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John Rees-Evans courted controversy in 2014 when he was filmed telling a story about a male donkey raping his stallion, in answer to a question about homosexuality. Mr Rees-Evans told the BBC that the comments were "playful banter" and he was sorry if he offended anybody. He is the eighth person to announce their candidacy for the party. Mr Rees-Evans told the BBC Two Daily Politics programme: "I am proposing to transfer power from the leadership to the membership. "I believe in a process known as direct democracy, where the leadership doesn't have any authority to move the party in any direction it wants to go without direct consent." He said: "Right now I won't deny the fact there is infighting. The situation you have with UKIP is that you have fighters, you have freedom fighters without an enemy. "They've just won the last battle. I can tell you in my own personal experience, when fighters don't have a common enemy they turn against each other." He added that he hoped to "direct all that aggression towards the enemy". Mr Rees-Evans stood as a candidate for Cardiff South and Penarth in the 2015 general election. It was then that he made headlines after a video appeared online of him asked by anti-UKIP protestors to respond to comments - apparently made by another of the party's candidates - that "some homosexuals prefer sex with animals". In the video footage he said: "I've witnessed that", before telling the donkey story. But asked about the donkey comments, he said it was a "bit of playful banter with a mischievous activist". "It was an error of judgement. I was very early coming into politics. I'm sorry if I offended anyone by doing that," he said.

The report, published at global climate talks in Morocco, strongly links human activities to rising temperatures. It says that some studies found the the burning of fossil fuels had increased the probability of extreme heat by 10 times or more. The authors say that 2016 will likely break the record for warmest year. In their report on the global climate 2011-2015, the WMO says that the world's temperature was 0.57C above the long term average, which they define as being between 1961 and 1990. The five year period was the warmest for all continents except Africa. Throughout these years, temperatures over most of Europe were more than one degree Celsius above the long term trend. This was also the case in the Asian part of the Russian Federation, over much of the Sahara and Arabian regions, parts of South Africa, southwest US and the interior of Brazil. The mercury even reached three degrees above the average on the Arctic coast of Russia. "The Paris Agreement aims at limiting the global temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius and pursuing efforts towards 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels," said WMO Secretary General Petteri Taalas. "This report confirms that the average temperature in 2015 had already reached the 1 degree C mark. We just had the hottest five-year period on record, with 2015 claiming the title of hottest individual year. Even that record is likely to be beaten in 2016." The rise in temperatures is linked directly to the increase in greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere. In 2015 the WMO says the annual mean concentrations of CO2 were at the symbolically important level of 400 parts per million (ppm), having grown by between 1.9ppm and 2.99ppm between 2011 and 2015. The new report highlighted the human fingerprint in these emissions and the link to extreme weather events by looking at academic literature in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS). "Of 79 such studies published by BAMS between 2011 and 2014, more than half found that anthropogenic climate change contributed to the extreme event under consideration," the new report says. The review says that the most consistent influence of the use of fossil fuels on the climate has been on the probability of extreme heat. Some studies showed that the probability has increased by ten times or more. Among the heat events that the report highlights include the record high seasonal and annual temperatures in the US in 2012 and in Australia in 2013. Other significant events that the WMO believes are linked to warmer temperatures include the East African drought in 201-2011 which caused an estimated 258,000 excess deaths. They also point to heat waves in India and Pakistan in 2015 that claimed more than 4,100 lives. "The effects of climate change have been consistently visible on the global scale since the 1980s: rising global temperature, both over land and in the ocean; sea-level rise; and the widespread melting of ice," said the WMO's Petteri Taalas. "It has

If he is unavailable then the Reds could deploy the same starting line-up which began the 4-0 win at West Ham. Jurgen Klopp's side need a win to guarantee qualification for next season's Champions League. Middlesbrough head coach Steve Agnew may again be without Daniel Ayala, Gaston Ramirez and Victor Valdes because of injury. Guy Mowbray: "It's all very simple. "Liverpool need to win for a top-four place. They're at home to a side that has already been relegated. Liverpool win. "Now put yourself in the position of a Reds fan if it's still 0-0 after 75 minutes, with Arsenal in front against Everton. Heart going faster? "Take it a notch higher and see yourself as a Liverpool player in that scenario. Tension rising, snatching at chances, with Boro summoning up the spirit of their last visit to Anfield in the League Cup two seasons ago. "All very dramatic - and that's how we'd like it on Match Of The Day! "In reality, it's likely to come back to two words from earlier. "Liverpool win." Twitter:@Guymowbray Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: "The Champions League, for different reasons, is a wonderful competition. You can earn a lot of money there, that's money we didn't have last year - but we are already in a good position. "We are a club without financial problems and we have money to spend but it makes sense to think before we spend and that is what we are doing. "The Champions League would be the icing on the cake but that's it." Middlesbrough head coach Steve Agnew: "I've enjoyed it in some ways because I knew it was a huge challenge. But at the end of the season we didn't get what we set out to achieve and that has come as a huge disappointment. "The players and I have a very good relationship based on mutual respect, but together we haven't won enough football matches. "It's been difficult to accept, but at the same time I've learnt lots and learning about yourself helps you move forward." One big effort from Liverpool will get them over the line, and there will be a good atmosphere which will help. It is a big game and if they are not revved up and they cannot beat Boro, then they do not deserve to be in the Champions League. Prediction: 2-0 Lawro's full predictions v rock band Royal Blood Head-to-head Liverpool Middlesbrough SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) is a super-computer created by @ProfIanMcHale at the University of Salford that is used to predict the outcome of football matches.

Scores were level at 10-10 at half-time, Billy Burns landing two kicks and Ross Moriarty going over for Gloucester as Dom Waldouck grabbed Falcons' try and Michael Delaney kicked the points. Tait's try and a second Delany penalty edged Newcastle ahead after the break. In response, Greig Laidlaw kicked Gloucester's only second-half points. With their first chance to take the lead, a turnover from Gloucester scrum-half Willi Heinz was punished as the ball quickly moved left into the hands of Juan Pablo Socino, who put Waldouck over. The lead was short lived, as Moriarty grabbed a quick response and Burns added the extras to put hosts ahead for the first time. Persistent pressure led only to a further Burns penalty, with a fine Tait tackle on Jacob Rowan and a knock-on as Gloucester broke quickly up field frustrating the hosts. Delany then levelled scores at 10-10 with a penalty before the break. Again after the interval, Newcastle held strong defensively before Delany landed a penalty from 40m to edge Falcons ahead. And Belisano Agulla came off the bench to send Tait over to seal Falcons second win of the season and first Premiership win away from home in almost two years. Gloucester director of rugby David Humphreys: "Today, we dominated territory and possession but then we dropped the ball and kicked the ball away. I'm bitterly disappointed. "In this competition, these opportunities have to be taken and credit to Newcastle, they took their opportunities. "At key moments in the game, we lost line-outs when we could have put Newcastle under pressure. They defended and absorbed brilliantly." Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards: "I am pleased. We have come so close to winning away from home in the last year and have not quite achieved it. "The mistakes we were making last year, we weren't making quite as many today. "We are quite combative and will tackle our hearts out. If we take our chances, as we did today, we should be competitive with most people." Gloucester: Marshall; Sharples, Scott, Atkinson, Purdy; Burns, Heinz (capt); Thomas, Hibbard, Afoa, Savage, Galarza, Moriarty, Rowan, Morgan. Replacements: Dawidiuk, Orr, Doran-Jones, Latta, Evans, Laidlaw, Hook, Twelvetrees. Newcastle: Hammersley; Tait, Waldouck, Socino, Sinoti; Delany, Takulua; Vickers, Lawson, Welsh, Green, Olmstead, Wilson, Welch (c), Hogg Replacements: Sowrey, Rogers, Ryan, Witty, Temm, Young, Hodgson, Agulla For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter.

Demand for rhino horn is at an all time high and South Africa, which has the largest reserves of the wild animal, is a prime hunting ground for poachers. Over the past three years, gangs are said to have killed more than 800 rhinos for their horns, which can fetch £22,000 ($35,055) per kg on the black market. Poachers use a chainsaw to cut away the rhino's horns, after darting it with a tranquilizer - drugged and helpless the animal bleeds to death. Large syndicates are involved in this multi-billion dollar trade worldwide - exporting the horns from Africa to parts of Asia and the Middle-East. Despite many anti-poaching measures 310 have been killed in South Africa this year, more than 330 had been killed at the end of last year - and the numbers are set to increase, experts warn. In the five years up to 2005, an average of 36 rhinos were killed each year. Some say today's efforts are "too conventional" and are not enough. Sources: WWF and Campfire Zimbabwe Now South Africa has commissioned a study into whether legalising trade in rhino horn could in fact help to bring down poaching, the Department of Environmental Affairs announced recently. "We are impartial at this stage but we are looking at all the suggestions which could help us in the fight against poachers," the department's spokesperson, Albie Modise, told the BBC. "We are awaiting submissions and would consider this if we get authentic scientific backing that this would be effective," he said. The idea is that legalising rhino horn trade would make South Africa directly responsible for meeting the demand for the horns - taking power out of the hands of poachers and placing it in the hands authorities who would also be sensitive to current conservation efforts. These authorities would do market research into global markets of the trade, said Mr Modise. The department says rhino horn stock piles could also be sold to fund further rhino conservation efforts. Mr Modise says the suggestion first came up at a rhino summit held last year to find ways of tackling poaching in southern Africa. Rhino horn trade is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) and at present South Africa allows the export of horns only as hunting trophies. But the consideration has drawn heavy criticism from international conversation group WWF, which says this would be a setback by decades the efforts made to stabilise the rhino population. "We understand the need to come up with new ways of combating the rhino horn trade but we are against the notion that legalising it is the answer," said Morne du Plessis, of WWF in South Africa. "How can we control legal rhino horn trade when we can't even control illegal trade. There are too many unknowns for us to even start thinking in that direction," Mr du Plessis said. If WWF believed legalising the industry would be of benefit - it would be done research

Ever since it appeared at the top of international league tables more than a decade ago, it has been endlessly hailed as how to run an education system. Finland, which faces a general election this week, has been the poster child for education reform and overseas delegations have made pilgrimages to learn from its example. In particular it has been used to argue that you can have high results without an overbearing system of testing and inspection. It was the country where pupils did not have to start school until they were seven, enjoyed the longest holidays and then basked in the glow of global approval when they topped the tables in the international Pisa tests. But is the gloss coming off the image of Finland as an education superpower? A study from Gabriel Heller Sahlgren, director of research at the Centre for Market Reform of Education, argues that Finland's education standards are in decline. He says it is a misunderstanding of Finland's success to attribute it to a liberal culture without league tables or a formal curriculum and giving much autonomy to teachers. In a report published by the right-wing think tank the Centre for Policy Studies, Mr Sahlgren argues that Finland's star performance in the 2000 Pisa tests was built on the legacy of an older, very traditional education system, which had been part of the country's process of nation building. But this wasn't the image of Finland wanted by education experts, he says. Instead, when Finland was the top performer in Europe, it was used as a "counter-argument" to the success of east Asian school systems in Singapore, Shanghai and Hong Kong. More stories from the BBC's Knowledge economy series looking at education from a global perspective and how to get in touch While they were seen as successful because of hard work and grindingly long hours, Finland was seen as the way to achieve success with a much more creative and less centralised approach. Mr Sahlgren, based at the London School of Economics, says there was "never any real evidence" for such an impression. "It was simplistic, looking at how Finland's system looked today, without looking at its history." Rather than being the opposite of east Asian countries, he says in many ways Finland was like those emerging economies. Compared with its Nordic neighbours, Finland was a "late developer", much poorer and with lower levels of education in the early part of the 20th Century. Finland's approach of investing heavily in education and seeing rapid improvements was in many ways more like the pattern of Tiger economies in east Asia than the more sluggish progress in western Europe. Mr Sahlgren's research argues there is a reluctance to accept that Finland's education system, under which many of its successful teachers had trained, had been very structured and centralised. He quotes a research group from the UK visiting schools in Finland in 1996, a few years before the Pisa tests brought the world's attention to the country's schools.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said the lamb became "distressed" when it fell through a 4in (10cm) gap between boulders on Rough Tor near Bodmin. Firefighters managed to help rescue the lamb by digging a hole in the soil below to gain access to the animal. A spokesman said the farmer "managed to manipulate the lamb backwards out from between the boulders". The lamb was found to be in good health and was released back onto the moor to join its mother. The fire service was called out to the incident shortly after 12.30 BST on Sunday.

Despite what he calls the "massive blow" of losing captain Greig Laidlaw to injury, Hastings believes Vern Cotter's side can win next Saturday. And the Scots will be aiming to recover from the defeat by France in Paris. "It's a big match and I think home advantage might be just about enough to get them over the line," said Hastings. Scotland began this year's tournament with a 27-22 win over Ireland but fell short away to France on Sunday, losing 22-16. Over the same period, Wales have enjoyed a 33-7 triumph in Italy and endured the pain of a 21-16 home loss to England. Media playback is not supported on this device "It's an interesting game, with both teams having lost by the narrowest of margins last weekend," Hastings told BBC Sport. "I just hope we see a game played with the same level of intensity that we saw in Cardiff and Paris at the weekend. "It's going to be a cracker." Hastings lamented the absence of Scotland's "great leader" Laidlaw, the influential scrum-half who will miss the rest of the campaign with ankle ligament damage. Media playback is not supported on this device "He's got a cool head, his kicking is immaculate and he leads by example and I think he'll be a big loss to Scotland," said the former British and Irish Lion. "But Scotland did a pretty good job against Ireland and came close to France but they will have to keep it up against Wales because they are a very fine team." Another former Scotland captain, Al Kellock, told BBC Radio Scotland that the absence of Laidlaw's skills both as a scrum-half and as a captain "would be a loss to anybody". On who might replace the Gloucester number nine as skipper, Kellock said: "I think they'll have to wait and see who is in good shape after the weekend. "John Barclay took over as captain, closely followed then by Jonny Gray. Ryan Wilson will come back to fitness, who I would imagine will have his hat in the ring. Henry Pyrgos has already captained Scotland; he might be somebody who could come in and take over from Greig." The former Glasgow Warriors lock praised Ali Price for his contribution from the bench against France, as he replaced Laidlaw, and predicted the kicking duties against Wales would fall to fly-half Finn Russell, with full-back Stuart Hogg taking the long-range penalties.

Finding Your Feet are holding their first training session at the club's Firhill complex in Glasgow. Amputee Scots have previously had to travel more than 150 miles for a game of football. Other SPL clubs, including Rangers and Aberdeen, are also interested in setting up dedicated amputee teams. The training session was open to anyone with upper or lower amputations or limb deficiencies. The project is being backed by the Scottish Football Association. Earlier this month amputee Brian Murray organised an awareness day at his local football club Annan Athletic in Dumfries and Galloway. Brian, 46, who currently travels from Annan to Liverpool to play for Everton Amputees, welcomes the move by Finding Your Feet and will join the coaches at Partick Thistle to assist with training. The Glasgow-based charity was set up two years ago by Corinne Hutton, who was left a quadruple amputee after losing her hands and feet to septicaemia in June 2013. The charity aims to provide a support network to amputees and those with limb deficiency through emotional, financial and practical support and through the creation of opportunities in sport and recreation. Since her illness, Corinne, 44, from Lochwinnoch in Renfrewshire, has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to help other amputees. She recently became the first female quadruple amputee to conquer Ben Nevis and is due to become the recipient of the UK's first double hand transplant later this year. Partick Thistle already runs other disability football training sessions including frame football and sessions for those with difficulties in mobility and co-ordination. It is hoped that amputee teams can be created at junior and senior level and that other clubs will follow suit, before a Finding Your Feet league can be created. Ms Hutton said: "Finding Your Feet is trying to help amputees back to all sorts of activities and football is very popular in the central belt. Our intention is to bring it to Scotland in order to create another opportunity for amputees to access sport. "Partick Thistle is our local club so seemed the obvious choice as a partner in taking this forward and we were thrilled when they embraced the opportunity." Paul Kelly, manager of Partick Thistle Community Trust, said: "We want to awaken an idea in the minds of people who don't consider football to be a lifestyle option for them, so when Finding Your Feet approached us about amputee football there was never a doubt we wanted to be involved. "We have put a business plan together for the next three years which will include weekly coaching sessions as well as sending coaches for certificates on training people with disabilities. "We're all looking forward to working with Finding Your Feet to make amputee football a reality in Scotland." David McArdle, disability development officer at the Scottish Football Association, said: "The Scottish FA are committed to help and create opportunities for everyone to access the national sport and experience the joy and friendship football can bring. "Amputee Football is the

As voters go to the polls, the papers take the opportunity to give their opinions on the front pages. However, the BBC - like other broadcasters - is restricted to reporting only factual accounts of the election in line with polling day rules. With the election understandably hogging the headlines, it leaves an eclectic mix of other stories in the papers. The Daily Record leads with the claim that a Rangers fan who confronted Celtic's Scott Brown during last Saturday's Old Firm match was convicted of exposing himself to an 11-year-old girl in 2010. A failed businessman who conned friends and relatives - including his own daughter - out of more than £250,000 with a "catastrophic" betting scheme has been jailed for 27 months, reports The Courier. The Metro leads with the conviction of a man for planting a bag of explosives on a London tube train. Damon Smith was caught on CCTV dumping a bag containing a home-made bomb and deadly ball-bearing shrapnel. Like many of Thursday's papers, The Scottish Sun carries revelations from Hollywood star Brad Pitt, who has admitted that a drinking problem wrecked his marriage and tore his young family apart. Opening up in a candid interview with GQ Style magazine, the 53-year-old spoke about the repercussions of his divorce from Angelina Jolie, said the Daily Star. The parents of Madeleine McCann have vowed to never give up hope of finding their daughter as they mark the 10th anniversary of her disappearance from a holiday villa in Portugal, says the Scottish Daily Express. The Scottish Daily Mail claims that thousands of new mothers are left without food or pain relief in overstretched NHS maternity units, leaving many psychologically scarred. Shareholders in Royal Bank of Scotland have been urged to vote against the re-election of chairman Sir Howard Davies over the lack of female representation on the board, says The Herald. Edinburgh has been ranked second in a global quality of life survey - behind Wellington in New Zealand, according to a survey published in The Scotsman. A video of a Danish choir singing on top of a Scottish mountain has gone viral, reports The National. The Times writes that motorists will be urged to put their mobile phone in a car compartment that blocks signals under plans to prevent dangerous distractions at the wheel.

At least 800,000 people have fled their homes and at one point, there were fears a new regional war could break out, with accusations that Rwanda and Uganda were backing the rebels - charges both countries denied. The advances by the Congolese army follow changes in the military structures and the intervention of a brigade of UN troops with a tough mandate. Who are the rebels? The group is made up of fighters who deserted from the Congolese army in April 2012 following a mutiny. They are mostly from the Tutsi ethnic group, a minority in eastern DR Congo but with ties to Rwanda's leaders. They were led by several top-ranking officers who were members of a former militia called the CNDP - including Col Sultani Makenga and Gen Bosco Ntaganda, who faces war crimes charges at the International Criminal Court. Their movement is called M23 in reference to a 23 March 2009 peace deal, which the CNDP signed with the Congolese government. Why did they rebel? The rebels, also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army, say the government has not lived up to its promises in the 2009 deal. They say they were mistreated after being integrated into the army, were not paid enough and that the military lacked vital resources, with soldiers were going hungry. But analysts believe the real reason for their rebellion stems from comments made by Congolese President Joseph Kabila in January 2012, who under pressure from the ICC, said the Congolese authorities would put Gen Ntaganda on trial. Where is he now? Gen Ntaganda, known as "The Terminator", gave himself up to the US embassy in Rwanda in March 2013, after losing a power-struggle within the M23. He has since been transferred to the ICC in The Hague. Is that why they are now on the back foot? The internal rifts probably didn't actually make much difference. Most analysts point to two far more significant developments: Reduced Rwandan support for the M23 and the intervention of a tough new brigade of UN troops. Although this was always denied by Rwanda, UN investigators have long accused Rwanda of backing the M23. This led several donors to cut financial and then military aid to Kigali and the UN says Rwandan backing to the M23 has now fallen off. Meanwhile, the UN has sent a force of some 3,000 well-equipped troops with a tougher mandate than any other peacekeeping force, tasked with disarming and "neutralising" rebels forces in eastern DR Congo. Their use of helicopter gunships against the rebels is credited with making a huge difference, paving the way for the army to retake the territory seized by the rebels in 2012. Why did the UN send the extra troops? The UN has had a huge mission - currently some 18,000 troops - in DR Congo for many years but the unrest never seems to end. Many Congolese have derided them as "tourists" for many years and in 2012, they were unable to stop the M23 from

Organisers say the nine-month show at London's O2 Arena will be Europe's largest ever retrospective of the singer, featuring more than 300 items. It will display "as much of Graceland as will fit into the O2", they said. The exhibition will include a virtual tour of the Memphis mansion where Presley died in his bathroom in 1977. The pool table that he played on with The Beatles in 1965 and stage costumes including the black leather suit from his 1968 Comeback Special are also being brought from the museum in his old home. "While each and every item contains a lifetime of memories, we are more than happy to allow these treasured memories to leave Graceland," said Priscilla Presley, who was married to the singer for six years. "Elvis meant so much to me and our daughter Lisa [Marie Presley], but we both know that our family truly shares him with the world," she continued. Pieces leaving Memphis for the first time include the singer's wallet containing photos of his daughter, his front door keys and a TCB ring, which stands for taking care of business. Some items, such as the American Eagle jumpsuit and Cadillac, will only go on show for a limited period during the exhibition's nine-month run. Exhibition co-ordinator Nic Wastell said: "For people who can't get to Graceland, Graceland is coming to them." Elvis At The O2: The Exhibition Of His Life will open on 12 December and run until 31 August.

Aslef and RMT union members at Arriva Trains Wales walked out for 24 hours, with all its services cancelled. Arriva's Gareth Thomas said the company was "extremely disappointed" that the "latest offer of improvements to terms, conditions and pay" had been rejected. Aslef has denied that a new offer had been made. The pay side of the dispute has been accepted, but Aslef claims Arriva is trying to "railroad through" changes to terms and conditions. The industrial action also means some early morning trains on 5 January could be disrupted. A statement by Arriva Trains Wales said: "We deeply regret this disruption and continue to do all we can to avert strike action." It added that it advised travellers to make alternative arrangements for Monday and to check their travel plans for Tuesday morning. "An indefinite train driver overtime ban is also currently in force which may impact some timetabled services until the dispute is resolved," it added. Mr Thomas said: "Directors at Arriva Trains Wales have been in contact almost every day with union officials in a bid to resolve this issue and stress the urgency of the situation if disruption to customers was to be avoided." But Simon Weller, Aslef's national organiser, who is leading negotiations for the drivers, said: "The company has not made a new offer. It has sent us a form of words. But it is not new and it is not an offer." What's the strike all about? Both sides agree that they felt a compromise had been reached during talks in early November but the wording a subsequent email sent by Arriva to Aself caused concern with the union that staff would be expected to work beyond an agreed maximum 9hr 30min working day except for "special circumstances". Aslef is concerned that staff could be required to regularly work over that time due to the frequency of such circumstances including engineering works and special events like ferrying fans to big sporting events. But Arriva Trains Wales human resources director Mr Thomas told BBC Radio Wales it would not meaning working over by several hours. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "This strike is about basic workplace justice and decent working conditions and it is down to the company to recognise the anger amongst the workforce shown this morning and to meet with the unions for genuine and meaningful talks on the issues in dispute. " Welsh Conservatives leader Andrew RT Davies said the strike would cause "immeasurable chaos" for commuters and called on the Welsh government to "work with all involved" to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum. He said: "With the added blow that no replacement bus services will be offered, commuters face fighting a losing battle getting into work and this is clearly an unacceptable situation." But a Welsh government spokesman said it was a matter for the train operator to resolve. He said: "We are in contact with Arriva Trains Wales and urge a resolution to the dispute as

South Asia, a volatile and unstable region, has been witnessing an escalation in military and nuclear rivalry, somewhat overshadowed by the understandable fears of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. This part of the world, according to analysts, is fast becoming a race for nuclear supremacy between three powers - India, Pakistan and China (while technically not classified as South Asia, the country shares borders with both India and Pakistan). This rivalry in the eyes of many analysts is dangerous in itself but is made even more complex by the mutual suspicions and historical enmities that bedevil the region. First, take Pakistan. The country is plagued by economic and political insecurity but is locked in a fight for military bragging rights with India. The country is believed to have one of the world's fastest growing nuclear arsenals. A recent report indicated that it had tripled the number of warheads it had a decade ago. Nuclear strength is a political and military strategy in the eyes of the Pakistani governing class, a way of countering India's political and military clout. Pakistan has no official nuclear doctrine, but official communiques speak of "restraint" and "deterrence". The Pakistan government recently approved the purchase of eight submarines from China. It is not clear from reports whether they have the capacity to be equipped with nuclear missiles. The deal, said to be worth billions, is one of China's biggest arms deals. It also threatens to intensify a growing battle for military supremacy in the Indian Ocean, a stretch of sea that has long been a source of rivalry and tensions in the region. The reported deal sheds light on one other area of conflict and rivalry. China has long been one of Pakistan's main arms suppliers, accounting for half of Pakistani weapons imports, according to a report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. China and Pakistan have been close for decades, based largely on their mutual suspicion of India. In other developments, the Pakistanis are reported to have test-fired a missile recently that appears capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Pakistan possesses the medium-range Shaheen-III missile with a range of some 1,700 miles, leaving India easily within range. A recent leader article in the New York Times reported claims that Pakistan continues to develop short-range tactical nuclear weapons. Again, leaving India well within range. No-one should underestimate the rivalry between the two countries, informed by their troubled history, which includes outright wars in 1947, 1965 and 1971. India is estimated by analysts to have some 110 warheads but continues to expand its nuclear programme but at a slower pace, according to some reports. The country has a mixed strategy, combining short and long-range ballistic missiles, nuclear submarines and cruise missiles. It tested its first nuclear device in 1974. India has a No First Use doctrine, recently confirmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Security is a key part of India's nuclear strategy. China's nuclear strength is a worry to India, as is

A report by the Resolution Foundation says such employees are unfairly losing an average of £200 a year. It said those most affected are younger workers, many of whom will never benefit from the defined benefit pension schemes being protected. In 2016, UK firms spent roughly £24bn trying to plug their deficits, it said. Among the companies ploughing millions of pounds into their pension schemes were BT, Shell, Tesco, Unilever and Royal Bank of Scotland. The current deficit of all defined benefit schemes in the UK is currently thought to be about £500bn. The report says older workers, and those already in retirement, have the most to gain when companies top up their pension funds. Of the 11 million workers still in defined benefit schemes, less than 2% are under 30 and still contributing. Half the 6,000 schemes in existence are closed to new members, with a further third closed to further contributions. "This drag on pay has important implications across generations as low - and often younger - earners in affected firms are losing out on pay even when they are not entitled to the pension pots they are plugging," said Matt Whittaker, chief economist at the Resolution Foundation. "With average earnings still £16 a week below their pre-crisis peak and prospects for a return to strong pay growth looking shaky, it's important that younger and low- paid workers don't take a hit to their pay because of deficit payments to pension schemes that they're not even entitled to."

The 33-year-old was assaulted by three men who burst into his house in Rannoch Drive at about 03:15 on Saturday. He was treated in hospital for his injuries and later released. The attackers fled in a black car. Police Scotland said the victim was not believed to have been the intended target for the assault. Det Con Graham McAdam added: "I do not believe that this was a random attack however I think that the 33-year-old man was not the intended target and that he was the victim of mistaken identity. "I urge anyone who has any information that could assist our enquiries to contact Wishaw CID immediately via 101. Alternatively calls can be made via Crimestoppers where anonymity can be maintained."

The pair, a 27-year-old Algerian and a 22-year-old Nigerian, were arrested last month on suspicion of planning a terror attack in Göttingen, where they lived with their parents. Raids on their homes uncovered a gun and a flag belonging to the so-called Islamic State group. Charges were never brought, but the Lower Saxony interior ministry classified them as a threat to national security and requested their expulsion. "We are sending a clear warning to all fanatics nationwide that we will not give them a centimetre of space to carry out their despicable plans," said the regional Interior Minister Boris Pistorius. "They will face the full force of the law regardless of whether they were born here or not." According to the ministry, this is the first time such a decision has been taken and opens up a debate around the rights of those who have committed a crime or, as in this case, are suspected of doing so, to remain in the country. Germany, like many European states, subscribes to the idea of "jus sanguinis", where citizenship is determined by the nationalities of one or both parents but not by one's place of birth. As such, being born in Germany provides no automatic right to remain in Germany. However, since they had not been convicted of a crime, the Lower Saxony interior ministry had to argue that they nevertheless presented a security risk sufficient to expel them. Rules on deportation are taken at a regional or state level. In this case, the federal court was merely approving a request from the state's interior ministry. The other consideration was whether deporting the men to their parents' country of origin presented a risk to their safety. To date, there is no publicly available information on how either Algeria or Nigeria will deal with the men should the deportations go ahead. A year ago, French President François Hollande had to drop a move to strip convicted terrorists with dual nationality of their French passport and deport them, after an outcry in his own party. Human rights groups argued that being able to take away French nationality from convicted terrorists would create two classes of French nationality and was thus in contravention of France's founding principle of equality. Read more from Reality Check

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 37 of north London was held in April, while she was at an airport with daughter Gabriella. The state IRNA news agency reports that a provincial military unit affiliated to Iran's Revolutionary Guard said she had "participated in coup plots". The Foreign Office said it was urgently seeking information on her situation. According to IRNA, the Sarallah Corps, which arrested Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, said in a statement: "Through membership in foreign companies and institutions, she has participated in designing and executing media and cyber plots with the aim of the peaceful overthrow of the Islamic Republic establishment." Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who travelled to Iran on an Iranian passport, was arrested at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport on 3 April and taken to Kerman in the south-east of the country. Her daughter had her British passport taken away and is staying with Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's parents. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was jailed in Kerman, where she was kept in solitary confinement for several weeks, before being transferred to a prison in Tehran. She works for the London-based Thomson Reuters Foundation charity. Her husband Richard Ratcliffe, who has been trying to get a visa to visit her, has been campaigning for her return to the UK. Last month, Mr Ratcliffe said it was "hard to understand how a young mother and her small child on holiday could be considered an issue of national security". A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are urgently seeking information from the Iranian authorities on the reported accusations being made against Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe. "We have raised this case repeatedly and at the highest levels and will continue to do so at every available opportunity. We have also been supporting Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family since we were first made aware of her arrest. "Minister for the Middle East, Tobias Ellwood, has met personally with the family to reassure them that we will continue to do all we can on this case."

The satirical comedy, Special Correspondents, is a remake of a 2009 French film about a struggling radio journalist who files fake war reports. Gervais will write and direct the film, described by Netflix's Ted Sarandos as a "smart social satire with heart". "It's great to be part of the changing future," said Gervais. "Ted Sarandos is the new Godfather of entertainment, and he made me an offer I couldn't refuse." Netflix's plans to expand into film-making has already seen it sign deals with Adam Sandler, Leonardo DiCaprio and the Weinstein Company. "Having shaken up the TV industry, Netflix is about to do the same to Hollywood," said Gervais, whose Channel 4 series Derek was streamed by Netflix in the US. The original Special Correspondents film starred Gerard Lanvin and Gerard Jugnot as a radio journalist and technician in Paris who pretend to report live from Iraq. Set predominantly in New York, the new version will see Gervais and Bana's characters fake their own kidnappings during a rebel uprising in South America. Sony Pictures acquired the rights to distribute Gervais's remake internationally at the American Film Market in Santa Monica, California last November.

Which is why the organisers of the Rugby World Cup 2015 - which starts on Friday - are using the latest technology to make sure match officials can not only make the correct decisions, but can also do so speedily for the benefit of players and fans. Rugby authorities believe the use of the Hawk-Eye system will ensure that rather than controversy, rugby followers and the 20 participating teams will instead be discussing only the action and excitement over the next six weeks of the tournament. And, not only will the video system improve decision-making by the television match official (TMO) but it will also assist with player safety. "There are multiple benefits from our point of view in using Hawk-Eye," Alan Gilpin, head of Rugby World Cup at international governing body World Rugby, tells the BBC. "We started looking at technology about 18 months ago - at that point focusing on match officiating, and asking how could we enhance the match officials' decision making with technology." He says that as they went through testing with Hawk-Eye, in Pro 12 Rugby (formerly the Celtic League), at the Under-20 World Championship, and in selected international matches, a lot of other benefits emerged, including player welfare. "We quite quickly realised that actually this video replay technology - from an identification and management of concussion in particular - could be really significant. "We are using it very significantly in the head injury assessment process, in the identification and management of concussion." The system - delivered by Hawk-Eye "Smart Replay" technology - allows the TMO official monitoring the footage in a special video van, to have access to simultaneous and synchronised multiple-angle replays, in real-time and in slow motion. It also allows the official to zoom digitally in on any camera shots they want to see in more detail. Previously the TMO had to ask the TV producer of the host broadcaster to painstakingly rewind back through various camera shots. World Rugby says that seeing an incident simultaneously from all broadcast angles makes for thorough and effective decision making. The Hawk-Eye content is made available immediately to match officials, coaches, as well as team and stadium medical staff. Injured players can be shown footage to explain to them why they are not being allowed to return to the field of play. "We are also using it in our disciplinary processes, with our citing commissioners, and ultimately throughout the Rugby World Cup we will be using it to provide teams with additional footage for team analysis, and for analysis of their opponents, so it is a really significant series of benefits for us," adds Mr Gilpin. And Mr Gilpin says that given the fact that the World Cup is the sporting and financial showcase event for rugby union, then the cost involved, which World Rugby has not disclosed, is value for money. "Working with the host broadcaster, working with technology like Hawk-Eye, can actually be quite cost-effective, it is not prohibitively expensive," he says. "And

Spurs moved up to third place as headers from Dele Alli either side of half-time made the difference to leave Chelsea five points ahead of Liverpool in second place. Alli rose to meet Christian Eriksen's cross in first-half stoppage time and the same pair combined to put the game out of Chelsea's reach in the 54th minute. Eden Hazard had Chelsea's two best chances in each half but Spurs closed out the victory in comfort to put north London rivals Arsenal out of the top four and leave themselves seven points off the top after their fifth successive league win. Read more: Spurs can challenge for title - Conte Tottenham's season was at a tipping point after a disappointing Champions League exit at the group stage and the poor performance in defeat at Manchester United in early December - but they have responded magnificently. Mauricio Pochettino's side are gathering impressive momentum, illustrated by the manner in which they overcame a Chelsea side that was starting to carry an air of impregnability. The 4-1 wins at Southampton and Watford served as a warning that Spurs were approaching the sort of form that carried them close to the title last season and this performance confirmed their growing confidence and stature. Spurs have recaptured their intensity and energy and when this is bolted on to the quality provided here by the likes of Alli and Eriksen, it makes them a formidable prospect. Manchester City had already found Spurs too hot to handle at White Hart Lane this season - and Chelsea suffered a similar fate. Alli endured a quiet start to the season, perhaps in the aftermath of England's debacle at Euro 2016 - but the 20-year-old is firing on cylinders now. Alli's headed double here made it seven goals his last four games, the third time in succession he has scored twice in a game after doing the same at Southampton and Watford. Pochettino said before the game that he regarded Alli as "the most important player to emerge in English football in recent years". And here the £5m signing from MK Dons backed up his manager's confident words with a consummate all-round display crowned by the two towering headers which proved decisive. Alli received a standing ovation when he was replaced in the closing minutes after showing the quality that will make him an integral part of the future of both Spurs and England. Chelsea's perfectionist manager Antonio Conte and his players will be bitterly disappointed they could not achieve Premier League history with a 14th successive win that would have matched the mark set across the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons by Arsenal. However they remain in prime position in the title race. They still have a healthy five-point lead over Liverpool in second place and have come a long way since their last Premier League defeat at Arsenal on 24 September, a 3-0 loss that left them eight points adrift of then-leaders Manchester City in eighth place. Conte has transformed

Impress, established by press reform campaigners, received formal approval from the Press Recognition Panel (PRP). Campaign group Hacked Off has welcomed the decision, but bodies representing the press warned it will bring "state-sponsored" regulation of newspapers. Most newspapers have signed up to rival Ipso - the press-funded regulator which did not seek official recognition. Impress, which currently regulates 25 small specialist publications, has received funding from former Formula One boss Max Mosley, the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust and author JK Rowling. It was given the go-ahead by the PRP, which was set up in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry to ensure any future press regulator met certain standards. Analysis: Divisions persist on press regulation Evan Harris, joint executive director of Hacked Off, which campaigns for greater press regulation, said the decision paved the way for the "first regulator to have proven its independence and effectiveness" under the Leveson system of independent assessment. "The days of failed industry-controlled regulators like the PCC and its sham replacement Ipso are numbered," he said. "This decision makes Impress the only regulator which the public, readers and victims of press abuse can trust to regulate newspapers and safeguard freedom of the press, while offering redress when they get things wrong." However, Impress's bid for official recognition has angered many newspapers, who argue it would be a threat to press freedom. Lynne Anderson, deputy chief executive of News Media Association - which represents publishers - said she was disappointed by the decision to recognise Impress, saying it had been set up "to trigger punitive costs sanctions against Britain's press". She also defended Ipso - which represents most of Britain's main national and regional newspapers - saying it was "effective and independent". She added: "Not a single significant national or regional newspaper or magazine has signed up to the state-sponsored system of regulation under the PRP." Bob Satchwell, from the Society of Editors, said the PRP had been "set up by politicians with public funds" and has "no real work to do because Impress represents only a very small number of local publishers". An Ipso spokesperson said: "We have been regulating the overwhelming majority of the UK's newspapers, magazines and news websites for the last two years and will continue to do so." In 2011, it emerged that thousands of people, from celebrities to families of murder victims, including Milly Dowler, had been victims of phone hacking by the now-defunct News of the World. In response, then prime minister David Cameron set up a public, judge-led investigation - the Leveson Inquiry - to examine the culture, behaviour and ethics of the press. Lord Leveson recommended newspapers should continue to be self-regulated - as they had been by the Press Complaints Commission - but that there should be a new press standards body created by the industry, backed by legislation, and with a new code of conduct. Plans to set up a new press watchdog by Royal Charter were backed in 2013 by Mr Cameron and the

The link was made by the international Cochrane group, which looked at medical trials involving some 40,000 women. While HRT pills can ease menopausal symptoms and may offer some protection against heart disease, this must be weighed against other possible harms. Women facing the dilemma should discuss it with their doctor, experts say. The Cochrane researchers say their study is not the final word on HRT - more investigations are needed to get a clearer picture of all the benefits and risks. Experts also point out that many women now take HRT as a patch or gel rather than a tablet - the study did not look at these formulations. Over the years, there has been a lot of research into and negative press about HRT. Its use has been linked to breast and ovarian cancer, as well as blood clots. But while risks do exist, most experts agree that HRT can be a good and safe treatment to help many women control unpleasant menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes. One million women in the UK are on some form of hormone replacement therapy - be that pills, patches or gels. The Cochrane Review only looked at women taking oral HRT tablets. It found HRT may: But the findings were not clear-cut - the effect varied according to a woman's age, when she experienced the menopause and how long she had been taking HRT. For example, the heart protection was only seen in the youngest women in the study - those younger than 60 when they began taking HRT, or women who had started the treatment relatively soon after reaching the menopause. And in terms of absolute numbers, the risks were small. By the researchers' calculations, if 1,000 women under 60 years old started hormone therapy and stayed on it for seven years, you might expect to see five extra cases of blood clots and four more strokes, compared with 1,000 similar women not on HRT. At the same time, there would be six fewer deaths and eight fewer cases of heart disease in the HRT group. Lead researcher Dr Henry Boardman said the findings needed careful consideration. "This is a complicated health issue, where the same treatment offers benefits in some women, but harms in others." The risk of stroke and blood clots is listed in the product information for women and prescribers. And experts already advise that women on HRT should have regular health check-ups, and their need to continue treatment should be re-assessed at least annually. Maureen Talbot of the British Heart Foundation said: "This study supports what we already know and indicates a possible increased risk of stroke or formation of a blood clot in some women. "It is important that women have a full understanding of the risks and benefits of HRT and should talk this through with their GP." Janice Rymer is professor of gynaecology, spokeswoman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and a member of the British Menopause Society. She said

Ledley fractured a leg against Stoke, but Wales assistant manager Osian Roberts has said he could be in their squad for France even if he is not fit. "I think he's 50-50 [to make Euro 2016] - it's as tight as that," said Palace manager Alan Pardew. "I'm sure Chris Coleman will be desperate to have him, so we're doing everything we can to help him." Coleman names his 23-man squad for Euro 2016 on 31 May, and Wales play their first game on 11 June against Slovakia. Ledley, 29, was named in Coleman's provisional squad for the tournament in France, before being ruled out of the FA Cup final. Pardew described the loss of the midfielder for the match against Manchester United on 21 May as "desperate" news. He said: "He was very disappointed when he heard the news but he's a strong character and now he's just determined to make the Euros, so he's got a good mindset again." Pardew revealed the club will use an oxygen chamber to try to aid Ledley's recovery time. Minor fractures can take up to six weeks to heal, though the recovery time for more severe fibula injuries can be about three months. Roberts says Wales could take Ledley to Euro 2016 even if it means the former Cardiff player missing the early part of the competition. "If he misses the opening game, but is available for the others, we'd want Joe to be part of things," said Roberts. "If we need to give Joe a little bit of extra time, we'll do so. He deserves that. "He's been a vital cog in the team for quite a few years and we hope he can recover in time. "We'll have to wait and see how he reacts over the next couple of weeks. We're a stronger squad with Joe in it." After facing Slovakia, Wales take on England in Lens on Thursday, 16 June before finishing the group stage against Russia on Monday, 20 June. It would be a significant blow to Coleman if Ledley was missing from his Euro 2016 squad, as Wales prepare for their first major international football tournament since 1958. He played an integral part in qualifying for France, featuring in seven of the 10 Group B games, and offers valuable experience to the Welsh midfield. Wales will travel to Portugal for a pre-tournament training camp on 23 May. After the final squad announcement, Wales play Sweden away on 5 June, their last friendly before Euro 2016.

But it's not all about models, fast cars and cash. Two scientists in the UK are using rap lyrics to treat depression, addiction and bi-polar disorder. "Hip Hop Psych is opening up a new culture which branches across medicine and hip-hop with amazing responses," neuroscientist Dr Becky Inkster from Cambridge University tells Newsbeat. "I've always been a huge fan of hip-hop, I didn't even live in a community where it was popular. "My first album was Basement Flavor featuring MC Lyte." She's a big fan and so's her colleague. "I've been listening to hip-hop since its inception," says consultant psychiatrist Dr Akeem Sule, who usually works at South Essex Partnership NHS Trust but is also a tutor and honorary visiting research associate at Cambridge University's department of psychiatry. "I wanted to be a rapper, but my parents wanted me to do psychiatry. I'm from Nigeria. You did what your parents said." He says academics often "jump on the bandwagon" but don't understand the culture. Together they're using hits from the likes of J Cole and Professor Green to get people with mental health problems to open up. J Cole's been part of online magazine Soul Culture's mental health campaign #OKNotToBeOK. "When you listen to the album you'll notice how it flows from darkness to light, from hell to heaven, depression to happiness," J Cole said ahead of the release of his second album Born Sinner in June 2013. "It literally was a way out… I'm writing my way out of a negative place, a darker place." At their Hip Hop Psych events, which they run separately from the university, they also refer to Lullaby by Professor Green. He fronted Radio 1 documentary Suicide Survivors and opened up about his own experience of his dad taking his own life when the rapper was 24. "Writing lyrics helps me get issues out of my head, where they get mumbled and jumbled," said Pro Green, whose real name is Stephen Manderson. "When you put your thoughts on paper, it helps you get them out, so you have something to look at, and analyse." Just like the professionals, many young patients find it hard to explain what's going on with them. "But if you ask them to rap. They can rap," says Dr Akeem. "You find this rich narrative. They open up more." It's already working for Ice, who's 26. He went into hospital 12 years ago with mental health issues. He's on medication for paranoid schizophrenia and has counselling, but it's rapping, he says, that really helps. "It puts my mind at rest," he says. "One day people will like my music. I can be a role model to people going through trials and tribulations." And 26-year-old Stickz told Newsbeat that four years ago he had a breakdown and ended up in hospital. He was diagnosed as bi-polar and says rapping has definitely helped him find his confidence and find his personality again. "Instead of speaking about things that I've gone through or

The 21,874 fans at Valley Parade saw City enjoy the bulk of the possession, but they could not add the finishing touches to some attractive football and almost fell victim to some decent counter-attacking play by the visitors. Bradford created the best chances in the first half but the nearest they went to scoring was in the 33rd minute when James Meredith's left-wing cross was deflected in to the path of Filipe Morais whose left-foot shot was saved by the diving Luke Daniels. Scunthorpe's best first-half effort was a 25-yard shot from League One's top scorer Josh Morris against his former club but he was denied by Colin Doyle's save. The Bantams went close to scoring at the start of the second half when Timothee Dieng and then Morais had shots blocked in the box after Scunthorpe's defence failed to clear Meredith's low cross. At the other end, Morris had a 20-yard free-kick saved at the near post by Doyle and then fired over from 20 yards in the 67th minute after Paddy Madden's through-ball left him clear on goal. In another counter-attack, Tom Hopper could only divert Madden's left-wing cross wide at full stretch. Report supplied by the Press Association Match ends, Bradford City 0, Scunthorpe United 0. Second Half ends, Bradford City 0, Scunthorpe United 0. Attempt missed. Tom Hopper (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. James Hanson (Bradford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Murray Wallace (Scunthorpe United). Substitution, Scunthorpe United. Duane Holmes replaces Hakeeb Adelakun. Foul by Tony McMahon (Bradford City). Hakeeb Adelakun (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. James Hanson (Bradford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Jordan Clarke (Scunthorpe United). Substitution, Scunthorpe United. Richard Smallwood replaces Paddy Madden. Josh Cullen (Bradford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Sam Mantom (Scunthorpe United). Substitution, Scunthorpe United. Sam Mantom replaces Josh Morris. Attempt saved. Marc McNulty (Bradford City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Foul by James Meredith (Bradford City). Jordan Clarke (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick on the left wing. Attempt saved. Timothee Dieng (Bradford City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Attempt missed. Paddy Madden (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Substitution, Bradford City. Marc McNulty replaces Filipe Morais because of an injury. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Delay in match Filipe Morais (Bradford City) because of an injury. Attempt missed. James Hanson (Bradford City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Josh Cullen (Bradford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Josh Morris (Scunthorpe United). Foul by James Hanson (Bradford City). Murray Wallace (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in

He has already served a ban for not reporting alleged match-fixing in two games involving ex-club Siena in the 2010-11 season. The former Juventus coach is among 104 people a prosecutor has requested to have charges pressed against them. The 45-year-old, who has been accused of "sporting fraud", has always denied any wrongdoing. The next step is for the judiciary to fix the date for a preliminary, closed-door hearing where a judge will decide whether to press charges, as the prosecutors have requested. Conte has gone on to win three successive Serie A titles with Juventus before being appointed Italy coach last year. The general inquiry followed alleged attempts to manipulate matches in Serie B, the Italian second division, and the third tier Lega Pro during the 2010-11 season, with some Coppa Italia matches also involved. The Italian Football Federation has already conducted its own investigation and banned Conte for 10 months in 2012, later reduced to four months on appeal. More than 50 players were banned for up to five years and a number of clubs, including Atalanta and Siena, have had points deducted by the FIGC over the case.

It said it had developed a package of proposals designed to close a budget gap of £26m. Budget leader Bill Fernie said cuts to services were unavoidable, but the administration has done its best to mitigate the impact of the savings. The council's countryside ranger service was to be axed, but instead is to remain with reduced funding. Cuts to school music tuition and street cleaning are also be less drastic that originally proposed. Councillors will discuss the proposed budget at a meeting on the 16 February.

The two men fled the jungle camp in the southern province of Sulu on Wednesday night during the two-hour gun battle. The army had attacked the camp to free them and other hostages. Abu Sayyaf, a small but violent group known for carrying out kidnappings for ransom, aims to establish an independent Islamic state in the south. One of the hostages, Rod Pagaling, told the Associated Press: "When gunfire rang out as close as 15m from us, I thought it was my opportunity to survive so I ran away in the confusion." Brig Gen Alan Arrojado told AP that Mr Pagaling and the other hostage, Gringo Villaluz, told him the militants "panicked and fled in different directions after seeing that the army had come so close and had begun the assault". The two men sprinted through the forest and later found help at a nearby village. They only found out about each other's escape when they saw each other at a hospital on Thursday, reported AFP. Up to 15 Abu Sayyaf militants died, while the military had no casualties. The men were kidnapped in May in the southern city of Dapitan along with a village official, and later transported to the jungle camp. The militants beheaded the village official last week and threatened to kill the coast guard men next, after the Philippines government rejected the group's ransom demand. The Abu Sayyaf is holding a number of hostages in various camps in the south of the Philippines, including Malaysians and a Dutchman. Militants freed a Swiss hostage in December.

The Scot, who collected £200,000 after winning the China Championship last Saturday, earned another £100,000 after his 10-7 victory on Saturday. Five-time world champion O'Sullivan, 40, had led 5-4 going into the evening session in the best-of-19-frame final. Higgins, 41, won six of the next eight frames to beat O'Sullivan. Four-time world champions Higgins momentarily lost concentration during the presentation. He dropped the trophy on to the table, much to the amusement of the crowd at the Ricoh Arena. "I can't speak for Ronnie but I was buzzed up coming into play. I just wish my old man was still here to see me take part in these finals," said Higgins, whose father died from cancer in 2011. "There is no better feeling than doing it in front of a packed audience, playing against somebody as good as Ronnie." O'Sullivan, who beat Mark Allen 6-2 on Friday to reach the final, said last month he was "not good enough to compete with the best players in the world". He won his sixth Masters title in January and the Welsh Open in February. "I need to find some consistency if I am going to win tournaments again," he said. "Against most players I might have had a chance of winning but against world-class opposition I make too many mistakes."

The episodes are believed to have been uploaded to file-sharing sites across the net after US media firm Netflix refused to pay a ransom. The shows were due to be released officially from 9 June onwards. The hacker who stole the episodes said they had also managed to steal series from other broadcasters including ABC, Fox and National Geographic. Netflix told Entertainment Weekly that it was "aware of the situation" and added: "A production vendor used by several major TV studios had its security compromised and the appropriate law enforcement authorities are involved." The FBI is also believed to be looking into the theft which is believed to have taken place in late 2016. The hacker behind the theft uses the alias The Dark Overlord and before now has largely targeted hospitals and other healthcare institutions. On 29 April, the hacker wrote a message on the Pastebin website which scolded Netflix for not paying the ransom. It is not clear how much money the hacker wanted for keeping the stolen TV shows offline. Computer security news site Databreaches.net said it had been given evidence by the hacker that they also got away with 37 other shows and films. Stolen shows include XXX: Return of Xander Cage, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Season 1 of Bill Nye Saves the World Economics professor Brett Danaher from Chapman University in the US told the Washington Post that the impact of the theft may spark attacks from other hackers and groups keen to cash in. "There is some evidence that pre-release piracy is the most damaging piracy to studios," he said.

The Polar Code, passed at a meeting in London of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), ban ships from releasing oil, sewage, chemicals and waste into the sea. The measures are set to come into force in 2017. But environmentalists say the regulations do not go far enough. WWF said a strong, legally binding Polar Code was particularly urgent in the Arctic, where new sea routes are expected to open up in coming decades. IMO member states should "honour the original vision of the Polar Code, which saw environmental protection as a priority," said Rod Downie, WWF-UK's Polar Programme Manager. "That means additional measures to reduce the risk of invasive marine species, more stringent requirements for oil spill response, banning the use and restricting carriage of heavy fuel oil by ships in the Arctic, reducing air emissions and black carbon, and addressing underwater noise," he said. The IMO is the United Nations agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships. A spokesperson for the IMO said many of the things not specifically addressed in the Polar Code are addressed, or will be addressed, by other measures. The Arctic is the fastest warming region of the planet. If the polar ice retreats it could speed up the rise in global temperatures and change the world's weather patterns. It could also open up a faster route for commercial cargo ships between Europe and Asia, and boost trade in ports in Arctic countries such as Russia, Norway and Canada. Follow Helen on Twitter

The 28-year-old, who was a youth at Arsenal, has faced Apollon playing for Cypriot champions APOEL of Nicosia. And he views Apollon as an improving side, pointing out that they have won the Cypriot Cup two years running. "I think Apollon have a better chance, maybe 60-40 over Aberdeen," he told BBC Scotland. "Apollon is typically the third or fourth best club in Cyprus behind the likes of APOEL and Omonia, but the last few years, they are very high. "They have won the cup and are finishing stronger all the time - very close to APOEL. "Apollon is a very good team at the moment and it will be quite hard for Aberdeen, especially in Cyprus." Efrem spent two years with Rangers after leaving Arsenal and, after failing to make a first-team breakthrough, spent half a season on loan with Dundee, playing eight times and scoring twice as the Dark Blues finished fourth in Scotland's second tier. He thinks that, although Scottish domestic football has the physical edge over the set-up in Cyprus, the technique on show is not so good. "The standard, quality-wise, might be better than Scotland, but it is tougher in Scotland," said Efrem, who has 36 caps for Cyprus. "When I was there, only two or three teams were of a high standard, quality-wise, for me. "The rest of the teams, it was more about the toughness of the game and the speed of the game. "When I was there, Celtic and Rangers were the best teams and another one was Hearts." Apollon finished third in the Cypriot First Division last season, one point behind AEK Larnaca and five adrift of APOEL, who were denied a league and cup double with a 1-0 defeat in the national knock-out final. Aberdeen's third qualifying round opponents have since added Andre Schembri, the 31-year-old Malta international who terminated his contract with Portuguese top-flight outfit Boavista. The striker repaid them with a goal in both legs of their 5-1 aggregate win over Zaria Balti of Moldova, with 33-year-old midfielder Alex da Silva chipping in with a double of his own from the penalty spot. Efrem views those two, plus striker Anton Maglica, a 25-year-old former Croatia Under-21 cap, as Apollon's main threats. "From the middle to the front, they have some good players," he said of the side coached by former Cyprus goalkeeper Sofronis Avgousti. "One is Alex da Silva. He is a Brazilian with a lot of technique and keeps the ball well and has a very strong shot. "And they have one or two good strikers, very good goalscorers. "One is Schembre and the other is Maglica, but it is more like a team because they are together the last two or three years they have good team spirit and they know each other and what the coach wants. "They are quite an attacking team, but they are compact." Efrem, who left Scotland in 2009 to take up a "very good offer" with Omonia Nicosia, admits he

It is thought hundreds of people may have paid Ben Hyland-Ward, 18, for tickets to this weekend's festival on the Isle of Wight. Sussex Police said they had been contacted by 60 ticket-less people and the number has been rising. Mr Hyland-Ward, from Brighton, said he had been scammed but would refund cash. It is thought he had offered the tickets at a large discount to the standard price. A Facebook group set up by people who had not received tickets from Mr Hyland-Ward has attracted 850 members, although it is not clear how many of these are out of pocket. In a comment on the Facebook page, Mr Hyland-Ward said: "I am working with the police to sort this out. "In the next few days a way to refund everyone will be worked out and I will private message all of you individually to sort this out. "I would like to give a huge apology to everyone as well. I am not asking for sympathy but it has been a horrible 24 hours and I have had some full death threats and I am in real danger." A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "The man has not yet provided the tickets and he himself alerted police when he became concerned about people turning up at the house where he had been lodging to collect them. "He has now left the city and is staying outside of the county. "At this time, he has been advised that this needs to be resolved as a civil matter, but police will be formally speaking to him later in the week to see if the tickets have been supplied or money refunded." Bestival is being held between 10 and 13 September with Duran Duran, The Chemical Brothers and Missy Elliot headlining. A spokesman for the festival said tickets "must be bought from reputable and trusted sources". "In light of the recent Brighton ticketing issue, Bestival is waiving the booking fee on a limited number of tickets for sale to anyone who has been affected," he said. To qualify for the offer, people must apply with a valid police crime number relating to the missing tickets.

The Lib Dems said they would not contest the Brighton Pavilion seat held by the Green's only MP, Caroline Lucas. The Greens said they would not be fielding a candidate in Conservative-held seat of Brighton Kemptown. Ms Lucas said: "People are putting aside party allegiances and working together." Sussex's only Labour MP, Peter Kyle, has already ruled out an electoral pact with the Greens. The Lib Dems and Green Party will both field candidates in his Hove constituency. In Brighton Pavilion, Ms Lucas retained the seat in 2015 with a majority of almost 8,000 over Labour. The Lib Dems finished fifth. Brighton Lib Dems tweeted: "Our Brighton Pavilion constituency members voted tonight for the #LibDems to stand down in favour of @CarolineLucas in #GeneralElection2017." In Brighton Kemptown, Davy Jones, who had been selected as the Green Party's parliamentary candidate, tweeted: "Delighted that @BHGreens [Brighton and Hove Green Party] decided we unilaterally stand down in Brighton Kemptown to help defeat sitting Tory MP." In 2015, the seat was defended by Simon Kirby with a majority of 690 over Labour. The Greens came fourth behind UKIP, pushing the Lib Dems into fifth place. Lib Dem president Baroness Brinton said: "In Brighton Pavilion, local Liberal Democrats have decided to pursue [the] challenge jointly with the local Green Party. "We welcome that constructive collaboration." Ms Lucas said: "Something amazing is happening in Brighton. "People are putting aside party allegiances and working together. Members of local parties are taking brave decisions for the common good." You've heard of tactical voting - at this election, a degree of tactical standing will be at play, nowhere more so than in Sussex. In Kemptown, if everyone who voted Green in 2015 had voted Labour instead, Nancy Platts would be the MP, not Tory Simon Kirby. If voters hadn't had the option of voting Green, Labour might have won. That's the theory. In practice, it's a little more complicated. Can we assume Simon Kirby and the Tories haven't won over Labour voters over the last two years? Can we assume Green voters would naturally flock to Labour? Can we assume first-time voters aren't going to turn out for other parties and spoil the maths? And the loose arrangements emerging in Sussex are far from complete. The Lib Dems have stood aside to help Caroline Lucas - but so far the Greens haven't decided whether to return the favour and stand aside in Lewes, a key Lib Dem target. "Alliances", "pacts" - whatever you call them, these moves have certainly changed the electoral balance in Brighton. But there's still plenty to play for, and no guarantee they'll work.

Data from Pearson, which runs the BTEC awards, suggests that girls who take these qualifications are more likely than boys to get top grades. Despite this success, girls are vastly outnumbered by boys on these courses. "When girls do sign up to these vital subjects they flourish," said Pearson president Rod Bristow. Pearson's figures show that the number of girls taking BTECs in science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) subjects is growing - but from a low base. This year, girls made up 5% of students taking engineering at BTEC Level Two, taken alongside GCSEs. That amounts to 810 girls, a rise from 680 last year. However more than a third (37%) of these girls gained a distinction, compared with 20% of boys. At BTEC Level Three, the proportion of female engineers was just 4% - but again they performed better than their male classmates, with 14% achieving the highest grade, as opposed to 9% of the boys. In information technology (IT), girls made up 38% of the cohort at Level Two but around a third (31%) gained a distinction, compared with 21% of the boys. The proportion of girls taking the more challenging Level Three in IT was just 18% but again their grades were strong with 15% gaining the top grade, compared with 12% of their male classmates. "Still too few girls make the next step in a Stem-related career by studying these subjects at university. This is something educators, business and government all need to work on and put right," said Mr Bristow. Surrey-based student Mehreen Rana, who obtained a distinction in her Level Three BTEC in IT and has a place to study computer science at King's College, London, said: "I hope more girls will follow in my footsteps and realise studying a Stem-related subject at school, college and university could be right for them too." Anna Douglas, director of applied sciences at City and Islington College, said female role models were key to encouraging young women into Stem subjects. "We are fortunate to have a number of female science tutors at the college, many of whom are educated to PhD level, who act as fantastic role models to young female students. This provides them with the skills, confidence and drive to pursue rewarding careers through Stem subjects." Helen Wollaston of Women into Science and Engineering said the results proved "that girls can do science, IT and engineering. "At a time when UK industry is crying out for more people with Stem qualifications, we have to get more of this female talent into the workforce." MP Andrew Miller, chairman of the Commons Science and Technology Committee said it was important to find out why girls with science qualifications were not following through into Stem careers. Engineering UK's chief executive Paul Jackson said the wider engineering community was working to "engage and inspire girls and boys in equal measure". Pearson's figures came as the Institute of Physics (IoP) announced that three quarters of UK university physics departments

Freeman, 22, has not played this season and has spent much of his time on loan since signing for the Rams in 2012. The Wales Under-21 international had spells with Notts County and Sheffield United last season and has also previously been on loan with the Stags. Manager Paul Cox said: "He is someone who has good qualities, as a person and player. He will be a quality addition."

He was a passenger in a Cadillac in Los Angeles when it collided with a Volkswagen Beetle at about 11:00 local time on Friday, according to celebrity news website TMZ.com. It reported that Harris, who is from Dumfries, suffered a cut in the incident. He had to pull out of a performance at the Omnia nightclub in Las Vegas. A statement on the artist's official Facebook page said: "Adam's transport was involved in a collision this evening on the way to the airport. "As a result he will be unable to perform at Omnia tonight. "He has been examined by doctors and told to rest for a few days - Calvin HQ." The Beetle was reportedly driven by a 16-year-old girl and had crossed the centre line before the crash.

In Carmarthenshire, 793 homes were cut off along with 272 in Pembrokeshire, 207 in Rhondda Cynon Taff and 150 in Swansea. All areas have power back, including parts of Ceredigion and Newport. Localised flooding has been reported in Pontypool, Cowbridge and Llanishen in Cardiff, as well as on the M4. The weather warning from the Met Office is for rain and wind of up to 70mph. One flood warning is in place on the Lower Dee Valley in Wrexham and several flood alerts have been issued across Wales. South Wales Police has warned of standing water on the M4 between junctions 35 (Pencoed) and 36 (Sarn) and have dealt with three crashes in the area. The M48 Severn Bridge in Monmouthshire has been closed to high-sided vehicles due to wind, as has the Britannia Bridge at Anglesey. Also on Anglesey, ferry services between Holyhead and Dublin have been cancelled while phone lines were brought down in Llansadwrn and Penmynydd. The main road between Beaumaris and Menai Bridge remained closed on Wednesday after a landslide closed it on Monday evening. In Powys, a fallen tree blocked the A40 at Trecastle, but this has now been cleared. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said a "significant" amount of rainfall was expected with rivers peaking late morning and early afternoon on Wednesday. While south Wales is due to be worst hit, NRW is also expecting to issue flood warnings in north Wales. NRW duty tactical manager Donna Littlechild said: "Anyone driving should be particularly careful as there will be a lot of water on the roads." North Wales has suffered in recent days from previous bouts of rain with homes being evacuated and chaos on the roads. Northern Ireland and Scotland are expected to bear the brunt of the storm. Over the weekend the A55 dual carriageway in north Wales was shut for hours due to flooding. Drivers were forced to abandon cars while homes at Anglesey and Gwynedd were evacuated. Natural Resources Minister Carl Sargeant said £1m would be made available for local authorities to carry out immediate repairs and maintenance to river and drainage systems. Check if this is affecting your journey

Whyte, found not guilty of taking over the club by fraud in May 2011, was fined by the governing body in 2012 but the money was never paid. SFA chief executive Stewart Regan confirmed the body will take advice about how to recover the money. Regan declined to comment on the High Court verdict concerning Whyte. Media playback is not supported on this device "Clearly, the trial verdict is a matter between Craig Whyte and the Crown," he said. "The verdict is the verdict. It's not a matter for the Scottish FA. "It has had a telling effect on Scottish football. We found Craig Whyte not to be a fit and proper person several years ago. He won't be involved in any football club or any member of the Scottish FA. "That money (the £200,000 fine) has never been recovered. That will be something we will take advice on and should the opportunity present itself then we would certainly consider that." Regan intimated that the SFA had not previously chased payment of the fine through the courts because the cost of doing so might outweigh the sum owed. And although he described the Rangers story over the past five years as "regrettable" he said he himself had "no regrets" over the way he and the SFA handled the situation.

The Republic's regular skipper Seamus Coleman sustained a broken leg against Wales on Friday and faces a lengthy rehabilitation process. On Monday, manager Martin O'Neill said Coleman was "still pretty down" about the injury. "The operation went well and it's just a matter of coming to terms with it." The 28-year-old Everton full-back has had surgery to pin the tibia and fibula in his right leg which were broken in a challenge by Wales' Neil Taylor during the 0-0 World Cup qualifying draw at the Aviva Stadium. The Republic of Ireland are in a promising position in their World Cup qualifying group, having taken 11 points from five fixtures. They trail Group D leaders Serbia on goal difference with Wales and Austria four points adrift. Ireland host the Austrians on 11 June as the Welsh head for Belgrade on a night which could have a huge bearing on the eventual placings. O'Neill will give some of his fringe players the opportunity to impress in the friendly fixture against Iceland. John O'Shea, Jonathan Walters, Glenn Whelan and James McCarthy have returned to their clubs, and O'Neill said: "There will probably be a few players who will get their first taste of international football. "They will have the opportunity to press a claim for future appearances." Preston pair Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle and John Egan of Brentford are among those hoping to get senior international game time. Burnley's record buy Brady will lead the Irish, having missed the Wales clash because of suspension. Iceland 2-4 Republic of Ireland (6 September 1997) Roy Keane scored twice with David Connolly and Mark Kennedy also netting for Mick McCarthy's team in a World Cup qualifying win in Reykjavik.

Abraham Mengistu, of Ethiopian origin, went into Gaza of his own accord and has been missing since then, defence officials say. Israel says it does not consider Mr Mengistu to be captive, AP news agency reported. Hamas has not commented. An Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, was kidnapped and held by Hamas for over five years before being freed in 2011. Israeli defence officials say they have appealed to international and regional bodies to help clarify Mr Megistu's situation and are demanding his immediate release. AP quoted an unnamed official as saying it is unclear why the 29-year-old went into Gaza but that he is believed to be mentally unstable. Sgt Shalit was captured in a cross-border raid by Hamas in 2006, triggering a crisis which was only resolved years later in a controversial exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Evans beat the Austrian world number eight 3-6 6-4 6-1 and will now face Russian Andrey Kuznetsov on Friday. "I just had to hang in there," world number 67 Evans said. "I knew I'd have to do a lot of running. I had to try to force my game on him, come forward and I did that in the end pretty well." The British number three will be looking to reach his first Tour final, having only previously reached a semi-final in Zagreb in 2014. In the men's doubles, Britain's Jamie Murray and Brazilian partner Bruno Soares also reached the semi-finals by beating Florian Mayer and Philipp Petzschner 6-3 6-4.

The 31-year-old had an operation in his native Argentina to remove his left testicle in September after the discovery of a tumour, before undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Writing in Spanish on Twitter, the Argentina international said: "Today I was given a medical discharge. "Thank you very much to all who accompanied me at this time." Newcastle expressed their joy at the news on social media, writing: "Everyone at #NUFC is delighted to share the news that @elgalgojonas has been discharged from hospital in Argentina." Gutierrez, who had a spell on loan at Norwich last season, has scored 10 goals in 177 league appearances for the Magpies since joining the club in 2008. He became a fans' favourite when he played a starring role in helping the club win the Championship in his second season in the north-east. After being largely overlooked by manager Alan Pardew last season, Gutierrez joined Norwich for the second half of the campaign, where he made his last league appearance in a 1-0 defeat by West Bromwich Albion in April.

A technician standing behind me was really nervous during the launch countdown at Vostochny, a new space centre in Russia's Far East. It was the second launch attempt - a day after the previous one had been aborted at the last minute. I noticed that some of the technician's colleagues also had pale faces and had crossed their fingers. It emerged later that a cable malfunction had led to the postponement of Wednesday's launch. This time there was relief for Russia's federal space agency, Roscosmos, as the Soyuz rocket, carrying three satellites, blasted off and the booster stage separated. President Vladimir Putin had travelled 5,500km (3,500 miles) to watch the launch and was in a black mood after Wednesday's cancellation, berating Vostochny's managers for the financial scandals that have blighted this prestige project. As the rocket soared away from Earth the tension evaporated - the crowd around me was laughing, hugging, drinking champagne. Only the essential launchpad structures have been finished at Vostochny, which is still a big building site. The original plan was to have it all ready by December 2015. When we inspected the launchpad later it appeared to be in good shape. A huge metal covering for the service cabin had plunged onto a concrete chute for the rocket exhaust gases. But a specialist insisted that the damage was not serious. Hours earlier President Putin had warned of consequences for the management failures at Vostochny. "If their guilt is proven, they will have to change their warm beds at home for plank-beds in prison," Mr Putin said, commenting on the arrest of four senior people involved in the project. Only hours after Vostochny's first launch one of those managers received a three-year jail sentence for massive embezzlement. Vostochny is a pet project for Mr Putin. Russia's ambition is to develop it as the main civilian space centre, eventually replacing Baikonur, the Soviet-era cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Baikonur has potential political risks, being outside Russia. So Vostochny has political and propaganda significance: it must prove that, despite international sanctions and a struggling economy, Russia can still complete a new cosmodrome and run it efficiently. The next day I asked Roscosmos head Igor Komarov how he had felt before the second, successful, launch attempt. "How do you think I felt?" he answered, grim-faced. The authorities were so nervous that they banned all live broadcasting before the launch and for the 10 minutes after lift-off. But Roscosmos officials have spoken optimistically about Vostochny becoming a centre for international space co-operation in future. The Plesetsk cosmodrome, in Russia's Arctic north, will remain the centre for military space launches. Away from the launchpad, much of the infrastructure at Vostochny remains unfinished. The engineers are in no hurry now; the next launch will not take place until next year.

But the NatCen British Social Attitudes Report found a majority of the 2,878 people it surveyed would not reverse cuts made by the current government. NatCen said people "seemingly accepted many of the coalition's big reforms". But during five years of seeing a coalition in action, the number who preferred to have a coalition in charge had "plummeted" from 45% to 29%. NatCen also said that, while most people wanted to stay in the EU, "the majority of the public can be considered Eurosceptic". The British Social Attitudes survey has been carried out every year since 1983, with questions repeated periodically to assess how opinions change over time. This year's study aimed to find how people had responded to the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government. Among its findings were: Recent opinion polls suggest a hung Parliament is likely after the 7 May general election, which could lead to another coalition government. NatCen, a social research specialist, said the number of people who preferred this form of government had "plummeted", adding: "Apparently any hopes that the Liberal Democrats might have had that voters would come to accept coalitions once they saw one in action, have been dashed by the experience of the last five years." However, it said people's responses to the coalition question were likely to be influenced by the party they supported. NatCen said there had been a "muted" response to the government's reforms of the NHS, welfare and higher education. Rachel Ormston, one of the report's authors, said: "Despite the fact that the public has gone off the notion of coalition government, it has seemingly accepted many of the coalition's big reforms. "In spite of the government's narrative of austerity, or perhaps because of it, NHS satisfaction is back up, there is broad acceptance of tuition fees, and at least some cuts to benefits are popular." For the first time, this year's report also looked specifically at the attitudes of UKIP supporters, who featured heavily enough in the sample to be assessed separately. It found while they were "anti-immigration and socially conservative", they shared traits with Labour supporters in that they were predominantly working class and concerned about the gap between rich and poor. They were also more likely than the population as a whole to support the death penalty (75% to 48%), consider young people do not have enough respect for British values (86% to 66%), and believe that people who want to have children should get married (46% to 23%). UKIP supporters were also less likely to trust Parliament and the government. People's interest in politics is "undiminished", the survey said, but a trend towards "greater voter disconnection" had continued in this Parliament, with 53% of people saying the government does not much care "what people like me think". Some 14% of people have expressed political views online, and 40% got political news from the internet at least every week, compared to 64% from television and 46% from newspapers. For this year's report, NatCen interviewed a representative,

Six fire engines and 35 firefighters are tackling the blaze after being called to the refinery on Manorway in Erith at 13:10 GMT. London Fire Brigade (LFB) said the three-storey building which is alight contains two oil refinery cylinders. The cause of the blaze is not currently known. Another two men had evacuated from the ground floor of the building before fire crews arrived.

The 37-year-old former Watford and West Bromwich Albion defender will spend more time working with the club's under-21 and under-18 sides. Robinson was without a club when he came on a one-month trial in 2012. But this new contract is his fifth for Blues as he continues to extend a career that now totals 736 appearances. "We wanted Robbo to stay and we are delighted that he has re-signed," said Blues manager Gary Rowett. "Gone are the days when he will be playing 50-odd games a season. We both know that. But he showed his value this season when he featured. "I believe he he can still be influential in other areas, working with the under-21s, whilst still being available to play." Former England Under-21 international Paul Robinson began his career with his home-town club Watford. He first arrived in the Midlands when he was signed by Gary Megson for West Bromwich Albion in 2003. After six years at The Hawthorns, a season-long loan move to Bolton Wanderers was made permanent in 2010. But he was released two years later, finishing the season on loan with Leeds United, before joining Blues as a free agent in September 2012. He has now made 145 appearances for Birmingham, scoring four times, three of them this season in the same eight-game hot streak, having previously gone almost two years without a goal.

He was dropped for England's third Test against South Africa over the messages. Pietersen said: "I truly didn't mean to cause upset or tension, particularly with important games at stake." Media playback is not supported on this device But England managing director Hugh Morris said further talks were needed to see if trust and mutual respect could be regained. Pietersen, who has cast doubt on his own England future and revealed he had points to "sort out in the dressing room", said in his apology: "The texts were meant as banter between close friends. I need to rein myself in sometimes. "I did send what you might call provocative texts to my close friends in the SA team. "I apologise to Straussy [captain Andrew Strauss] and the team for the inappropriate remarks at the press conference and for the texts." Pietersen's omission from the England squad for the final Test at Lord's came at the end of a turbulent week in which he first hinted he could retire completely from international cricket. Then on Saturday he committed to playing for England in all forms of the game. However, the ECB wanted assurances by Sunday afternoon from the 32-year-old batsman that he had not sent derogatory texts about captain Andrew Strauss. Pietersen did not do so by the deadline and was then dropped from the squad to face the Proteas at Lord's. Morris said a "successful conclusion to the process was in everyone's best interests". Media playback is not supported on this device However, he added: "Further discussions need to take place to establish whether it is possible to regain the trust and mutual respect required to ensure all parties are able to focus on playing cricket and to maintain the unity of purpose that has served us so well in recent years. "Critically, those discussions should take place behind closed doors, rather than in the media spotlight." It is unclear whether the tensions can be resolved by Saturday when England's 15-man squad for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka must be confirmed. Pietersen, who has 1,176 Twenty20 runs and was player of the tournament when England lifted the trophy in 2010, was not included in the original 30-man party after quitting limited-overs internationals in May. However, he can still be called up to the final squad. Strauss said it would have been "untenable" to have Pietersen in the squad to face South Africa. "He is a world-class player and no-one will deny that," he said. "When he is playing well and happy in dressing room he is a great asset, but that's not where we are at the moment. The selectors made a brave and correct decision. "I'd prefer the issues were resolved in private without media and PR companies and press releases. "It is a broader issue than just text messages. It is about trust and mutual respect. 31 May 2012: Pietersen announces retirement from international limited-overs cricket 14 July: Hints at returning to all forms of cricket providing

A sketch or e-fit based on an eyewitness description, together with information about height, build, age and ethnicity can help lead police to a suspect. But how many of these details could be obtained from blood or DNA left at a crime scene? Predicting a person's outward traits from genetic information is a newly emerging field in forensics. Scientists have already developed ways of testing for traits such as age and eye colour and are working on others for skin colour and even facial dimensions. This research effort could yield new tools to help identify unknown DNA profiles at crime scenes. The current approach, known as genetic profiling, involves comparing crime scene DNA with that from a suspect or with a profile stored in a database. But as Manfred Kayser from Erasmus University in Rotterdam points out, the person either needs to be among a pool of suspects identified by the police or have their profile in a DNA database. "If both are not true, you can have the nicest DNA profile in the world but you cannot do anything with it," he told BBC News. On Tuesday, Professor Kayser and colleagues published details of genes that predict the probable hair colour of an unknown individual. In September 2010, the Dutch researchers outlined a method for estimating the age of a person from blood drops. The group has also developed a test for predicting eye colour. Professor Kayser, who is chair of forensic molecular biology at Erasmus Medical Center, describes his team's work as "the full monty, starting from basic science up to a validated tool (test) that can applied in forensics". Meanwhile, Mark Shriver, an anthropologist at Penn State University, US, has been working on the genetics of skin colour. "We have mapped four of the major genes which determine skin colour between African and European populations," he told BBC News, adding that his group is working towards a forensic test based on the markers. Dr Shriver says he is also working with a company on an instrument that could be used by forensic officers to test for phenotypic traits "on-site", or at a crime scene. But Dr Peter Gill, a former DNA specialist at the Forensic Science Service (FSS) now based at the University of Strathclyde, comments: "All these markers are never definitive because they are multi-genic (determined by multiple genes). "So you have to put a probabilistic estimate on what the presence of a gene means." One of the most intriguing - and challenging - areas of research into phenotypic markers concerns the genes that determine the shape of a person's face. "There are some candidates, but it's quite questionable how good these candidates are. The knowledge is very limited," Professor Kayser told BBC News. One way Professor Kayser and his colleagues are searching for these candidates is by studying the genetics of disorders that affect the face. Scientists can then study the influence those same genes have on normal facial variation. Another approach, he says, is

Officers were called to the area near Aboyne Way in Glenrothes at about 10:30 on Sunday following the discovery. The death of Annie Finlay, 52, is currently being treated as unexplained while inquiries continue.

Much of it was targeted against the ethnic Tharu community in Tikapur, whom they blame for violence on Monday in which seven policemen and a child died. Tharu protesters had been at a rally demanding greater rights under a new constitution when the clashes erupted. A man, 18, has died in the south after police fired at a similar protest. In that incident, officers used tear gas and fired warning shots in the air on Tuesday when ethnic Madhesi protesters had entered the town of Gaur, in the southern plains of Rautahat district, where such demonstrations had been banned, the local chief district officer, Madan Bhujel, said. Minority ethnic groups have been demonstrating across Nepal, saying the new constitution, which would divide the country into seven federal states, would discriminate against them and give them insufficient autonomy. In Tikapur town, in north-western Kailali district, protesters attacked a radio station and a guest house, regional police chief Ram Kumar Khanal told the BBC Nepali service. The angry mob also vandalised the home of a lawmaker belonging to the Tharu ethnic group, the deputy inspector general said. Police fired warning shots more than a dozen times to disperse the crowd, he added. In the capital, Kathmandu, hundreds of people attended the funeral for Laxman Neupane, the most senior policeman to lose his life on Monday in Tikapur. The ethnic Tharu protesters had encircled the officers, attacking them with spears and axes and burning one person alive, officials said. According to the Associated Press news agency, many of the protesters fled into the jungle and nearby villages in Kailali district after the clashes. Security personnel, including the army, have been deployed to Tikapur, which is about 400km (250 miles) north-west of Kathmandu, in an attempt to calm the situation. Meanwhile, Nepal's four major parties have met and said they will hold talks with dissatisfied groups to address their political demands, the BBC's Phanindra Dahal reports from Kathmandu.

In some London boroughs, 75% of pupils take a language GCSE, while in authorities such as Middlesbrough and Blackpool it is below 30%. The survey also suggests that this languages gap is getting even wider. The British Council says the lack of language skills is costing the UK "tens of billions in missed trade". There have been repeated warnings about declines in language learning, but this year's Languages Trends Survey suggests significant regional differences. On average, across inner London boroughs 65% of young people take a language GCSE - but across authorities in north-east England it is 43%, it says. The highest levels of language learning in England are in inner and outer London and the South East - while the lowest levels are in the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber. And Blackpool in the North West and Sandwell in the West Midlands have among the lowest individual rates for taking GCSEs. The overall national picture suggests numbers taking languages at GCSE have "stabilised" at about 50%, bolstered by the requirement to study a language as part of the English Baccalaureate performance measure. But provisional figures for this summer's exam entries, published by Ofqual on Thursday, show slight annual falls in French, German and Spanish. The British Council highlights a substantial long-term fall for languages at A-level, with numbers taking French having declined by a third since the mid-1990s, The council has warned of the economic damage from poor language skills - and that young people without access to languages are missing out on skills that would improve their employability. Research for the government's trade and investment agency, carried out by Prof James Foreman-Peck, found that a lack of language skills lost the UK economy an estimated £48bn every year. The report says that UK businesses could improve trade opportunities with better language skills. "Not only are the personal benefits of learning a language huge, but the country's current shortage of language skills is already estimated to be costing the economy tens of billions in missed trade and business opportunities every year," said Vicky Gough, the British Council's school adviser. "If we are to ensure that the UK remains globally competitive in the current and ever-changing landscape, we need all of our young people to be given the chance to acquire these vital skills." A Department for Education spokeswoman said: "The introduction of languages as a compulsory part of the primary curriculum and, more importantly, the EBacc at GCSE level, has begun to reverse the decline in modern foreign languages."

The speed and range of decisions taken by King Salman since succeeding the late King Abdullah in January are breathtaking by Saudi standards and unprecedented. In foreign policy, the kingdom's cautious approach in responding to regional crises and its preference for quiet diplomacy have been thrown out of the window by its decision to launch air strikes on Yemen. Saudi Arabia is suddenly in the unusual role of taking the lead in what is widely perceived in the region as a military campaign backed by Sunni Arab states to block Shia Iranian expansionism. But the changes inside the kingdom have been no less dramatic. In January came the surprise appointment of Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef as deputy crown prince behind Crown Prince Muqrin. Prince Mohammed was the first of the grandsons of Ibn Saud, the founder of the kingdom, to step onto the ladder leading to the throne. At the same, King Salman chose his youngest son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to take over the defence portfolio. These appointments were momentous enough, but they have now been followed by yet more startling changes. Out goes Crown Prince Muqrin, with Mohammed bin Naif taking his place as heir to the throne, and Mohammed bin Salman becoming deputy crown prince. Overnight, a country that has become accustomed to being ruled by kings in their 70s or 80s faces the prospect of a monarch-in-waiting in his 50s and his successor in his 30s. The assumption for years had been that the younger generation would be eased slowly into line for the monarchy over a long period. Indeed there was speculation that King Abdullah had selected Prince Muqrin to succeed King Salman precisely so that the former could supervise this delicate generational transition. The new king, with the stroke of his pen, has done away with the need for such a role and Prince Muqrin has gone. Another major change to the Saudi landscape is the replacement of the veteran foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, after four decades in the job. His departure because of ill health is not surprising. But what was not expected was the appointment of a commoner to the post for the first time. The new foreign minister is Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States. The likelihood is that he has been chosen precisely because of his knowledge of the workings of the world's sole superpower. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are concerned at the prospect of an American-endorsed agreement between the international community and Iran over the nuclear issue that might lead to greater Iranian influence in the region. For, as the unprecedented intervention in Yemen shows, this tops the concerns of Saudi leaders at present. Among the latest decrees from King Salman was one awarding a month's bonus salary to all members of the military and security establishments. At the same time, the rapid promotion of the two key figures in the Yemen campaign, the interior and defence ministers, sends a signal

Carris Jones, 35, from south London will take up the full-time role in the choir which often performs at state occasions. She believes it is the first time a woman has joined any London cathedral choir as a full-time member. St Paul's director of music Andrew Carwood said he was "delighted" with the panel's unanimous appointment. Ms Jones from South Norwood said: "As a child I had a Mary Poppins obsession so singing at St Paul's has been a long-held ambition. "But when I first moved to London as a singer there was no inkling women would ever be considered for adult positions in the choir. I didn't think it was possible. "It feels wonderful." The Royal Academy of Music graduate and London Oratory alto has been singing professionally for eight years. She will join three male counter-tenors in the alto section on 1 September after giving birth to her second child. Reflecting on her appointment, she said: "When I speak to other female colleagues it means a lot that we won't have to explain to another generation why they can't [sing in this choir]. "Equality of opportunity is everything." Natalie Collins from the Christian Feminists Network said: "It's good news but it's also a bit disturbing that it's taken until 2017. "I hope it paves the way for more change in the high church." St Paul's choir has performed at notable national events such as Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer's wedding in 1981, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012 and Baroness Thatcher's funeral in 2013.

President Uhuru Kenyatta said the service was vital to ensure they received swift treatment. The initiative is likely to boost the morale of security personnel facing multiple threats, a BBC reporter says. Some soldiers and policemen have bled to death or have died of dehydration in remote areas of Kenya because of long delays in getting them to hospital. The BBC's Wanyama Chebusiri in the capital, Nairobi, says the government has now reached a deal with the Red Cross and private firm AMREF Flying Doctors to despatch helicopters and vehicles as soon as distress calls are received. The new evacuation service will also be offered to civil servants, especially those who work in the security field in rural areas with few medical facilities, our reporter says. Somali Islamist group al-Shabab has stepped up attacks in Kenya in recent years. Last month, the militants killed 64 people in two attacks in the north-eastern region of Mandera, which borders Somalia. "This is a crucial service, especially for our security officers, who put themselves on the front line against our enemies, to ensure that Kenyans are safe wherever they are," Mr Kenyatta said at the launch in Nairobi. Our reporter says the security forces are also battling bandits and cattle rustlers in the north-western Samburu region, which is known as the "Valley of Death". In 2012, more than 40 security officers were killed in the area and it took more than two days to rescue the injured, he says.

Of 2,000 business people it surveyed, 63% said they would vote to stay in the EU if asked now, with 27% voting "no". But 50% said their final view depended on the outcome of Prime Minister David Cameron's negotiations over EU reform. Meanwhile, a Business for Britain poll suggests small firms overwhelmingly think the EU hinders their business. Among 601 owners of small and medium-sized firms surveyed, 74% wanted the UK to take back power to negotiate its own trade deals. Only 25% agreed with the rationale for a single market. In the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) poll, 40% of those questioned currently expect leaving the EU would have a negative impact on their overall growth strategy, 40% expect it would have no impact and 14% said it would have a positive impact. John Longworth, director general of the BCC, said: "Many assume that the EU referendum is a simple in-out debate where both camps are firmly entrenched in their positions, but this survey shows that business people want more information and greater clarity, and for now at least their vote is still up for grabs. "With half keeping their options open before making up their mind on how to vote, business's top concerns need to be at the top of Downing Street's negotiation agenda." He added: "Business people are demanding a real shift in the balance of power between the UK and Brussels in any deal. Clear safeguards for the UK, and greater decision-making here at home, are at the top of their priority list." Business people are following the EU debate closely, with 51% reading about it at least weekly, and a further 26% at least every fortnight, according to the survey, which was conducted during two weeks in August. When asked about the impact of a future change in the UK's status in the EU on their business, 46% of business people expected a negative impact, but the same amount expected either no impact or a positive impact. The Business for Britain survey was commissioned by the chairman of Shore Capital, Howard Shore, who said that the regulatory environment and EU interference in business was making it tough for wealth creators to operate. The survey suggested that 69% of business people running small and medium-sized (SMEs) firms believed that the UK can trade and co-operate with Europe without giving away permanent control over its economy. Matthew Elliott, chief executive of Business for Britain, said: "Business opinion is divided over Britain's relationship with the EU, yet a majority of SMEs - the lifeblood of the economy - want to see powers flowing back to Britain. "It is particularly damning that by two-to-one SMEs think the EU is hindering them, not helping them, and this shows why Britain must take back control of how it trades in a dynamic, globalised economy."

South Yorkshire Police said the boy was in hospital in "a serious but stable condition". The incident happened as the teenager was running along Eastern Avenue at about 10:30 BST on Saturday. The single-decker bus was travelling towards the city centre at the time of the collision. No-one else was injured and police are appealing for witnesses.

Prime Minister Theresa May said the UK would start the process of leaving the European Union next Wednesday. The announcement will set in place a two-year negotiation process. But Michael Russell, who is leading the Scottish government's Brexit talks with Westminster, said he only found out the date when it was reported by the BBC. Mrs May had previously said that Article 50 would be triggered by the end of March, but the exact date was only confirmed on Monday. Mr Russell, who is a member of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) on EU negotiations, tweeted: "Thank you @BBCNews for letting JMC members like me know that #Article50 is to be triggered next week". He added that the UK government "somehow forgot to inform us". Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish government's external affairs secretary, also said she had not been informed about the Article 50 date. A spokesman for First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "The fact the UK government failed to properly and fully inform all of the devolved administrations on the plans for triggering Article 50 speaks volumes - and totally exposes as empty rhetoric Westminster's language about equal partnership." Mrs May said she had discussed the Article 50 notification with Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones during a visit to Swansea on Monday morning. She told S4C: "We have been talking with the Welsh government for the past few months and with the other devolved administrations about the process, about the timetable. "I have always said it would be before the end of March and we will continue talking to them." Asked later why Mrs May had not informed the Scottish government before announcing the Article 50 date, the prime minister's official spokesman said: "What we have done today is set out the date when we are triggering Article 50. "As the PM has said, there will be opportunities between now and the actual triggering for more discussions with the devolved nations." Scottish Conservative MSP John Lamont said the SNP was guilty of finding "any excuse to complain about a perceived slight". He added: "It is only a week since Nicola Sturgeon announced her plans for an unwanted, divisive second referendum out of the blue with no prior notice to anyone." Britain's ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, informed the office of European Council president Donald Tusk on Monday morning of the prime minister's plans. It means the UK is expected to leave the EU on 29 March 2019. The announcement comes amid increasing tension between Edinburgh and London over Brexit after Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, announced plans to seek to hold a second independence referendum in the wake of the Brexit vote. Scottish government ministers insist the result gives them a "cast-iron mandate" to stage a second independence referendum. That is based on the party's manifesto for the 2016 Holyrood elections stating that the referendum should be held if there was a "material change in circumstances" from the 2014 ballot, citing the example of Scotland being removed

Law firm BLM said there were 292 fines issued during the year, with more than £61m paid out in total - a 148% rise since 2015. The average cost of a fine rose from £69,500 to £211,000. BLM partner Helen Devery said strong safety processes were vital for businesses "big or small". The firm attributed the rise to new legislation on health and safety, food hygiene and corporate manslaughter offences introduced in February 2016. The rules impose fines proportionate to the size of a business, rather than using a universal figure for all offences. They also judge a penalty using metrics such as the seriousness of an offence and likelihood of harm in cases of "near misses". BLM said fines for businesses with a turnover more than £50m could now be as high as £10m for health and safety offences, and £20m for corporate manslaughter. It also said more than 18 fines topped £1m last year, compared with just two in 2015. These included the £5m fine issued to Merlin Entertainments following the Smiler rollercoaster accident at Alton Towers that injured 16 riders, some seriously. It remains the largest fine for a single incident and would have been £2.5m higher had Merlin not pleaded guilty. BLM said that as a sector construction had paid the most in fines, followed by manufacturing, leisure, logistics and transport, industrials and the public sector.

Bluestone National Park Resort wants to transform Blackpool Mill, near Narberth, into a Victorian-themed attraction as part of a £2.5m project. Bluestone said it would create 60 jobs and inject £1.6m into the local economy ever year. The plans were submitted last year and a series of road shows are taking place as part of a public consultation. They will be held between 10:00 GMT and 14:00 at the following venues: The plans include creating a Victorian tearoom, a milling experience, a crafts workshop and an exhibition and events barn. Two ancillary buildings, including the miller's cottage, will also be brought back to life, with the riverside meadow hosting cultural events. There are also plans for a narrow-gauge steam railway with its own station and platform. Bluestone chief executive William McNamara said: "We hope residents and traders will share our vision to bring this historic landmark back to its former glory." If the plans are approved, the mill is expected to open to the public in the autumn.

Prosopagnosia, as doctors call it, affects around two in every 100 people in the UK and is the inability to recognise people by their faces alone. In its most extreme form, people cannot even recognise their family or friends. Milder forms, while still distressing, can be tricky to diagnose, which is why tests are needed. People with prosopagnosia often use non-facial cues to recognise others, such as their hairstyle, clothes, voice, or distinctive features. Some may be unaware they have the condition, instead believing they have a "bad memory for faces". But prosopagnosia is entirely unrelated to intelligence or broader memory ability. One [anonymous] person with prosopagnosia explains: "My biggest problem is seeing the difference between ordinary-looking people, especially faces with few specific traits. "I work at a hospital with an awful lot of employees and I often introduce myself to colleagues with whom I have worked several times before. I also often have problems recognising my next-door neighbour, even though we have been neighbours for eight years now. She often changes clothes, hairstyle and hair colour. When I strive to recognise people, I try to use technical clues like clothing, hairstyle, scars, glasses, their dialect and so on." Doctors can use computer-based tests to see if people can spot famous faces and memorise and recognise a set of unfamiliar faces. And now Dr Pundit Shah and colleagues at University College London have come up with a 20-item questionnaire to help measure the severity of someone's face blindness. Each question is scored out of five, giving a total score of up to 100, but the abridged version below, created with the help of Dr Shah, gives a score out of 50. Try our version of the prosopagnosia test here The test is a guide and cannot tell you definitively whether you have face blindness or not. If you think you have face blindness and would like to be involved in Prof Shah's Medical Research Council-funded work, you can get in touch via the Trouble with Faces website.

The papers, which date back to the mid-1500s, were discovered at the Dunham Massey estate near Altrincham. They were found by a steward in a folio of letters kept in one of Dunham's picture stores. An expert from the John Rylands Library confirmed the authenticity of both documents. Both are addressed to George Booth Esq, the grandfather of Sir George Booth who built the first house at the National Trust site in 1600. The letter from King Henry is dated 1543 and is a call to arms to landlords to recruit troops from their tenants to go into battle against the Scots. Jane Seymour's document announces the birth of a son, the future King Edward VI, in 1537. Queen Jane, Henry's third wife, died of complications from childbirth less than two weeks after Edward was born. Katie Taylor, who made the discovery, said: "I was going through the letters in the folio, and these two signatures jumped out at me. "I was almost sure that one was signed by King Henry VIII, and the other written on behalf of Queen Jane Seymour. "Each of the letters is written on very thick and robust paper, and both have been kept flat and stored carefully away. "These documents are older than any of our buildings at Dunham and almost the oldest things in our collection." The letters are part of an exhibition to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year.

Pensions scheme members reported "hardship, distress and inconvenience" caused by the late payment of pensions, the NAO said. MyCSP said its performance was now back to a "steady state". The PCS union said the mutualisation had been "a textbook case in how not to reform public services". MyCSP, a joint venture between government and private sector firm Equiniti, took over civil service pensions administration from Capita in September 2014. In a report on Thursday Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office said the mutual "did not cope with the workload and a large backlog of work built up". "Some people were paid late and members struggled to contact MyCSP," he added. Due to a lack of staff, a backlog of work grew, peaking at 22,000 urgent cases in January 2015, and many thousands of calls went unanswered. Between September 2014 and March 2015, MyCSP failed to answer 99,408 calls, the NAO said. The mutual was unable to prioritise urgent cases once a backlog had built up because of the way its system ran, NAO added. In January 2015 the Cabinet Office told the mutual to develop a plan to tackle the backlog. By September 2015 MyCSP had managed to re-establish previous performance levels and was not hit with any financial penalties, the NAO added. MyCSP said: "We recognise the findings of the National Audit Office report published today. "It has been well documented that a number of factors led to the reduction in service levels, including a communication to 1.1 million members which resulted in significantly increased call volumes and a corresponding impact on 'business as usual' workload." It added that it had recruited new staff, increased call centre opening times, and started in-house training. "Call handling levels have been back to normal for the past six months, with a corresponding reduction in member complaints, significantly down from their peak at the time of the service challenges," it said. "Service to members remains our utmost priority and we will continue to work with... the Cabinet Office and employers to deliver towards that aim," MyCSP added. The PCS union said the NAO report had "exposed the failings of the government's only mutual venture in a damning verdict on the administration of civil service pensions". The new pension administration IT system, Compendia, was not fully ready when MyCSP took on the extra work, PCS said. Compendia was developed by Equiniti, which took over a controlling stake in the mutual in 2014, PCS added. PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "The mutualisation of MyCSP has from the start been a textbook case in how not to reform public services."

The incident happened at Da Luciano in Bothwell, South Lanarkshire, on Saturday 10 September. A spokesman for Police Scotland confirmed that a 36-year-old man had been arrested. He said the man was the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal in connection with the incident.

Forward Porter, 24, and defender Johnson, 21, both joined the club at the start of the season and have agreed extensions after helping secure a 10th-place finish in the National League. "I'm delighted to have Daniel on board for next season, he's had a fantastic season," manager Neil Smith said. "George has been brilliant in every position we've asked him to play, he gives 100% and deserves his new deal." Alan Dunne, Jack Holland and Jordan Higgs are the other players to remain contracted to Bromley for the 2017-18 season, but Connor Dymond and Lee Minshull have left the club.

Massaro, seeded fifth, beat the Egyptian on the way to winning the British Open last month, but could not repeat that performance in El Gouna. El Welily won the quarter-final 8-11 11-8 12-10 11-6 in 46 minutes to make it three Egyptians into the last four. That came before an unexpected rain shower in the Red Sea resort. The outside court is fully exposed to the elements as rain is extremely rare at this time of year in El Gouna. El Welily will next play France's Camille Serne, while top seed Nour El Sherbini will take on fourth seed Nouran Gohar in the other semi-final. Massaro, 33, won the world title in 2013 and reached the final last year, before claiming her second British Open title in March. "She's obviously a very strong player mentally and it's hard to break her," said El Welily, 28. "To beat her today is absolutely fantastic."

England lost out to Russia for the right to host the 2018 tournament, where they came fourth in the bidding process, winning only two votes. Dyke has indicated that Fifa president Sepp Blatter's attempt for re-election on 29 May will be a key factor in whether a bid is made. If successful, Blatter will oversee the bid process for the 2026 tournament, which takes place in 2017. BBC sports news correspondent Richard Conway assesses the chances of an England bid. It's very much a long-shot and Greg Dyke's words that he could be "persuaded" over a bid speaks a lot of the lengthy pre-conditions that would need to be fulfilled first. David Gill would need to provide the FA board with a reassurance that the process is scrupulously fair and above-board following the humiliation of the 2018 bid. Then the government would need to underwrite the deal. They are significant hurdles for the FA to get over, hence Greg Dyke's realism on this issue. Fifa's executive committee are no longer responsible for the final say on which country is awarded a World Cup. Instead, they will establish a shortlist before the 209 member nations of Fifa cast a vote for their preferred choice. 2026 will be the first tournament to be decided under the new system - a final decision will be made in May 2017 at Fifa's annual congress in Kuala Lumpur. Yes, there's no question about it. But they won't countenance a bid for any Fifa tournament while Sepp Blatter is in office. Greg Dyke's comments have however opened the door, ever so slightly, to a change in that policy. However with Mr Blatter favourite to win another term of office in May it looks like the FA may have to wait a little longer before bidding for a World Cup again. Yes, that could be an option for the FA. Wembley will host the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020, which is being held across Europe. That could pave the way for the tournament to come in its entirety in 2028. Germany, having stood aside in the fight for the 2020 final, remain in pole position to host 2024. England boasts some of the world's best stadiums and training facilities. By 2026 or 2030 the World Cup could well be expanded to 40 teams. Such a large number of teams, fans, officials and media visiting for a month long tournament requires extensive infrastructure. The FA will be confident that it can meet any request it faces. Yes. Having narrowly lost out to Qatar for 2022 there are plenty of people connected to US soccer who feel they deserve to be awarded 2026. And given Fifa's previous policy of rotating the World Cup around its confederations there is a school of thought which says only countries from Africa or North America, Central America or the Caribbean can bid. If such a policy was adhered to - Concacaf president and Fifa vice-president Jeffrey Webb certainly thinks it should be

The national debt will now reach a peak in the current year, a year earlier than we were told only in December, at 80.4% of GDP or national income. And it will then fall gently the following year to 80.2% of GDP, and subsequently fast towards the end of the next parliament, to 71.6%. So the national debt would be moving towards a more comfortable level. Though it is important to point out that at the end of the next parliament the debt would still be a little greater than this government thought it would be by now when it made its first Budget in 2010. So if you think getting the debt down is the big priority, the last five years have seen a good deal of austerity for very delayed gain. It is taking precisely twice as long as George Osborne hoped to get the debt down to 70% of GDP. Users of the BBC News app tap here for the Budget Calculator. And to achieve that deferred gain, the Office for Budget Responsibility says the acuteness of austerity will get worse, before it gets a lot better. So the OBR is projecting real or inflation-adjusted cuts in public services of more than 5% in 2016-17 and 2017-18, which is more than double the cuts we've seen in the worst years of this parliament. But after that, and as I suggested might happen in recent columns, there would be a sharp 4% increase in spending in 2019-20. Here is what is striking. Austerity on average is projected for the next parliament to be a little less severe than in the parliament that is drawing to a close. But there would be famine followed by feast, or what the OBR describes as a roller coaster. There is an argument that decision making by ministers would be more rational if their budgets were less volatile. And there is another argument which says those bigger planned cuts are unrealistically huge, especially since the Tories say they would be concentrated on services other than the protected areas of schools, health and overseas aid. That said, the chancellor says that the OBR is being a bit harsh on him. Because he says in practice his public service cuts would be less, because he thinks he can slice a substantial £12bn from welfare spending. If he achieves those savings, plus some additional revenue from cracking down on tax avoidance, then austerity in the next parliament would be similar to what we've been living through. The problem is that George Osborne hasn't told us which welfare recipients would suffer. Also some would argue that George Osborne's achievement of getting the debt down faster is a bit less impressive than it seems, because he is counting on raising substantial sums from asset sales - which will eventually run out. Next year, for example, he intends to raise £20bn from sales of Lloyds shares and mortgages made by the nationalised banks Northern Rock and Bradford & Bingley.

The Bevan Foundation called for a target to increase the pay of 6,000 workers a year, with an extra 2,000 in the Cardiff Capital Region. Business group FSB Wales said it should be "an aspirational goal" for firms but there are issues for some industries. The Welsh Government said it was committed to taking "further action on the Living Wage." The voluntary Living Wage is an hourly rate based on the amount needed to cover the basic costs of living - currently £8.25 an hour. It is different to the mandatory National Living Wage, which came into force on 1 April, requiring employers to pay workers aged 25 and over at least £7.20 an hour. The Bevan Foundation said women, those in part-time employment and workers in industries such as retail and social care were most at risk of being paid less than the Living Wage. Director Dr Victoria Winckler said evidence from elsewhere in the UK showed it increased productivity, improved staff recruitment and retention, gave workers "more cash in their pockets" and benefitted the local economy by saving public money. There are 70 accredited employers based in Wales, as well as UK-wide organisations with outlets there. But the Bevan Foundation highlighted that Living Wage "not-spots" existed in areas including Blaenau Gwent, Flintshire, Anglesey and Monmouthshire which have no accredited employer headquarters there. "It's a win-win all round, and should be a key part of the Welsh Government's and local authorities' economic strategies," Dr Winckler added. FSB Wales head of external affairs, Ben Cottam, said paying all staff the Living Wage could have "beneficial effects in staff motivation and reducing staff turnover". "We know from our own survey work that around half of FSB member businesses already pay all of their employees the voluntary Living Wage or higher," Mr Cottam said. However, he said there were particular sectors where "wages tend to be lower", such as the social care sector where low pay is "common as a result of the way that industry is structured". "In such industries we cannot expect wages to rise significantly without addressing the underlying causes," he said. "If the use of the Living Wage is to become more widespread in social care we need to ensure that payments from the public purse for social care services are made at a level which meets the aspirations of employers to pay staff the Living Wage." A Welsh Government spokesman said: "We have a manifesto commitment to take further action on the Living Wage and that includes work with local government to widen the adoption of the Living Wage and limit the use of zero hour contracts. "This will build on the positive achievements of the last assembly when the NHS implemented the Living Wage, increasing the wages of the lowest paid people in our health service. "We also provide businesses large and small with a range of advice, support and financial assistance which helps them to compete and grow and leaves them in a stronger position

Media playback is not supported on this device Toth, 33, moved past the Australian in the latter stages of a race which world record-holder Yohann Diniz led for more than 30km. Japan's Hirooki Arai took bronze, while Ireland's former world champion Rob Heffernan was sixth. Britain's Dominic King was disqualified for three bent-knee warnings. Toth finished in three hours 40 minutes 58 seconds, 18 seconds ahead of Tallent, who finished second in London but was upgraded to gold this year when Russia's Sergey Kirdyapkin was stripped of the title for doping. Arai crossed the line in third ahead of Evan Dunfee, but was disqualified for elbowing the Canadian during the race. Japan won an appeal and Arai was reinstated, and Dunfee said he would not contest the ruling as he "would not have been able to receive that medal with a clear conscience". "I will sleep soundly tonight, and for the rest of my life, knowing I made the right decision," he said in a statement. Subscribe to the BBC Sport newsletter to get our pick of news, features and video sent to your inbox.

Barton, 34, was suspended for 18 months after admitting a Football Association charge in relation to betting. He joined the Clarets for a second spell in January after leaving Scottish Premiership side Rangers. Winger Michael Kightly has also been released but talks are continuing with out-of-contract goalkeeper Paul Robinson and midfielder George Boyd. Manager Sean Dyche said: "Joey leaves us for the obvious reasons after he has again been a big part of what we have achieved this season. "Equally, Michael has been a great servant of the club and always a tremendous person to have around the group." Burnley finished 16th in the Premier League, six points above the relegation zone.

The rivalry between these two South American neighbours dates back to the early 1900s when football started to become popular in the region. Argentina and Brazil have produced world-class players like Garrincha, Ronaldo, Messi and Batistuta to compete on the World stage. Meanwhile local clubs often play heated matches - on and off the pitch - in regional tournaments. And, of course, there is the everlasting dispute over who is the greatest football player of all time. Would it be Argentina's Maradona or Brazil's Pele? The chant "Maradona is greater than Pele" has become a hit among Argentine fans in the World Cup in Brazil: "You will see Messi, and he will bring us the trophy," it goes. Brazilian fans, in turn, have created their own anti-Maradona chant: "A thousand goals, only Pele scored 1,000 goals!" The two countries didn't play against each other in this World Cup but the rivalry could easily be seen in stadiums and on the streets. Many Brazilians went to Argentina's matches during the tournament wearing the shirts of their rivals and chanting support for them, which greatly offended the visitors. Amid these tensions security was tightened in Sao Paulo for Argentina's match against the Netherlands on Wednesday as there were fears of clashes. Inside and outside the stadium, Argentina's supporters chanted "one, two, three, four, five, six, seven," referring to Brazil's 7-1 defeat by Germany. Brazilian fans got angry and police had to step in in at least one occasion. But some Argentine fans said they were surprised by the lack of hostility. For many, the rivalry goes beyond football to other sports - or pretty much everything in life. "I can support everyone, except Argentina. I'm Pele, not Maradona," Luiz Amorim, 55, told a Brazilian newspaper. Eduardo Paes, Rio de Janeiro's mayor, jokingly said in an interview last year that he would "kill himself" in the case of an Argentine win over Brazil in a World Cup final. At least that is not going to happen now. For many Brazilians a victory for the "hermanos" - Spanish for "brothers", the word Brazilians use somewhat ironically to refer to the Argentines - would be a tragedy. "Argentina can't win here," says 44-year-old Lilia Viana. The final match will be played at Rio de Janeiro's famous Maracana stadium, where Brazil lost the 1950 World Cup final to Uruguay. Brazil has won a record five World Cup titles. Germany has three and Argentina, two. "If Argentina wins, I'll stop watching football. They just can't win," said 27-year-old Gabriel Tedde, from Sao Paulo. However, the picture is complex and for various reasons some Brazilians may end up supporting Argentina on Sunday. The injured striker Neymar will be cheering for them out of loyalty to Barcelona team mates Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano. Eighteen-year-old Marcus Guimaraes had a very different reason. "I will support Argentina because Brazil's preparations for the World Cup were really bad," he said before the tournament. Prior to the World Cup many critics suggested

Paul Mason, from Ipswich, weighed 70 stone (440kg) at his heaviest before he had gastric by-pass surgery. Surgeons at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York have carried out the operation to remove 10lbs (4.5kg) of loose skin. Mr Mason, who gave up hope of having the procedure performed on the NHS, said it had "gone well". "My arms feel like feathers and my chest is back where it should be," he said. It is the second time Mr Mason has undergone such surgery after he had excess skin removed from his legs and midriff in May 2015. Mr Mason, who lost 45 stone (285kg) after the initial gastric by-pass in 2010, said once he has recovered from the latest operation he will embark on a fitness regime. "I will be having treatment for my severe arthritis in my knees and left foot, which will give me my mobility back," said the former postman. Mr Mason said he plans to ride his bike, complete a 5km (3.1m) run and go regularly "to the gym and swimming pool". He also thanked Dr Jennifer Capla, who donated her time for the operation, and her team, as well as "everyone else that made this surgery happen".

Richard Kray, 63, from Canterbury Road, Herne Bay, is accused of killing Olivia Kray, 19. Mr Kray will appear at Medway Magistrates' Court on Monday via virtual link. Police and paramedics were called to the Westlands Caravan Park, in Canterbury Road, at about 14:00 BST on 21 July. A Kent Police spokesman said officers were called "following a report of a serious assault" and Ms Kray was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr Kray has also been charged with the attempted murder of another woman following an incident at an address in Herne Bay on 21 July. A woman was assaulted, although she did not require hospital treatment, the force said.

The High Mill at Verdant Works was awarded the Historic Environment Scotland special category award for conservation and climate change. The prize was presented at the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) awards dinner in Glasgow. The High Mill dates from 1833 and was an unused part of Verdant Works. Verdant Works, which is run by Dundee Heritage Trust, is a surviving Dundee mill complex incorporating Scotland's award-winning Jute Museum. David Mitchell, acting chief executive for Historic Environment Scotland, said: "Before the project started, the High Mill and the adjacent glazed-roofed preparing room had deteriorated so badly they were facing collapse or demolition. "We have been impressed by the Trust's vision in saving this listed building, and the project itself which has been achieved for less than the cost of an equivalent new-build museum. "The innovative approach has concentrated on the reuse of original components and salvaged materials maximising embodied energy, with new design following the building's industrial aesthetic." Gill Poulter, heritage director for Dundee Heritage Trust said: "In this Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design we are especially proud to receive this award as recognition of what our charity has accomplished in saving a stunning building and transforming it into a dramatic gallery space that is now full of life and activity.'' The project's architect, Doug Reid, said: 'We are thrilled to win the RIAS award for this project as we believe we have achieved something very special at Verdant Works. "Our innovative architectural scheme to remove the rotten wooden floors has revealed the skeleton of the building and created a full height cathedral-like space."

Her colt, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, could go off favourite as she seeks her first win for 62 years in the race named after her parents. Olivier Peslier takes the ride on Dartmouth, who won the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. Rivals include Highland Reel, who was a narrow runner-up in that race. The Queen's last winner in the Group One contest, a mid-season highlight of the British Flat racing season, came with Aureole in 1954. "It's a huge showpiece at Ascot and a real highlight of the sporting calendar," the Queen's racing manager John Warren told BBC Radio Four. "The Queen will be fascinated to see how this young, improving horse is going to develop going into Group One company. It's hugely exciting." Dartmouth's chances have increased during the week following the withdrawal of both 2015 winner Postponed and second favourite Hawkbill. The Queen is not expected to be back at the Berkshire track on Saturday due to another commitment in Scotland. Stoute is seeking a record sixth victory in the mile-and-a-half contest with Dartmouth, who was added to the £1.15m race as a late entry on Monday at a cost of £75,000. As well as Highland Reel, Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien also runs Sir Isaac Newton. Dante Stakes winner Wings Of Desire leads the other contenders, with Erupt, Second Step and Western Hymn completing the field.

Forfar won a seven-goal thriller against Cowdenbeath, while Elgin defeated new boys Edinburgh City 3-0. Berwick Rangers moved into third with a 2-0 win over Annan Athletic. Clyde had to settle for a 1-1 draw away to Stirling Albion, who picked up their first point of the season, while derby rivals Montrose and Arbroath also drew 1-1 at Links Park. Ryan McCord endured a mixed day for Arbroath; scoring his first goal for the club before being sent off early in the second half. Chris Templeman equalised for the hosts with his third goal in as many games. Ross Forsyth atoned for an earlier error to earn Stirling a draw against Clyde. His short back header allowed Sean Higgins to steal in and low over the goalkeeper, but six minutes later he fired a rocket of a shot into the back of the net, before his team-mate Ross Smith was dismissed near for a second bookable offence. Shane Sutherland claimed a first-half double to add to Craig Gunn's earlier effort as Elgin netted three times in eight minutes to beat Edinburgh. Gavin Swankie scored a late winner as Forfar beat Cowdenbeath 4-3 in an entertaining game at Station Park. Craig Sives opened the scoring for the Fifers before the hosts levelled within three minutes when James Lister headed in Danny Denholm's floated corner. Denholm then put Forfar ahead with a free-kick before Josh Peters added the home side's third early in the second half. Goals from Nikolay Todorov and Lewis Moore saw the visitors level with 10 minutes remaining, but Swankie had the last word with his 87th-minute strike. Berwick claimed a 2-0 win over Annan despite being reduced to 10 men early in the second half. Steven Thomson struck in the fourth minute after Allan Walker's mis-hit volley was worked into the six-yard box. The hosts took the slender lead into the half-time break but suffered a blow early in the second half when Johnny Fairbairn was shown a straight red card. However, despite being a man down, Berwick added their second in the 65th minute thanks to Michael McKenna, who scored with a low shot from close range.

On Tuesday, Richard Hanna of New York became the first Republican congressman to publicly declare that he would vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton. Mr Hanna called Mr Trump "a national embarrassment". Other Republicans have distanced themselves from Mr Trump or withheld their support. Mr Trump's statements and policies about women, undocumented immigrants and Muslims have unsettled many Republican Party leaders. Mr Hanna, who is retiring in November, said he had been considering voting for Mrs Clinton for months, but Mr Trump's recent comments about Khizr and Ghazala Khan had finally persuaded him. At last week's Democratic National Convention, Mr Khan, the father of a Muslim US soldier killed in Iraq, criticised Mr Trump's plan to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the US. Mr Trump responded by attacking the Gold Star family, the term for families that lost a relative in war. Democratic and Republican leaders as well as veteran groups quickly condemned him. "I hope Americans understand that the remarks do not represent the views of our Republican Party, its officers, or candidates," said Arizona Senator John McCain, a Vietnam War veteran and former prisoner of war. Who was Capt Humayun Khan? Soldier's mother: 'I was in pain' How the ordinary can shake up politics On Monday, Sally Bradshaw, a top adviser to former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, said that Mr Trump's candidacy had convinced her to leave the Republican Party. Ms Bradshaw said she would vote for Mrs Clinton if it looked as if Mr Trump could win her home state of Florida. Until recently, many Republicans opposed to Mr Trump stopped short of supporting Mrs Clinton, saying they would vote for a third party and write-in candidate. Mrs Clinton has been actively courting moderate Republicans in recent weeks. Her convention featured several Republican and independent speakers, including former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

Heritage Lottery funding has already been granted to set up a distillery and visitor centre to attract up to 50,000 visitors per year. But a hotel complex has been earmarked by Swansea council which would also be used by sports fans attending matches at the nearby Liberty Stadium . Council leader Rob Stewart said there was an "opportunity" for the scheme. The copperworks dominated the world copper market for 150 years, but has lain derelict since 1980. CU@Swansea, a partnership between the council and Swansea University, has been working since 2010 to preserve the buildings and heritage of the Grade II-listed works. Along with those works, which form part of the Tawe corridor regeneration strategy, the Penderyn distillery would be the centrepiece of the project. The hotel would be built on land which is used as a car park on match days for the Liberty. Riverside homes, restaurants and water sports facilities make up the rest of the strategy.

Sean Dickinson, an employee of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council in Lancashire, sent several public figures offensive messages on Twitter. At a tribunal at the Health and Care Professions Council, he was found to have committed professional misconduct. He told the hearing in London he "bitterly" regretted his actions. Panel chairman Penny Griffith said the "obscene" comments brought the social worker profession into disrepute. "The panel accepts that there was no law against being rude or unpleasant," she said, but "there are responsibilities and standards which are voluntarily accepted and adopted by professionals". Mr Dickinson also launched an attack at media mogul Rupert Murdoch and tweeted that burglars "are vermin and should be shot". Ms Griffith said the comments "have brought the profession into disrepute". Mr Dickinson told the hearing he was "going through a very dark period" when he posted the offensive comments in 2012 and 2013. He is currently employed as a senior social worker for the council and said he has been given additional managerial duties since the incident. He said: "I look back on it and can't believe it was me who wrote those things and in that way. I bitterly, bitterly regret it." The hearing continues.

Rock and roll royalty have revelled in the razzmatazz of having their names in lights over the famous Las Vegas strip. Now a former Welsh cabbie and his little brother are joining them with their rock harmony group. The Tenors of Rock are starting a year-long residency in the self-styled entertainment capital of the world on 14 January, following in the footsteps of some of the greatest names in showbiz. "So you probably want to know how two brothers from a little sleepy town in Wales get to headline their own show in Las Vegas?" said the group's founder Gareth Richards as he walked down a balmy Las Vegas boulevard. Well, now you mention it... They are billed as the "newest, most exciting vocal group around" but the Tenors have already had the seal of approval from the "Queen of Vegas". "Priscilla Presley was at our first Vegas gig back in 2013," Mr Richards recalled. "When someone who was married to the king of rock and roll turns up at our first Vegas gig, everyone thought 'wow, this band must be something special'. It caused a real stir. "She was meant to be doing panto in the UK, but was in town and her producer said 'I've got some mates doing a gig at The Palms, you should come along.' And fair play, she did. "She's the Queen of Vegas and doesn't come out often so the press were like 'these guys must be awesome'. "It was a real juxtaposition as one minute we were hanging out with Priscilla Presley, the next we were eating food off the dollar menu in McDonalds. "There was no money in it, at the time we were skint. The feedback, though, was great and people said we'd end up in Vegas." Four years on, after at times considering "jacking it in and getting a proper job", they have hit a career jackpot in Sin City. He was once the guy driving a Dragon's Taxi around Cardiff, now Mr Richards is the one being chauffeured around. But it is not all work and no play for the tenors as they fine-tune their 80-minute performance at Harrah's casino and hotel, which will include hits from Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Queen, Guns 'n' Roses, AC/DC and The Eagles. "We're being treated like megastars but we're just five normal guys having a laugh," joked Mr Richards. "And that's what is capturing the imagination of the Americans. "You've got Elton John, Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey or Celine Dion over the road, Britney Spears or Backstreet Boys down the road and Diana Ross next door. "That's not forgetting Frankie Valli, Boys II Men and Jennifer Lopez as well the Vegas Strip staples like Penn and Teller and the Chippendales. "Then you've got these clowns from Wales having a go. "And the funny thing is, the massive poster as you arrive into Vegas airport is of us. That's when this all hit me, it's so surreal. "There's 170 shows a night in

The supermarket will test the service at three stores and plans to expand it to 30 outlets by Christmas. Amazon recently raised the pressure on UK supermarkets with the launch of same-day deliveries in London. The online retail giant signed a deal with Morrisons and now sells 130,000 products, including fresh goods. Sainsbury's stores in London's Streatham Common, Richmond and Brookwood in Surrey will try out the service which will allow people who order their shopping by 12.00pm to receive their goods within six hours. At present, customers have to order the day before to receive their shopping. Britain's second largest supermarket group said: "Assuming the trials are successful, same-day online grocery delivery will be available in 30 stores by Christmas." The UK retail sector has been under growing pressure to retain and build customer numbers as more shoppers have turned to discount supermarket chains Lidl and Aldi. Recent figures from analysts Kantar Worldpanel showed that total supermarket sales fell in the three months to 19 June. The combined market share of Aldi and Lidl hit a record high of 10.5% with both reporting rising sales. In contrast, the big four - Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons - all reported falling sales during the period. The online grocery business is forecast to be worth £9.8bn by the end of this year, according to market analyst Mintel, and could grow to £15bn by 2020. Sainsbury's is hoping a new distribution centre in Bromley-by-Bow in east London will help "enable its customers to shop whenever and wherever they want and will cater for the growing demand in the capital for Sainsbury's online groceries service". The company is looking to fill 470 jobs at the centre which will open in the autumn. It hopes to recruit a further 430 people by 2020.

Lester Bower Jr is the oldest man executed in Texas since the state resumed its use of capital punishment in 1982. Prosecutors said he shot dead four men in an aeroplane hangar in Sherman, a ranching town north of Dallas. Bower had maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration. His last words were: "Much has been said about this case. Much has been written about this case. Not all of it has been the truth. But the time for discerning truth is over and it's time to move on." Bower is the eighth man put to death by lethal injection in Texas this year. Bower was a chemical salesman with no criminal record at the time of the murders. Police said Bower went to Sherman to purchase a plane but instead stole the plane and killed the men in the hangar. Building contractor and B&B Ranch owner Bob Tate, Grayson County Sheriff's Deputy Philip Good, interior designer Jerry Brown and former Sherman police officer Ronald Mayes were found dead on 8 October 1983. Bower initially lied to investigators about being at the hangar and police found parts of a plane owned by Mr Brown at his home. "I do have remorse," Bower told the Associated Press news agency in last month. "I'm remorseful for putting my family and my wife and my friends through this."

Senior bank executives tell me they have more than enough cash in their branches to meet whatever demand for withdrawals there may be today - and in fact they believe that the rate of withdrawals by worried customers will remain at a lower level than at the beginning of the week. "We're OK" says one. And what about next week? "There is going to be a deal [between the Greek government and its creditors]. That is certain". His certainty is not based on the increasingly sceptical and wary tone of statements and comments from ministers and officials in Brussels, crucible of the negotiations. It stems from financial logic. If there were to be no deal, the consequences for the Greek banking system would be cataclysmic - and the knock-on to the Greek economy would be dire. Bankers have been warned by the Bank of Greece, the Greek central bank, that no deal means the probable end of emergency liquidity assistance, or the loans they receive both to finance withdrawals by worried investors and to fund vital short-term loans to the Greek government. So it also means, they've been told (as if they needed telling), that the Greek government would have to impose capital controls - or severe limits on cash withdrawals - were the liquidity tap to be turned off. However there would be several days of bank holidays, or branch and ATM closures, before customers were permitted to withdraw any money under the circumstances of capital controls - because legislation would need to pass through the parliament to impose such controls. If you conduct a thought experiment about what it would mean if you woke up tomorrow to be told that there was no way of getting money out of your bank, you will understand why this is not a prospect any rational minister or banker would wish to contemplate. Apart from the short-term blow to confidence and economic activity, the current drought of lending by banks would turn into a nuclear winter. Greek businessmen tell me it is hard enough - and ludicrously expensive - for them to finance investment and exports right now. In the circumstances of capital controls, many Greek companies would collapse, because the banks would no longer have the capacity to provide any credit at all - pending the recapitalisation, or resurrection, of the banking system. The point is that Greek banks not only have a liquidity problem, a chronic problem borrowing and taking in deposits. Their solvency would also be in question - because something like a third of all their loans are classed as "non-performing" (borrowers are struggling to keep up the payments) and because around a half of their capital resources are tax-refund claims (so-called deferred tax assets) on a government seen to be close to defaulting on its obligations. So in the unlikely event that you have missed the point, today's talks in Brussels are not just about whether Greece can make its 1.5bn-euro payment to the IMF next week.

Police Scotland said officers stopped and detained two men on Saracen Street, Glasgow, at about 19:05 on 22 December. A 43-year-old man became unwell and was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, where he died on Boxing Day. The Crown Office has asked the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner to carry out an independent investigation into the circumstances.

The motion was opposed by six Conservatives, one Liberal Democrat, and 23 Labour MPs, with Rushanara Ali abstaining by voting for and against. She resigned from the opposition front bench in order to abstain.

20 May 2015 Last updated at 00:46 BST But why are thousands now stranded at sea? And how are Myanmar's neighbours responding? BBC News explains, in 90 seconds. Produced by Mohamed Madi Sources: UN and International Organization for Migration

Matt Ritchie's deflected free-kick put the Magpies in front early on. Forest levelled against the run of play when Nicolao Dumitru swivelled to beat Karl Darlow on the volley. Mills saw red for two bookings, and Gayle restored the lead with a hooked volley past stranded keeper Vladimir Stojkovic, before scuffing in a second. The spite that threatened to overshadow the corresponding game at the City Ground earlier this month - when Newcastle had Jonjo Shelvey and Paul Dummett sent off in a 2-1 defeat - continued on Tyneside, with a third red card in two meetings and a flurry of yellow cards. This match lacked the excitement and incident of that meeting, although it started brightly enough when Ritchie's early free-kick wickedly beat Stojkovic to lift a sell-out St James' Park crowd. Forest, somewhat shell-shocked, struggled to muster a response but found themselves level when Newcastle failed to deal with Eric Lichaj's cross and Dumitru swept into the back of the net. Newcastle responded after the break when Ritchie was denied from close range and, after Mills was sent off on the hour, Gayle fired them back in front after some sloppy Forest defending. Gayle pounced for his second and 19th of the season at the far post as Forest's defence looked uncertain in Mills' absence, the decisive act of a fairly turgid game. Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez told BBC Newcastle: "Job done, pleased for that because we needed three points. "However, if you analyse the game we were pushing and creating chances, I was pleased with the approach in the second half, the sending off gave us an advantage but we were doing what we had to do. "Dwight [Gayle] is a great player, scoring goals and creating chances, I'm pleased for him, hopefully he can carry on scoring goals." Nottingham Forest manager Philippe Montanier told BBC Radio Nottingham: "I prefer not to comment [on the Matt Mills red card] on what what's happened, it's incredible and it changes the game. "We had a good first half, a good reaction after the unlucky goal, we draw level and have opportunities to score and 11-versus-11 we can hope for a better result. "To concede so quickly the second goal after going down to 10 men, it was too tough." Match ends, Newcastle United 3, Nottingham Forest 1. Second Half ends, Newcastle United 3, Nottingham Forest 1. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Anel Ahmedhodzic (Nottingham Forest). Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Jamaal Lascelles. Foul by Ayoze Pérez (Newcastle United). Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Achraf Lazaar (Newcastle United). David Vaughan (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle United). Hildeberto Pereira (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the right wing. Substitution, Newcastle United. Aleksandar Mitrovic replaces Dwight Gayle. Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Anel Ahmedhodzic replaces Thomas Lam. Substitution, Newcastle United. Achraf Lazaar replaces Matt

Alexis Tsipras said negotiations were at a "critical" stage, but that the lenders' proposals were "not realistic". He was briefing parliament amid growing opposition in his leftist Syriza party to the creditors' proposals. Earlier Greece delayed Friday's €300m (£216m) debt repayment to the IMF. Mr Tsipras described the EU-IMF lenders' plan as a "bad moment for Europe" and a "bad negotiating trick". He accused Greece's lenders of massively backtracking on measures agreed in recent months, and of failing to see the need for an end to austerity in their latest offer. A call for debt relief was a key part of the Greek plan. €320bn Greece's debt mountain €240bn European bailout €56bn Greece owes Germany 177% country's debt-to-GDP ratio 25% fall in GDP since 2010 26% Greek unemployment rate The lenders' proposals were put forward when Mr Tsipras met the head of the eurozone's finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels this week. Denouncing their offer on Friday, Mr Tsipras said: "The strangulation of a country is a matter of moral order which conflicts with the founding principles of Europe." He said the aim of any deal should be "for a solution and not to... humiliate a whole people". He said his own proposals were the only "realistic" option. Many of his own MPs are expected to object to any concessions by Athens. All four scheduled repayments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in June will now be combined into a single payment at the end of the month. Special report - Greek debt crisis Robert Peston - How serious is missed IMF payment? Mr Tsipras said on Thursday that an agreement with Greece's international creditors was "in sight", particularly on the key sticking point of primary surpluses - the amount by which tax revenues exceed public spending. But he said there were "points that no-one would consider as a base for discussion" - citing cuts to pensions and higher sales tax (VAT) for electricity. Underlining a deep sense of anger among Syriza members, Deputy Social Security Minister Dimitris Stratoulis, who is close to Syriza's far-left faction, denounced the measures. "If [the creditors] do not back down from this package of blackmail, the government ...will have to seek alternative solutions, elections," he told Antenna TV. However, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said on Thursday he saw "no reason whatsoever" for Greece to go to snap elections, according to Reuters. The Greek prime minister spent half an hour in parliament putting sandbags around his main demand: an end to austerity. Alexis Tsipras said that he was disappointed with the proposals Europe has made this week. The general outline of these proposals seems pretty clear: Greece should make further cuts and reforms. In exchange, it would get the money it needs to keep going. But instead, the prime minister told parliament that his own counter-proposal, which protects salaries and benefits, should be accepted. European capitals will not see it that way. Negotiators don't have all that much time

The local authority is to hold a meeting in the village on Monday evening to give residents more information on the plan. Earlier this year, the local authority resettled its first five families who had fled from conflict in Syria. The council hopes to eventually offer homes to 25 to 30 families over a period of time up to the year 2020. Like other Scottish authorities, it has been working with Scottish councils body Cosla on resettling families of refugees. The first group of refugees to be resettled by Highland Council were housed in the Alness area of Ross-shire.

A pitch invasion took place after Hibs beat Rangers 3-2 on 21 May. The clubs are alleged to have breached disciplinary rule 311, which states "damage was sustained to Hampden... as a consequence of misbehaviour by supporters". They have until 6 September to respond to the notices of complaint. Principal hearing dates have been set for Hibs on 4 October and Rangers on 5 October. The compliance officer looked at the cup final incidents after the publication of Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen's independent report into the day's events. The SFA requested that report following the pitch invasion which occurred after the match. The report, published earlier this month, concluded that the Scottish government should consider making it a criminal offence to run on to a football pitch. Fans entered the pitch at Hampden after Hibernian won their first Scottish Cup in 114 years. Thousands of Hibs fans jumped the barriers at the final whistle and a number of Rangers fans also came on to the pitch. The pitch invasion delayed the presentation of the trophy and there was no lap of honour by Hibs players. Rangers players were not able to pick up their cup final medals.

David Becker, a school sports star, was sentenced to probation after admitting indecently assaulting two 18-year-old girls at a party in Massachusetts. Prosecutors wanted a two-year sentence. But the chief justice of the Massachusetts district court said "procedures followed in this case were lawful", the Boston Globe reports. Judge Paul Dawley said the sentencing judge, Thomas Estes, "exercised his sentencing discretion in accordance with the governing law". After being sentenced last week, Becker was compared to Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner, who was jailed for six months for sexual assault, sparking outrage. The judge in that case, Aaron Persky, requested to be removed from hearing criminal cases after receiving death threats. Becker was a football, basketball and volleyball player at East Longmeadow High School. If he meets all conditions of his probation, the charges will be dismissed and Becker will not have to register as a sex offender. But there are still avenues to challenge the Becker sentence. The man who requested the review, Michael Albano, a former Springfield mayor who is running for sheriff in the county where the school is located, wants it reviewed again, by an independent body. Mr Estes is not permitted to speak about the case.

Media playback is not supported on this device Alex Danson's double and Helen Richardson-Walsh's penalty stroke mean GB will win at least silver, improving on their bronze at London 2012. They face the Netherlands, who are aiming for a third straight Olympic gold, in Friday's final at 21:00 BST. Team GB have won 50 medals in Rio, more than at any other overseas Olympics. "To fight for an Olympic medal is what gets us up every morning, let alone to be in a gold medal match," said Britain defender Crista Cullen, who came out of retirement in 2015. "We are hugely proud of where we have got." Britain have only won two Olympic women's hockey medals - both bronze - in 1992 and 2012. Britain, coached by Danny Kerry, began the Games having slipped to seventh in the world rankings following a disappointing Champions Trophy in June. But they were the only team to progress from the Olympic group stage with a 100% record, beating Argentina and Australia - ranked second and third in the world respectively - on their way to the quarter-finals, where they overcame Spain. "They have developed a gold-medal mentality," said former GB goalkeeper and BBC Sport analyst Simon Mason. "They want nothing other than to take home gold. It has been incredible to watch. "This changes the face of hockey, genuinely. To come on the Olympic stage and turn it on the way they have, with injuries, the strength, resilience, athleticism, maturity through this squad, has been a delight to watch." New Zealand, ranked fourth in the world, had the better opportunities in a goalless opening quarter. However, Britain's leading scorer Danson opened the scoring when she prodded home, reacting quickest in a goalmouth scramble after the Black Sticks failed to clear a penalty corner. Olivia Merry lashed wide for New Zealand before Susannah Townsend cleared off the goal-line as GB withstood pressure in the second and third quarters. Failure to take those chances proved crucial as Britain scored two penalty strokes in the final quarter, despite losing Cullen and Georgie Twigg with head injuries. Richardson-Walsh, taken out by Kayla Whitelock, flicked in to the keeper's right, and Danson converted from the spot after Lily Owsley was flattened by Liz Thompson. Earlier, world number ones the Netherlands reached the final with a 4-3 shootout win over Germany after their semi-final finished 1-1. They are aiming to become the first women's team to win three successive Olympic titles. Media playback is not supported on this device GB goalscorer Helen Richardson-Walsh: "We didn't feel nervous; we were confident. "They got chances but were never scoring and we were thinking that it was going to be our night." GB head coach Danny Kerry: "What can I say? Seven games out of seven, not too shabby. The girls executed the game plan superbly. I am very, very proud of them all. "But there's still one more game to go and they're going to keep their feet on the ground.

Media playback is not supported on this device Wing Matt Healy's superb opening try helped the visitors seize the early initiative, while Aled Thomas kicked Scarlets' first-half points. Steff Evans and Michael Collins went over for tries as Scarlets went ahead. Jack Carty kicked Connacht into the lead with two minutes left, but Shingler replied to seal Scarlets' win. Having failed with a similar late penalty chance in their festive derby defeat by arch-rivals Ospreys, Shingler was given the chance to redeem himself after replacing Scarlets' starting 10 Aled Thomas. Having also lost at Cardiff Blues, on New Year's Day, Scarlets were desperate to get their campaign back on track. Shingler's kick capped an admirable fight-back against a Connacht side who have impressed this season to send Scarlets back above Leinster, who had been top following a clinical win over Ospreys in Swansea on Friday. Pat Lam's Connacht stayed fourth as they earned a losing bonus point. The midfield was dominated by New Zealand-bred players with Scarlets' Regan King and Hadleigh Parkes facing Connacht's Bundee Aki, who partnered Irishman Craig Ronaldson. Shoulder-charging King cost Aki 10 minutes in the sin-bin while King followed in the first half after illegally killing a Connacht attack. After Healy's 65-metre dash for his opening try, Parkes halted a second with a well-executed tackle that forced the Irishman to drop the ball as he attempted to dab down. Ronaldson added the conversion to the penalty that punished King's indiscretion. But Scarlets had the final say of the opening period as Thomas kicked their first points with a penalty. The home side got closer with Thomas' second penalty and after scrum-half Aled Davies' superb work in a multi-phase attack, wing Steff Evans slid over at the corner. Thomas converted to put the hosts ahead for the first time. Ronaldson levelled from the restart, but Scarlets again took the lead after King drifted wide on to Thomas' well-weighted pass. The once-capped New Zealand All Black timed his feed to try-scorer Collins to perfection. Ronaldson's 63rd minute departure left Carty with Connacht's kicking responsibilities. He put the visitors two points behind and kicked another with two minutes remaining to give them the lead. But the drama continued as replacement Ronan Loughney's tip-tackle at a ruck gave Shingler his chance. Scarlets boss Wayne Pivac told BBC Radio Wales: "With the last two matches being narrow losses, we couldn't really afford another one if we wanted to stay in the top four and also top six, because it's that close at the moment with, I think, eight teams going for six spots. "Both teams were in a similar position with players unavailable and a recent run of losses, I guess so to get back on the winning way was really important." Scarlets: Michael Collins; Steff Evans, Regan King, Hadleigh Parkes, DTH van der Merwe; Aled Thomas, Aled Davies; Rob Evans, Ken Owens (capt), Samson Lee, Tom Price, Lewis Rawlins, Aaron Shingler, John Barclay, Morgan Allen. Replacements: Ryan Elias, Phil John,

Drusillas Park, near Berwick, Sussex, said 11 rainbow lorikeets were accidentally killed in their enclosure after a pest control company put toxic bait underground to catch rats. A spokeswoman for the zoo said "very unfortunately" the birds ate some residual bait dropped by the rats. The Eastbourne Animal Rights Action group was tipped off to the deaths by a whistle-blowing employee. Group member Roberto Lopez said: "We were very concerned when we heard the news. This person has risked their job in coming to us, and they were right." A protest was held by the animal rights group over the weekend, outside Drusillas. They also took issue with the decision to poison, rather than trap and release, the rats. The zoo said it had called in the pest control company after five other lorikeets were attacked and killed by rats. The spokeswoman for the zoo added: "This was an unprecedented situation with the rats becoming bolder and more numerous, and we made the decision that we had to take firm action. "As a result of this situation we will be reviewing our procedures for pest control to ensure nothing like this ever happens again. This was a very unfortunate accident that has upset the entire zoo team." Lorikeets are Australian forest birds, they mate for life and both male and female partners take dual responsibility in raising their young.

Mark Dias, who worked at the force for seven years from 2006, said he was targeted after challenging alleged misconduct by fellow officers. He said Asian officers within the force were "seen to be corrupt" and those who complained branded "trouble-makers". Cleveland Police said it could not comment on any civil proceedings. In 2014 the force was at the centre of claims of institutional racism. Mr Dias, who was selected for a fast-track development scheme, said he was forced out of his job as an acting inspector after he challenged alleged misconduct. He said: "Asian officers were seen to be corrupt and for those who complained about racial discrimination, they were seen as being liars, trouble-makers and money-grabbers. "You essentially became somebody the organisation wanted to get rid of. "If you whistle blew, it was about 'let's discredit the whistleblower' not looking at what the whistleblower was talking about. "To be castigated and demonised to an extent because you did that - that's not what the police service is about." In April, the president of the National Black Police Association, Janet Hills, claimed the Cleveland force's professional standards department effectively spied on all its Asian officers. Cleveland Police said it had received concerns about operations "alleged to have focussed disproportionately on black and minority officers". But a statement added there were "no ongoing operations of this kind" and was checking whether operation fitting the description had ever taken place in the past.

So far this year a powerful spy chief, the Nanjing party secretary and a top diplomat have been placed under investigation. This suggests there will be no let-up in the campaign that has run relentlessly for two years under President Xi Jinping. So let's take stock of what's happened so far. On 20 November 2012, soon after becoming Communist Party leader, Mr Xi made a speech. "Lots of facts tell us that corruption is becoming more and more rampant, and eventually, the party and the country will fall. We have to be vigilant", he warned. Since then, Mr Xi - who hails from a revolutionary family and is tasked with keeping the party in power - appears to have propelled his anti-corruption campaign forwards with zeal. And he famously promised to "catch both tigers and flies", making it clear that top ranking officials would not be spared. Then he followed up: By far the biggest tiger caught so far is Zhou Yongkang, the former security chief. He has been stripped of party membership and handed over to the judiciary. Ma Jian is also a big tiger: he was in charge of China's intelligence operations. Another tiger is Ling Jihua, once a top aide to former president Hu Jintao and a hopeful for even higher office. General Xu Caihou is a big army tiger - he used to be a politburo member and vice-chairman of the military commission. According to the party's discipline watchdog, in 2014 alone some 23,464 people were disciplined for violating the party's anti-corruption regulations, from all levels of the party and state apparatus. Wang Min, party secretary of Jinan City, made a televised speech about combating corruption on 18 December 2014; later that day he was taken away for investigation. A similar fate hit Wan Qingliang, party secretary of Guangzhou. When the probe into him was announced in June 2014, many civil servants under him were at meetings studying a speech he had made the previous day. Text messages about Wan's fate were passed around and the meetings had to come to a halt. Many of the fallen officials have been accused of taking bribes - and many apparently prefer cash. When Wei Pengyuan, a senior Energy Ministry official, was taken away in May 2014, investigators found cash in his house totalling more than 200m yuan (roughly £20m). This, state media said, became the biggest cash haul in a corruption case since the communists took power in 1949. Sixteen machines were used to count the cash, and four broke down due to the extensive heat. Ma Junfei was appointed deputy director of Hohhot Railway Bureau in Inner Mongolia in 2009. According to media reports, on average he took bribes every other day while on this job, accepting US dollars, Euro, British pounds and gold as well as the Chinese currency, his take totalling 130m yuan (£13m). In order to hide these bribes, he had to purchase two houses in Beijing and Hohhot. Ma Chaoqun used to be

When our 40-seater plane landed at Bamiyan airport, I wondered how it might be possible to hold a skiing race in such a remote part of Afghanistan. The airport, without tarmac runway or passenger lounge, is a world away from Bamiyan's ambition as a tourism destination, but as you walk out, the clear blue skies and amazing mountain views are stunning. I came to watch the 4th Afghan Ski Challenge, a competition for local and international skiers meant to promote winter sports in this mountain region. On the morning of the race I was as excited as the 50 male and female skiers who gathered at the Koh-e-Baba mountain range. After the countdown, the group, including 30 Afghans, started racing up the hillside, a height difference of almost 500m (1640ft). No lifts here, but plenty of enthusiasm. This year the ski challenge included a wooden ski category. Some locals are making their own skis from wood and plastic. One of the skiers told me that his father was too poor to buy him real skis. "It's easy to make something that you really want," he said. Alishah Farhang was the first crossing the finishing line in the main race. "I tried hard to achieve this" he said, standing on the winner's podium. Later he told me how much it meant to him: "Since I came across skiing, my life has changed a lot, I have new experiences, new friends and new contacts." Alishah is now working as a paid instructor for Bamiyan ski club. The club provide classes in the winter season as well as skiing gear for hire. Amateurs were also trying their luck on the slopes, often with mixed results. Prizes for the winners included a Swiss watch, a sport camera and a ski jacket. But many competitors just turned up in their normal everyday clothing. I was one of the few outsiders among the spectators because Bamiyan is remote and difficult to get to. The province's highways are dangerous with insurgents frequently stopping cars and air travel is very expensive. The race was guarded by some armed policemen, but luckily they were not called on and were mainly busy protecting themselves from the sun. For most Afghans, skiing is a very alien concept. But the Bamiyan ski club and the Aga Khan Foundation which supported the event are determined to attract more people and spectators to the sport. Bamiyan has the best winter conditions in all of Afghanistan according to the organisers who also run short ski schools. In time they hope that the sport may attract more tourists to the province, its hotels and markets.

Chester played in Wales' 3-2 defeat by Netherlands, but has started only once in the Premier League this season. The 26-year-old does not understand why manager Tony Pulis has not played him more often. "To be playing for Wales I have to start for my club. It's impossible to play at this level and not be playing week in, week out," he said. "I know myself I need to be playing at my club to give me the best chance of going to France and playing when we get there. "I don't think it's good enough to be playing for Wales when I'm not playing for West Brom." Former Manchester United trainee Chester was promoted to the Premier League with Hull and had two seasons in the top flight before joining West Brom last summer in the wake of the Tigers' relegation. The 26-year-old was part of a three-man central defence at Hull and also with Wales, playing a key role as Chris Coleman's side qualified for the European Championships next summer, but his rare Albion appearances under Welshman Pulis have come at right-back. "[Wales manager] Chris Coleman has been brilliant to me and that's nice to hear, so it's up to me to go back to West Brom and play. But I'm finding it difficult," he added. "When I signed [Pulis] said he knew I could play at centre-back but he wanted to use me at full-back. "I think the disappointing part for me is I played the first game of the season and I think I showed enough, with hard work and playing there regularly, that is something I could become quite good at. "But to only give me one opportunity there I find it quite difficult to understand." Chester, the most expensive defender in Albion's history, revealed he spoke to Pulis in October to enquire what he had to do to get back in the first team at the Hawthorns. "He said he understood it was a new club and a new position and we had some work to do," Chester said. Asked if he would look elsewhere in the January transfer window, Chester replied: "I'm 12 games into a four-year contract, but I'm not one who likes to sit and watch. "I want to play and I thought I was coming to West Brom to play in the Premier League. "Hindsight's a wonderful thing and you see how Hull are doing at the start of the season, and I had other options which makes the situation a little more difficult."