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Two females laid seven eggs at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), Slimbridge, Gloucestershire.
There are only about 200 breeding pairs of the critically endangered species left in the wild.
Nigel Jarrett, from the trust, said when staff discovered the first egg last week they "almost couldn't believe it".
Mr Jarrett, WWT head of conservation, said staff had "done their best" to enhance breeding conditions, with special lightbulbs, timer switches and lots of sand and netting to recreate the experience of migrating from tropical Asia to Arctic Russia.
"For the last two years - ever since all the spoonies came into maturity - we've been doing everything to get these birds in the mood for love," he said.
"And for two years we've come up scratching our heads and feeling a bit deflated. Now, we've had two mums busy laying and the significance of it is only just starting to hit home."
The WWT began trying to establish a flock at Slimbridge in 2011, as a back-up to the wild population which was declining by up to 25% a year.
But with its extreme lifestyle - including making an annual 10,000-mile round-trip between Russian Arctic breeding grounds and wintering grounds in South East Asia - the bird has never been bred in captivity.
In the wild, the birds have been hit by loss of habitat in East Asia and bird trapping by villagers in Bangladesh and Burma.
Mr Jarrett said the trust was now on the road to breeding spoon-billed sandpipers in captivity, which was "the ultimate insurance policy for the species in the wild". | One of the world's rarest birds - the spoon-billed sandpiper - has laid eggs in captivity for the first time. | 36524786 |
Dave Stewart replaces Jonathan Bacon who stood down citing a lack of support he said made his position "intolerable".
Independent Ian Stephens and Conservative Dave Stewart were both nominated.
Mr Stewart received 19 votes, while Mr Stephens received 15.
Mr Bacon, who led the council for two years despite his group having no overall majority, was not at the meeting to choose his successor.
Deputy leader Steve Stubbings, who abstained in the vote, and another member of the island council's six-person executive, Gordon Kendall, also announced their resignations.
In a resignation statement, Mr Stubbings and Mr Bacon said the "damaging behaviour" of Isle of Wight councillors was "overwhelming" efforts to deal with government cuts.
Mr Bacon said: "We now have a situation amongst elected members where party politics and ego are being put before the concerns and issues of island people."
Isle of Wight Council declined to comment.
In October, Mr Bacon reversed a council vote against devolution, saying a £900m deal to set up a new authority for the Solent area was the only way to address the authority's "perilous financial state", following budget cuts of more than £50m over the previous five years. | A Conservative has been selected to lead Isle of Wight Council following the resignation of its Independent leader on Monday. | 38666083 |
The 1-1 stalemate with Ajax was the doomsday result that was taking both teams out of the Europa League.
Celtic had a corner and they needed a goal. Stuart Armstrong strolled over to take it and the big men moved into position in the penalty area.
Cue the volume levels ratcheting upwards. Cue Mikael Lustig, Dedryck Boyota, Charlie Mulgrew and Jozo Simunovic - none of them a millimetre under 6ft 2in - assembling in the Ajax penalty area.
Piling so many men forward was a risk that Celtic needed to take. Failing to get the ball anywhere near them was a blunder that cost them the match.
Instead of swinging in a cross in the hope of one of his team-mates getting on the end of it, Armstrong went short to Scott Allan.
As a piece of thinking, it was death-wish stuff. Allan was under surveillance by two Ajax men, so why give him the ball when your giants are poised and ready in the box?
As soon as Allan got it, the Ajax players were on him, ransacking him of possession and breaking free. Celtic still had six players in the Ajax penalty area as the visitors sped away for the winning goal. Armstrong had taken out the lot of them with his short corner.
It was a calamitous moment in a European season that has brought so many. It was yet again a night when Celtic had the lead and then cast it to the winds.
They led 1-0 and lost 2-1. Against Fenerbahce, they led 2-0 and could only draw. Against Ajax in Amsterdam, they led 1-0 and 2-1 and failed to win that one as well.
It goes back further. Against Dinamo Zagreb last season, they were up 2-1 and lost 4-2.
They led 1-0 against Astra and drew 1-1. They led 1-0 and 2-1 against Salzburg and were pegged back for 2-2.
Against Maribor, they were a goal up and drew. Against Legia Warsaw, they scored first and lost 4-1.
Ten times they have gone ahead in European games and 10 times they have lost the lead. Ronny Deila is there to grow this team, but it's not happening.
Nobody is saying it's easy, but in European competition they're not learning, they're not winning, they're not moving forward. They're going backwards.
In the wake of Celtic's exit on Thursday night, and with a record of no wins from five games and an average of just north of two goals conceded per match, Deila once again tried to sell a vision of the future that flew in the face of the present.
The Celtic manager remarked that, yes, his team weren't good enough for European football this season but that they would be ready next season. Not for the second-tier stuff, he stressed, but for the elite level, the Champions League.
No doubt he feels he had to say it, but if he truly believes it then Deila needs to join his assistant, John Collins, in the land of the self-deluded.
Collins, metaphorically, departed for that place the moment he claimed that Celtic were better than Molde over two legs, the fact that the 180 minutes finished with an aggregate score of 5-2 to the Norwegians bizarrely doing nothing to dissuade him from his view.
It's true that Celtic were missing an entire midfield on Thursday, but this kind of implosion happens when they are at full strength. That missing midfield were the ones who, in part, plunged Celtic deep into trouble in the first place.
One of their replacements, Callum McGregor, performed better than some of the absent and underperforming senior players might have done, scoring early and working tirelessly. It was a bitter irony that McGregor gave away the ball for the first Ajax goal and that Allan - so impressive in his passing when he came on - gave it away for the second.
They'll beat themselves up over that, but they shouldn't overdo it. They might well be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Leigh Griffiths was another one who chastised himself for missing some good chances, principally the one beautifully laid on by Allan 16 minutes from the end. Griffiths took to social media to apologise for what he called his "shocking" performance.
Fair enough. Griffiths played poorly, but he's not a machine and he will have bad days and weeks.
Celtic have left themselves without a back-up. They have somehow arrived in a place whereby they have one credible striker and, if that one striker is missing chances, they don't have another trusted option in Europe.
Nadir Ciftci remained on the bench. Deila clearly believes he's not up to it yet.
Anthony Stokes was there alongside him. Deila hasn't given Stokes the time of day since August.
You get an idea of how threadbare they are up front when Stokes re-enters the frame from his footballing Siberia.
There are pockets of good things in this Celtic team. Simunovic looks a fine acquisition and Kieran Tierney is an outstanding prospect, but there are too many frail characters, too many huff-and-puff players who have been over-praised and whose consistency of performance and composure under pressure is just not good enough for European nights.
And then there's the manager who is overseeing it. He predicts big days ahead in Europe, but it's a mantra that he's singularly failing to back up.
Twenty-five European games played with just eight wins, seven draws and now 10 defeats. Thirty-nine goals have been conceded.
In that run, there's been three failed shots at the Champions League and now a winless Europa League campaign.
Peter Lawwell, the Celtic chief executive, said last week that he has confidence in Deila's ability to mould this team and drive it forward in Europe. You'd have to say that Lawwell is now in the realms of blind faith. | There were three minutes of normal time remaining at Celtic Park on Thursday and the air was rent with noise, fear and anticipation - the staples of a stirring night. | 34945906 |
Eamon O Connor said a police source informed him he was being targeted as he investigated the unsolved murder of Emma Caldwell.
Mr O Connor presented a BBC programme earlier this year examining what went wrong with the police investigation into the 10-year-old case.
Police Scotland did not deny his claim.
But the force said it did not comment on individual cases.
It emerged last month that two un-named UK police forces had been involved in spying on journalists and their sources.
The Sunday Herald newspaper claimed at the weekend that Police Scotland was one of them, and that the force's Counter Corruption Unit used spying powers to uncover a journalist's sources without getting judicial approval.
Mr O Connor told the BBC's Scotland 2015 programme that he did not know for sure that he had been monitored
But he added: "Recently I was contacted by a very dependable source who knows Police Scotland very well and he warned me that he had been told explicitly that the Counter Corruption Unit, which is designed to catch police doing things they shouldn't do, has been monitoring journalists' communications with police sources for some time.
"He believed that I had been one of those people targeted and more significantly he thought I had been targeted without judicial approval.
"I can only assume that (my BBC investigation) has caused some concern inside Police Scotland. I know that it has because I've had contact from senior sources inside Police Scotland, but I don't know if anyone inside Police Scotland has been so concerned that they've decided to monitor my communications to see who I've been speaking to."
Mr O Connor said he was concerned that the possibility of being spied upon by the police would "intimidate and impede" whistleblowers and people who want to come forward to tell the truth about something which they believe should not have happened.
Emma Caldwell's body was found dumped in a ditch in Lanarkshire in May 2005. Police launched a massive murder investigation which has cost £4m, but no one has ever been convicted of her murder.
Four Turkish men were charged over Ms Caldwell's death, but were later released and did not stand trial.
The Interception of Communications Commissioner's Office (IOCCO) has said it was investigating possible breaches of the code of practice at two police forces but would not name them while its inquiry was ongoing.
Labour lodged an emergency motion at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday calling for "full transparency" from Scottish government ministers over what they knew about the allegations that Police Scotland had spied on journalists.
The Scottish government said it would not be appropriate to comment further while the IOCCO investigations into the alleged breaches were ongoing.
A spokeswoman added: "However, if there are any issues arising out of these investigations, they should be fully addressed by the appropriate bodies when they have concluded." | An investigative journalist has told BBC Scotland he believes Police Scotland may have been monitoring his communications illegally. | 33798977 |
The hustle and bustle of a city going about its business is broken by the crack of gunshots, sending bystanders running and screaming. In the aftermath one man lies dead and another badly injured.
Further down the street, four security cameras outside a local resident's home picked up the sound of the exchange of fire between the two men, but no images of what happened.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the pair standing just a few metres apart firing handguns at each other, but it is unclear which of the two perpetrators shot first.
In an attempt to unravel what happened, local police called Robert Maher, a professor in electrical and computer engineering at Montana State University.
Using audio captured by the microphones on the security cameras, he was able to reconstruct the incident shot-by-shot to reveal where each of the men were standing and who fired first.
Prof Maher is one of a small group of acoustics experts working to establish a new field of forensics that examines the sound of gunshots recorded on camera footage or by phones.
"Nowadays it is not uncommon for someone with a cell phone to be making a video at the time of a gunfire incident," he explains. "The most common types of recordings are from dashboard cameras or vest-mounted cameras carried by law enforcement officers.
"Also common are recordings from an emergency telephone call centres where the calls are being recorded and the caller's phone picks up a gunshot sound. In some cases there are private surveillance systems at homes and businesses that include audio recordings."
Gunshots make a distinctive sound that makes them easy to distinguish from other commonly mistaken noises such as a car backfiring or fireworks.
A firearm produces an abrupt blast of intense noise from the muzzle that lasts just one or two millionths of a second before disappearing again. High-powered rifles also produce an additional sonic boom as the bullet passes through the sound barrier before the sound of the muzzle blast is detected.
Most of us spend our lives surrounded by devices capable of capturing these sounds inadvertently if a crime occurs nearby. Professor Maher's aim is to extract details from these recordings that might help police piece together a crime.
Together with his colleagues, he has been compiling a database of firearm sounds in a project funded by US National Institute of Justice. They are firing an array of rifles, shotguns, semiautomatic pistols and revolvers beside an array of 12 microphones arranged in a semicircle.
Each of the guns appear broadly similar to human ears when fired on an open range, but using software to analyse the sound waves picked up by the microphones, they have found it is possible to distinguish different types of weapon.
"We observe differences between pistols with differing calibre and barrel length for example," says Professor Maher. "Revolvers differ from pistols because sound can emanate from the gap between the revolver cylinder and the gun barrel, causing two sound sources that can be detected at certain angles."
His analysis has also revealed other details can be gleaned from recordings of gunfire.
The shape of the sound wave produced by a gunshot, for example, is different depending on which way the weapon is pointing. If the microphone is off to one side of the shooter, the split second burst of noise can different compared to when it is in front of or behind the gun.
They have also found it is possible to pick up distinct echoes as the initial sound produced by a gunshot reverberates off nearby buildings, parked cars, trees and walls. After the initial blast, other smaller blips in the sound wave can be seen within a fraction of a second of the shot.
By calculating the time it takes for sound to travel to and from an obstacle, it is possible to calculate how far a shooter was away from it. It can even reveal if a shooter was firing from an elevated position from the muzzle blast reflecting off the ground.
"This means the orientation and location of shooters in some circumstances can be determined," according to Prof Maher, who revealed some of his findings to a symposium organised by the National Institute of Justice in New Orleans last month.
"In situations where more than one recording of the shooting scene is available, such as where two or more patrol cars equipped with dashboard audio or video recorders are present at an incident, the position of the vehicles can sometimes help triangulate the sounds."
It is a similar concept to the one used by companies like Raytheon, which produces sniper locators for the military that use the sound of a gunshot to locate the shooter. An array of microphones can be mounted on buildings, vehicles or helicopters to help spot shots.
Another firm, Shotspotter, uses a network of microphones across 90 cities in the US to help law enforcement detect gunshots.
The difference with these systems is that they detect gunfire in real time, while Professor Maher is trying piece together what happened days, weeks and even months after a shooting.
In the case described at the start of this article - a real shooting that occurred recently in Cincinnati, Ohio - the injured man claimed he had shot the other man dead in self defence after he was fired at first.
With the two gunshots occurring less than a second apart, it was impossible for witnesses to definitely say which of the shooters had fired first.
Using the security camera recordings of a local home owner living further down the street, however, Professor Maher was able to reveal two distinct gunshots in the audio.
Just a few milliseconds after the first gunshot, a distinct second blip appeared in the sound wave, just moments before the second shot was fired.
This blip was the echo of the first gunshot bouncing off a large building at a T-junction around 90 metres to the north. The echo from the second gunshot was far harder to spot in the sound-waves produced.
According to Professor Maher, this suggests the first shooter to fire their gun was the one pointing it to the north - the same man who claimed he had been firing in self-defence.
Professor Maher hopes the growing amount of technology capable of recording audio will make such analysis even easier in the future. The microphones on many older consumer devices are not designed to handle the abrupt, loud sounds of gunshots and it can overload them
But as more homes become equipped with home security cameras and "always-on" smart assistants like Amazon's Echo and Google Home, it may be possible to capture better audio of events.
It is something that other forensics experts believe could have a growing role in the future.
Mike Brookes, a reader in communications and signal processing at Imperial College London, said: ""The sort of question that such recordings can help with are in sorting out the timing and sequence of events that took place and in establishing the position from which a gun was fired." | Pioneering work to extract detailed information from audio recordings of gunshots could give forensic case officers new avenues for solving murder cases. | 39621766 |
Bosses plan to build the new ground at Fossetts Farm to replace the Roots Hall stadium.
The complex, if built, would include a 22,000-seat ground, a hotel and flats.
The club has wanted to move from Roots Hall for more than a decade because, boxed in at all sides by housing, it cannot expand.
The club said in a statement on its website: "This submission represents a major step in the future of Southend United Football Club and we now look forward to learning the decision of the council in the coming months.
"Should the council approve the submitted plans it would be the club's intention to commence construction without delay."
Southend Borough Council has yet to publish the plans on its website. | Detailed plans for Southend United's new stadium have been lodged with planning officers, the club has confirmed. | 39750548 |
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the man had been "eliminated" from its investigation.
The victim, found with a head injury on Thursday in a play area in Rochdale, has not yet been formally identified.
A Facebook post on Friday from Jalalia Jaamé Mosque said Koran reader Jalal Uddin "passed away last night".
It is understood Mr Uddin was a qari (Koran reader) at the mosque. He is believed to have been on his way home from a friend's house when he was assaulted between 20:40 and 20:55 GMT.
Det Ch Insp Terry Crompton of GMP said: "We are still working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding how Jalal came to suffer his injuries and we are keeping an open mind as to the motivation behind this attack, with a number of lines of inquiry currently being investigated.
"Understandably, news of this attack has caused concern in the local area and we have extra patrols in place to try and reassure the community.
"There has been a lot of speculation on social media about what happened and what may have been the reason for this attack, but I would urge people to refrain from making assumptions and please contact us with any information they have." | A 31-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murdering a prominent member of a Greater Manchester mosque has been released without charge. | 35621449 |
The Saddlers looked more likely to take the lead in the first half, with Albion goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin keeping out Paul Downing and Romaine Sawyers.
Burton came close when Stuart Beavon tricked his way into Walsall's box but fired into the side-netting.
Wigan's win over Bury means Albion's lead at the top is cut to two points, with Walsall staying in fourth.
Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough told BBC Radio Derby:
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"There was nothing in it at all. It was never going to be an open, free-flowing classic I don't think.
"Chances were few and far between but we got a clean sheet and another point on the board.
"We played better on Monday night, in terms of knocking the ball about, without doubt. But we got back to what the teams been all about for the last season or two - being solid and not giving anything away."
Walsall head coach Sean O'Driscoll told BBC WM 95.6:
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"I think we were organised and disciplined and professional. I've watched a number of games here where teams have fallen into a trap trying to play where there's no space.
"They play in a defensive shape and do it really well, so I thought we created the better chances and it was a different kind of performance to the ones we've put in before.
"Hopefully the chances we created today will go in in the following games." | Burton's lead at the top of League One was cut to two points after they were held by fellow high-flyers Walsall. | 35618946 |
Bridgford Hall, in West Bridgford, has been offered as a 125 year lease by its owners Rushcliffe Borough Council.
It currently houses the register office but the council said it was open to all offers.
Deadline for businesses to express an interest in running the venue ended on Friday and a public consultation on its future ends on Sunday.
About 400 people have given their views to the council about the future of the hall with the majority of respondents wanting to keep it as a wedding venue.
Councillor John Cranswick, deputy leader of the council, said the feeling among residents was that it should remain a wedding venue.
He added: "But clearly my interest is in getting the best value for the residents out of the building." | A Grade II listed Nottinghamshire wedding venue is facing an uncertain future as its lease is put up for sale. | 21550076 |
Flanker Jemma Forsyth is promoted from the bench to start at blind-side in place of the injured Karen Dunbar.
Dunbar has been ruled out of the remainder of the Six Nations after suffering a knee injury against France.
Worcester back-row Lyndsay O'Donnell is called up to the replacements, with the rest of the 23 unchanged.
Scotland, seeking a first Six Nations win since 2010, suffered an agonising last-gasp 22-15 home defeat by Ireland in their opening game being being thrashed 55-0 in France.
Wales, meanwhile, won 20-8 in Italy but crashed 63-0 at home to England the following week.
"We had a strong performance against Ireland in our opening match and a lot of good things were achieved, from which the players can take great pride from," said Scotland head coach Shade Munro.
"Unfortunately, we were unable to build on those positives against a very physical French team.
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"The players are a tight-knit group and are determined to keep improving together. As a squad we remain focused and determined on making progress in this campaign and competing hard against all opposition.
"Wales pose a different challenge but one we are familiar with, having played them last October in a friendly as part of our increased training and game schedule.
"Home advantage will be key and I know the noise from the crowd during the Ireland game really lifted the players, so it would be great to see more supporters in the stands at Broadwood Stadium this Friday."
Scotland: Chloe Rollie (Murrayfield Wanderers), Megan Gaffney (Edinburgh University), Lisa Thomson (Edinburgh University), Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers, capt), Rhona Lloyd (Edinburgh University), Helen Nelson (Murrayfield Wanderers), Sarah Law (Murrayfield Wanderers/Edinburgh University); Tracey Balmer (Worcester), Lana Skeldon (Hillhead Jordanhill), Lindsey Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill), Emma Wassell (Murrayfield Wanderers), Deborah McCormack (Aylesford Bulls), Jemma Forsyth (Hillhead Jordanhill), Louise McMillan (Hillhead Jordanhill), Jade Konkel (Hillhead Jordanhill).
Replacements: Lucy Park (Murrayfield Wanderers), Heather Lockhart (Hillhead Jordanhill), Katie Dougan (Edinburgh University), Sarah Bonar (Lichfield), Lyndsay O'Donnell (Worcester), Jenny Maxwell (Lichfield), Eilidh Sinclair (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lauren Harris (Melrose). | Scotland have made one change to their side for the third match of their Women's Six Nations campaign against Wales on Friday at Cumbernauld. | 39053316 |
Keith Earls, Dan Leavy and Jack Conan all touched down twice, with Garry Ringrose scoring the other Irish try.
Paddy Jackson kicked five conversions and a penalty for a 100% record, with Rory Scannell adding a late conversion.
Japan trailed 31-3 at the break but second-half tries by Ryuji Noguchi, Kenki Fukuoka and Yutaka Nagore gave the final scoreline a flattering look.
Rikiya Matsuda added the extras to two of the hosts' three scores, but his side were outclassed for most of the match, Earls and Conan both impressive and Leavy, Quinn Roux and Cian Healy among those taking advantage of their opportunity to impress in the absence of 11 Ireland players away on Lions duty.
The two teams were meeting for the first time in 12 years, Ireland having won their five previous encounters.
The match was played at the Shizuoka Ecopa Stadium, one of the venues for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, for which Ireland and Japan have been drawn together in Pool A, along with Scotland and two other teams yet to be confirmed.
Japan, ranked 11th in the IRB rankings and seven places below their opponents, have earned a growing reputation on the international stage, precipitated by their famous win over South Africa in the World Cup in September 2015.
The Cherry Blossoms beat Romania 33-21 last weekend, but knew they would face a stiffer test at the hands of Joe Schmidt's charges, who comfortably saw off USA Eagles 55-19 seven days ago.
For Ireland, centre Scannell, winger Andrew Conway and scrum-half Luke McGrath were handed their first international starts, while Jackson replaced Joey Carbery, whose tour was ended by an ankle injury sustained in the victory in New Jersey.
Ireland belied the 27C temperatures to produce an energetic first-half performance, Ulster fly-half Jackson controlling proceedings and giving them an early lead with a penalty.
In-form winger Earls scored the first try of the game in the 11th minute, cantering down the left to touch down after Ireland won possession from a Japanese scrum and Conan made the break, before off-loading to the Munster man.
Yu Tamura landed a penalty to reduce the home side's deficit but the visitors took full advantage of Heiichiro Ito's sin-binning by adding three more tries before the interval.
Leavy rumbled over for his first international try on his fourth appearance after Quinn Roux won lineout possession and Devin Toner fed his fellow Leinster forward.
The flanker crossed again three minutes later after another successful lineout created the platform for Earls to engineer a clever line break, running into empty space and sidestepping two defenders before off-loading to Leavy.
As Ireland continued to dominate the breakdown, Conan grabbed his first try by crossing in the corner after the ball went quickly through the Irish hands and the ubiquitous Earls provided the final pass.
Conan again provided the finish soon after the restart, picking up the loose ball after a cheap turnover, kicking through and dotting down for a comfortable try to extend the tourists' lead.
Conway missed 10 minutes of action when receiving a yellow card for a high tackle and Japan scored their first try from their best passage of play on the hour, Noguchi shrugging off a couple of attempted tackles to surge over.
Ringrose completed a fine Irish move by dancing round a tired looking Michael Leitch to dive over in the corner, then Earls ensured a try double for the second successive game by darting over after prop Dave Kilcoyne had shown pace to surge almost 40 metres to within a couple of the line.
Japan showed some belated creative spark, aided by a porous Irish defence, to notch late tries through Fukuoka and Nagare, but Jamie Joseph's side will look for improvement when the sides clash again next week.
Japan: R Noguchi; K Matsushima, W Tupou, D Carpenater, K Fukuoka; Y Tamura, F Tanaka; K Inagaki, S Horie (capt), H Ito; K Inagaki, S Horie (capt), H Ito; K Yatabe, U Helu; M Leitch, Y Tokunaga, A Lelei.
Replacements: Y Niwai, S Ishihara, T Asahara, H Tui, S Matsuhashi, Y Nagare, R Yamanaka, R Matsuda
Ireland: S Zebo; A Conway, G Ringrose, R Scannell, K Earls; P Jackson, L McGrath; C Healy, N Scannell, J Ryan; Q Roux, D Toner; R Ruddock, D Leavy, J Conan.
Replacements: J Tracy, D Kilcoyne, F Bealham, K Treadwell, J O'Donoghue, K Marmion, R O'Loughlin, T O'Halloran. | Ireland ran in seven tries as they secured a convincing win in the first of two Test matches against Japan. | 40286054 |
The rebels have been weakened and the paramilitary forces officially demobilised. However, recent years have seen the emergence of criminal gangs who have moved in to take over drug-trafficking operations previously run by the paramilitaries.
The Colombian government says these criminal bands, which it calls "Bacrims", are now a major threat.
The Farc is the oldest and largest group among Colombia's left-wing rebels and is one of the world's richest guerrilla armies.
The group was founded in 1964, when it declared its intention to overthrow the government and install a Marxist regime.
But tactics changed in the 1990s, as right-wing paramilitary forces attacked the rebels, and the Farc became increasingly involved in the drug trade to raise money for its campaign.
President Alvaro Uribe, who swept to power in 2002 vowing to defeat the rebels and was re-elected in 2006, launched an unprecedented offensive against the Farc, backed by US military aid.
The group had about 16,000 fighters in 2001, according to the Colombian government, but this is believed to have dropped to about 8,000, mainly as a result of desertions.
The Farc, which is on US and European lists of terrorist organisations, has suffered a series of blows in recent years.
The most dramatic setback was the rescue by the military of 15 high-profile hostages, including the former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt in 2008. The hostages had long been seen as a key element in the rebels' attempts to exchange their captives for jailed guerrillas.
The group's founder and long-time leader, Manuel "Sureshot" Marulanda, died that same year of a heart attack.
On 23 September 2010, the group's top military leader, Jorge Briceno, also known as Mono Jojoy, was killed in a raid on his jungle camp in the eastern region of Macarena.
In November 2011, Alfonso Cano, leader of the group since Marulanda's death, was killed in a bombing and ground raid in Cauca province. He was replaced by Rodrigo Londono, better known under his alias of Timochenko.
The rebels still control rural areas, particularly in the south and east, where the presence of the state is weak, and have stepped up hit-and-run attacks in recent months
However, in what was interpreted by analysts as a major concession, the Farc announced in February 2012 that it was abandoning kidnapping for ransom.
In November 2012, the Farc and the government opened peace talks, focussing on six key issues: land reform, political participation, disarmament of the rebels, drug trafficking, the rights of victims, and the implementation of the peace deal.
The left-wing group was formed in 1964 by intellectuals inspired by the Cuban revolution and Marxist ideology.
It was long seen as more politically motivated than the Farc, staying out of the illegal drugs trade on ideological grounds.
The ELN reached the height of its power in the late 1990s, carrying out hundreds of kidnappings and hitting infrastructure such as oil pipelines.
The ELN ranks have since declined from around 4,000 to an estimated 1,500 to 2,000, suffering defeats at the hands of the security forces and paramilitaries.
However, in October 2009, ELN rebels were able to spring one of their leaders from jail, indicating that they were not a completely spent force.
In recent years ELN units have become involved in the drugs trade, often forming alliance with criminal gangs.
The group is on US and European lists of terrorist organisations.
Shortly after the Farc entered into peace talks with the Colombian government in November 2012, the ELN leader said that his group was also interested in negotiating a deal with the government.
The group was rebuffed by the president, who said it needed to show actions rather than words before it could sit down at the negotiating table.
Nine months later, after the release of a Canadian mining executive the ELN had been holding, President Juan Manual Santos said the government "was ready to talk" to the ELN.
He said he hoped negotiations could start "as soon as possible". So far, no more details about the framework of the planned talks have been released.
This right-wing umbrella group was formed in 1997 by drug-traffickers and landowners to combat rebel kidnappings and extortion.
The AUC had its roots in the paramilitary armies built up by drug lords in the 1980s, and says it took up arms in self-defence, in the place of a powerless state.
Critics denounced it as little more than a drugs cartel.
The AUC's influence stemmed from its links with the army and some political circles, and its strength was boosted by financing from business interests and landowners.
The group carried out massacres and assassinations, targeting left-wing activists who speak out against them.
In 2003, a peace deal was signed with the AUC, under which paramilitary leaders surrendered in exchange for reduced jail terms and protection from extradition.
However, the Colombian authorities have extradited more than a dozen former paramilitary leaders to the US to face drug trafficking charges since 2008, saying they had violated the terms of the peace deal.
Some 32,000 paramilitary fighters have been demobilised, but the legal framework underpinning the process has been widely criticised for allowing those responsible for serious crimes to escape punishment.
The Colombian government regards the "Bacrims", as it refers to criminal bands, as the new enemy and the biggest threat to security.
The gangs, who include former paramilitary fighters, are involved in drug-trafficking and extortion.
In September 2010, a local think-tank, Indepaz, said a dozen or so new narco-paramilitary groups had quickly replaced the AUC in much of Colombia and were now responsible for more violence than left-wing rebels.
This echoes an earlier report in 2007 by the International Crisis Group, which highlighted concerns that former paramilitaries were joining forces with drug-trafficking organisations.
With names like the Black Eagles, Erpac and Rastrojos, they combine control of cocaine production and smuggling with extreme violence, but do not have any apparent political agenda.
The authorities believe in some regions they have joined forces with left-wing rebels to run drug-trafficking operations, while in other areas the new gangs and the guerrillas have clashed. | Colombia's civil conflict has lasted more than five decades, drawing in left-wing rebels and right-wing paramilitaries. | 11400950 |
The body of the 36-year-old was found in Monmouth Road, Bartley Green, by ambulance crews, who called police.
Det Insp Warren Hines said it was "believed the deceased and the man arrested were known to each other".
The 51-year-old man is being questioned by police. The house remains cordoned off for forensic investigations.
Anyone with information about the incident was asked to call West Midlands Police.
A post-mortem examination will take place at a later stage to establish the cause of death, a force spokesman said. | A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman's body was found at a house in Birmingham. | 33763403 |
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The hosts led 2-0 thanks to new skipper Jason McGuinness's 18th-minute header and Jay Donnelly's 50th-minute first-time strike into the bottom corner.
Goals from Ivan Trickovski and Elias Charalambous on 59 and 64 minutes brought the Cypriot club level.
Joan Thomas then scored to put his side in control of the tie with the winner.
Cliftonville are the Irish League's last remaining representatives in the competition, with both Linfield and Glenavon having been eliminated at the first qualifying round stage.
The Reds beat Differdange 03 of Luxembourg 3-1 on aggregate in the previous round but were without the suspended Ryan Catney and Martin Murray, who is on holiday, for the visit of Larnaca.
Gerard Lyttle's side face a major uphill struggle in the second leg at the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium on Thursday, 21 July at 18:00 BST.
Recent signing McGuinness rose highest to power home a towering header from Martin Donnelly's corner as the hosts made a bright start to the game.
Before the break, Jude Winchester and James Knowles were both denied by visiting keeper Rubin Mino as they went close to extending their side's advantage.
Jay Donnelly found the target five minutes after the interval, striking the ball low into the net from inside the area after running onto a ball over the top by David McDaid.
Trickovski, who scored four goals in the last round, met a long ball and beat Mooney to reduce the deficit, then Charalambous beat Jason Mooney with a cool finish.
Thomas got on the end of Trickovski's clever back-heel and fired into the bottom left-hand corner from close range for his team's third away goal. | AEK Larnaca came from two goals down to beat Cliftonville 3-2 in Thursday's first leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie at Solitude. | 36787127 |
David Overton was told by TV judges his washable, wearable maps were "too niche" and "would look ridiculous".
But a chance meeting with fellow passenger and Lush founder Mark Constantine led to an order for 1,800 SplashMaps.
A third have already been sold in stores as scarves and gift-wrap.
Dragon Sarah Willingham told Mr Overton she would "look ridiculous wearing the A to Z around my neck" when the show aired on Sunday.
Fellow judge and financier Peter Jones also predicted a bleak future and said: "I don't see how you can make a lot of money".
But prior to filming in April, Mr Overton said he struck up a brief conversation with Mr Constantine on a train, not knowing he was the head of a major high street firm.
He said it started because he was wearing one of his creations as a scarf.
Cosmetics retailer Lush, based in Poole, Dorset, contacted Mr Overton about a week after his ordeal with the Dragons and placed an order.
Mr Constantine said he thought the maps were a "great idea" and "hoped the collaboration would continue".
Mr Overton said: "It means a heap more than the Dragons because here's a guy who believes in the product and knows that he can make a good profit." | A failed Dragon's Den contestant has signed a deal with a big-name cosmetics brand after unknowingly meeting its founder on a train. | 36972814 |
Imrich Joni, 19, is accused of killing 68-year-old Gordon Bolam in the city's Pollokshields area between 29 June and 14 July 2016 and then hiding the body.
Prosecutors claim Mr Joni used a knife and ligature to kill Mr Bolam. He also stands accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
Mr Joni denies the charges against him. At the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lady Scott set a trial date for April.
Prosecutors stated that Mr Bolam was struck on the head, neck and body with a knife and a mug or similar items.
Mr Joni is further said to have inflicted blunt force injuries by "means unknown".
The allegation claims the teenager then placed a ligature around Mr Bolam's neck.
Mr Joni faces a separate accusation of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by hiding Mr Bolam's remains in a wardrobe and piling clothes and bags on top of his body.
He is also alleged to have cleaned the flat to try and remove blood as well as getting rid of clothes, trainers and a knife.
Mr Joni is further accused of breaching a bail order imposed by a sheriff on 20 June. A condition was said to be he did not enter Glasgow other than for the "purpose of attending court".
He also faces final charges of breaking into Edinburgh's Festival Theatre on 30 or 31 July and having bladed items in a public place.
Mr Joni's trial is due to get under way at the High Court in Edinburgh on 11 April. | A teenager is to stand trial accused of murdering an OAP in his Glasgow home. | 38518649 |
The ruling was made after an agreement was reached between the Academy and Nate D Sanders, an auction house that specialises in movie memorabilia.
The golden statuette in question was awarded in 1942 to Joseph C Wright for his colour art direction on My Gal Sal.
His heirs sold the Oscar in June 2014.
The Academy tried to prevent the sale, claiming it breached a rule, instituted in 1951, that Oscar winners and their heirs cannot sell statuettes without first offering it to the organisation for $10.
The Academy's lawyers argued that Nate D Sanders was aware of the requirement when it bought the Oscar at a sale organised by Rhode Island firm Briarbrook Auctions.
Nate B Sanders previously handled the auction of 15 Oscar statues, a collection whose sale fetched more than $3m (£1.9m), in 2012.
"The Oscar is perhaps the world's most distinctive and prestigious award for achievement in the arts,'' said Gary E Gans, the lawyer who represented the Academy in the protracted litigation.
"This case established that the Academy can maintain the dignity and value of such an award by keeping it from becoming a commodity."
Last year the Academy took legal action against the heirs of another Oscar winner - cinematographer Robert Surtees - after they allegedly sold one of his awards on eBay. | An Oscar statuette that changed hands last year for $79,200 (£50,726) can be reclaimed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for just $10 (£6.40), a Los Angeles judge has ruled. | 33903795 |
The prime minister called on them not to "sit on their hands" and side with Jeremy Corbyn and others he labelled "a bunch of terrorist sympathisers".
Labour's leader has said bombing is not a sensible way to bring peace to Syria.
The BBC's Carole Walker said the PM wanted to win the Commons' backing without having to rely on Labour MPs.
Opposition leader Mr Corbyn was forced to offer a free vote to his MPs after a shadow cabinet rebellion.
As many as 50 Labour MPs could support David Cameron although party sources have suggested this number is falling as Mr Corbyn seeks to persuade them to listen to his arguments against intervention.
Meanwhile, thousands of protesters, led by the Stop the War coalition, have taken to the streets of London for the second time in four days to protest against bombing.
The government motion to be voted on would authorise air strikes "exclusively" against so-called Islamic State - also known as Isil or Daesh - in Syria, and says the UK government will not deploy troops in "ground combat operations".
It says military action is "only one component of a broader strategy" to tackle IS.
According to the BBC's latest research, of the 640 MPs likely to vote, 360 MPs are in favour of the motion while 170 are against. Of the remainder, 20 are "leaning to" supporting the government, three are "leaning against" while 87 are undecided.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed her party's 54 MPs will be opposing air strikes, saying bombing on its own will not rid the threat of terrorism or bring peace to Syria.
The Liberal Democrats have confirmed that their eight MPs will support the government, with the Democratic Unionist Party saying its eight MPs will also back airstrikes.
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has written to party members, saying he is aware many in the party will disagree with the "difficult" decision he has made, but he has done so because "the threat to Britain and our allies is clear".
He wrote: "I believe it is right to support what is a measured, legal and broad-based international effort to tackle the evil regime that has contributed to the hundreds of thousands of desperate refugees fleeing for their lives."
Addressing a meeting of the 1922 Conservative backbench committee, Mr Cameron warned that if Tory MPs voted against airstrikes they risked undermining a strong message that the UK was standing alongside its allies, including France and the US - already engaged in military action.
The PM's attack on Mr Corbyn - which mirrors comments he first made in his party conference speech in October - was criticised by one Labour MP likely to back airstrikes. Wes Streeting said it was "not the sort of thing" he expected to hear from the prime minister.
While in recent days the government has been trying to court Labour MPs, the BBC's Carole Walker said it was now apparent Downing Street was keen to carry the vote through a combination of its own MPs and their "natural allies", such as the DUP.
Mr Corbyn has urged Labour frontbenchers who support airstrikes to "think again", saying they are "not a sensible or rational way forward" and would "takes us yet again into another conflict".
In an interview with BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg, he said MPs "must bear in mind what the public think and what the implications are for this country".
More than 75% of Labour members polled by the party had indicated they were opposed to air strikes, he said.
Asked about his failure to convince his shadow cabinet to back his position, he said: "Some people are more difficult to persuade than others, and I look forward to them being persuaded."
Rather than air strikes, Mr Corbyn said efforts should focus on a political settlement and achieving a "credible line of government" across Syria.
Asked whether, if he was prime minister, he would urge France and the United States - which are already bombing IS in Syria - to stop, he said: "I would ask them to put their efforts into a peace process."
He added: "I would ask them to join in looking for the way in which we can achieve a political solution to the Syria civil war as the best way forward of solving that problem."
MPs rejected air strikes against Syrian government targets in 2013, but have since backed strikes against IS in Iraq. Ministers say it is "illogical" to carry out strikes in Iraq but not Syria as IS does not recognise the border between the countries.
One of the key debating points has been Mr Cameron's claim there are 70,000 moderate ground forces able to fight IS in Syria.
The prime minister's spokeswoman said a claim by Labour MP Louise Haigh that the national security adviser had briefed MPs that 30,000 of the 70,000 were "much more radical Islamists" was a misrepresentation of what he had said.
Ms Haigh made the comment on Twitter, and was challenged by other MPs who had been at the briefing. She later insisted the government must "be clearer about the make-up" of the 70,000 figure. | David Cameron has urged Tory MPs to take a stand on fighting terror on the eve of a vote in Parliament on authorising UK airstrikes in Syria. | 34980061 |
The Scottish SPCA believe the animals may have been the victims of the puppy farming industry.
An undercover officer with the animal charity said they believed the pups were aged between six and 12 weeks and they were possibly a Spaniel breed.
They were discovered by in a field next to a layby on the A77 between Cairnryan and Ballantrae on 18 November.
Warning: there is a photo of the dead puppies further down this story. Some people may find it disturbing.
The Scottish SPCA officer said: "The A77 is the main link between Scotland and Northern Ireland, which is where the majority of puppy farm suppliers are based.
"The central belt of Scotland is also where the majority of potential customers are."
Earlier this year a BBC Scotland investigation exposed the illegal trade.
The officer added: "We suspect they were part of a shipment from Northern Ireland and tragically died during the ferry journey before being callously dumped.
"We are currently awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death.
"Anyone with information is being urged to contact our Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999."
The Scottish SPCA has urged people to be vigilant if they buy a puppy this Christmas.
The officer said: "Trading puppies from puppy farms is an abhorrent practice and those involved have no regard for the welfare of the animals involved.
"We are very concerned that many people will be unwittingly supporting the puppy farming industry this Christmas by buying from unscrupulous breeders and sellers.
"The pups are often bred and kept in poor conditions, resulting in disease and infection.
"While the puppy may appear fine when purchased, problems usually begin to show shortly afterwards, by which point money has already exchanged hands and the seller is long gone."
The charity issued the following advice on buying a new dog: | Four dead puppies have been found dumped in a field in Dumfries and Galloway. | 35007366 |
The bill - backed by 181 Senators, with two against and 16 abstaining - aims to cut waste one million tonnes from the estimated five million it wastes each year.
It has been heralded as "one of the most beautiful and practical legacies" of the Expo Milano 2015 international exhibition - which focused on tackling hunger and food waste worldwide - by Agriculture Minister Maurizio Martina.
According to ministers, food waste costs Italy's business and households more than €12bn (£10bn; $13.4bn) per year. Studies suggest it could amount to more than 1% of GDP.
The problem is by no means confined to Italy.
The UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) estimates that some one third of food may be wasted worldwide - a figure which rises to some 40% in Europe. "The food currently wasted in Europe could feed 200 million people," the FAO says.
It's not the first time Italy has acted decisively over issues of hunger and food.
Three months ago, its highest court ruled that stealing small amounts of food to stave off hunger was not a crime.
Until now, businesses have faced risks and significant hurdles in trying to reduce waste.
For instance, many were concerned about violating health and safety laws by donating food marginally past its sell-by date. Complex procedures surrounded donating food, around maintaining sanitation and traceability standards.
The new laws seek to make donating food easier by removing these hurdles.
Now businesses will be able to record donations in one simple form every month.
They won't face sanctions for giving away food past its sell-by date, and will pay less waste tax the more they give away.
Farmers will be able to give away unsold produce to charities without incurring costs.
The agricultural ministry will spend €1m researching innovative ways to package foods in transit to prevent spoilage and extend shelf life, and a public information campaign aiming to reduce food wastage will be rolled out.
But it is perhaps the drive to promote "family bags" which has attracted most interest from ordinary diners, and which will require the biggest cultural shift.
It's what the world has until now known as the "doggy bag" - the term repackaged to remove the whiff of food not fit for human consumption.
Doggy bags are fairly common in other parts of the world and allow diners to take home food they haven't eaten from the restaurant.
But so far it has been rarely sighted in Italy's eateries.
Now, after a successful regional pilot, the scheme will be rolled out nationwide, backed by a €1m campaign.
Earlier this year, France passed a comparable range of measures trying to stop good-quality food being thrown away.
But there were differences. Supermarket owners faced fines if they failed to sign contracts with food donation charities.
Commentators point out that Italy's approach seeks to incentivise good behaviour rather than punish bad.
They will be watching with interest to see if this achieves results. | Italy has passed into law a raft of new measures to try to reduce the mountain of food wasted in the country each year. | 36965671 |
Parag Sawant, 36, whose wife was pregnant with their daughter when he was admitted, spent two years in a coma and was then in a semi-conscious state, his doctor told PTI news agency.
On 11 July 2006 one of seven bombs exploded in his train carriage.
The bombings killed at least 187 people and injured more than 800, PTI said.
The bombs were packed into seven pressure cookers and put in bags during the evening rush hour.
"He was in a deep coma for about two years and then his condition gradually improved into a semi-conscious state where he would understand simple commands," neurosurgeon BK Misra said.
Mr Sawant died when his lungs and heart stopped and he could not be resuscitated.
In 2010 when he came out of the coma, his wife Preeti told The Hindu newspaper: "He recognised me, our daughter. I am very happy."
The paper reported his wife had been given a job in the Western Railway and officials had paid for medical fees.
He was visited by Sushma Swaraj, then leader of the opposition in parliament, who criticised the government for the lack of prosecutions in the case.
Indian militants were blamed for the attack.
NDTV reports the case has now concluded, with 13 tried, but a court in Mumbai is yet to give its verdict. | An Indian man has died after spending nine years in hospital with severe brain injuries suffered in the 2006 bombing of commuter trains in Mumbai. | 33430140 |
Premier League
Manchester City 4-0 Stoke City
Aston Villa 2-4 Southampton
Bournemouth 1-4 Chelsea
Liverpool 2-2 Newcastle United
FA Cup
Everton 1-2 Manchester United | Read the reports from Saturday's matches in the Premier League and FA Cup. | 36111190 |
The state news agency, BNA, said the group plotted to attack "policemen... vital sites and security locations, including an embassy".
Bahrain human rights groups condemned the "unfair trial" and sentences.
The Gulf state has seen sporadic unrest since putting down mass Shia-led protests in 2011.
In the latest case the defendants were given sentences ranging from three years to life in prison. Activists said minors were among those jailed. Four people were acquitted.
Among the group's targets, the Gulf Daily News reported, were the Saudi embassy in Manama and the King Fahd Causeway connecting Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
The court alleged that those on trial were funded by the main Shia opposition group, al-Wefaq, and a banned association, al-Wafa (Fidelity).
In a statement, two Bahrain advocacy groups said that nine of those found guilty were under the age of 18.
"Bahrain's politicised courts are disenfranchising an entire generation of Bahrainis with unfair imprisonment," said Husain Abdulla, of Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain.
Bahrain was hit by an uprising in 2011 in which the Shia majority demanded democratic reforms from the Sunni-led government. Since then, protests have been more intermittent, following a crackdown.
In January, Bahrain stripped citizenship from 72 people on the grounds of damaging national security. | Bahrain has jailed 57 Shia citizens, and stripped all but one of them of their nationality, for an alleged plot to bomb sites across the kingdom. | 33106304 |
Kelman Edwards, 78, from Edinburgh, hit the accelerator instead of the brake.
Edwards had previously pled guilty to causing the death by careless driving of Rev Thomas Sinclair, 76, last May.
Edwards had been dropping off his daughter at Waverley station on 19 May 2014 when he found the ramp blocked by a new security barrier.
As he reversed back up on to the main road his foot hit the accelerator instead of the brake.
His automatic car sped across the road, hitting Rev Sinclair and then a bus on the other side of the road.
As he drove forward his car hit the minister again.
Thomas Sinclair, from East Tarbet on Lewis, had been attending the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. He died at the scene.
As well as the driving ban, Edwards was given a restriction order confining him to his home at night for six months.
John Cunningham, Presbytery Clerk of Lewis, said: "This has been a great tragedy for all involved.
"As a Presbytery, our prayers are with Mrs Pam Sinclair and her family who are now reliving the horror of 2014.
"But our prayers are also with Mr Edwards and his family as he tries to come to terms with the life changing consequences of this dreadful accident. Above all, we commit all concerned to the love and care of our sovereign God who works out all things for good for those who trust him." | A pensioner who caused the death of a church minister after he drove over him has been banned from driving for four years and given a restriction order. | 32591377 |
The Commons Brexit committee's first report urges ministers to publish their Brexit plan by mid-February and give Parliament a vote on the final deal.
Jonathan Edwards, the committee's only Welsh member, accused Labour MPs of "gagging" Labour ministers in Cardiff.
The Welsh Government said it would work to ensure Brexit talks take account of "the interests of all parts of the UK".
As well as calling for clarity on the Brexit plan, the cross-party committee said the UK government should "strive" to ensure there was no return to tariffs or other trade barriers.
Chairman Hilary Benn said: "This is going to be a hugely complex task and the outcome will affect us all.
"The government needs to publish its Brexit plan by mid-February at the latest, including its position on membership of the Single Market and the Customs Union, so that it can be scrutinised by Parliament and the public."
He added that ministers should make it clear that Parliament would get a vote on the final deal.
Mr Edwards, MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, welcomed the committee's support for continued free trade, but was unhappy it would not back his call for the devolved nations to be given a say on the final Brexit deal.
"By blocking my amendments to give Wales a voice, the Labour MPs on the committee have effectively gagged their Welsh Government colleagues," he said.
"That should ring major alarm bells for us in Wales. Westminster is intent on turning the UK into a unilateral state, dictating everything from Westminster, regardless of the needs and interests of Wales."
A Welsh Government spokesman welcomed the report's support for keeping trade open, and said it was involved in "ongoing discussions" with the UK government and other devolved administrations on the approach to Brexit.
"This is important work to ensure that the overall UK negotiating position takes into account the interests of all parts of the UK," the spokesman said.
"We look forward to continuing this constructive relationship after Article 50 has been triggered."
A UK government spokesman said it welcomed the report, but stressed: "We will set out our plans, subject to not undermining the UK negotiating position, by the end of March and that parliament will be appropriately engaged throughout the process of exit, abiding by all constitutional and legal obligations that apply."
Welsh Conservatives leader Andrew RT Davies said: "The committee recognises the damage that would be done if the Prime Minister were to be forced to disclose the government's negotiating position, and that is to be welcomed in what is by and large a sensible report." | A Plaid Cymru MP is "dismayed" fellow MPs will not insist on a Welsh say on the final terms of leaving the EU. | 38614841 |
The front counter service in Caerphilly, Chepstow, Maindee, Monmouth, Pontypool, Risca and Ystrad Mynach was closed or reduced in 2012.
They were initially reopened in 2014 and following a consultation, Mr Johnston says they will stay open.
"I'm delighted to announce that these stations will remain open," he said.
The stations will open on weekdays 09:00-17:00 GMT; in addition, Abertillery station will open on Thursday and Friday 09:00-17:00 and Brynmawr station will open Monday to Wednesday 09:00-17:00. | Seven police stations in the Gwent force area are to reopen permanently, the Police and Crime Commissioner Ian Johnston has said. | 30818431 |
The Scottish climate change secretary has written to the UK government saying that Scotland is "paying the price for the UK's lack of climate ambition".
The Scottish government publishes its 2013 greenhouse gas figures on Tuesday.
The Greens said Scotland was failing to pursue policies that would get emissions down.
A spokeswoman for the UK's Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) said: "There is absolutely no lack of ambition in tackling climate change from the UK."
The Greens say that only an unprecedented drop in emissions can stop Scotland from missing its fourth annual climate target in a row.
Greenhouse emissions rose by 400,000 tonnes in 2012 despite a projected drop of 178,000, but the target for 2013 will require a massive drop of eight million tonnes.
Scottish Climate Change Minister Aileen McLeod said Scotland remains "on track to meet our world-leading target of a 42% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020".
International negotiations continue on a new global climate change treaty to be agreed in Paris in December.
Ms McLeod said: "For that treaty to stand a good chance of limiting global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius, the UK and the rest of the international community must match Scotland's high climate change ambition."
She added: "Scottish emission levels also depend to a significant extent on policies at UK and EU level. And Scotland is paying the price for the UK's lack of climate ambition."
The DECC said: "We have already cut our emissions by 30% since 1990, we're on track to meet our domestic carbon budgets, and we led Europe to get an ambitious EU carbon plan for 2030."
Green MSP Patrick Harvie, a member of Holyrood's economy and energy committee, said: "Since the Scottish Parliament agreed to set challenging climate change targets there has been a failure of the current Scottish government to pursue policies that will get our emissions down.
"An area the Scottish Greens have consistently pushed in parliament has been community and public ownership of energy assets."
He added: "The Scottish government needs to be bolder on community energy and should seek to increase not cut its investment, otherwise we can only conclude it does not understand the urgent need for a transformational policy agenda." | The Green party has warned that Scotland could miss its annual climate change target as ministers urge Westminster to match its ambitions. | 33034930 |
The wicketkeeper will, however, remain available for selection for the three-match series and the three subsequent Twenty20 internationals.
Dhoni, 35, had been India's limited-overs captain since September 2007.
Under his leadership, India won the 2007 World Twenty20, 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy.
Test captain Virat Kohli - ranked second in the world's ODI batting rankings - is the leading candidate to replace Dhoni.
"The Indian team has touched new heights and his achievements will remain etched forever in the annals of Indian cricket," said Rahul Johri, chief executive of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Dhoni led his country in 199 ODIs and 72 Twenty20 internationals, also taking charge of 60 Tests between 2008 and 2014, to hold the overall record for the most international matches as captain with 331.
In terms of victories, he is the most successful captain in all three formats in Indian cricket history.
He was put in charge of the India squad for the inaugural World T20 in South Africa in 2007, leading his side to a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the final.
It was this success which is credited with starting his country's obsession with the shortest format of the game.
Already established as a powerful middle to lower-order batsman, Dhoni developed a reputation as an adept finisher in run chases, as epitomised by his man-of-the-match performance in the 2011 World Cup final.
The captain struck 91 off 79 balls, including a six to win the game, as he guided India to a six-wicket win against Sri Lanka in front of a raucous home crowd in Mumbai.
There was further success in a dramatic five-run victory over England in the 2013 Champions Trophy final at Edgbaston, before finishing runners-up to Sri Lanka in the 2014 World T20 in Bangladesh. | MS Dhoni has stepped down as India's limited-overs captain ahead of the ODI series against England, which begins on 15 January. | 38510978 |
The group met after a tribunal suspended him for a month from being a Cardiff councillor.
Mr McEvoy claimed the tribunal proceedings - which ruled that a comment to a council officer was "bullying behaviour" - were a "farce".
He claimed he could be back in the group within hours as a separate party inquiry into his conduct continues.
A group statement said: "With Neil's agreement, the Plaid Cymru group has decided that he should be temporarily suspended from the group whilst agreement is sought on a way forward following recent events."
It added that, prior to the group meeting, leader Leanne Wood met Mr McEvoy and took the decision to remove him from his role as a Plaid spokesman on sport and tourism.
Prior to the suspension a Plaid Cymru spokeswoman told BBC Wales that the party's inquiry, being held by chairman Alun Ffred Jones, will "look at all evidence and complaints available to it".
Since the tribunal ruling on Friday, Mr McEvoy has been subject to a number of accusations on social media about his behaviour.
Mr McEvoy said: "This is a temporary suspension until me and the group can agree a statement together.
"We are a united group but I need to take legal advice before we agree our statement and so it's right that I'm temporarily suspended until that time.
"It could be that I'm back in the group in a few hours but I need to speak to my barrister first."
The South Wales Central AM also said he made "no apology for standing up" for a constituent who was facing eviction at a court case in July 2015, following which he made the comment judged to be bullying.
Meanwhile a group of domestic violence survivors and women's activists has written to Plaid Cymru calling for the party to review its support for Mr McEvoy.
The signatories include Rachel Williams, an ambassador for Welsh Women's Aid and a survivor of domestic violence herself.
The letter called on Plaid Cymru to "take the necessary measures (including suspension pending the investigation of fresh complaints) to ensure that he has no platform to attack the already fragile position of women in Wales".
Ms Williams told BBC Wales that she is a member of the Labour party.
Mr McEvoy has previously accused Welsh Women's Aid of "publicly funded child abuse" - comments for which he later apologised and received a formal warning from Plaid Cymru.
In response to the letter Mr McEvoy said: "I have consistently stood up for the underdog. I support both men and women who have been victims of domestic abuse."
Plaid assembly group chairman and South Wales West AM Dai Lloyd told reporters on Tuesday he did not agree with Mr McEvoy's criticism of the Adjudication Panel for Wales tribunal.
"I don't agree with him that it's a 'kangaroo' court... Personally you would have to respect the deliberations and the results of such an adjudication panel," Mr Lloyd said.
"As elected representatives, we owe it to ourselves professionally to always act in a way that is always mature and professional at all times, whatever difficult situation you find yourself in."
The decision to suspend Neil McEvoy from the Plaid Cymru assembly group was probably inevitable given the animosity towards him from some, although not all, of his fellow Plaid AMs.
While the Cardiff Plaid leader's campaigning abilities are widely admired by the party rank and file, fellow AMs complain of him being in a "continual attack mode" and being more concerned with his own personal brand than the overall image of the party.
Had the group failed to act, it is likely that Labour in the assembly would have launched an all-out assault on the party's feminist and anti-bullying credentials - attacks that would have been particularly painful for Leanne Wood, who has often spoken out on both issues.
In the longer term, Mr McEvoy's ultimate fate will depend on the results of an inquiry being carried out by the party chairman, former AM Alun Ffred Jones.
With less than two months to go to the local elections, Plaid activists will hope that inquiry is completed sooner rather than later. | Plaid Cymru AM Neil McEvoy has been suspended from the party's assembly group amid a row over bullying. | 39191655 |
The powerful centre recorded her double in the opening 28 minutes to underline the superiority of England's start.
Wales rallied as Alisha Butchers pounced on a charge down and Robyn Wilkins intercepted for another try.
But Amber Reed kicked 10 points to maintain England's quest for a first Six Nations title since 2012.
England travel to second-placed France, who lost 10-8 to Wales last month, for their final match on Friday evening in Vannes, eyeing both the title and the Grand Slam.
"At times we made it a little bit tricky for ourselves but the character of this group continues to show, they keep evolving," England coach Scott Bernard said.
Have you added the new Top Story alerts in the BBC Sport app? Simply head to the menu in the app - and don't forget you can also add alerts for the Six Nations, cricket scores, your football team and more. | Ceri Large scored two first-half tries as England made it four wins from four in the Women's Six Nations with a 20-13 win over Wales at Twickenham Stoop. | 35795199 |
Horatio Chapple, from Wiltshire, was with 12 others on a British Schools Exploring Society trip near a glacier on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen.
The four who were hurt - two severely - included two leaders of the trip. They have been flown to Tromsoe where their condition is stable.
BSES chairman Edward Watson described Mr Chapple as a "fine young man".
Mr Watson said the society had been in touch with his family - who live near Salisbury - and had offered "our utmost sympathy".
He said: "Horatio was a fine young man, hoping to go on to read medicine after school. By all accounts he would've made an excellent doctor."
He said the society's executive director was travelling to Spitsbergen, in the Svalbard archipelago, adding: "We are continuing to gather information on this tragedy."
Mr Chapple was studying at Eton College in Berkshire. Geoff Riley, head of teaching and learning technologies at the school paid tribute on Twitter, saying his thoughts and prayers were with his family.
The attack, near the Von Post glacier about 25 miles (40km) from Longyearbyen, took place early on Friday.
The group contacted the authorities using a satellite phone and a helicopter was sent to rescue them.
The bear was shot dead by a member of the group.
The BSES, a youth development charity, said the injured men were trip leaders Michael Reid, 29, and Andrew Ruck, 27, who is from Brighton but lives in Edinburgh, and trip members Patrick Flinders, 17, from Jersey, and Scott Smith, 16.
The injured were flown to hospital in Longyearbyen and then on to University Hospital in Tromsoe, on the Norwegian mainland.
A spokeswoman for the hospital said the patients were now in a stable condition.
The father of Patrick Flinders, Terry, said he believed the polar bear had crossed a trip wire and into his son's tent.
"According to the doctor and the other people Patrick was trying to fend off the polar bear by hitting it on the nose - why, I don't know, but he did and... the polar bear attacked him with his right paw across his face and his head and his arm," he said.
Those worried about their relatives should call 0047 7902 4305 or 0047 7902 4302.
The UK ambassador to Norway, Jane Owen, is leading a consular team to Tromsoe to provide assistance to the expedition group.
By Matt WalkerEditor, BBC Nature
Polar bears are, along with the grizzly bears of Kodiak Island, Alaska, the largest living predators on land.
They are also considered to be one of the few wild species that will actively hunt humans.
However, the chance to do so occurs rarely, due to the extreme isolation of their Arctic habitat.
Adult polar bears spend most of their lives alone, ranging over a vast icy landscape, using their acute sense of smell to locate their favoured prey of blubber-rich seals, whales and walruses.
If needs must, they will, like many bears, adapt their behaviour; polar bears have been seen feasting on goose eggs, while one bear has been recorded undertaking an epic nine-day swim to reach new feeding grounds.
As climate change reduces ice cover, there are concerns that more polar bears will become displaced and will move further inland to seek food, bringing them into contact with more people.
She said the event was "really shocking and horrific".
"I cannot begin to imagine what a dreadful ordeal it is for everyone involved and of course especially the families.
"And our thoughts and prayers go out, particularly to the parents of and the family of Horatio but also everyone who's been affected by this."
Lars Erik Alfheim, vice-governor of Svalbard, said polar bears were common in the area.
"These days when the ice comes in and out like it does right now, it's not unlikely to encounter polar bears. Polar bears are extremely dangerous and it's an animal that can attack without any notice."
The BSES group of 80 people were on a trip which began on 23 July and was scheduled to run until 28 August.
A blog on the group's website dated 27 July described polar bear sightings from their camp where they had been marooned due to "an unprecedented amount of ice in the fjord".
"Despite this everyone was in good spirits because we encountered a polar bear floating on the ice, this time we were lucky enough to borrow a kind Norwegian guide's telescope to see it properly," it said.
"After that experience I can say for sure that everyone dreamt of polar bears that night."
Earlier this year the governor's office warned people about bear attacks after several were spotted near Longyearbyen.
BSES Expeditions, based in Kensington, west London, organises scientific expeditions to remote areas to develop teamwork and a spirit of adventure.
It was founded in 1932 by a member of Captain Scott's final Antarctic expedition of 1910-13.
Polar bears are one of the largest land carnivores, reaching up to 8ft (2.5m) and weighing 800kg (125st). | A polar bear has mauled a 17-year-old British boy to death in the Arctic and injured four other UK tourists. | 14415592 |
Darren Dixon was told he could be found in contempt if he returned to Selkirk Sheriff Court in similar attire.
The 27-year-old had admitted breaking his girlfriend's tablet during a row over a George Foreman grill, when he received the dressing down.
Sheriff Peter Paterson said; "If you turn up to court in shorts again you will be held in contempt of court.
"It is completely unacceptable."
Dixon, of Galashiels, apologised for wearing the long blue shorts.
He was fined £125 for the criminal offence and ordered to pay his ex-girlfriend £100 in compensation. | A man who wore shorts in court on one of the hottest days of the year has been reprimanded by a sheriff. | 33095446 |
The airport said the problem had now been resolved and it was working with airlines to get luggage to passengers "as soon as possible".
Passengers reported long queues at check-in desks on Friday. Departing flights from the north and south terminals are affected.
The system for handling luggage from arriving flights has not been affected.
A spokesman for Gatwick Airport said: "Arrivals, and those travelling with carry-on baggage only, were unaffected by this issue and all bags and passengers were security screened as normal."
He said the problem with the automated baggage system had now been fixed and the airport was now working to remedy the disruption caused by a backlog of luggage.
Passengers have taken to social media complaining of a lack of information from airlines at the airport's check-in desks as the airport begins one of its busiest weekends of the year.
Charles Duffield tweeted: "Total shambles at Gatwick this morning."
Phil Collins also posted on Twitter: "Absolute chaos @Gatwick_Airport multiple gate moves, multiple flights from the same gates and staff ask us for advice and info #BankHoliday."
EasyJet said the problem had been caused by a baggage belt failure. | A fault with Gatwick Airport's baggage system meant flights were leaving without passengers' luggage. | 40056159 |
Mohammad Yaqub Haidari was nominated for the post by President Ashraf Ghani. However, it has emerged that he is on Interpol's most-wanted list for large scale tax evasion and fraud.
The presidential office has told the BBC it is investigating whether the accusations against him are true.
Interpol's website says Mr Haidari is wanted in Estonia for tax evasion.
He is also accused of fraud linked to currency conversions.
Mr Haidari told the BBC that he was the victim of a political conspiracy, and that he was being pursued by a criminal mafia.
He said: "They [Interpol] have mentioned in this document that they are pursuing me. I am not in hiding."
He said that he would like to go to Estonia to "defend his rights".
Estonian law enforcement officials could not immediately be reached for comment on Sunday.
According to Estonian media, Mr Haidari was investigated for embezzlement and tax evasion from the time when he was director of dairy firm Rapla Dairy. The company went bankrupt in 2003.
Court proceedings began against Mr Haidari, and he eventually fled Estonia, local media said.
He was sentenced in absentia to four years in prison in 2011, reports said.
The news of the charges is an embarrassment for the new President Ghani, who wants to change the political culture in Afghanistan by appointing people who are both qualified and clean, the BBC's David Loyn in Kabul reports.
No ministers are yet in place almost four months after the new Afghan government was sworn in, and there is a growing sense that the government is drifting, our correspondent adds.
President Ghani announced his cabinet nominations on Monday some three months after he was sworn in, following tortuous negotiations with former rival and current government chief executive Abdullah Abdullah. | Afghanistan's nominee for agriculture minister has denied charges of fraud and tax evasion outstanding in Estonia. | 30872236 |
George Stevenson, who lives in Glenfuir Court, was last seen in the High Station Road area of the town at about 23:00 on 10 February.
Officers said concern was growing for his welfare as he had not made contact with his friends or family.
Mr Stevenson is 5ft 8in tall, with thinning hair on top and longer hair at the back and sides.
He was believed to be wearing a green tammy hat, black jacket, long cardigan, a blue and white checked shirt, black jeans and khaki trainers.
Det Insp Jim Thomson, from Police Scotland, said: "George has now been missing over a week without being seen or heard from and so far our inquiries have not led us to establish his whereabouts.
"Officers will be in the area of High Station Road Falkirk near to where George was last seen and around his home address in the Summerford area of Falkirk." | Police have renewed an appeal to trace a 70-year-old Falkirk man who has been missing from his home for a week. | 39006024 |
Leicester-born Smith, 28, has only played in four first-team matches so far this season and has decided to pursue a career outside of cricket.
Former England Under-19 international Smith, who joined from Leicestershire prior to the 2015 season, said: "It feels like the right time for me to move on from cricket."
Smith scored almost 5,000 first-class runs with 2,000 more in one-day games.
Director of cricket Mick Newell said he was sad to see Smith leave.
"He's found it a struggle to get into the first team this season and we respect that he now considers he is ready to begin a new chapter in his life," Newell said.
"He has played some important innings in his time with us, particularly in white-ball cricket. We wish him every success in whatever he chooses to do next." | Nottinghamshire batsman Greg Smith has retired from professional cricket. | 40668339 |
Such gravimeters already exist but compared to this postage stamp-sized gadget, they are bulky and pricy.
The new design is based on the little accelerometers found in smartphones.
To begin with, the team - from the University of Glasgow - tested it by measuring the Earth's tides over a period of several days.
Tidal forces, caused by the interacting pull of the Sun and Moon, not only drag the oceans up and down but slightly squash the Earth's diameter.
"It's not a very big squeeze, but it means that essentially Glasgow - or anywhere else on the Earth's crust - goes up and down by about 40cm over the course of 12-13 hours," said Richard Middlemiss, the PhD student who made the new instrument.
"That means that we get a change in gravitational acceleration - so that's what we've been able to measure."
In fact, Mr Middlemiss and his colleagues, writing in the journal Nature, report that their contraption can detect even smaller gravity changes - such as those that would be caused by a tunnel less than 1m across, buried 2m underground.
Fleets of these devices could eventually be scattered around volcanoes or mounted on drones, they suggest, to conduct subterranean surveys.
They could even help civil engineers locate pipes under roads, Mr Middlemiss said, to save them digging in the wrong places.
"What we wanted was to make a gravimeter that was very small and very cheap."
Speaking to BBC News, he estimated that the device - in a few years' time - could be priced in the hundreds of pounds. This is much better than the £70,000-plus charged for today's commercial gravimeters, which are largely the preserve of wealthy oil companies.
The UK team has a patent pending on its design.
Like most gravimeters, the heart of the new instrument is a weight hanging from a spring. Unlike all other gravimeters thus far, this one is a MEMS: a "microelectromechanical system".
The whole sensor is carved from a sheet of silicon 0.2mm thick; the "weight" is a small slab of that silicon and the "spring" consists of several thin shafts that hold it in place.
When it is held vertically, gravity pulls the slab downwards. If that pull changes slightly, then the slab moves - as does its shadow, cast by a light shining through the device. This allows the movement to be detected by a photodiode, converted to current and recorded.
This is similar to the MEMS that tells your smartphone when it is upside down, Mr Middlemiss explained - but with some crucial improvements.
"The difference between the mobile phone accelerometers and our device is that our springs are very, very thin - about 10 times thinner than a human hair.
"That means that whereas in a mobile phone, it'll only be activated by something as big as the Earth - our sensor is... almost at the point where you could detect the gravitational pull of a human when you're standing next to them."
Comparatively, the acceleration caused by the Earth's tides is much larger - but also much slower.
So when Mr Middlemiss's gadget showed it had the stability to track those tides over days and weeks, instead of the seconds over which a MEMS usually operates, it was something of a landmark.
"It needs incredibly long-term stability," he said. "It's never been done with a MEMS device before."
It was working with fellow Glasgow physicists and engineers - including some of those involved in the recent detection of gravitational waves - that made the development possible, he added. But those famous ripples in space-time are well beyond Mr Middlemiss's small, silicon sensor.
"There is absolutely no way that our device could measure gravitational waves! But it's the expertise that's come out of the Institute of Gravitational Research, and the gravitational wave community generally, that has allowed us to do this."
For example, those colleagues showed him the importance of controlling the temperature in his sensor - while those in the School of Engineering helped him work out how to fabricate it.
Prof Hazel Rymer, a vulcanologist at the Open University, greeted the Glasgow gadget with huge enthusiasm.
"It is just so exciting," she told BBC Inside Science. "It's an absolute game-changer. Not yet - it's still something that needs to be operated in the laboratory and they've got to attach it very firmly to the floor.
"But the point is, they've now got a sensor that is sensitive enough to measure the types of gravity changes that I'm interested in - and anybody else that is using gravity meters.
"They will be a lot cheaper than the instruments that we've got at the moment - and certainly considerably more portable."
Follow Jonathan on Twitter | UK researchers have built a small device that measures tiny fluctuations in gravity, and could be used to monitor volcanoes or search for oil. | 35926147 |
The ex-Southport manager, 37, joined Brabin's staff at Prenton Park in July.
He will be assisted by first-team coach Shaun Garnett and head of academy and recruitment Lee Jones.
It is the second time that Carden has succeeded Brabin, with his promotion to Southport boss coming after Brabin joined Everton's coaching staff.
Carden's first match in charge will be against Woking on Saturday, with Rovers fifth in the table after 11 matches. | Assistant manager Paul Carden has taken charge of National League side Tranmere Rovers on an interim basis following the sacking of Gary Brabin on Sunday. | 37407765 |
The report, involving 79,000 women, showed those who smoked from the age of 15 went through the menopause on average 21 months earlier than women who did not smoke.
The paper also found a weaker link with prolonged exposure to passive smoke.
Experts say the study adds to growing evidence that toxins in tobacco can harm overall reproductive health.
Writing in the journal Tobacco Control, a team of researchers looked at data from participants in the women's health initiative observational study.
All women involved in this paper had gone through the menopause when they were recruited to the investigation between 1993 and 1998.
Using questionnaires, they were asked how long they had smoked for, how much they smoked and when they had experienced the menopause.
Comparing smokers with women who had never smoked, researchers found those who said they smoked heavily (more than 25 cigarettes a day) were likely to have faced the menopause 18 months earlier than non-smokers.
And non-smokers who had experienced many years of exposure to passive smoke - for example living with indoor smokers - went through the menopause earlier than non-smokers who were not around tobacco.
Scientists say the findings stood true even when alcohol use, educational backgrounds, oral contraceptive prescriptions and ethnicity were taken into account.
They suggest toxins in tobacco may play a role by disrupting key reproductive hormones, including oestrogen.
And though they cannot be certain of the long-term health consequences of these findings, they point out that previous studies have linked earlier menopause to a risk of earlier death.
But early menopause has also been associated with a lower risk of certain diseases, including breast cancer.
Separately, the study supported an established link between smoking and fertility problems.
Commenting on the findings, Prof Ashley Grossman, at the University of Oxford, said: "This is slightly worrying - there is only a slightly increased risk of infertility in smokers compared to never-smokers, but this new study suggests that so-called passive smokers might be similarly affected.
"Maybe more convincing is the nearly two-year earlier menopause in smokers and around one year in passive smokers; this dose-response effect does suggest we are looking at a true phenomenon."
Other experts point out that during the duration of the study, smoking was more common in both men and women.
But despite this researchers say their investigation, along with others, shows "all women need to be protected from active and passive smoke".
NHS Choices concluded from similar previous research that "while the link needs further testing, there are many proven benefits from stopping smoking". | Women who are heavy or habitual smokers are more likely to experience the menopause earlier, a study suggests. | 35102117 |
The South Africa-born back-row will make his first Six Nations start against the French, having become eligible to play for Scotland ahead of last year's World Cup.
"At this level, every game is a must-win game," said Strauss. "Pride-wise, though, this is a must-win game.
"It's very big for us. We feel everything is in place for us."
Strauss wants his team to build on the momentum generated by the victory over Italy in Rome last time out that ended the Scots' nine-match losing run in the Six Nations.
"We feel there has been a constant improvement in the team," he said. "That's a very important factor at this level, trying to build on the positives and trying to get the negatives out of the game.
"Two weeks ago against Italy, things came together nicely. We've got to build on what we did well."
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The form of David Denton resulted in Strauss playing a less prominent role in Scotland's World Cup campaign than many had anticipated, but now he wants to stake a claim for the number eight jersey in Vern Cotter's team.
"It's obviously a very big opportunity for myself," said Strauss, who replaces Glasgow Warriors team-mate Ryan Wilson in the starting XV.
"It's been a bit of a topsy-turvy experience with the World Cup and coming straight back into the Pro12. It's the first time I've experienced something like it.
"It was a very different experience and I struggled a bit with injuries before the Six Nations, which I think threw me off a little bit more.
"But I'm just happy to get back into the squad and get working."
Strauss is keen to make an impact after preparing with the squad for previous games.
"I've been in since the start, but I've been biding my time just training with team, trying to get my fitness back to where it has to be to play a game," he added.
"I've had a few games for the Warriors and I feel like my fitness is where it has to be.
"Everyone wants to start. Everyone wants that jersey." | Scotland forward Josh Strauss says pride dictates that Sunday's match against France is a "must-win game". | 35787710 |
They were among more than 1,000 people who invested in the Ingenious film financing schemes in the hope of securing tax relief.
Ingenious, which helped produce movies including Avatar, qualified for tax breaks designed to support the UK film industry.
But HMRC said Ingenious claimed relief on artificial losses from its films.
That meant the schemes were not legitimate investment opportunities but actually a means of avoiding tax.
On Wednesday, a tax tribunal upheld a 2016 decision to recoup the avoided tax, ruling that the incentives were "not allowable deductions".
It means that 1,400 people - including celebrities such as Gary Lineker, Bob Geldof and Ant and Dec - now face big bills.
Some £420m of tax was avoided, but with interest included the total owed will be closer to £700m.
An HMRC spokesperson said: "We are pleased that the tribunal has agreed with us that the vast majority of what was claimed in tax relief by Ingenious investors was simply not due."
A spokesman for Ingenious said it would be appealing the ruling: "It is wholly unsatisfactory that the tribunal reached this decision with 'misgivings and reluctance."
Those who used the Ingenious scheme had to invest at least £100,000 and were promised generous tax breaks on any losses incurred.
Many subsequently claimed that they were poorly advised about the schemes and had been unaware of the risks.
HMRC has previously won cases against another film tax avoidance scheme called Icebreaker.
In August 2016, the Tax Tribunal ruled members had claimed tax relief on losses many times higher than the actual amount they invested in the partnerships. The total tax at stake was £134m. | Celebrities including David Beckham and Wayne Rooney have lost a legal bid to overturn a £700m tax bill. | 40120027 |
The boats were caught in strong winds and torrential rain as they sailed across Lake Togo, about 40km (25 miles) east of the capital, Lome.
Police say the victims were returning home from a funeral on the other side of the lake.
Local official Akouete Edan said there were 21 survivors and that most of those killed were students.
It is not known how many people were on board the boats, and a search is continuing for further bodies.
"When the winds hit, the largest boat carrying some men and drums capsized first," a survivor told a local radio station, according to the Reuters news agency.
"Then two or three other smaller boats carrying women and children also capsized," he said, adding that he had lost three of his children who were with him.
Women's Minister Henriette Amedjogbe travelled with the prime minister to the village of Agbodankope, where many of those killed came from.
"It is a real tragedy," she said, according to the AFP news agency.
"We came to bring you the support of the government and the Togolese people." | At least 36 people have died in Togo when their boats capsized during a storm, officials say. | 13333798 |
The 36-year-old former All Black has been in charge since Richard Cockerill was sacked in January.
But Mauger, whose final game will be against Northampton Saints on Saturday, has been overlooked in favour of ex-Tigers coach Matt O'Connor.
"Definitely I wanted to stay and see it through for the rest of the season," he told BBC Leicester Sport.
"I was kept in the loop the whole way through, but I'm clearly disappointed and devastated at the outcome.
"The club have made that decision in the best interests of the club, and what they believe going forward, so I have to respect that and move on."
The return of 46-year-old former Australia international O'Connor was announced on Monday, just a day after Mauger guided the Tigers to victory over Exeter in the Anglo-Welsh Cup final - the club's first silverware in four years.
Following the departure of the long-serving Cockerill, Leicester lost their first three games under Mauger, but won three of their next eight in all competitions.
They are fifth in the Premiership table, a point behind Bath, with five matches to play.
"Where the group are at the moment is pretty exciting," Mauger added. "We have really turned things around over the last eight or nine weeks.
"There is a real positive energy in the group and that has been reflected in some really good performances. Unfortunately that wasn't enough.
"We have a big game on Saturday against Saints and we look forward to starting a home run for the play-offs." | Aaron Mauger says he is "devastated" by Leicester's decision not to appoint him as head coach. | 39342300 |
Mr Assange said Russia was not the source for the site's mass leak of emails from the Democratic Party.
Mr Trump has now backed that view in a tweet. He wrote: "Assange... said Russians did not give him the info!"
The president-elect has repeatedly refused to accept the conclusions of the US intelligence community.
Several US agencies including the FBI and the CIA believe Russia directed hacks against the Democratic Party and the campaign of its presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
The information, released through Wikileaks and other outlets, was intended to help Mr Trump win the election, say the FBI and CIA.
On Tuesday evening, Mr Trump said an intelligence briefing he was due to receive on the issue had been delayed.
"Perhaps more time needed to build a case. Very strange!" he wrote.
But US intelligence officials insisted there had been no delay in the briefing schedule.
In an interview with Fox News, Mr Assange repeated his claim that Russia was not behind the leak.
He also said a 14-year-old boy could have carried out one of the hacks, on the email account of John Podesta, a top aide of Mrs Clinton.
In 2010, several leading Republican figures were calling for the Wikileaks founder to be imprisoned after his website published thousands of embarrassing diplomatic cables leaked by former Army Pvt Chelsea Manning.
Mr Trump tweeted twice on Wednesday morning in support of what Mr Assange said on Fox News.
In another development, Mr Trump's pick for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, has agreed he will cut all ties with Exxon Mobil and comply with conflict-of-interest requirements.
Meanwhile, Republicans have ditched a plan to gut the independent body that investigates political misconduct after a backlash.
The lawmakers' surprise vote to strip the Office of Congressional Ethics of its independence prompted public uproar and a dressing down from Mr Trump on Twitter.
The secretive move, which overshadowed the first day of the 115th Congress, was reversed in an emergency meeting.
The ethics body was set up in 2008 following a slew of scandals that resulted in several House lawmakers being jailed.
Mr Trump made cleaning up corruption in Washington a key theme of his campaign.
Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan had argued unsuccessfully against the rule change, which was adopted on Monday night in a closed-door meeting.
As the news spread, internet searches for "who is my representative" rocketed, according to Google Trends, and constituents tried to call and email lawmakers to express their disgust.
House Republicans called an emergency meeting and abruptly voted to undo the change.
Mr Ryan - who was re-elected by fellow lawmakers on Tuesday as House Speaker - had urged his party to seek bipartisan support and to wait to push for the change later. | President-elect Donald Trump has backed Wikileaks founder Julian Assange in casting doubt on intelligence alleging Russian meddling in the US election. | 38505398 |
An inspection of Swinfen Hall prison near Lichfield, Staffordshire found almost all areas have deteriorated and the prison is "not safe enough".
The report also found inmates at the prison and young offenders institution were not having daily showers.
A spokesperson for the prison said the problems reflected "operational pressures".
The Chief Inspector of Prisons, Peter Clarke, said: "Basic standards to improve".
The report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons found:
The Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform charity, Frances Crook, said: "For the second time in as many weeks, we read of a prison where men are so frightened for their safety because of rising violence that they are refusing to come out of their cells.
"Many prisons are overcrowded, but Swinfen Hall is not, which makes this report particularly concerning."
Michael Spurr, Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service, said more prison officers will be recruited to Swinfen Hall and an action plan is in place.
Inspectors noted the prison was working hard to address offending behaviour and work to resettle prisoners back into the community was "reasonably good".
In August 2015, the prison was put on lockdown. In December of the same year prison staff were taken to hospital after being attacked by inmates.
The unannounced inspection of the prison, which holds 600 male prisoners aged between 18 and 25, was carried out in October and November 2016. | Inmates are living in cells without glass in the windows in conditions described as "squalid". | 39258648 |
The picture, taken at Kensington Palace ahead of his birthday on Saturday, captures a smiling future king.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were "delighted" to share the photograph taken by royal photographer Chris Jackson, Kensington Palace said.
The prince has spent the run-up to his birthday on a tour of Poland and Germany with his parents.
Prince George Alexander Louis - known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge - was born on 22 July 2013.
"The Duke and Duchess are very pleased to share this lovely picture as they celebrate Prince George's fourth birthday, and would like to thank everyone for all of the kind messages they have received," Kensington Palace said.
Getty Images royal photographer Mr Jackson, who took the photo at the end of June, said: "I'm thrilled and honoured that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen to release this portrait to celebrate Prince George's fourth birthday.
"He is such a happy little boy and certainly injects some fun into a photoshoot."
Earlier, the Duke of Cambridge gave Prince George and Princess Charlotte a guided tour of a helicopter at the Airbus factory in Hamburg on the last day of their official tour of Germany and Poland.
Prince George tried on a pilot's helmet while Princess Charlotte played with buttons in the cockpit.
In September, Prince George is due to start school.
He will go to Thomas's Battersea, a private preparatory school located a few miles from the family residence in Kensington Palace in London, where the family will be based. | An official portrait of Prince George has been released to mark his fourth birthday. | 40684062 |
Referee Jon Moss controversially awarded West Ham a spot kick against leaders Leicester after Foxes defender Wes Morgan tangled with Winston Reid.
Last Sunday's incident prompted a widespread debate about players tussling at set-pieces.
"I think if you start to give penalties for that then it stops," said Koeman on Thursday.
When Tottenham defeated Stoke 4-0 on Monday to cut Leicester's lead at the top of the table to five points, the lack of contact as players lined up for corners was noticeable.
Koeman said he wanted consistency from referees over penalty decisions from corners.
After Morgan was punished for grappling Reid, Leicester's appeals were dismissed after a similar 90th-minute incident involving Angelo Ogbonna and Robert Huth.
"Everybody knows if you take somebody in his shirt or like a rugby player, you take your man in the box, it's a penalty," said the Dutchman.
"If one day it's a penalty and even in the same game next time it's not, that doesn't help or make it clear for everybody." | Southampton manager Ronald Koeman says referees should give penalties when players grapple at corners. | 36104930 |
Six states vote on Tuesday, with California (543 delegates) and New Jersey (142) the big prizes.
Associated Press said Mrs Clinton had already reached the 2,383 delegates needed, taking into account pledges of support from so-called superdelegates.
Rival Bernie Sanders insists it is too early to call the result.
Donald Trump has already secured the Republican nomination.
Voting also takes place on Tuesday in Democratic primaries in Montana (27 delegates), New Mexico (43) and South Dakota (25), with a caucus in North Dakota (23).
The final primary is in Washington DC on 14 June. It has 45 delegates.
AP says its count has Mrs Clinton on 1,812 pledged delegates and 571 superdelegates.
US media organisations say this means she will now become the first female nominee for a major US political party.
Superdelegates are party insiders who can pledge their support for a candidate ahead of the convention but do not formally vote for them until the convention itself.
It has taken a long 227 years to get even this far.
George Washington was elected president of a newly independent America in 1789. Forty-three men later (42 of them white) Hillary Clinton makes history today by being the first female nominee for the White House.
So why don't I feel more excited?
The lack of exuberance may come from the fact that this has all been going on for so long.
We've really been reworking a version of the "first viable female candidate for the presidency" story since 20 January 2007, the first time Hillary Clinton declared her candidacy for the White House.
We're exhausted. We've run out of superlatives. We've overused every anecdote from the former first lady, former senator, former secretary's well-covered life.
A woman president would be new, Hillary Clinton is not.
Why aren't we more excited about Clinton?
BBC North America editor Jon Sopel says the AP announcement could actually be a problem for Mrs Clinton, as it may depress turnout in Tuesday's primaries and creates the impression that she has only won because of the superdelegates and not the ordinary voters.
The Democratic Party has a far larger number of superdelegates than the Republicans, meaning a candidate would have to win 58.8% of primary and caucus votes cast under the party's proportional system to win by pledged delegates alone. Mrs Clinton has about 55% of the overall vote so far.
She did not claim victory after the AP announcement, telling supporters in Long Beach, California, on Monday: "We are on the brink of a historic and unprecedented moment but we still have work to do.
"We have six elections tomorrow and we're going to fight hard for every single vote, especially right here in California."
Mrs Clinton received another boost on Tuesday when the influential Democratic politician and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi endorsed her for president.
Bernie Sanders is hoping for a victory in California to keep his campaign going to the party convention.
The Vermont senator has commanded huge crowds at his rallies, many of them younger voters, pledging action on income inequality, minimum wages and student tuition fees.
Opinion polls in California have suggested that the race with Mrs Clinton there is close. However, she has a substantial lead in New Jersey.
Reacting to the AP announcement, Sanders team spokesman Michael Briggs said: "It is unfortunate that the media, in a rush to judgement, are ignoring the Democratic National Committee's clear statement that it is wrong to count the votes of superdelegates before they actually vote at the convention this summer."
He said Mr Sanders would attempt to win back superdelegates.
But the BBC's Anthony Zurcher says Mr Sanders has been running an outsider's anti-establishment campaign that has not generated much enthusiasm among the Democratic power players and long-time party stalwarts who comprise the bulk of the superdelegates.
Also, our correspondent says, success in California hardly helped Mrs Clinton in 2008, when Barack Obama - with the support of superdelegates - defeated her.
AP reports White House officials as saying that Mr Obama is preparing to endorse Mrs Clinton in the next few days, although the announcement would come after Tuesday's primaries.
Mr Obama telephoned Mr Sanders on Sunday, AP said. The contents of the call have not been revealed.
On 26 May, Donald Trump passed the number of delegates needed to secure the Republican Party's presidential nomination, AP reported. Republicans are voting in the same states on Tuesday, except for North Dakota.
Mrs Clinton has been saying that Mr Sanders should join her in defeating Mr Trump and hopes for his support soon. | Hillary Clinton is looking to tighten her grip on the Democratic presidential nomination, after an AP count said she had already won enough delegates. | 36465894 |
The coins were stolen on Wednesday 2 September from the National Museum of Scotland in Chambers Street.
Police Scotland said the coins were of "great financial and historical value".
Officers said the men in the pictures may be able to help them with their inquiries.
Det Con Mark Seymour, of Police Scotland, said: "The stolen coins are of great financial and historical value, and any information which will assist the police inquiry would be greatly appreciated.
"I would encourage the males in the images to come forward to police.
"Similarly if anyone knows the males, or has any information to assist with the police investigation, I would urge them to contact police immediately." | Images of two men sought in connection with the theft of antique coins from an Edinburgh museum have been released by police. | 34900523 |
Juan Mata, who was substituted after coming on in last week's Community Shield, opened the scoring with a tap-in after Simon Francis' error.
Wayne Rooney headed the second before Zlatan Ibrahimovic marked his United league debut with a goal from 25 yards.
Adam Smith scored a consolation goal for the Cherries.
United were without world-record £89m signing Paul Pogba through suspension, while midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan started on the bench, with Mata preferred.
Relive the action from Vitality Stadium
As starts go, this was a highly satisfactory day for United - the Mourinho era began with a solid victory at a ground where they came unstuck under Louis van Gaal last season.
United started slowly and did not register a shot on target until a Rooney effort produced a comfortable save from Artur Boruc in the 27th minute.
Yet it was job done once the visitors opened the scoring with a messy goal and added two more in the space of five second-half minutes to put them in a commanding position.
Mata looked unhappy when he was replaced 30 minutes after coming on at Wembley against Leicester last Sunday but the Spaniard was all smiles as he got Mourinho's reign up and running.
Boruc made a fine block from Mata after Francis' under-hit back-pass but the rebound bounced off Francis into the former Chelsea player's path and he tapped home.
United's second goal was also down to some good fortune - Rooney was well positioned to head home after Anthony Martial's mis-hit shot fell perfectly for his captain.
Ibrahimovic was denied by a one-handed Boruc save but the Swede made it 3-0 with a drilled low finish from outside the area to leave Mourinho smiling.
Ibrahimovic continued his remarkable record of marking debuts with a goal.
The 34-year-old Swede has now scored on his first league starts in England, Italy, Spain and France, and in the Champions League.
Any concerns the frenetic pace in English football's top-flight might not suit Ibrahimovic were dispelled with his well-executed finish to follow a goal at Wembley last week.
It was his third goal in total for his new club after scoring on his first appearance in a United shirt in a friendly against Galatasaray as well as the winner in the Community Shield against Leicester.
Mourinho's oldest signing of the summer could turn out to be his shrewdest.
Bournemouth:
Jordon Ibe - Bournemouth's club-record £15m signing from Liverpool looked a threat coming in off the right and driving through the middle. He also had a goal-bound shot blocked after twisting and turning inside the United area.
Lewis Cook - The 19-year-old midfield signing from Leeds United did not lack confidence and showed enough promise to suggest he could be a success in the Premier League.
Manchester United:
Eric Bailly - Solid league debut and made his presence felt very early on with a no-nonsense challenge on Joshua King. A commanding presence in defence.
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Took a while to get going but, when he did, the former Paris St-Germain striker made an impact. Ibrahimovic was not afraid to go in where it hurts and was involved in an early clash of heads with Simon Francis while attempting to connect with Antonio Valencia's cross.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan - Came on for the final 15 minutes with the points in the bag. Replaced Juan Mata, who surprisingly started in place of the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder.
Eddie Howe has been one of the busiest top-flight managers in the transfer market this summer, having brought in six major signings.
And while the Cherries made it hard for United in the first half before Francis' error, they were exposed by ruthless opponents after the break.
There is still work for Howe to do on his team and his next addition looks like being Marc Wilson, the Stoke City defender, for £2m.
Bournemouth conceded 67 goals last season - more than relegated Newcastle - and they needed Boruc at his best to keep United from a more handsome win.
That needs addressing if Bournemouth, who scored when Smith found the top corner from 16 yards, are to stay out of the bottom three this season.
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "It was an even game until the first goal. You can't give Manchester United goals which we did.
"Credit to our boys. We kept fighting away and got the goal back and ended the game very strongly.
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"I thought Jordon [Ibe] did well in flashes and showed what he is going to bring to us. He is a really exciting talent and there is more to come from him."
8: Only Alan Shearer and Frank Lampard (8) have scored more opening day Premier League goals than Wayne Rooney (7).
1: Juan Mata scored his first Premier League goal under the management of Jose Mourinho (no goals in 13 Premier League games for Chelsea in 2013-14, before leaving for Manchester United).
0: Jose Mourinho has never lost an opening day fixture in the Premier League (W7 D1).
11: Bournemouth have now gone 11 Premier League games without keeping a clean sheet.
Bournemouth look to bounce back when they provide the opposition for West Ham's first Premier League game at London Stadium on 21 August (16:00 BST). United welcome Southampton to Old Trafford on Friday.(20:00 BST).
Match ends, Bournemouth 1, Manchester United 3.
Second Half ends, Bournemouth 1, Manchester United 3.
Attempt saved. Max Gradel (Bournemouth) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt blocked. Adam Smith (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Benik Afobe.
Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by David de Gea.
Attempt saved. Andrew Surman (Bournemouth) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Joshua King.
Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Marouane Fellaini.
Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Marouane Fellaini.
Attempt blocked. Joshua King (Bournemouth) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Charlie Daniels with a cross.
Offside, Manchester United. Ander Herrera tries a through ball, but Memphis Depay is caught offside.
Substitution, Manchester United. Memphis Depay replaces Wayne Rooney.
Offside, Manchester United. Ander Herrera tries a through ball, but Henrikh Mkhitaryan is caught offside.
Foul by Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United).
Steve Cook (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Ander Herrera (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Ander Herrera (Manchester United).
Joshua King (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Manchester United. Morgan Schneiderlin replaces Anthony Martial.
Foul by Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United).
Adam Smith (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Bournemouth. Max Gradel replaces Lewis Cook.
Foul by Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).
Steve Cook (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United).
Charlie Daniels (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United).
Adam Smith (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Bournemouth. Lewis Cook tries a through ball, but Benik Afobe is caught offside.
Substitution, Manchester United. Henrikh Mkhitaryan replaces Juan Mata.
Offside, Bournemouth. Charlie Daniels tries a through ball, but Benik Afobe is caught offside.
Juan Mata (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Joshua King (Bournemouth).
Goal! Bournemouth 1, Manchester United 3. Adam Smith (Bournemouth) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Lewis Grabban.
Substitution, Bournemouth. Benik Afobe replaces Jordon Ibe.
Substitution, Bournemouth. Lewis Grabban replaces Callum Wilson.
Attempt blocked. Anthony Martial (Manchester United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Goal! Bournemouth 0, Manchester United 3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Anthony Martial.
Attempt saved. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Anthony Martial (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Andrew Surman (Bournemouth). | Jose Mourinho made a winning Premier League start as Manchester United manager with a comprehensive opening victory at Bournemouth. | 37001060 |
Fifty volunteers have signed up to be roving ambassadors for the Northern Ireland Fans' Embassy which will provide assistance at the tournament.
They will help supporters deal with problems ranging from lost passports to stadium directions.
Gary McAllister from the Amalgamation of Official NI Supporters' Clubs explained the background to the initiative.
"The Football Fans' Embassy is something that has been organised by the bigger nations for 26 years, previously the amalgamation has provided an ad hoc service where we work with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Irish Football Association (IFA) and the authorities in the country we are in," he said.
"For the Euro 2016 finals, a more formal structure has been put in place delivered in partnership with Football Supporters Europe and we have the support of the IFA, PSNI, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, it is recognised by UEFA.
"We have recruited 50 supporters from the amalgamation clubs, acting as ambassadors helping us to deliver the embassy at all three group games.
"Information will be shared in terms of how you get to the stadium, what you do if you have lost your passport etc, they will also help people with lost property."
Mr McAllister described the help that had been provided in the past to supporters on away trips for Northern Ireland games.
"In Budapest in Hungary there was an issue with public transport and we negotiated with Hungarian police to ensure there was a free shuttle bus to and from the stadium for the match, we did the same in Romania," he said.
"At a game in Luxembourg, a fan fell and he was concussed, we helped to identify him and track down his friends that were at the match who were able to be with him.
"One time we had a woman from Newbuildings who lost her make-up bag when Northern Ireland played Serbia in Belgrade. Someone handed the bag into us and I left it in with her the next time I was travelling to Londonderry from Belfast."
A Northern Ireland fans' guide for the Euro 2016 finals has already been distributed to 6,000 supporters ahead of the tournament.
"The guides are also available on the Irish Football Association (IFA) website," Mr McAllister said. "They have been produced in partnership with the Football Supporters' Federation and the Foreign Office.
"They have information on all ten host cities, driving in France and lots of other useful information."
Plans are also in place to create a special atmosphere at the team's group games against Poland, Ukraine and Germany.
"We work with the IFA and there will be several thousand green and white flags distributed through the fans' embassy at the Poland game," he said.
"We also will be involved in face painting for the three group games through the fans' embassy, supporting the IFA's Sea Of Green initiative.
"Northern Ireland fans are living the dream, we are part of something we wondered whether we would ever get the opportunity to experience, people are counting the days down." | With thousands of Northern Ireland supporters travelling to France for the Euro 2016 finals, it helps to have your own diplomatic service on hand to deal with any issues that might arise. | 36461122 |
A 12 August article on the paper's MailOnline website containing the tag "This story was produced in partnership with The People's Daily" prompted comment worldwide about the outlet's intentions.
MailOnline is the most-visited English-language newspaper website in the world, with a reported 15.1 million visitors daily. The agreement enables it to boost its coverage of China to overseas audiences.
The deal is also set to enhance China's coverage of non-sensitive foreign stories.
Curiously, no Chinese papers, including People's Daily, have reported on the agreement, which does not involve money, but enables both papers to swap up to 40 stories a week.
Because of the low level of press coverage, it has not been a talking point on Chinese social media either.
The only publication to report on the content-sharing deal is the Chinese-language version of Financial Times, which directly translated David Bond's 12 August article on the agreement.
The article impartially outlines the details, and says the Communist Party is seeking to "improve its image in the West".
People's Daily is the official Communist Party mouthpiece of the Chinese government. It is also widely regarded as China's most influential newspaper.
Within mainland China, it is the key platform to disseminate Communist Party propaganda. However, its overseas English-language platforms tend to be less stodgy than their mainland counterparts.
As it is an official government paper, its journalists are given press card privileges, and it is consistently one of the first outlets to break news in China.
Consequently, Daily Mail's collaboration with the outlet potentially gives Mail Online the edge in reporting stories from China.
The Daily Mail has had a significant presence via Chinese media for a number of years.
On the popular Sina Weibo microblog, Chinese papers have long credited it as the source of a number of light-hearted or unusual international stories, meaning that Chinese readers do not regard it as having a particular political stance.
They see it as being credible, especially as it appears to have a verified account on the microblog, which has been active since August 2014. However, it is unclear whether the "ChineseDailyMail" account - which uses the MailOnline masthead as its avatar - has any allegiance with the Daily Mail Group.
The account's longevity suggests that it is affiliated, given that verified accounts on Sina Weibo are only granted to credible media. Overseas generalist media have often encountered problems operating such accounts on the microblog, meaning that verified accounts are limited to finance-focused media such as Financial Times or Wall Street Journal.
The deal between the two papers was originally signalled in March 2015, when former People Daily's deputy editor Yan Xiaoming met publisher Jonathan Harmsworth, the fourth Viscount Rothermere, in Beijing.
People's Daily said that the paper "intended to establish a partnership with the Daily Mail Group, to promote mutual understanding, promote the development of better relations between the two countries, and create a healthy atmosphere of public opinion."
It added that People's Daily had launched a "foreign media channel, and planned to use [Daily Mail] as a carrier."
Since this article, it has not reported on the collaboration.
It is unlikely, given that the outlet tends not to carry content that China would deem politically sensitive.
Though overseas English-language news websites are not often fully-censored in China, MailOnline has seen some limited censorship in mainland China.
According to censorship-monitoring website GreatFire.org, the site has only been knowingly censored twice since 2011 - both times in that year.
A 24 April 2011 article mentioning a Chinese student's murder in Canada, which was witnessed via webcam by her boyfriend 6,000 miles away, was censored.
The other article was a 17 December 2011 report by an unnamed reporter about major anti-corruption protests in the Guangdong port town of Wukan.
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. | A new partnership between conservative British newspaper Daily Mail and the Chinese Communist Party's People's Daily has raised eyebrows in the UK, but barely registered in mainland China. | 37088736 |
Leading 1-0 from the first leg, Suarez doubled the lead with a low finish before Lionel Messi's penalty made it 3-0 on aggregate.
Juanmi pulled a goal back before Luis Suarez made it 4-1 on aggregate.
Willian Jose's header cut the deficit again before Suarez's second goal.
Barcelona, who have won the competition a record 28 times, are through to the semi-finals for the seventh consecutive season.
They join 10-time winners Atletico Madrid, Celta Vigo, who knocked out Real Madrid, and Alaves in Friday's draw.
Spain midfielder Suarez has made more appearances from the substitutes' bench than starts in La Liga this season.
Yet the 23-year-old caught the eye with two excellent finishes that suggest he has a fine future.
His first came after Samuel Umtiti robbed Xabi Prieto deep inside the Sociedad half and from there Neymar, Messi and Luis Suarez combined to tee up his namesake for a first-time finish into the far corner.
The tie was all over by the time he scored his side's fifth of the night, the former Villarreal player skipping past two challenges before rounding the keeper and rolling the ball home.
Barcelona have won their last five games in all competitions.
Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez: "I came with a desire to be a part of this team and I am feeling better and better.
"We started the game by dominating and once it was 1-0 they left us plenty of space.
"Everything is easier when you have the three forwards we have. We weren't nervous at all, we just wanted to dominate the game and continue on this great run that we're on." | Former Manchester City player Denis Suarez produced two wonderful finishes as holders Barcelona reached the Copa del Rey semi-finals with a 6-2 aggregate win over Real Sociedad. | 38719111 |
11 November 2015 Last updated at 07:10 GMT
It is also the occasion for celebrations by Jains and Sikhs as well as Hindus.
The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word dipavali, meaning "rows of lighted lamps" - houses, shops and public places are decorated with small oil lamps called diyas.
There are also loads of fireworks and sweets too, so it's really popular with children.
Ayshah has been to the Curve Theatre in Leicester to meet a dance group practising for their special festival performance.
But did Ayshah manage to master the moves? Find out... | Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is the most popular of all the festivals from South Asia. | 34775190 |
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated the trust as inadequate at providing a safe service and said it needed improving in three other areas.
It raised particular concerns over staff levels and the failure to ensure staff undertook basic training.
The trust said it was "disappointed" with the inadequate safety rating.
Dr Paul Lelliott, the deputy chief inspector of hospitals, said: "Humber NHS Foundation Trust has a number of issues it has to address.
"They have been rated as inadequate for safety, and a great deal of what we saw demonstrates that the trust had not learnt all the lessons from our last comprehensive inspection [in 2014]."
The trust was, however, rated as good at providing a caring service.
Inspectors found that patients were "treated with kindness, dignity and respect" and staff were "committed and compassionate".
The inspection was carried out by the CQC between 11 and 15 April, but inspectors also made separate unannounced visits.
The report said the trust needed to ensure it trains all qualified staff in immediate life support and that all staff are trained in the use of seclusion.
The trust's chief executive David Hill said he welcomed the CQC's findings and was pleased the workforce's compassion and commitment had been recognised.
Regarding issues around patient safety, he said: "We would like to reassure people that this rating is in a small number of services and we have taken immediate action to address the issues." | The health watchdog has told Humber NHS Foundation Trust its mental health service provision is "unsafe" and "requires improvement". | 37025992 |
The renowned arts and literature festival will feature chess master Garry Kasparov discussing artificial intelligence with Stephen Fry.
Artist Tracey Emin will appear in conversation with GQ editor Dylan Jones.
And comedian Ken Dodd will host a "fun-filled variety show for all the family".
Pop singer Will Young and his band will also perform a series of jazz covers.
The festival, held every year in the Powys town of Hay-on Wye, takes place from 25 May to 4 June. | The Hay Festival has announced the first of its line-up for this year's 30th anniversary event. | 38961614 |
13 February 2015 Last updated at 07:16 GMT
Around this time of year hundreds of street parades take place all over the city, with many of the people involved wearing giant stilts.
This is all part of the build up to the official Rio parades, which take place over two days in the Sambadrome.
BBC reporter Julia Carneiro spoke to one of the stilt walkers to find out why they have taken part. | It's carnival season in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and huge crowds of people have paraded through the streets in colourful costumes. | 31441247 |
Roedd adroddiad a gafodd ei gomisiynu gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn argymell y dylid lleihau cyllideb a chyfrifoldebau Llenyddiaeth Cymru. Roedd e hefyd yn feriniadol o Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru sy'n cyllido Llenyddiaeth Cymru.
Dywedodd cadeirydd Llenyddiaeth Cymru ei fod wedi'i "gythruddo" gan adolygiad annibynnol o'r corff a'i fod yn llawn "camgymeriadau".
Ddydd Mercher dywedodd Mr Skates ei fod wedi'i synnu gan y "datganiadau personol sydd wedi ymddangos ar lein" ac y gallai hynny danseilio ei adroddiad.
Roedd yr adroddiad, a gyhoeddwyd o dan gadeiryddiaeth yr Athro Medwin Hughes, yn nodi nad oedd gan Lleynyddiaeth Cymru "y sgiliau na'r profiad" i wario arian cyhoeddus.
Dywedodd hefyd nad oedd tystiolaeth o arweinyddiaeth gref yn Llenyddiaeth Cymru a bod eu cenhadaeth a'u bwriadau yn "afrealistig ac yn amhendant".
Wrth ymateb, cyhoeddodd Ken Skates y byddai llawer o'r cyfrifoldebau yn cael eu trosglwyddo o Llenyddiaeth Cymru i'r Cyngor Llyfrau.
Ymhlith y cyfrifoldebau hynny mae gwobr Llyfr y flwyddyn, grantiau i awduron a digwyddiadau llenyddol.
Mae Mr Skates bellach wedi ysgrifennu at Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru a Llenyddiaeth Cymru i ddweud wrthyn nhw ei fod yn ymwybodol o'r "pryder" sydd ganddynt am elfennau o'r adroddiad.
Mae e wedi gofyn i'r Athro Medwin Hughes a'i banel i ystyried y feirniadaeth ar yr adroddiad ac i ymateb yn ystod yr haf.
Yn y llythyr, mae e'n sicrhau y sefydliadau bod "eu pryderon yn cael eu hystyried" ond mae e'n feirniadol o'u hymateb cyhoeddus.
Dywedodd: "Mae rhai ohonoch wedi canfod materion difrifol yn yr adroddiad.
"Ry'ch wedi codi'r materion yma gyda fi ac wedi cytuno y dylai'r panel adolygu ystyried y pryderon ac ymateb iddyn nhw.
"Rwy' felly wedi fy synnu bod cymaint o ddatganiadau personol wedi ymddangos ar lein yn ystod y dyddiau diwethaf a mi allai rhain gael eu gweld yn tanseilio'r broses ry'n oll wedi ymrwymo iddi.
"Dydi hyn ddim o gymorth.
"Rwy'n gobeithio bod modd i ni symud ymlaen mewn ffordd sy'n caniatáu i'r gwaith hwn ddirwyn i ben - ac wrth wneud hynny gobeithiaf y bydd modd cynnal perthynas waith gynhyrchiol nawr ac yn y dyfodol. " | Mae ysgrifennydd yr economi Ken Skates wedi dweud nad yw'r ymateb cyhoeddus gan sefydliadau celfyddydol i adolygiad beirniadol ar Llenyddiaeth Cymru wedi bod "yn help". | 40660261 |
Nearly 23m people visited A&E in the 12 months to March 2016 - a rise of more than 500,000 from the previous year.
Delays rose throughout the period, with March itself having the single worst performance against the four-hour A&E target since it was introduced in 2004.
Targets for cancer, routine operations and ambulances have also been missed.
NHS England said the ongoing dispute with junior doctors had started having an impact, with the proportion of patients waiting more than 18 weeks for operations such as knee and hip replacements hitting its highest level.
A spokesman for NHS England also defended the figures, saying the proportion of people dealt with in four hours in A&E - 91.9% - was "almost certainly one of the best performances in the Western world" despite falling short of the 95% target.
The increase in demand means that while the target was missed, the actual numbers seen in four hours - just over 21m - was the highest-ever.
Other parts of the UK have also been struggling with the A&E target, with Scotland seeing the best performance in the past few months.
There are two ways to look at these figures. They're both the worst-ever and best-ever. While many of the key targets are being missed, it is also true that the NHS is seeing more patients than ever within the timeframes it should.
Think of it like a treadmill. The NHS is running faster than ever, but the speed is being increased all the time and so it's struggling to keep up.
It is why many are praising staff for their hard work, while wondering what will happen next. We are now in a new financial year and the NHS is seeing its budget rise by nearly 4% above inflation.
Given how last year ended, concerns are being raised whether that is enough.
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The data released by NHS England covers March, which means there are now complete figures available for the whole of the measured 2015-16 period.
The figures show:
Royal College of Surgeons president Clare Marx said the performance was "worrying".
And she added: "Dedicated frontline doctors and nurses are treating more patients than ever before.
"We welcome the extra money the government promised, but we still need a long-term plan to address the growing number of patients."
She said the "underfunding" of social care, run by councils, also needed to be addressed as the lack of services in the community was increasing the pressure on hospitals. | The NHS in England has had the busiest year in its history with more patients than ever seeking help, official figures show. | 36275608 |
Dr Andrew Pountney, clinical lead for the new team, said for the past 10 years doctors had been released to the helicopter unit on an "ad hoc" basis.
The new Yorkshire Critical Care Team will be a collaboration of the county's ambulance and air ambulance services.
It will include consultants in emergency medicine and anaesthesia.
Dr Pountney said: " ...thanks to this initiative we now have a dedicated and funded system to ensure that a consultant with appropriate training and experience in pre-hospital emergency medicine can respond every day of the year."
The team will carry additional drugs and the doctors will be able to perform emergency anaesthesia and life-saving surgical procedures at the scene of an incident, a spokesperson for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance service said.
The doctors have been seconded by their host trusts and will join paramedics on the helicopter 12 hours a day, every day of the year. | Eleven specialist doctors are to become a permanent part of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance team thanks to a new "dedicated and funded system". | 36455550 |
But the PM cautioned that the process will "take time" and there will be "ups and downs" in the months ahead.
He has been holding bilateral talks with Irish PM Edna Kenny and European President Martin Schulz as he continues to press for changes in the EU.
Mr Kenny vowed to work constructively with the PM on his bid, while Mr Schulz said compromise would be needed.
Meanwhile, German chancellor Angela Merkel has said the UK must consider what role it wants to play in the European Union.
She said she wanted the UK to remain an active member of the bloc.
The UK's position will be collectively discussed by European leaders for the first time at the European Council summit starting on 25 June.
Mr Cameron has said he wants to speak to all his 27 EU counterparts and other key players to explain his renegotiation aims ahead of the meeting.
Senior Tory MPs will also outline their demands for EU changes on Thursday.
Mr Cameron held bilateral talks with the Irish Taoiseach on Thursday afternoon over a working lunch of baked ricotta and grilled asparagus, sea bass and vegetables, followed by lemon panna cotta with strawberries.
At a joint press conference after, the PM said: "The UK and Ireland share a strong desire to make the EU more competitive, to prioritise free trade agreements with growing markets across the world. We need the EU to be driver for growth, not a lag on growth.
"We found a lot of common ground today and I'm pleased that the Taoiseach is willing to work with us to find solutions to these issues."
Addressing reporters, Mr Kenny said he and David Cameron shared "very similar views on a range of issues."
It was in both Ireland and Europe's interest that the UK remained a key player in the EU, he said, adding that he wanted to see the country vote 'Yes' to staying in.
"In that we will be as supportive and as constructive as we can. It doesn't mean we will follow you blindly on every issue.
"But insofar as the process is concerned I want to see that leading to a decision by the British people to stay in European Union because that is where the future for everybody lies," Mr Kenny said.
Earlier in the day, Mr Cameron held a working breakfast with European President Martin Schulz at Downing Street, as part of his push for changes to the EU.
Speaking after the event, Mr Schulz said there were "different views" among EU countries about the UK's proposals but that there were also areas of "common ground".
The German politician, who previously led the socialist bloc of MPs in the European Parliament, said: "Dialogue is necessary. Solutions are always coming via dialogue and at the end via compromise."
"There is a long list of common interests and I think common ground could be found by analysing and discussing content. That is what we did.
"There were some controversial items and it is not surprising that in the European Parliament some views are different than here in London," he added.
Mr Schulz said they had discussed how they could stop "abuse" of welfare systems while ensuring the fundamental rights of citizens under the EU treaties were guaranteed.
Mr Cameron said: "We have got a long way to go in this reform and renegotiation, a lot of difficult issues to discuss, things that I believe fundamentally need to change, but it has been good to start these discussions today."
The prime minister has said he hopes to secure a "better deal" for the UK in Europe before putting it to a public vote in an in/out referendum in 2017.
Speaking in the German Parliament, Ms Merkel it was "not the first time that a country has raised doubts about its role in the EU".
"In 1992 it was Denmark, in 2008 Ireland. I'm sure we can succeed this time too," she said.
The German chancellor is to ask European Council President Donald Tusk at the EU summit next week to take charge of negotiations with the UK.
But she warned: "There can be no contradiction of the EU founding principles. Free movement is not up for discussion."
Ahead of the meeting, Mr Schulz said he wanted to hear some "concrete proposals" from Mr Cameron in areas such as welfare, immigration and the powers of national Parliaments.
"Many on the continent underestimate the importance of the UK and many in the UK underestimate the importance of the continent. We need to bring these groups together," he told the BBC.
He also told the Guardian that Mr Cameron's hopes of scrapping "ever closer union" in the EU would require treaty change and that would not happen.
Mr Cameron has embarked on a flurry of diplomatic activity to set out his broad aims and sound out the opinions of other leaders.
He has spoken face-to-face with the leaders of Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain and Romania among others. After meeting Mr Kenny and Mr Schulz, he will travel to Slovenia.
Speaking after talks with Italian PM Matteo Renzi on Wednesday, Mr Cameron said the pair discussed the "importance of reform and change in Europe" and had "common perspectives and some common ideas on the need for competitiveness and flexibility".
Mr Renzi stressed the importance of the UK remaining in the EU. "The European Union for us without the UK is impossible so we will discuss in the next weeks and the next months about this point," he said.
But ahead of Mr Kenny's visit, current and former Irish ministers have expressed their concerns about the possibility of the UK exiting the EU, ex-prime minister Bertie Ahern telling the BBC such a move would be "senseless".
David Cameron is starting renegotiation of the terms of Britain's EU membership ahead of a referendum. Here is some further reading on what it all means:
Q&A: The UK's planned EU referendum
UK and the EU: Better off out or in?
What Britain wants from Europe
Timeline: EU referendum debate
Bulgaria's foreign minister Daniel Mitov said the UK needed to set out its objectives in "black and white", adding that if the principle of freedom of movement across Europe was preserved, other things could be discussed.
Mr Cameron has insisted the renegotiation process will be conducted at the very highest level and in private, urging people to ignore the inevitable "noise" surrounding the issue and to focus on the outcome.
Leading Conservative Eurosceptics, including Sir Bill Cash, Bernard Jenkin and John Redwood, will set out their minimum expectations for a reformed relationship in a pamphlet on Thursday.
It comes as MPs continue debating the EU Referendum Bill, which must be approved by Parliament before a vote can take place. | David Cameron has said his negotiations to reform the UK's relationship with the EU are getting "a good response". | 33173729 |
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It was Wales' first match of a campaign which saw the team come to within a point of qualifying for the 1992 European Championships in Sweden.
Catch BBC Wales Sport's "Wales: The Road to the Euros" - our very special documentary on the history of Welsh football - on BBC iPlayer. | In October 1990, goals from Ian Rush, Dean Saunders and Mark Hughes helped Terry Yorath's side complete a stunning comeback to beat Belgium 3-1 at Cardiff Arms Park. | 30028935 |
Fr Tim Bartlett was responding to an Equality Commission decision to take a civil action against a Christian-owned bakery firm.
Earlier this year, Ashers Baking Company refused to bake a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan.
Fr Bartlett was on the panel of this year's Belfast Pride event.
He is a member of the Catholic Council for Social Affairs.
On Thursday, he issued a statement to BBC's Nolan Show saying: "I will be writing today to those groups from the gay community, with whom I have had a very constructive and ongoing engagement in recent years, to say that I am withdrawing my engagement until the right of all people, in this case Christians, to freedom of conscience is vindicated and respected by the Equality Commission and the gay community.
"I also want to know why the chief commissioner of the Equality Commission talked quite openly about the Ashers case during the Gay Pride debate in Belfast but has since claimed he is not free to talk about it in public debate."
Later, speaking on The View programme on BBC Northern Ireland, Fr Bartlett said he wanted the gay community to "respect my right not to be coerced, not to be forced to do something against my conscience in society".
John O'Doherty of the Rainbow Project, a health support group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and their families, criticised Fr Bartlett's comments.
"I think it's very disappointing. I think rather than being a reason to stop conversations, it further indicates the needs for conversation," he said.
"There are fundamental issues that need to be addressed and these need to be discussed, the answer isn't to walk away and say until you agree with me I'm not going to bother talking to you'."
Rev Dr Norman Hamilton of the Presbyterian Church said he was deeply concerned by the Equality Commission move.
"In a situation where a business has clearly stated that it is willing to serve any customer irrespective of religion, sexual orientation or political belief, it surely is totally unjust to attempt to compel it to be involved in promoting causes which in conscience are against the owners' strongly held Christian beliefs," he said.
"This is a deeply regrettable failure of civic leadership by the Equality Commission."
The row hit the headlines in July, when the baking company revealed it was facing possible legal action over its decision to decline the customer's request.
The cake had been ordered in Belfast by a gay activist two months earlier, for a civic event in Bangor, County Down, marking International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
Ashers Baking Company said it had declined the request because it was "at odds" with its Christian beliefs.
In a letter sent to the bakery last week, the Equality Commission said that unless the firm acknowledged there had been a breach in the equality laws and offered recompense, it would start legal proceedings.
The commission said its correspondence with the company "made clear that the claimant will be seeking only modest damages for the upset and inconvenience caused".
However, the letter warned the firm that "failing this, a civil bill will be issued".
In a statement on Wednesday, the commission said it had now received a reply from the bakery's solicitors "stating that their view remains unchanged, that their clients have not acted unlawfully".
The watchdog said it "would prefer not to have to litigate" but added the case "raises issues of public importance regarding the extent to which suppliers of goods and services can refuse service on grounds of sexual orientation, religious belief and political opinion".
The commission added that any decision as to whether or not discrimination had occurred would be "a matter for the court".
In a statement posted on the Christian Institute's website, the bakery firm's general manager said they were surprised the case was still being pursued. | A priest has said he will withdraw engagement with groups from the gay community until the right of all people to freedom of conscience is respected. | 29926372 |
Veterans, most of whom are more than 90 years old, were VIP guests at a civic lunch in Belfast City Hall.
Japan formally surrendered on board the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on 2 September, 1945, bringing an end to the conflict.
Veterans attending the lunch were each given a commemorative medallion as a keepsake.
Alfie Martin, 95, who won the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery, was among the guests.
"This is a very nice gesture by Belfast City Council, and one which is very much appreciated," he said.
"It was a very nostalgic event for all of us."
Belfast's deputy lord mayor Guy Spence, said: "It was a real honour to host this commemorative luncheon and to acknowledge the incredible contribution these veterans have made.
"This anniversary is particularly poignant given the ages of the veterans who are able to be with us and be part of such an important commemoration.
"We owe them a great deal.
"It is a privilege to pay tribute to those who made enormous sacrifices and showed incredible bravery to protect our freedom," he added. | The 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two has been marked in Belfast. | 34130274 |
It follows a "devolution deal" by the government to give areas like Greater Manchester more powers over how public money is spent.
Lancashire council leader Jennifer Mein said talks involved the 12 borough councils as well as unitary authorities Blackpool and Blackburn.
It would be biggest change in local government in the county since 1974.
"I think everybody has realised we now need to work much more closely together... and the only way it can work is if we still have the same strategic objectives," said Ms Mein.
The Labour councillor said she would not necessarily be at the helm of the new alliance as the leader would be decided by "consensus".
Previously, the then Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Kate Hollern said it was working along with the rest of the council authorities to "explore a number of options for collaboration" but there were "no firm proposals" at that stage.
So the heat is on for Lancashire's council leaders, all 14 of them, knowing that if they want to become involved in a combined authority they need to crack on.
The carrot being dangled by the government is the promise of more local powers.
This will be the biggest change in local government since the county council and two-tier system was established back in 1974.
The calm approach of county council leader Jennifer Mein will stand in good stead as the meetings come thick and fast, party differences put to one side.
A board representing all councils should enable each one to feel involved. No room for any fall outs. But what will Lancashire's combined authority actually look like?
Throughout the difficult economic times I have heard the phrase "working together" time and time again.
Now it is time to be put into practice, big time.
Blackpool council leader Simon Blackburn has said there was a "strong argument" for a combined authority.
Since 1974, Lancashire County Council has been operating a two-tier system with borough councils where the county council is in charge of major projects.
In a combined alliance, each council will discuss and reach agreement on key issues.
Combined authorities are supported by the coalition government which has signalled its willingness to give them extra power and responsibility. | The leaders of all 14 councils in Lancashire are "pushing ahead" to forge a combined authority. | 30038831 |
Saad Douma, 58, has been a member of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood for 35 years. He is a head teacher and as loyal a supporter as you can get of President Morsi.
"Dr Morsi, through his quietness and the wisdom, will steer us through these troubled times and bring the politicians together," he says.
Mr Douma feels that way in spite of what has happened to his own son.
Ahmed Douma, 23, is an opposition activist. The authorities have punished him on the grounds that he insulted the president on a talk show.
Referring to the deaths of protesters at anti-government rallies, Ahmed called Mohammed Morsi a murderer who had escaped justice. It was enough to have him sent to prison.
Saad Douma says he does not blame the president at all for his son's continued incarceration. Instead, he says Ahmed went too far in his criticism.
"The disagreement between us, about his ideological views, is partly because he's too outspoken," he says.
"His words go beyond the limit of our traditions and what's acceptable."
However, Mr Douma told us he thought about his son all the time.
"Only when I visit Ahmed am I sure he's ok," he says. "But when it is time to leave him, behind bars, without his freedoms, it hurts me."
In a rural area, like Beheira in Egypt's Delta region where the Doumas are from, tradition matters and people are far more likely to be conservative and to support President Morsi. That is particularly true for older generations.
In Cairo though, we meet a younger member of the Douma family. Ahmed's wife, Nourhan.
With her husband in jail, she has taken up his cause against the Muslim Brotherhood and the way it has governed the country.
We find her among opposition protesters gathered in a conference hall, chanting anti-Morsi slogans.
They are also planning huge demonstrations to coincide with the end of Mohammed Morsi's first full year in office on 30 June.
"The Brotherhood is trying to polarise people, and Egyptians know it," says Nourhan.
But she acknowledges that politics has managed to tear apart her family.
"It caused more and more problems between Ahmed and his parents," she says.
"We do still manage to meet, and even go on visits to the prison together, but we still have to avoid talking politics or watching the news together to make sure there are no controversial discussions."
Of course, the splits in the Douma family are being reflected across Egyptian society.
Back in Beheira at a busy village junction, we asked a group of people if they were in favour of this weekend's countrywide protests against the president, or not.
"The only way out is to take to the streets on 30 June because we haven't seen anything of what the president promised - he deceived us," said Islam Shahin, 29.
"He only cares for himself and the Brotherhood."
But Eid el Sherif, 40, had a very different view.
"They don't give President Morsi a chance," he told us.
"Whenever he takes a step forward, they make him go 20 steps back. People should wait until Dr Morsi's term in office comes to an end, after the four years, then judge him."
With that, the discussion became more aggressive. Raised voices, animated hand gestures, entrenched views quickly exposed.
It is sometimes difficult for Egyptians to see how their society will ever be united again. The coming days are likely to make it even harder.
But in meeting Saad Douma, I got an undeniable sense that in spite of their very different opinions about the president, he had a great deal of pride in his son, Ahmed.
When he talked of his son's childhood, Mr Douma beamed as he spoke of Ahmed's ability to stand up for what he believed in.
And in meeting Ahmed's wife, Nourhan, it was clear that whatever her feelings about the Muslim Brotherhood, she had utmost respect for her father-in-law.
Both told me they felt the splits in their family and in Egypt were temporary and that the spirit of the Egyptian people would ultimately bind their country together.
But if there are more deaths and injuries in clashes between pro- and anti-Morsi supporters - as are expected in coming days given the dangerous rhetoric there has been - other Egyptians will be less sure the divisions can be healed. | As supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi clash on the streets of Cairo, the BBC's Aleem Maqbool meets a family torn apart by the conflict. | 23105004 |
Another 180 people were injured and 53,000 displaced when the cyclone hit the country's north-east on Tuesday.
Officials revised the death toll and number of injured on Friday, having originally reported that just four people had lost their lives.
Enawo diminished in strength after making landfall, and has been downgraded to a tropical depression.
But not before the cyclone destroyed roads and cut off communications to the north-eastern Antalaha district.
It dumped 12 inches of rain across the region in 12 hours on Tuesday, with winds reaching up to 300km/h (185mph).
Speaking on Friday, Thierry Venty, executive secretary of the National Bureau of Risk and Disaster Management, said: "The damage is enormous wherever the cyclone has gone." | At least 38 people are now known to have died when Cyclone Enawo struck Madagascar this week. | 39241011 |
Spaniard Martinez, 43, was sacked by the Toffees in May after three years in charge at Goodison Park.
He succeeds Marc Wilmots, who left his post last month, two weeks after the Euro 2016 quarter-final defeat by Wales.
The vacancy was advertised online by the Belgian Football Association.
It wanted a "strong and open communicator" who has a "proven track record in transmitting tactical and strategic knowledge" to top players.
In a statement, the Belgian FA said it was "delighted and proud to have found a coach at this level so quickly".
Martinez will hold a news conference at 11:30 BST on Thursday and his first match is against Spain on 1 September.
At Everton, Martinez managed Belgium internationals Marouane Fellaini, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas. | Former Everton, Wigan and Swansea manager Roberto Martinez has been appointed as the new head coach of Belgium. | 36971352 |
The woman went into the Garthdee branch of the supermarket in Aberdeen at about 02:30 on Thursday.
She wrote on a social media site: "I was awoken by a police officer in the fruit and veg aisle. I had sleepwalked the 1.5 miles from my house then gone to Asda to get a watermelon."
Police Scotland said the woman was safely escorted home.
The woman wrote: "Obviously I was very confused, only made worse by the fact that I was barefoot, in my nightdress and freezing cold.
"So, thanks to the very kind Asda staff who warmed me up and gave me shoes, socks and a cup of tea and to the lovely police officers who deposited my very confused self back in bed."
Police Scotland said: "Police in Aberdeen were called to reports of concern for a 23-year-old woman at Asda at Garthdee.
"Officers attended and assisted the woman home safely."
Robert Wallace, deputy store manager at the store, said: "We do our level best to create a relaxing shopping environment, so we're flattered that she chose our store to visit on her trip out.
"Our colleagues were quick to make sure that she was well looked after and we are glad that she got home safely for a good night's sleep." | A sleepwalker in her nightdress found looking for a watermelon in Asda had to be taken home by police. | 39367771 |
The note will feature the image of Sir Winston Churchill and will be made of plastic rather than cotton paper.
The Bank says the thin and flexible plastic banknotes will be cleaner, more durable - as they will last for five years - and harder to counterfeit than the current paper notes.
It admits that they may initially be prone to sticking together.
The use of thin, see-through polymer is a first for the Bank of England, which invested £70m in the project. Plastic banknotes are already in use in Scotland as well as other countries including Australia and Canada. They have also been used in Northern Ireland.
At an event at Churchill's birthplace of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, the Bank is also releasing advice to businesses about dealing with the new polymer notes, which are 15% smaller than the current notes.
Brendan Doyle, of CMS Payments Intelligence, said: "Retailers and banks are going to have to invest over £200m to change ATMs, self-service checkouts and other equipment."
The decision to feature Churchill on the new banknote was made three years ago.
Bank governor Mark Carney said: "Our banknotes are repositories of the United Kingdom's collective memory and like Churchill, our new polymer notes will stand the test of time."
The new design includes a see-through plastic window featuring the Queen's portrait. The new notes will also feature holograms - such as one showing the maze at Blenheim Palace - and micro-lettering beneath the Queen's portrait with letters and numbers that are visible under a microscope.
Various elements such as size and colours are aimed to assist people who are visually impaired.
The artwork on the banknote will also include:
The image of Churchill has featured on currency before. He was the first commoner to be shown on a British coin when he appeared on the 1965 crown, or five shilling piece.
There are more than 329 million £5 notes in circulation, so it will take a year for the Churchill note to fully replace the current one featuring the social reformer, Elizabeth Fry.
She is the only woman, apart from the Queen, currently appearing on Bank of England notes, although Jane Austen will feature on the new £10 note issued next year.
The new £10 and £20 notes will also be printed on polymer. The Bank recently announced that artist JMW Turner will appear on the next £20 banknote, expected to enter circulation by 2020.
New polymer banknotes are also being issued in Scotland, although those issued by Clydesdale Bank are already in circulation.
The Bank of Scotland - one of the banking note issuing institutions in Scotland - announced on Thursday that its own polymer £5 banknote will be available in branches from 4 October.
The note is slightly smaller than the existing paper £5 notes in circulation, and the same as the Bank of England fiver.
It reuses the existing Bank of Scotland £5 design, with the front retaining the portrait of Sir Walter Scott and the reverse featuring the Mound in Edinburgh.
Notes are redesigned on a relatively frequent basis, in order to maintain security and prevent forgeries. | The final design for the new Bank of England £5 note entering circulation on 13 September has been revealed. | 36432951 |
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Having won gold on the first night of the track cycling in the men's team sprint, Hoy's triumph in the keirin was the perfect finale for Team GB.
"That was a courageous ride by Sir Chris Hoy, he was passed by the German on the back straight but he held his line and didn't take his foot off the gas until the end. He deserves all the accolades he's about to get."
Hoy's six golds take him past rowing great Sir Steve Redgrave's five.
And with a silver from Sydney 2000 as well, he equals Bradley Wiggins's record total of seven medals.
The 36-year-old Scot is sure he will not carry on for a fifth Games in 2016, but he is already assured of his status as track cycling's greatest ever sprinter.
Hoy, the defending Olympic and four-time world champion, hit the front with a lap to go and while he was momentarily overtaken by Germany's Maximilian Levy on the back straight, he came roaring back to win by a bike length.
Levy, the silver medallist at the World Championships in April, had to settle for second again, with Teun Mulder of the Netherlands and Simon van Velthooven of New Zealand crossing the line together for third and a bronze medal each.
"I'm in shock. You try to compose yourself but it's surreal," said Hoy. "I wanted to win gold in front of my home crowd. I saw everyone stepping up to the plate and thankfully it worked out for me too.
"The keirin is a lottery and you never take anything for granted in it. I can't describe the feelings I have at the moment. This is enough for me - this is the perfect end to my Olympic career.
"I can't put into words what it means to me. It's one of the greatest feelings I have ever had.
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"I'm 99.9% sure I won't be competing in Rio. How can you top this? [The 2014 Commonwealth Games in] Glasgow is another question, as that would be the dream ending for me."
With a combination of bravery, cunning and power, the keirin, the final track cycling race of the Games, is always a favourite with the crowd.
An eight-lap race, the six riders spend the first five and a half of those riding behind a small motorbike, or derny.
The speed is slowly ratcheted up before the derny peels away to unleash an almighty charge for the line.
This most vocal of London 2012 audiences emphatically underlined the British team's domination of the last six days in the velodrome: 10 events, seven golds, a silver and a bronze. And the only medal missing was in the women's team sprint, the event that saw Pendleton and Jess Varnish disqualified when a place in the final was theirs.
Most experts said Team GB could never repeat the success achieved by the track cycling team in Beijing 2008. Most experts were wrong. | Sir Chris Hoy claimed a sixth Olympic gold medal to become the most successful British Olympian of all time. | 18903411 |
HM Revenue and Customs and contractor Concentrix were criticised by the Work and Pensions Committee for decision-making "stacked against claimants".
The committee found that 90% of moves to remove benefits were overturned on first appeal.
HMRC said tax credit error and fraud checks would remain in-house in future.
The committee condemned HMRC and Concentrix for "gross failure of customer service".
It said vulnerable people were left in humiliating hardship while Concentrix and HMRC targeted "strike rates" of benefits being removed.
In many cases people lost benefits for months and were forced to borrow money and use food banks to survive, said the MPs.
Committee chairman Frank Field said: "The committee was horrified to learn of the 'cut first, think later' approach that was deployed by Concentrix.
"Our horror was compounded by the company's - and HMRC's - apparent celebration of its 'strike rate' in cutting families' tax credits.
"The damage caused to families' living standards by this 'strike rate' is still being felt by my constituents needing to rely on food banks while their claims are reinstated.
"Although the committee welcomes HMRC's decision to bring in-house its tax credit compliance functions, we are clear that this will not automatically deliver a better service.
"Nor are those families driven into debt going to be rescued from the plight into which this sorry episode plunged them."
HMRC contracted Concentrix in May 2014 to check for possible fraud and error in tax credit claims. The contract was terminated in November 2016.
The committee said HMRC was negotiating a new contract with Concentrix as late as 8 September.
As a single parent of two young boys, tax credits of more than £100 a week were vital to the household budget of Paul Eite.
But in August this year Paul, 39, of Hayling Island, Hampshire, was left desperate when the payments were stopped for seven weeks by HM Revenue and Customs' contractor Concentrix.
After £50 worth of phone calls lasting 11 hours, Paul's tax credits were reinstated on appeal.
During those seven weeks, says Paul, stress levels "went through the roof".
"It really does affect you. You're constantly saying 'when's the next money coming in'. It was shocking," he recalls.
"You're panicking about your financial situation. You scrimp and save - you learn how to make a really good meal with beans and toast."
An HMRC spokesman said: "We apologise to all those who were let down by our contractor.
"We took swift and decisive action to end the contract early and took back all outstanding cases which are all now resolved.
"We have made it clear that tax credit error and fraud checks, which play a key role in making sure that people get what they are entitled to, will in future remain in-house."
A Concentrix spokesman said: "We welcomed the opportunity to engage with the Work and Pensions Select Committee it its inquiry.
"This was a hugely complex contract and programme, and as the committee has highlighted, a number of challenges and issues emerged at the outset.
"We welcome any further investigations into the contract, including the National Audit Office investigation, to ensure all lessons can be learned." | A "cut first, think later" attitude plunged tax credit claimants into humiliating hardship and debt, a group of MPs has said. | 38164257 |
The Galaxy S6 Edge uses the feature to provide a quick way to stay in touch with select contacts, and to alert owners to important information.
It will be sold for a higher price than the standard S6, which otherwise has the same specifications.
Samsung lost market share to Apple and others after the S5 sold fewer copies than its predecessor in many countries.
Its replacements were unveiled in Barcelona, ahead of the start of Mobile World Congress. They go on sale on 10 April in 20 countries, including the UK.
The South Korean firm said it had set out to address past "missteps", and had codenamed the devices "project zero" to reflect the need for a rethink.
Changes include making the TouchWiz user interface simpler to use by cutting the number of pop-up messages and introducing a metal frame and glass back instead of the plastic styling of earlier models.
The redesign has, however, meant some features have had to be jettisoned: the phones are not water-resistant, they do not have a microSD slot for extra storage and their backs cannot be removed to change their batteries.
Even so, one expert praised the company's choices.
"Samsung has clearly listened to feedback - not just for the Galaxy S5, which just missed the mark last year costing the company greatly - but also the S4, which was a product that tried to cram in every piece of technology it could find," said Ben Wood, head of research at the CCS Insight tech consultancy.
"The software has been made into a much more crisp and clear experience, the design of the product has clean lines and looks very nice, and the marketing campaign is expected to only pinpoint three things - and that's certainly something that had been missing from Samsung's products for quite some time."
Others were more critical. Rob Kerr, from the price comparison site uswitch.com, declared: "The dual-curved display just seems too gimmicky, too niche, to really be a crowd pleaser."
The three topics Samsung is focusing on are:
The S6 Edge uses its curves to provide a couple of services.
The first is called People Edge, which provides a quick way to bring up calls, texts and other messages from five acquaintances of the owner's choosing. Each person is assigned a different colour, which the phone's edge flashes when it rings, providing a hint of the caller's identity even if the device is face down.
The second is Information Stream, which displays the time, weather and selected notifications on the curved part.
It appears Samsung has deliberately kept the functionality more basic than on its Galaxy Note Edge - a larger handset whose screen curves only around one of its sides. The older phone uses the extra space to both run apps of its its own and to add controls to other apps.
The S6 phone's front camera has been upgraded to five megapixels, while the rear one stays at 16MP.
Both gain from a wider aperture, which should improve their ability to take photos and videos in low light conditions.
Samsung has also taken steps to make the camera quicker to use, saying it now takes less than a second to double tap the home key and snap a shot.
The firm is claiming a "world first" by embedding support for both the PMA and WPC's Qi wireless charging standards.
The Android-powered handsets are also faster to recharge, and should return to 50% battery strength within half an hour of being plugged in.
Samsung said that this was half the time it would take to charge an iPhone 6.
Other improvements over the S5 include:
The firm also revealed it had developed a new version of its Gear VR virtual reality kit that uses the S6 models as a screen.
A lot is resting on the phones' appeal.
Samsung's head of mobile design was moved from his role in May after criticism of the Galaxy S5's styling, and last week Samsung Electronics announced it would freeze its workers' wages for the first time in six years following a drop in its annual profits.
Samsung is still the best-selling smartphone maker.
But it barely saw its total smartphone shipments grow in 2014. By contrast, Apple's decision to make its iPhone 6 models larger and the continued rise of China's Xiaomi, Lenovo and Huawei saw those firms report much bigger gains.
As a result, Samsung's market share slipped from 31% in 2013 to 24.5% last year, according to research firm IDC.
The price of the new handsets has yet to be announced, but Mr Wood thought the S6 Edge in particular could mark a turning point.
"In a sea of sameness where nearly every smartphone is a rectangular touchscreen with a camera in the back, this will stand out," he said.
"It may be outside many people's budgets, but it will still act as a signature product that attracts people to the rest of Samsung's range."
1. Samsung Galaxy
2. Samsung Galaxy S
3. Samsung Galaxy S2
4. Samsung Galaxy S3
5. Samsung Galaxy S4
6. Samsung Galaxy S5
7. Samsung Galaxy S6
Samsung’s first Android-powered phone ran version 1.5 (Cupcake) of Google’s mobile operating system.
It had a 3.2in (8.1cm) screen and was the first Android phone to include a 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing normal headphones to be easily connected.
The first of Samsung’s S-branded series had a 4in (10.2cm) screen, ran Android 2.1 (Eclair) and could shoot video in 720p high definition.
A 4G variant of the device attracted the ire of Apple’s lawyers, and became part of a high-profile patent case fought by the two rivals.
The S2 was marketed as the world’s thinnest smartphone, measuring less than 8.5mm (0.33in) thick.
It had a 4.3in (10.9cm) screen and was powered by Android 2.3 (Gingerbread).
Samsung promoted the “zero lag” shutter speed of its main camera as being suitable for snapping fast-moving objects.
The S3 used eye-tracking software to detect when it was being looked at, keeping its screen bright until its owner turned away.
It had a 4.8in (12.cm) screen and ran Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich).
The phone also introduced S-Beam, a way to send files and contacts between Samsung handsets.
The S4 bordered on “phablet” status with a 5in (12.7cm) touchscreen, which could be used while wearing gloves.
Running Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) it introduced a dual-video capture mode, allowing users to record footage from both cameras simultaneously.
The S5 added dust and water resistance, promising to work after being submerged 3ft (0.9m) deep.
It came pre-installed with Android 4.4.2 (KitKat) and introduced a fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor.
Samsung promoted its “ultra power saving mode”, which let the device eke out a day of life when its battery fell below 10%.
Samsung launched two models of its flagship phone – the Edge version had a screen that curved round its sides and was more expensive.
The phones had brighter, more detailed screens than before, and supported the firm’s new smart wallet service Samsung Pay.
However, their metal frames and glass-backed designs led to some of the S5’s features being jettisoned, including water resistance and the microSD slot.
It charges faster than the new iPhone. It has better cameras than the iPhone. The video quality is higher than the new iPhone.
And it doesn't bend.
That's the takeaway from Samsung's latest Unpacked event where it unveiled the next Galaxy phone, the S6.
Sleek and powerful, certainly - but it was a fairly bitter presentation. The firm took more than a few snipes at Apple, rather than leaving it to reviewers and users to draw their own conclusions about the Galaxy's many innovations .
The demonstrations of like-for-like pictures and video appeared to put the S6 streets ahead of the iPhone 6, but I imagine Apple would dispute the conditions.
Tellingly, there was no mention of China's Xiaomi - a company whose Android handsets have proved wildly popular in Asia, and which potentially presents a far bigger threat to Samsung's future.
You can follow Dave at MWC via his Twitter account @daveleeBBC. | Samsung will sell two versions of its next flagship phone, one of which has a screen that curves round its sides. | 31645426 |
Shares in the company jumped by another 13% on Tuesday to 22,840 yen.
The Nikkei 225 index rose 2.46% to close at 16,095.65 points, adding to a 4% rally from the day before.
The index is now within 1% of the level it closed at the day before the Brexit vote triggered a global sell-off.
The broader Topix index rose 2.4% to close at 1,285.73.
Shares across the rest of Asia were also buoyed by Wall Street rising to record peaks on the back of talk of policy stimulus in Japan and the UK.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index ended the day up 1.7% at 21,224.74, while China's Shanghai Composite rose 1.8% to 3,049.38.
In Australia, the ASX/200 rose 0.3% to close at 5,353.22 points.
South Korea's benchmark Kospi index edged up by 0.1% to close at 1,991.23 points. | The popularity of Nintendo's new augmented reality game Pokemon Go has powered the company's shares higher for a third day, adding billions more to the games developer's market value. | 36770991 |
Agencies had insufficient knowledge and understanding of minority and faith groups, a serious case review said.
Abdullah and Jaffar Deghayes were in a child protection plan before 2010, the report by a senior social worker said.
But the review found their radicalisation was a "total shock and surprise" to authorities in Brighton.
Abdullah, 18, and Jaffar, 17, were both killed having followed their older brother, Amer, to Syria to fight for an Al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist group.
Both boys had suffered bullying and racism, and had reported physical abuse by their father.
Who are Britain's jihadists?
Live: More on this story and other news from Sussex
The report by Edi Carmi said the brothers were taken out of the child protection plan in 2010 because there was professional "helplessness" among social workers about what else to do.
The report said this was expressed by some workers as having "no tools in the toolbox".
It concluded that professionals often lack "effective ways to intervene in families who have suffered long-standing trauma".
In the years that followed the end of the protection plan, Abdullah, Jaffar and Amer showed signs of radicalisation.
In early 2013, a school reported concerns about some young people including Jaffar.
One of the brothers further came to the attention of social workers over an "emotional" comment he made about "Americans" after he returned from a trip to his family's home country of Libya.
This led to a referral to the "Channel panel" - a de-radicalisation process - but it was decided he was "not at risk of being drawn into terror-related activities".
Graham Bartlett, independent chair of the Brighton and Hove Local Safeguarding Children Board, said: "The system as a whole let these young boys down. It's a wake up call.
"This case has had a major impact on our understanding of the risks posed to children of exploitation through radicalisation."
The report identified 13 key findings, including that professional responsibilities springing from the government's counter-terrorism strategy were not fully understood by all staff.
It also said professionals had no effective ways to intervene in families who have suffered long-standing trauma, and local statutory agencies had "insufficient knowledge about, and understanding of, local minority ethnic and faith community groups and how best to work together to safeguard children".
The Safeguarding Children Board said it fully accepted the report's findings. | Opportunities were missed to spot the radicalisation of two teenage British Muslim brothers who died fighting in Syria in 2014, a report has found. | 40738392 |
The average property in the road, which lies just south of Kensington Gardens, costs just over £8m.
The borough of Kensington & Chelsea, long the home of embassies and ultra-rich foreigners, has 12 of the 20 most expensive streets in the country.
The figures have been compiled by Lloyds bank from Land Registry statistics between 2010 and 2015.
"Buyers want to be there [Kensington & Chelsea] from the status point of view, and are hedging their bets in the long term," said property commentator Henry Pryor.
But even for people for whom money is almost no object, buying homes for £8m is becoming much more costly.
The reforms to stamp duty, which came in last December, have dramatically increased the tax paid by buyers of the most expensive homes.
Anyone buying a house or flat worth more than £1.5m now pays 12% stamp duty on the value of the property above that level.
And the chancellor has announced that stamp duty will, next year, be increased even further for buyers of second homes.
"Someone buying a home for £8m would have paid £560,000 in stamp duty before last year's changes," said Mr Pryor.
"If they buy now they will pay £873,750, and after next year's stamp duty increase they will pay £1,113,750 if they are buying the property as second home."
Other expensive streets in Kensington & Chelsea include Egerton Crescent (£7.5m average price), Manresa Road (£7.3m) and De Vere Gardens (£6.6m).
Lloyds said that outside London, other clutches of ultra-expensive streets could be found in Surrey, such as Leys Road in Leatherhead and Icklingham Road in Cobham, where the average home costs £3.6m and £3m respectively.
Poole in Dorset is the only place outside London and the South East with streets among the top 50 most expensive roads in England and Wales.
Properties in Sandbanks Road cost on average just under £2.5m, closely followed by homes in Western Avenue and Haig Avenue.
In Wales, the most expensive street is Druidstone Road in Cardiff with an average price of £793,000.
Meanwhile a clutch of expensive streets can be found in Cheshire just south of Manchester.
The Land Registry statistics identify some streets in Wilmslow, Alderley Edge and Macclesfield as having average property prices of between £1.3m and £1.6m.
In a similar study, the Bank of Scotland, part of Lloyds Banking Group, said that Northumberland Street in Edinburgh was Scotland's most expensive street, with an average home there costing just over £1.3m. | Victoria Road in Kensington, west London, has again been named as the most expensive street in the UK. | 35069531 |
William Warn made the road trip in a 1907 Singer car.
His descendants Frank, Craig and Heidi Clapp, along with family and friends, are making the journey in the same kind of 25 horsepower car.
The team, all from England, have reached the Highlands. They had planned to travel in a modern car but were convinced by a friend to use a Singer. | A 1912 car owner's journey from Land's End to John O'Groats is being recreated by his three great grandchildren. | 19410461 |
Mr Wilson claims it would suit Sinn Féin's agenda to prevent increased public spending in Northern Ireland and described the current situation as "all a bit cack-handed".
Mr Brokenshire has suggested the £1bn was "for a new executive to see that we get local politicians making decisions" and that "there will be a whole host of decisions to take should that not happen".
Mr Wilson insists calls for the NI Secretary to clarify his position are meaningless as he believes the original deal still stands.
The Conservatives said on Thursday night that it wants the "additional funding identified in the agreement to go to a new executive", but if it proves impossible to establish devolution the party, in signing the agreement, "has recognised the case for the higher funding Northern Ireland needs".
In a separate story in the newspaper, Sinn Féin dismissed a DUP claim that it is using the Irish language as an excuse to avoid the restoration of power-sharing as "ludicrous".
The DUP's Edwin Poots had said the proposed Irish language act was a "useful tool" for Sinn Féin to avoid the hard decisions of government.
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan said his party is "absolutely committed" to the return of the executive and that if the DUP did not believe them they should "call our bluff" by agreeing to an act and "the other rights-based issues which are outstanding".
The Irish News leads with the story of a gruelling pilgrimage by a former Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) star who has been diagnosed with a terminal neurological condition.
Former Antrim captain Anto Finnegan, who has Motor Neurone Disease (MND), travelled 90 miles of the Camino de Santiago to highlight the condition.
Mr Finnegan was joined by his wife Alison and two friends on the trip and said one of the tougher routes was chosen with a purpose.
"Living with MND on a daily basis is really challenging, not just for the person with the condition but for the people around you," he said.
"We wanted something which mirrored the challenge of living with the condition."
The newspaper also reports that youths have targeted a south Belfast apartment block just over a week after it was damaged by an Eleventh night bonfire.
Criminal damage was caused to the entrance of the building's car park hours after a meeting on Wednesday night to discuss the impact of the blaze near Sandy Row.
The paper also notes that the police have removed bonfire materials blocking a street in a nationalist area of north Belfast.
'Anti-internment' bonfires are lit in some nationalist areas to mark the anniversary of the introduction of internment on 9 August 1971.
Safety concerns had been raised about the bonfire in Victoria Parade in the New Lodge area being built near blocks of flats and a children's nursery.
The death of a former estate agent makes the front page of the Belfast Telegraph.
Philip Johnston was arrested in April 2005 as part of an inquiry into the affairs of murdered loyalist Jim Gray.
Charges of money laundering were dropped in August 2006 but Mr Johnston, who was forced to sell his six offices, said the incident had left him financially ruined.
The 51-year-old's body was found at his home on Bangor's Bryansburn Road on Wednesday. Police say they are not treating his death as suspicious.
The Daily Mirror also covers the story and says friends were shocked by his death adding that he had never recovered "from the devastation he experienced over his arrest and charge".
The newspaper leads with Celtic's condemnation of "a small minority of fans" after it was charged by UEFA over an "illicit banner" displayed during Wednesday's second-leg game in the Champions League tie against Linfield.
The Glasgow club have also been cited for a "kit infringement" and "blocked stairways". A Uefa spokesperson said that the illicit banner charge related to the banner "portraying a person in a paramilitary uniform".
Celtic's Leigh Griffiths was given a one-match ban for provoking spectators during the first leg at Windsor Park while his club have been fined £4,000. Linfield have been handed a partial stadium closure for their next European tie and fined £8,850 over fan behaviour.
They say a cat has nine lives and that certainly appears to be the case with a 31-year-old called Sasha featured in the Belfast Telegraph.
Owner Beth O'Neill from Newtownabbey says she discovered the feline, who is the equivalent of more than 160 human years, in a battered state at stables near her home in 1991.
Beth has contacted the Guinness Book of Records about Sasha following the death of the world's oldest cat in Texas and says she has always been able to put her two dogs in their place.
"If they don't heed her, she puts her claws out and shows them who the boss is."
Beth says Sasha also faces competition from a young pretender, her daughter's cat Nico, who is a sprightly 24. | Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire is the target of East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson's ire on the front page of the News Letter as he calls on him to "stop pussyfooting around" on the extra £1bn of spending negotiated in the DUP's deal with the Conservatives. | 40678791 |
Cameron Logan, 23, died in a blaze at his family home in Milngavie on January 1. His girlfriend, Rebecca Williams, was seriously injured.
Blair Logan, 26, was in police custody last night, the Record reported. The Scottish Sun said the arrest came after detectives confirmed they were following a definite line of inquiry.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Daily Mail leads with news that the number of people working into their 80s and 90s has doubled in the last five years.
Jeremy Corbyn needs to raise his game north of the border if Labour hopes to regain power in 2020, shadow Scottish secretary David Anderson has told The Herald.
The Scotsman reports that a row has broken out over a major report on Brexit after MPs blocked calls for the Scottish Parliament to get a vote on the UK's final deal with Brussels.
The Queen has been left "saddened" by the death of her former brother-in-law, Lord Snowdon, according to the Daily Express.
Under the headline "Let's Do This", The National's front page promotes a series of reports ahead of the Scottish Independence Convention in Glasgow.
The Press and Journal reports that events across the north-east could be cancelled if Aberdeenshire Council "forces through" a 700% increase in the cost of entertainment licences.
A "landmark" prosecution has been launched against the former owners of shops selling drugs which were once known as "legal highs", according The Courier. | The arrest of the brother of a man who died in a fire on New Year's Day made the front page of later editions of both The Daily Record and The Scottish Sun. | 38621819 |
Officials said they would instead encourage political dialogue between Burundi's opposing sides.
Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza had fiercely opposed the AU plan's to send peacekeepers.
His decision last April to seek a third term in office has led to ongoing violence and fears that Burundi is sliding into ethnic conflict.
At least 439 people have died and 240,000 have fled abroad since last April, the UN says.
The AU could have deployed troops without Burundi's consent - a clause in its charter allows it to intervene in a member state because of grave circumstances, which include war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity - but it would have been the first time it had done so.
Top AU diplomat Ibrahima Fall said such a move would have been "unimaginable".
Burundi on the brink
Tit-for-tat killings spread fear
Burundi's football-playing president
Presidents who cling to power
10.4m population
50 years - life expectancy for a man
2nd poorest country in the world
85% are Hutu, 14% Tutsi
300,000 died in civil war
AU Peace and Security Council chief Smail Chergui said, after the bloc's meeting in Ethiopia: "We want dialogue with the government, and the summit decided to dispatch a high-level delegation."
Earlier this week, human rights group Amnesty International published satellite images it said were believed to be five mass graves near Burundi's capital, where security forces were accused of killing scores of people in December.
A fact-finding mission by the AU has reported arbitrary killings, torture and the "closure of some civil society organisations and the media".
Mr Nkurunziza is the former leader of a Hutu rebel group, who has been in power since a 2005 peace deal. Both the government and the opposition are ethnically mixed.
Ethnic conflict between Hutus and Tutsis in the 1990s claimed an estimated 300,000 lives.
Find out more about Burundi | The African Union has abandoned its plan to send 5,000 peacekeepers to help restore stability to troubled Burundi. | 35454893 |
The CPS said it had "carefully considered" evidence gathered and had authorised police to charge the 85-year-old former entertainer.
The alleged offences date from 1971 to 2004 and relate to seven complainants aged between 12 and 27 at the time of the alleged incidents, the CPS added.
Mr Harris is currently serving a prison sentence for sex-related offences.
He will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 17 March.
In a statement, the CPS said it had reviewed evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police as part of Operation Yewtree.
"We have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Harris to be charged with seven counts of indecent assault," it added.
The Met Police said Mr Harris has been charged with:
Operation Yewtree is investigating sexual abuse allegations and was launched in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.
Nineteen men have been arrested as part of the Yewtree investigation, of which five have been convicted, and 10 have been cleared. Two are currently on police bail, one is awaiting trial, and one died before trial. | Rolf Harris is to be charged with seven counts of indecent assault, the Crown Prosecution Service has said. | 35561645 |
Glasgow Warriors' Bennett, 23, comes in at inside centre for Huw Jones, who was injured in the 19-16 defeat of Argentina.
Ross Ford returns at hooker while Richie Gray is also back, partnering brother Jonny in the second row.
And, in the back row, Rob Harley and Ryan Wilson earn starts.
Their inclusion at blindside flanker and number 8 means John Barclay drops to the bench, while Magnus Bradbury misses out after making his debut against the Pumas.
Fraser Brown makes way for Ford while Grant Gilchrist joins Brown on the bench to accommodate the return of Richie Gray in the second row.
Jones was injured in the act of setting up Sean Maitland's try against Argentina, with captain Greig Laidlaw's added-time penalty securing victory.
That result followed a 23-22 loss to Australia, with the first two Tests of the series taking place at Murrayfield.
Kilmarnock FC's Rugby Park, which has an artificial 3G pitch, is the venue for Georgia's visit, with the east Ayrshire ground used for the 2014 win over Tonga.
"Our players are excited to be back in Kilmarnock and having them supporting us like they did two years ago will be great," said Scotland head coach Vern Cotter.
"The crowd's enthusiasm will be key to getting a good performance; the players feed off the energy from the stands. It's really does help spur on the guys.
"Georgia are striving to be among the world's best as they knock on the door of the top 10 in the world rankings.
"We are expecting a typical Georgian game. They will be physical up front as they play a forwards-based game, however they are also developing their backs."
Scotland: Hogg, Maitland, Bennett, Dunbar, Seymour, Russell, Laidlaw (capt); Dell, Ford, Fagerson, R Gray, J Gray, Harley, Watson, Wilson.
Replacements: Brown, Allan, Low, Gilchrist, Barclay, Price, Horne, Hughes. | Mark Bennett makes his first appearance of this year's autumn internationals as Scotland complete their series against Georgia in Kilmarnock on Saturday. | 38093028 |
The Bears resumed on 131-8, needing a further 53 to pull off an unlikely win in a dramatic game at Taunton.
But, after 21 wickets had fallen to spin on the first two days, seamer Lewis Gregory made the breakthrough.
He removed Chris Wright before Jack Leach had Josh Poysden caught by Marcus Trescothick to bowl them out for 152.
Leach ended with 6-42, matching fellow spinner Dom Bess's achievement of taking eight wickets in the match.
Poysden's dismissal left Rikki Clarke stranded on 55 - only the second half-century of the match - Warwickshire's hopes having effectively expired when Wright was caught behind off Gregory to end their 86-run ninth-wicket stand.
Clarke scraped a further five runs before last man Poysden edged Leach to slip, enabling Trescothick to rewrite two county records.
His seventh catch of the match equalled the record of seven in a match by a Somerset outfielder, set by Chris Tavare in 1989.
It also took his career tally to 394, beating the 79-year-old record of former Somerset and England all-rounder Jack White.
Somerset's fourth win of the season lifted them to second place in Division One, two points behind Middlesex, who have collected four bonus points against Nottinghamshire but slipped to 48-3 in pursuit of 235 at Trent Bridge.
Somerset head to Headingley next week to face title contenders Yorkshire before hosting Notts in the final round of games starting on 20 September.
One-Day Cup finalists Warwickshire, with only one match left, are left in relegation danger. They now play Lancashire, another team still not safe, in their final Championship game at Edgbaston, which begins three days after their white-ball trip to Lord's to face Surrey.
Somerset's victory could be subject to investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board, for whom pitch liaison officer Phil Whitticase was present after 21 wickets fell on the first day on a used pitch.
Somerset captain Chris Rogers told BBC Radio Somerset:
"I brought Lewis Gregory on because I felt the batsmen were getting into a rhythm against our spinners. I just had a bit of a feeling that a change of pace might cause problems.
"Such decisions often come down to luck and it's nice when they go your way. It makes you look like you know what you are doing.
"It wasn't the sort of pitch I would want to spend my career batting on. Each ball behaved a bit differently and that creates questions in the minds of batsmen, which makes them tentative.
"But our spinners are bowling well and I'd take the same sort of wicket in our final home game against Notts if it means winning the title."
Warwickshire captain Ian Bell told BBC WM:
"The pitch wasn't dangerous in any way so there was no cause for complaint. The ECB want wickets that turn, but I don't think that sort of surface is great, even for the development of spinners.
"It may bring them more wickets, but they will then find themselves bowling on slow, low tracks if they step up to international level.
"It's disappointing, because we are now right in the mix at the wrong end of the table. The game summed up our Championship cricket this season. We were good in spells, but not consistent enough.
"But we have a big final at Lord's to look forward to so we can't afford to dwell on this. But, whatever happens, we need to look at our four-day cricket because there have been problems stretching back to the end of last season." | Somerset emerged as contenders for a first County Championship title as they sealed a 31-run win over Warwickshire inside the first hour on day three. | 37302563 |
The Forensic Science Strategy, which aims to set up a new system to oversee how the criminal justice system deals with samples from crime scenes, victims and suspects, was published in March after claims standards were slipping.
But the Science and Technology Committee says it should be redrafted.
A Home Office spokesman insisted the strategy did provide a "clear vision".
The government-owned Forensic Science Service was closed down in 2012, with much of its work taken on by private companies which had to bid for contracts.
In 2015 the National Audit Office warned standards were slipping and in March the Home Office published its Forensic Science Strategy.
However, the Science and Technology Committee says the document seems more like "a plan to produce a strategy", adding the government should admit the document "leaves too many issues under-developed" and fails to properly explain its policy and direction.
Acting committee chairwoman Conservative MP Tania Mathias said although the government's strategy was published two years late, "further delay would have been preferable to this inadequate document".
Dr Mathias said: "The weaknesses in this document raise the question of whether the Forensics Strategy stands up as a strategy. It is missing a coherent vision for forensic services and a route-map to deliver it."
Other criticisms the MPs made of the strategy include:
The committee concluded that the government should publish a redrafted strategy after the Biometrics Strategy is released and police scoping work is completed.
A Home Office spokesman disputed the committee's findings.
"We are confident that the Forensic Strategy, which was drafted after extensive consultation with experts, represents the best way for policing to develop an effective approach to procurement," he said.
"The strategy sets out a clear vision for the future of forensic service provision, but it is equally clear that it must be designed and delivered by policing.
"It has been designed specifically in order to sit alongside and complement the biometrics strategy and the two were developed in parallel." | The government plan for the future of forensic science in England and Wales is vague and incoherent, MPs have said. | 37390923 |
His lawyers say he was 14 when found guilty and his confession was extracted by torture, but officials say there is no proof he was a minor when convicted.
He met his family one last time before midnight, then was hanged shortly before dawn at a jail in Karachi.
Legal challenges saw his execution postponed four times this year.
But despite the postponements, legal challenges and intense lobbying, all his appeals for mercy were ultimately turned down.
The Pakistani government scrapped a moratorium on capital punishment in the aftermath of an attack on a school in Peshawar in December last years in which more than 150 school pupils and teachers were killed by the Taliban.
How Pakistan is reacting: Shahzeb Jillani, BBC News, Karachi
Pakistan is a country where most people support capital punishment. It is often justified as an essential part of the Islamic principle of "an eye for an eye".
Many believe justice has been served and a child-killer hanged.
The campaign by global human rights groups like Reprieve and Amnesty International helped delay the execution four times this year. But here in Pakistan it was also seen as an attempt by "Western NGOs" to try to save one man from the thousands on death row.
In the end, Pakistan's top judges and elected leadership stood their ground.
For Pakistan's civil rights activists, however, this case exemplifies all that ails the legal system. The execution is seen as a sad day for a flawed and inefficient judicial system.
It's a deeper institutional problem that governments have failed to fix, focusing instead on rushing alleged criminals through faulty trials and executions.
Family's despair at execution
What is behind Pakistan's dramatic rise in executions?
Since then, authorities have hanged about 200 convicts in jails across the country.
Pakistan has the world's largest number of death row inmates, with more than 8,000 people reported to be awaiting execution and it is on course to have one of the highest rates of executions in the world.
Reprieve has argued that Pakistan's legal system failed Shafqat Hussain at every turn and that his case has not been properly investigated.
"The government's decision to push ahead with the execution despite calls to halt it from across Pakistan and around the world seems to have been more a show of political power than anything to do with justice," the group said in a statement shortly after the execution.
But Pakistan's government believes Hussain was 23 when found guilty, and courts dismissed petitions seeking verification of his age. | Pakistan has executed Shafqat Hussain, convicted of killing a child in 2004, despite appeals from international human rights groups. | 33767835 |
The Welsh Pro12 flag-bearers, the Ospreys (along with Leinster) have won this title more than any other side in the league. But they missed out on the play-offs last season, and have suffered some big-name departures.
For so long, the Ospreys pack was a fearsome machine.
A bristling, bruising, snarling mass of controlled aggression and brute strength.
Scrum V's Martyn Williams recently admitted it was a horrible experience playing against them for Cardiff Blues, yet all of a sudden they look like much less of a fearsome proposition.
Adam Jones and Richard Hibbard have gone. Ian Evans - their second row enforcer - has gone and Ryan Jones, Wales' most experienced captain, has gone.
Four Lions have left the pride and in their place? Some young cubs, who Steve Tandy is hoping can find their growl.
The two Nickys - Smith and Thomas - are both highly rated at the Liberty Stadium and may find themselves thrust into the limelight.
Lloyd Peers has already been entrusted with the captaincy during one of the Ospreys' pre-season outings, and he will need to step into the boiler-house breach. In the back row, Dan Baker will be looking to kick on where he left off, especially after he proved to be such a revelation last season.
So a lot of faith has been invested in the new generation, but if there is one man who can galvanise a team, who can drag them along through sheer force of will, it's Alun Wyn Jones. And most importantly, he is still there.
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The Scarlets won their one and only Pro12 title back in 2003, but made the play-offs in the 2012-13 season, and appear to be on an upward curve.
The Scarlets have a new man at the helm - Wayne Pivac - and although he made a journey of 12,000 miles to get here, he knows exactly what he's entered into.
The name "Llanelli" was burned onto his brain when, as a 10-year old, he woke in the middle of the night to listen to his beloved All Blacks being beaten by a club side with a funny name on the other side of the world. It came as no surprise to him to discover that the Stradey Park scoreboard, with 9-3 emblazoned across it, has pride of place in the club shop.
The Scarlets' pack has developed a hard edge in recent seasons, and with world champion boxer Joe Calzaghe's old sparring partner Byron Hayward installed as defence coach, that hard edge could turn into granite.
The fans have long craved a ball-carrying Number 8 in the mould of Quinnell or Ben Morgan. With Rory Pitman announcing himself with a Man of the Match performance in pre-season, and Chris Hala'ufia heading west, they may have found two at the same time.
But Pivac has pledged not to abandon the Scarlets' tradition of flair and enterprise. With a backline containing Scott Williams, Regan King and Jordan Williams, the Parc y Scarlets faithful may not miss Jonathan Davies as much as they feared.
The Blues rallied last season, to put some gloss on a dismal campaign that saw them lose twice to basement boys, Zebre, and part company with director of rugby Phil Davies. But a strong recruitment drive, and a new head coach have led to a surge in optimism at the Arms Park.
Back in 2009, during the first Lions test in South Africa, the tourists' scrum was in all kinds of trouble and they were staring down the barrel of an ugly defeat.
In an attempt to stem the tide, a pair of emergency substitutions were made - Adam Jones and Matthew Rees were brought on to join Gethin Jenkins in the front row.
It changed the entire complexion of the match. That trio became arguably the most fearsome front row in world rugby, and five years later they have been reunited at the Blues. Whether they can resurrect their power of old remains to be seen, but a muscle-bound Rees laid down the gauntlet at the Pro12 launch - warning that the Blues should no longer be considered a soft touch.
Head coach Mark Hammett has been on a charm offensive since his arrival a few weeks ago. The Kiwi has an easy manner and a ready smile, but beneath the surface lurks a darker resolve. I asked him whether the Blues had seen his nasty side yet.
"Not yet" he replied. "But they will, if performances aren't up to scratch". With him and Dale McIntosh in charge, the Blues squad may be terrified into being successful.
And what better way to exorcise their demons than to beat the team that scored an unlikely double over them last season - Zebre are up first for the resurgent Blues.
The Dragons have arguably been busier than the Blues in the spending stakes, with a slew of summer arrivals giving a different complexion to the squad. The Jones Boys, Lyn and Kingsley, will be determined to drive up standards after a ninth-placed finish last season.
In the pair of Jones coaches, the Gwent outfit have two of the canniest operators in the Pro12, and their recruitment drive has been impressive.
The Dragons pack has had something of a callow feel in the past, but not anymore. Brok Harris and Boris Stankovich have arrived to shore up the front row. Ian Gough has returned, and Andy Powell will be determined to put his chequered past behind him as he fights for a place in the back row.
And if evidence were needed of the Dragons new-found up-front grunt, then a pre-season win over English Premiership champions Northampton should surely suffice.
With Lee Byrne and Aled Brew back to bolster the backline, and Tyler Morgan and Jack Dixon ready to announce themselves, the Dragons could be about to rouse from their slumber.
Scrum V live returns on Friday as Ospreys host Treviso in the Guinness Pro12 with the action available on BBC Two Wales, red button and online from 19:30 BST.
The live rugby continues on S4C on Sunday when Clwb Rygbi brings you Cardiff Blues' first competitive game of the season against Zebre, with coverage beginning at 15:45 BST.
Highlights of the weekend's action will be on Scrum V on Sunday, BBC Two Wales from 18:45 BST. | With the ink dry on the historic peace deal and the new season just days away, Ross Harries assesses fearsome front rows; growling cubs; promises of flair and canny operators ahead of the Welsh regions' campaign in the Guinness Pro12. | 29021546 |
Around 60 women met a group of MPs about the issue.
The women, including many from Northern Ireland, had mesh or tape implants - devices used to treat organ prolapse and urinary incontinence.
These conditions can be common after childbirth.
Jackie Harvey, who is from Banbridge in County Down, had the implants inserted 12 years ago and suffered many problems.
She told BBC Good Morning Ulster that Tuesday's meeting would hopefully put pressure on politicians to debate the issue in parliament and implement a ban on the procedure.
"I was fine for a short time after I got the implant but I went on to develop chronic pain in the pelvic area, hips, groin and thighs.
"I got x-rays and saw a rheumatologist but at no stage did anyone make a connection, and I didn't make a connection either."
Ms Harvey said she only realised the implant could have been causing her pain after reading an online article about a woman who had similar symptoms and had also had a mesh implant inserted.
"I had the implant removed in March this year in England.
"Most of the problems have disappeared, but the pain is still there - however I feel much better than I was before."
She now runs an online forum to support those affected and of its 173 members, about 150 are understood to be from Northern Ireland.
The Scottish parliament put a moratorium on implants in 2014.
However, operations have begun again in Scotland with improved safeguards.
The former chair of the Northern Ireland Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Dr Robin Ashe said: "The use of mesh for the management of urinal incontinence is regarded as a safe and effective procedure in the right circumstances and in the right hands.
"As time has progressed, we have realised that one needs to be very careful about the circumstances under which these devices are placed.
"Our complication rates for the devices in the management of urinal incontinence... are very low in the short and medium term.
"What might be coming about now, is over a long period of time, we are recognising more complications and that requires to be evaluated further," said Dr Ashe.
Earlier this month, the Shadow Secretary of State, Owen Smith, unsuccessfully bid for a debate on vaginal mesh implants to be held in the house of commons.
He helped organise Tuesday's meeting.
He said: "This is a really big issue and it isn't going to go away.
"I hope today's meetings will make sure there is a much greater profile of what I think is a serious health scandal.
"As soon as parliament comes back over summer, I will be resubmitting my bid for a debate." | Women across the UK who have said they have been left physically and mentally scarred after having vaginal mesh implants have taken their campaign to ban the procedure to Westminster. | 40640880 |
Barnardo's Cymru said professionals can often spot symptoms of abuse among girls, but sexual stereotyping means boys can slip through the net.
Negative behaviour among boys tends to be taken at face value, while in girls it is more likely to be explored as a potential response to trauma.
The charity wants awareness raised.
Menna Thomas, senior policy research officer and co-author of the report, I Never Spoke About It, said boys have "additional barriers which prevent them from being identified and, more importantly, from being able to speak up about their abuse.
"For example, boys' negative or criminal behaviour is often interpreted and responded to in a way which overlooks their status as victims of exploitation and abuse.
"There doesn't seem to be sufficient awareness of the possibility of boys being vulnerable to sexual exploitation and, therefore, insufficient messaging to boys that they will be believed and offered suitable services."
The report also found as the most vulnerable boys move into adolescence, they are at greater risk of mental health problems, substance misuse, homelessness and offending behaviour.
It found they were also more likely to be loners - all are factors which can increase the risk of sexual exploitation.
It said a high number of professionals who were questioned referred to boys who had run away from home or been forced to live on the streets and exchanged sex for accommodation or food, known as "survival sex". | Boy victims of sexual exploitation often miss out on help as they are more reluctant than girls to admit their abuse, a charity has warned. | 36796325 |
It means the midfielder, 26, is under contract at Craven Cottage until 2021 and the club have an option to further extend the deal by another year.
There had been speculation about Cairney's future for several months.
Meanwhile, Fulham have signed defender Marcelo Djalo from Spanish second division side Club Deportivo Lugo on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
The 23-year-old former Real Madrid youth player joined Juventus in 2014 but was loaned out three times and never made a first-team appearance.
He moved to Lugo last season and his Fulham deal includes a 12-month option.
"The truth is, for me it is a proud moment. It's a big club, an emblem of the city," Djalo told the club website.
Cairney's new deal is a major boost for the west London side and comes after he was linked with a move to the Premier League following Fulham's defeat in the play-offs in May.
The Scotland player was signed from Blackburn in 2015 and has been voted Fulham's player of the year twice in a row, and in March was named the EFL Player of the Year at the London Football Awards
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page. | Tom Cairney has committed his future to Fulham by signing a one-year extension to his contract. | 40479950 |
7 June 2014 Last updated at 14:25 BST
Bernard Jordan was a young officer in the Navy when he crossed the English Chanel in 1944 to fight on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day.
At 90 years old, he lives in a care home in the south of England.
The veteran was desperate to join his colleagues to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the landings, but when he was told it couldn't be arranged in time he decided to hide his medals under his grey coat and set off to France without telling anyone. | A World War Two veteran who disappeared from his nursing home to attend the 70th D-Day commemorations in France, is safely back home. | 27747402 |
Thomas has been a regular at the six-stage race based around Adelaide and has been supporting Richie Porte over recent seasons.
But with Australian Porte no longer with Team Sky, this could be an early chance for Thomas to lead the team.
Rowe will be riding for a second time in preparation for the Classics season.
Sergio Henao, Pete Kennaugh, Salvatore Puccio, Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard and Ben Swift will complete Team Sky's lineup. | Welsh cyclists Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe will start 2016 by returning to Australia's Tour Down Under on 19 January. | 35158684 |
On Sunday Mr Obama told reporters that the US did not take such a proposal seriously and that Pyongyang would "have to do better than that".
The North's foreign minister Ri Su-yong made the offer in a rare interview.
Annual military drills conducted by the US and South Korea routinely inflames tensions with the North.
Mr Ri's comments came as the North said it fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its eastern coast.
The United Nations condemned the test, which it called a "serious violation" of past resolutions aimed at curbing the North's nuclear ambitions.
Mr Ri had told the Associated Press on Saturday "if we continue on this path of confrontation, this will lead to very catastrophic results, not only for the two countries but for the whole entire world as well".
"It is really crucial for the United States government to withdraw its hostile policy against the DPRK and as an expression of this stop the military exercises, war exercises, in the Korean Peninsula. Then we will respond likewise," he said, using the abbreviation for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Mr Ri signalled that North Korea would not back down despite current sanctions imposed by the US and allies.
"If they believe they can actually frustrate us with sanctions, they are totally mistaken... The more pressure you put on to something, the more emotionally you react to stand up against it."
International sanctions have been stepped up in the wake of several controversial nuclear and missile tests by the North.
The latest allegedly took place last week, with the North claiming to have used "cold launch" technology to fire a missile from a submarine, where it is expelled using gas pressure.
It also conducted its fourth nuclear test with a hydrogen bomb in January sparking worldwide condemnation, and claimed last month that it has developed nuclear warheads small enough to fit on ballistic missiles, though experts have disputed such claims.
Analysts believe that the North may be gearing up for a fifth nuclear test as a show of strength ahead of the North Korean Workers' Party Congress, the first since 1980. | US President Barack Obama has dismissed North Korea's proposal to suspend nuclear tests if the US ends its annual military exercises with the South. | 36127011 |
The 60-year-old man has been named as Ian Bell, who was from the Hertfordshire area.
Search teams including Lochaber Mountain Rescue had made searches of the Carn mor Dearg area where Mr Bell was believed to have been.
Police said there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances. A report has gone to the procurator fiscal. | The body of a hillwalker who was reported missing in the Lochaber area on Monday has been found. | 33782312 |
Mr Ashley was quoted by The Times as saying "we can't make the same profit we made last year".
It also comes after he confirmed he would not give evidence in Parliament about how his workers are treated.
At close of trade in London, shares in Sports Direct International were down by 10.52% at 379.20 pence.
Mr Ashley was also quoted in the The Times as saying: "We are in trouble, we are not trading very well."
In July 2015, Sports Direct said profits for the year to 26 April were £300m, up from £249m the year before.
Meanwhile, MPs have repeated their call for Mr Ashley to be questioned by the House of Commons Business Select Committee in London.
Mr Ashley, owner of Newcastle United football club, has repeatedly refused to appear before the committee on 7 June, and offered instead to give MPs a tour of his head office in Shirebrook, Derbyshire.
Committee chairman Iain Wright said on Tuesday: "We expect Mr Ashley to attend on 7 June and to take this opportunity to respond on public record to the serious concerns regarding the treatment of workers at Sports Direct.
"We are still to receive a formal response from Mr Ashley to our invitation to attend. Select Committees rightly expect witnesses to attend evidence sessions."
He added: "Business leaders and others regularly appear in front of select committees when invited and we see no reason why Mr Ashley should expect to be exempt from the normal parliamentary process.
"Among other issues, we are keen to question Mr Ashley on the progress of the review he is leading on working practices at Sports Direct."
The committee now needs to decide whether to raise a complaint of contempt, and the House of Commons would then decide whether a contempt had been committed.
A BBC investigation in October 2015 found that ambulances were called out to the headquarters of Sports Direct 76 times in two years.
Many of the calls, for workers at the firm's complex at Shirebrook, in Derbyshire, were for "life-threatening" illnesses.
Former workers said some staff were "too scared" to take sick leave because they feared losing their jobs.
Sports Direct said at the time that it aimed to provide safe working conditions for all. | Shares in retailer Sports Direct have fallen by more than 10% after founder Mike Ashley was reported as saying that profits would not meet those of 2015. | 35871297 |
Timothy Tyrone Foster was convicted of molesting and killing a white 79-year-old retired schoolteacher in 1987.
But the court on Thursday overturned his conviction after ruling that the prosecution had broken the law.
Foster may now face a retrial, 29 years after his death sentence.
A law introduced in 1986 made it illegal in the US to pick jurors based on the colour of their skin.
But the following year all four black members of the potential jury pool in Foster's case were struck from the pool by prosecutors, leaving an all-white jury.
Non race-related reasons were given for striking the black members of the pool, but prosecution notes released to Foster's lawyers in 2006 revealed racial motivations, the Supreme Court said.
The notes show that the prosecution marked the names of black prospective jurors with a "B", highlighted them in green, and circled the word "black" on their juror questionnaires, Reuters news agency reported.
According to Foster's lawyer, Stephen Bright, one handwritten note titled "Definite Nos" listed six people, of whom five were the remaining black prospective jurors, the Associated Press reported.
The sixth was a white woman who made clear she would never impose the death penalty, Mr Bright said.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the notes "plainly belie the state's claim that it exercised its strikes in a 'colour blind' manner".
The eight justices of the Court voted 7-1 in Foster's favour. The sole dissenter was Justice Clarence Thomas, a conservative and the only black member of the court.
Foster, who was 18 at the time of the murder, was accused of breaking into the home of Queen Madge White, breaking her jaw, sexually molesting her and then strangling her, before stealing items from her house. | The US Supreme Court has ruled in favour of a black death-row inmate, finding that state prosecutors in Georgia unlawfully excluded potential black jurors from his trial. | 36362438 |
Ayew was heavily linked with Sunderland during the January transfer window and there have been reports of summer interest from West Ham.
The Ghana international says he is happy at Swansea after finishing as the club's top-scorer with 12 goals.
"I'm happy here. If I have to stay, fine. If I have to leave, I have to leave," he said.
Ayew scored Swansea's final goal of their Premier League campaign, finding the equaliser in their 1-1 home draw with Manchester City on Sunday.
"I think you should ask the chairman," said Ayew, who signed a four-year deal at Swansea following his free transfer from Marseille, on his future.
"What is important for me is that I keep doing my work, and in football the truth of today is not the truth of tomorrow.
"We'll see what's going to happen, we'll have a discussion and see the way forward."
Ayew would like to continue playing in English football.
"I've enjoyed the Premier League, I think it's the best league in the world," he said.
"The intensity, the determination from every team. It's a league where you enjoy every game.
"Every game is difficult, you can never say you've won it before you've played it.
"I hope to stay in the Premier League if I leave, but I'm here at the moment at Swansea."
The 26-year-old feels Swansea, who ended the season strongly to finish 12th, will improve further next term now manager Francesco Guidolin has signed a two-year contract to stay at the club.
"I think everyone has learned a lot from the season," said Ayew.
"We've had three managers, which is not easy to deal with, but we managed to cope with all the changes and stayed up.
"We now have a coach with a lot of experience who knows what he wants to do.
"I've had friends from the national team who have been coached by him, and I know what he can do." | Swansea striker Andre Ayew says his future depends on a summer discussion with club chairman Huw Jenkins. | 36306050 |
About 9.5 million adults a week tuned in between April and June compared with 10.4 million during the same period in 2015, audience trackers Rajar said.
Radio 1 said the figures were "only part of the picture" and that its digital platforms had grown.
But the station now has its smallest radio audience since 2003.
Breakfast host Nick Grimshaw has 5.4 million listeners per week - down 400,000 year-on-year but unchanged from the first three months of 2016.
Radio 1 controller Ben Cooper said: "Rajars are only part of the picture for Radio 1, and our listeners should be seen alongside increases on our YouTube channel as it goes past one billion views and our growing social media platforms with over 8.5 million users.
"To focus solely on Rajars is similar to looking at how many newspapers have been sold without looking at their online presence or national influence."
A million listeners is a big drop. However, quarterly radio listening figures have a habit of bouncing around.
Look over the long term and what's surprising is that in an era of huge technological change, radio listening has stayed so stable overall.
In March 2006, Radio 1 had a weekly reach of 9.9 million listeners aged over 15. In March 2016, it had 9.9 million.
However, there are trends hidden in the figures.
Read the full analysis.
Radio 1's target audience is 15-29 year olds, and the station's on-air decline comes as separate research confirms young people are listening to less radio overall.
According to an annual survey of media habits published by broadcast regulator Ofcom on Thursday, 16 to 24-year-olds spent 29% of their audio listening time tuning in to live radio in 2015.
That is much lower than the average of 71% for all adults.
And the average time spent listening to the radio every week by 15-24s has fallen by five hours in the past decade, from 20 hours in 2005 to fewer than 15 hours last year.
Meanwhile, Radio 4 and 6 Music both enjoyed record ratings from April to June.
According to Rajar, 6 Music had 2.27 million listeners per week, just ahead of Radio 3, which enjoyed a five-year high with 2.2 million.
Radio 4 attracted more than 11.5 million adults - up from 10.6 million a week over the same period last year.
The station's Today programme also boasted what it described as a "Brexit boost", taking it to a record 7.4 million people per week.
"Rather than simply wanting a quick fix on the headlines as they wake up, our discerning listeners turn to Today to hear some of the best journalism and interviewing in the world, giving them a deeper understanding of the stories of the day," Radio 4 controller Gwyneth Williams said.
Other speech stations also prospered:
Among the music stations to perform well between April and June were Capital, Smooth and Classic FM.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram at bbcnewsents, or email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. | BBC Radio 1's audience has dropped to its lowest level for more than a decade after the station lost a million listeners over the past year. | 36965649 |
Hansjoerg Haber came under fire for comments made last month in which he castigated the government's implementation of the deal.
Mr Haber had been in his post only since October.
The agreement is aimed at halting the mass movement of migrants into Europe.
It revolves around Turkey taking steps to prevent thousands gaining access to Europe in return for Turks gaining visa-free access to the EU bloc.
In comments made to the media on 13 May, Mr Haber, who is from Germany, said: "We have a saying 'Start like a Turk and end like a German. But here it is the other way round'."
His words were seen as deeply derogatory in Turkey, where ambassadors are not expected to disrespect Turkish culture.
On Tuesday, Turkey's EU Minister Omer Celik accused Mr Haber of breaching basic rules of diplomacy by not honouring Turkey's values and its president.
"There are two rules any diplomat should know," Mr Celik told Turkish television while on a visit to Bratislava.
"First is respect for a country's values, and second is respect for that country's president. The ambassador violated these basic rules."
Turkish media reported that the row upset EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who reportedly put pressure on Mr Haber to resign.
EU officials say he will leave his post on 1 August and a successor will be announced soon.
Turkey's efforts to secure up to €6bn (£4.8bn; $6.8bn) and visa-free travel for its citizens is being held up because EU officials say the government has not met all the demands made by Brussels.
One of the most contentious issues is the EU's demand that Turkey refrain from using its anti-terror laws to arrest academics and journalists.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim insisted on Tuesday that the government had no plans to compromise on this issue, especially at a time when the military is fighting a bitter war against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
Other areas of dispute between Ankara and Brussels include media freedoms and a law that strips Turkish MPs of immunity.
Turkey for its part is concerned over the slow progress of its efforts to join the EU, which dates back to 1987.
The European Commission is on Wednesday due to publish its second report on the implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement, which will include updates on any progress made in the visa liberalisation dispute. | The EU's top diplomat in Turkey has resigned after a row with the government in Ankara over his criticism of its conduct in a landmark migrant deal. | 36530715 |
Lady Hale, deputy president of the Supreme Court, said the state had a duty to uphold that right and to cater for those with disabilities.
The court ruled three disabled people living in supported accommodation had been illegally deprived of their freedom under mental health legislation.
Charities called for new guidance.
The judgement, which overturns decisions by the Court of Appeal, is likely to have far reaching consequences for thousands in similar circumstances.
The three individuals - two sisters with learning difficulties and a man with cerebral palsy - need intensive support to carry out basic tasks and have no capacity to determine what is best for them.
There had been no debate as to whether their care arrangements were appropriate.
The court concluded their liberty had been deprived as they would have been prevented from leaving their accommodation.
Seven Supreme Court justices ruled that deprivation of liberty had to be authorised under the terms of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and living arrangements regularly checked.
European Human Rights legislation did apply to the trio, the court ruled, and other similar individuals had the right to a regular assessment of the appropriateness of their care.
Speaking after the ruling, Lady Hale said: "It is axiomatic that people with disabilities, both mental and physical, have the same human rights as the rest of the human race."
Human rights "have sometimes to be limited or restricted" because of disabilities, but the basis for freedoms should be the same for everyone, she said.
This was not changed by the fact many people were detained in comfortable care facilities, she said, because a "gilded cage" was "still a cage".
The state had a "duty to make reasonable accommodation to cater for the special needs of those with disabilities", she added.
Charities working with disabled people said the ruling was a "landmark" for the protection of people with mental illness.
Mark Lever, chief executive of the National Autistic Society (NAS), said the ruling was "a victory for the rights of vulnerable people ".
"This landmark [ruling] makes it clear that people with autism have the same right as anyone else," Mr Lever said.
Mind, which campaigns for people with mental illness, said the judgement provided "much-needed clarity on a hugely complicated issue".
Chief executive Paul Farmer added: "We call on the government to urgently issue clear guidance to care providers and local authorities so that they can implement this judgment."
Lawyers who represent disabled people also welcomed the ruling.
Last week, a House of Lords committee found laws covering those in hospitals or care homes were being flouted regularly.
The committee said it was likely many people were having their liberty deprived illegally. | Disabled people have the same right to "physical liberty" as others, one of the UK's most senior judges has said. | 26643286 |
"Ang moh" (local term for a Caucasian), chilli crab (our national dish) and "sotong" (another local term referring to a squid, but also used to describe ignorance) were just a handful of the words chosen for this year's update.
But what the heck is a "Chinese helicopter"?
"A Singaporean whose schooling was conducted in Mandarin Chinese and who has limited knowledge of English," the OED's official definition reads.
But like me, many of my fellow countrymen have been baffled by the appearance of the word.
"This is the first time I've come across the term," said Joseph Lim, 29, on Facebook.
"If there was no definition provided, I would have thought it was a sexual term."
Other Singaporeans, like Twitter user Chew Yiheng agreed. "Is that word even Singlish? I feel suaku", he said, referring to the local term for a country bumpkin, someone not well-informed.
An informal variety of English spoken in Singapore, incorporating elements of Chinese and Malay.
Read more: The rise of Singlish
Dr Danica Salazar, a consultant editor with the Oxford English Dictionary said the inclusion of these new words shows that "people do not need to speak English like Americans or the British in order for their English to be correct".
"These words have become part of the English language and they show something about the culture of Hong Kong and Singapore," she told BBC News.
"English is such a global language and this should be celebrated."
But Belmont Lay, the founding editor at local news portal Mothership, said the Oxford Dictionary was "having a go at Singaporeans".
"Chinese Helicopter reflects Singapore's Anglophone bias. I think it's great that the term was included but....why are they legitimising our creole English?"
The inclusion of "Chinese helicopter" was also being discussed on local radio on Friday.
Teacher David Tan said he knew where the term came from: it's actually an in-joke from Singapore's military service tradition.
"We are not talking about importing Chinese-type of tomahawk helicopter here," he said in a comment in response to a post on our BBC News Facebook page.
"The term 'Chinese Helicopter' was coined due to a mispronunciation of the word 'educated'," he explained.
"During the early days, Singaporean men who were educated in Chinese schools had difficulty understanding English instructions in the army. Hence when a man would say 'educated', [it sounded like "helicated"] and became helicopter."
There are other terms in the Singlish vocabulary which carry knowing mispronunciations, used to mock others.
Take for example, the usage of the word "powerful".
A Singaporean would swap it for the word "powderful" in a verbal battle.
When someone uses bad English, a normal speaker would reply sarcastically: "Wow, your English is so powerful".
But a true Singlish speaker would retaliate: "Wah, your England very powderful ah?"
So there you have it, win already lah! | As a native speaker of Singlish, I was proud to hear 19 Singaporean terms have made it to the Oxford English Dictionary. | 36283670 |