Scores of healthy foetuses die every year because most hospitals do not give ­pregnant women what the NHS says is the best test for Down's syndrome.

In an interview with the Guardian, Dr Anne Mackie, the head of NHS screening programmes, estimated 146 babies a year in England who do not have any abnormality are lost as a result of efforts to detect children with the genetic condition.

The death rate is higher than it should be because only one in three hospitals offer mothers-to-be the so-called combined test for Down's syndrome, Mackie said. It is the most accurate of the four methods the NHS uses to calculate a woman's chances of having a child with Down's. If every hospital provided the combined test, the total of what she called "normal babies lost" would be around 90.

Anti-poverty campaigners have accused Tesco of breaking a pledge to improve the pay and working conditions of South African fruit pickers who have helped the retail giant to record annual profits of more than £3bn.

Three years ago the company agreed to look at the plight of the workers - predominantly women - who are at the bottom of Tesco's lengthy but highly profitable fruit supply chain, after embarrassing scrutiny of its overseas labour practices.

But interviews by the Guardian with female workers on Tesco supplier farms near Cape Town reveal they are still only being paid South Africa's "minimum" rather than a "living" wage - which they complain leaves them barely enough to feed and clothe their children. Those interviewed are receiving just 1,231 rand, equivalent to £97.90, per month.

Everyone - the father, the son, the army - agrees that three tours of Iraq drove ­Sergeant John Russell to the edge.

But what pushed him over, into shooting dead five of his comrades in an army that was his life for 16 years, is a matter of bitter dispute.

The military has suggested that ­Russell's work cannibalising and rebuilding robots used to set off roadside bombs brought him into regular contact with gruesome casualties, and that took a toll that exploded at Camp Liberty in ­Baghdad this week.

The army says it recognised signs of trauma in the 44-year-old sergeant, who was just a few weeks from leaving Iraq, and dispatched him for psychological assessment at a military stress centre in Baghdad. Russell got into a fight there, grabbed a gun and shot two doctors and three other soldiers dead.

Police in Russia have broken up a march by gay rights activists in Moscow, staged to coincide with the final of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Several dozen campaigners had gathered near a university in defiance of a ban and some were dragged away by police when they tried to shout slogans.

British gay rights activist, Peter Tatchell, was among those detained.

Earlier, a counter-demonstration by nationalist and religious groups was allowed to go ahead.

The gay rights group had been waving flags and chanting slogans demanding equal rights and condemning the treatment of gays and lesbians in Russia.

As he was being taken away by police, Mr Tatchell shouted: "This shows the Russian people are not free."

Have you ever marvelled at how a stalwart little bee clings on to a flower during a howling gale?

Researchers have now found the answer, and discovered that flowers have evolved to help it.

The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Moscow later, with 25 countries aiming for glory.

The UK will be represented by Jade Ewen, who is singing Andrew Lloyd Webber's song It's My Time.

Norway's singer and violinist Alexander Rybak is the bookmakers' favourite to win, closely followed by Greece, Turkey, Azerbaijan and the UK.

Graham Norton will make his debut as commentator for the BBC, replacing Sir Terry Wogan, who bowed out last year.