20/07/2013 BBC Weekend News

Friends and colleagues speak of a pioneer, one of the comic greats,

of recent times. Claims of an assault on one of the

Woolwich murder suspects - five prison staff are suspended. A new

crackdown on tax avoidance - will some big companies, be forced to

pay more in the UK. And, can't catch me now - Chris

Froome looks set to win the Tour de Good Evening.

Tributes have been paid to the comedian, Mel Smith, who has died

suddenly at his home in London after suffering a heart attack. He

was 60. Mel Smith rose to fame in the 1970s and 80s, with Not The

Nine O'clock News and Alas Smith and Jones, pioneering a new style

of comedy. His fellow comedian, Griff Rhys Jones said he'd lost a

very dear friend, describing him as a gentleman, a scholar, a gambler

and a wit. Louisa Baldini looks back at his life.

It was for his role in the comedy show, Not The Nine O'clock News,

that Mel Smith first became a well- known. I read the Financial Times

because I have got a pink bathroom. Together with Griff Rhys Jones,

Pamela Stephenson and Rowan Atkinson, he pioneered a new style

of comedy that continues to influence comedians and writers

today. When I caught Gerald in 1968, he was completely wild. Wilde, I

was livid. He is repertoire of characters was diverse, and his

timing and talons were natural. Come in my old mate, have a cup of

tea. He often played a larger-than- life characters. But he could also

be understated, as he was in the classic profile scenes in Alas!

Smith & Jones, which lasted for 10 series over 16 years. I will do

anything, anything, anything! yes. Would you get a job? I can't

do that. He was a fantastic man. Very talented, actor, director,

producer, business person. But a very good friend and a person, I

don't think I have met anyone who did not like him. Other tributes

have poured in, including from his own collaborator, Griff Rhys Jones,

with whom he set up Talkback Productions, which they sold for a

reputed �60 million. Then a Rowan Atkinson, another all-time a

from Not The Nine O'clock News, and who Mel Smith directed in the film,

A few years ago, for a documentary, Mel Smith reminisced about his time

as an actor. I know that looking back now if I watched some old

sketches, I know it is a very good programme, which is something one

should be very careful about thinking. But I think it was

brilliant. We all have our moments in the sun, I think.

Mel Smith, who's died at the age of Five prison officers have been

suspended following an alleged assault on Michael Adebolajo, who's

facing trial for the murder, of soldier, Lee Rigby. The suspect's

brother has claimed that staff used excessive force to restrain him and

knocked out some of his teeth in the incident at Belmarsh Prison in

south London. The Prison Officers Association has denied any

wrongdoing by its members and said they always used approved restraint

procedures. Our home affairs correspondent, Tom Symonds reports.

What happened inside of one of Britain's most secure prisons, to

one of its most high-profile romance prisoners. During the

incident, up to five officers were restraining Michael Adebolajo, when

some of his front teeth were knocked out. The suspect has spoken

to his sister, his lawyer and his brother, say he fears being

attacked. We have hidden his identity. He claimed the

confrontation began when his brother was given an instruction by

the officers. They decided to take offence by something and serve the

best course of action was to twist his arm back. He's was the arm that

had been shot. They smashed his head against a window. Michael

Adebolajo was brought to Belmarsh amid high security last month. He

faces trial later next year. But police are investigating this

incidents. Five officers are suspended, which only happens in

exceptional cases. But they strenuously deny any wrongdoing.

The it is unfortunate a high- profile prisoner has been injured.

But we are confident the five members involved will be completely

exonerated of any wrong doing. Prison Officers' Association say it

was covered by her CCTV, so we will know what happened? I am short they

are going to say they were using reasonable restraint. His brother

is accused of a crime which resulted in widespread revulsion.

The prison officers' union accepted he had a certain amount of

notoriety. But it insisted it made no difference to professional

officers who do with every prisoner in the same way.

One of two men being held by the police in connection with bomb

attacks near mosques in the West Midlands has been arrested on

suspicion of murder. 75-year-old, Mohammed Saleem, was stabbed in the

back three times, in the Small Heath area of Birmingham in April.

The 25-year-old suspect, who's Ukranian, has been in custody since

Thursday in relation to explosions, close to mosques in Walsall and

Tipton. An international plan to crack down

on corporate tax avoidance has been given official backing by a meeting

of finance ministers. The G20 group of nations is hoping to prevent

firms moving profits across borders in order to minimise the amount of

tax they pay. In recent months we have learned

some of the world's biggest and best-known firms have been paying

little or no tax on their profits here, causing public outrage. But

now a Road Map to clamp down on aggressive tax avoidance by big-

business has been agreed. At the G20 Moscow, the Chancellor, who led

the calls for a new global tax deal, welcomed at the news. We have 20

nations agreeing to create a tax system that is fair, people pay the

taxes that are due, and it is fit for the modern economy. Mr Osborne

says he has persuaded the ministers to sign up to automatic

information-sharing between tax authorities, in order to monitor a

sophisticated tax avoidance scheme. That could affect internet giants

like Google. They are building a UK headquarters around King's Cross.

They use complex tax treaties to legally avoid paying the full rate

of corporation tax. But if the G20 implements the OECD tax plan in

full, it could change. The plan is to make tax -- make companies pay

tax in the country where most of their income is earned. So

companies will have to publish their exact sales and profits for

every country they operate in. Maintenance companies will be

forced to pay tax in the country where most of their business is

taking place. And if companies are using aggressive but legal tax

schemes, they will have to publish the details. Hundred so of

countries have thousands of tax treaties between them which may

need to be honoured. They're looking at having won big treaty

which all the countries can come and signed up to, which will

automatically adjust all of the individual treaties they have got

in place at the moment. The issue of Business not paying its first

share of tax has become an important one for the coalition. It

knows there are plenty of votes for the party's will appear to be

tackling it. They caught in Italy has convicted

five men a manslaughter in connection with last year sinking

of the Costa Concordia cruise liner. 32 people died when the ship ran

aground off the Italian coast. The five employees all received prison

sentences. Although it is not clear if any of them will spend time in

jail. Israel has agreed to release what

it calls a limited number of Palestinian prisoners as the two

sides prepare to hold direct peace talks for the first time in three

years. The American Secretary of State, John Kerry, said he hoped

the negotiations would arrive in Washington next week.

John Kerry's diplomatic footwork may be delivering results in the

Middle East, after much to-ing and fro-ing there are some signs of

progress. The representatives of two proud people today have decided

the difficult road ahead is worth travelling. And here is worth the

journey begins. Israel will release Palestinian prisoners, including

some who have been held for decades. A gesture to help get talks started.

But among Palestinian politicians, there is scepticism. We do not want

another peace process which is a substitute to peace. Palestinians

want real knitters Asians, real outcome, it real peace. Both sides

remain far apart on a number of issues. Previous issues were

derailed by the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied

West Bank. And there is no agreement whether borders between

them should lie and the future of Palestinian refugees also remains

in dispute. But perhaps one of the most contentious areas lies in

Jerusalem. Both claim it as their capital, and it has deep,

historical and religious significance. Any talks on its

future may have to be put to one side for now so progress can be

made in other areas. Time is running out to deliver a solution

that sees two states the living together peacefully. But there is

no alternative, according to one veteran negotiator. There will be a

lot of breakdowns, a lot of finger- pointing and a lot of accusations.

But you must be stubborn, be obsessive and know the alternative

is war and bloodshed. Jerusalem has suffered both. It is a city divided,

but tonight there is a shared feeling of low expectations.

Getting the two sides to sit at the same table has not been easy.

Keeping them there may prove impossible.

With news of an almost certain British victory in the Tour de

France, here is the sport. Chris Rule will be sipping

champagne on the streets of Paris tomorrow when he becomes the second

successive winner of the Tour de France following 12 months ago. He

finished third on the penultimate stage to put himself on the brink

of victory. Tradition dictates the race leader won't be challenged on

the final stage. The hard yards are behind him.

Barring calamity, this race was in the bag. The Big Questions was not,

could anybody get past him, it was could anybody stay with him?

Alberto concert tour could not. And then the battle was settled. But

for Chris Froome, calamity had been avoided and the celebrations could

start. He said the tour was not over, and could you lose the yellow

jersey. But today it dawned on him, he is the next champion. It was

hard to actually think of carrying on racing and tactics to try and

sort out the last couple of kilometres. It was so far. This is

it now. The British public might not known as much about this winner

as the last one. But the evidence of the last week suggests the

world's best riders will be following him for years to come.

England's Lee Westwood leads the open going into tomorrow's final

round. His battle with Tiger Woods was the highlight of the play with

the world No. 1 finishing two shots further back.

For so long, you has been a nearly a man of golf. Could this finally

be Lee Westwood's moment? Roared on by the fans, he went into the lead

it with a display of poise, power and pinpoint precision. At one

stage he was three shots clear, but briefly he stumbled and Tiger Woods

pounced. Suddenly they were tied at the top. From the 17th hole, a

pivotal moment. Tiger Woods bogey, Lee Westwood birdied. His reward -

a two shot Leeds ahead of Tiger Woods. What a chance for Lee

Westwood, that elusive first major title is now in tantalising reach.

Joe route has moved to England to the brink of victory in the second

Ashes Test. He helped the home side with five second-innings wickets

remaining, meaning Australia will need a record-breaking batting

performance if they are when in the two days remaining.

There is a manicured madness at the heart of Lords, when you look

closely you can see this palace of cricket was built on a slope.

Saturday for England was as straight and true as this bat.

Promoted to the top of the order, proving himself. Everything was

against Australia. Steve Smith thought he had caught this ball.

The umpire decided his fingers was not under the ball. Joe route came

off 247 balls, olfaction diligence. Support provided by his younger

brother, who kept teasing him saying he should be batting faster.

Ian Bell guided himself to another 50 and all Australia could do was

watch the lead extent. England batted on and on. Joe route to 178

not out. England were making a point. I want to concentrate and do

my bit. I was trying to bat as long as possible. Last night they bowled

exceptionally well. This morning we had to battle through that. If you

are here as a supporter, and least you can choose to lead. But

Australia's players are tied to a cricket match they cannot win. What

is left for them is a test of spirit, as much as cricket.

Paralympic champion, and a Cockcroft defended her title at the

World Championships in Leon's. She won by almost two seconds from

Rosemary little from Australia, who was second.

That is the sport for now. A reminder of the main use.

Tributes being paid to the comedian, Mel Smith who died suddenly at the

age of 60. That's it from the BBC newsroom.

Hello. We turned the thermostat down for some of you, but it was

awful blast in the Highlands. What a different story near the East

Coast of England. Breeze off the seat meant temperatures did not get

above the mid- to high teens. Most places ending up clouded by the end

of the night. A spot of rain possible, perhaps more across the

Channel Islands. Temperatures are levelling off generally in the

larger towns and cities. The grey start on Sunday. Much of Scotland

the exception. Southern parts of England and East Anglia, more

chance of the cloud breaking up quickly allowing Sunshine to come

through. The eastern part of Scotland still quite cool, but

could hit 28, 29 again. Another warm day of the Northern Ireland.

Cloud still stubborn across parts of the East Midlands and north-east

England, keeping temperatures down. Possibly one or two showers running