World News from the BBC.

Racing at Newbury in England has been abandoned after two horses died in mysterious circumstances just as they were about to take part. The horses collapsed in the parade ring before the first race. It’s thought an electric charge may have come from

underneath

the paddock. One trainer, Nicky Henderson, withdrew his horse, Kid Cassidy, before the race and saw the incident.

“It was horrific. It was something out of a…it was nearly a Dick Francis's novel, to be honest, you've never seen, I've never (seen). If one horse sadly dies of a heart attack in the Pre-parade ring, you think, you know, it’s a dreadful thing to happen. When two just go down in

identical

circumstances like that, you know, I might have to consider ourselves very lucky that Kid Cassidy didn't suffer the same fate.”

Cuba’s communist government says it’s liberalising the sale of sugar after decades of subsidising its price. State media said the measure was aimed at supporting small businesses such as restaurants. James Reed reports.

Cuba is a major sugar producer, and for decades Cubans have been able to indulge their taste for the sweet stuff at a low price guaranteed by the state. Not for much longer. Sugar is to be gradually freed from state control and sold in shops and supermarkets where prices will be much higher. The move follows President Raul Castro’s decision last year to open the economy up to private enterprise and promote small businesses. Cubans will still be able to buy a limited amount at a subsidised rate with their ration books, but these too are to be gradually