education and social affairs reporter

Image source, Action for Children

This grainy photo of two raggedly-dressed boys, Fred and George, shows two of the first children to be admitted to a children's home in England 150 years ago.

The house in Church Street, Lambeth, was the first incarnation of the National Children's Home and Orphanage, set up by Methodist minister Thomas Bowman Stephenson in 1869.

Its successor charity, Action for Children, is launching a nationwide search for the descendants of some of these first children in care.

It has released a collection of historic images of England's first children's homes from its archives to help with the search.

BBC Weather

Rain clearing to the east this afternoon, giving way to sunny spells but also a scattering of showers. A chilly day.

Maximum temperature: 7 to 10°C (45 to 50°F).

Child actor-turned locksmith Lee MacDonald to return to our screens briefly this spring.

David Shukman
Science editor, BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

The countdown has begun to the launch of one of the world's boldest attempts to tackle air pollution.

From next Monday, thousands of drivers face paying a new charge to enter central London.

The aim is to deter the dirtiest vehicles in an effort to reduce diseases and premature deaths.

The initiative comes as scientists say the impacts of air pollution are more serious than previously thought.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, told the BBC that the threat of air pollution, which is mostly invisible to the naked eye, is "a public health emergency".

The rappers feature in the new trailer for series three of the east London crime drama.

Image source, Getty Images

Pregnant women in England will be able to get a new type of blood test to check for the potentially life-threatening condition pre-eclampsia.

NHS England is making PLGF testing more widely available as evidence suggests it speeds up diagnosis which could save lives.

Mums-to-be who develop pre-eclampsia have dangerously high blood pressure which can damage vital organs.

The PLGF test tells doctors if a woman is at high, medium or low risk.

Lead researcher Prof Lucy Chappell, from King's College London, said: "This really is going to make a difference to women. The challenge for doctors is spotting which pregnancies are high risk and need closer monitoring. PLGF helps us reach that diagnosis earlier."

The 465 new speakers mean that the sound is the same everywhere inside the auditorium.

Premiership side Saracens agree a five-year deal to play their annual showpiece game at Tottenham Hotspur's new stadium.

Scientists want to find out more about how fumes from cars affect us and these rucksacks will help them.

Image source, Met Police

Detectives investigating the drive-by shooting of a 17-year-old girl have urged anyone with information to speak out on the first anniversary of her murder.

The Metropolitan Police said they have made "good progress" in the inquiry into Tanesha Melbourne-Blake's death, with four arrests made, but are "certain" other people can help. Tanesha was shot in Chalgrove Road, Haringey, north London, at about 9.35pm on 2 April 2018 by a gunman in a silver-grey Vauxhall Meriva people carrier.

She died at the scene and the car, with the registration KS56 NKG, was found burnt out in Barnet five days later.

Det Insp Beverley Kofi, who is leading the investigation, said: "It is now one year since Tanesha's murder and we are determined to catch the people responsible and bring them to justice.

"Whilst we are making good progress, with a number of arrests made, we continue to urge people with information to come forward.

"I'm certain someone in the community holds vital information that will lead to prosecutions. I can assure you anything you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence.

A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on 6 April 2018 and released under investigation pending further inquiries.

Two men, aged 18 and 22, were arrested on 14 March on suspicion of murder.

The teenager was released under investigation and the 22-year-old was bailed until mid-April.

A 50-year-old man was arrested on 25 March and has also been released under investigation.

Sue Nicholson
BBC News

A man has died after he was struck by a train in Surrey.

British Transport Police said emergency services were called to West Byfleet station at 05:39 BST.

The incident is being treated as non-suspicious.

South Western Railway warned that services between Surbiton and Woking would be subject to disruption until about 13.00.

BBC London News

Tolu Adeoye has this morning's top stories from the BBC London newsroom.

BBC Weather

Some early brightness before cloud and spells of rain head east.

Rain then clearing to the east this afternoon, giving way to sunny spells but also a scattering of showers. A chilly day.

Maximum temperature: 10C (50F).