BBC News with David Austin

The funeral of the American singer Whitney Houston has just ended in Newark, New Jersey. It took place in a Baptist church, where she first began her singing career as a child. After many tributes by friends and family, the service concluded with a recording of Whitney Houston's greatest hit I Will Always Love You. As part of the ceremony, Stevie Wonder performed his hit Love's in Need of Love Today.

There's been violence in the Syrian capital Damascus, where a Chinese diplomatic mission has met President Bashar al-Assad and called for restraintin the conflict between his forces and the opposition. A funeral in Damascus turned into one of the biggest demonstrations yet seen there. Opposition activists said at least one person was killed when security forces opened fire. Another 12 people were reported killed in other parts of the country.