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Those in favour of hunting won just over half the votes cast in the keenly-contested vote. Campaigners for the ban have conceded defeat. There were jubilant scenes in the counting hall as the pro-hunt activists celebrated victory, which was achieved by only 2,200 votes. The BBC's Mario Cacciottolo in a tweet says that hunters' association head Joe Perici Calascione is "ecstatic" about the outcome of the vote and has described hunting as an integral part of Maltese tradition. Opponents of hunting say it will now be an "uphill struggle" to stop annual spring shooting of turtle doves and quail. The issue has led to disagreements between conservationists and those who say a Maltese tradition is at stake. Critics accuse hunters of killing scores of birds - they say that turtle dove numbers have declined 77% since 1980 - and encroaching on the island's open spaces. They argued that the hunting season is abused by some hunters through the illegal shooting of protected species during a crucial migration period as birds fly over Malta into Europe. About 340,000 people were eligible to vote in the referendum, which was held in response to a voters' petition for a ban on the hunting of birds between 14 April to 30 April. The margin of victory was tiny - 50.44% to 49.56%. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat who supported the hunters warned that existing laws would be rigidly applied and anyone who violated them would be punished. The Times of Malta said that the "Yes" campaign successfully argued that a "No" victory could result in other pastimes, such as fireworks and motorsports, also being banned in referendums. The paper says that hunting enthusiasts also succeeded in using the "pulling power" of Mr Muscat while simultaneously ensuring that their campaign was "characterised by an absence of images of shotguns and dead birds". A second hunting season in autumn was not included in the referendum. Malta is the only EU country that allows recreational spring hunting.
Malta has narrowly rejected proposals to ban controversial spring hunting, during which migrating birds are shot before they can breed.
The Electrify Africa Act of 2015 will give legal backing to Mr Obama's flagship Power Africa scheme, which is trying to improve access to electricity through public-private partnerships. It took nearly two years to be passed in both houses of the US Congress. About two-thirds of people in Africa do not have access to reliable power. Africa Live: BBC News updates Observers say the new legislation is likely to ensure that the scheme continues even after Mr Obama leaves the White House in 2017. The scheme has set itself the long-term target of doubling electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa. The legislation would "improve the lives of millions in sub-Saharan Africa by helping to reduce reliance on charcoal and other toxic fuel sources that produce fumes that kill more than HIV/Aids and malaria combined," said House Foreign Affairs committee chairman Ed Royce, a long-time supporter of the initiative. It would also "promote the development of affordable and reliable energy", he added, in a statement on Monday. Management consultant firm McKinsey estimates that it will cost $835bn (£575bn) to connect the entire continent's population to electricity by 2030. Aside from the US government, African governments, development partners, and the private sector are all involved in the Power Africa scheme. The US government has made financial commitments of $7bn to support the scheme, which it says in turn has drawn a further $43bn in investment pledged from other public and private partners.
US President Barack Obama has signed into law an initiative aimed at bringing electricity to 50 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2020.
Gregg and Kathryn Brain and their son Lachlan, 7, who live in Dingwall in the Highlands, failed to meet Monday's deadline to qualify for a new visa. Immigration Minister Robert Goodwill has now ruled there are no exceptional circumstances that would justify allowing the family to stay in the UK. He said the family would now be contacted by Immigration Enforcement. The minister said if the family did not co-operate it could lead to them not being allowed to return to the UK at a later date. Mr Brain told the BBC that the family's fight was not over or lost, and that they were still talking to their lawyer about potential options. He added: "We're of the understanding that we may yet be able to make an application and have that considered by the Home Office. "So we're still desperately searching from an employer and I hope that one will come forward and we'll be able to make an application to allow us to stay." SNP MP Ian Blackford said he was "astonished with the callous disregard to the interests of the Brain family". The Brains moved to Scotland in 2011 on Mrs Brain's student visa. They have said that they expected to be able to later move on to a Tier 1 post-study work visa, but the scheme was scrapped in 2012. In a letter to the family and Mr Blackford, who has been campaigning on their behalf, Mr Goodwill said the announcement that the scheme was going to be abolished was made three months before the Brains arrived in Scotland. Although the family said they were unaware of the announcement until 2012, they have still had a number of years in which to search and apply for jobs which would qualify under Tier 2, Mr Goodwill added. The minister insisted there was therefore "no breach of faith" in relation to the closure of the Post-Study Work route. He added: "It was not an entitlement of the student visa Kathryn Brain originally applied for, which was for a time-limited period of study only. "The Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) category was closed because too many applicants were not using the student route primarily to gain a world-class education at our universities, but merely as a means to the end of living and working in the UK. "Even when the route was open, applicants needed to find a job that would qualify under Tier 2 before the end of the two years in the route. "I regret that that has not yet happened, despite having had since 2012, nearly a year having passed since Kathryn finished her studies and the three extensions that have been granted to the family on an exceptional basis." He said there was therefore "no fundamental difference between their circumstances and that of any other individuals who came to the UK on a temporary study visa and there are no exceptional considerations which would justify granting them leave outside the Immigration Rules." 2010: Kathryn Brain is granted a student visa with husband and son as dependents. She intends to later move onto post-study work visa March 2011: Announcement of cancellation of post-study work visa June 2011: Brains arrive in Scotland 2012: Post-study work visa scrapped. Brains say they became aware of this just months before the change May 2015: Mrs Brain applies for leave to remain under tier 4 (student) visa. Granted till December December 2015: Family makes application for leave to remain made under article 8 of the European convention on human rights, the right to a family life. Refused in March April 2016: Immigration Minister James Brokenshire extends family's "grace period" to remain in UK until 11 May. It is later extended until the end of May 30 May 2016: Family given new deadline of 1 August 2016 Mr Goodwill also dismissed suggestions by the Brains and Mr Blackford that the family was being denied access to what they have claimed is a scheme similar to the post-work visa that is being piloted at four English universities. The pilot, which launched last week, is intended to streamline the application process for Masters students at the four participating universities. By making those universities responsible for eligibility checks, students applying for their visas can submit fewer documents with their applications, Mr Goodwill said. He said the pilot extended the leave period following the end of their study to six months, rather than the usual two or four months, but pointed out that Mrs Brain had already had "significantly longer" than six months after the end of her course in which to find work that would qualify her for a visa. Mr Goodwill said the case would now be handled by the Family Returns Unit of Immigration Enforcement, who would contact the Brains later this week to begin discussions with them regarding a voluntary departure to Australia. He urged Mr Blackford to encourage the family to co-operate with the process and leave the UK voluntarily. Failure to do so would lead to an "adverse immigration history" which could preclude the family making a future Tier 2 job application or even returning to the UK as visitors, the minister warned. Responding to the letter, Mr Blackford said he was "astonished with the callous disregard to the interests of the Brain family", who he said had been given the support of the local community and the Scottish government. He added: "The minister states the government had a commitment to reduce net migration, the Brains are to leave so the government can trumpet it is being tough on immigration. "There is no compassion, there is consideration that we are dealing with real people not just numbers on an immigration count. "Not looking at the situation based on the needs of the Highlands in attracting families to deal with our own specific demographic challenges but pandering to an anti-immigration mantra to drive the net UK migration numbers down."
The Home Office has urged an Australian family facing deportation from the UK to leave the country voluntarily.
The leaders took questions from listeners of the All India Radio in their recorded programme. It was aired after Mr Obama concluded his three-day visit and left Delhi on Tuesday. Mr Modi sounded friendly and referred to Mr Obama as "Barack" on many occasions. The US president seemed keen on highlighting the similarities between the US and India and backed "stronger ties" between the peoples of the two countries. Mr Modi welcomed the US leader to his regular radio show Man ki Baat (from the heart) and talked about his own modest start as a tea seller and also highlighted Mr Obama's humble beginnings. He said Mr Obama and his careers show that both the US and India are the lands of "opportunities" and people can chase their "dreams" to be "successful". The PM said he was inspired when he visited the White House as an ordinary citizen decades ago, but never imagined that he would visit the historical building as India's prime minister, He mentioned the need for improving health services in India. The prime minister also talked about saving the girl child and invited Mr Obama's "daughters" to visit India. Mr Modi told Mr Obama that he still draws inspiration from US founding father Benjamin Franklin's life. He concluded with inviting people to use the hashtag "#yeswecan" to discuss issues like eliminating poverty, healthcare, and putting an "end to terrorism". Mr Obama agreed with Mr Modi and said he too had never imagined of becoming the president of the United States. He said both the US and India have many "similarities" and the two "countries" can make the world more peaceful and prosperous. He accepted Mr Modi's invitation to his daughters and said he would tell them how India is "as magnificent as they imagined". He talked about "issues" like education, governance, opportunities for the youth and also how he planned to do some "shopping for his "daughters". The US president talked about how he takes lessons from Indian freedom leader Mahatma Gandhi's life. Mr Obama, however, refrained from using the Indian PM's first name while addressing him. BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.
Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama stressed the importance of strengthening ties between the two nations in their joint radio broadcast.
The French authorities' "failure" to provide adequate staffing for increased checks at the Port of Dover was the "primary cause" of delays of up to 14 hours this weekend, it said. The firm said it would talk to British and French authorities to ensure there is "no repetition of this disruption". Delays have eased but some disruption could last for weeks, police have said. Helen Deeble, chief executive of P&O Ferries, said: "The scenes which we saw at the weekend at the Port of Dover, with holidaymakers delayed for completely unacceptable lengths of time, must never be allowed to happen again. "Increased security checks at the border are completely understandable but the French authorities must provide adequate numbers of staff to ensure that these checks can be processed quickly and efficiently. The failure to do so at the weekend was the primary cause of the delays." Motorists queue for up to 14 hours in Dover traffic chaos Dover delays: Tales from the queue Police said the disruption, which began on Friday night and continued into Sunday, was caused by the large volume of holiday traffic and increased checks at the border following recent terror attacks in France. But the Port of Dover authority said the French border control booths in Dover were "seriously understaffed" on Friday night, while Kent County Council said at one stage only one French officer was available to check passengers on hundreds of coaches, resulting in each coach taking 40 minutes to process. The delays persisted into Sunday as more travellers continued to head for Dover while the port was still dealing with Saturday's backlog. UK officials were sent to help at French border posts overnight on Saturday, in response to what the Home Office said was "extraordinary disruption". During the disruption, large tailbacks formed on the A20 and the A2 and there was further waits inside the port itself. The London-bound carriageway of the A20 was also closed for hours to enable Kent Police, coastguards and volunteers to distribute water to those stuck in the Dover-bound queues, and to allow stranded motorists access to toilet facilities. The road has since re-opened and traffic has returned to normal, but Kent Police warned that large volumes of holiday traffic and extra border checks by French authorities meant there could be more delays for weeks. France has been under a state of emergency since last November, when terror attacks in Paris left 130 people dead, and has tightened its border checks accordingly. The port said it had raised concerns over French staffing levels with the UK government earlier this week, which were then brought up with its French counterparts. Ms Deeble said P&O had provided extra sailings and staff on duty to help ease delays but apologised to those whose journeys were disrupted. She added: "The port at Dover is a vital link connecting our island to mainland Europe and the governments on both sides of the Channel must act now to protect the millions of people who rely on it." The Conservative MP for Dover and Deal, Charlie Elphicke, has called on the government to apologise to people who queued for hours in the summer heat, describing the situation as "completely unacceptable". The Port of Dover said it had raised concerns over French staffing levels with the UK government earlier this week, which were then brought up with its French counterparts. It also thanked thanked Morrison's, Tesco, Khalsa Aid, P&O Ferries and Kent County Council for supplying free food and water for travellers over the weekend.
The delays experienced by motorists going to Dover "must never be allowed to happen again", P&O Ferries has said.
Media playback is not supported on this device Owner Vincent Tan has said he is in "no rush" to sell the Bluebirds, but would listen to offers. Warnock hinted it might be worth waiting to see if Cardiff can win promotion to the Premier League before selling. "The owners don't really matter to me as long as they're supportive," he said. "Mehmet [Dalman, Cardiff's chairman] and Vincent have been supportive from day one so I haven't got a problem. "But if they want to sell it I would imagine the best time would be in the next 18 months. "They'll probably wait and see what happens next year." Warnock, who signed a new contract on Saturday, has transformed Cardiff's fortunes since his appointment in October, lifting the Bluebirds from the Championship relegation zone to mid-table security. The 68-year-old has ruled out the possibility of promotion this season - Cardiff are 12 points adrift of the play-off places - but hopes to challenge for a place in the Premier League next term. Warnock has been assured by Dalman and Tan he will be given the funds to do so in the summer, and the former Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace manager is confident his plans will not be affected should Tan decide to sell the club. "Not at all. He's probably enjoying it a bit now. The money he's put into the club he should be able to enjoy it," Warnock added. "Nothing surprises me in football. I knew there were talks about it [selling Cardiff] when I came to the club because I spoke to Mehmet about it. "But I'd be very surprised if anything happens in the next 12 months because Mehmet's given me assurances. We're all singing from the same hymn sheet." Tan says he has rejected offers for the club, which he bought in 2010, on "numerous occasions" in the past. The Malaysian's tenure has been controversial, with a decision to change the team's shirt colour to red prompting a furious reaction from fans. His reign has also brought success on the field, most notably promotion to the Premier League in 2013, although Cardiff were relegated the following season. Despite the turbulence of subsequent campaigns, Warnock does not believe speculation about the club's ownership will unsettle supporters. "I don't think fans give a damn. They've had enough off-field problems over the years," he said. "You don't realise the factions you get off the field. If a club is unified, it's so much easier. "There's a lot of bickering in the background of a lot of clubs. "Everybody has stepped up a gear the last few months and we know we've got to do that next season. "Everything has settled down, Vincent and Mehmet have been great, players, results and fans too. "Everyone is in a great place at the moment."
Manager Neil Warnock believes any potential sale of Cardiff City would not affect his future.
Hamilton said he had no problem with the Ferrari driver despite being forced off track as they battled for the lead. "It could have been close, there could have been contact but fortunately I avoided it," Hamilton said. "I didn't say anything bad [to him]. I just said: 'Be careful, that was very, very close.' But I enjoyed it." Hamilton added: "I am glad I was able afterward to have a battle and I didn't damage anything and there was nothing lost between us. "The respect stays the same. He was tough and hard just to the edge and no more. If he had hit me I think that would have been a bit different The two drivers talked about the incident in the post-race news conference, which happened as Vettel emerged from the pits after his final stop alongside Hamilton's Mercedes. Hamilton said: "I gave you space, otherwise we would have touched…" When Vettel replied: "I thought I gave you space too…" Hamilton said: "Not really. Definitely didn't give me much space. It was close; it was cool." Vettel said: "We're still here so…" Hamilton replied: "Yeah, just!" Hamilton started from pole but had to fight back to win the race, thanks to a Mercedes strategy that closed the gap on Vettel and put Hamilton on a different tyre for the final stint of the race. Hamilton then had to pass the Ferrari driver on track to win his second race of the season. He said: "It was the rawest fight I can remember having for some time, which I loved. This is what the sport needs to be every single race. This is why I race, to have that close battle with him, a four-time champ, is awesome." Vettel said he had been surprised to see Hamilton alongside him when he came out of the pits following his stop a lap after Hamilton's because the German had had an eight-second lead before the stops. "I was a bit surprised when he came out and it was already so close," said Vettel, whose championship lead has been cut to six points. "I tried to brake as late as possible into Turn One, locked up. "I don't know if we touched but I managed to stay ahead so it was really close. The laps after I was doing everything I can to stay in front and I was a bit lucky because there was always a car in front giving me a tow, but as soon as I was alone, he just flew past down the straight, which was a shame. "We tried to stay in the race but well done to him, he drove a good race and we did everything we could."
Lewis Hamilton said he retained respect for title rival Sebastian Vettel despite the Ferrari driver's "tough" driving in the Spanish Grand Prix.
It said the idea was to empower individuals to raise concerns about bad behaviour in banks and insurance firms. It follows banking scandals such as the attempted manipulation of the Libor rate by Barclays, for which the bank was fined £290m in 2012. MPs later recommended that it should be easier for whistleblowers to complain. In 2013 the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards (PCBS) suggested that such scandals might have come to light sooner, if employees had been prepared to raise the alarm. The new rules - which will come into force in September 2016 - will require big financial firms to "Whistleblowers play an important role in exposing poor practice in firms, and they have in the past few years contributed intelligence crucial to action taken against firms and individuals," said Tracey McDermott, acting FCA chief executive. In 2014-15, the FCA received 1,340 complaints from whistleblowers, a rise of 28% on the previous year. The rules will apply to large banks, building societies and insurance firms, but they will represent best-practice guidance for smaller companies too.
New rules to encourage more whistleblowing in the City have been published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
But South East Coast Ambulance (Secamb) said there was no evidence of patient harm, in an independently-led patient impact review published on Friday. The review was requested by NHS Improvement, formerly Monitor, which said it would look at the findings. Secamb was placed in special measures in September. In the pilot, from December 2014 to February 2015, Secamb delayed sending help for certain 111 calls that had been transferred to the 999 system. The calls were not those identified by 111 as potentially the most life-threatening, but included those at the next level of urgency, the report said. The trust delayed dispatching ambulances to allow paramedic staff to call the patient or caller back to get more information and potentially downgrade or upgrade the call. Secamb acting chief executive Geraint Davies said: "We are satisfied that this report, which was led by an independent and external clinician and which looked at 185,000 calls, has identified no evidence of patient harm attributable to the pilot. "We do however recognise that there were significant governance and other failings." The report said had effective clinical governance arrangements been in place it would have been easier to measure positive or negative effects on patients. Recommendations included reviewing governance, making changes when planning projects, following best practice and training clinicians to required standards. In a statement, NHS Improvement said: "We note the report states that there was no evidence of patient harm but the project cannot completely exclude any incident of harm occurred." It added: "We will review the findings of this report to further support our work so that patients in the South East can be assured that they are getting the quality care they expect."
An NHS trust that delayed sending ambulances to gain time to assess some patients has admitted significant failings around the scheme.
The majority of the 2,345 viewers who complained about the Booking.com advert said the substitution was offensive. But the Advertising Standards Authority said the word was used comically. Booking.com said it was used in a positive tone and to reinforce brand recognition. It is the second most-complained about UK advert of all time. The online travel agent said there was "no ambiguity" about the use of the word "booking". It had been used to convey enthusiasm and joy, rather than with any negative or derogatory tone often associated with swear words, it added. The advert, which screened on television and in cinemas, featured holidaymakers arriving at their destinations while a voiceover said: "It doesn't get any booking better than this. "Look at the view, look at the booking view." The word was repeated a number of other times in the advert. Some viewers said the advert was likely to encourage swearing among children and some reported seeing it during television programmes such as a Harry Potter film, or at cinema screenings of family films. The Cinema Advertising Association said it had considered both the advert's potential to offend and the long history of word substitution in British humour, which often appeared in family entertainment. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said the voiceover artist enunciated the word clearly and that it was "sufficiently distinct" so as not to be confused. "We understood that a small number of complainants had reported hearing their children swear after seeing the ad, but considered that because the ad did not contain any expletives, this behaviour would not arise from the ad itself," it said. The ASA concluded that although some might find it "distasteful", it was "unlikely" to cause widespread offence. Paddy Power's Oscar Pistorius advert, which offered "money back if he walks" during his trial over the death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, remains the most complained-about UK advert of all time. It was immediately pulled last year and later the ASA upheld the 5,525 complaints and banned it.
A travel website's TV advert that used the word "booking" as an apparent substitute for an expletive has been cleared by the advertising watchdog.
The bodies of a man and woman were found at a property in Eastwood Road North, Leigh-on-Sea, at about 18:25 BST on Tuesday. Officers went to the bungalow with "concerns for the welfare" of the pair. Both were declared dead at the scene. Essex Police said its investigations were ongoing. More on this and other news from Essex Essex Fire Service confirmed it was called to the property and said initial reports were of a gas leak but it had no further information. Police have said they will not comment further until post-mortem examinations have been conducted.
The deaths of an elderly couple found in an Essex bungalow are being treated as "unexplained", police have said.
The MP, who has represented Chichester in Sussex since 1997, said at the age of 60 it was time to do other things but he was committed to public service. Mr Tyrie, who worked for BP before entering politics, has led the Treasury committee since 2010. Veteran Tory MP Sir Alan Haselhurst is also quitting after 40 years. Sir Alan, who has held the Essex seat of Saffron Walden since 1977, initially intended to contest the seat again on 8 June. But, in a statement on Tuesday, the 79-year old said he had changed his mind after consulting with his family and close friends. "When I heard the prime minister's announcement of an early general election I reacted enthusiastically with my only thought being to play my part in strengthening the position of the Conservative Party in Parliament," he said. "I feel now that my initial instinctive response was premature... "Whilst I have no doubt as to my capacity and commitment to carry out my representative duties I have begun to recognize that it might test the friendship and goodwill of so many people whose support I have enjoyed if I sought to do so for a further five years." Sir Alan, who was first elected to Parliament in 1970 for Middleton and Prestwich and was deputy Commons speaker between 1997 and 2010, has faced opposition to his candidacy from within his local party. In his resignation letter, Mr Tyrie - who opposed Brexit - said he was proud of his contribution to strengthening the select committee system and making Parliament more relevant. Known for his forensic, and at times, acerbic style, Mr Tyrie clashed with then Prime Minister David Cameron on several occasions in his capacity as chairman of the liaison committee of senior backbenchers. He also served as chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on extraordinary rendition, in addition to his Treasury committee duties. "I remain deeply committed to public service," he said. "I am determined, and hopefully young enough, to contribute in other ways in the years ahead."
Conservative MP Andrew Tyrie, who chairs the powerful Treasury Select Committee, is to stand down from Parliament at the general election.
This is how England's football campaigns now conclude - at regional airports amidst an atmosphere of blame, resignations and a post-mortem over where it all went wrong. There were no cheering fans nor an open top bus awaiting their arrival. The only witnesses to yet another dismal homecoming were a small group of photographers and a tabloid journalist who tried to hand the players stuffed toy donkeys wrapped in 'Iceland' carrier bags. Losing to one of the smallest nations in world football represents a new low for England. But a downward trend has been in evidence for some time. From Brazil 2014, where England failed to win a single game, stretching back to France 1998, with its eerily familiar psychological breakdown from the penalty spot, an entire generation of English failure is now complete. It has been punctuated on occasion by the false dawn of a quarter-final appearance. The faces change but England's aversion to winning stays disturbingly consistent. Is it time then to accept that this is perhaps England's lot? That, as Alan Shearer believes, the players are not as good as we, or they, think they are? That scraping into the latter stages of the Euros and World Cup should constitute success and is simply an accurate reflection of the strength of the English game? Not if the Football Association is to be believed. Back in 2013, at the start of Greg Dyke's reign as FA chairman, he spoke of how England's fortunes could be changed. In a landmark speech in central London he unveiled his plans for a commission to look into historic failings, saying: "The FA is the organisation with the primary responsibility for giving the nation a successful English football team and on our past record we have to accept we have not done as well as we should. This means if we want to do better, things have to change." He spoke of the need to incorporate "medical, sports science, psychology and analysis" into the equation and hailed the creation of St George's Park in Staffordshire as the location where the brightest minds would work with the nation's best talent. Dyke also set out specific targets - to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and to then win the 2022 Qatar World Cup. After falling at the first knockout hurdle in France - to a nation of just over 300,000 inhabitants - those targets are now at risk of appearing hopelessly naïve and overly ambitious. Those in charge of strategy and team performance now speak of England squad's needing to possess their own "DNA". However the evidence in recent years suggests the chromosomes contained within are very badly damaged. Dyke, like Hodgson, is also leaving the FA. His departure is unrelated to team performance and follows his inability to force structural changes to the organisation's council, which he has described as "overwhelmingly male and white". He departs with the FA, mirroring its senior men's team, in the grips of its own identity crisis. It has made over 100 redundancies recently as it seeks to achieve £5m savings, as part of an overall £30m reduction in costs. Media playback is not supported on this device Dyke's commission wanted to introduce Premier League B teams into the lower levels of the English league pyramid but it was roundly rejected within minutes of it being unveiled. The FA is determined to "reprioritise" where it can and is looking to improve coaching and facilities by investing in 3G pitches. It's difficult to argue against any plan to invest in grassroots and community facilities but is this alone enough to make England tournament contenders in the short term? Clearly not and much will be made of the qualities required from the next manager. Eddie Jones has shown with English rugby union the transformative effect that a new leader can bring to a largely similar group of players. But English football requires more than a simple change in nationality, man-management style or coaching philosophy. After all, the FA has oscillated between domestic and foreign managers since 1999. Since Kevin Keegan quit, assessing himself as simply not up to the job, the FA has appointed the exact opposite to the coach who came before. It leered from tactically naive Keegan to the European sophisticate Sven-Goran Eriksson. From there it appointed homegrown but too friendly Steve McClaren before installing disciplinarian but aloof Fabio Capello. Then came Hodgson, a warm and cultured Englishman that the FA believed could coax the best from the talent as his disposal following a long career overseas and in the Premier League. Now the search starts all over again. Media playback is not supported on this device Perhaps it's too simplistic to think a messiah figure is out there capable of transforming the team's fortunes with nous, intelligent selection and adaptable tactics. Someone with those qualities would certainly be a start though. Other factors are also in play. A debate over whether England's stars are too "pampered" has begun. Jamie Carragher's reasoned argument that England players have gone "soft" revolves around the treatment the so-called "academy generation" receive. A professional football culture that caters to every whim of the country's leading young players has failed, argues former England defender Carragher, to instil the necessary characteristics and leadership necessary to overcome adversity on the pitch. The nature of the "pressure" England players believe the white shirt puts on their shoulders is also a topic discussed on a biennial basis. This year is no different. "We are not a side or nation," former captain Steven Gerrard writes in the Daily Telegraph, "with a culture of winning at the European Championship and the World Cup and the psychological impact of that is there to see at the first hint of trouble." England did take Dr Steve Peters, famed for his work with British Cycling, to France. But surely the impact of psychologists needs to be measured over months and years rather than weeks? Is it time for English players to regularly take to the shrink's couch? And what does it say about the culture within clubs if this isn't on offer to players or, if it is, taken up? That reflects the work players need to do with their clubs, their day-to-day employers, given the limited time they have to work with the national coach. It also raises the role of the Premier League and whether the number of foreign players in England's top division restricts the size of the domestic playing pool available for selection. Back in 2013, Dyke spoke of "a league largely owned by foreign owners, managed by foreign managers and played by foreign players and that, as a result, it could be argued that the England set-up has been weakened, rather than strengthened, by the creation of the Premier League". Yet when his commission reported back, not a single word was uttered about foreign ownership and any debate over the free-market nature of the league was glossed over. Media playback is not supported on this device In its defence, the Premier League would point to the Elite Player Performance Plan and a stated aim to produce "more and better homegrown players". The squad Hodgson took to France was young and brimming with talent, all of whom play in the Premier League. Dyke insisted the team would win Euro 2016 while many pundits predicted Hodgson's men could spring a surprise by reaching the semi-finals or even final. And yet Iceland's best 11 players beat England's best 11. In the end whose fault is that? Let the debate continue.
The England squad touched down in rainy Luton this week less than 24 hours after arguably the worst result in their nation's history.
Scott Kouebitra, 22, was attacked in Croydon, south London. Four others also suffered knife wounds. Police said they were searching for a group of about seven males who fled the scene in two cars and were wearing masks, scarves and balaclavas. The 16-year-old boy was also arrested on suspicion of robbery and is in custody. Scotland Yard said the group of males arrived at Gloucester Road in two vehicles and entered St George's Field Park carrying weapons. Det Ch Insp Sam Price said there were "a large number of people in and around the park" at the time and appealed for witnesses to contact the force. A post mortem examination found Mr Kouebitra died of multiple stab wounds. The four other men suffered non-life threatening injuries.
A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was stabbed to death on Halloween.
In the final Old Firm match of the season Caixinha's men were dismantled by the champions, who sealed their biggest ever win at Ibrox. "We played well but I am to blame, it is my total responsibility," Caixinha said. "Things didn't go in the direction we were supposed to have planned so I am the man responsible." Celtic, who have won five of the six Old Firm matches this season, with the other a 1-1 draw, took an early lead through Scott Sinclair's penalty. Brendan Rodgers' champions were in confident mood and Leigh Griffiths doubled their lead before half time. Callum McGregor and Dedryck Boyata extended the lead before Kenny Miller replied for Rangers, but Mikael Lustig curled in a late goal to restore the four-goal cushion. Despite the manner of the defeat and the scoreline, Caixinha felt his side performed better than in last week's 2-0 Scottish Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of the same opponents. "The players tried to do their very best, they had a fantastic attitude and they raised their level," the Portuguese added. "I saw more from my players this week than in last weekend's Scottish Cup semi-final defeat, the way we started the game was in that direction. "You need to judge me all the time. From day one since I came here. I not a guy who puts the responsibility on others, I take it all the time. "So judge me all the time. For things that are not going in the right direction I am responsible and I always will be." The gulf between the sides was brutally evident for Rangers' fans and while Caixinha is confident of cutting the gap to their rivals, he admits major surgery is required in the summer. "We need to make a lot of changes, we are very keen to reduce the difference," he said. "It is possible to bridge the gap and we need to do it. That's what everyone is working hard towards."
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha took full responsibility for his side's 5-1 home hammering by Celtic.
When it announced its plan to review where to have its headquarters, it made passing references to "regulatory and structural reforms" and the UK's plans to "ring fence" retail banks. Some shareholders think a higher dividend would be available if the bank moved from London to a city with lower taxes and looser capital controls, according to people close to the lender. It pays the most out of the UK's lenders on the banking levy, handing over $1.1bn (£716m) to Britain's Treasury last year. But if it does decide to move, where could it go? The challenges for the bank include finding a city with a skilled regulator which will welcome them, a stable business environment and preferably a location with clients and bankers to hire. Further down the wish list for HSBC - but not for any employees it may need to move - will be a city with good schools and cultural amusements. "It's a no brainer, it has to be Hong Kong," says Chirantan Barua, senior analyst for UK banks at Bernstein Research. "The Hong Kong regulator leads the world in macroprudential (economy-wide) regulation...what the Bank of England has rolled out in UK mortgages is a leaf out of the HK rule book." One worry is the size of Hong Kong's economy compared with the size of HSBC and how it could support the bank if there was another financial crisis. But both the local regulator, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), and Mr Barua think this is less of a concern than it was before. "After the global financial crisis, there is generally consensus internationally that public funds should not be used to rescue financial institutions in distress," HKMA said in an email to the BBC. Regulators are working towards a situation where a bank can be dismantled without threat to the global economy, should it go bust, it said. The bank has never burned through more than about one-sixth of its capital safety buffer in any crisis, estimates Mr Barua. The monetary authority says it "takes a positive attitude should HSBC consider relocating its headquarters back to Hong Kong." The bank itself declined to comment further. Large market for HSBC Friendly and respected regulator The bank's former home But: Uncertain influence from China Close competitor to HK in Shanghai Welcoming regulatory environment Low tax But: Few other large banks Other authorities may view the region with caution On the other hand, says Peter Hahn, senior lecturer at Cass Business School, the lender could be better served by looking elsewhere. "They have a sizeable footprint in the US, they have to be there for big corporations." In 2012 the bank paid $1.9bn to US regulators in a settlement over breaching money laundering regulations. But any bank that wants access to dollars - and HSBC does - needs to keep US regulators sweet. A move to Hong Kong could make the bank more vulnerable to the state interference they seek to avoid, he says. Part of the question is whether HSBC is leaving the UK for Hong Kong or returning there. Inside the EU should the UK decide to leave Large pool of corporations with which to do business But: Smaller areas of business than Hong Kong or London Similar financial rules, potentially tougher on pay The Hong Kong in which HSBC was founded in 1865 was under British rule, as was the Hong Kong HSBC left as a headquarters in 1993 to move to London. The territory is now is a special administrative region of China, which agreed to give the territory a high degree of autonomy and to preserve its economic and social systems for 50 years from the handover in 1997. "The trade-off is when China tells its banks to lend more, will HSBC have to lend more? The answer is probably yes," says Mr Hahn. For him, Switzerland, a traditional home for banking, could be out because of the country's efforts to make their banks safer and reduce the risk to the government of them failing. That, he says, probably means repelling large newcomers. "If [HSBC chiefs] Douglas Flint and Stuart Gulliver got on a jet and said they were moving to Switzerland, Swiss national bank governor Thomas Jordan would be stood on the runway with a shotgun telling them to get back on the plane," he jokes. A traditional home for banking Large pool of bankers to hire But: Swiss regulators demand banks hold more capital as a safety net, which is more expensive Private banking is a smaller (and shrinking) area of business for HSBC Ismail Erturk, senior lecturer at Manchester Business School, says fewer connections to the political establishment in the US could rule it out. Whereas in Hong Kong, the bank could be central to Chinese efforts to increase the world's use of its currency, the renminbi. A base in France could be thwarted if the lender needed help and the government had to choose between saving historically French lenders and a newcomer, he adds. So, back to London? Other than taxes and levies, the government's ring fencing plan may be the bone of contention for HSBC that everyone's forgetting, says Dalvinder Singh, professor of financial regulation at the University of Warwick. "HSBC has not liked what the government has done on various levels. HSBC is getting more conservative and retracting from riskier business and perhaps feels it doesn't need to be told how the business is run, because it has learned," he says. Closer to some of the world's largest businesses Banks are a small part of US economy compared with other cities, mitigating bailout risk Large pool of bankers to hire But: US authorities fined the bank $1.9bn HSBC's businesses less profitable in the US than other markets This may mean the review is "sabre rattling" rather than the prelude to a move, he says. If rates were higher and business were better, some of the arguments may have been moot, says Mr Barua. "If interest rates in the US and UK were at 2%, George Osborne or Ed Miliband could have increased the bank levy by another whatever, and no-one would care. "Low rates mean you don't have enough earnings," he says. "How do you move the value of the stock if you can't earn your way out?"
HSBC, Europe's largest bank, may be on the lookout for a new home.
The think tank says households headed by a 65-74 year-old hold about 19% of the country's wealth, compared with 16% for the under-45s. That is despite there being many more under-45 households than over-65s. This is attributed to the younger generation being hit by a pay squeeze and being less likely to own a home. "The stark generational wealth divide has grown since the financial crash, as a result of the recently retired being relatively protected in a downturn where house prices had a swift recovery, while real wages took six years to start increasing again," the report said. "The over-60s were least affected by the UK's pay squeeze," it added. The analysis was based on official figures from the Office for National Statistics. "There has been a long-term shift in the share of household wealth across the UK, which has been accelerated by the recent financial crash and subsequent downturn," said David Willetts, executive chair of the Resolution Foundation, and former Conservative MP. He said: "To ensure that younger households enjoy the same wealth in older age as recently retired households, we need to see a relentless focus on productivity to get wages growing at a healthier rate. "There is also an urgent need for action to boost housing supply, and for government to take a far deeper look at the inter-generational implications of its public spending priorities." Mr Willets told the BBC that if the widening gap was not addressed it could prompt "real problems with social mobility", as younger people without property-owning parents ended up without a stake in society. However, the report warned that the split in wealth did not mean that all pensioners were well-off, with one-in-seven having less than £50,000 to draw on throughout their retirement.
The recently retired have overtaken the under-45s to enjoy a larger share of the UK's wealth, according to research by the Resolution Foundation.
Djokovic, 29, has worked with the former Wimbledon, US and Australian Open winner for three years. The Serbian world number two won six Grand Slams under Becker and held all four major titles at the same time when he won the French Open final in June. "The goals we set when we started working together have been completely fulfilled," he said. "I want to thank him for the cooperation, teamwork, dedication and commitment." Becker described the decision as "mutual" and told Sky Sports: "If somebody would have told us three years ago we are going to win six Grand Slams together, regain the number one spot in the world and just be the most dominant player, I would have signed up for that." Media playback is not supported on this device Djokovic lost his world number one spot after 122 weeks in November to Britain's Andy Murray in November, having exited Wimbledon in the third round and lost his opening match at the Olympics. He talked of personal issues and also struggled with injuries in a disappointing second half of the season. "I think the last six months have been challenging on many levels," added Becker. "Our hands were tied a little bit because we couldn't do the work we wanted to do. "He didn't spend as much time on the practice court in the last six months as he should have and he knows that." Djokovic, who had beaten Murray to win the French Open, did reach the US Open final in September before losing to Murray in the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals last month. "My professional plans are now directed primarily to maintain a good level of play," he added. "And also to make a good schedule and new goals for the next season." BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller There was a lot of cynicism when Djokovic first appointed Becker, but there is no disputing the past three years have been the most successful of the Serb's career. Djokovic had developed the uncanny knack of losing Grand Slam finals before they teamed up: but perhaps now - just as then - he is looking for a fresh approach. Marian Vajda has been an influential part of Djokovic's team since he was a teenager, and I would be very surprised if he did not play a central role. The unconventional Pepe Imaz - a former player who runs an academy based on the principle that love is the way to true happiness - was in both Paris and London with Djokovic at the end of the season. There's also the possibility of another coach with a playing CV like Becker or Ivan Lendl being added to the team.
Twelve-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic has parted company with coach Boris Becker.
The defence ministry said 16 people were seriously injured, correcting earlier reports that 27 had died. The plane was carrying 32 passengers and seven crew when it came down near Tiksi in the Bulun district of Russia's far east. Weather conditions were reportedly bad in the area when the crash happened. The plane was carrying out a scheduled flight from Kansk when it came down about 30km (18 miles) short of Tiksi at 04:45 (19:45 GMT Sunday). The plane broke into three pieces in what appears to have been an amergency landing. Three Mi-8 helicopters were despatched to the crash site by Russia's Emergency Ministry.
An IL-18 aeroplane belonging to the Russian defence ministry has crashed in Yakutia in Siberia with 39 people on board.
Lewis Jones, 21, had stepped out to see friends when the explosion ripped through New Ferry, Wirral, on Saturday. His family said they unsuccessfully tried his phone in the aftermath, but it was "only when we went outside that we found out what had happened". A woman was also seriously injured in the blast, which hurt 31 others. Merseyside Police said the woman has since been discharged from hospital. In a joint statement, Mr Jones's mother Maureen and older brother Jonathan said the 21-year-old left their house close to the blast site "just a couple of minutes before the explosion". "After... we rang his phone, because we had no idea which direction he had gone in, but it was switched off. "It was only when we went outside that we found out what had happened." Mrs Jones said that as a mother, "you always worry about your children going out... but you don't expect something like this to happen just a few minutes from home". The pair said the Everton fan was a "real joker", who was also "very kind and sensitive". A police spokesman said Mr Jones was being treated at The Walton Centre in Liverpool, a hospital which specialises in neurology and spinal services. Everton ambassador Graeme Sharp said the thoughts of the club were with Mr Jones and his family, adding that everyone there was "all deeply saddened to hear of what Lewis is going through". Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, Wirral Borough Council, the Health and Safety Inspectorate and the National Grid are continuing to jointly investigate the cause of the explosion. A number of shops and businesses within the original blast cordon have now reopened, the council said.
A critically-ill man injured in a suspected gas blast had just left his home "just a couple of minutes before the explosion", his family have said.
Hospital doctors, surgeons, GPs and nurses told BBC Wales they are also concerned about a lack of detail in party manifestos. All contained useful ideas among pledges but there was need to tackle ever increasing demands, they said. Meanwhile, an open letter to parties calls for waiting times to be tackled. BBC Wales spoke to six professional organisations representing tens of thousands of NHS staff. Four of them also offered to examine each main party manifesto in detail for us. The full responses can be found here: Specifically, there are concerns none of the parties have set out a vision of how the NHS needs to change in the next five or 10 years to deal with growing pressures from an aging population, with more complex needs. Nor, they have argued, is there a clear indication about much money would be needed to deliver the changes. Meanwhile, the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) - which represents most surgeons working in Wales, wants all parties to focus on reducing waiting lists. In an open letter to all the political party leaders published on Friday, the College said it is concerned that 430,000 people are waiting for treatment in Wales and that both the 26 and 36 week waiting list targets are being missed. The letter was also signed by the leaders of the Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of GPs in Wales. Tim Havard, director of professional affairs for the RCS in Wales, said it is "broadly encouraged" that many of the parties are pledging to tackle long waits. Yet he said it will be a tough challenge to address. "I'd be wary of any political party that say they have simple solutions to this," said Mr Havard, a hospital consultant. "I think it's going to involve hard and difficult decisions. What we want to see would be the new administration engaging with doctors and nurses to come up with a sensible plan." He said "quick fixes" had brought improvements in cardiac waiting times for example but had also been followed with investment in cardiac units for the medium and long term. "We need that sort of initiative and push taken more generally through scheduled care," he added. Dr Alan Rees, vice president of the Royal College of Physicians in Wales which represent hospital doctors, said: "There's an element of mum and apple pie about this. "All the parties want an efficient comprehensive, health care system in Wales. How you deliver that is dependent on resources and the budget and you need to provide details about how you deliver these plans." He is opposed to large-scale structural changes but said the NHS had to think beyond the traditional model of GPs and hospitals. "GPs should be working at the front door of hospitals and hospital consultants should be going out into the community - so we've got to be innovative, be more efficient," he added. The Royal College of Nursing in Wales (RCN) - which represents 25,000 nurses - is also opposed to any large scale NHS reorganisation but welcomed proposals to train and recruit more nurses. However, it said more details are needed about how to achieve that. "We need a vision about what the NHS is going to look like in five to 10 years," said director Tina Donnelly. "We haven't got that yet. Nobody can tell us. "It's one thing to say lets have an increase in medical staff. But we know there are recruitment problems across the UK. And we know when we sometimes recruit staff into Wales sometimes they don't want to stay." The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health - which represents around 600 children's doctors in Wales - argued some of the more deep-rooted problems will take longer to address. Dr Mair Parry, officer for Wales, said: "It's not just something you can put out an advert and get hundreds of nurses applying. "There are no quick fixes to this. But the problem with long term fixes is it's going to take more than one term of government." The Royal College of General Practitioners also argues "piecemeal" changes will not be sufficient to address the "crisis" they claim facing family doctors. It wants 400 extra GPs to be recruited and a big increase in the proportion of the health budget spent on primary care. "I'm desperately concerned," said Dr Rebecca Payne, Wales chair. "We need vision, we need to see transformation, we need things delivered differently, we need to make the most of apps and telemedicine and all the ways we can work in the modern world and still keep the best of general practice - that personal relationship with a GP you know and trust." The British Medical Association - which represents 8,000 doctors in Wales - welcomed commitments for more staff and to improve quality and safety in the NHS. Yet it suggested the manifestos lack big, radical ideas. Dr Phil Banfield, BMA chairman in Wales, said the Welsh NHS was at a "complete crunch point". He added: "Either there needs to be an injection of cash or there has to be a radical rethink about how we're going to provide services into the future. "What's missing is that vision. Starting with the patient - working what their health needs are and challenging health boards and politicians to provide that. "The NHS is a massively complicated and cumbersome organisation - in some ways it's not fit for purpose. And we're trying to fit the patient to that organisation. That seems to be completely the wrong way round." All the medical bodies agreed that whoever forms the new Welsh Government needs to listen to the views of patients and frontline staff in developing new health policies. They also appealed for the political parties to work together to address some of the big challenges that inevitably lie ahead.
None of the main political parties in Wales are offering a long term vision for the NHS, according to professional bodies representing frontline staff.
The former Arsenal trainee, 25, joined League One Oldham in January 2015, scoring three goals in 25 appearances for the Latics, and had loan spells at Crawley and AFC Wimbledon last season. He scored nine times in 15 league starts with League Two side Crawley. "It's a really good signing as he's got bundles of ability," manager Mark Cooper told BBC Radio Gloucestershire. "I'm convinced that, if we get him a run of games. he will score a lot of goals. "I didn't think we'd get him, to be honest, but with the help of the chairman and (club director) Asif Rehmanwala, we've managed to get this one done. "It's a little bit of a statement for us, because there were a lot of clubs after him. The fans will enjoy watching him play." On Wednesday, forward Jon Parkin left the National League club after terminating his contract by mutual consent, while League Two Colchester United signed forward Kurtis Guthrie from Mark Cooper's side for an undisclosed fee.
Forest Green Rovers have signed Oldham Athletic forward Rhys Murphy for a nominal fee.
To solve them, a property of his was put up for auction - the details of which were covered in a newspaper, which subsequently went online. The auction happened in 1998, and with those troubles now behind him, Mr Gonzalez is keen to move on. But there's a problem: whenever you search for his name, news about the auction still features prominently. He argued that this continued to damage his reputation, and should be removed from Google's search results. On Tuesday, the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union agreed with him, and in doing so set a major precedent over what is referred to as the "right to be forgotten". The internet (almost) never forgets. Google - and other search engines - are extremely efficient at crawling the web to find and store data. Even if websites are taken offline, a cache is kept - meaning they can still be accessed. This is good for making the web as useful as possible, but bad if you don't like what it finds about you. In Mr Gonzalez's case, Google must now remove the search results that come up about the auction of his property. It is Mr Gonzalez's right, the EU says, for that information to be confined to history - or at least, a history only findable by the very dedicated. The information will still be online, just not indexed by the search engine. The decision has wide-reaching implications. The EU has been pushing heavily for a new law on data privacy - of which "right to be forgotten" is a key component - since it proposed guidelines in January 2012. It argues that old, inaccurate or even just irrelevant data should be taken out of search results if the person involved requests it. Eventually, the EU hopes the "right to be forgotten" principle will extend further. Those drunken pictures from your university days? The EU thinks you should have the right to demand that social networks get rid of them completely - as well as any bit of data on you they may hold. If the full proposals are passed, firms that do not comply with the law could be fined around 1% of their global revenues. This will be seen as promising news for the many people whose search results bring up undesirable articles or information. Decisions on whether information should be removed from search engines depend "on the nature of the information in question and its sensitivity for the data subject's private life and on the interest of the public in having that information, an interest which may vary, in particular, according to the role played by the data subject in public life". Busting through that jargon - it basically means the information would only be removed if the impact on the individual's privacy is greater than the public's right to find it. It'll be harder, for example, to have a story from the 1990s about an arrest for assault removed if you're a politician than if you're a plumber. It's important to stress that such articles would not - at least under the guidelines set out today - be deleted from the internet. They just wouldn't appear in search results. This is an important distinction. When announcing the regulations in 2012, Viviane Reding, the European Commission's vice-president, said: "It is clear that the right to be forgotten cannot amount to a right of the total erasure of history." But concerns over censorship are already surfacing as a result of this ruling. "We need to take into account individuals' right to privacy but if search engines are forced to remove links to legitimate content that is already in the public domain but not the content itself, it could lead to online censorship," said Javier Ruiz, policy director at Open Rights Group. "This case has major implications for all kinds of internet intermediaries, not just search engines." Likewise, Index on Censorship said removing results from search engines was "akin to marching into a library and forcing it to pulp books". From Google's perspective, a nightmare potentially awaits, given the possibility that floods of requests are about to come its way. Publicly, the company has said it is looking closely at the implications. But privately, it is said to be furious. Right now, if you wanted to follow in Mr Gonzalez's footsteps, you would need to lawyer up. Eventually, if the EU has its way, sites like Google would need to set up an automated process to handle such requests. It would open up a bureaucratic nightmare, and one that would likely cost Google and others a huge amount of money to implement. Tough luck, the EU says. One other precedent set by Tuesday's decision is the EU's ability to enforce a ruling made in Spain to an American company. In a Facebook post, the European Commission's Ms Reding said the decision meant US firms "can no longer hide behind their servers being based in California or anywhere else in the world". She added: "No matter where the physical server of a company processing data is located, non-European companies, when offering services to European consumers, must apply European rule." Google had argued that its operations in Spain amounted to not much more than a sales office, and therefore decisions over data protection from the EU did not apply - as all the data-crunching was done in the US. Follow Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC
Sixteen years ago, a Spaniard named Mario Costeja Gonzalez had hit financial difficulties.
Owen Jenkins' body was found in the River Trent near Beeston Marina and Beeston Weir following a major search on 10 July. On Sunday, a ride to the weir and a minute's silence was organised by Nottz Bikerz, whose founder Kieron Thomas knew Owen. Hundreds of people also joined the procession on foot. At the event Owen's mother, Nicola Jenkins, thanked everyone who had joined the search for her son, but also warned people about the dangers of going into the water. "All your support has helped him live on in our hearts and you've all just been so amazing. "Stay out of that water," she told the crowd. "I'll be down here watching." Malakai Thomas, one of the ride's organisers, said: "Although it's not going to bring [Owen] back, it's the least we could do... "It's about coming together as one to pay their respects... I knew there was going to be a lot [of bikers] but I didn't expect that many. "It was an emotional but beautiful day, Owen was looking down on us." Owen's great aunt, Liz Ryan, said her nephew was a "hero" as he had gone into the water to save a girl. He had played rugby for Nottingham Casuals RFC since he was seven and was a pupil at Chilwell School. Head teacher Ian Brierly described him as an "enthusiastic and gregarious young man". He said the community was "heartbroken" by his death.
Bikers have led a tribute to a 12-year-old "hero" who died while trying to rescue a girl from a weir.
George Osborne outlined plans in his statement to invest £7m in new air routes "including from Dundee to Amsterdam". Airline Flybe had applied to a fund to establish the route to the Netherlands. Airport operator HIAL said a new service could transform the city and the region. Inglis Lyon, managing director of HIAL, said: "We are delighted that Flybe's application to the Regional Connectivity Fund to operate a new Dundee to Amsterdam service has been approved. "This is a fantastic achievement for Dundee and the team who have worked tirelessly to get to this stage." The airport said it now needed to work with Flybe, Transport Scotland and Dundee City Council to "take the successful bid forward".
Dundee Airport has welcomed an announcement in the chancellor's Spending Review that could see a new route to Amsterdam established.
Mr Barra announced his decision to leave China on Monday. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said the pair agreed that "virtual and augmented reality will be the next major computing platform". Mr Barra will replace Brendan Iribe, who stepped down as chief executive of the Oculus VR division in December. He previously worked at Google between 2010 to 2013, before helping develop Xiaomi's global strategy. Google is developing its own virtual reality experiences and has announced that Claude Zellweger will be joining the company to develop its Daydream VR products. Mr Zellweger was the vice-president of design at Taiwan's HTC, which manufactures its own Vive VR kit.
Facebook has hired Hugo Barra to lead its development of virtual reality products, following his departure from Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi.
There was no cure and its origins were a mystery. But one theory began to surface - that it was the product of secret US military research at the Fort Detrick Laboratory. What was the source for this piece of fake news? The answer was the KGB, the Soviet intelligence service. "The Aids disinformation campaign was one of the most notorious and one of the most successful Soviet disinformation campaigns during the Cold War," argues Thomas Boghardt, a historian at the US Army Center of Military History who has studied the case in detail. KGB political officers in the field were tasked with spending up to a quarter of their time on what were called "active measures". Mr Boghardt believes the KGB station in New York first came up with the idea, which played into distrust in US institutions and rumours of covert biological warfare programmes. "Intelligence meant not only gathering but using - or weaponising - that intelligence for influence operations," he explains. The aim of these "active measures" was to sow confusion and distrust either within a country or between allies. He says that in 1980, the Soviets spent an astonishing $3bn (£2.4m) a year on active measures. It was not the only time the KGB successfully pushed a conspiracy theory. Within weeks of the assassination of President Kennedy, it tried to circulate stories of official CIA involvement. It even covertly financed a book on the subject published in America within a year of the killing. Many attempts at disinformation were amateurish and failed. The main challenge was crafting something plausible. Those that succeeded either blended fact with fiction or worked with the grain of existing conspiracies. When it came to targeting Britain, Moscow had help in the shape of former MI6 officer and KGB spy, Kim Philby. "He would provide advice on how to do it," General Oleg Kalugin - formerly of the KGB and Philby's ex-colleague - told me. "He said 'this would not work, that sounds too Soviet'." Typically this would involve taking genuine documents from Western countries which spies had stolen and then adding in a few fake paragraphs to twist the meaning. "We preferred to work on genuine documents with some additions and changes, and Philby in that sense was [the] number one guy," says Kalugin, now based in the US. In the 1980s, the US tried to counter the tide of KGB disinformation by setting up an "Active Measures Working Group", with experts from across government agencies. "The only way you could counter active measures was by coming back with the truth," explains David Major, a former FBI official who served on the group. Gordon Corera presented Subversion: West on BBC Radio 4 on Friday 31 March at 11:00 BST. You can listen to it, and the previous episode Subversion: East on the BBC Radio 4 website. It would try and identify fake stories and then advise the media about their source. "We were saying which one of these stories turns out to be fake news." Major says. It tried to counter one claim that Americans were going to South America, ostensibly to adopt children but actually to harvest their body parts. The challenge in the Cold War was getting out a story. In the case of the Aids virus, it was planted in a small journal in India which was funded by the KGB. The story - on 17 July 1983 - warned that Aids might invade India and was the product of US experiments, with an anonymous US scientist linking it to Fort Detrick. Initially, there was not much pick-up. But two years later, Soviet news outlets ran the story, citing the Indian reports. That meant they could claim they were not the source. The story then spread rapidly over the next few years and can still be found in the wilder edges of the internet. The KGB placed great emphasis on not just recruiting people who had access to secrets but people who could influence opinion, so called "agents of influence". "The Soviet and Soviet Bloc intelligence agencies were very good at cultivating contacts with journalists for instance, or intellectuals, who sometimes knowingly and sometimes unknowingly would be used as launching platforms for fake or leaked stories," explains Prof Thomas Rid of King's College, London. Sometimes documents would also be mailed anonymously to journalists. But did active measures stop at the end of the Cold War? "The Soviet Union may have dissolved in 1990-91 but Soviet intelligence stayed virtually intact both in terms of its organisation and the goals it pursued - and that includes active measures," says Mr Boghardt. There were also new opportunities thanks to technology. "In the 1990s when the Internet slowly emerged, it was really a no-brainer to start to use a platform that made it a lot easier to leak anonymously, to give information anonymously to the public," argues Prof Rid. The KGB did allegedly try and influence American elections in the past - for instance by pushing the "Reagan means War" line in the 1984 US election - and the US intelligence community believes that it did so again in 2016 through a wide-ranging influence operation. This included hacking into organisations like the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign officials' emails and feeding information to websites. "What we've seen during the Cold War, somewhat counter-intuitively, is artisanal active measures - very labour intensive at the front end, down to using white gloves when you sign the letter in order to avoid fingerprints, the letter that you then mail anonymously," says Prof Rid. "It really required good tradecraft. But what we see in 2016 is the opposite: lazy industrial scale hacking and dumping." The leaking of real information is different from the creation of fake news stories, but they too are alleged to have appeared in 2016 although it is harder to trace their origins in the online world. In the current environment, the term fake news has taken on many meanings. Russian intelligence's active measures may well be part of a chaotic mix. But in a world in which accusations of fake news and conspiracy are bandied around freely, even exposing such measures can be swept up in a whirlwind of claim and counter-claim. The result is confusion. And more divisions which any future active measures can then exploit. Gordon Corera presented Subversion: West on BBC Radio 4 on Friday 31 March at 11:00 BST. You can listen to it and the previous episode Subversion: East on the BBC Radio 4 website.
In the early 1980s, the Aids virus seemed to emerge from nowhere.
The discovery was made at about 10:45 BST on Saturday near the Fiveways Junction in East Harling. A post-mortem examination on Sunday found the victim appeared to have been seriously assaulted but could not establish the cause of death. People are being asked to avoid the wooded area between East Harling and Shadwell while enquiries are ongoing. Det Supt Katie Elliott said: "We are in the early stages of our investigation and working to establish the sequence of events which led to this man's death." Norfolk Police would like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and may have further information. More news from Norfolk
Police are working to establish how a man was murdered after a body was found in Norfolk woodland.
The men, aged 20 and 30, were arrested on Station Road in Lochgelly on Friday. They are due to appear in court on Monday. Det Insp Colin Robson said: "This was a significant seizure of cocaine that was destined for our streets and shows the commitment of Police Scotland to removing controlled drugs from our communities."
Two men have been charged after police seized cocaine worth an estimated £80,000 in Fife.
Bailey died after the incident at Cults Academy on 28 October. The 16-year-old accused - who cannot be named for legal reasons - appeared in private at Aberdeen Sheriff Court. The boy is also charged with having a blade or point on school premises. He made no plea, was fully committed and remanded in custody. Special assemblies were held on Monday as pupils returned to classes for the first time since the incident. Bailey's family issued a message of thanks for the support they have received.
A teenage boy has appeared in court for a second time charged with murdering 16-year-old Bailey Gwynne, who was stabbed at his Aberdeen school.
Hamilton's seventh win of the season was also the 50th of his career, to put him just one behind Alain Prost in second place in the all-time list behind Michael Schumacher (91 wins). It was a fortifying weekend all round for Hamilton, who left behind the travails of the three Asian races and was on top form - both on and off the track - all weekend in Austin. The 31-year-old Briton has now won four of the five races at the Circuit of the Americas - and five of the last six US Grands Prix if one counts back to the race's previous home at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2007. But Hamilton remains 26 points behind his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, who finished second, partially thanks to a stroke of luck with the timing of a virtual safety car. Had that not been deployed - following a gearbox failure that stranded Max Verstappen's Red Bull out on track - Rosberg would have had to pass the Dutchman's team-mate Daniel Ricciardo to take second. He may well have done so - he would have been on fresher tyres and in a faster car. But it was the latest in a series of situations in which luck has fallen Rosberg's way this season. The Hamilton who turned up in Austin was a very different one from the one who had been in Japan two weeks previously, where his behaviour put him at the centre of a media storm. Two controversial performances in news conferences in Suzuka were a distraction that Hamilton did not need, and whether that played a role in him qualifying only second to Rosberg and then fluffing his start will continue to be a question. In Japan, Hamilton allowed very mild criticism in a very few media outlets following his distracted performance in the pre-event news conference to spiral into an unnecessary situation which led to him refusing to answer questions at a subsequent media appearance two days later. Things have calmed down since. Hamilton has had his media team unblock the journalists they had blocked on Twitter, and he was back to his usual self in America. Mercedes F1 team boss Toto Wolff said he felt the events of Japan were influenced by those the previous weekend in Malaysia, where an engine failure cost Hamilton a dominant win that would have put him back in the championship lead. Hamilton admitted after his win on Sunday that Malaysia was "haunting" him throughout the race in America. And Wolff said: "That little trauma is going to remain for a while" for the whole team. "Suzuka was very difficult," Wolff said. "Coming out of Malaysia, where he lost the win, 25 points gone, and would have caught up in the championship. "It started unfortunately with the press conference and it went into a spiral. He had 10 days to recover and he came back strong." Indeed he did. From the moment Hamilton took to the track in Austin, he looked invincible. It was one of those weekends. Media playback is not supported on this device He was blistering in the first half-hour of practice, a second quicker than Rosberg initially and still significantly ahead by the end. Second practice did not go so well, but on Saturday he was again supreme, and he carried that dominance into the race, while Rosberg made life difficult for himself. More of which in a moment. Hamilton, though, rejected Wolff's explanation of the events of Japan. "I don't feel that was the case," he said. "Of course, if we had come off a win in Malaysia I would have been on cloud nine going into the next race. I wasn't on cloud nine but I love it in Japan, I felt fantastic going into it. "I was only off by 0.07secs in qualifying and the race was a disaster but, you know, I have battled through thick and thin through my whole career. It was nothing new to me. "I don't have the championships I have through luck. This is not my 50th win through luck. It is a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication from lots and lots of people but also from me. I feel great with the work we collectively did this weekend and I hope we can continue to do this moving forward." At which point he paused, as if the moment was finally sinking in, and looked over to the back of the Mercedes area, where he was sitting facing the media, at guests Venus Williams and Lindsey Vonn, and smiled. "There are so many incredible champions in this room, Lindsey, Venus; I feel really on the spot doing this press conference." On the spot or not, it was a poised, considered, thoughtful Hamilton on show in America; very different from the haunted figure of Japan, no matter what he says. But the apparent unfairness - as he sees it - of the differing reliability records of himself and Rosberg still smarts. It is doubtful that Hamilton has done the maths, but the facts are that, regardless of the fact Rosberg has had his strongest year yet, the Briton would be leading the championship right now rather than trailing in it without the reliability issues. That lead would be at least 14 points and possibly as much as 56 - even ignoring the greater number of poor starts he has made - depending on whether he would have won or finished second to Rosberg in the races where he had the problems. While Hamilton has had engine failures in qualifying in China and Russia, a subsequent grid penalty that made him start from the back in Spa, and the failure in Malaysia, Rosberg has been affected only by a gearbox glitch that turned second into third at Silverstone. "Not many seasons there can be 100% reliability on a car," Hamilton said once he had returned to the immediate matter at hand after the race. "Will that be the case on Nico's? I guess time will tell. I can't get fixated on that. I just have to focus on mine. "I am hoping that for these last three races I have 100% reliability. That would be a breath of fresh air and I will try to utilise that opportunity with driving as I did today." No wonder Hamilton must wonder about his luck. Initially, Austin looked like it might turn into the bad race for Rosberg he needed. Questionable positioning of his car at Turn One, followed by poor traction out of the corner, gave Ricciardo the chance to challenge him through the fast kink of Turn Two. Despite being on the outside, Ricciardo made the move stick, Rosberg perhaps wary of the championship situation. "Nico is in a difficult position," Wolff said. "He needs to look at each weekend at a time but also make sure he doesn't DNF [Did Not Finish]. We probably saw that in Turn One." With Rosberg now third, and Ricciardo showing strong pace, Mercedes put him on a long middle stint on the medium tyre, the aim being to give him a short final one on the soft in which to catch and hopefully pass the Red Bull. In the end, the virtual safety car gave him a "free" stop and he was able to fit fresh medium tyres and retain second place, Ricciardo swearing over the radio when he realised what had happened. For the championship, in reality, it made little difference on paper - even had Rosberg finished third, he would still have been able to finish second in every race to Hamilton and still be champion. But it would have reduced the gap that little bit more - three points - and who knows what will happen in the remaining races. "Nico was very strong in Singapore," Wolff said. "Lewis in Malaysia, Nico in Japan and Lewis here. It keeps bouncing between the two so I'm very curious to see how it is going to go." Hamilton said: "All I can do is do my best and continue to drive as I have this weekend. Nico's been driving fantastically well all year. So the battle will continue. I'll be going for it."
Lewis Hamilton took the win he so desperately needed at the United States Grand Prix but there is still a long road ahead if he is to win a fourth Formula 1 world title this year.
Oxford University Press analysed more than 120,000 short stories submitted to this year's 500 Words writing competition, run by BBC Radio 2. It found the usage of the word refugee had more than tripled since last year. Star Wars, Shakespeare, Tim Peake and social media were some of the other most common themes. The 500 Words writing competition for children aged 13 and under was launched by BBC Radio 2 breakfast show host Chris Evans in 2011. The OUP said in addition to the significant increase in the usage of the word refugee by this year's entrants, children were also using emotive and descriptive language around it. Although it wasn't the most common word or theme overall, it was the most notable instance of children being influenced by events in the news. Stories featuring the word refugee were most frequently about the plight of children the same age as the writers leaving home and undertaking difficult journeys. Vineeta Gupta, Head of Children's Dictionaries at Oxford University Press, said: "The children writing in this year's competition have demonstrated a sophisticated use of language in their storytelling. "They have used rich descriptions to convey emotion and have produced powerful stories that resonate with the reader." Chris Evans said: "This analysis has once again proved fascinating. OUP's research has shown how aware and engaged children are with the world around them, not just at home, but globally and even inter-galactically. "The imagination of kids never ceases to amaze me and I'm so proud the competition has again fired up their creativity and shown how talented and inspiring the young people of the UK are." All the entries were analysed by an academic and technology team from Oxford University, using specialised software. British astronaut Tim Peake was a new entry in the top 10 list of famous people most frequently appearing in the stories. David Cameron, Barack Obama and Donald Trump were the most commonly mentioned politicians. The release of the latest Star Wars movie also caught children's attention, resulting in an increase of words such as lightsabers and Stormtroopers. The rise of social media remained a strong theme in 2016, after hashtag - and the symbol used to represent it '#' - was named Children's Word of the Year in last year's competition. The top 10 characters from real life and fiction used in stories included Santa Claus, Zeus, Lionel Messi, Cinderella, James Bond, Snow White and Harry Potter. William Shakespeare was also commonly used, as events took place across the UK to mark 400 years since the playwright's death. The OUP said spelling had consistently improved over the last five years, but added some of the most commonly misspelled words included soldiers and minute. The live final of this year's competition takes place on Friday morning at Shakespeare's Globe theatre in London. The Duchess of Cornwall, who is an honorary judge this year, will present the winners' prizes. Julie Walters, Tom Hiddleston, Warwick Davis, Andy Serkis, Nick Jonas and Raleigh Ritchie will present the awards at the event, All Saints, One Republic and Foxes will also be performing with the BBC Concert Orchestra and the London Community Gospel Choir during the show. The event will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2's Chris Evans show.
Refugee has been announced as Children's Word of the Year after appearing in hundreds of short stories written by young people.
Governor Takeshi Onaga ordered work to stop at the site in northern Okinawa last week pending a wildlife survey. But the central government strongly backs the controversial project and has ordered preliminary work to continue. Okinawa, Japan's southern-most prefecture, is home to about 26,000 US troops and several bases. The row centres around the long-delayed plan to relocate Futenma airbase, which sits in a heavily populated area of central Okinawa. Residents want the base closed and the Japanese government has proposed moving it to a more remote northern part of Okinawa's main island, on reclaimed land off a US military base called Camp Schwab. But many local residents reject this, highlighting the area's rich offshore environment. Opponents want the base moved off Okinawa altogether, arguing that the island hosts far more than its fair share of the US military presence in Japan. Many residents also associate the US bases with accidents and crime, and the 1995 gang-rape of a 12-year-old girl by US troops hardened local attitudes on the issue. Mr Onaga won the Okinawa gubernatorial election in November 2014 on an anti-base platform. Both Tokyo and Washington, however, are pushing strongly for the relocation, which has been stalled for years, to go ahead. Preliminary site work began in August 2014. Last week Mr Onaga ordered local defence ministry officials to stop underwater survey work - approved by his predecessor - over fears it was harming coral reefs outside the permitted work area. The central government described his move as "very regrettable" and, on Monday, Fisheries Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi suspended Mr Onaga's stop-work order. He said delaying work on the base risked "great damage to diplomacy and defence policy by having a negative impact on the Japan-US relationship, as well as affecting residents near Futenma". Mr Onaga said he would study the minister's position and then hold a press conference, Kyodo news agency reported.
Japan's fisheries minister has overruled an order by the Okinawa governor suspending work on a new US military base, in a growing stand-off.
25 November 2016 Last updated at 07:57 GMT It was given to the London museum in 1905 by a rich business man and the giant skeleton has been amazing visitors for many years as they enter the museum's main hall. It isn't a real dinosaur but a life size plaster replica of the skeleton of a Diplodocus. Now Dippy is on the move on a trip around the UK, watch this video to find out more.
Dippy the Diplodocus is one of the Natural History Museum's most recognisable residents.
PC Gillian Weatherley was dismissed for "gross misconduct", Scotland Yard said. She was sacked for leaking information about the 2012 argument between police officers and MP Andrew Mitchell. PCs Keith Wallis and James Glanville have already been sacked for gross misconduct, with two more officers yet to face such hearings. Mr Mitchell was accused of calling officers plebs during the argument at the gates of Downing Street - an allegation he has denied. The Conservative MP resigned as chief whip in the wake of the controversy. A panel chaired by Commander Julian Bennett found PC Weatherley had breached professional standards in relation to "honesty and integrity; orders and instructions; confidentiality; discreditable conduct and challenging and reporting improper conduct". The Met said it had brought the gross misconduct case after the Crown Prosecution Service decided in November that criminal prosecution was not appropriate. PC Weatherley was on duty at the Downing Street gates on the night of the dispute, 19 September 2012, and the Met said she had exchanged several messages with PC Glanville over the next three days. It added that she had subsequently given "inaccurate and misleading statements" to detectives from Operation Alice - the investigation into alleged misconduct by officers. Scotland Yard said it "would not disclose" how information was leaked to the press by PC Weatherley or to whom.
A police officer has been sacked over press leaks about the "plebgate" affair, becoming the third Met PC to be dismissed over the row.
The American, 32, said she was given hydrochlorothiazide for high blood pressure but failed "to fully understand how its administration was governed by current doping protocols". Harper-Nelson won 100m hurdles gold at Beijing 2008 and silver at London 2012. Diuretics increase urine production, but are not performance enhancing. However they can be used to mask the presence of other illegal substances or promote weight loss. "I have learned a valuable lesson and hope my mistake will serve as a reminder to all athletes to be diligent in thoroughly checking any and all prescribed medications," Harper-Nelson added. Her ban has been in place since 1 December.
Former Olympic champion Dawn Harper-Nelson has been banned for three months after testing positive for a banned diuretic.
Their manifesto includes a commitment to bring net migration down to below 100,000 even though the pledge, first made in 2009, has never been met. Brexit Secretary David Davis said it would be done in an "economically viable" way. UKIP said the lack of detail was "taking the public for mugs". Labour, who have themselves been accused of not wanting to set any limits on immigration, said the Conservatives' plans were unrealistic and uncosted. The pledge to reduce net annual migration - the difference in the number of people coming to the UK for a year or more and those leaving - to the tens of thousands was in the 2010 and 2015 Tory manifestos. Neither Theresa May nor David Cameron has come close to meeting it as prime minister. The most recent figure was 273,000. The last year it was below 100,000 was 1997. Despite this, the target has been retained in the 2017 manifesto, which states the party will deliver "controlled, sustainable migration" but does not set a timeframe. Pressed on this, Mr Davis told the BBC it was a "major policy imperative", but suggested the details of how it would be achieved had still to be worked out. "We're not setting a timetable on it," he said. "We need to do it in a way which looks after the economy but also delivers on what people wanted when they voted in the referendum." Former Chancellor George Osborne, now editor of the London Evening Standard newspaper, has said his party "haven't a clue" how they will meet their migration target. In an editorial, Mr Osborne also criticised Theresa May's refusal to spell out the impact reducing migration to below 100,000 would have on the economy. "Either ministers know the damage their immigration policy will do, but won't tell us; or they have deliberately avoided finding out, because they know the answer will be negative," he said. But Conservative candidate Kwasi Kwarteng told BBC News said everything about Mr Osborne should be "viewed through the lens of his brutal dismissal" as chancellor by Mrs May. "He has many axes to grind," added Mr Kwarteng. Ministers say the decision to leave the EU, which will bring an end to current free movement rules, will enable the UK to exert full control over its borders. But they have stopped short of guaranteeing this will lead to a fall in migration from the EU. Mr Davis said he wanted to fulfil the net migration pledge - which also has implications for migration from outside the EU - "expeditiously" but in a way that protected the economy. "The aim is to do it in a way that doesn't cause labour shortages, that allows us to train people up to do the jobs, that encourages businesses to employee British skilled workers. "All those things will be done in a sensible and manageable way... "We're telling the public what we want to do, you know we're not writing a detailed contract to buy a house, we're writing a major policy imperative which we will do in a way which will deliver the best for British society." On Wednesday, defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon said it was the Conservatives' "ambition" to continue to get immigration down, pointing to new proposals to increase the levy on firms hiring foreign workers. He said there would be a cost to the economy, but this had not yet been calculated "because we do not know specifically what year we are going to reach that point" of hitting the target. UKIP's immigration spokesman John Bickley said ministers were trying to "brush off" questions, and that the lack of detail about their plans was staggering. "I looked at their manifesto and actually I couldn't find the immigration section at first - it's at the back end of the manifesto, it doesn't even have a chapter heading," he told Radio 4's Today. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said some independent assessments had put the cost of meeting the target as high as £6bn and Conservatives were "falling apart" under questioning. "Our immigration policy will be managed but it will be fair but based upon the needs of the economy," he told a press briefing in London. "We will not undermine our economy on the basis of setting unrealistic targets." Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron told the Press Association: "It is a reminder Theresa May has set immigration targets throughout her time as home secretary and now as prime minister, and has failed to meet them. "It is about the Conservatives now being basically UKIP." Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning
The Conservatives will not set a deadline for their target of slashing immigration but hope to do it as quickly as possible, ministers say.
Dreamland heritage amusement park, which opened in June, has 17 vintage fairground attractions from funfairs around the UK. The listed, wooden Scenic Railway, which was to be the star attraction at the park, has not yet opened. Thanet District Council's cabinet has approved a proposal to fund the shortfall with a loan paid for by revenue from Dreamland's car park. The main areas of the project which overspent were the Scenic Railway restoration, external areas of the park and professional fees, the cabinet was told. Thanet's cabinet approved additional funding of £2.25 million for the project, including the car park contribution, the council has announced. The council said the overspend of £396,000 on professional fees was due to the work carried out over the compulsory purchase of the site. The site on Margate seafront had been closed for 10 years with campaigners fighting to save it from development. The council said: "The original budgets have to be based on estimations that often need revising as the project advances. "In this instance this is due mainly to unforeseen works on site and the elongation of the project timeline due to the compulsory purchase process." The wooden Grade II*-listed rollercoaster, badly damaged in an arson attack in 2008, was not restored in time for the opening. Testing on the Scenic Railway's trains is continuing, the council said. 1920 Dreamland opens with Scenic Railway rollercoaster 1939 Site requisitioned by the government and closed for the duration of World War Two 1946 Park reopens, with additional funding a year later from Butlins 1980 The opening of the then largest Big Wheel in Europe 2002 Scenic Railway rollercoaster gets Grade-II listed status 2005 Park closed and site sold to Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company. Save Dreamland Campaign set up 2008 Scenic Railway badly damaged in arson attack. 2012 Thanet District Council approves compulsory purchase order. Wayne Hemingway becomes theme park designer 2013 Council takes over ownership of the site 2015 First phase of new Dreamland opens on 19 June
The £18m project to restore a seaside funfair has overspent by more than £2m.
To be clear, Nicola Sturgeon is in preparation mode. Keeping an option open, rather than committing to Indyref2 anytime soon. Her promise to publish a draft referendum bill next week energises the SNP membership. Ms Sturgeon hopes it will also concentrate minds in the UK government - to head off a possible referendum with further devolution and a Brexit deal that preserves Scottish links with the EU. The SNP wants Holyrood to have new powers over agriculture and fishing, a say on immigration and the ability to make some international agreements. It also wants Scotland, if not the whole of the UK, to remain inside the European single market. Downing Street has made clear that the prime minister is willing to listen to perspectives from all the devolved governments, without making any promises. The more the SNP asks that are delivered, the less likely Indyref2 during Brexit negotiations becomes. However, even if none of the SNP's demands are met, another referendum is still not inevitable. That's because having lost once, Nicola Sturgeon and co. do not want to lose again. They don't want to call a vote unless they are confident of winning and it would take a further shift in public opinion to convince them of that. They think that shift could come if Brexit starts to look like a bad deal for Scotland. However it turns out, the UK's departure from the European Union transforms the Scottish independence question into a choice between two unions - the EU and the UK. It raises questions - old and new - for supporters of independence to resolve. Questions over currency, EU membership, low oil prices, access to markets in the rest of the UK and the common travel area. Brexit also significantly changes the nature of the UK that Scots voted 55% to 45% to remain part of in 2014. It's for that reason the SNP argue that the independence option - presented as a once in a generation offer two years ago - must remain on the table. As long as it does, their political rivals say it heaps uncertainty on top of the uncertainty that has already been created by the EU referendum result. The Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats also argue that independence distracts SNP ministers from their devolved responsibilities. Nicola Sturgeon sought to counter that suggestion in her main address to her party's conference on Saturday which focussed on her priorities for services like the NHS, education and the business sector.
Preparing for a second referendum on Scottish independence and actually holding one are not the same thing.
Former SNP leader Alex Salmond has secured time on Thursday afternoon to question the UK government over issues raised by a Royal naval submariner. Able seaman William McNeilly, 25, went on the run after alleging Trident was a "disaster waiting to happen". He later handed himself in to police. The navy said the fleet operates under the most stringent safety regime Mr Salmond, the newly-elected MP for Gordon, said the Ministry of Defence must provide detailed answers to the allegations. Incidents included in Mr McNeilly's report, The Secret Nuclear Threat, varied from complaints about food hygiene to failures in testing whether missiles could safely be launched or not. He described security passes and bags going unchecked at the Faslane submarine base on the Clyde, alarms being muted "to avoid listening" to them, and stories of fires starting in missile compartments. Mr McNeilly said he raised these and other concerns through the chain of command on multiple occasions, but that "not once did someone even attempt to make a change". An official investigation was launched after Mr McNeilly, from Belfast, posted his internet report.
The safety of the Trident nuclear weapons system on the Clyde is set to be debated in the House of Commons.
Amir Ali Qureshi, from the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, predicts adverts featuring a dog on a trampoline will boost sales. But he also expects a spike in people with broken bones turning up at A&E this Christmas. He said injuries were common, even with trampolines that come with safety netting. "Just last week I had a 27-year-old female referred to me with a life-changing injury to her left knee as a result of a trampoline accident," Mr Qureshi said. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) says more than 13,000 trampolining injuries are treated each year. Broken arms, legs, knee dislocations and neck injuries can all result from having an accident on a trampoline. Mr Qureshi added: "Some of these injuries are simply unpleasant, but others can be extremely serious. "The issue at the moment, particularly where young people are involved, is that the use of nets gives children and their parents a false sense of security that they will be fine whatever the level and intensity of activity on a trampoline. "In my opinion, as an experienced orthopaedic surgeon, the equipment is dangerous and should only be used in appropriate circumstances, which I believe can only be achieved under professional supervision." Dave Walker, the leisure safety manager at RoSPA, said: "When using a trampoline at home parents must be aware that, just like any high-energy leisure activity, there is a risk, and they should take precautions to prevent potentially serious and life-changing injuries. "Having netting around the trampoline is a good preventative measure, as is only allowing one child on at a time, and supervision to ensure the activity being carried out on the trampoline is appropriate. "Many serious injuries occur when a larger person is on with a child, so parents should avoid getting on at the same time as their children."
Trampolines should be used only under professional supervision, according to a senior bone surgeon.
Rachel Fee, 31, must spend a minimum of 23-and-a-half years in jail and Nyomi Fee, 29, a minimum of 24 years for the murder and ill-treatment of Liam Fee. The toddler, who was Rachel Fee's son, died at his home near Glenrothes, Fife, in March 2014. He had suffered a ruptured heart as a result of severe blunt force trauma to his body. The couple, originally from Ryton in Tyne and Wear, denied killing Liam, and instead blamed his death on one of two other young boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons. They were sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh by judge Lord Burns, who told the pair they had "grossly abused" their parental responsibilities. The judge added that the post-mortem examination showed that Liam had been "subjected to a prolonged course of violent behaviour". And he said the couple had shown no remorse for the "cruel regime of neglect and ill treatment" that had inflicted appalling mental and physical harm on the two-year-old. Brian McConnachie QC, defending Rachel Fee, said she believed there had been a "miscarriage of justice". Mr McConnachie said the couple were being held in different prisons, with Rachel Fee being "to all intents and purposes" locked up for 24 hours a day for her own protection. The only exception was a five-minute phone call in the evening "when the rest of the wing is locked down", he added. Mr McConnachie added: "She's not allowed any other time out of her cell, including meal times. "No doubt people will say she deserves nothing less but clearly that cannot be a long-term solution for someone who is going to receive a very lengthy punishment period." He said his client had "effectively been disowned by her entire family", adding: "She is going to spend this very lengthy period of custody very much alone in the sense that there's really no-one to visit her, there's no-one to write to her, except perhaps her partner." Mark Stewart QC, defending Nyomi Fee, said she accepted responsibility for the "unforgivable" neglect of Liam, but maintained she was innocent of murdering him. The couple displayed little emotion as their sentences were delivered, and there was silence in the packed courtroom as they were led away to the cells. Liam's father Joseph Johnson looked straight ahead as the women were told the punishment parts of their life sentences. A jury of eight women and six men had previously found Rachel and Nyomi Fee guilty by majority of assault and murder after a seven-week trial at the High Court in Livingston. The jurors were excused from duty for 10 years due to the horrific evidence they faced during the trial. Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC told the court the women were guilty of "unyielding, heartless cruelty". In harrowing evidence, the jury heard Liam had suffered heart injuries similar to those found on road crash victims, with more than 30 external injuries on his body. The court heard the pair knew Liam had a broken leg and fractured arm but instead of seeking help they searched the internet for terms including "how do you die of a broken hip?" and "can wives be in prison together?" The couple were also convicted of a catalogue of abuse towards the two other boys, including imprisoning one in a home-made cage and tying another naked to a chair in a dark room with snakes and rats. And they were found guilty of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by trying to blame Liam's death on one of the boys. A former friend of the two women has told the BBC that no sentence would ever have been enough for the crime they had committed. Gillian McCusker said: "They are going to be in jail for sometime but they don't even deserve a place in prison because they are still going to get everything paid for them and they are still going to get every day of their lives. "It's not fair because they are going to come out and they are still going to have their own lives to lead and little Liam, where is he? Nowhere. "He's not got a life. So it's never going to be enough, never." A significant case review is being carried out into the circumstances leading up to Liam's death after a number of witnesses told the trial they had raised concerns about the toddler's health and wellbeing with social services. Matt Forde of child protection charity NSPCC Scotland said it was vital that the investigation led to action being taken to prevent other children suffering as Liam had done. He added: "The two boys who survived the abuse will need support, stability and love to help them come to terms with their experiences and begin to recover." Alison Todd of Children 1st said: "Liam's plight has shocked Scotland. It will have taken tremendous courage for the two other boys involved to speak about their experiences. "It is down to their bravery and the skills of the joint investigative interviewers in building the boys' trust that justice has been done in this terrible case." Det Insp Rory Hamilton, of Police Scotland, said the sentences handed out to Rachel and Nyomi Fee reflected the seriousness of their crimes, and the commitment of the police and legal system to bring to justice those who commit acts of violence against the most vulnerable members of society. He said "I would again commend the two young boys whose evidence played such a vital part in securing the convictions and bringing their abusers, and the women who murdered Liam, to justice." Ian Sloan, councillor for Glenrothes Central and Thornton, said the case had caused a "profound sense of shock and horror" in the local community, and called for a "thorough review" into what happened.
A mother and her civil partner have been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her two-year-old son.
Media playback is not supported on this device Widnes led by two points with 15 minutes remaining, but Saints duo Kyle Amor and Jordan Turner both scored tries to restore the home side's lead. And stand-in full-back Mark Percival crossed for the second of his two tries in the dying seconds to secure victory. Super League champions Saints have not reached the Challenge Cup final since they last won the competition in 2008. Keiron Cunningham's side will face holders Leeds Rhinos in the last four. Their quarter-final win was far from routine, as Widnes - chasing a last-four spot for the second successive year - came back from 12 points behind to lead, before Saints fought back themselves with three tries without reply. Early on, Jon Wilkin's try-saving tackle denied Vikings prop Alex Gerrard the first score, before St Helens winger Adam Swift raced 90 metres to put the home side in front. Widnes scrum-half Joe Mellor stretched over from close range to level but Percival, filling the full-back berth for St Helens in the absence of several injured alternatives, slotted over a penalty to restore his side's lead before latching onto Swift's well-timed pass to touch down himself. Matty Dawson cruised over in the corner for the hosts' third try, but 14 unanswered points either side of half-time put Widnes ahead for the first time. Danny Craven muscled his way over before the break, Kevin Brown's fired pass picked out Patrick Ah Van to cross after the interval and then Chris Dean's score, given after consultation with the video referee, gave the Vikings a narrow advantage. That lead lasted until Amor's robust effort was allowed to stand, again with the help of the video referee, before Turner burst through two tackles to settle the contest. Another Percival penalty, his fifth successful kick of the match, removed any hopes of a Widnes comeback and he completed the scoring with a second converted try for a personal tally of 20 points. St Helens captain Jon Wilkin told BBC Sport: "It was a great game - tough and competitive. Widnes are a quality side and Denis Betts gets them playing really well. "We're really pleased to be in the semi-finals. There are some great teams who are in good form heading into that." Widnes Vikings coach Denis Betts told BBC Sport: "I'm really proud of the effort we put in. We did some great things and had lots of opportunities. "We just don't have enough composure and a little bit of luck on our side at the moment to be able to close these games out. "We've had a lot of close games this year and been on the wrong side of them." St Helens: Percival; Dawson, Jones, Turner, Swift; Burns, Walsh; Amor, Roby, Walmsley, Wilkin, Greenwood, McCarthy-Scarsbrook. Replacements: Masoe, Flanagan, Richards, Savelio. Widnes Vikings: Hanbury; Flynn, Marsh, Dean, Ah Van; Brown, Mellor; Manuokafoa, Heremaia, Gerrard, Clarkson, Whitley, Leuluai. Replacements: Cahill, Isa, Craven, Dudson. Referee: Robert Hicks Attendance: 8,806
St Helens completed the Challenge Cup semi-final line-up with a home win over Widnes Vikings at Langtree Park.
Kirsty Williams said the party had helped bring "order" to the UK's economic chaos by going into coalition with the Conservatives in 2010. She told the BBC's Sunday Politics Wales programme that this did not stop her opposing policies "detrimental" to Wales such as regional pay. "No man in London tells me what to do," she said.
The Welsh Liberal Democrat leader has denied putting party loyalty above loyalty to Wales.
The survey for the End Child Poverty coalition suggested that 3.5 million children are living in poverty in the UK - with 220,000 of them in Scotland. The worst-hit local authority area in Scotland is Glasgow, where 34.1% of children are affected. The Shetland Islands (10.6%), Aberdeenshire (13.1%) and Orkney (14.1%) are the least affected. According to the Child Poverty Action Group, which assessed benefit data, about 23% of children in Scotland live in low income households. That figure is up from 19% five years ago. Campaigners have called on the chancellor to use the upcoming Autumn Statement to end the freeze on children's benefits, and reverse the cuts being introduced to in-work benefits under Universal Credit. The coalition, which is made up of the Child Poverty Action Group, Barnardo's Scotland, One Parent Families Scotland, Children 1st and the Poverty Alliance, also wants the Scottish government to ensure the proposed Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill addresses poverty at local level. John Dickie, director of Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, said: "There's no doubt that many of the key drivers of child poverty are UK-wide and if the new prime minister is serious about supporting families then decisive action must be taken to end the freeze on children's benefits and reverse sharp cuts to in-work support under Universal Credit. "But this new map also makes it clear that child poverty plays out in different ways at local level. Local authorities and their partners know their communities and are in a great position to work with local people to prevent poverty. "Many are already doing important work to make sure local childcare, housing and employability policies are working for low-income families. "The new Scottish child poverty legislation must now be drafted to ensure all local authorities are supported in law to take a strategic approach, and that all levels of government are pulling in the same direction - towards a Scotland free from child poverty." Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance, added: "Poverty in Scotland continues to harm the lives of children across Scotland, as this new map shows. "Living on a low income not only affects their well-being now, but can have a negative impact in the future. "This is an unnecessary situation and one that requires urgent attention." A spokeswoman for the UK government's department of work and pensions said welfare changes had "incentivised work" and were "restoring fairness to the benefits system." She added: "The number of people in relative low income has fallen by 300,000 since 2010 and we are going further to help the most disadvantaged with a focus on tackling the root causes - not just the symptoms - of poverty. "Work is the best route out of poverty. The number of children living in working households is at a record high and by increasing the National Living Wage and taking millions of people out of paying any income tax, we are ensuring it always pays to be in work." The Scottish government's Communities Secretary Angela Constance blamed UK government policy for the figures. She said: "The UK government's continued welfare cuts alongside benefit sanctions and delays are consistently pushing people into crisis situations and while we are already spending £100m a year mitigating cuts inflicted by the UK government, this money would be better spent on eradicating child poverty." She said the Scottish government was determined to end child poverty by 2030. She added: "Our other actions include a new Best Start Grant which will support low income families with children in the early years, and we will double the entitlement to early learning and childcare for all three and four-year-olds, as well as those two-year-olds that stand to benefit the most." A separate study has revealed that 63,794 three-day supplies of emergency food were handed out to people in Scotland at Trussell Trust foodbanks. The figures showed that problems with benefits remain the most significant reason for foodbank use, accounting for a total of 42% of referrals. A quarter of cases were due to benefit delays and nearly a fifth were sparked by benefit changes. The trust's Scotland network manager, Ewan Gurr, said: "The figures offer a mixed prospectus regarding the extent of foodbank use across Scotland. "On one hand, we are still experiencing an epidemic of hunger in Scotland. Benefit delays and changes are still the primary reasons underpinning the increased number of referrals to foodbanks. "What is more concerning, however, is that hunger is also clearly and consistently being driven by low income. "A decrease in the cash in people's pockets leads to an increase in the use of foodbanks." Scottish Labour's deputy leader Alex Rowley said: "This research shows that one in three children in Scotland grow up in poverty in some parts of Scotland. "It is clear that the Tory reforms to welfare are not working and are directly leading to more children in Scotland being in poverty." He called on Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson "to bring to an end to these unfair, unjust and unworkable reforms of welfare and instead invest in Scotland's greatest asset, our people." He added: "But it is also time for the SNP government in Edinburgh to drop the excuses and use the powers of the Scottish Parliament to help tackle child poverty head on."
More than 200,000 children are growing up in poverty in Scotland, a new study has suggested.
8 July 2015 Last updated at 16:46 BST At this year's Wimbledon, Australian player Sam Groth, has hit the fastest, with a 147mph serve whipping past Roger Federer. A good serve can help you win your games more easily and get you out of trouble if you hit an ace. But what's the secret behind the skill? We sent Ayshah to Wimbledon to find out and give it a go.
A serve is a tennis player's biggest weapon, reaching speeds of 120, 130 or even 140 miles per hour.
Cash the dog's expert nose uncovered €286,000 ($303,000/£247,000), the government announced following an anti-drug service raid last week. First, he led his handlers to a man concealing €50,000 on his person, before picking out a piece of luggage containing a further €236,000. The money was confiscated and the two men have been arrested. Under Luxembourg's laws, they were meant to declare that they were carrying more than €10,000 in cash, a government press release explained. It was not revealed why the men were carrying so much cash, or where they had come from or were travelling to.
An appropriately-named sniffer dog has discovered more than €280,000 hidden on a train in Luxembourg.
The "intense" blaze broke out at Rosamond Street, Bolton, after 09:00 BST on Saturday. The victims were five-year-old Khadija Umerji, her brothers Yusuf, 10, and Hammad, 12, and their mother Anisha Umerji, 40. Their father Zubair Umerji is being treated for injuries after jumping from the first floor. Police said he was "distraught at this awful time". Bolton-born boxer Amir Khan tweeted: "Very sad news from my home town- RIP Umerji family." Senior firefighter Tony Hunter, from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue, said the Mr Umerji had jumped "straight through the window on to concrete". "He got up and then was smashing his hands through the glass of the ground floor window. "He was absolutely distraught, screaming [that] his wife and children were in there." Mr Hunter said the mother and children were found on the first floor. They were given CPR but one of the children was pronounced dead at the scene, and the others died later in hospital. He added: "It was a very intense fire - the plaster had come off the walls. That was on the ground floor so you can imagine what it was like on the first floor." Greater Manchester Police said it was currently not treating the fire as suspicious. Det Ch Insp Chris Bridge said "When anybody dies it is always devastating for their loved ones but this particular case is even more heartbreaking, as three innocent children and their mother sadly lost their lives. "We continue to offer support to family members through specially trained officers, especially the father who is understandably distraught at this awful time." The force has launched a joint investigation with the fire service into the cause of the blaze. One eyewitness, who asked not to be named, said: "I saw the grandmother of the kids crying once it was known they were dead." Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi said: "I'm shocked and saddened by the fatal fire in Daubhill today. My thoughts and prayers are with the relatives, friends and neighbours."
A mother and three children who died in a house fire in Bolton have been named.
Instead, he said, they should arm themselves "with justice, love, mercy and authentic peace." Earlier he said he hoped next month's polls in the CAR would open a "new chapter" for the country. CAR has been torn apart by violence between Muslim rebels and Christian militias. It is the pontiff's first visit to a conflict zone and the final stop on his landmark three-nation African tour. Acting President Catherine Samba-Panza has asked him for "forgiveness" for the country's recent religious violence. Large crowds lined the road from the airport to welcome the Pope - and people cheered and sang when he arrived at a refugee camp. In an address at the presidential palace, he called for unity and to avoid "the temptation of fear of others, of the unfamiliar, of what is not part of our ethnic group, our political views or our religious confession". The Pope said ahead of his trip he was determined to bring a message of peace and hope to the country. The pontiff is expected to meet Muslim leaders and visit a mosque in the city's Muslim enclave, known as PK5, on Monday. He will then conclude his visit with a final Mass in Bangui. The Pope's five big issues in Africa Rarely has a Pope landed somewhere with armoured vehicles on the tarmac and a refugee camp full of displaced people within sight. Many in Bangui had worried that the Pope might cancel his visit, after fears that his security could not be guaranteed. This visit to a conflict zone is not only a first for a Pope, but also a crucial signal from the outside world to the people of this troubled nation that such a leader has come to bring a message of peace. Pope Francis's arrival in the Central African Republic has delighted the people who lined the streets to see him. Signs welcoming "Pape Francois" were everywhere in the capital of this French-speaking country, and the excitement was palpable. One woman hoping for a glimpse of the Pope expressed her joy after his plane landed, saying his visit here brought real hope in dark times. Can Pope tackle religious divide in CAR? The Pope's African tour also took in Uganda and Kenya. In Uganda, the Pope celebrated Mass in front of an audience of hundreds of thousands of people, and spoke at a Catholic shrine dedicated to Christians martyred for their faith in the 19th Century. On Friday, the Pope addressed an audience of young people in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, urging them to unite and take a stand against the destructive effects of tribalism. Living under a shadow of fear in Central African Republic The Imam and the Archbishop In pictures: Bokassa's ruined palace in CAR More on Central African Republic War has blighted the CAR for decades but it was only two years ago the fighting took on a religious form. President Francois Bozize was ousted in a coup in March 2013 and a group of mostly Muslim rebels from the north, the Seleka, marched on Bangui, briefly taking control of the country. Their rebellion tapped into a feeling northerners had of being excluded and unrepresented by the central government, correspondents say. They targeted churches and Christian communities, which triggered the creation of the anti-Balaka - meaning anti-violence - militias, and led to a downward spiral of tit-for-tat violence which continues. Towns and villages are divided, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced into camps divided along religious lines. Religion in sub-Saharan Africa: Profile: Pope Francis Source: US-based Pew Research Center 2011 survey
Pope Francis, speaking during Mass in the Central African Republic (CAR) capital Bangui, has called on fighting factions to lay down their weapons.
The FTSE 100 index closed down 56.3 points, or 0.9%, at 6,185.59. A private survey suggested activity at China's factories contracted for the 14th month in a row in April. Mining stocks fell sharply on the news. Shares in Anglo American dived 12.8%, Glencore fell 8% and BHP Billiton dropped 6.2%. Shares in HSBC slipped 1.65% to 445.05p, reversing early gains, after the bank reported a 14% fall in first-quarter profits. The bank cited "extreme levels of volatility" in financial markets at the start of the year, although the decline in profit was not as bad as analysts had feared. In the FTSE 250, shares in Just Eat jumped 4.9% to 402.3p after it raised its profit forecast. The company said full-year operating profit was set to be £102m-£104m, against a previous estimate of £98m-£100m, after it increased the rate it charges restaurants. Revenue is now expected to be £358m, up from £350m. Shares in Aberdeen Asset Management dropped 7.4% to 276.7p after the fund group reported a sharp fall in half-year profits as it continued to be affected by the downturn in emerging markets. Pre-tax profits sank to £98.8m, down from £185.4m a year earlier. On the currency markets, the pound fell after a UK manufacturing survey suggested the sector contracted last month for the first time in more than three years. Against the dollar, the pound surrendered early gains to stand down 0.81% at $1.4555 and fell 0.68% against the euro to €1.2634.
(Close): London's top shares fell on Tuesday, with shares in mining stocks dropping, after a survey indicated more weakness in the Chinese economy.
The picture, taken by fashion photographer Mario Testino, shows the toddler smiling in the arms of his father, Prince William. George's birthday is on Wednesday 22 July and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are likely to have a party for their son at their Norfolk home. The picture was taken after Princess Charlotte's christening on 5 July. It was taken in the gardens at Sandringham House, on the Queen's Norfolk estate, and was part of the series of official photographs taken by Testino following the princess's christening. A Kensington Palace spokeswoman said: "This photograph captures a very happy moment on what was a special day for the duke and duchess and their family. "They are very pleased to share this picture as they celebrate Prince George's second birthday." It is thought the duke and duchess will celebrate George's birthday privately at Anmer Hall, their Norfolk home, as William is still settling into his new job as an East Anglian Air Ambulance helicopter pilot.
An official picture of Prince George has been released to mark his second birthday.
Four mountain rescue teams were called in on Saturday afternoon after a rescue helicopter was unable to get to the man at Maentwrog gorge. He was taken from the gorge using a rope and stretcher system after suffering an ankle injury. The man was flown to hospital four hours after the rescue operation began. The gorge is used for canyoning where people climb and jump into the water. Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team and South Snowdonia Search and Rescue Team worked on the rescue together with volunteers from Aberdyfi Search and Rescue Team and Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation who were also called out.
Rescuers had to use ropes to evacuate a man who was injured in a gorge at a waterfall in Snowdonia before he could be airlifted to hospital.
The single platform stop on the Inverness to Aberdeen line and parking spaces for 150 cars have been proposed for a site at Dalcross. A station close to the airport has been a long standing aspiration of Hitrans, which promotes improvements to public transport in the Highlands. It has been proposed to open the station next year.
A plan to build a new railway station near Inverness Airport has been approved by Highland councillors.
The question asks readers to guess the birthday of a girl called Cheryl using the minimal clues she gives to her friends, Albert and Bernard. Cheryl's Birthday was initially reported to be an examination question for 11-year-olds. Students stressed by tough examinations is a perennial issue here, and Cheryl's Birthday reignited concerns that the education system was too challenging. But it later emerged it was for students aged about 15 taking part in last week's Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiads (Sasmo). Organisers said the test was aimed at the top 40% and aimed to "sift out the better students", adding it was "important to clarify so that Singapore parents will not start to worry so much". Kenneth Kong, who first posted the problem, told the BBC: "It's a really difficult question for younger kids, so that's why people were so shocked at first... but now that people know it's for older students, they just think it's quirky." Sasmo's executive director Henry Ong defended the question, saying there was "a place for some kind of logical and analytical thinking in the workplace and in our daily lives". "We are not saying this problem is for every student... But if these kind of problems can be used to stretch the better students to sharpen their analytical power, why not?" The question, which has been shared around the world, sparked a Twitter hashtag #cherylsbirthday and even a music track. "After spending so much time together, thinking of Cheryl's birthdate, Albert and Bernard soon fell in love with each other and forgot all about Cheryl," said Elfy Bianca Hassan on Mr Kong's page. "Dump her. Find other girls," suggested Nicholas Lim. Others took umbrage at the wording. "I hope people picked up that the person who set the question needs to go for English grammar classes - there are at least two grammar errors," said Clarence Singam-Zhou. So when is Cheryl's birthday? The answer is 16 July, said Sasmo which posted the correct solution. Sasmo also dismissed an "alternative solution" which resulted in 17 August. Their rejection was that "since Bernard did not say that he does not know when Cheryl's birthday is, then how did Albert know that Bernard does not know?" Problem solved.
A school maths question posted on Facebook by a Singaporean TV presenter has stumped thousands, and left many asking if that's really what is expected of Singaporean students.
The leaders of the Conservatives, Labour and the Lib Dems appear to have adopted a political uniform of dark blue jumpers over light blue shirts out on the campaign trail. Whether he's out pressing the flesh on the campaign trail or busy kissing babies, David Cameron looks quite at home in his blue jumper/shirt combination. And he's not the only one... as Ed Miliband has shown. Nick Clegg has also adopted the look, meaning that the trio end up looking much the same, while they are trying to persuade voters how different they are. And it hasn't gone unnoticed on social media... with journalists drawing attention to the political wardrobe malfunction. Written by Kerry Alexandra
As each party protests how different they are from the others it appears this may not entirely be the case.
Four boxes on the Horsendale Estate in Nuthall, Nottinghamshire, have been covered up for more than a week as they cannot be emptied or checked. The Nottingham Post reported residents have complained about the inconvenience and lack of information. Royal Mail said specialist new keys had to be made but it was hoped this would be done "in the next few days". Neil Mitchell, who works in a newsagents, said: "It came as a complete surprise, the first we knew of it was when people came in to ask what had happened. "Lots of people are confused and annoyed as we have recently lost the local post office and the nearest open box is more than a mile away." Updates on this story and more from Nottinghamshire Broxtowe borough councillor Paul Simpson, who lives in the affected area, said: "It is not satisfactory. The open boxes are, for some people, a car ride away, maybe a bus ride. "It is inconvenient and has taken too long to sort out." A Royal Mail spokesperson said: "Leaflets were put on on the boxes to explain what had happened, that they were out of service after the keys were misplaced. "We would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience this may have caused."
Royal Mail has admitted sealing several post boxes in a neighbourhood after postmen lost the keys.
He acknowledged that the US had a "serious problem" but called for people to come together as a nation. Protests have continued since the shooting of Philando Castile during a traffic stop in Minnesota on Wednesday. It came a day after Alton Sterling was shot dead by police in Louisiana. The incidents follow a long line of controversial deaths of African-Americans at the hands of the police that has ignited a national debate about the use of lethal force. In a statement, President Obama said such fatal shootings were "symptomatic of the broader challenges within our criminal justice system, the racial disparities that appear across the system year after year, and the resulting lack of trust that exists between law enforcement and too many of the communities they serve". He added: "As a nation, we can and must do better to institute the best practices that reduce the appearance or reality of racial bias in law enforcement." Some of the people bringing bouquets to the site of the shooting are too emotional to talk. "I'm just numb and sad," mumbles a middle-aged black woman. An elderly white woman, Diana, has driven 40 miles to this quiet middle-class suburb to pay her respects. She was part of the civil rights movement that protested against discrimination, she says, "and it's still going on". Joe, an elderly man passing round blueberries to protesters gathered outside the governor's mansion, agrees: "It's an indictment of my generation of white people." The rally is multi-racial and peaceful but black anger is visceral. "He (Castile) lost his life for a broken tail light," spits out one speaker. "Use your white privilege to help us," admonishes another. A pastor and Iraqi war vet, Thomas, offers this bleak view of the police: "This is the same as a combat zone," he says. "If black people get pulled over we need to position ourselves as prisoners of war and survive the encounter." Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, who has requested a federal investigation into the shooting in St Paul, said he didn't think Philando Castile would have been shot if he had been white. "Would this have happened if the driver and the passengers were white? I don't think it would have," he told reporters. "This kind of racism exists and it's incumbent on all of us to vow and ensure that it doesn't continue to happen." The national debate has been stoked by videos of both incidents that quickly went viral on social media. Philando Castile's girlfriend live-streamed the aftermath of the shooting in St Paul, showing him covered in blood as an officer pointed a gun at him. Diamond "Lavish" Reynolds was heard telling the police officer that her boyfriend had been reaching for his wallet, as he had been instructed to do. "You shot four bullets into him, sir. He was just getting his licence and registration, sir," she says in the video. The officer can be heard shouting: "I told him not to reach for it. I told him to get his hand out." An emotional Ms Reynolds joined protesters outside Governor Dayton's official residence in St Paul, saying that she had filmed the incident so "the world knows that these police are not here to protect and serve us, they are here to assassinate us". Leading black celebrities also joined the calls for action. Singer Beyonce published a statement on her website, calling on people to "take a stand and demand that they stop killing us". Mr Castile, 32, worked as a cafeteria supervisor at a Montessori school. His cousin Antonio Johnson told the Star Tribune newspaper he was "immediately criminally profiled" because he was black. Hundreds of people also gathered for a second night of protests in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at the shop where Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old father of five, was killed on Tuesday. A second piece of video from Baton Rouge emerged on Wednesday appearing to show Mr Sterling being held down and then shot several times, although some shots are heard when the camera moves away from the confrontation. Seconds later, one of the officers is seen removing an object from the man's trousers as he lies on the ground with blood on his chest. A witness said he saw officers take a gun from Mr Sterling's pocket after the shooting, but police have not commented on this. The officers involved, Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II, have been put on administrative leave and the US department of justice has launched a civil rights investigation. The officer involved in the St Paul shooting has also been placed on administrative leave. Walter Scott - unarmed and shot in the back as he ran away from an officer in North Charleston, South Carolina, in April 2015. Former officer Michael Slager facing murder charge Laquan McDonald - 17-year-old was holding a knife but appeared to be moving away from police in Chicago when shot 16 times in 2014. Officer Jason Van Dyke denies murder charge Michael Brown - 18-year-old shot at least seven times in Ferguson, Missouri, in August 2014, sparking nationwide protests. Officer Darren Wilson cleared of wrongdoing Eric Garner - died after being placed in a chokehold by New York police while selling cigarettes in July 2014. Grand jury decides against charges, police disciplinary action taken against supervising officer Sgt Kizzy Adonis 1,152 people killed by police in 2015 30% of victims were black 13% of US population is black 97% of deaths were not followed by any charges against police officers
US President Barack Obama has said the fatal shootings of two black men by police in as many days are "not isolated incidents" and that all Americans should be "deeply troubled".
How is it some firms have been able to bounce back while others are unable to survive? Both the German car giant Volkswagen and South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung have been mired in controversy in recent times. VW is still dealing with its diesel emissions scandal, and Samsung has had to face overheating phone batteries. Yet both have put these corporate disasters behind them. VW has just seen its pretax profits rise 44.3%, while Samsung's operating profits have gone up by 48%. Other firms have not been so fortunate. In 2015, it emerged that Volkswagen had fitted illegal software to its diesel vehicles allowing them to cheat on emissions tests. It meant VW's diesel vehicles were able to emit up to 40 times the legally allowable pollution level. The revelations came as a shock to many, and played havoc with VW's reputation as a seller of solid, dependable German cars. The scandal sparked a global backlash against the firm, and multiple lawsuits. VW has so far agreed to pay about $25bn (£19bn) to address US claims from owners, regulators, states and dealers - and it is under increasing pressure to pay up in other countries, too. Yet this public relations disaster has not stopped VW from overtaking Toyota as the world's largest carmaker, and nor has it permanently hit its profit-making abilities. As the scandal broke, VW put together a comprehensive plan to deal with it. It has acknowledged its wrong-doing - pleading guilty in the US as part of an agreement with regulators. At the same time, the group has embarked on a significant cost-cutting exercise - dropping unprofitable models - and is focussing on emerging markets and investing heavily in electric vehicles. "One could argue that this crisis was a catalyst for VW," says Shwetha Surender, principal consultant at analysts Frost & Sullivan. "The company has restructured itself in a way which it might not have done, had the emissions scandal never happened." The scandal has cost VW billions, but could have cost it even more if it had mishandled things, she says. "They might have been forced to sell-off their commercial vehicles division as well as a couple of their premium brands." What VW did was clearly wrong but in the way it has dealt with the scandal "it has had a positive effect on the group", says Ms Surender. If you're one of the world's leading smartphone sellers, the last thing you want is to have to recall one of your flagship products. Yet that is just what South Korea's electronics giant Samsung was forced to do amid reports of fire-prone batteries. Last September, Samsung recalled 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 smartphones after complaints of overheating and exploding batteries. The firm replaced the phones. However, that was followed by reports that those phones were also overheating. The debacle cost Samsung about $5.3bn, and has been hugely damaging to its reputation. Samsung has said it takes "responsibility for our failure to ultimately identify and verify the issues arising out of the battery design and manufacturing process". That acceptance is a crucial part of its crisis management strategy, says Wayne Lam, analyst at IHS Markit. "What Samsung has done in handling the crisis is pretty textbook stuff. They have been upfront with consumers and investors - they have gone through their 'mea culpa' moments. "From a financial perspective they have mostly put this behind them, though they still have to win back consumer trust." Vital to winning back that trust is making sure there are no more mistakes. With its new Galaxy 8 phone, Wayne Lam says the firm has taken a conservative approach. "They have tweaked the charging parameters and have been very cautious when it comes to the battery design, unlike the Note 7's battery which clearly didn't work." For VW and Samsung the damage has been bad but survivable, but for controversial US blood-testing company Theranos its future is much more uncertain. It pioneered tests that it said could detect cancer and cholesterol with just a few drops of blood obtained via a finger-prick. Launched in 2003 it was said to be worth $9bn in 2014, but in 2015 a report by The Wall Street Journal claimed its device produced inaccuracies. This led to an investigation by the US government's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which later revoked the company's licence to operate in California and banned its founder Elizabeth Holmes from running a lab for at least two years. The firm has since slashed its workforce by 40%, but analysts say it is unclear if it will ever be able to recover its reputation. At least Theranos is still in existence, not so the US media and celebrity news website Gawker. It filed for bankruptcy protection last year to avoid paying damages having lost a $140m lawsuit brought by former wrestler Hulk Hogan, after it published a video of him having sex with the wife of a friend. Gawker had defended its right to publish the video as part of its celebrity news coverage. The court rejected the claim and the financial cost of losing forced Gawker to close down. Yet nothing comes close to a firm being sabotaged by its own boss. Gerald Ratner famously wiped £500m from the value of his own jewellery group with one speech in 1991. Referring to his firm's cut-glass sherry decanters, he said "People say, 'how can you sell this for such a low price?' I say because it's total crap." For good measure he added that his stores' earrings were "cheaper than a Marks and Spencer prawn sandwich but probably wouldn't last as long". These ill-judged comments accelerated the decline of Britain's biggest jewellery group. It plunged into the red, closed 330 shops as customers stayed away in droves and changed its name to Signet Group two years later. Mr Ratner has since bounced back and runs a successful online jewellery business, but his speech is still famous in the corporate world as an example of the value of branding and image over quality. Such gaffes are now known as "doing a Ratner". Follow Tim Bowler on Twitter@timbowlerbbc
What changes a corporate branding disaster from being a costly and damaging affair, to one with fatal consequences for the company concerned?
Lisa Passey, 28, and her former partner Wayne Dale, 45, left Kian and another two-year-old child alone while the pair entertained a friend. Giving evidence at Worcester Crown Court, Ms Passey said it "was down to me and Wayne.. it's our fault". Both deny gross negligence manslaughter. More updates on this and other stories in Hereford and Worcester Breaking down at times while recounting what happened the day Kian died at the couple's home in Kyreside, Tenbury Wells, Ms Passey said: "I don't want any pity. I was stupid for not going upstairs." While Kian was in the bath, the court has heard, Ms Passey was in her garden with a friend drinking coffee and smoking. Mr Dale joined them to also smoke and then "burn" a CD for the friend. Kian was later discovered motionless in an overflowing bath by Mr Dale. His death was consistent with drowning, including what was believed to be soap bubbles in his lungs. It was suggested to the court that the two-year-old had turned the taps on while the pair were downstairs. Ms Passey was questioned about giving differing accounts of what happened to doctors, police and social services, including telling a doctor the children had been in a dry, empty bath. "I was all over the place," she told prosecution barrister, Jonas Hankin QC. "If you'd gone through it yourself, losing a child, you'd realise you're still trying to grieve," She told the court it was a regular occurrence for Mr Dale to leave Kian in the bath, but only "for a few minutes". The trial continues.
The mother of a 13-month-old boy who drowned in a bath has told jurors she was "stupid" to leave him unsupervised for 15 minutes.
The set of 15 bells at St Mary Magdalene Church in Taunton swing unpredictably because of their height. All but one will be recast and set lower down the tower so they are easier to ring - with the new bells expected to be in place by October. The 300 year-old carillon has broken so this will also be replaced. The Bells of St Mary's project was launched in June 2012 with the aim of raising £300,000. So far £223,000 has been raised by various appeals. Rosemary Tuhey from the project said: "It's going to deliver something we can all be proud of as a town. "It all started because we'd been unable to teach on the bells because they are so difficult. "We realised that we were all getting on a bit and if we didn't do something soon there would be no bells ringing from that church at all." The bells will be be coming down in April after preparatory work is carried out. She added: "There's quite a lot of work to do getting off their wheels and their clappers, and getting the room ready and lowering the tower for them to go into and taking out all the old bits of carillon electrical work. "Once the bells come down, we're going to put up a webcam so that people in the town can see what's going on." The bell that is not being recast is the lightest, known as the treble bell. This is a memorial to four St Mary's ringers killed in World War One and will be put on display in the church. Bell ringer Mike Hansford said: "We certainly won't miss these bells because they are very untuneful, they're very difficult to ring. "Hopefully by the time we have re-hung them they will be a joy to ring." The bells were rung for a final time at 15:30 GMT.
A set of church bells that are difficult to ring because they were set too high up are to peal for the final time before they are replaced.
Her 1989 album has debuted at No 1 on America's Billboard 200 albums chart. It sold 1.287 million copies in its first week. According to Billboard that is the largest sales week for an album since Eminem's The Eminem Show was released 12 years ago. But that's not the only reason for Swift to celebrate. She's now the only act to earn three million-selling weeks with an album. Before 1989, Red sold 1.208 million in it's first week, while Speak Now clocked up 1.047 million sales. It also means 1989 has jumped ahead of Coldplay's Ghost Stories as the biggest-selling album released in 2014. In fact Swift's album sold more than the next 106 titles on this week's chart combined. 1989 is just the 19th album to sell a million copies in a week since SoundScan, a sales-tracking system, began counting weekly numbers back in 1991. Of the last four million-selling weeks, three belong to Swift. Sales of 1989 were split almost evenly between physical copies and digital downloads. The physical release, including a CD version with extra tracks sold only at Target, sold 647,000 copies, while 640,000 copies of the digital version were downloaded. Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube
Removing her entire back catalogue from music-streaming service Spotify doesn't seem to have dented Taylor Swift's massive popularity.
The 21-year-old recipient, whose identify is being protected, lost his penis in a botched circumcision. Doctors in Cape Town said the operation was a success and the patient was happy and healthy. The team said there was extensive discussion about whether the operation, which is not life-saving in the same way as a heart transplant, was ethical. There have been attempts before, including one in China. Accounts suggested the operation went fine, but the penis was later rejected. The man was 18 and already sexually active when he had the circumcision. The procedure is part of the transition from boyhood to adulthood in parts of South Africa. The boy was left with just 1cm of his original penis. Doctors say South Africa has some of the greatest need for penis transplants anywhere in the world. Dozens, although some say hundreds, of boys are maimed or die each year during traditional initiation ceremonies. Surgeons at Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital performed a nine-hour operation to attach a donated penis. One of the surgeons, Andre Van der Merwe, who normally performs kidney transplants, told the BBC News website: "This is definitely much more difficult, the blood vessels are 1.5 mm wide. In the kidney it can be 1 cm." The team used some of the techniques that had been developed to perform the first face transplants in order to connect the tiny blood vessels and nerves. The operation took place on 11 December last year. Three months later doctors say the recovery has been rapid. Full sensation has not returned and doctors suggest this could take two years. However, the man is able to pass urine, have an erection, orgasm and ejaculate. The procedure required a lot of preparation. The team needed to be sure the patient was aware of the risks of a life-time of immunosuppressant drugs. Also some patients cannot cope with a transplant if they fail to recognise it as part of their body. "Psychologically, we knew it would have a massive effect on the ego," said Dr Van der Merwe. It took "a hell of a lot of time" to get ethical approval, he added. One of the concerns is a heart transplant balances the risk of the operation against a certain death, but a penis transplant would not extend life span. Dr Van der Merwe told the BBC: "You may say it doesn't save their life, but many of these young men when they have penile amputations are ostracised, stigmatised and take their own life. "If you don't have a penis you are essentially dead, if you give a penis back you can bring them back to life." Further attempts on other patients are expected to take place in three months time.
The world's first successful penis transplant has been reported by a surgical team in South Africa.
The aim to cut debt has now been set to between $16.5bn and $17.5bn (£12.5bn-£13.5bn) by the end of this year. The attempt to further improve the company's balance sheet comes as it reported a 66% drop in first-half profit to $300m. Glencore's half-year results showed it had been affected by turbulent commodity prices. In March the aim was to cut debt to between $17bn and $18bn. Despite the fall in profits, the company said asset sales left it on track to cut debt. "We have already largely achieved our asset disposals target of $4bn to $5bn with a diverse and material pool of asset sales' processes also ongoing," said chief executive Ivan Glasenberg. On Wednesday, the company also announced the planned sale of all future output of gold and a 30% stake in its Ernest Henry copper mine in Australia to Evolution Mining for A$880m ($670m) to help pay down debt. Edward Sterck, metals and mining research analyst at BMO Capital Markets, said: "The underlying results are broadly in line with our forecast, the further asset sales are a positive here." Glencore, along with the rest of the mining industry, has had a tough few years. In September last year, Glencore's shares dived after a note from analysts at Investec said its equity value could be "eliminated", although Glencore responded that it was "operationally and financially robust". When Glencore listed on the London market in 2011, it priced its shares at 530p. However, since then, its share price has struggled. Following the Investec note and plummeting commodity prices, the company put a recovery plan in place. It scrapped paying shareholders a dividend, began selling assets and slashed spending. Investors will be hoping for the reinstatement of the regular dividend payment after chief financial officer Steve Kalmin said it was "likely" the company would return to a full-year dividend. Glencore paid an interim dividend of six cents a share last August.
Mining company Glencore has set a new target to cut net debt as it tries to rebuild its financial position.
The 28-year-old was sent off by referee Jack Smith in the 26th minute of the Super League club's Challenge Cup fifth-round win on 23 April. Carney pleaded guilty to an abuse charge but contested its severity. He served the first game of his ban in the win over Widnes on Sunday, meaning he will miss a further seven games. Carney had been handed a Grade F charge, the most severe category of offence, and an eight-game suspension was the minimum punishment. Salford confirmed in a statement that Carney had pleaded guilty to a charge of misconduct for having given "verbal abuse to an opposition player based on race/colour". However, Salford said that he "did not intend his words to be taken in a 'racial' context". "Justin is an indigenous Australian and is proud of his Aboriginal heritage. He stands firm on the position that he is not nor has he ever been a racist," added the statement. Carney, who has also been given a £300 fine, is still subject to an internal investigation by his club. Meanwhile, Hull FC back-rower Sika Manu has been banned for two games after pleading guilty to a Grade C dangerous contact charge relating to a challenge on Ryan Atkins during the Black and Whites' 34-10 win over Warrington. Catalans half-back Luke Walsh has been suspended for one match after being found guilty of a Grade A charge of using foul language to a match official, while Wigan hooker Michael McIlorum pleaded guilty to a Grade B charge of standing on a player in the defeat by Castleford and was banned for one game.
Salford Red Devils winger Justin Carney has been given an eight-match ban after being found guilty of racially abusing Toronto Wolfpack player Ryan Bailey.
Carwyn Jones hosted a summit on resettling refugees and how to respond to the current crisis. "Traumatised" people would require counselling, while their health needs and the skills they were bringing would also be considered, he said. Mr Jones said a "task force" of relevant agencies would deal with the key issues so Wales is prepared. He said the taskforce would "ensure that when we know the numbers and the needs of the people that come we're ready to receive them". The Welsh government, local councils, the Red Cross and Welsh Refugee Council were among those who took in the summit. On Tuesday, First Minister Carwyn Jones told AMs that "in principle" he backed a quota system to decide how many refugees each UK nation should take. Councils have pledged to "play their part" but asked for help with costs. David Cameron has said the UK will take up to 20,000 refugees over the next five years. A Welsh government spokeswoman said the summit was "bringing together key agencies and service providers to develop a co-ordinated Wales-wide response to the crisis". One Syrian refugee, who met Welsh government ministers at the Senedd on Wednesday, said nobody was leaving the country for money and they only wanted a "safe life". Mansour Abo-Halawa, 25, owned a small farm and was studying at university when the war put a halt to his education. He told BBC Radio Wales what people see in the media is a small snapshot of a situation he describes as "so bad". "Everyone wants to have a safe life. Nobody wants to die", he said, adding: "They don't come for money, they want a nice life." Mr Abo-Halawa described his home country as "beautiful" and said, given a choice, most refugees would choose to stay if it was possible. Home Secretary Theresa May has announced that the first Syrian refugees to be taken in under the UK government's expanded resettlement scheme will arrive in Britain "in the coming days". Welsh Refugee Council estimates Wales could give sanctuary to about 1,600 Syrians. Mr Jones has previously said Wales could accept 500-600 refugees. Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood welcomed the summit, saying her party was "ready to make a full contribution to ensuring that Wales takes a fair share of refugees". "We will also continue to help maintain the cross-party consensus that refugees are welcome here," she added.
Wales is "preparing the ground" so it is ready to receive refugees when they arrive, the first minister has said.
However, both the German president of the European Parliament and the German EU commissioner have been sharply critical of Poland's new government. The German ambassador has been summoned to the Polish foreign ministry. The conservative and staunchly Catholic Law and Justice party won elections in October with a majority. It became the first party to be able to govern alone since democracy was restored to Poland in 1989. A newly enacted media law gives control of Polish public radio and TV to a national media council close to the government. Thousands of Poles joined a demonstration on Saturday in Warsaw to protest against the law. PiS has also sought to strengthen government control over the constitutional court and the civil service. European Parliament President Martin Schulz, a German centre-left politician, accused PiS of putting the interests of party before country. It was a "dangerous Putinisation of European politics," he told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German), referring to Russia's authoritarian president. Earlier this month, EU Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said there were grounds for activating a new EU mechanism for states deemed to have breached the rule of law. However, in a recent interview with the right-wing Catholic broadcaster Trwam, Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz said Poland would not be lectured by Germany "on democracy and freedom". He accused Germany and other countries of meddling with Poland's sovereignty. Poland enjoyed eight years of excellent relations with Germany under the previous centre-right Civic Platform led government, says the BBC's Adam Easton, in Warsaw. The new Law and Justice government is much more sceptical of Germany's intentions and frequently makes allusions to Poland's losses during the World War Two, our correspondent says.
The Polish foreign ministry has criticised German politicians for what it calls "anti-Polish" comments but has given no details of which ones.
Hooker Tom Holmes returns for Tigers, who secured a top-eight place by beating Catalans in their last game. Warrington half-back Kurt Gidley returns in the only change to their squad from the win over Salford. Wolves, who have won four of their last five games at home, have already guaranteed a top-four finish when the Super 8s begin. Castleford (from): Chase, Cook, Crooks, Dorn, Gale, Hampshire, O Holmes, T Holmes, Maher, Mariano, McShane, Millington, Milner, Minikin, Moors, Patrick, Solomona, Springer, Tickle. Warrington (from): Atkins, Bailey, Clark, Currie, Dwyer, Evans, Gidley, Hill, Hughes, G King, T King, Lineham,, Penny, Ratchford, Russell, Sandow, Sims, Westerman, Westwood. Referee: Chris Kendall.
Nathan Massey requires surgery to fix a long-term scaphoid problem and is unavailable for Castleford.
"The most scared I've ever been," says Scotland's open-side flanker. The setting is a building in Queenstown on New Zealand's south island - a holiday resort about an hour and a half from Dipton, the farming country where Hardie was born and reared. Legend has it that there was a fire in Lockhart's place in the late 1800s. Three generations of the family perished. Only a girl called Mary survived - and she haunts the place to this day. Many Kiwis have gone there over the years and many talk of the sense of foreboding that exists behind that main door. Hardie's now one of them. Chilled to the bone, he says. "Never going back. Never ever." The fact that Lockhart's gaff is part of a theme park called Fear Factory - New Zealand's equivalent of the Edinburgh Dungeons - is neither here nor there to Hardie. When you ask him what's the most tense he has ever been in his life, you don't hear tales of his early years playing for the Southland Stags in Invercargill, or the time he came face-to-face with some assassin in Super Rugby. He mentions the Fear Factory instead. "I went with my girlfriend about a year ago," he said. "It's pitch dark and you have to follow this red light around these alleyways. "You don't know where you're going then these creatures start jumping out at you. Terrifying. Once was enough. "I don't normally go in for that kind of stuff, but I did a bungee jump once and I'm not doing that again either. Give me a hard game of rugby instead." Afraid of the dark? It doesn't tally with Hardie's tough persona. Hardie, 27, is a strange animal - a Scotland international who has never played an international in Scotland, his five caps being won in Turin, Paris, Gloucester, Newcastle and at Twickenham in that epic World Cup quarter-final against Australia. A measure of his success since his sudden elevation to the Scotland squad in the summer has been the silencing of the debate surrounding his arrival. One minute, he was a Highlander who wanted to be an All Black and the next a Scot - with a granny from Fife - in the World Cup team. His ascent jarred, but the quality of his game has overtaken everything. He was terrific at the World Cup, his dynamism and cleverness at the breakdown helping to protect and unleash the rapiers in his backline. "It's one of the best things I've done in my life," he says of his move from what he calls the "comfort zone" of Highlanders rugby. "Having won a cap, I owed it to Scotland to stay here and playing for Edinburgh has been a really good decision. "I got into too much of a routine in New Zealand and it was good to get out of it. I needed something different in my career - a change in scenery, new players, new coaches. "I love the Highlanders, but it was time to try something else. But it was nerve-racking coming here. It was like going back to school again. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect." He talks about that day against the Wallabies, but only briefly. "We had to suck it up." That's it?" No torment, no ghosts? "Nah. We have to learn the lessons, that's all. Nothing else we can do." Nobody should mistake the emotionless matter-of-fact response to a heartbreaking loss as indifference. It's just the Kiwi in him. What's done is done. You move forwards, you don't look backwards. What about Scotland's habit of losing big games at the death, though? There was that Australia match and the Italy game in the Six Nations just before. There was the France game in the 2014 Six Nations, lost to a penalty two minutes from the end despite France losing eight line-outs and losing the possession and territory battle by a wide margin. Scottish sides, routinely, come up with novel ways of shooting themselves in the foot. Most recently, Glasgow Warriors lost a Champions Cup match to Northampton in the closing minutes, a defeat that put paid to their European hopes, and Hardie's Edinburgh team collapsed close to the finishing line against Grenoble last weekend, a late capitulation which led to them exiting the European Champions Cup. You keep hitting him with this stuff and it doesn't put a dent on him. Zero points scored in the second half against France in the 2015 Six Nations. Another zero in the second half against England and yet another zero against Ireland. Only three points scored in the second half against Italy despite having 61% possession and spending 62% of the second period in the opposition half. He says he doesn't know much about what happened before he arrived on these shores. "As a kid, I used to watch the Six Nations, but not live," he said. "I'd watch it in the morning. I've always known that it was a fantastic thing. But that stuff about what happened in previous seasons doesn't bother me. "I mean, we were points down against Samoa in the World Cup and we won it late on and that was as big a game as any. "I don't think there's a mental barrier. I'm new to it all, but I can't sense anything like that. "I don't see any fear, there's no blockage. We scored lots of tries at the World Cup. Lots of line-breaks. I think there's a lot of improvement." His knowledge of the Calcutta Cup is from across the other side of the world. He's never played in it, watched it in the flesh, or even watched it live on television. There's a hurricane coming his way on 6 February and he knows it. "The boys have told me about it, but I know that Scotland v England is massive, it's one of the great fixtures," he said. "I'm not a great watcher of other teams, but there's a lot of change going on with England. New coach, lots of new players, lots of excitement. They've got a fresh start and they'll be fizzing. "This is why you play rugby, for the pressure, for games like this, for tournaments like the Six Nations. "Everything is in our own hands. Whatever happened before, happened. I see a hungry bunch of boys with all the talent you need to do well and a set of coaches who are working night and day to try to make it happen." In the midst of all this, there is the unflappable son of Dipton. "It's about the length of the three rugby pitches. There's about 30 houses, a dairy, a wool shop and a garage. Population of a couple of hundred." And, on 6 February, he says, they will all become honorary Scots. As long as nobody switches the lights out, their boy, you'd wager, will have a big say in what happens.
He doesn't know what possessed him to visit the old Lockhart Hotel that day, but it was an experience John Hardie is never likely to forget.
Emergency services were called to Small Heath Highway at 23:25 BST on Friday after a Porsche Cayenne crashed into a lamppost and rolled over. West Midlands Police said two men in their 20s had died - one after being taken to hospital. A further two men who were in the car are being treated in hospital for minor injuries. The ambulance service said the two men had been ejected from their car when it rolled on to the opposite side of the carriageway. It said one man was confirmed dead at the scene, while a second was taken to hospital with "extremely serious" injuries. West Midlands Police said he had later died. The ambulance service said: "The men had been ejected when the car they were travelling in rolled and came to rest the right way up, on the opposite side of the carriageway. "The car had collided with the central reservation and a lamppost in the incident. "Bystanders were already carrying out CPR on one of the men prior to our arrival. It quickly became apparent nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed dead at the scene." They said the second man was in cardiac arrest and had a "significant head injury" before he was transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. The service said two other men, in their 20s, had suffered minor injuries and were taken to Heartlands Hospital. The road was closed in both directions for several hours while an investigation at the scene was held. Sgt Paul Hughes, from West Midlands Police, said: "Although this tragic collision happened late in the evening, we know there would have been other vehicles on the road at the time." He called on any witnesses to contact him.
Two men have died after being thrown from their car when it rolled over on a dual carriageway in Birmingham.
The Blues, who sat deep to contain the league leaders, were gifted Demba Ba's opener by Steven Gerrard's slip before Willian sealed the win in injury time. "They parked two buses, rather than one," Rodgers said. "From the first minute they had 10 men behind the ball. We are a team that tried to win the game, in a sporting manner "We were the team trying to win but we just couldn't make the breakthrough." Liverpool's defeat ended their 11-game winning run and means their bid to win their first league title for 24 years is no longer in their own hands. Instead, if Manchester City win their remaining three matches, they are likely to win the title because of their superior goal difference. As for Chelsea, they lie second, two points adrift of Liverpool, but apparently no chance of winning the title, according to Mourinho. "We are not in it," he said. "The champions will be Liverpool or City. We have nothing to celebrate." Liverpool are the highest-scoring team in the top flight and have often used a fast start to over-run teams at Anfield, where they had previously dropped only five points out of 50 this season. Full Premier League table But they could find no way past Chelsea, who have now beaten the Reds and Manchester City home and away this season. Rodgers, whose side still top the table by two points, was unimpressed by the defensive tactics employed by his old mentor and disagreed with Mourinho's claim that Chelsea were the better team. "When you win the game, of course you will say that," Rodgers added. "But we were the better team with the ball. We just could not unlock them. "It was difficult because they virtually played right from the off with a back six. They had a back four, with two wingers back and then the midfield three in front of them. "Just putting 10 players right on your 18-yard box is not difficult to coach, but it is obviously much harder to try and break through it." Rodgers, who worked as a youth and reserve-team coach under Mourinho during the Portuguese's first spell at Stamford Bridge, says he would never use such a negative approach himself. He added: "Jose is happy to work that way and he will probably shove his CV in front of me and say it works, but it is not my way of working. "I like to take the initiative in games, to try to dominate them and let my players express themselves. "Chelsea have been wonderful and it could not have gone any better for them. Liverpool just have not been able to get through Chelsea at all - they were wonderfully disciplined, very organised, very good defensively." "If a defensive style gets results, great. Jose has got his result here and he will be happy with that. "But it is the polar opposite to how we work and hopefully over time our offensive mentality and aggression will get us long-term results." Rodgers was also unhappy with Chelsea's time-wasting tactics that saw them dawdle over set-pieces and dead-balls, starting in the first minute when Mark Schwarzer stalled with a free-kick after Raheem Sterling fouled Ashley Cole inside the Chelsea area. "I think everyone could see that from the first whistle it was clearly the plan to frustrate us," said Rodgers. "We are a team that tried to win the game, in a sporting manner. We tried to initiate play with the ball but it was just not to be."
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers accused Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho of "parking two buses" to get his side's 2-0 win at Anfield.
On Sunday 1,800 flights were cancelled and on Monday hundreds more were cancelled or delayed, according to FlightAware, which tracks flights. In the Detroit suburbs two men - aged 55 and 70 - died shortly after using snow-blowing machines to clear snow. Officials say another arctic air blast could hit the northern US this week. Winter storm watch warnings were issued on Monday for parts of the Great Lakes and the Northeast regions as driving snow and freezing rain continue to fall in places. "After the first true cold shot of the year this past week, much of the northern Plains can expect a more formidable shot of arctic air again this upcoming week," AccuWeather meteorologist Max Vido said on the weather forecaster's website. This snowstorm, which began in the Midwest, moved to the Northeast and Middle Atlantic states early on Monday morning, creating commuting chaos for millions of Americans. On Monday, snow fell across the New England states of New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont as temperatures plunged well below normal. In New York City, a "wintry mix" of snow and ice fell early on Monday morning. More than 10 inches (25 cm) of snow fell on the northern parts of Michigan and Illinois. Hundred of schools were closed in Michigan on Monday, as the state digs itself out. "For the rest of the day the best advice is just to stay off the road if you can, and otherwise go slow and give yourself more time to reach your destination," National Weather Service meteorologist Mark Steinwedel said. "If you don't have to drive or go somewhere, stay home," he cautioned. National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Schmidt called the snowfall a "slap of reality" after a relatively mild November in the region. Thousands of travelled found themselves stranded in the Midwest on Sunday, and especially in Chicago where most flight cancellations occurred after six inches (15 cm) fell there overnight. In Detroit a plane slid off the runway, causing officials to close the tarmac.
A snowstorm that left two dead and thousands stranded in airports across the US has wreaked travel chaos across the US Midwest and Northeast on Monday.
Pro-democracy protests erupted into a major street campaign on Sunday. Protesters want Beijing to scrap rules allowing it to vet candidates for Hong Kong's top job in the 2017 polls. Most Chinese language papers in the mainland have criticised the protest, calling it an "illegal assembly". The papers, however, have refrained from publishing photographs or giving details. Describing the gathering as "unlawful" and "unauthorised", a report in the English edition of the China Daily mentions that the police fired tear gas on protestors. The paper's editorial calls the protest an "opportunistic adventure", and blames the Occupy Central group for using the students to threaten Hong Kong's "economic well-being and social stability". "Realising their failure to summon residents' support for their cause, the 'Occupy' organisers are trying to take advantage of the students' idealism and enthusiasm for promoting democratic advancement in the city," says the daily. The paper adds that the protesters have a "political agenda". "By knowingly putting young students in jeopardy, 'Occupy' organisers demonstrate a desperate attempt to advance their political agenda, even at the expense of the safety of innocent people… the political extremists in the city have completely exposed the opportunistic nature of their endeavours," it points out. The English edition of the Global Times reports that the police have shown "restraint in handling demonstrators". The editorial criticises the "street movement", adding that it is ruining Hong Kong's image. "As Chinese mainlanders, we feel sorrow over the chaos in Hong Kong on Sunday. Radical opposition forces in Hong Kong should be blamed," says the paper. It goes on to criticise some US media outlets for "linking the Occupy Central movement with the Tiananmen Incident in 1989". "By hyping such a groundless comparison, they attempt to mislead and stir up Hong Kong's society. China is no longer the same nation it was 25 years ago. We have accumulated experience and drawn lessons from others, which help strengthen our judgment when faced with social disorder," it says. The paper also asks the Hong Kong government to "take actions to resume order in response to the damage the radical forces caused to society". "The central government must firmly support the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in taking resolute action against radical activities, including drawing the red line of Hong Kong's rule of law. It must be made clear that there is no uncertainty over political reform in Hong Kong," it warns. An article by Wang Qiang, a professor at the College of Armed Police, on Sohu news portal suggests "the armed police" can be mobilised to handle the situation if the law enforcers in Hong Kong "do not have the ability to do so". In contrast to the limited reporting in China's press, media outlets in Hong Kong are giving prominent coverage to the protests. Pro-Beijing media outlets have urged the students to end their protest, while independent outlets are scathing in their criticism of the government. Pro-Beijing Sing Tao Daily blames the Occupy Central activists for pushing Hong Kong to dangerous ground. "The conflict is not only affecting the financial district area, but all regions and industries are affected. These activists should bear the responsibility," warns the paper. In an emotionally-charged editorial, the popular pro-democracy Apple Daily tells the "heartless", "tyrannical", "unreasonable" regime to "get lost" after police fired tear gas and pepper spray on the protesters. "What mistakes have the people committed? They were only speaking up for the students and protecting them as they could not bear to see the authorities bullying them," it says. "People have lost hope in this government that has been elected by a small group of people. We know that the determination of the people and students to fight for democracy will never be weakened," it says. The Ming Pao daily, known as an intellectual paper in Hong Kong, subtly criticises the protesters for "not realising their promise" of a "non-violent protest" based on the "ideal of love and peace", while noting that the police should have refrained from using tear gas on the protesters. "Up to this stage, perhaps the authorities should consider what is best for Hong Kong. For example, having a temporary freeze on the political reform discussions and wait until the second round of consultation," suggests the editorial. And finally, an article in the South China Morning Post shines some optimism. "But perhaps there is an even simpler reason for optimism: this generation of students who have, again and again, showed their willingness to stand up and speak truth to power. If they are indeed the leaders of tomorrow's Hong Kong, we can still hope for change," says the article. 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Mainland papers condemn the protests in Hong Kong, blaming "radical opposition forces" for stirring up trouble.
Middlesex ended day three on 156-6 in their second innings, ahead by only 27. Stephen Parry (3-40) boosted the home side's hopes of victory. Lancashire's bowlers took momentum from a ninth-wicket stand of 87 between Ryan McLaren (75) and Tom Bailey (58) which pushed Lancashire's first-innings total to 309 all out - a lead of 129 runs. After day two had been washed out, the game had looked finely poised on the third morning when Tim Murtagh (6-63) made further inroads into Lancashire's batting line-up to leave the home side on 136-6. But McLaren and Bailey, who hit six fours and two sixes in a career-best batting display, came together to forge a handy advantage. Opener Nick Gubbins fell cheaply at the start of Middlesex's second innings, but Sam Robson (42) and Stevie Eskinazi (34) were going well until a collapse of five wickets for 46 runs tilted the match in Lancashire's favour. Much will depend on Dawid Malan (45 not out) and James Harris (15 not out) if Middlesex are to avoid a first Championship defeat since losing at Worcestershire by an innings in September 2015.
County champions Middlesex are on the verge of a first Championship loss for 21 months in their Division One game against Lancashire at Southport.
Resplendent in curlers and headscarf, she was the put-upon housewife with a piercing voice who was always short of luck and money. She played the role for more than two decades and it came to define her career. But she was already an accomplished actress long before she came into the Street She was born Jean Alexander Hodgkinson on 24 Feb 1926 in the Toxteth area of Liverpool and, after leaving school, found a job as a library assistant. It was a mundane life and she was in danger of turning into the type of person that epitomised her most famous character. She had a love of Shakespeare, fostered by sitting in the gods in Liverpool theatres in her youth, and it provided her escape. She made her stage debut in Macclesfield in 1949, the start of 12 grinding years in rep, performing in a different play each week as she toured the theatres of the North of England. She became a stage all-rounder, including taking jobs as a stage manager and a wardrobe mistress. She made her TV debut in Z Cars, the BBC's gritty police drama set in a fictitious new town near Liverpool. In 1960, Granada Television launched Coronation Street, which within six months had become Britain's most-watched TV programme. Alexander joined the cast in 1962 with a brief appearance as a landlady who rents a room to a disturbed young woman, Joan Akers, who kidnaps a baby to replace her own dead child. Eighteen months later Alexander was back, this time as Hilda Ogden As the perpetual underdog, whose best-laid plans always ended in disappointment or humiliation, she was at the centre of many of the show's comic moments. But she was also involved in some of the soap's most poignant scenes. The day she sobbed as she opened her husband Stan's glasses case after he died in 1984 proved that soaps do not need over-the-top explosions or fights to grip the nation. Producer Bill Podmore once described Stan and Hilda as a great TV comedy double act to rival Morecambe and Wise. "Universities wanted to make her their rector," he said. "A Welsh rugby team hailed her as their mascot. "Even the Falklands fleet urgently called for a picture of their pin-up, complete with curlers, to inspire the troops for battle." In 1982, Hilda came fourth behind the Queen, Queen Mother and Princess Diana in a poll of the most recognisable women in Britain. Distinctive look Three years later, she won the best performance prize at the Royal Television Society Awards. Three years after that, she became the first soap opera performer to be nominated for a Bafta award. Sir Laurence Olivier was a fan. He once requested a cameo appearance as a tramp who would be encountered by Hilda - but a scheduling conflict meant he could not play the part. However, a signed photograph from the acting legend took pride of place in her home in Southport, Merseyside. HILDA OGDEN'S GREATEST SCENES The muriel In 1976, a proud Hilda acquired her "muriel" - the wallpaper with a mural of a mountain range to which she pinned her famous flying ducks. Woman, Stanley Hilda won a night in a luxury hotel for a second honeymoon in 1977. After kissing Hilda, Stan asked what her lipstick tasted of. The reply came: "Woman, Stanley. Woman." Stan's death After actor Bernard Youens died in 1984, his character Stan was written out. Hilda was seen silently unwrapping a parcel of his belongings and breaking down when she opened his glasses case. Hilda's departure Hilda decided it was time to move in 1987, and half the nation tuned in to watch as her neighbours finally showed some affection for her by throwing a surprise party in the Rovers Return. The character's distinctive look was inspired by real-life Hilda Ogdens in Liverpool during World War II. Women working in munitions factories would tie up their hair to keep it out of the machinery and put it in curlers so they were ready in case they happened to be invited out in the evening. "And that was Hilda too," Alexander explained. "She always had her hair tied up ready - in case. All she had to do was whip the curlers out and give it a flick up with the comb. "She never did go anywhere that was worth going to - but that's where I got the idea from." After Stan's death, Hilda carried on for a few more years before moving away to become a doctor's housekeeper in Derbyshire; finally getting the respectability she craved. When she said farewell to the cobbles with a rendition of Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye in the Rovers Return pub on Christmas Day 1987, 26.6 million people tuned in. Alexander did take other roles after leaving Hilda behind - notably as Auntie Wainwright in Last of the Summer Wine. The wizened junk-shop owner she played for 22 years was the "absolute favourite part" of her television career, she once said. She also played Christine Keeler's mother in the 1989 film Scandal and appeared in the TV shows Boon, Woof!, Rich Tea and Sympathy, Cluedo and Barbara. But she will forever be remembered for playing Hilda Ogden, the busybody with the curlers. In 2005, 18 years after she left the show, there was still enough affection to put Hilda at the top of a TV Times poll to find the nation's favourite soap character. "I don't know why she was so popular," Alexander told the BBC in 2010. "I think probably because she was a downtrodden, poor little soul. I think people were sorry for Hilda. "She went plodding away, doing her best all the time, always aspiring to better things."
Jean Alexander became famous for playing Hilda Ogden, one of the best-loved soap characters in British TV history.
Juhel Miah was escorted off a plane bound for New York from Iceland while travelling with pupils from Llangatwg Community School in Aberdulais, Neath. He claims a letter from the US Embassy denies he was stopped from entering or that he had applied for a visa. Mr Miah, who has footage of him being removed, said he was "gobsmacked". First Minister Carwyn Jones wrote to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson for "urgent clarification" in the case and Neath Port Talbot council wrote to the US Embassy to "express its dismay" at his treatment. But Mr Miah, 25, said he was shocked to receive a letter denying what happened in February when he has a video showing him being taken off the plane by security staff. He said he still has his flight boarding pass and the relevant Esta documents allowing him entry to the US until January 2019, which prove he tried to travel there and had the correct paperwork. "Unfortunately, when I read this I thought it was a joke at first," he told BBC Radio Wales' Sunday Supplement programme. "This is the people I am dealing with and as to answers - I'm nowhere near." Mr Miah, whose family's ethnic background is Bangladeshi, is British, with a British passport and does not have dual nationality. US President Donald Trump had signed an executive order halting all refugee admissions and temporarily barring people from seven Muslim-majority countries, sparking numerous protests and legal challenges. It was suspended by a judge but now President Trump has since proposed a revised order. Mr Miah has vowed to continue to fight for answers but said it did make him worry about travelling in future. "It was brought to my attention by my dad's friend, he said to me 'your passport is likely to be flagged' so now I'm dreading going anywhere in the world because I don't want to be treated differently to anyone else," said the maths teacher. "The last thing I want is to be denied entry into a different country." Mr Miah praised the support from his school and the community and said he been contacted by lots of people who had been treated the same way. "The support has been second to none, I can't fault it, and it's made things so much easier," he said. "However, right now my focus is to get an answer. I want this, not just for me, but for other people like me. "What I want is for this story to make difference and for something to actually happen, because nothing has." The US Embassy said it could not comment on individual cases. Neath Port Talbot council said it was appalled by Mr Miah's treatment and said it was awaiting an explanation.
A Muslim teacher denied entry into the United States on a school trip has said he is now fearful of travelling in case the same thing happens again.
The centre had taken in indigenous minority Montagnard people from the central highlands of neighbouring Vietnam. They are mostly evangelical Christians who claim they have been persecuted because of their beliefs. Human rights organisations have urged Cambodia to stand by its commitment to the UN convention on refugees. There have been mixed messages from the Cambodian government; it had said asylum-seekers from Vietnam would be turned back at the border. Later it stated that it would use immigration and refugee laws to assess people claiming refugee status. Human Rights Watch says it is concerned that future asylum-seekers may not be treated "according to international standards". But the Jesuit Refugee Service says it is glad the facility is closing as it has been "the equivalent of a detention centre". Only 20 people are still at the centre. Ten of them will be resettled in a third country - but the remainder failed to get refugee status and will be deported to Vietnam this week.
A UN refugee centre in Cambodia is closing after the government ordered it to stop operating.
The revolutionary technology will allow wind power to be harvested in waters too deep for the current conventional bottom-standing turbines used. The Peterhead wind farm, known as Hywind, is a trial which will bring power to 20,000 homes. Manufacturer Statoil says output from the turbines is expected to equal or surpass generation from current ones. It hopes to cash in on a boom in the technology, especially in Japan and the West coast of the US, where waters are deep. "This is a tech development project to ensure it's working in open sea conditions. It's a game-changer for floating wind power and we are sure it will help bring costs down," said Leif Delp, project director for Hywind. So far, one giant turbine has already been moved into place, while four more wait in readiness in a Norwegian fjord. By the end of the month they'll all have been towed to 15 miles off Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, where they'll float upright like giant fishing floats. While the turbines are currently very expensive to make, Statoil believes that in the future it will be able to dramatically reduce costs in the same way that manufacturers already have for conventional offshore turbines. "I think eventually we will see floating wind farms compete without subsidy - but to do that we need to get building at scale," said Mr Delp. The operation to begin shifting the first of the 11,500 tonne giants happened dramatically in the half-light of a Norwegian summer night. Crews secured thick cables to tug boats and used remote-controlled submarines to check for obstacles. Finally the giant was on the move, floating on a sealed vase-like tube 78 metres deep, its bottom filled with iron ore to weight the base and keep it upright in the water. The price of energy from bottom-standing offshore wind farms has plummeted 32% since 2012 - far faster that anyone predicted. The price is now four years ahead of the government's expected target, and another big price drop is expected, taking offshore wind to a much lower price than new nuclear power. The Hywind project is being run in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi firm Masdar. The £190m cost was subsidised by bill-payers under the UK government's Renewable Obligation Certificates. The bird charity RSPB Scotland opposed the project - not because it dislikes the technology but because it believes too many offshore turbines in the area have already been approved. It fears thousands of sea birds may be killed by the offshore wind farms, although it admits that estimates are hugely uncertain because it is impossible to count bird corpses at sea. The RSPB's Aidan Smith told BBC News: "Generally we are very enthusiastic about floating wind technology because it allows turbines to be placed far offshore - away from seabird nesting sites, and it helps us tackle climate change. "We oppose the Hywind project because it adds to a situation we already believe is a problem." Floating turbines may create a new frontier for energy - but scientists on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warn far more investment in additional new technologies is urgently needed for governments to keep promises on reducing emissions. Follow Roger on twitter @rharrabin
The world's first full-scale floating wind farm has started to take shape off the north-east coast of Scotland.
The activists, including supporters of the Occupy Central movement, are protesting against China's involvement in how Hong Kong's new chief executive will be elected in 2017. Thousands of protesters took to the streets over the weekend. Martin Lee, an activist and former legislator, is seen below wearing goggles and a face mask to protect himself against the use of pepper spray by the police. Some activists even wrapped their eye-ware in plastic wrap as an added precaution. Umbrellas were also used by protesters to shield them from pepper spray. The protective gear was supplied by volunteers who carried food and water to demonstration areas around the city. Police threw tear gas canisters into the crowd on Sunday evening in a bid to drive them back. The standoff between protesters and police brought parts of central Hong Kong to a standstill. But the tear gas and pepper spray did not deter the protesters... Police arrested dozens of people on Sunday, with more than 25 people hospitalised for injuries sustained in scuffles with police in riot gear. Thousands of protesters remained on the streets into the early hours of Monday, threatening disruption to public transport and school closures.
Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong donned goggles, masks and raincoats to brace for a showdown with police.
The national newspaper's editorial board, which has never taken sides in a presidential election, stopped short of endorsing Hillary Clinton but declared Mr Trump "unfit for the presidency". "This year, one of the candidates - Republican nominee Donald Trump - is, by unanimous consensus of the Editorial Board, unfit for the presidency," the board wrote. The newspaper outlined eight reasons to support its stance, describing Mr Trump as a "serial liar" who "traffics in prejudice" and has "coarsened the national dialogue". It also highlighted Mrs Clinton's flaws, advising readers to vote for a third-party candidate if they cannot support her. "Whatever you do, however, resist the siren song of a dangerous demagogue," it concluded. The newspaper is hardly the first publication to revise its editorial policy in this year's race. A string of conservative-leaning newspapers have railed against Mr Trump, including the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Arizona Republic, which backed Mrs Clinton in its first endorsement for a Democrat in 126 years. The publication subsequently received death threats. US debate: Five Twitter takeaways Key issues - where candidates stand How does the US election work? In an age saturated in social media and marked by an increasingly fragmented media landscape, the role of newspaper endorsements appears to be dwindling. In fact, almost seven in 10 Americans said their local newspaper's endorsement had no impact on who they cast their ballot for in 2008, according to a Pew Research Center study. But Keven Ann Willey, editorial page editor for the Dallas Morning News - which has endorsed Mrs Clinton - told the BBC it is because of the wealth of information online that it is more important than ever for institutions rooted in communities to stand up. "At a time when there are so many voices, we need to speak up and do our civic responsibility to not be over-shouted," she said. Who is ahead in the polls? 48% Hillary Clinton 46% Donald Trump Last updated September 30, 2016 The conservative Dallas Morning News recommended Mrs Clinton for president earlier this month, backing a Democrat for the first time since 1940. Though the editorial prompted backlash, Mrs Willey said the board felt it was the right thing to do. "We did consider a no-recommendation," she said, "but voters have to make a choice and encouraging voters not to participate didn't seem right to us". But recent research shows that newspapers like that Dallas Morning News, which have bucked their own history, are the type of unexpected endorsements that could make a difference. A recent study by economists Agustin Casas (CUNEF, Madrid), Yarine Fawaz (CEMFI, Madrid) and Andre Trindade (FGV, Rio de Janeiro) found that "surprising" endorsements can influence modern presidential elections. The team examined betting markets, specifically the "daily trading prices of the contract 'Obama to win the election', on the same days of newspaper endorsements during the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections. The study found that endorsements did improve a candidate's odds of winning, particularly if they were consistent with the newspaper's style and rhetoric, but still come as a surprise to the publication's endorsement history. Clinton gathers Republican endorsements Lay off a woman's size, Trump For example, the study points to the Chicago Tribune endorsing Mr Obama in 2008 and 2012. While the newspaper's editorial board is historically conservative, the tone of the paper tends to be more moderate. In backing Mr Obama, the publication remained consistent with its style and language, but made a surprise endorsement by declining to back its typical Republican choice. "In this election we're seeing many of these type of surprising endorsements," Mr Casas said. That may be because Mr Trump is not a typical Republican candidate, which means a conservative newspaper's refusal to endorse him does not necessarily contradict its rhetoric. "In some sense, the conservative newspapers are more free to endorse who they want without seeming inconsistent to what they are preaching," Mr Casas said. Mr Casas and his team expanded their research on a study published in 2011 that also reached a similar conclusion by looking at the newspaper endorsement effect on the 2000 and 2004 elections. Brian Knight, a political scientist at Brown University and a co-author of the study, said crossover endorsements had an overall effect of convincing 1-2% of readers to shift positions in those elections. Though newspaper circulation has fallen nearly 20% since 2004, Mr Knight said a lot of these unusual endorsements from conservative publications will probably have a big influence on the narrow slice of voters who have yet to make up their mind. In fact, in such a tight race, a rare endorsement in a swing state could shift the outcome, he added. For example, the Cincinnati Enquirer's support for Mrs Clinton could sway undecided voters in Ohio, a key US battleground state. Meanwhile, the Arizona Republic's editorial against Mr Trump may not matter as much in a red state that has not been won by a Democrat since Bill Clinton in 1996. Before that, Harry Truman was the last Democrat to win there in 1948. Paul Beck, a political science professor at Ohio State University who has followed elections for decades, told the BBC newspaper endorsements tend to matter the most to voters "at the margins". As the race tightens 40 days before the election, reaching those undecided voters "at the margins" may matter most. In fact, online research firm YouGov estimates about 8% of registered voters who plan to cast a ballot are still undecided. "There are so many undecided voters in this race fishing around for some kind of guidance for what to do," he said. These voters, he added, tend to be a mix of people who may not pay much attention to news but skim headlines, and others who are engaged but still uncertain of how they will vote. "That surprise factor, when a newspaper deviates from its traditional posture, that sends a power signal to readers," he said. "I think it is going to make a lot of people sit up and pay attention."
USA Today has broken with tradition for the first time in its 34-year history and issued a scathing editorial against Republican nominee Donald Trump.
Brilliant tries from Matias Moroni and Juan Imhoff saw the Pumas take a 17-0 lead over the under-strength Irish by the 13th minute. Luke Fitzgerald's terrific score helped cut the margin to 20-10 by the break. A Jordi Murphy touchdown reduced the gap to three points but late tries from Joaquin Tuculet and Imhoff sealed a deserved Argentina win. The victory sets up a semi-final for the Pumas against Australia at Twickenham next Sunday, with all the remaining teams in the competition from the southern hemisphere. Argentina might be traditionally known as a powerful side that puts their emphasis on their forward play, but they stunned Ireland by playing with pace and width from the first whistle. None exemplified this more than the lively Moroni, who skated around Dave Kearney to score Argentina's opener after three minutes. A bad start for Ireland turned into a disastrous one as wing Imhoff ran on to a perfectly judged crossfield kick from Santiago Cordero to touch down again on 10 minutes. After Imhoff's score, the impeccable Nicolas Sanchez struck his third successful kick to increase Argentina's advantage to 17-0 with less than 15 minutes played. Ireland went into Sunday's match without influential performers Paul O'Connell, Johnny Sexton, Peter O'Mahony, Sean O'Brien and Jared Payne - but despite so many key absences they showed huge character to battle their way back into the contest. Nothing seemed to be going right for the Irish and Tommy Bowe went off with an apparent knee injury. However, his replacement Fitzgerald gave the Six Nations champions hope as he produced a superb reply on 26 minutes, punishing a loose Cordero kick as he burst past Tuculet following good work by Conor Murray and Robbie Henshaw. Argentina led by 10 points at the break - but another Fitzgerald break set up flanker Murphy's score after half-time as Ireland cut the margin to 23-20. With Rory Best becoming increasingly influential in the breakdown exchanges, Ireland at one point looked to have enough momentum - as well as vociferous support from the Irish fans inside the stadium - to go all the way into the last four. However, the Irish could not capitalise on two good chances in the third quarter - the first as intense pressure after 48 minutes failed to yield any points before Ian Madigan missed a long-range penalty chance which would have levelled the contest on 60 minutes. The effort expended in attempting to recover from their awful start took its toll on the Irish in the closing stages as Tuculet's 68th-minute score ended the game as a contest before Imhoff's second touchdown. As the devastated Irish left the field at the final whistle, there were huge and emotional celebrations from Pumas, who can look forward to their second World Cup semi-final after reaching the same stage in 2007. Two-try hero Imhoff, Cordero, old stager Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and, in fairness, several other Pumas could have been contenders for the man of the match award, but Sanchez kicked 23 of Argentina's points and got the best out of his fellow backs. BBC pundit and 2003 World Cup winner Matt Dawson: "The consistency of performance is always key to success, and I also believe Argentina have some real game-breakers - players such as Tuculet, Imhoff, Cordero. "They have probably learned from playing in Europe and playing in the Rugby Championship. They've got a Super 15 franchise too, so this is just the beginning for Argentina." Ireland: Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls, Robbie Henshaw, Dave Kearney; Ian Madigan, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross; Devin Toner, Iain Henderson; Jordi Murphy, Chris Henry, Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Jordi McGrath, Nathan White, Donnacha Ryan, Rhys Ruddock, Eoin Reddan, Paddy Jackson, Luke Fitzgerald. Argentina: Joaquin Tuculet, Santiago Cordero, Matias Moroni, Juan Martin Hernandez, Juan Imhoff, Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo; Marcos Ayerza, Agustin Creevy, Ramiro Herrera, Guido Petti, Tomas Lavanini, Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Leonardo Senatore. Replacements: Julian Montoya, Lucas Noguera, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Matias Alemanno, Facundo Isa, Tomas Cubelli, Jeronimo De La Fuente, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
Argentina's early scoring blitz helped them dash Ireland's hopes of earning a first World Cup semi-final spot.
The 20-year-old began his career at Brentford, playing more than 50 games for the London club's youth team. He made his Football League debut for Chesterfield in 2014-15 and last season appeared three times in the National League in a loan spell at Gateshead. Onovwigun goes straight into the Southport squad for Saturday's away game at Aldershot. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page or visit our Premier League tracker here.
Southport have signed former Chesterfield and Gateshead midfielder Michael Onovwigun.
England now allows masts up to 25m (82ft) without a full planning process, but the limit in Wales is 15m (50ft). Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said he was "disappointed" that Wales was "following, instead of leading". The Welsh Government said it would look at the evidence before deciding whether to relax restrictions. Applications for masts can be fast-tracked under what are known as permitted development rights. In March, the UK government announced plans to raise the maximum height for such masts in England from 15m to 25m, or 20m (66ft) in protected areas such as national parks. Welsh ministers have commissioned research into raising the limits on the permitted development rights to the higher English levels, with taller masts allowing coverage over a wider area. It expects to receive the findings by summer 2017 and will consult on any changes after that. Mr Cairns said it was "a positive step, but I do think it's quite late". "I fear that Wales could be maybe up to 12 months behind England again, and that is for no practical reason," he told BBC Wales. It was "simply unacceptable that Wales doesn't have the same efficient network of connections that other parts of the UK have", the Vale of Glamorgan MP added. Mr Cairns said he had been told that the planning regime in Wales was "not as straightforward as it is in England in getting low masts up to the sorts of heights they need in order to achieve longer distances, longer reach and to come over the mountainous terrain that we have". Telecoms companies would spend their budgets in England instead of Wales if it meant they could reach more customers, he claimed. Regulator Ofcom has said that 12% of Wales is considered to be in a "not-spot", with no signal at all - the UK figure is 10%. Hefin Evans, a pub landlord in Talgarreg, Ceredigion, said lack of coverage was bad for business, especially for his bed and breakfast and holiday cottage rentals. "It's one of the most frustrating things," he said. "We've tried many times on different items and none seem to work at all. "The frustration is getting to the customers, and also it's a loss of income for us. "When people come to see them, they do like the cottages, and then they suddenly find out there is no mobile phone reception. "You can see their faces, and the scene alters immediately." Rhodri Williams, Ofcom director for Wales, said the nation had been "lagging behind since the advent of the technology". "It is getting better, but it's getting better everywhere else as well," he told BBC Radio Wales' Good Morning Wales programme. "The root cause of this is the fact that our geography, the hills and mountains here in Wales, make it more difficult, make it more costly." Mr Williams added: "There are some masts in Sweden and Finland that are 100m and more, as we have for television and radio. "Nobody seems to object to them," he said, "but we've even had campaigns in some parts of the country not to have mobile masts put up." Mobile phone users have been sharing their views of network coverage in Wales via Facebook. Gillian Ford, from Swansea, claimed the mobile signal in the SA6 postcode area was "very poor". "They changed me from 3G to 2G because signal was so poor, now it's worse", she wrote. "My mobile is waste of money." Neil Rogers, who lives in the Caerphilly area, said his signal had never been the best but claimed it had got worse since his provider upgraded the service to 4G. In a statement, the Welsh Government said: "We are taking a responsible approach on this issue. "We feel it is essential to obtain robust, reliable evidence to support any changes we may make on permitted development rights and telecommunications. "We need to make sure the evidence addresses the specific circumstances and topography found in Wales. "We will be commissioning research in the new year, which will examine the relevant information and make recommendations on the changes to permitted development rights that we may need to make." There have been calls to allow customers to roam between networks in parts of the UK with poor reception, as they can do overseas. Mr Cairns said the UK government would "happily look at any calls" to extend network coverage.
Wales is lagging behind England in plugging mobile phone "not-spots" by easing restrictions on taller masts, the UK government has claimed.
In March Sapstead gave evidence in parliament over doping in sport. And earlier this year Ukad said drug use at every level of sport is "fast becoming a crisis". "Unless action is stepped up to help us fight the cheats, we may find that both sports audiences and participation decrease in the future," Sapstead said. Speaking to MPs on the Culture Media and Sport select committee in March, Sapstead questioned British Cycling, Team Sky and their doctor Richard Freeman over record-keeping of drugs given to riders. To mark the start of Ukad's National Clean Sport Week Sapstead said 48% of Britons think doping is widespread. A survey of 2,000 people carried out by Ukad also found 66% of respondents think that stories about an elite athlete or athletes doping in sport have had a negative impact on their trust in the integrity of sport, the organisation said. She added: "This isn't the true picture in Britain. The public don't know about the reality. "It's worrying that so many people are losing their trust in the integrity of sport because of stories they see in the media, which are making them believe doping is more widespread than it actually is." National Clean Sport Week is a campaign to highlight the work being done by Ukad to ensure sport in the UK is clean. Since its inception in 2009, Ukad said it has conducted more than 58,000 tests across 50 sports and has prosecuted 194 anti-doping rule violations.
Sport in the UK is "at a critical point in the fight against doping", according to UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) chief executive Nicole Sapstead.
NHS Highland's proposal to build a new hospital in Broadford and turn Portree into a smaller "spoke" unit has Scottish government approval. But Holyrood's petitions committee is to ask Health Secretary Shona Robison to review the decision making process. This follows MSPs' consideration of a petition opposed to the hospitals plan. MSPs will write to Ms Robison to seek the review by an independent scrutiny panel. Islanders in the north and west of Skye say if the redesign goes ahead as planned they will be left with a day clinic at Portree and will have to travel further to access hospital services. As well as the 4,500-signature petition that was considered by MSPs, GPs at Portree Medical Practice have challenged NHS Highland's proposal. Ms Robison approved NHS Highland's redesign of hospital provision in February. The new set-up will serve patients on the island and also Lochalsh and parts of Wester Ross on the mainland. NHS Highland has defended the appraisal of options carried out by a steering group. The Scottish Health Council has also said the process was legitimate. Following the petitions committee decision, NHS Highland said: "We believe that the public consultation we conducted into proposed service redesign for Skye, Lochalsh and south west Ross was robust and fair, and this view has been supported by the Scottish Health Council. "Indeed, the Scottish Health Council carried out a full and independent review of the process and endorsed it. "In approving our redesign proposals in February the cabinet secretary for health, wellbeing and sport said she was satisfied that NHS Highland conducted the process in a 'meaningful and inclusive way, providing local people with numerous and reasonable opportunities to express their views'. "We are, of course, sorry that some people in the north of Skye believe that the redesign is flawed."
People in Skye campaigning against the downgrading of Portree Hospital have won a victory in their fight against the plan.
Zulfiya Chinshanlo, Maiya Maneza and Svetlana Podobedova were all caught when samples from 2012 and the 2008 Games in Beijing were retested. Chinshanlo won at -53kg, Maneza at -63kg and Podobedova at -75kg and all tested positive for steroid stanozolol. It has not been confirmed if their golds will now be re-assigned. Eight athletes were sanctioned on Thursday, with Marina Shkermankova of Belarus losing her London 2012 bronze medal in the -69kg class. All Kazakh and Belarusian weightlifters could now be banned for a year from all international weightlifting competitions. Under International Weightlifting Federation rules, automatic bans come into effect if at least three of a country's athletes fail Olympic retests. The International Olympic Committee has reported a total of 98 positive cases from recent retests of samples from the Beijing and London Games. At least six of those cases came in one weightlifting event, the men's -94kg category in 2012.
Three weightlifters from Kazakhstan have been stripped of Olympic gold medals won at London 2012 after new tests found them guilty of doping.
Elizabeth Edwards, 49, and her 13-year-old daughter Katie were found dead in Spalding in April. The 15-year-old denies murder, but has admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, at Nottingham Crown Court. A boy, also 15, has already pleaded guilty to murder. Neither teenager can be named because of their ages. Read more about this and other stories from across Lincolnshire On the second day of the trial a transcript of the girl's police interview was read. She told officers she and her co-accused, who was 14 at the time, had planned the killing of Elizabeth and Katie Edwards in the days before their deaths on the evening of 13 April. She also said they had attempted to carry out the killings on two other occasions. The jury heard her tell police her co-accused had stabbed Ms Edwards in the neck and then smothered her before going into 13-year-old Katie's room and stabbing her. The trial continues.
A girl accused of killing a mother and her daughter told police she and her co-accused had tried twice previously to kill them, a court heard.
Mr Robinson, 66, underwent a procedure at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) after becoming ill on Monday morning. The Democratic Unionist Party leader said on Twitter: "Happy to be discharged and back home. Thanks to the wonderful RVH cardiac team - everyone a star." He added: "Many thanks to all who sent messages of support and encouragement in the last week. Your thoughts & prayers have been really appreciated."
Northern Ireland's first minister Peter Robinson has been discharged from hospital four days after suffering a suspected heart attack.
The Information Commissioner imposed penalties of £25,000 on the RSPCA and £18,000 on the British Heart Foundation over the so-called "wealth screening". The charities also traded personal details with other charities, the commissioner's office found. The RSPCA questioned the ICO findings while the BHF said it might appeal. As well as "wealth screening", the charities traced and targeted new or lapsed donors by piecing together personal information obtained from other sources, and traded personal details with other charities "creating a massive pool of donor data for sale", the ICO said. Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said donors had not been informed of the charity's practices, and were therefore unable to consent or object to them. She also suggested other charities could also be engaged in similar activities. "The millions of people who give their time and money to benefit good causes will be saddened to learn that their generosity wasn't enough," Ms Denham added. Meanwhile, the Charity Commission said it had opened compliance cases into both the RSPCA and BHF. The organisation's Sarah Atkinson said: "We are working with the charities concerned, the Information Commissioner and the new fundraising regulator, to ensure that any necessary remedial action is taken. "The wider lessons for charities about their responsibility to protect donors' personal data must be shared and acted on." The ICO said the two charities had employed wealth management companies to analyse the financial status of supporters. During the investigation, the RSPCA told the ICO it had undertaken the practice since 2010. The BHF said its donors had been checked since "at least" 2009, but it would no longer do so. Responding to the ICO fine, the RSPCA confirmed it no longer carried out wealth screening but said it disagreed with the data watchdog's conclusions. Chief executive Jeremy Cooper said: "There is no suggestion that we lost or sold any personal data, but rather the ICO considered the information we gave to supporters on how their personal data would be used was inadequate. "There has been one acknowledged contravention, through an inadvertent error, which we ourselves brought to the ICO's attention." "We always strive to ensure that our practices fully comply with all relevant legislation and are carried out to a high standard." BHF chief executive Simon Gillespie said the ICO's conclusions were "wrong, disproportionate and inconsistent". "The trust our supporters put in us demands high standards of fundraising and we take the data protection responsibilities that come with this very seriously," he said. "We find the decision surprising, as earlier this year in June the ICO praised our data handling." He added: "Our trustees will therefore consider whether it's in the interests of our supporters and beneficiaries to challenge this decision."
Two charities have been fined over data protection breaches after secretly screening donors so they could be targeted for more money.
Davis, 51, was the fourth longest-serving boss in the top four divisions of English football, having been appointed in November 2011. His departure follows Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Mansfield in League Two. Artell, 36, is a former Crewe club captain and has been playing as a centre-back for Northern Premier League Droylsden this season. Having been relegated last season, the Alex's form has been poor this term and they are 18th in the table after taking only two points from their last seven games. The change of management was confirmed on the Crewe website. "The club would like to thank Steve for his service and endeavour as both manager and previously in his role as assistant manager," a statement said. "The club's former promotion-winning captain David Artell has been appointed manager and further details will be announced in due course." Davis spent four seasons as a player at Crewe during his career before moving on to Burnley, Barnsley and Oxford. He returned to Gresty Road as assistant to Gudjon Thordarson in 2009 and two years later succeeded Dario Gradi as manager. Artell was a member of the team as they won promotion at the end of that season, beating Cheltenham in the play-off final at Wembley. But he was released a few days later and moved on to Port Vale and Northampton before dropping into non-league football. He won seven international caps for Gibraltar in 2014-15, having qualified to play for them through his father. Media playback is not supported on this device
Crewe Alexandra have sacked Steve Davis after more than five years as manager and replaced him with David Artell.
The battalion spent its tour of duty in Helmand Province and were deployed to the Upper Gereshk Valley. Commanding Officer Rob Howieson said the parade was done as a "thank you" for support soldiers received from the city and the Highlands during the tour. Lt Col Howieson said it had been a challenging six months.
Troops from the 1st Battalion Scots Guards have paraded in Inverness to mark the soldiers' return to the UK following six months in Afghanistan.
8 January 2016 Last updated at 09:07 GMT The Carbon Trust has warned that when trees are left to decompose, they produce gas which is bad for the environment. Instead, some trees are recycled by being turned into wood chippings or compost. Martin's been to a waste centre in Greater Manchester, to see how it's done.
It's easy to forget about your tree after Christmas is over, but with thousands of people throwing their trees away at once, the way they are disposed of can make a big difference.
The 30-year-old Briton, who won the race in 2013, lost the race leadership despite finishing a strong seventh in Wednesday's 11km time trial. Norway's Boasson Hagen finished in 13 minutes 26.98 seconds to win the stage by 25 seconds and take the lead. The five-stage race concludes at Doha Corniche on Friday. Cavendish plans to decide during the race whether he will compete at next month's track World Championships in London. He told BBC Sport in January he was not sure how a winter spent mixing road and track racing would affect him. "I could be flying, I could be catastrophic, I could be indifferent," he said. The Isle of Man rider has started the season well, going close in two stages of the Dubai Tour and winning Tuesday's opening stage in Qatar. A winner of 26 Tour de France stages, Cavendish faces a packed schedule in 2016 with August's Olympic Games in Rio also a target. Stage three result: (Lusail - Lusail (ITT) - 11km): 1 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data 13mins 26secs 2 Jos van Emden (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo +25secs 3 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing Team +29secs 4 Greg van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team +32secs 5 Dmitriy Gruzdev (Kaz) Astana Pro Team +40secs 6 Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Astana Pro Team +43secs 7 Mark Cavendish (GB) Dimension Data +44secs 8 Jordan Kerby (Aus) Drapac Professional Cycling at same time 9 Soren Kragh Andersen (Den) Team Giant-Alpecin +45secs 10 Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC Racing Team +47secs Overall standings: 1 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data 6hrs 53mins 35secs 2 Mark Cavendish (Gbr) Dimension Data +26secs 3 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing Team +32secs 4 Greg van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team +34secs 5 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha +45secs 6 Soren Kragh Andersen (Den) Team Giant-Alpecin +48secs 7 Sven Erik Bystrom (Nor) Team Katusha +1min 2secs 8 Sam Bennett (Ire) Bora-Argon 18 +1min 7secs 9 Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Team Katusha +1min 10secs 10 Michael Schar (Swi) BMC Racing Team +1min 15secs
Mark Cavendish slipped 26 seconds behind leader and Dimension Data team-mate Edvald Boasson Hagen after the third stage of the Tour of Qatar.
"I've actually come off Twitter completely," he told The Sun. "I can't read it. "I go on it and there's nothing but people saying mean things. One comment ruins your day. But that's why I've come off it." The star, who has 19 million followers, says he'll keep the account open, but it will only share automatic updates from his Instagram page from now on. A quick scan of Twitter finds a number of negative - although not necessarily abusive - comments directed towards the 26-year-old. "Irritating ginger busker" is a particularly common insult; while the song Galway Girl has provoked a torrent of anger. "Revolting, fudged cultural appropriation," wrote David N about the jaunty jig, in which Sheeran describes falling for a girl who "played the fiddle in an Irish band". Another user described it as "awful 'diddly-eye leprachaun'" music, full of "stereotypical nonsense". Richard Roche had some helpful advice regarding the lyrics, which he described as: "Full of geographical inaccuracies (there's no pub on Grafton St)." Most recently, Sheeran had to defend himself against accusations of using a backing track during his headline set at Glastonbury. The star uses a loop pedal during his performances, which allows him to record his vocal and guitar lines, creating a layered, looped accompaniment live, on the spot. "Is it a backing track or invisible musicians?!? Who's playing when Ed Sheeran stops?!?" wrote one mystified fan. "Couldn't he get real musicians? I like him but all a bit karaoke," wrote another. In his last personally-authored tweet, the star sounded exasperated by the accusations. "Never thought I'd have to explain it, but everything I do in my live show is live, it's a loop station, not a backing track. Please google," he wrote. Other users took aim at Sheeran's televised Glastonbury show after he suffered guitar problems during the song Bloodstream. "Ed Sheeran come to my house and I will show you how to tune a guitar you useless mess," wrote one. Speaking to The Sun, Sheeran said he had "been trying to work out why people dislike me so much" but the simple answer is that he's the victim of his own success. His third album ÷ (Divide) is the year's biggest-seller, dominating the charts and radio around the world. In the UK, every song on the record made the top 20 of the singles chart, while the lead single, Shape Of You, spent 14 weeks at number one. That sort of ubiquity draws out the more mean-spirited and aggressive users of Twitter - which has gained a reputation for harbouring trolls. Stars including Miley Cyrus, Sue Perkins, Stephen Fry, Halsey and Avengers director Joss Whedon have all quit the site after suffering abuse. Others, including Selena Gomez and Tom Daley, have received death threats. (We saw no evidence of similar tweets to Sheeran, although it is possible such messages would have been deleted for violating Twitter's terms and conditions). Last year, Bloomberg reported that Disney chose not to pursue an acquisition of the social media network in part because it thought the bullying behaviour of some users might damage the film company's image. Twitter has since taken action to combat abuse - giving users better tools to mute or block trolls. Based upon a trawl of Sheeran's account, mean tweets are vastly outweighed by positive ones. Every time he posts a photo or a comment, the majority of responses are variations of, "I love you", "te amo" and "come to Portugal!" And if Sheeran ventures back onto the site, he'll find heartwarming messages like this one from Castie Collins, who wrote: "I'm learning guitar because of you." "Thank u @edsheeran for making great music so studying isn't always SO terrible," said Emily Estopare. Hannah Robinson added: "I'm sick and feel like crap but I turned on some Ed Sheeran songs and felt better." And Karen Porter had kind words for Sheeran's Glastonbury slot: "Could tell you were having the best time ever up on that stage," she said. "Amazing to see true talent and a genuine soul. Much love." Even the star's least-liked song received some (faint) praise from Sadie Lyon, who wrote: "My Uber driver knows the rap bit in Galway Girl." Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected].
Ed Sheeran says he's quit Twitter after receiving a stream of abuse.
The committee met in Dundee to hear evidence about the country's creative industries. Entrepreneur Chris Van Der Kuyl told them of "huge" opportunities in the games industry, which he said could outstrip the impact of the oil boom. Developers have called for better support structures and investment. Dundee has long been a key hub for the UK's video games industry, which has spawned titles such as Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto. Mr Van Der Kuyl, chairman of 4J Games, which has won awards for its work converting hit game Minecraft for the XBox platform, told the committee that it was "time to get serious about this industry". He said: "We're living in a time where the pace of change has never been faster, and nowhere more so than in our sector. "The increased rate of change in things like virtual reality and augmented reality, which is just around the corner now, means the growth potential for this industry is not five or 10% a year, it's hundreds of percent. "The opportunity is huge. "It will make North Sea oil look like a drop in the ocean. We're trying to hold a tiger by the tail. "If there was ever a time to get serious about this industry, this is it - if we let this opportunity pass by, others will take it and Scotland will languish." The committee also heard that current UK immigration policy could be impacting on talent recruitment in the industry. Dr Jo Twist from the Association for UK Interactive Entertainment, who also called for more teaching of computer science in schools, told the committee that effective immigration policy was vital. She said: "The current climate around immigration debates is potentially very damaging to our ability to attract overseas talent. "We must be able to continue to attract overseas talent while we are fixing our own homegrown talent pipeline, in order to remain internationally competitive." Mr Van Der Kuyl added that foreign students who had come to study video games development were "fairly heavily leant on to get out of the country after graduating", which he said was "disastrous". He said: "In our immigration policy we're very well structured to invite people in who have already proven themselves, but they're already settled. "We need to attract talent that is very early-career, that doesn't quite fit the Home Office boxes that are there at the moment, but which is exactly what we need in our companies."
Scotland's video games industry could "make North Sea oil look like a drop in the ocean", a meeting of the Scottish Affairs select committee has heard.
Alex Robinson was drowned in the bath two days before Christmas at his home. Stewart Greene, 65, of Grimoldby, Lincolnshire, said he drowned Alex Robinson in a bath but denies murder. Dr Philip Joseph told the jury: "In over 30 years, this is one of the most callous killings or murders I have been involved with." Alex was in Mr Greene's care at his home while his mother - the defendant's daughter - was out last December. Giving evidence at Lincoln Crown Court, Dr Joseph said his diagnosis of Mr Greene was that he had a psychopathic personality disorder, characterised by a "callous unconcern for the feelings of others" and an "incapacity to experience guilt". He said Mr Greene would exaggerate his symptoms and engage in manipulative behaviour to get himself into hospital. But despite his mental condition, Dr Joseph - who has dealt with more than 800 homicide cases - said Mr Greene understood what he was doing and that his ability to form a rational judgement was not impaired. He told jurors: "Although his judgement was abhorrent, immoral and illegal, it was rational. When asked if he was surprised Mr Greene had killed Alex, he replied: "Yes - I am surprised." Earlier in the trial, Timothy Spencer QC, defending, asked Mr Greene whether he had drowned his grandson, to which he replied: "I drowned him in the bath, yes." He told the court he drowned Alex because he was angry with the nine-year-old's mother. The trial continues.
A psychiatrist told a murder trial the death of a nine-year-old Lincoln boy was one of the most "callous killings" he had ever seen.
A police officer was also injured in the incident in Ferry Lane in Tottenham Hale on Thursday evening. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has been called in to investigate the death and it said a firearm had been recovered. It is thought the officer, who was taken to hospital and later discharged, was shot first but this is not known for certain, an IPCC spokesman said. In a statement, the IPCC said: "It is understood that the shooting followed an MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] operation." The Metropolitan Police would not confirm if the man had been shot by a police officer. A Scotland Yard spokesman added: "One male was pronounced dead at the scene and one officer was taken to hospital." Local resident David Akinsanya said he arrived at the scene moments after the incident. He said he was told by a witness that a police officer had shouted to the man to stop "a couple of times", but the man had not heeded the warning. The witness, who lives next to the spot where it happened, then heard four shots, Mr Akinsanya said. "There were lots of helicopters and sirens all over the place," he added. "There was also a surveillance van on the corner." A waitress at a nearby pub, who did not wish to be identified, said the incident had happened a few minutes' walk from Tottenham Hale station. She said: "One man came in and he said that he saw police trying to pull some clothes off a man who was bleeding." Another worker said there were "lots of cars" around the scene. Police have taped off a large area and Ferry Lane remains closed. David Lammy, Labour's MP for Tottenham, said he was "shocked and deeply worried" about the attack. "I think there's quite a lot of anxiety now in the community, but we should try to stay calm and not rush to judgement," he said. "We need to understand what has happened. "I hope that the IPCC can move quickly to allay fears and rumours that can circulate in these circumstances."
A man is understood to have been shot dead by a policeman in north London.
She opened the door of her house in Pound Street at about 23:00 BST on Thursday and was confronted by a woman with a knife. The householder tried to close the door but the woman forced her way in and demanded money. She handed over some cash before the woman left in the direction of Meetinghouse Street. Police have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.
A woman in her 60s has been left shaken but uninjured after an aggravated burglary in Larne, County Antrim.
The musician, real name Rory Graham, beat two other newcomers, Anne-Marie and Dua Lipa, to the prize. His victory comes a week after he entered the charts for the first time with his touching soul ballad Human. "I thought they had made a mistake," said the singer. "I was up against two pop giants. I'm crazy happy. Proper massive grin." One of the surest indicators of success in the music industry, the Critics' Choice award has previously been won by Adele, Sam Smith and Emeli Sande. Since it was established in 2008, all but one winner has scored a platinum disc for their debut album. The exception is last year's winner, Jack Garratt, whose first record Phase is currently certified silver, representing 60,000 albums sold. Rag N Bone Man hails from Uckfield, near Brighton, and started his musical career as an jungle MC before his parents encouraged him to sing. Inspired by bluesmen like John Lee Hooker, he combines rootsy, soulful melodies with hip-hop beats and the occasional nod to gospel. In 2012, he supported one of his musical heroes, Joan Armatrading, after his girlfriend sent promoters some of his early recordings - including videos of him singing on the toilet. "I didn't know anything about it," he told his local newspaper The Argus. "But I'm pretty glad she did send them in. "I made some of my early recordings while sitting on the toilet... They seemed to like it though." The musician chose his stage name after watching episodes of vintage sitcom Steptoe and Son, reckoning that Rag N Bone Man sounded like a classic blues singer in the mould of Muddy Waters or Howlin' Wolf. His current single Human was a major hit in Europe before reaching the UK - it has spent 10 weeks at number one in Germany. It was propelled into the UK's top 40 last week after being covered by X Factor contestant Emily Middlemas. The singer's debut album is due to be released in February and he is also nominated for the BBC's Sound of 2017. He recently announced a headline tour for April, culminating in two shows at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire. The recipient of the Critics' Choice award is chosen by a team of experts - including music journalists and music programmers at major TV and radio stations - and more than 100 artists were considered for this year's shortlist. Rag N Bone Man will perform on the Brit Awards launch show live on ITV on 14 January. The main ceremony will be held on 24 February at the O2 Arena in London. Singer Michael Buble is due to host - but it is unclear whether he will be able to fulfil the role after his son was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected].
Blues singer Rag N Bone Man has won the Brits Critics' Choice Award, singling him out as one to watch in 2017.
A proposal for the 5,000-capacity venue on the site of the former Granada TV studios was approved in July last year. The new home of the biennial Manchester International Festival was due for completion by summer 2019 but is now scheduled to open in early 2020. The provisional timescale has evolved as plans developed, the council said. The project was backed by former Chancellor George Osborne, who pledged £78m in last year's Autumn Statement as part of his Northern Powerhouse plans. Council leader Sir Richard Leese said Factory will be "a complete game-changer" for the city and will "make Manchester and the wider region a genuine cultural counterbalance to London". A planning application will be considered on 12 January and if approved, construction will start later in the year with the venue scheduled to open in 2020. In order to meet the £110m costs, the council is proposing a one-off contribution of up to £20m, mainly funded from income received from land and property sales. This will be combined with £78m Arts Council England funding, £5m in fundraising while an application for a lottery grant for the remaining £7m has been submitted. It is hoped the development will boost the local economy, create jobs and provide training. The building has been designed by world-renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and in November last year, the government pledged £9m a year for its running costs. It will be located in a new area, St John's in Manchester city centre, which will also be home to independent businesses and 2,500 residential units.
Manchester's new £110m Factory arts centre will not be ready in time for the city's International Festival in 2019, the council has confirmed.
Arlene Arkinson was last seen with Robert Howard, who died in prison earlier this month, after attending a disco in County Donegal in August 1994. Howard was charged eight years after she went missing, but was acquitted of the teenager's murder in 2005. The jury was not told that Howard had a history of sexual violence and by then he was already serving a life term for killing and raping Hannah Williams from London, whose body was found in 2002. Former Det Ch Supt Norman Baxter met Howard when he was flown from prison in England to be formally charged with the murder of Arlene Arkinson. He told BBC NI's Spotlight programme that he had no doubt that Howard had murdered the teenager. "After he was charged he was lodged in the cell block in Enniskillen police station and I received a communication that he had indicated he wanted to speak to the senior investigating officer, so I went to the cell block and I spoke to Robert Howard in the cell," he said. "He was extremely agitated, very unsettled, and his main concern was that he wanted to serve his remand period in Maghaberry Prison. "He felt that his period there would be much easier because he would have had a single room with an ensuite bathroom and television, whereas in Wormwood Scrubs where he had been brought to Northern Ireland from, he had to slop out and share a cell and felt quite under threat. "A hypothetical conversation ensued initiated by Robert Howard indicating the possibility of the body of Arlene Arkinson being recovered. "He didn't say it outright, but the implication of the conversation was that he could help us further and I was certain at that stage he was on the cusp of telling where the body was. "In my mind I had absolutely no doubt at that point that he was guilty of her murder and knew where her body was." Arlene, a schoolgirl from Castlederg, was last seen alive in a car driven by Howard. She has been missing, presumed dead, for 21 years. A number of searches have been carried out at various locations, but her body has never been found. Howard was an inmate at HMP Frankland in County Durham but died in hospital. It is believed he died from natural causes.
A senior police officer who investigated the disappearance of the Castlederg teenager Arlene Arkinson has said he believes her alleged killer Robert Howard was close to telling him where her body was located.