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Africa will go through six human actions this year - it will stand, kneel, squat, bow, fall and then rise again.
Here's how.
In the group of those who will be standing in Africa in 2017 is Donald Trump.
Yes, I know it's an act of treason to associate him with Africa.
But when he's sworn in as president, his foreign policy (or tweetplomacy) will have a bearing on our continent.
His critics warn that his isolationist stand might mean less attention will be paid to Africa.
But it could just force Africans to find solutions from within, by strengthening our institutions, improving infrastructure, governance and security and trading more amongst ourselves.
Another man who also takes office in January is Nana Akufo-Addo, the president-elect of Ghana.
He's tried to enter Flagstaff House (the presidential residency) through the ballot box as the New Patriotic Party candidate since 2008.
Now that he has the keys, Ghanaians will wait to see how he delivers his pledge of one district, one factory, lest he becomes one man, one term.
And then there's the state of emergency in Ethiopia, which still stands.
It was put in place last October following violent protests.
The government says the security situation has improved save for some clashes in the northern part of Amhara region.
Some 9,000 people detained under the state of emergency have been released and the government says it could lift the emergency before its six-month period is over.
There are two prominent men who will be kneeling before voters to ask for a job.
Paul Kagame has been president for the last 16 years, but Rwandans appear to want more of him and have voted to remove the term-limit barrier.
In August, Mr Kagame will therefore use his constitutional right to ask for a new employment contract.
In the same month, his Kenyan neighbour Uhuru Kenyatta will also be reapplying for his job.
Last September, while warning the main opposition leader Raila Odinga to mind his own party and leave the ruling Jubilee party alone, President Kenyatta famously said: "… as you continue to search for a seat and salivate, we are feasting on the meat".
It will be clear in August whether Kenyans will give Jubilee more time to feast or turn the party itself into mince meat.
Joseph Warungu:
"The Nigerian economy... enters 2017 in the squat position"
The African Union has been searching for a new Chief Executive Officer and will fill the position in January.
Three men and two women from Botswana, Kenya, Chad, Senegal and Equatorial Guinea will fight it out to replace the outgoing South African Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, as Chair of the AU Commission.
Now to some situations and people who can't decide whether to stand or sit.
The Nigerian economy has caught its nastiest stomach bug in more than two decades.
And so it enters 2017 in the squat position.
A combination of factors including a crash in the global price of oil, which Nigeria relies a lot on, and a fall in the naira, the country's currency, contributed to the sizeable contraction of the economy in 2016.
The anger and frustration among the people was aptly captured by this online comment from one Nigerian in November: "We are now going into depression and deep S***! Buhari has himself to blame for unfortunately being a gentleman!"
Over in The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh is no gentleman - he's chosen to squat at State House.
He lost the presidential election to Adama Barrow and publicly conceded defeat.
A little later, the thought of leaving the seat he has called his own for the last 22 years overpowered him and he changed his mind.
Africa and the world have asked him to go home, but he is defiant.
As his last day in office approaches on 19 of January, the same force he used to gain power in 1994 could be used to relieve him of his office.
There are three notable people who will be bowing out of office in 2017.
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first elected female head of state in Africa, is coming to the end of her second and final term of office in Liberia.
One of those waiting on the touchline to join the succession race is football star George Weah.
The former AC Milan and Chelsea striker failed to score in the 2005 presidential tournament but hopes 2017 will be his year.
Angolans will have a chance to replace the only man they've known as president for nearly 40 years.
Although Jose Eduardo dos Santos has announced he'll step down, his blood will still flow through the veins of power and the economy in Angola.
His daughter, Isabel, heads Sonangol, the state oil company and is considered by Forbes to be Africa's richest woman, while his son, Jose, is chairman of the country's sovereign wealth fund, Fundo Soberano de Angola.
In neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, 2017 could mark the beginning of the end for another family dynasty, which started in 1997 when Laurent Desire Kabila became president after overthrowing Mobutu Sese Seko.
Laurent Kabila's son Joseph picked up the reigns after his father's assassination in 2001, and was bent on staying in power until attempts to change the constitution to allow him a third term backfired.
Violent street protests have piled pressure on President Kabila to exit from office this year and the issue is bound to continue into the new year.
The theme of falling is alive in South Africa.
The #FeesMustFall campaign by university students sought to fight the rising cost of higher education and saw violent clashes between police and protesters, disruptions in the university calendar and the arrest of a number of students.
2017 promises more of the same because not only have the fees not fallen, some top universities have announced an 8% increase.
And then there's the question of the country's President Jacob Zuma.
In December 2017, his tenure as leader of the governing ANC party runs out, but his term as the country's president only ends in 2019.
Allowing Mr Zuma to continue as head of state but with the ANC under someone else's leadership could create two centres of power, which could be political suicide.
So will the ANC #LetZumaFall as it did President Thabo Mbeki under similar circumstances?
2017 will have answers.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is another that could face the threat of falling in Africa if more African countries continue to withdraw from the Rome Statute.
A number of countries have notified the UN Secretary-General of their intention to withdraw, saying the ICC unfairly targets African leaders in its application of international justice.
And now to international trends where fashion, like history, has a habit of repeating itself.
A quick glance at catwalk signs for 2017 shows that the hems of women's skirts will be falling - to just below the knee.
Apparently midi-skirts elongate the figure and flatter the wearer, so this must be a good fall.
The Africa Cup of Nations tournament kicks off in mid-January in Gabon and Uganda carries the hopes of East Africa.
The region has a terrible record in continental football.
Uganda's last appearance in the finals was in 1978 when it lost to Ghana in the final.
Kenya and Tanzania have never progressed beyond the group stage, so if Uganda can rise, East Africa can stand tall.
In politics, despite all manner of socio-economic challenges, the spirit of the Africans is on the rise - they've already just about removed one long-serving president from power (The Gambia, even if he is still resisting ) and in 2017 a couple more might follow (DR Congo, Angola)
When Africa stumbles, it must rise because as they say in Nigeria, the sun shines on those who stand before it shines on those who are sitting.
More from Joseph Warungu:
Should the UK join the African Union?
Kenyans beg for mercy
Doctors take on traditional healers
Why Kenya has banned on-air sex | In our series of letters from African journalists, media and communications trainer Joseph Warungu gives a personal guide to some of the key people, places and events to watch out for in Africa in 2017. | journalist, journalist, media and communication trainer Joseph Warungu bietet einen persönlichen Guide zu einigen der wichtigsten Menschen, Orte |
Robert Fidler built the house in Salfords, in the Surrey greenbelt, in 2000 and hid it behind hay bales.
He told Mr Justice Dove at London's High Court that his "beautiful home" had now been "carefully dismantled".
"Hopefully, it will be rebuilt on another site with full planning permission," he said.
At a previous hearing, Mr Fidler, 66, had been told to tear down his home by 6 June or face jail.
On Monday, Stephen Whale, counsel for Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, told the judge that Mr Fidler had made "very good progress in terms of complying with the requirements of the enforcement notices", but that he had not "fully complied with the requirements".
The house had been "very largely" demolished, he said, but there was "still more to be done", including restoring the land to its former agricultural use.
He said the "technical legal position" was that Mr Fidler remained in contempt of court, but the parties had agreed for the matter to be adjourned for a month to give him "an opportunity completely to comply".
Representing himself, Mr Fidler insisted: "I broke no law. I was looking after my family. I acted in good faith. I am a law-abiding citizen."
He described the four bedroom castle as a "work of art built lawfully", but said he would "fully comply" with the council enforcement notices.
Mr Justice Dove adjourned the case until 4 July, but said he hoped it would not be necessary for it to return to court.
Mr Fidler told him: "I assure you we will not have to come back."
At the end of the hearing, he said to the judge: "When I rebuild my house, I want you to come and see it." | A farmer told to demolish a mock Tudor castle that was built without planning permission has vowed to rebuild "the work of art" elsewhere. | Ein Bauer erzählt, um eine mock Tudor castle aufzubauen, die gebaut wurde ohne planning permission. |
The £570m project to extend the Chilwell and Clifton lines began in March 2012.
The first public trams started running at 06:00 BST.
Despite facing criticism for causing disruption to businesses and commuters, Nottingham City Council insists the service will transform the local economy.
Delays were initially blamed on unexpected numbers of pipes and cables having to be moved, and then on work to replace part of the track bed.
£570m
Initial budget
28 new stations
11 miles of new track
22 new trams
20 million passenger capacity
Contractor Vinci has reported the problems contributed to a £165m loss for its civil engineering division.
Jane Urquhart, who has lead responsibility for operation company NET at Nottingham City Council, said it was a "really great day" for the city.
"With trams running from every seven minutes, it is all set to provide easier access to key locations right across the city," she said.
"The tram provides the backbone to the city's integrated transport network, underpinning all the efforts to reduce congestion, improve the environment and make Nottingham an even better place to live, work or visit."
NET and the city council had resisted calls to name a date for the new lines opening but final testing had been ongoing in recent weeks.
Steve Barber, vice president of the Light Rail Transit Association and former Broxtowe borough councillor said: "We are very relieved, as, I think, are a lot of people in Beeston.
"It has been a quite difficult ride over the past few years while construction has been at its worst ... and it is going to do wonders for the town and the city."
Stephen Knight, a butcher in Clifton, said: "We are optimistic. It has caused disruption, normal trade dropped by a third but the workers have helped.
"Now we will see if the public come back - but there are still a lot of parking restrictions outside."
Lisa Withers, a nearby florist, said: "I was really pleased to have been on the first tram from Clifton - and seeing the one from Toton arrive has been fantastic.
"It is a really great day for the city and I think we will now see some real regeneration and the tram driving Nottingham forward for people who live here and who work here and people who want to visit." | Full services on Nottingham's new tram lines have started, eight months behind schedule. | Full service on Nottingham's new tram lines has started, eight months in the works. |
Builders working on the BBC programme were targeted while helping with the project in West Bromwich. Show bosses said three vans have been hit in the past week.
Volunteers are transforming the family home of a mother who died from cancer.
Presenter Nick Knowles tweeted on Wednesday to say he was "really disappointed" by the thefts.
The programme is extending the home of Sandra Chambers, who has looked after her two grandchildren since the death of their mother Crystal in October 2015.
See more stories from across Birmingham and the Black Country here
Show bosses said two vans - a Peugeot and a Ford - were broken into on Wednesday morning and tools taken.
On Thursday a Mercedes Sprinter was also broken into, but nothing was stolen. The thefts have been reported to West Midlands Police.
End of Twitter post by @MrNickKnowles
Mr Knowles' tweet prompted a local Peugeot dealership to get in touch and he later thanked them for their help, as well as another person who gave £30 to cover repairs.
The project to extend the house is being completed by the DIY SOS team and an army of volunteers, including local tradespeople and neighbours, in a nine-day build. | Thieves broke into vans and stole tools being used by a team working on a life-changing project for TV show DIY SOS. | thieves broke into vans and stole tools being used by a team working on a life changing project for TV show DIY SOS. |
The oil firm said revenues in the year fell 27% to £1.6bn as the price of oil continued to fall in 2015.
It is the second year in a row the oil company has reported a loss. In 2014, it reported a loss of £2bn.
Tullow also warned there was a risk it could fail to comply with its financial covenants this year.
Financial covenants are agreements that companies make with their lenders to maintain a stable financial position.
Oil prices have slumped by 70% since the middle of 2014, with many of the oil majors cutting back investment on exploration and production.
That has also led to the loss of more than 5,000 jobs in the North Sea oil industry.
Tullow said it could cut annual capital expenditure to as low as $300m in 2017, down from $1.1bn planned for 2016, if market conditions did not improve.
The firm said it had reduced headcount of 37% and was on track to deliver cash savings of around $500m over three years.
It also said it would pay no dividend in 2015.
Tullow Oil chief executive Aidan Heavey said: "Our challenge in 2016 is to be equally robust in responding to the uncertainties that remain in the sector."
He added: ". As we look ahead, we have a portfolio of world class, low cost oil assets which will produce around 100,000 barrels per day in 2017 and a major position in one of the world's newest, low cost, oil provinces in East Africa, both enabling us to create substantial value." | Oil and gas exploration firm Tullow Oil has reported a pre-tax loss of £1.3bn for the year to 31 December as low oil prices bit into revenues. | Tullow Oil reported a pre-tax loss of £1.3bn for the year to 31 December, as low oil prices bit into |
Mobile measurement firm RootMetrics conducted over 840,000 checks, ranking operators for reliability and speed of voice, data and text services.
While EE dominated for speed, Three was a close second in terms of reliability during last year's six-month study.
Vodafone said it could not "take the results of this report seriously and neither should our customers".
Evidence suggested some tests were "carried out in an inconsistent manner", it added in a statement.
O2 ranked second in the speed index, but its reliability score was lower than that of EE or Three in the tests.
Each operator was rated out of 100 in a range of categories - overall performance, call performance, mobile internet, text, network reliability and network speed.
EE performed best across all categories, with Three second in terms of mobile internet, text services and network reliability.
Source: RootMetrics
O2 came second in the call performance and network speed categories.
Vodafone was last in all categories other than network speed, where it beat Three.
Average speeds for networks were not given because they ranged so vastly from area to area, RootMetrics said.
Neither did the study offer details about network coverage and mobile hotspots, although consumers can look at individual network performance at street level via its coverage map.
EE said the results showed it gave "customers everywhere in the UK the best mobile experience", partly because of its investment in new 4G services, greater 3G capacity and upgrades to 2G networks.
Three said the study was "carried out prior to our launch of 4G at no extra cost, so is not up to speed with our current performance".
Rootmetric's tests saw data scientists cover a 23,000-mile area of the UK, including urban and rural locations, with 1,000 indoor tests.
They used off-the-shelf Android devices, which had the testing software installed on them.
Rootmetric's Bill Moore said the aim of the testing was to get as close to a consumer experience as possible, across a range of metrics.
"It is all very well to test speeds, but if you can't get on the network then the speed becomes irrelevant," he told the BBC.
Futhermore, he said that while all networks faced the issue of dropped calls, it was a much bigger problem in the UK than in the US, where the firm has also been conducting tests.
"Networks here have a 2% failure rate compared to 0.5% in the US," he said.
Matthew Howett, an analyst with research firm Ovum, said that EE's win in this particular study represented a return on huge recent investments in coverage.
"Clearly, EE scores very well and this reflects both their strategy of wanting to continue to be one step ahead with their network and the money they have put behind it," he said.
"While Vodafone doesn't score so well in comparison, they shouldn't be written off.
"They too have ambitious plans for network upgrades which are being delivered through 'Project Spring'. However, for the rest of the industry to close the gap on EE in terms of network speeds and availability, it is not going to be without a struggle."
Mr Howett added that consumers may want more detailed information from future surveys.
"I suspect many will be looking for this specifically broken out for 4G network performance as they are being enticed to upgrade by their operators," he said.
Communications regulator Ofcom is planning its own UK-wide mobile survey and will shortly publish quality of service information to help consumers compare the performance of mobile networks and to encourage providers to improve. | EE has come out on top and Vodafone last in one of the UK's most comprehensive tests of mobile networks. | EE has come out on top, and Vodafone is the last in one of the UK's most comprehensive tests of mobile networks. |
John Johnston, 27, admitted taking the vehicle without consent and driving while over the legal alcohol limit.
He was spotted by a CCTV operator committing the offence and stopped by police in Buccleuch Street.
At Dumfries Sheriff Court he was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and given the driving ban.
Johnston, who had moved from Belfast to Dumfries, committed the offence in September this year.
He had been staying in homeless accommodation in the town and took the roller from Brooms Road.
He then drove it across town in a bid to get home from a night out drinking with a friend.
"I was just trying to find my way home," he told the court at an earlier appearance. | A man who tried to get home on a 2.5 tonne road roller after a night out drinking in Dumfries has received a 15-month driving ban. | drinking in Dumfries has been banned from driving for 15 months. A man who tried to get home on 2.5 tonne |
Like a sort of officially sanctioned graffiti, the initials of the housing department of Rio de Janeiro were sprayed on homes marked for demolition.
Almost 900 families, many of which lived on Rua da Esperanca (Hope Street), were facing eviction because their houses stood in the way of the planned route for the Transolimpica bus rapid transit system (BRT).
The extension of the BRT is part of the upgrades planned ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games, which the city is hosting.
The new 25km (15 mile) rapid bus route is expected to carry 70,000 passengers a day.
It will link Barra da Tijuca, which will host the athletes' village, to Deodoro, the venue for several Olympic events.
Rio City Hall intended to relocate the families from Vila Uniao to small social housing apartments or offer compensation packages.
But many residents did not want to leave their 30-year-old community.
After two years of uncertainty and a small yet vocal campaign of resistance, they have managed to save it from demolition.
Instead of running straight over the neighbourhood, the new $555m-bus system (£370m) will now cut around Vila Uniao.
This means only 191 families will need to be relocated, a 78% reduction in the original number of expected evictions.
"We're celebrating a lot because it was 900 families and now it's 191," said Robson da Silva Soares, one of those leading the resistance to the demolition of Vila Uniao.
But the victory was bittersweet for the residents, who, in 2012, had been promised investment as part of an initiative to improve the city's poor neighbourhoods by 2020.
Months later, the Transolimpica project was announced and along with it, the need to relocate hundreds of families.
Many of the homes earmarked for demolition were bigger than the government-funded apartments residents were being offered, explained 68-year-old Francisco Gabriel.
"I've been here 20 years and if it's a choice between leaving for the [government-funded] Colonia Juliano Moreira apartments or staying here, I'd prefer to stay here," he said.
"The homes there are smaller."
According to Rio City Hall, plans for the Transolimpica were redrawn to reduce the impact on Vila Uniao.
"We managed to get public land belonging to the federal government to alter the project and attend to the needs of the residents," a spokesman said.
Rio City Hall said the project, while causing disruption to some, also had huge potential to improve the lives of locals by linking their neighbourhood to other public transport lines.
"The future corridor will benefit the population leaving a huge legacy of mobility: a fully integrated transport network with the Transoeste and Transcarioca BRTs already opened, and the rail network in Deodoro," officials said.
But while the reduced number of evictions was welcomed by the majority in Vila Uniao, it did not satisfy everyone, leaving the community divided.
Cintia Neves, who runs a lunchtime cafe in the neighbourhood, has lived here almost her whole life.
The 26-year-old shares the house her late father built when she was six months old with her mother and brother.
"The vast majority [in the community] think the change is good but there are some who wanted to leave," she says, explaining that some homes in Vila Uniao were barely more than hovels.
"We are staying for now" she said about her family.
But even though the relief of those residents whose homes have been saved is palpable the new route is still likely to affect the community.
There is the local football pitch, for example. The original plan spared it but the new project runs over it instead.
Rio City Hall said it was in talks with the owner of a local football ground to provide a new pitch.
There were also concerns that those moving to the new social housing would lose the community feel they enjoyed in Vila Uniao.
"I grew up in the community with my parents and four brothers," Mr Soares said.
"There's a market, a bank, a school. But the place where the families are moving to doesn't have any of this. They have to start everything again."
Mr Soares said he and his fellow campaigners would not give up: "My house was in the path of the BRT and now I don't have to leave.
"But even so, I will continue with the same fight because independent of me, we're fighting for residents to have their rights."
And he is confident he can drive down the number of those facing eviction even further. "We see the possibility of removing fewer still than 191," the 37-year-old electromechanical technician said. | Nearly all of the chaotically built homes in the small community of Vila Uniao in the west of Rio have "SMH" painted onto their walls. | Nearly all of the chaotically built homes in the small community of Vila Uniao in the west of Rio have "SMH" |
The regulator has agreed to increase the amount of weight graphite bricks at the core of the reactor at Dungeness B in Kent will be allowed to lose.
The bricks, which degrade over time due to radiation, are vital for safety.
The Office for Nuclear Regulation said it was a "robust" body but one expert accused it of "moving the goalposts".
The nuclear reactor at Dungeness B would have breached the safety margin within months which could have forced the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) to prosecute or even shut it down.
The safety margins cover thousands of graphite bricks at the core of Britain's 14 elderly Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors (AGRs).
But the bricks, each about a metre in height, are both cracking and starting to lose weight due to decades of radiation, and that could affect safety.
The current graphite weight loss limit for Dungeness is set at 6.2% but the regulator says when it reached 5.7% its operator, French power giant EDF, applied to raise it to 8%.
Mark Foy, deputy chief inspector at the Office for Nuclear Regulation, said "We will be in a position to agree that 8% limit within the next few weeks. Ageing is a nuclear safety issue".
As part of that ageing process the licensee was required to monitor and inspect the reactors regularly.
Steve Thomas, professor of energy policy at the University of Greenwich, said: "It doesn't feel good when we come up against limits and the first thing they [the ONR] do is to move the goalposts."
Mr Foy stressed that the ONR was a "robust regulator" and due process had been followed.
"If we feel the evidence they [EDF] have supplied is robust and sufficient to underpin the 8% case then we will agree it," he said.
The graphite bricks are integral to UK nuclear power stations and they act to moderate the nuclear reaction; it will not function without them.
The bricks cannot be replaced which means they are being carefully monitored as the reactors age. They become damaged through years of intense bombardment by radiation and effects of the coolant CO2 on the material.
A distortion to the graphite core could prevent the control rods being inserted, which shut down the reactor in an emergency.
EDF said "safety of the public and our employees is our overriding priority" and the company took a "cautious approach" working closely with the regulator and they operated with "very conservative safety margins" and safety requirements were "stringent".
But in shifting the graphite limit Dungeness can still run only until the start of 2020 but that is still three years fewer than EDF would like and it may have to request a second increase in the safety limit.
Prof Paul Mummery, from Manchester University, agreed that the original limits were "conservative."
But he said the twin problems of graphite cracking and weight loss meant it may be "uneconomic" for EDF to keep all the 14 AGR reactors running in the long term because the regulator may insist on more inspections to demonstrate safety.
"They [EDF] are making good progress but I would not be able to say with absolute confidence that they will reach 2023," he said.
It was an "engineering judgement", he said, but "no one could be sure".
"There was more weight loss than expected in Dungeness B and that has led to some uncertainty about the continued operation."
The AGR reactors contribute about 15% of Britain's electricity, according to Prof Thomas.
He said EDF wanted the old AGR reactors to last until the planned next generation of nuclear power stations came on line after 2023 but said it was reaching a "crunch point".
The old reactors might not last as long as EDF would like and there were still real doubts about the plans to build the new reactor at Hinkley C in Somerset. | A key safety limit at one of Britain's nuclear power stations is being raised to allow the life of the reactor to be extended, the BBC has learned. | , the BBC has learned. A key safety limit at one of Britain's nuclear power stations is being raised to allow the reactor to be |
Walter Palmer from the state of Minnesota is believed to have paid about ??32,000 to hunt lions in the wild.
Cecil, the lion he shot, was a massive tourist attraction and famous in Africa for being relaxed around humans.
Mr Palmer said he thought the hunt was legal and didn't know the lion was protected.
Cecil's death has prompted a huge reaction from many on social media, with tens of thousands of people signing a petition asking for Cecil's killer to be punished for what he did.
Hunting lions is not illegal in Zimbabwe, and in many other countries in Africa, but hunters have to have special permits from the government allowing them to kill certain animals.
Some people in Zimbabwe also argue hunting can have a positive impact.
They say the money paid by tourists can be used for conservation and to create jobs for local people.
I don't think people should hunt animals for sport, it's wrong and what did Cecil do to Walter in the first place? Nothing! It's not fair, money can't buy what that lion gave to us, love. If Walter can't see that he should open his eyes and see what really is important in life - money or love?
Daisy, Monmouthshire, Wales
I believe that it is a cruel sport that shouldn't be done anywhere because the killing of animals will increase extinction. Even though the killing of animals is still done in certain countries I believe it is a cruel and unforgiving sport. From what has happened I believe that if anyone spends money to slay an animal they should still be arrested. In my opinion if anyone would want to pay to kill an animal I would consider them 'sick in the head'.
Ellie, Leeds, England
I think it's wrong to hunt animals for sport because the hunter doesn't benefit from it and it's strange that someone gets a buzz from taking an animal's life. I know people that hunt deer but they do it for food and appreciate the fact that they've had to kill an animal to get the meat.
Jake, Essex, England
It's not right to kill animals or hunt them for sport as they have a conscience and mind. They didn't do anything to harm you, so why should you harm them?
Jonnie, Buckinghamshire, England
Sport is about feeling good about yourself but killing the eco-system is not a sport especially when a vital animal is killed.
Honor, London, England
It is certainly not right to hunt animals for sport. How would the hunters feel if a lion chased after them with a weapon (or, of course, without - those teeth can be deadly anyway)? They'd be scared, stressed, and worried. These animals all have a family to go back to, just like us humans do. We can't keep thinking we're the only living things on Earth that matter.
Amy, United Kingdom | A US dentist has killed a lion in Zimbabwe, Africa. | Ein US dentist hat tötet einen lion in Zimbabwe, Afrika, umgesiedelt. |
Lagavulin is launching a single cask edition of 522 bottles of its single malt to raise funds for local projects.
Sales of the £1,494 bottles are set to see £310,000 donated to Islay Heritage to help build a story of the island's past based on its archaeological sites.
The Finlaggan Trust, which maintains the historical home of the Lord of the Isles, should also receive £60,000.
The Lagavulin 200 Legacy is set to make further contributions to the local swimming pool, cyber cafe and arts and festival organisations, as well as a new partnership with the RSPB to restore and conserve peatlands on the island.
Nick Morgan, of Lagavulin's owners Diageo, said: "We have had a fantastic year celebrating the 200th anniversary of Lagavulin, both on Islay and with the hundreds of thousands of people around the world who adore the whisky.
"Islay and its remarkable local community are at the heart of Lagavulin.
"That's why we were determined there should be a legacy from the anniversary which would directly benefit the island and its people.
"We believe that our contribution to Islay Heritage is not only of great significance to the island itself but is an important contribution to conserving and promoting the history and heritage of Scotland."
Bottles of the Lagavulin 1991 Single Malt Scotch Whisky cask can only be purchased through an online ballot on The Whisky Exchange.
The first bottle will be auctioned separately to raise more charitable funds, and one bottle will be donated to the Diageo Archive and the Whisky Exchange.
Steven Mithen, trustee of Islay Heritage and professor of archaeology, said: "Islay Heritage is hugely grateful to the Lagavulin 200 Legacy for the support it is providing to further our knowledge about the archaeological sites and monuments on Islay.
"This investment in our heritage will greatly benefit both the local community and visitors to the island.
"While some of Islay's sites and monuments are very well known and accessible, others are virtually unknown, difficult to find and rarely visited.
"There are no doubt many more waiting to be discovered which will help tell us more about not only Islay's story but that of Scotland, Europe and the path of human culture as a whole.
"We are delighted that Lagavulin shares our vision to reveal Islay's past so that it can be explored and enjoyed by everyone." | A whisky distillery plans to invest £580,000 in community projects to mark its 200 years on the island of Islay. | Eine Whiskydistillery plans to invest £580,000 in Community projects to mark its 200-years on the island of Islay |
Dominic Elliott, 23, died in March after he was taken to hospital from the world-renowned artist's house in Bridlington, East Yorkshire.
The inquest in Hull heard Mr Elliott had taken cocaine, ecstasy and temazepam before he drank the liquid.
Mr Hockney was in bed asleep at the time and was "completely unaware" of what had happened, the inquest heard.
The artist's former partner, John Fitzherbert, told the hearing he drove Mr Elliott to Scarborough Hospital in the early hours of the morning.
Mr Fitzherbert said that in the day leading up to the incident, he and Mr Elliott had drunk alcohol, taken cocaine and smoked cannabis.
Pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd told the court that temazepam and ecstasy were also found in his body.
Dr Shepherd said the acid severely burned Mr Elliott's mouth, tongue and throat before perforating his stomach.
Mr Hockney, who was not in court, said in a statement read out at the inquest that he had been asleep in his bedroom and woke up on the morning of 17 March to be told Mr Elliott had died.
The 76-year-old artist said he had gone to bed at 21:00 GMT the night before and despite seeing Mr Fitzherbert and his chief assistant, Jean Pierre Goncalves De Lima, at midnight there was "nothing out of the ordinary".
He did not see Mr Elliott before going to bed, Mr Hockney said.
He said Mr Elliott and Mr Fitzherbert had been in a relationship for about four months and described how a number of people lived in his five-bedroom former guesthouse, including Mr De Lima.
Mr Hockney said he had a large double bedroom where he also did portraits. He said Mr Fitzherbert had another large, self-contained room and they both led separate lives.
He said he had known Mr Elliott for about 10 years and described how he helped him with all aspects of his studio work.
But the artist said he only knew him "professionally" and he did not "really know him in a social aspect".
He said Mr Elliott sometimes drank a lot and this gave him a "Jekyll and Hyde" character.
"I cannot comment on any of the lifestyle habits he has," Mr Hockney said in his statement.
He said he had not been well at the time of the incident due to a mini-stroke.
Mr Fitzherbert, who was present in court, described how he and Mr Elliott had spent the Friday night drinking and smoking cannabis.
He said that on the Saturday morning, after Mr Hockney had left the house, Mr Elliott started laughing hysterically before jumping head first off a 9ft (3m) high internal balcony.
Asked by the coroner, Professor Paul Marks, why he did this, Mr Fitzherbert replied: "No idea".
He said Mr Elliott was not seriously hurt. "I just saw his feet going over," he told the court.
Mr Fitzherbert described how Mr Elliott later smoked more cannabis and they both fell asleep again together.
He said he was woken by Mr Elliott in the middle of the night asking to be taken to hospital.
Mr Fitzherbert told the court he found a bottle of toilet and drain cleaner in the sink but did not connect it to Mr Elliott at that time.
Pathologist Dr Shepherd had told the inquest that Mr Elliott would have been in extreme pain and Mr Fitzherbert was asked repeatedly whether he noticed this as he tended to his friend.
Mr Fitzherbert was also asked why he later called Mr De Lima to get him to tidy up the house.
He said Mr Hockney had not been well and he wanted to "shield him" from any "scandal involving drugs in his house".
Asked about why Mr Elliott did what he did, Mr Fitzherbert replied: "I do not have any answers."
"I think he liked living on the edge," he said.
Mr Elliott's mother, Karen Kent, told the inquest how her son met Mr Fitzherbert at a family barbeque when he was 15 years old.
It was Mr Fitzherbert who introduced him to Mr Hockney.
Mr Elliott's best friend, Christopher Towland, told the court he had recently become worried about his friend's gambling.
The inquest was adjourned until Friday. | David Hockney's assistant died after drinking acid at the painter's home, an inquest has heard. | died after drinking acid in the home of a painting's assistant David Hockney. |
The 23-year-old crowdfunded her way to Rio to compete in the women's single sculls, but finished 20th in the finals last Saturday.
However, six days later Snoop Dogg posted a photo of Ukogu on Instagram, telling his nearly 12 million followers that she had won a silver medal - Nigeria's first at these Games:
We all have to admit that following the Olympics can be confusing, with heats and umpteen rounds before the finals.
Ukogu did get through her heats, and made the quarter-finals, but needed to finish in the top three to progress to the semis with a chance of getting a medal.
She came fifth in her race so was demoted to the "C/D" semis and final. In her "final D" race she came second, but her time of 7:44:76 put her 18 places below silver.
What may have led Snoop Dogg up the garden path was a tweet last Saturday suggesting she had won silver for Nigeria:
This then got picked up on Monday and was retweeted a bit:
More of such tweets appeared on Friday - though it's not clear if this was before or after Snoop Dogg instagrammed.
At the time of writing, his post had nearly 97,000 likes and more than 1,000 comments, some of which pointed out that it was not true - with others saying Ukogu was still impressive and made Nigerians proud.
"We have to celebrate her for the sacrifices and selfless service to the nation," posted Olufemisylvester.
And there is no denying that Chierika Ukogu has made history.
She is the first athlete to represent Nigeria in a rowing event at the Olympics.
Known to her friends as "Coco", she raised $15,000 (£11,400) herself as she said the Nigerian Rowing Federation was not able to give her financial support.
She was born in the US to Nigerian parents and became hooked on rowing at senior school. She continued to row at university - she plans to become a doctor.
"I put medical school on hold to dedicate my time to training," she said on her GoFundMe page.
"I hope that my athletic endeavours will inspire other Nigerians to take up rowing and experience the same joy I feel every time I'm on the water."
Her enthusiasm is a soothing balm to what has been a bumpy Rio ride for Nigeria - Africa's most populous nation.
The men's football team, playing for bronze later on Saturday, is Nigeria's only realistic medal hope.
The footballers only arrived hours before their first match. They had been delayed in the US city of Atlanta because of problems paying for their flight.
And Nigeria's Olympic kit only turned up a few days ago, after most athletes had completed their events.
For the popular Nigerian actress Genevieve Nnaji, Ukogu's success was all about "girl power".
Nnaji who also posted her praise on Instagram on Friday, but did not make the mistake about the medal.
She said: "She believed in herself, strangers believed in her.... That's how we change the narrative. Stop asking your country what she's done for you and start asking what you can do for her." | Nigeria's Olympic rower Chierika Ukogu has an inspirational story - but without the mistaken promotion of US rapper Snoop Dogg, she is likely to have sunk without trace. | Chierika Ukogu's olympische rower Chierika Ukogu has an inspirational story - |
The United Airlines flight UA2081 took off from Edinburgh Airport at 14:22 but declared a second emergency a short time later.
It comes a day after the same aircraft diverted to Edinburgh from London Heathrow with a fuel leak problem.
There were no passengers on the plane. Edinburgh Airport officials said there had been no impact on operations.
The plane landed back at Edinburgh at 15:30, after circling the airport for 10 minutes.
An United Airlines spokesman said: "United Airlines flight UA2081 from Edinburgh to Chicago today (July 13, 2016), which was being repositioned and was not carrying any customers, returned to Edinburgh Airport after take-off because of a mechanical issue." | A plane bound for Chicago has been forced to make an emergency landing for the second time in two days. | Ein Flugzeug, der nach Chicago fährt, ist für die zweite Zeit in zwei Tagen zwingen. |
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The Great City Games, an open and free event for the public, is due to take place in Manchester on Friday.
Organisers said the event will go ahead as planned, but a decision on Sunday's Great Manchester Run "is expected in the next 24 hours".
The FA Cup final, EFL play-offs and the PGA Championship are also this week.
An eight-year-old girl was among those killed in Monday's suicide bombing at Manchester Arena, at the end of a concert by US singer Ariana Grande.
Prime Minister Theresa May said the UK terror threat level has been raised to its highest level of "critical", meaning further attacks may be imminent.
Manchester United cancelled a news conference on Tuesday, due to be held prior to their Europa League final against Ajax in Stockholm on Wednesday, and will wear black armbands for the match.
The club said: "Our thoughts are with the victims and their families at this terribly difficult time."
United's players held a minute's silence at training on Tuesday, and the club closed its megastore, museum, cafe and stadium tours to the public.
A staff event scheduled for Wednesday has been cancelled by executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
Manager Jose Mourinho said: "We are all very sad about the tragic events; we cannot take out of our minds and our hearts the victims and their families.
"We have a job to do and we will fly to Sweden to do that job. It is a pity we cannot fly with the happiness that we always have before a big game.
"I know, even during my short time here, that the people of Manchester will pull together as one."
Ajax manager Peter Bosz said: "What happened yesterday evening in Manchester is something we all feel in Ajax and on behalf of all of us at Ajax we express our sympathies with the victims that fell. The feeling that prevails is the final does not have the glow it should have.
"Tomorrow evening should be a football feast but because of the events in Manchester we are affected. It is horrible. My sympathies are heartfelt."
Football's European governing body Uefa announced a minute's silence will be observed prior to the final. The opening ceremony will also be considerably reduced as a mark of respect for the victims.
Aleksander Ceferin, president of Uefa, said he was "deeply saddened" and shocked that "so many innocent people lost their lives".
A Uefa statement said there was "currently no specific intelligence" to suggest Wednesday's game could be a target for further attacks.
"Uefa has been closely working with local authorities and the Swedish FA for many months and the terrorist risk had been taken into account since the very beginning of the project," it said.
"Furthermore, a number of additional security measures were implemented following the attacks in Stockholm last April."
There will be a minute's silence observed at Headingley cricket ground before England's one-day international against South Africa on Wednesday.
Both sets of players will also wear black armbands during the game.
The South Africa team have been told there will be extra police officers on duty at the ground and increased security at team hotels and practice.
There will also be a minute's silence before Saturday's Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Aberdeen at Hampden Park.
The Scottish FA's security and integrity officer, Peter McLaughlin, said: "We remain vigilant to the threat posed by global terrorism and are engaged in constant dialogue with colleagues at Police Scotland and the National Counter-Terrorism Security Office.
"This ongoing communication and intelligence-sharing is part of our operations protocol for all events at the national stadium, including the forthcoming Scottish Cup final."
A number of leading athletes are scheduled to participate at the Great City Games on Friday, while a public half marathon and 10km run are due to be staged in Manchester on Sunday.
Wembley hosts Saturday's FA Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea, and the League Two and Championship play-off finals on Sunday and Monday respectively.
A Football Association spokesperson said: "Fan safety is of paramount importance and we have robust security measures in place at Wembley Stadium.
"In collaboration with the Metropolitan Police and the local authorities there will be an enhanced security operation for all upcoming events.
"All supporters are encouraged to arrive for events at Wembley Stadium as early as possible for security checks and to avoid any delays in entering the stadium."
The English Football League (EFL) added it "takes security issues extremely seriously" and urged supporters travelling to Wembley to "be vigilant of their surroundings at all times, stay alert and not be alarmed".
The Metropolitan Police says extra armed officers will be deployed at this weekend's major sports events in London, with a full review of the security and policing operations under way.
"Over the coming days as you go to a music venue, go shopping, travel to work or head off to the fantastic sporting events you will see more officers - including armed officers," said commander Jane Connors.
Golf's BMW PGA Championship starts at Wentworth on Thursday.
"As with any major event, security is the highest priority," said European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley. "It was before Monday night and it remains so.
"We're in constant dialogue with the police and security services. We are comfortable we will react in the right way if in fact we need to significantly increase our security."
Cricket's Champions Trophy will take place from 1-18 June at venues in Birmingham, London and Cardiff.
A statement from the International Cricket Council [ICC] read: "The ICC and ECB [England and Wales Cricket Board] place safety and security at the ICC Champions Trophy and ICC Women's World Cup this summer as the highest priority.
"We operate on advice from our tournament security directorate - in conjunction with the ECB and relevant authorities - to ensure that we have a robust safety and security plan for both tournaments.
"We will continue to work with authorities over the coming hours and days and review our security in line with the threat levels."
England one-day captain Eoin Morgan said his team had met their security advisers on Tuesday morning before Wednesday's match against South Africa.
"On behalf of the England cricket team, I'd like to offer our thoughts and prayers to everybody in Manchester affected by the tragic events," said Morgan.
"I'd also like to give our support to those in and around things and those most affected and those who helped out and continue to help out."
The domestic rugby union finishes this weekend, but the National Counter Terrorism security office has been in touch with Sale Sharks and every other Aviva Premiership club asking for details of any events planned by them over the next couple of weeks.
There will also be tighter security at horse racing's Epsom Derby on 3 June, with Surrey Police announcing firearms officers on patrol around the grounds.
Chief Superintendent Jerry Westerman said: "The Epsom Derby is a fantastic event which attracts thousands of people and spectators from around the world and I am confident that this year's festival will be no exception."
England Women's cricketer Danielle Wyatt was at the Ariana Grande concert and said: "Thank you for all messages - I'm safe. Was at the concert enjoying myself like many others - thoughts with victims & families."
Manchester United and Spain goalkeeper David de Gea tweeted: "Much rage, much pain. My condolences to the victims' family members involved in the atrocious attack to the heart of the city."
Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard said the "beautiful city" of Manchester "will stand together in this dark hour", captain Wayne Rooney said he was "devastated" by the news and winger Ashley Young said he was "absolutely shocked".
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand: "My thoughts & prayers are with all the families & friends affected by last night's attack in Manchester."
Former Lancashire and England cricketer Andrew Flintoff: "In the toughest of times the people of Manchester showing why this is such a great city, standing together in the face of such evil."
Manchester City players - including captain Vincent Kompany, goalkeeper Willy Caballero, forward Leroy Sane and defender Pablo Zabaleta - also tweeted their support for those affected.
Lucy Bronze, from City's women's team, said her "thoughts are with those affected" and urged people to "stick together".
Olympic and world 100m champion Usain Bolt tweeted: "Thoughts & prayers goes out to people of Manchester and all those who are affected." | Sporting events and venues in England are conducting major security reviews after 22 people were killed in an attack at Manchester Arena. | Sporting events and venues in England conducting major security reviews after 22 people were killed in an attack at Manchester Arena. |
The Department for Education (DfE) met the expense from its overall budget, says the National Audit Office report.
"The department was unprepared for the financial implications of rapid expansion," the authors say.
The government said it made "no apology for spending money on a programme that is proven to drive up standards".
In May 2010 there were 203 academies, which are publicly funded independent state schools directly accountable to the DfE and outside local authority control. The programme was started by the Labour government as a way to transform struggling schools.
After the election the Education Secretary, Michael Gove, announced plans to allow all schools in England to convert to academy status. By September 2012 some 2,309 schools had converted, representing a growth of 1,307%, and 48% of secondary pupils were attending academies.
Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office (NAO), said the increase was "a significant achievement - however the Department for Education was not sufficiently prepared for the financial implications of such a rapid expansion, or for the challenge of overseeing and monitoring such a large number of new academies".
According to the report, the department had budgeted £7.3bn to set up and run academies in the two years from April 2010 to March 2012.
It says officials were expecting some extra expenditure, to cover factors such as additional insurance, but were unprepared for the numbers of academies wanting to convert. In fact the total expenditure on academies amounted to £8.3bn - £1bn over budget.
The £1bn includes £350m paid to local authorities for temporary continued funding of places at non-academy schools, effectively double funding places while academies were being set up.
The report says that to fund the expansion and remain within overall spending limits, the DfE had to find the money from other budgets, including the main schools settlement.
A spokesman for the Department for Education said: "We make no apology for the fact that more schools than even we imagined have opted to convert, and no apology for spending money on a programme that is proven to drive up standards and make long-term school improvements.
"We want as many schools as possible to take advantage of the significant benefits academy status brings because it means more schools run by great heads and teachers, not local authority or Whitehall bureaucrats, and more children getting a first-class education.
"The Department for Education has made significant savings in the last two and a half years and also set aside significant contingencies which have been set against the growth in academies.
"Additionally, the costs of converting academies have already fallen by 53% per academy. We anticipate further changes we are making will radically reduce costs in 2013-14 and beyond."
Margaret Hodge MP, chairwoman of the Commons public accounts committee, said: "The decision to change fundamentally the nature of the programme away from one solely directed at struggling schools is up to the government, but taxpayers have the right to expect a more considered and controlled approach to public spending than the department has so far displayed."
Shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg called for greater scrutiny, oversight and local accountability "to ensure school standards improve and the taxpayer gets value for money".
The figures also drew criticism from teaching unions with Mary Bousted, of the Association and Teachers and Lecturers, saying they showed "only too clearly that the expansion of academies is being driven by political ideology and not by what's best for children's education".
Christine Blower, of the National Union of Teachers, said: "It is absurd for the government to justify spending £8.3bn on academy conversions in two years while at the same time warning of a dire economic situation. Meanwhile, many good state schools are told there's no money as they stand in a state of disrepair with ever-diminishing support services." | A tenfold increase in the number of English schools converting to academies has meant £1bn in extra costs, says the government's spending watchdog. | Eine 10fold increase in the number of english schools convert to academies hat erwünschte Mehrkosten in |
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"Great to be here," he offered in a slightly less Americanised accent than I expected. "Raining as always."
"I can't wait to play this week," he enthused to the assembled journalists. "I've been looking forward to this for a long time, probably four or five years to be honest."
So have we Russell.
It's exciting, even for battle weary Scottish journalists, to see someone performing at the top of their game on a world stage with the potential to go further.
That's not beyond Knox and the next two weeks provide the perfect platform for him to deliver further on his potential and achieve many of his dreams.
Victory at the this week's Scottish Open in his home town of Inverness would certainly be one. That would push him right up the list for Ryder Cup qualification. Then there's the matter of next week's Open at Troon.
Currently 27th in the world rankings, 131 places above the nearest Scot, Richie Ramsay, Knox is Scotland's best hope to at least fight for these trophies.
He is a contender in most tournaments these days, primarily on the PGA Tour, and for a place in Darren Clarke's Ryder Cup team.
As his star rises, Knox remains adamant that playing in front of an expectant home crowd over the next two weeks won't be a hindrance, despite heightened expectation.
His demeanour backs that up. He seems philosophical - what will be, will be.
"It adds a little bit of pressure," he said. "We're used to it, every week you've got pressure. I put a lot of pressure on myself every time I play so I don't really feel added pressure.
"I've been wanting to do this my whole life. I've been wanting to play on the PGA tour, European Tour, all the majors and hey, it's starting to happen.
"I've been wanting to win tournaments, be in the top 20, 10 in the world, see how high I can get.
"This is what I've been dreaming my whole life. I'm not sure if you're ever really ready for it but you've just got to do your best and go for it."
There's a wider goal for Knox than doing well in his home country, or even achieving a dream Ryder Cup place.
Getting into the top 20 or 30 players in the world is tremendously hard. Staying there is just as difficult, if not more challenging, and plenty of players have been there and fallen away.
"Of course the goal is to stay inside the top 50 but you have to play well to do that," said Knox.
"It's so hard to stay there. To be honest I don't know how I'm going to do. I could quite easily move forward or quite easily move back.
"That's the hard thing about golf. It's such a hard game. One week you feel like you can hit any shot, then up comes a week like last week when you're like 'Am I even good enough to play golf?' I feel like I can keep improving."
Luke Donald addressed us shortly before Knox's arrival. He won this tournament at Castle Stuart in a rain-shortened Scottish Open in 2011, when he was the top-ranked golfer on the planet.
He is now 83rd in the world and struggles to get anywhere near the form he showed so consistently.
"Luke is a great player, and he's just one example of someone who has been at the top and slipped down," said Knox. "He's still a great player.
"It's so hard to stay there and this is really my first go at trying to stay there and trying to move up."
Such awareness can only be a positive for Knox and perhaps helps to keep his head on the ground despite his success.
"The whole journey's been crazy the last couple of years. I just hope I never wake up and it keeps going."
Victory here at home could be the launchpad for his life to get even crazier. | Russell Knox has every right to beam from ear to ear, as he did for the majority of his 15-minute media gathering, after flying in from his base in the United States to a sodden Castle Stuart. | Knox has every right to beam from ear to ear, as he did for the majority of his 15-minute media gathering, |
The 14-year-old from Blackpool disappeared on 1 November 2003. Her body has never been found.
Karen Downes said she is taking legal action over a 13-year gap in releasing CCTV images of the teenager's last day alive.
Lancashire Police has declined to comment.
She said the footage that detectives released in 2016, 13 years after she went missing, could have helped solve the case had it been available earlier.
"They had [the CCTV] for 13 years," said Mrs Downes. "It shows Charlene in the town that afternoon in the same clothes she disappeared in.
"If they'd have shown it before... who knows?
"We have suffered all these years not knowing where she is."
She said police "need teaching a lesson".
"It is not about the money. I want to force the police to do their job," she said.
"If I got money I would get something for Charlene like a memorial."
Charlene is shown in the CCTV with her sister Rebecca on Bank Hey Street walking towards the Coral Island amusement arcade.
She went home but returned to Blackpool town centre later that evening - the last time she was seen.
A judge cleared a man of Charlene's murder in 2008 after "grave doubts" were raised about evidence during his second trial. The jury in his first trial failed to reach a verdict.
In 2009, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said police evidence-gathering errors contributed to the retrial's collapse.
The IPCC found strategic and tactical failure in the management of the material and several officers were disciplined, one forced to resign in 2011.
But this resignation order was overturned by a 2012 Police Arbitration Tribunal. | The mother of missing teenager Charlene Downes said she is going to sue police over mishandling her murder case. | of missing teen Charlene Downes said she will sue police over mishandling of her murder case. |
The police say Mr Bach is being treated as a witness, not a suspect.
Officers have found emails from Mr Bach to another senior IOC official Patrick Hickey, who was arrested last month and is facing charges.
Mr Hickey, ex-head of the Irish Olympic Committee, denies all allegations.
Police investigators in Rio told the BBC's Wyre Davies they would like to know what Mr Bach's influence was over Olympic ticketing policy.
They said the IOC president received personal requests for hundreds of high-value tickets, for the Olympics opening ceremony, the 100m final and the football final from Mr Hickey.
Police say that Mr Hickey received 296 tickets after his written request to the IOC president.
They have not, thus far, made any contact with the president's office to request a formal interview.
Mr Hickey was arrested during the Olympic games and spent time at the notorious Bangu high security jail along with fellow Irishman Kevin Mallon.
He was released on bail at the end of August but had to return his passport to the Brazilian authorities and was ordered not to leave the country.
A prosecutor laid charges against him on Tuesday. A judge will now decide whether to accept or reject the charges.
Mr Hickey, 71, has formally stood aside as president of the Olympic Council of Ireland and European Olympic Committees' president during the investigation.
Mr Mallon is the Dublin-based director of THG Sports, a corporate and sports hospitality company.
Mr Bach cancelled a planned appearance in Rio this week at the opening of the Paralympic Games, for personal reasons.
Mr Bach has not returned to Rio since the Olympics and missed the opening ceremony of the Paralympics at the Maracana on Wednesday.
He said would remain in Germany for the funeral of his friend Walter Scheel, the former West German foreign minister and deputy chancellor, who died last month aged 97.
IOC officials said Mr Bach would now not travel to Brazil after the funeral because he was unable to reschedule other commitments.
The Paralympics run until 18 September.
The last time an IOC president failed to attend a Paralympics was in 2010, when Jacques Rogge missed the whole of the Winter Games in Vancouver. | Brazilian police say they want to speak to International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach about an alleged scheme to resell tickets during last month's Rio Olympics. | police say they want to speak to president Thomas Bach about an alleged scheme to resell tickets during last month's Rio Olympics. |
She took power over the weekend following the death of 78-year-old President Bingu wa Mutharika, who died in office after heading up the southern Africa country since 2004.
Mr Mutharika's decision to appoint her as his running mate for the 2009 elections surprised many in Malawi's mainly conservative, male-dominated society - which had never before had a female vice-president.
Equally surprising was her decision to publicly stand up to her boss - by refusing to endorse his plans for his brother, Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Mutharika, to succeed him as president in 2014 when he was due to retire.
She was promptly thrown out of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party - and subjected to daily doses of derision at public rallies and on Malawi's state airwaves.
A senior ruling party official openly said Malawi was "not ready for a female president", while First Lady Callista Mutharika said Mrs Banda was fooling herself that she was a serious politician - saying she was a mere market woman selling fritters.
"She will never be president, how can a mandasi [fritter] seller be president?" Mrs Mutharika said.
Mrs Banda took all this in her stride, saying she was glad to be identified with market women since more than 80% of Malawian women belong to that category: "Yes, she's right, I'm indeed a mandasi seller and I'm proud of it because the majority of women in Malawi are like us, mandasi sellers."
She also resisted calls for her to resign as the country's vice-president - she was elected not appointed so she could not be fired by Mr Mutharika - and instead set up her own People's Party.
Born in 1950 in the village of Malemia near the southern town of Zomba, Joyce Hilda Ntila was the eldest in a family of five children.
Her father was the leader of Malawi's police brass band and her youngest sister, Anjimile, ran pop star Madonna's charity Raising Malawi until it closed in December.
She left her first husband in 1981, taking her three children with her, because he was abusive.
"Most African women are taught to endure abusive marriages. They say endurance means a good wife but most women endure abusive relationship because they are not empowered economically, they depend on their husbands," she told the BBC about her decision.
Eight years later, Mrs Banda founded the National Association of Business Women, a group that lends start-up cash to small-scale traders - making her popular among Malawi's many rural poor.
That work also earned her international recognition - in 1997, she was awarded, along with former Mozambican President Joachim Chissano, the US-based Hunger Project's Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger.
She also set up the Joyce Banda Foundation, a charity that assists Malawian children and orphans through education - she has a degree in early childhood education.
Joyce Banda cut her teeth in politics in 1999 when she won a parliamentary seat on the ticket of the former ruling United Democratic Front.
She held a number of cabinet positions under former President Bakili Muluzi and Mr Mutharika during his first term.
She puts her achievements down to her happy marriage to retired Chief Justice Richard Banda with whom she has two children.
"My dear husband, Richard, has been the driving force behind my success and rise to whatever level I am now. My story and legacy is incomplete without his mention," she said.
Mrs Banda's presidential challenges are huge: Aside from handling political divisions and possible opposition from Mr Mutharika's allies, she has to address Malawi's serious economic difficulties.
It is one of the poorest countries in the world, with an estimated 75% of the population living on less than $1 (60p) a day.
And former President Mutharika fell out with most of Western donors - on which the country depends for financial support.
The cutting off of direct aid resulted in the country's worst shortages of foreign currency, fuel and essential drugs.
But she has immediately made her mark - sacking Malawi's police chief Peter Mukhito, accused of mishandling anti-government riots last year in which at least 19 people were shot dead, and Patricia Kaliati as information minister.
In the wake of Mr Mutharika's death, Ms Kaliati had held a press conference saying Mrs Banda had no right to take over as president - despite what the constitution said.
The head of Malawi's state broadcaster has also been replaced. | Joyce Banda, who has made history becoming Malawi's first female president and only the second woman to lead a country in Africa, has a track record of fighting for women's rights. | Joyce Banda is the first female president in the country in the world and only the second woman in a country in Africa. Banda has |
Forest Green, promoted from the National League, will host MK Dons in their first appearance in the competition, while FA Cup giant-killers Lincoln will be away to Rotherham.
The 35 ties will be played in the week commencing Monday, 7 August.
Hull City and Middlesbrough have been handed a bye into the second round, having finished above Sunderland in the Premier League last season.
There was confusion after the draw, which was streamed live from Bangkok, where the competition's new sponsors, energy drink company Carabao, are based.
A list of fixtures displayed on the stream showed Charlton drawn against two clubs, while AFC Wimbledon were also wrongly recorded as being at home to Swindon - the Dons were drawn at home to Brentford, and Swindon will be away to Norwich.
And Forest Green were listed as being away to Wolves, who were in fact drawn at home to Yeovil.
The live stream was also hampered by sound problems, with listeners on some clubs' websites unable to hear the draw.
The EFL have since released a statement apologising for "a number of third party technical issues that affected coverage of [Friday's] Carabao Cup round one draw in Bangkok".
It continued: "There were inaccuracies - as a result of human error - in the live graphics output that resulted in confusion and incorrect ties being displayed on screen.
"In addition, some users did experience difficulties in accessing the stream on certain external platforms. Both issues are currently under investigation.
"The EFL can confirm that the draw was not compromised in any way and all clubs have received confirmation of their round one ties."
There are 12 former League Cup winners in the first round, with five-time champions Aston Villa the most successful side entering at this stage, ahead of four-time winners Nottingham Forest.
Villa have been handed an away tie at Colchester, while Forest host League One side Shrewsbury.
Newport County were drawn at home to Southend United, but the match will take place at Southend's Roots Hall stadium so the Welsh club can finish work on their pitch.
The final of this season's competition will take place at Wembley on Sunday, 25 February 2018.
The full draw for the first round of the EFL Cup is as follows:
North Section
Coventry v Blackburn
Nottingham Forest v Shrewsbury
Bradford v Doncaster
Mansfield v Rochdale
Grimsby v Derby
Barnsley v Morecambe
Oldham v Burton
Wigan v Blackpool
Bury v Sunderland
Sheffield Wednesday v Chesterfield
Accrington v Preston
Fleetwood v Carlisle
Rotherham v Lincoln
Sheffield United v Walsall
Scunthorpe v Notts County
Crewe v Bolton
Leeds v Port Vale
South Section
Birmingham City v Crawley Town
Exeter City v Charlton Athletic
QPR v Northampton Town
Newport County v Southend United
Bristol City v Plymouth Argyle
Cardiff City v Portsmouth
Millwall v Stevenage
Oxford United v Cheltenham Town
AFC Wimbledon v Brentford
Norwich City v Swindon Town
Bristol Rovers v Cambridge United
Peterborough United v Barnet
Wycombe Wanderers v Fulham
Colchester United v Aston Villa
Wolves v Yeovil Town
Reading v Gillingham
Forest Green Rovers v MK Dons
Luton Town v Ipswich Town | Relegated Sunderland will travel to Bury in the EFL Cup first round. | Sunderland face Bury in the EFL Cup first round. Sunderland will travel to Bury in the first round. |
The final member of the family, a male marmoset called Gomez, was found by police on Monday, having been abandoned on a vets' doorstep.
A female and a baby were retrieved on Sunday, and are already back at Symbio Wildlife Park, south of Sydney.
Two men have pleaded guilty to charges of dealing with proceeds of crime.
Brothers Jesse and Jackson George are not believed to have snatched the monkeys from their enclosure, but they were charged with trying to profit from the theft.
Pygmy marmosets - the world's smallest monkey species - command up to A$5,000 (£3,000, $3,700) on the black market.
Police found the men after a tip-off from the public. A desperate appeal for information had been launched by the zoo, amid fears that the baby marmoset would die within 48 hours if unable to feed from its mother.
The four-week-old was found when the Georges' car was pulled over at Appin, southwest of Sydney.
The female marmoset was found about 20km (12 miles) away in the Campbelltown area.
Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph said the brothers had exchanged marmoset pictures with a third person via mobile phone, along with messages about how much a monkey could sell for.
"Ay, check out my monkey," wrote the third person, according to court documents. "That's mad bro. Wanna sell it bruh?" Jackson George replied.
The baby marmoset is now home and well, said Symbio Wildlife Park, after they reunited it with its mother.
"Mum cradled the baby straight into her arms and bub immediately began to feed," the zoo wrote in a statement on Facebook.
Police say they are continuing their investigation into the theft. The zoo said the marmoset enclosure is currently closed "to give the family privacy". | Three rare pygmy marmosets have been rescued and are set to be reunited, after being stolen from a Sydney zoo at the weekend. | rescued and set to be reunited after being stolen from a zoo in Sydney at the weekend. |
That's according to a new report by a senior group of MPs.
Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee said recruiters should try websites like Mumsnet to help increase the proportion of female spies.
It wants more of them working in places like MI5, MI6 and communications spy centre GCHQ.
The report says women in the intelligence services are being held back by a layer of male, middle managers labelled "the permafrost" who have a "very traditional male mentality and outlook".
Mumsnet chief executive Justine Roberts responded to the call for recruiters to use things like her website but we're thinking she wasn't being entirely serious.
"I'm afraid I'm unable to comment as I have an urgent appointment with a rock in St. James's Park."
While the report showed 37% of staff at MI5, MI6 and GCHQ are women, it also pointed out they make up less than one in five senior staff.
However, things have been changing in recent years.
Stella Rimington became the first female boss of MI5 in 1992.
That was three years before actress Judi Dench took over as James Bond's boss, M, in the British film franchise.
In response to the report the government said: "We are committed to ensuring the most talented people succeed and reach top positions, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexuality or disability."
Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube | Forget James Bond, when it comes to recruiting spies needed to protect Britain there aren't enough Jane Bonds. | Forget James Bond, if you know James Bond, there aren't enough Jane Bonds. |
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (AMC), said his "heartfelt sympathies" were with the victims.
He was speaking at a Peace Symposium held at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden, south London on Saturday.
Five people died and 50 were hurt outside Parliament, last Wednesday.
In a message Prime Minister Theresa May praised the conference, which she called "an annual reminder of your community's commitment to promoting peace".
MPs Paul Scully and Siobhan McDonagh were among the hundreds who attended the event at the UK's largest mosque.
The caliph described the attack in central London a "barbaric atrocity".
"No matter what terrorists may claim, under no circumstances are indiscriminate acts, or killings ever justified," he said.
He added that Muslims and non-Muslims "must stand up against all forms of oppression, hatred and use all our capabilities to try and foster peace in the world."
Three people were killed in Wednesday's attack when Khalid Masood drove his car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, before stabbing to death unarmed PC Keith Palmer.
Masood was then shot dead by police. | The world leader of millions of Muslims has condemned the Westminster terror attack calling it an "affront to the teachings of Islam". | Der weltweit führende Muslimkonzern hat die Westminster terrorist attack als "affront to the teachings of Islam" verurteilt. |
The 31-year-old had publicly revealed she was expecting her third child during a concert in May.
A statement on her Twitter account on Monday said: "Charlotte and Jonny are very sad to announce that they lost their baby. Now is a time for grieving and being together as a family.
"We kindly ask everyone to respect that peace."
The Cardiff-born star and her partner, musician Jonny Powell, have been together for seven years.
She is already a mother to nine-year-old Ruby and Dexter, eight, from her previous relationship with Gavin Henson. | Singer Charlotte Church has lost her unborn baby, she has announced. | Charlotte Church is losing her unborn baby, she has announced. Singer Charlotte Church is losing her unborn baby. |
Guy Tomlinson, 37, was being chased by officers when his car hit a tipper truck in Leicester on 9 March 2016.
David Anger and Christopher Needham, who were both passengers in the car, died in the crash on Fosse Road South.
In addition to the prison term, Tomlinson was also given a 15-year driving ban at Leicester Crown Court.
The collision was described as "horrific" by Leicestershire police.
More on this story and other news in Leicestershire
Tomlinson previously pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, two counts of causing death by driving while uninsured and two counts of causing death by driving while unlicensed.
Two people in the lorry suffered minor injuries during the crash and damage was caused to a shop on the corner of Upperton Road.
Det Sgt Mark Watling said: "This was a horrific collision which resulted in the death of two men.
"Prior to the collision Tomlinson was travelling at speeds in excess of 64mph (102kmph) and failed to stop for a police officer on Narborough Road South.
"He took a massive risk that night when he disregarded the traffic lights and used excessive speed, he will now be facing a considerable amount of time in prison."
The Independent Police Complaints Commission is still investigating the crash. | A man who admitted causing a fatal crash while being pursued by an unmarked police car has been jailed for nine years. | causing fatal crash while being pursued by an unmarked police car has been jailed for nine years. |
Jocelyn McKay is now 81 and said she feels "released" from the feelings that gripped her for so long.
"I may be old, but at least I am happy," she told BBC News NI.
"I hadn't really lived until I got the operation.
"For years I felt I was in the wrong body and it wasn't until I was 69 that I plucked up the courage to ask for help."
It was only after a trip to Manchester with some friends, during which Ms McKay lived as a woman, that she realised the surgery was something she needed.
"I was a cross-dresser, I went away dressed as a man and I came home dressed as a man, but in between times I was a woman," she said.
But cross-dressing was not good enough for her.
When Ms McKay returned from her trip, she visited her GP, who referred her to a specialist.
She said: "I had been going to the doctor for a range of ailments and he said to me: 'Thank God you've finally told me what's wrong.'"
Every week three or four people present themselves as transgender to the Regional Gender Identity and Psychosexual Service at Knockbracken in Belfast.
They typically make contact with the clinic through a GP referral or a drop-in facility every week.
200 people are currently being treated by the clinic with 50 more on the waiting list.
More than half of them are aged between 18 and 25.
The number of adults going to the clinic is doubling year on year.
The clinic provides adults with assessment, psychological support and onward referral for hormone replacement therapy and surgery where appropriate.
A gender identity panel to strategically look at the issues facing transgender people met for the first time at Stormont on Monday.
It was formed by the peer support group Focus - The Identity Trust.
It comprises politicians from Sinn Féin and the Alliance party, as well as a Presbyterian minister, the Reverend Lesley Carroll, and others with a long-standing interest in human rights.
The Sinn Féin minister Megan Fearon said the gathering was about "bringing marginalised people together, giving them space to discuss transgender issues and engaging with politicians in a way that had not been done before".
"Transgender people still experience discrimination in nearly every walk of life," she said.
The panel will address trans-phobic hate crime and access to health and education. | A pensioner who underwent gender re-assignment surgery at the age of 69 says she lived "in the wrong body" for most of her life because she feared the reaction of her friends and family. | A pensioner who underwent gender re-assignment surgery at the age of 69 says she lived "in the wrong body |
The new world was found beyond our Solar System, 100 light-years away.
It's been named 51 Eridani b and is only 20 million years old - very young by astronomical standards.
The alien world could give us more information about the formation of our Solar System.
The find was made by the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI), which looks for young planets orbiting bright nearby stars.
Our own Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system - it's so big you could fit over 1,300 Earths inside it!
It's also the fastest rotating planet too, with 1 day only lasting 10 hours - but a year on Jupiter lasts for 12 Earth years.
Jupiter doesn't have a solid surface and is made up of gas, giving it the name 'gas giant'.
The baby Jupiter has the strongest methane gas signature ever found on an alien planet.
The astronomers also detected water using the GPI's spectrometer instrument.
Scientists hope that by studying far away worlds, they can learn more about how common the structure of our Solar System is.
Astronomers believe the gas giants in our Solar System formed slowly - by building up a large core over a few million years and then pulling in a huge amount of hydrogen and other gases to form an atmosphere. This is known as a "cold-start".
But the Jupiter-like planets that have been discovered so far are much hotter than scientists have predicted. Which could mean they formed quickly - as gas collapses to make a scorching planet in what is known as a 'hot-start'. | Astronomers have discovered a baby planet which looks like a young version of Jupiter. | have discovered an infant planet that looks like a younger version of Jupiter. Astronomer have found a baby planet that looks like |
Kitchens, toilets and washing facilities haven been installed at Tredegar Park with the first demonstration expected on Saturday, five days before the summit.
More than 150 heads of state and ministers will attend the two-day event at Newport's Celtic Manor Resort.
Police have taken over Rodney Parade sports ground to manage extra policing.
Security for the summit will be provided by 9,500 police officers drawn from 43 UK police forces with 12 miles (20km) of security fencing already in place at keys sites in Cardiff and in Newport.
But the million dollar question is how many campaigners will descend on Newport, according to Eddie Clarke, of the No Nato Newport group.
He is one of a core of 100 volunteers from several campaign groups such as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), who have set up the campsite in anticipation of their supporters needing somewhere to pitch tents while staying in Newport to protest their cause in front of world leaders and media.
Groups like Stop the War have organised coaches with peace campaigners being driven in from London, Birmingham, Norwich and Newcastle.
They also expect campaigners to come from further afield with a Counter Summit on Sunday including speakers representing peace movements in the US and Russia in their bid to "end the drive to war and military spending".
Newport council said it had been given assurances the camp will be a "peaceful encampment" and will not interfere with the park's normal activities.
A spokesperson said: "Newport City Council is continuing to work with partner agencies to monitor the situation and minimise the impact of such a camp."
Gwent Police have taken over Rodney Parade sports ground to help manage the huge security operation already described as "unchartered territory" by the office in charge.
A police spokesperson told the South Wales Argus it was one of a number of local venues being used for various activities, including booking officers on and off duty, briefings, and canteen facilities.
The Nato security operation budget would pick up the bill for hiring the facility which is the home of the Newport Gwent Dragons, Newport County FC and Newport RFC, the spokesperson added. | Campaigners have opened a camp with thousands of protesters due in Newport ahead of next week's Nato summit. | Campaigners have opened a camp with thousands of protesters due in Newport ahead of next week's Nato summit. |
The Duchess of Cambridge's sister took civil court action against a "person or persons unknown" after her account was said to have been hacked.
The Sun reported it was offered the images, which included shots of Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
A 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of an offence under the Computer Misuse Act and later bailed.
The allegations emerged after private pictures were said to have been offered to the newspaper via encrypted messaging service WhatsApp.
The Sun said it had been approached by someone using a pseudonym and asking for £50,000 within 48 hours.
Barrister Adam Wolanski, who led Miss Middleton's legal team, said she thought there had been a "genuine hack".
He said it was a "flagrant" and "criminal" act which had caused Miss Middleton "considerable distress".
Police said they were investigating the allegations and a 35-year-old man had been released on police bail pending further inquiries. He was arrested at an address in Northamptonshire late on Saturday.
In the summer, Miss Middleton and hedge fund manager James Matthews confirmed their engagement, with a wedding planned for next year.
Several high-profile figures have had images stolen from their iCloud accounts, including actress Jennifer Lawrence and singer Rihanna.
In July, American Edward Majerczyk pleaded guilty to running a phishing campaign to steal private pictures and videos from film and TV stars, in what was known as the "celebgate" affair. | The High Court has banned publication of photographs allegedly stolen from Pippa Middleton's iCloud account. | Die High Court hat die Veröffentlichung von Fotografien, die angeblich stolen aus Pippa Middleton's iCloud |
It comes amid reports of several race-related incidents over the weekend.
"Racist" graffiti was found scrawled on a Polish cultural centre in Hammersmith, west London, the Met said.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he had asked Scotland Yard to be "extra vigilant" following the reports.
The Polish ambassador to Britain Witold Sobkow expressed shock at what he called incidents of "xenophobic abuse" directed against the Polish community.
He said: "The Polish Embassy is in contact with relevant institutions and local police are already investigating the two most widely reported cases in Hammersmith, London, and Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
"We call on all Polish nationals who fall victim of xenophobic abuse and on all witnesses to report such incidents to local authorities."
He also thanked the British public for messages of support and solidarity the Polish community had received.
Police are investigating the vandalism at Hammersmith's Polish community building after images on social media appeared to show offensive graffiti smeared in yellow paint across the entrance. It was later removed.
Cambridgeshire Police are also investigating suspected post-referendum racism after notes were allegedly posted through letterboxes of Polish residents in the county.
Laminated cards reading "leave the EU - no more Polish vermin" were reportedly delivered to members of the Polish community in Huntingdon, north west of Cambridge, on Saturday.
Other incidents were also reported on social media, while a hashtag of #PostRefRacism was being used on Twitter.
Sky News journalist Adam Boulton tweeted: "This weekend I and my family have witnessed 3 "when are you going home?" Racist incidents aimed at EU citizens here."
Another user, James Titcombe, tweeted: "Daughter tells me someone wrote '[Child's name] go back to Romania' on the wall in the girls toilets at School today".
And former Conservative party deputy chairwoman Baroness Warsi also tweeted a string of reports of racist incidents, saying: "This is not the post Brexit Britain we want to see. Politicians from all sides need to speak out "
The Muslim Council of Britain said there had been countless incidents reported in the days since the referendum result as well as shocking manifestations of hate speech both online and also on the streets of Britain.
They included a demonstration outside a Birmingham mosque and reports of Muslims and others being told to "go back home", it said.
It called on political and civic leaders to urgently come together and heal the divisions that had emerged as a result of the referendum campaign.
Dr. Shuja Shafi, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "Now we are witnessing the shocking extent of this with reports around the country of hate speech and minorities being targeted. We need leadership now more than ever before."
Mr Khan echoed those sentiments calling on "all Londoners to pull together and rally behind this great city."
He said: "I take seriously my responsibility to defend London's fantastic mix of diversity and tolerance. So it's really important we stand guard against any rise in hate crimes or abuse by those who might use last week's referendum as cover to seek to divide us." | The Metropolitan Police are on heightened alert for a rise in hate crime following the European referendum result. | Die Metropolitan Police ist auf höchste alert wegen der Zunahme der hate crime following dem Ergebnis des Europäischen Referendums. |
Open-side flanker Sam Underhill has been ruled out for four months with a shoulder injury.
McCusker made 133 appearances for Scarlets before moving to London Irish last season, where he played 17 games.
The 30-year-old has won 10 caps and joins Ospreys having initially signed for Welsh Premiership club Carmarthen Quins following his release from Irish.
"With Sam's injury and one or two others working their way back to full fitness who are not quite there yet, we felt that we needed someone else in to help us through this period," said Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy.
"We are fortunate to have someone with Rob's versatility and experience available and have brought him into the environment with a view to him helping us prepare for Zebre at home in the opening round of the Pro12 next month." | Ospreys have signed former Scarlets and Wales back-rower Rob McCusker on a short-term contract as injury cover. | preys have signed former Scarlets and Wales back-rower Rob McCusker on a short-term contract. |
The convoy was heading through northern Paris on its way to Le Bourget airport late on Sunday evening when it was raided, reports say.
The gunmen seized a vehicle carrying the money and documents, later releasing the driver and two others.
The convoy was said to have come from the Saudi embassy. No-one was hurt.
The gunmen, reportedly armed with Kalashnikov rifles, targeted a Mercedes mini-van at 21:15 (19:15 GMT) on the northern ring road, or peripherique, at Porte de la Chapelle, on the edge of Paris.
The motorcade, belonging to a Saudi prince, was ambushed by eight people in two separate vehicles who pointed their guns at the driver of the Mercedes, forcing him to stop, French media reported.
The men then drove the vehicle away with the driver and the two other Saudis inside. No shots were fired but the Saudis were later freed.
"In the vehicle there was roughly 250,000 euros in cash and official documents from the embassy," police union spokesman Rocco Contento told BFM TV news.
According to Contento, the operation lasted just a few seconds, something that pointed to "a very organised and especially informed commando unit, who had information and accomplices".
"As far as I am concerned, it looks very much like it could be commandos from eastern Europe, who we know about, who are often paid to do dirty work."
The Mercedes was heading to Le Bourget airport with paperwork for the departing prince, who has not been named, according to the prosecutor's office. Le Bourget is often used for high-level visitors taking private jets to Paris.
The vehicle was eventually found abandoned and another of the gang's cars was found burned out. | Heavily armed men have attacked a convoy of cars belonging to a Saudi prince, stealing 250,000 euros (£200,000; $330,000), police say. | men have attacked a convoy of cars belonging to un saudi prince, volant 250,000 euros (£200,000; $330,000 |
But they are also applicable when you meet Sara Cox - English rugby union's only referee at Rio 2016.
After a 92-year absence, rugby union is back on the biggest stage sport has to offer, with Sevens tournaments for men and women.
"Everybody knows the Olympics is a great sporting event, no matter what sport you're involved in," said Cox, during a break between matches at the European Sevens series event at Sandy Park, the home of Exeter Chiefs.
"To have the chance to go out there and to have the best seat in the house is a fantastic opportunity."
A former player, the 26-year-old Cox turned to refereeing in 2007 after being injured, and nine years later has become the sole woman to be centrally-contracted as a match official by the Rugby Football Union.
As well as taking charge of top women's matches, Cox also referees men's games at semi-professional level in National Two South.
"Rugby is a game of respect, and it doesn't matter who you are, you go on the pitch and you're there to do a job. I don't see myself any different to my male counterparts," she replied, when asked the obligatory 'woman in a man's world' question.
"Over the years I've been a bit of an unknown - there's not many of us that are active at the moment, and climbing through the ranks we become fewer and fewer.
"You're there on the pitch to facilitate the game and the players don't mind that, it doesn't matter that I'm a female."
When you ask an Olympics-bound athlete what their goals are, the answer is usually pretty simple - personal best, get on the podium, maybe a gold medal - but what about a referee?
"My goal is to go far as possible, so if that means I referee the gold medal final, then absolutely fantastic," she said.
"It's not that much different for us compared to the athletes. We don't come away with a medal, but to be involved in that medal race with the teams is what you aim to do.
"I want to go out there, enjoy the experience and gather as much experience as well - and whatever comes after that comes after that."
There has never been a woman referee in charge of a Premiership rugby match.
If Cox impresses in Rio, who is to say she will not be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Wayne Barnes or JP Doyle in years to come?
For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter. | "Dedicated" and "hungry for success" are phrases used a lot in connection with athletes heading to compete in an Olympic Games. | "Dedicated" und "hungry for success" sind Begriffe, die sehr häufig in Verbindung mit SportlerInnen verwendet werden, die an Olympic |
Emergency numbers were down and the coastguard lost all radio and telephone links between the mainland for almost five hours.
NHS Shetland had earlier advised anyone needing medical attention to make their way to the hospital in Lerwick.
Flights were delayed and cancelled at Sumburgh Airport.
Services were restored shortly before 17:00.
BT said the problems were caused by "blown rectifiers and fuses" at the Wideford Hill radio transmitter on Orkney.
A spokesman said 2,600 telephone customers and 388 broadband customers had been affected.
A total of eleven flights were cancelled at Sumburgh and one was diverted to Kirkwall.
Highlands and Islands Airports Limited advised passengers to contact their airlines for further information.
Shetland MSP Tavish Scott has called for an "urgent investigation" into why radio communications and telephone links failed. | Mobile and landline telephone services have been restored in Shetland after coverage was lost for several hours causing disruption. | Die Mobilfunk- und landline-Telefone wurden in Shetland wiederhergestellt, nachdem sie für mehrere Stunden |
The school's headmaster said the "growing expense and luxury" forced on parents was also a major concern.
Beaulieu Convent School in Jersey also referred to "worries about alcohol and drug consumption" at the end of Year 11 event for pupils aged 15-16.
A former pupil said the prom was an important milestone and accused the school of overreacting.
Chris Beirne, headmaster, said the "significant focus and distraction" caused by the prom "does not fit into the ethos of our school".
Writing to parents Mr Beirne cited a letter from an unnamed colleague who was convinced the preparations and the event were "not positive, constructive or healthy experiences".
The colleague wrote: "The financial strain and the inevitable competition associated with this is another very unwelcome, and sometimes crushing, aspect for many parents."
The letter from the colleague also referred to "alcohol and drug consumption at after-parties" as "a considerable concern".
It said the strain of trying "to be slim, fashionable, have perfect skin" led to "unacceptable pressure".
Mr Beirne said he could no longer "safely manage the risk" associated with the event.
The independent Catholic school said it would continue to offer Year 13 leavers a celebratory mass with their families followed by a drinks reception at the school.
The £5,400-a-year convent has around 760 students aged 4-18.
Former pupil Hannah Hosegood, 20, said her prom was "a first taste of maturity" and the school should tackle individual pupils if they had concerns about drugs or alcohol.
She said: "It's really upsetting knowing those girls won't be able to experience an event you spend a fair amount of time looking forward to and remember for the rest of your life." | A girls' school has scrapped its end of year prom claiming it is too much of a "distraction" to pupils. | ' school in a girls' school has scrapped its end of year prom claiming to be too much of a "dis |
Young and a fluent English speaker, he comes from the Syrian city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of so-called Islamic State.
The threat posed by the group is one of the main factors pushing the mass migration of people to Europe.
And as we sit beside the stadium in Edirne where 2,000 have gathered, trying to cross Turkey's land border with Greece, he gives me an insight into the heart of the "caliphate".
"At first when they arrived, it seemed fine because [Syrian President] Assad's forces were driven out," Mohamed says.
"But then they tightened their control. They imposed their rules: anybody who defied them, anyone who was suspected of talking to journalists or TV channels was immediately taken off to be killed.
"They have a big intelligence network - foreigners working for them, who inform them about everything. I've seen Germans, Chechens, Turks, Saudis and Tunisians. They're the ones who catch you."
What changes has he seen during the IS takeover, I ask?
"Until a few months ago we had internet at home. Now we have to go to internet cafes to go online - and they come and check which sites we've visited.
"We only have two hours of electricity per day. There's talk that they'll remove satellite dishes from houses so we can only watch TV they control.
"And food prices are going up. We're banned from smoking - I was caught twice with a cigarette, put in prison for a day and given 20 lashes.
"Men are not allowed to be clean-shaven - anyone who is, will be put in prison."
The IS black flag now flies across Raqqa and every official building has "Islamic State" painted on the walls, Mohamed tells me.
How are the militants recognised?
"They carry guns - all the time."
"When you look at the faces of our citizens, they have fear in their eyes," he tells me.
"Everyone is afraid that one wrong word will put them in prison or worse. We all love Islam - but this is not Islam.
"Now even people say they want Assad to come back. Both are evil - but this is worse."
Mohamed is desperate to cross safely into Europe, unable to pay the $2,000 (£1,300) demanded by smugglers for the boat trip to the Greek islands and unwilling to risk his life.
But as the EU progresses with plans to redistribute 120,000 asylum seekers, the reality is that he will not be among them. The number only includes those already in the bloc, in Italy or Germany - not those knocking at Europe's door here in Turkey. They will be encouraged to stay. But Mohamed refuses.
"Here I cannot make a decent life for myself. I earn so little money, they don't want me here," he says.
"If I cannot get to Europe, I will go back to Raqqa.
"There, I will live like I have a clamp to my throat - but at least I'll have my family."
It is that natural human inclination - the need for safety - that is driving this mass migration.
And as Islamic State broadens its control and continues its rampage, those like Mohamed subjected to it will pursue the path to the refuge they crave. | "If they knew I was talking to you, I'd be killed," says Mohamed. | "If they knew I was talking to you, I'd be killed," sagt Mohamed. |
Professional Darts Corporation chief executive Porter landed the same role with the O's under Barry Hearn in 2006.
The 37-year-old left the National League side in October 2014, following Francesco Becchetti's takeover.
"This is a time for us to look to the future and there's a great buzz around the place," he told the club website.
"Everyone knows how difficult things have been and that cloud has now been lifted." | Leyton Orient have appointed former chief executive Matt Porter to their board of directors following Nigel Travis' takeover on 22 June. | Leyton Orient appointed former chief executive Matt Porter to their board of directors following Nigel Travis' takeover on 22 June. |
"I wasn't 100% sober," she said at an event with fellow Justice Antonin Scalia.
She said she "couldn't resist the fine wine" at the dinner which traditionally brings together some of the court's justices before the speech.
At 81, Justice Ginsburg is the oldest serving judge on the Supreme Court.
She was asked about the incident by the moderator at an event at George Washington University on Thursday evening.
Justice Ginsburg was repeatedly pictured slumbering in her chair as President Barack Obama addressed the joint session of Congress in the House of Representatives on 20 January.
"The audience for the most part is awake, but they're bobbing up and down all the time. And we sit there as stone-faced, sober judges. But we're not.
"At least I wasn't 100% sober when we went to the State of the Union," she said, provoking audience laughter.
Justice Ginsburg said she had vowed to stick to sparkling water after dozing at the speech in past years, but was unable to resist the lure of a "very fine California wine" brought by Justice Anthony Kennedy.
"In the end, the dinner was so delicious it needed wine," she said.
"Well, that's the first intelligent thing you've done," quipped Justice Scalia.
Former Justice David Souter used to give her a pinch when he spotted the warning signs in years gone by, Justice Ginsburg said, but the judges beside her this time were "more timid". | US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has admitted there is a reason she was seen nodding off at the president's State of the Union address. | Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has admitted there is a reason she was seen nodding off at the president's state of the |
Police said officers from the North West counter terrorism unit searched an address on Peakdale Avenue, Crumpsall, Manchester on Friday.
The suspect, 26, was arrested the following day on suspicion of offences under the Terrorism Act.
Police would not comment on the nature of the alleged offence but said it believed it caused "no threat" to the community. | A man is being held in Manchester on suspicion of terrorism offences. | Ein Man ist gefangengenommen in Manchester wegen suspicion terrorism offen offen offen offen offen offen. |
Calling it "the hardest decision I've ever made," an emotional Mr Key said: "I don't know what I'll do next."
Mr Key, a popular leader, said it was a personal decision, and later denied media reports his wife of 32 years, Bronagh, had given him an ultimatum.
He said he would not be seeking a fourth term in the 2017 election.
Deputy Prime Minister Bill English is likely to take over until the National party holds a caucus to choose a new leader.
Mr Key made the surprise announcement during his weekly press conference. He set a date of 12 December for the formal resignation.
He said his job required great sacrifices "from those who are dearest to me" and that his children had coped with "an extraordinary level of intrusion".
"All I can say is that I gave it everything I had. I have left nothing in the tank."
Referring to his wife, he told radio program Newstalk: "We talked about it and she likes the concept of me being home more but there was no ultimatum."
Mr Key, who was formerly at Merrill Lynch as a foreign exchange dealer, ended nine years of Labour Party rule in 2008 when he ousted Helen Clark as prime minister.
He won a third term for the National Party at elections in September 2014.
Opposition Labour leader Andrew Little said Mr Key "has served New Zealand generously and with dedication. I wish him and his family the best for the future".
Green Party co-leader Meteria Turei also wished him well.
"I fought every day against John's politics but always supported his right to be a dad and a husband first," she tweeted.
Known by the local media as "Teflon John" because very little controversy has stuck to him during his time in office, Mr Key is credited with steering New Zealand through the 2008 global economic crisis and out of recession.
He has sought to build closer ties with the US, taking a leading role in supporting President Barack Obama's Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) - a 12 country trade deal covering 40% of the world economy.
However Donald Trump's recent victory in the US has derailed that process, with his announcement the US would be quitting the TPP on his first day in office in January.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, a close political ally, said that on learning of Mr Key's resignation, he sent him a text message reading "say it ain't so, bro".
Mr Turnbull said New Zealand had boxed above its weight under Mr Key's leadership, and his departure will be "a great loss to New Zealand and a great loss to the world".
Former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott played on their two countries' cricketing rivalry to say Mr Key had enjoyed a "fine innings".
"Not many pollies retire unbeaten on a double ton," he tweeted.
Australian Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said: "John Key has been a good friend to Australia. I wish him and his family all the best." | John Key has announced that he will resign as prime minister of New Zealand, after eight years in the job, citing family reasons. | John Key hat annonced he will resign as prime minister of New Zealand, after eight years in the job. |
Ahead of a Westminster debate on the abuse faced by MPs, Labour claimed the Tories had run a "negative, nasty campaign" targeting shadow home secretary Diane Abbott in particular.
It comes after Theresa May suggested Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had not done enough to condemn abuse.
The PM has called for parties to unite against "bullying and harassment".
Since last month's general election, attention has focused on abuse suffered by MPs from across the political spectrum, including Tory Sheryll Murray who said she had faced social media comments like "burn the witch".
On Saturday, Labour MP Yvette Cooper said some of her party's supporters had targeted female Conservative MPs - as well as Labour members - with "vitriolic abuse".
But ahead of the Parliamentary debate, Labour has levelled accusations against the Tories in a letter to Conservative Party chairman Sir Patrick McLoughlin from his Labour counterpart Ian Lavery and Cat Smith, shadow minister for voter engagement.
"Parties and politicians have a responsibility to set an example, by treating others with dignity and respect, including those with whom we strongly disagree," they wrote.
"The Conservative Party has instead promoted personal attacks as a core component of its national campaign.
"Abuse against candidates on social media is completely unacceptable. The Conservative Party perpetrated this on an industrial scale by spending millions of pounds to post highly personalised and nasty attack adverts on voters' Facebook timelines without their permission."
They claimed Labour "fought a positive, hopeful campaign" and insisted that all its MPs ran campaigns based on its policies rather than personal attacks.
On Monday, Mrs May - asked whether Mr Corbyn was doing enough in response to complaints of intimidation - said she was "surprised at any party leader who's not willing to condemn that".
Conservative Simon Hart has secured Wednesday afternoon's Westminster Hall debate on "the abuse and intimidation of candidates and the public in UK elections".
Speaking on the BBC's Daily Politics on Tuesday, Mr Hart said there had been a clear change in attitudes towards MPs and campaigners between the 2015 and 2017 general elections.
People wanting to publicly support candidates were being "driven away from politics at a time when we need them" he said.
"This extends way beyond the so-called bullying of MPs, this is about online bullying generally," he said, claiming there had been a "deafening silence" from political leaders.
Mr Hart claimed the emergence of Jeremy Corbyn-backing grassroots organisation Momentum had played a "significant part" in this shift.
But Momentum dismissed his accusation as "baseless".
"If we are going to tackle the abuse MPs from across the political spectrum face, Simon Hart and other Conservative MPs should stop making baseless accusations for which they offer no proof, and instead think about how we can work together to find a solution," a spokesman for the group said. | Labour has accused the Conservatives of putting "vitriolic personal attacks" at the heart of their election campaign. | Labour accuse die Conservatives of putting "vitriolic personal attacks" in den Mittelpunkt ihrer Wahlkampfpolitik. |
Derbyshire Police said the taxi driver might have "crucial" information.
A 17-year-old girl from Evesham has been charged with an attempted kidnap of a child in Normanton on 21 September.
Police say the driver may have picked up two teenage girls in Derby on the day of the attempted kidnap.
The two girls are both described as white and age 17.
One girl had shoulder length blonde or brown hair and was wearing a dark blue blouse, a long cream coat, black trousers and black high-heeled shoes.
The second girl had long blonde or brown hair and is believed to be about seven months pregnant.
The taxi driver or anyone else with information about the case is asked to contact police. | Detectives investigating the alleged attempted kidnap of a baby are appealing for a taxi driver to contact them. | a baby is being kidnapped, so taxi drivers are appealing to them. |
The Street & Arrow food truck, in Glasgow's Partick, is to take on additional trainees by March 2017.
And it plans to expand operations across Scotland to address the social challenges of those with criminal convictions.
The scheme has received £208,000 of Scottish government funding.
The social enterprise company behind the project, Braveheart Industries (BHI), operates the airstream-style food truck providing training, mentoring and support for offenders who have made a commitment to change their lives away from violence and crime.
It is supported by Police Scotland's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU)
BHI trades under the banner of Street & Arrow in a play on the phrase "straight and narrow", which often describes the aim of people with convictions.
It is based on the successful Homeboy Industries Programme in Los Angeles, which has taken on more than 10,000 former gang members in an effort to make a positive change.
The BHI social enterprise model was initially targeted at deprived areas in Glasgow, but Insp Iain Murray of the VRU said it is hoped to expand the idea across Scotland.
"There is a need in many locations. We would like to see this throughout the country," he said.
"These are guys and girls who deserve a second chance. If we don't give them a second chance, the risk is they become a risk to everyone else.
"So it's important to offer them hope and opportunity.
"They are keen to show they want to make amends, to be productive members of society and the community, to demonstrate to their families and their kids that this is the way things should be."
One of the trainees working on the food truck, Leanne Bell, 27, has a history of drug and alcohol dependency, and has served sentences in the women's prison, Cornton Vale.
She said she had now been clean for a year, and was happy that customers could see an ex-offender putting something back into the community.
"It's proof that you can change. Your life doesn't need to be chaotic and there is a way out," she said.
"I'm earning a proper wage, and I'm paying taxes now. I have a place of my own and I'm paying the council tax, so I am contributing to society."
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said it was important that members of the public being served at the food truck know that offenders taking part must be free from drugs or alcohol dependence.
"This is a very good example of individuals who are seeking to turn their lives around by trying to get themselves into employment and put something back into the community.
"It's a facility which is well valued in the local community, it's well used, and it's also producing a very high quality and high standard of food and drink.
"What's important here is equipping these individuals with the skills to be able to move into employment in the future, and we know in the catering industry there are opportunities to move into that industry."
BHI has operated with offenders at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo since 2012, and in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
It also works with prisoners in HMP Shotts, preparing them for a crime-free life on the outside. | Offenders with a violent history are to be offered a new chance to change their lives, following the success of an American-style training project. | violent history are to be offered a new chance to change their lives, following the success of a training project in america. |
Rezgar Zengana posed as a taxi driver to pick up his 25-year-old victim in Argyle Street before raping her at a flat in Cessnock on 10 December 2006.
The 33-year-old Iraqi national fled after being convicted of the attack.
Zengana features in a most-wanted list of nine UK suspects who are thought to be in the Netherlands.
The list has been put published by the UK charity Crimestoppers and the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Dave Allen, from the NCA, said: "Those who believe they can use the Netherlands to evade capture or continue illegal activities soon find out that it is not a safe haven." | One of Scotland's most wanted fugitives is still believed to be hiding in the Netherlands almost 10 years after he raped a woman in Glasgow. | fugitives is believed to be hiding in the Netherlands almost 10 years after he raped a woman in Glasgow. |
They said they had received an anonymous threat, two days after the killing of five police officers.
A nearby parking lot was searched for a "suspicious person" but no-one was found. SWAT officers were earlier deployed at the main building.
On Thursday, five white police officers were shot dead by a black man, Micah Johnson, during a protest rally.
The march was against the killing of black men by police. Two deaths this week have led to nationwide protests.
Dallas police said its officers - using dogs - searched the parking lot but the hunt turned up nothing.
In a statement earlier on Saturday, the police said: "The Dallas Police Department received an anonymous threat against law enforcement across the city and has taken precautionary measures to heighten security."
An armoured vehicle was moved close to the main HQ in central Dallas and heavily armed officers were seen nearby, according to the Associated Press news agency.
But it added that members of the public were still able to walk about freely around the building.
The police asked media to stop all live feeds around HQ "for the safety of our officers", the BBC's James Cook reports.
The shooting happened late on Thursday during the protest march.
Johnson, who was himself killed during the assault, supported black militant groups who encouraged violence against police.
Dallas police chief David Brown said Johnson had told a negotiator that he had wanted to kill white people, especially white police officers, because he was angry about the recent shootings of black men by police.
The attack came after the police killings of Philando Castile in Minnesota and Alton Sterling in Louisiana.
Earlier on Saturday, President Barack Obama said the US was "not as divided as some have suggested" in the wake of the shootings involving African-Americans.
He said Americans of "all races, all backgrounds", including many of those who were protesting, were outraged by the Dallas killings.
As well as the five police officers killed, another seven were injured on Thursday. Two civilians were also hurt.
Johnson, 25, who officials say acted alone, was killed by remotely detonated explosives that were sent into a car park where he had taken refuge after the shootings.
He was a member of the US Army Reserve from 2009 to 2015 who had served in Afghanistan.
Bomb-making material, rifles and a combat journal were found in his home in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite.
A number of gun attacks involving police officers and civilians have occurred in other parts of the US in the aftermath of the deaths in Minnesota and Louisiana.
Leaders of the Black Lives Matter organisation have condemned the Dallas killings but say planned marches, including a "Weekend of Rage" in Philadelphia, will go ahead. | Dallas police have given the all clear, hours after security levels were raised at their headquarters in the city. | La police in Dallas have given the clar, hours after security levels were raised at their headquarters in the city. |
Ben Flynn, 24, enticed the boy to his home in Droylsden, Greater Manchester, with promises to use his Playstation and offered to pay his bus fare.
Police described Flynn as a "dangerous predator".
At Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court Flynn, of Kings Walk, admitted 13 sex offences including two counts of rape and two sexual assaults.
He also pleaded guilty to three counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act.
Flynn also admitted a breach of sex offence prevention order and one count of meeting a child following sexual grooming.
He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.
In March last year, Flynn sent his victim a friend request on Facebook despite having never met or spoken to him.
The boy was then bombarded with private messages and Flynn offered to let him play computer games at his home.
When they met Flynn kissed the boy and touched him sexually before trying to take him to his bedroom but the boy refused.
He then pestered his victim, offered to pay his victim and went on to abuse him on two further occasions.
The boy's sister came across Flynn's messages to her brother and told her mother who phoned the police.
Det Con Claire Pickavance, of Greater Manchester Police, said the paedophile did not "show a shred of humanity" to the boy.
She added: "Ben Flynn is a dangerous predator who preyed on a young boy via social media before arranging to meet with him so that he could satisfy his own depraved urges." | A paedophile who raped a 12-year-old boy after grooming him online has been jailed for 13 years. | ophile raped a 12-year-old boy after grooming him online. A paedophile r |
The European Space Agency astronaut arrived at the orbiting space lab on Monday, along with two crewmates from Russia and America.
But what exactly will she be doing during her time in space?
The ISS gives the chance to do scientific experiments that cannot be done on Earth, as the station offers an environment of microgravity.
Here we run through a few examples of the experiments on Samantha's 'to do' list...
Samantha will operate a gadget called an electromagnetic levitator, which can heat metals to 2,000°C and then cool them very quickly.
This will be a chance to see what happens to different metals when they go from liquid to solid, without the effect of the Earth's gravity.
It's hoped the results will reveal more about the physics of the metals and how they work.
Samantha will be testing new machine technology and how well they work in space, such as this astronaut joystick.
Using a joystick in space may feel very different in space compared to on Earth.
So these experiments will see how being in space might affect how well an astronaut can control a space robot or space machinery.
Another thing is that equipment may need to be attached to the astronaut so it doesn't float away. The testing will also see what impact this has.
Samantha will be doing lots of experiments to see how being in space affects her body.
For example, she will experience 16 sunrises and sunsets every day on the International Space Station and be tested to see how this affects her body clock.
Another important subject is food and energy. Experiments to see how much food an astronaut would need for a long mission will be carried out. Samantha will record what she eats and her energy levels over a period of time.
Other things that will be looked at include how space affects skin and why many astronauts get headaches. | Italy's first female astronaut, Samantha Cristoforetti, is spending almost six months on the International Space Station. | Samantha Cristoforetti, italien's first female astronaut, spends almost six months on the International Space Station. |
Nether Edge Green Party councillor, Alison Teal, was served with a legal notice for her involvement in protests against Sheffield City Council's tree felling programme.
Ms Teal was previously arrested for protesting against the tree removals.
Charges against her and 13 others were dropped earlier this year.
More stories from across Yorkshire
Sheffield City Council maintain that the removal of street trees in the city is lawful and necessary.
A "pre-action protocol letter" from the council's legal department to Ms Teal warned the authority will seek a High Court injunction to stop her, and others involved in "direct action", from taking part in future protests.
The council said the process would give protesters "a chance to further and finally consider their position" before it begins legal proceedings on 12 July.
Councillor Bryan Lodge, cabinet member for Environment and Street Scene, said there had been months of "unlawful and costly disruption" to tree replacement works in Sheffield by a small number of protesters.
"We continue to support the right to peacefully protest, and the majority of protesters who are doing so peacefully will not be affected," he added.
"But there is a big difference between this and direct action which deliberately and unlawfully stops works from being carried out."
Mr Lodge said protesters had been sent a letter several weeks ago confirming their actions were unlawful.
"Streets Ahead is not just about street trees, it's about ensuring we have roads, pavements and a street scene to be proud of for many years to come," he added.
"In addition, it presents us with a unique opportunity to sustainably manage, increase and maintain our diverse street tree stock over a 25 year period."
The council said, despite the letter, works were still being disrupted "causing city-wide delays". | A council is to seek a civil injunction and damages against one of its own councillors and other members of the public. | council councillors, and other members of the public. A council is to seek an injunction and damages civil against one of |
The 53-year-old has come under scrutiny since information on Sir Bradley Wiggins' authorised use of banned drugs to treat a medical condition was released by hackers.
And further questions about Team Sky's doping controls led MPs to claim its reputation was "in tatters".
"It shouldn't even need saying, but we all back Dave B 100%!", Thomas tweeted.
"I've known him a long time and I wouldn't want anyone else leading Team Sky," the 30-year-old said.
Peter Kennaugh agreed with Thomas, adding: "I think all the riders on Team Sky would join me in saying they are completely behind Dave Brailsford."
"He's the leader of our super Team Sky," added Elia Viviani.
Michal Kwiatkowski, Owain Doull and Luke Rowe also tweeted their support for Brailsford.
It follows reports that some riders have lost confidence in Brailsford and considered asking him to resign.
Brailsford has denied any wrongdoing, saying TUEs "do not cross the line" over performance-enhancing drugs.
Last week a Parliamentary select committee heard evidence about the former Team Sky doctor who received a 'mystery package' for Sir Bradley Wiggins in 2011, Richard Freeman.
Team Sky responded saying that they were a clean team who abide by the rules.
"We are proud of our stance against doping. We believe our approach to anti-doping is rigorous and comprehensive," they said in a statement.
BBC sports editor Dan Roan
With the future of Sir Dave Brailsford - and perhaps even Team Sky - uncertain after months of damaging revelations, this is an attempted fight-back, with several riders closing ranks around their under-fire boss at the request of management.
However, it has not escaped attention that the team's leading man, Chris Froome, is yet to make clear his support, instead tweeting about a meal he enjoyed in South Africa. And if that is an act of defiance, it could place even more pressure on Brailsford as he tries to cling to his job.
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Freeman, meanwhile, has also received the support of a former colleague.
Dave Readle, who was a sports psychologist at the governing body's high performance programme from 2008 to 2014, and worked closely with Freeman, told BBC sports editor Dan Roan that the doctor "has been thrown under the bus".
MPs at last week's select committee hearing were told how Freeman had failed to keep medical records of treatments for riders - a possible breach of General Medical Council rules, according to the UK Anti-Doping Agency - and ordered large quantities of the corticosteroid triamcinolone, that may have outstripped clinical need.
Freeman administered Wiggins' TUEs, and took delivery of the mystery medical package in France 2011. It has also been reported that fellow doctors at Team Sky blocked him applying for a fourth TUE for Wiggins, and that he was in charge of medical supplies when testosterone patches were delivered to British Cycling in 2011, apparently in error.
He has denied any wrongdoing, and is thought to be preparing written submissions to Ukad's questions.
Freeman withdrew from giving evidence to the select committee on the eve of the hearing last week due to ill health. But Readle said: "Richard has been hung out to dry. He is a loyal friend, a man of honesty, integrity and loyalty, and this is a tough time for him. All this negative publicity, he's in a state of shock.
"The fact that no one's come out to support him, after all the help he's given riders, it stinks.
"I spent a lot of time with him and everything he did was above board, there was no cutting corners."
When asked why Freeman may have failed to keep medical records, Readle said that the intensity of the workload while treating large numbers of athletes and other staff may have meant that the doctor's administration sometimes slipped.
"You get bombarded with stuff in elite sport, he wouldn't have done it deliberately. Richard had lots of athletes to treat," he said. | Team Sky riders are "100%" behind team principal Sir Dave Brailsford, according to Geraint Thomas. | Team Sky Riders sind "100%" hinter dem Team Sky Principal Sir Dave Brailsford, according to Geraint Thomas. |
The device, which the company is calling Spectacles, will go on sale later this year priced at $130 (£100).
The glasses will record up to 30 seconds of video at a time.
As part of the announcement, Snapchat is renaming itself Snap, Inc.
The renaming decision underlined the company’s apparent ambition to go beyond the ephemeral messaging app, a product which is highly popular with young people.
An article published by the Wall Street Journal on Friday showed Snap’s 26-year-old creator Evan Spiegel in a series of pictures taken by fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld.
In an interview, Mr Spiegel explained his rationale for creating Spectacles.
"It was our first vacation, and we went to [Californian state park] Big Sur for a day or two. We were walking through the woods, stepping over logs, looking up at the beautiful trees.
"And when I got the footage back and watched it, I could see my own memory, through my own eyes - it was unbelievable.
"It’s one thing to see images of an experience you had, but it’s another thing to have an experience of the experience. It was the closest I’d ever come to feeling like I was there again."
On Saturday, Snap released some limited information about how the glasses will work.
Footage will be recorded in a new, circular format which can be viewed in any orientation, the company said. The battery on the device will last about a day.
A light on the front of the device will indicate to people nearby when the glasses are recording.
Prior to confirmation from Snap about the product, news website Business Insider published a promotional video it found on YouTube showing the product. The video has since been taken down.
Broken Glass
Spectacles will remind many of Google Glass, an ill-fated attempt by the search giant to create smart glasses.
While Google Glass did get into the hands of developers around the world - at a cost of $1,500 each - the device never came close to being a consumer product. The company eventually halted development, but insisted the idea was not dead.
Though Glass was beset by hardware issues, perhaps its main flaw was the public perception. At worst, many saw it as troubling, privacy-invading technology. At best, others just considered it ridiculous-looking.
However, with a far lower price point, and likely adoption by influential celebrities, Snap’s Spectacles stand a solid chance of being seen as cooler than Google’s attempt.
"If you look at the kinds of glasses millennials wear, the design is very ‘in’," suggested Carolina Milanesi, a consumer technology analyst from Creative Strategies.
"Making them sunglasses helps hide the camera better, but it also limits the usage somewhat - you’ll need to be outside in daylight.
She added: "The name change is interesting as it would indicate a change in focus away from messaging, which with Spectacles makes sense. Snap is perhaps becoming more about life-logging, content generation and story-telling."
According to the WSJ, Snap is not treating the device as a major hardware launch, rather a fun toy that will have limited distribution.
"We’re going to take a slow approach to rolling them out,” Mr Spiegel told the newspaper.
“It’s about us figuring out if it fits into people’s lives and seeing how they like it."
Follow Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC and on Facebook | Messaging app firm Snapchat has announced its first gadget - sunglasses with a built-in camera. | Snapchat hat angekündigt, dass es ihr erstes - sunglasses with a built-in camera. |
It clears the way for the team to make their debut appearance the tournament, which will be held in Gabon from 14 January to 5 February.
After the news emerged, thousands lined the streets of the capital, Bissau, to watch the squad parade by on Tuesday.
Guinea-Bissau play Group A rivals and hosts Gabon in Saturday's opener.
They will also face Burkina Faso and Cameroon in the group stage having achieved a fairytale qualification - one of the biggest shocks in Nations Cup history.
Yet the bonuses that had been promised them for qualifying remained unpaid, leading to the players going on strike at the weekend.
It was only settled after a delegation of three players went to see the country's president, Jose Mario Vaz, Portuguese news agency Lusa reported.
They have since all received between 10,000 and 23,000 euros in outstanding fees, Lusa added.
"In the early hours of Sunday, the players received everything they had to receive," a government spokesman told the agency.
A charter plane, borrowed from Congo-Brazzaville, was due to fly the team to Libreville on Wednesday.
The former Portuguese colony frequently beset by coups, eliminated former champions Congo and Zambia in qualifying last year.
They were a Leicester-like long shot when the qualifiers began, having previously won only four matches in Nations Cup and World Cup qualification combined since first entering international competition just 22 years ago. | Guinea-Bissau's players have ended their strike after being paid outstanding wages, four days before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations. | -Bissau's players have ended their strike after being paid outstanding wages. Guinea-Bissau's players have been |
At an event in Hove, the prime minister said all good schools should be able to expand and his government had supported that right.
The Weald of Kent girls' grammar school wants to open an annexe in Sevenoaks.
The Department for Education (DfE) is considering the plans which have the backing of Kent County Council.
The law forbids the opening of new grammar schools, but changes made by the coalition government in 2012 allow enlargement of existing schools.
"I strongly support the right of all good schools to expand. I think that's very important and that should include grammar schools," the prime minister said:
"Under this government grammar schools have been able to expand and that is all to the good."
Mr Cameron was responding to a question about the the proposed satellite grammar school in Sevenoaks.
But he would not be drawn on when the government was likely to make its decision.
"As for the decision that the Department for Education has to take, they have to take that having [looked] at all the evidence and after having proper consultations and making the decision in proper time," he added.
Sevenoaks is the only major Kent town that does not have grammar provision.
Bids made in 2013 were turned down because the DfE said they did not comply with the law.
But the current plans put forward by Weald of Kent girls' grammar school are believed to have met the criteria.
If approved, the annexe could pave the way for more grammars to open satellite campuses.
General secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Christine Blower, has previously called the plans for grammar school expansion "yet another unnecessary distraction". | David Cameron has voiced his "strong support" for the expansion of grammar schools during a visit to the South East. | David Cameron hat während seines Besuches in der Südost-Süd-Ost gesagt, dass er |
Watford's Etienne Capoue scored early in the second half, but Freddie Hinds and Bobby Reid responded for City.
Hornets defender Jose Holebas was sent off in the 88th minute before Niclas Eliasson increased the visitors' lead in stoppage time.
Adrian Mariappa scored a 95th-minute consolation as Watford fell to their first defeat under boss Marco Silva.
The Portuguese made six changes to his side after their league win over Bournemouth on Saturday, while City manager Lee Johnson made nine.
The Watford side was still strong with summer signing Will Hughes handed his debut and Troy Deeney making his first start of the season.
After falling behind, City responded excellently through 18-year-old Hinds' superb strike from distance and Reid's goal eight minutes later.
Brazilian Richarlison hit a post for Watford before Holebas received a second yellow card for a trip on Eliasson.
Eliasson netted a breakaway goal to put the game beyond Watford.
Match ends, Watford 2, Bristol City 3.
Second Half ends, Watford 2, Bristol City 3.
Goal! Watford 2, Bristol City 3. Adrian Mariappa (Watford) header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Christian Kabasele with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
Richarlison (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Lloyd Kelly (Bristol City).
Goal! Watford 1, Bristol City 3. Niclas Eliasson (Bristol City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Callum O'Dowda.
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Niclas Eliasson.
Adrian Mariappa (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City).
Foul by Tom Cleverley (Watford).
Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt saved. Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Matty Taylor with a cross.
Second yellow card to José Holebas (Watford) for a bad foul.
Foul by José Holebas (Watford).
Bobby Reid (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Aden Flint.
Richarlison (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Lloyd Kelly (Bristol City).
Attempt missed. Richarlison (Watford) header from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Isaac Success with a cross.
Foul by José Holebas (Watford).
Niclas Eliasson (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Isaac Success (Watford).
Korey Smith (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Lloyd Kelly (Bristol City) because of an injury.
Foul by Adrian Mariappa (Watford).
Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Watford. Tom Cleverley replaces Etienne Capoue.
Substitution, Bristol City. Matty Taylor replaces Freddy Hinds.
Foul by Sebastian Prödl (Watford).
Aden Flint (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Watford. Conceded by Frank Fielding.
Attempt saved. Andre Gray (Watford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Troy Deeney.
Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Ben Watson.
Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by José Holebas.
Attempt saved. Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Hördur Bjorgvin Magnusson with a headed pass.
Substitution, Watford. Andre Gray replaces Will Hughes.
Richarlison (Watford) hits the right post with a header from the right side of the box. Assisted by Isaac Success.
Foul by Troy Deeney (Watford).
Aden Flint (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. | Championship side Bristol City came from behind to beat Premier League Watford in the EFL Cup second round. | Bristol City beat premier league Watford in the EFL Cup second round. Bristol City came from behind to beat premier league Watford |
The disorder at HMP Erlestoke began on Saturday when two inmates escaped their cells and threatened staff.
No-one was hurt and those involved in the incident are being investigated by police, the Ministry of Justice said.
The Prison Officers' Association said the issues surrounded a lack of regime due to insufficient staffing levels.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said "two separate incidents" involving three prisoners had been "successfully resolved" on Saturday.
He added the prison was now "running as normal" and said there had been "some minor structural damage".
He said: "We are absolutely clear that prisoners who behave in this way will be punished and can spend significantly longer behind bars."
The Prison Officers' Association (POA) said order was restored overnight on Saturday but said "both wings were destroyed and were now out of commission".
The POA spokesman added this was "another example of a failed benchmark process brought about by savage and unnecessary government cuts that has seen staffing levels decrease to an unsafe level".
Relatives of inmates also got in touch with the BBC saying prisoners were kept locked in their cells for three days, without hot food, hot water and no prison officers on some wings.
Conservative MP, for Devizes, Claire Perry said: "I was saddened to hear of the disturbances at Erlestoke Prison over the last few days.
"These incidents are wholly and utterly unacceptable, and I understand that these matters have been referred to the police to consider charges against the perpetrators." | A disturbance at a prison saw 130 inmates transferred to nearby jails after two wings were put "out of commission", a union has said. | a union has said 130 inmates were transferred to nearby jails. 130 inmates were transferred to nearby jails after two wings |
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Root, a winner alongside women's captain Charlotte Edwards, averaged almost 95 in Test cricket under Moores, who was dismissed on 9 May.
"A lot of credit for that has to go to Peter Moores," said the 24-year-old.
"Over the past year, he has definitely got the best out of me - along with the rest of the coaching department."
Root was left out of the England team for the final Test of the Ashes whitewash in January 2014, but was recalled after Moores was appointed coach for the second time a year ago.
The Yorkshire right-hander has since amassed 1,135 Test runs.
"When I came back from Australia, I realised a lot of the time out there I was trying to work on things I wasn't too good at - and putting all my energy into that, rather than spending more time strengthening the stuff I am good at," added Root
"Peter saw that - and I simplified things as well."
Root, named player of the year for the men's side after a vote of cricket media, was last week appointed Test vice-captain by new director of cricket Andrew Strauss.
"I was delighted, so I accepted straight away," said Root. "I don't think things will change much - just a bit more responsibility on my part.
"If Alastair Cook wants to come up to me for ideas, I will make sure I have something to help him out."
As well as being named as the women's player of the year, Edwards was presented with a silver cap to mark her 200th game as England captain against New Zealand in February.
In addition to leading England to four series wins, Edwards averaged more than 75 in one-day internationals and almost 60 in Twenty20s. | Batsman Joe Root has credited sacked coach Peter Moores with the form that resulted in him being named England's player of the year. | Joe Root credits sacked coach Peter Moores with the form that led to him being named England's player of the year. |
Victory lifted the Shrimpers up to fifth, while Posh have only won six of their 17 home league games this term.
"If you don't believe you're going to get there [to the play-offs] you never will. My belief won't stop until it's mathematically impossible," he said.
"We're five points off the play-offs. It's not a lot with 13 games to go."
He continued to BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "I know we've just been thrashed at home, but we need to continue to support each other. All I can do is apologise to the fans after the performance.
"I always take the blame when we lose and I'll do it again now. It's down to me why the team lost. What we've got to do now is stand up like men, puff our chests out, come back on Saturday and produce a win."
Two goals from Marc-Antoine Fortune set the Shrimpers on their way to victory at the ABAX Stadium, while Tom Nichols scored the only goal for ninth-placed Posh.
However, McCann has received positive news regarding Gwion Edwards' knee injury, picked up in Saturday's defeat by Walsall.
"It'll be seven or eight weeks instead of seven or eight months. We feared the worst to be honest, but we got the good news it's not too serious.
"He's been top drawer this season, he's got a great attitude and he's a tough little cookie." | Manager Grant McCann has apologised to the fans for Peterborough United's 4-1 home defeat by fellow League One play-off hopefuls Southend United. | Grant McCann hat sich bei Peterborough United wegen der 4-1 home defeat by fellow League One play-off hopefuls Southend |
Opponents fear the development on the site in Hermitage Lane, Allington, will destroy ancient woodland and cause traffic gridlock.
Developer Croudace Homes said the number of homes had been reduced from 600 and efforts made to cut the impact on the woodland of building a new road.
The public inquiry in Maidstone is expected to last until 10 June.
Barbara Woodward, from the New Allington Action Group (NAAG), said: "People are very upset. This is our last piece of green land.
"We take our dogs for a walk in the woods, you can let them off their leads. If they build a road across the woods it will no longer be safe."
She added that the inquiry was the "last step" to protect the woodland which she said had been on the site since the 14th Century.
Councillor Fran Wilson, the Lib Dem leader of the borough council, said it would be "inappropriate" for the authority to comment at this stage.
Following the public inquiry a recommendation will be made to the Secretary of State who will make a decision on the planning application. | An public inquiry is under way into plans for up to 500 new homes in an area of open land in Kent. | Eine öffentliche Untersuchung ist en cours über Plan für bis zu 500 neu gebaute Häuser in einer Fläche offener offen in Kent. |
Temporary repairs have been made to an embankment on the Farnham to Alton line after it collapsed on 13 April.
A replacement bus timetable has been in operation since engineers noticed the track at Wrecclesham, Surrey, was starting to dip after heavy rain.
The line is due to reopen on 4 May. Network Rail warned of possible future closures for stabilisation work.
A longer term solution is expected to cost millions of pounds. | A railway line which was closed due to a landslip is to reopen next week, Network Rail has announced. | a landslip is to reopen next week, Network Rail announced. |
The officer said he found the black animal toy wearing an officer's shirt at a police station in central London.
Scotland Yard promised to look into the matter but the detective was himself investigated for making the story up.
He was later cleared at a misconduct hearing and received damages from the force after taking legal action.
The details emerged after a separate case at Thames Valley Police in which an officer put a monkey on a black colleague's desk.
A misconduct panel concluded last month that Det Sgt Andrew Mottau was not being racist but should have realised the toy animal could be offensive.
The incident involving the Metropolitan Police began in September 2013 when the Indian-born detective constable claimed to have seen a large monkey toy in the office of the Case Progression Unit at Belgravia police station.
He said the stuffed black toy had a police officer's shirt on and a label saying "night-duty ERO" - Evidential Review Officer.
One of the EROs at the time was a black police officer.
The detective was concerned the use of the toy was racist and had not been investigated properly.
He raised the matter during a live internal website chat known as the "Commissioner's Forum", where staff are encouraged to discuss problems with the Met Commissioner, who at the time was Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe.
The detective received an online reply saying: "What is described - if accurate - is unacceptable" and was told that it would be looked into "immediately".
But a month later, the detective himself was put under investigation for allegedly posting "untrue and potentially inflammatory comments".
He was told his actions had "breached the standards of professional behaviour... relating to "honesty and integrity" and "discreditable conduct", claims which, if proved, could have led to his dismissal
Eventually, in June 2015, after protracted internal disciplinary proceedings, the officer attended a gross misconduct hearing where it was ruled there was "no case to answer" and he was cleared.
Paul Turpin, who was a representative for the Metropolitan Police Federation and supported the officer through the process, said: "I was surprised when the matter was referred to a gross misconduct hearing and was not surprised when that hearing found the officer had no case to answer."
He suggested the allegation should never have got that far: "Matters should be dealt with at the lowest appropriate level at the earliest possible opportunity."
Scotland Yard said there had been an "internal review" of the handling of the case after the hearing.
It said the original allegation about the monkey had been "investigated locally and progressed as far as it could be", though the inquiry was unable to establish who had placed the black toy animal in the police station.
The Asian detective, who has not been named by the BBC at his own request, began legal proceedings against the Met at an employment tribunal alleging he had been racially discriminated against and victimised.
But before a full hearing took place the force reached a settlement and agreed to pay damages.
The details of the agreement are confidential but the amount of compensation is thought to be in the region of £35,000.
The officer declined to comment and has not divulged any details of the agreement to the BBC.
The Met confirmed a settlement had been reached "following judicial mediation" at the Tribunal Services in March 2016.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Martin, who is in charge of professionalism at Scotland Yard, said the force had made "significant investment" in improving the way it handled staff complaints linked to discrimination, bullying or harassment and had introduced a new "whistle-blowing" policy.
"We have long recognised that people... fear being victimised if they raise a complaint, regardless of whether that fear is justified," he said.
"That has never been acceptable and we continue to make it very clear to our staff that victimisation will never be tolerated, that it will be investigated, and will have serious repercussions if it occurs".
But Janet Hills, chairwoman of the Metropolitan Black Police Association, said the use of a black monkey toy and the treatment of the Asian police detective indicated there was still a long way to go.
"We're still trying to get rid of the dinosaurs in policing who are still protecting that culture", she said, describing the "monkey" incident as "unbelievable" and "unacceptable".
"It's not just a toy, it's a toy to be used to say 'this is what I think of you'," she said.
"It's racist and discriminatory behaviour," she said, adding that it went on because people thought they could "get away with it".
Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning | An Asian police officer who raised concerns about a "racist" toy monkey at work was accused of gross misconduct, BBC News has learned. | BBC News hat erkannt. A police officer who raised concerns about a "racist" toy monkey at work |
He made the comments at a news briefing in his home city, Davao, on Tuesday, where he also unveiled his new cabinet.
Since 1986, 176 journalists have been killed in the Philippines, one of the most dangerous countries for reporters.
But Mr Duterte said many of them had "done something wrong".
The former mayor of Davao was formally declared the next leader on Monday, after a landslide victory in May's election. He will be sworn in on 30 June.
When asked about the high number of attacks on journalists, Mr Duterte said that "you won't be killed if you don't do anything wrong".
Citing Jun Pala, a journalist, politician and critic of Duterte who was murdered in 2003, he said: "I do not want to diminish his memory but he was a rotten son of a bitch. He deserved it."
"That can't be just freedom of speech. The constitution can no longer help you if you disrespect a person."
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said the comments were "appalling".
"Mr Duterte's crass pronouncement not only sullies the names and memories of all 176 of our colleagues who have been murdered since 1986, he has also, in effect, declared open season to silence the media."
The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said the remarks "give security officials the right to kill for acts that they consider defamation".
"This is one of the most outrageous statements we have ever heard from a president in the Philippines," said CPJ's Shawn Crispin in Bangkok.
The news conference was a typically strident appearance by the man nicknamed "The Punisher" for his strict criminal policies in Davao.
Here are some of the other main points:
Mr Duterte's popularity rests on his reputation as a crime-fighter.
During his time as mayor of Davao crime fell sharply, but it also saw the rise of death squads and, according to rights-groups, at least tacit official approval of the murder of more than 1,000 people.
Saying the new crackdown started "now", Mr Duterte promised to pay 3m pesos ($64,000; £44,000) to officials who capture suspected drug lords,
If any law enforcement agent was "messing around with drugs and it comes to a fight, I want you to kill him personally", he said.
Mr Duterte's new cabinet is mostly male - only two so far are women - and they were broadly seen as conservative choices.
Perfecto Yasay, who has said talks are the only way to resolve the country's South China Sea disputes, was named foreign secretary.
Mr Duterte's former schoolmate, Carlos Dominguez, was named finance minister, and economics professor Ernesto Pernia will be economic planning minister.
More controversially, former marine Nicanor Faeldon was chosen to be head of the customs bureau.
He led a coup attempt in 2003 and in December took a group of protesters to a disputed island held by the Philippines, to a furious response from Beijing.
"We have this pact with the West, but I want everybody to know that we will be charting a course of our own."
Currently a staunch ally of the US and recipient of its protection, if not formal backing, in territorial disputes with China, Mr Duterte said the Philippines would no longer rely as much on Washington.
The US State Department responded by saying it had "no problem whatsoever" with bilateral talks among parties to South China Sea disputes, but that most would not be solved that way.
Mr Duterte said he was waiting for the results of the case The Philippines has before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, over disputed islands in the South China Sea.
"Then, with the advice of the cabinet, I might be able to proceed," he said. "But you know, I am not ready to go to war. It will just result in a massacre." | Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has been condemned by media groups for saying some of the many journalists killed in the country had deserved to die. | Der Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte hat von seiten der Mediengruppen kritisiert, dass er |
Ben Gerring, 29, was in the water near Mandurah, south of Perth, when the attack occurred on Tuesday afternoon.
Western Australia Police said Mr Gerring's injuries were too severe to overcome and he died on Friday night.
On Thursday, a 4.2m (14ft) great white shark was captured near Mandurah, but it is not known if this shark was to blame for the attack.
"He was right out the back looking to get a big wave, one of the set waves that had been coming through during the day," Brian Williams, president of the Mandurah Boardriders Club and friend of the victim, told ABC on Tuesday.
"He'd sort of paddled out the back, sort of past the pack slightly. And next thing all hell broke loose and they were trying to bring him in.
"His board was broken in half, they found the tail part of his board," Mr Williams said.
Surf Lifesaving Western Australia had reportedly issued a warning before the attack, after an unknown species of shark was seen in the area. | A surfer who lost his leg in a shark attack in Western Australia last week has died, police say. | the shark attack in Western Australia last week hat einen Surfer dies, die die police say. |
It happened at the Moelfre Lifeboat open day at 16:10 BST on Saturday, with two RNLI vessels rescuing him.
He was then taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, by a UK Coastguard helicopter, with his condition unknown.
North Wales Police is investigating the incident and has appealed for witnesses.
Organisers had earlier warned about safety in the water on its Facebook page, imposing a speed restriction on boats travelling to the event.
They had said: "From past experience, we are expected to have over 100 vessels.
"Some will be kayaks with children on board, water safety is very important. Many adults and children will be swimming in the bay. Keep your eyes peeled please."
The event, at the RNLI station, was to allow people to meet the crew and celebrate their life-saving work. | A jet skier has been airlifted to hospital after a crash involving a speedboat during an event off Anglesey. | the anglesey anglesey event. A jet skier has been airlifted to hospital after a crash |
It's perceived as the least corrupt country, with the longest surviving multiparty democracy on the continent, and boasts one of the world's fastest-growing economies.
But, following the global economic downturn in 2008, and increasingly volatile commodity prices, the country's reliance on diamonds has come into question.
For the first time Botswana finds itself cash strapped, in negative growth, and having to go to international donors.
The country is looking to diversify its economy by strengthening existing sectors like tourism and cattle farming, and investing in burgeoning industries spawning from technology and entrepreneurship.
Yet diamonds by far outshine any other industry in Botswana, accounting for one-third of GDP, 70% of export earnings, and about one-third of the government's revenues.
However, production has peaked, and experts believe reserves of the precious stone may run out by 2030.
Unemployment is also on the rise, with official jobless rates nearing 20%, and an estimated 45% of Botswana's population living below the poverty line.
Economic growth was also negative in 2009, and the industrial sector shrank by 30%.
Signs of labour unrest have also began showing following public sector strikes in recent years.
As Linah Mohohlo, who has been governor of the Bank of Botswana for 15 years, put it in a recent interview with BBC Africa Business Report: "It is a serious concern to government, for many years now strategies have been put in place to diversify the economy away from mining."
In many ways Botswana is seen as becoming a victim of its own making.
Policies have favoured and protected the diamond industry, and strategies and institutions that assisted and protected its growth for decades have made implementation and expansion of newer, alternative industries difficult.
The strong role of the state in the economy, plus bloated bureaucracy, often also makes it difficult for investors to enter the market.
Most contracts are also government sponsored, making it hard for entrepreneurs to set up shop and compete.
Despite being in the relatively stable southern African region, an electricity crisis in South Africa, and political uncertainty in Zimbabwe makes it a bit of a rough neighbourhood.
In response Ms Mohohlo says she's more worried about competition from the country's neighbours, especially for foreign direct investment, and says Botswana needs to "sharpen its pencils".
The manufacturing industry, for example, has "not done what we expected it to do", she says. The sector accounts for an estimated 5% of Botswana's GDP, and employs more labour than mining.
In addition, Botswana has a small domestic market of only two million people and having to compete head-to-head with South Africa is a challenge.
Botswana needs to come up with unique enterprises to compete effectively with South Africa, says Dr Tebogo Seleka, executive director of the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (Bidpa).
"We are both in SACU (Southern African Customs Union), that means goods can enter freely, so if we chose those enterprises that South Africa is more competitive at, that puts us at a disadvantage," he says.
The key to Botswana's future diversity, many believe, lies in private sector development, and attracting foreign direct investment.
Dr Seleka also believes that due to the country's proximity, combined with its diminutive population, investors tend to set up shop next door.
"If a firm from overseas wants to locate in southern Africa, because of Botswana's market size we are at a disadvantage," Dr Seleka says.
"We also need to look at technology readiness, if you look at the types of technologies firms use, and the rate of adoption of new technologies in Botswana it is still not up to scratch."
One of the solutions to beefing up diversity in the country's economy may lie with its most abundant animal population.
Cattle outnumber the human population by over a million, and beef is the country's third-largest earner.
But despite this, agriculture, in its entirety, only makes up 3% of Botswana's economy.
Bakang Tsheboagae, a cattle farmer from Dutlwe, a village in the Kweneng District of Botswana, says the techniques his family have used for generations to manage their cattle herds have hindered his growth.
Historically our way of tracking cattle are earmarks, which are identical, and you can only brand them once they reach a certain age," he says.
"Livestock multiply, and as you multiply it becomes so difficult to count them, or to know which one is where."
Botswana's cattle and beef industry is driven by exports to Europe, and in order export their beef, farmers must produce traceability records.
"I would say whoever has livestock; small, medium or large scale, ultimately you need a tool that will help you account for whatever you are doing," says Mr Tsheboagae.
Enter a new breed of entrepreneur, using technology to modernise the sector.
Thuto Gaotingwe, 26, has developed cattle tracking software Modisar - named after the Tswana word for a herd boy.
Mr Gaotingwe has managed to realise his vision through the help of a one of the government's new entrepreneurial incubators, the Botswana Innovation Hub.
Known as a "quasi government institution", the innovation hub is described on its website as part of the state's "national strategic goal for the diversification of the country's economy… set up to support new ventures and existing companies."
Modisar is a productivity software application that can be installed on a farmer's computer or laptop, and allows the farmer to capture information about his or her farm faster.
Mr Gaotingwe explains: "We are trying to say, 'look you can make money off livestock farming, only if you do it the right way'.
"So we have built Modisar, and it allows farmers to keep records of his farm assets. Then it allows farmers to know more about livestock diseases."
Although criticised for being reactive as opposed to proactive, the government has implemented a number of policies, strategies and incentive schemes to encourage diversification.
An Economic Diversifiation Drive (EDD), for example, has been implemented to strengthen the private sector.
The EDD plans to leverage the government's purchasing power, estimated at $2.1bn (£1.3bn) per annum, to stimulate local production and consumption by buying from locally based manufacturers and service providers.
Linah Mohohlo also explains that government has also begun exploring diversification options with in mining sector.
"You are now seeing other minerals, such as coal, uranium, copper, nickel coming on-stream," says Ms Mohohlo.
Despite facing obstacles, with the right long-term developmental strategies, Botswana has huge potential to diversify. | In Africa, Botswana is often seen as a diamond in the rough. | is often seen as a diamond in the rough. In Africa, Botswana is often seen as a diamond in the rough |
More than 120 old or recent bruises and broken bones were discovered on Keegan Downer's body, Birmingham Crown Court was told.
Kandyce Downer denies murdering the 18-month-old, after she collapsed at the family home in Birmingham.
The child also had a "terrible" spiral leg fracture which had gone untreated.
It left the girl "deformed" with one leg shorter than the other, the court heard.
Nigel Power QC said Keegan also had seven recently broken ribs which would have made breathing "very painful", and an historic head injury at least several days old at the time she died.
Forensic testing of the house where the toddler died revealed traces of her blood on the cot and bedroom wall.
Born in March 2014 to a heroin-addict mother, the otherwise healthy girl was put with a foster carer by social services.
The child was then placed with 35-year-old Downer as the legal guardian in January 2015.
Keegan was described in court as a "healthy and happy baby" and lived at Downer's family home in Beckbury Road, Weoley Castle.
She collapsed at home shortly before 10am on 5 September 2015.
When paramedics arrived, Downer had Keegan lying down on a sofa and told them: "I don't know when she stopped breathing, because I was in the bath."
Downer later told paramedics she had popped out and left the child alone during that morning.
Keegan died from a combination of septicaemia, infection, blunt chest trauma and old head injuries.
Of Downer, Mr Power said: "We say there is no other realistic candidate for the many and terrible injuries that led to Keegan's death."
The trial of Downer, who also denies causing or allowing the death of Keegan, continues. | A mother-of-four battered a toddler to death months after she was made the child's legal guardian, a court has heard. | four battered a toddler to death months after she was made child's legal guardian. |
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Bottom side United's first win in Perth in four years, and Kilmarnock's draw away to Partick Thistle, means the gap between them is down to five points.
"It was a wonderful effort. With 10 men, that spirit and character was there again," said the Finn.
"I can't praise the boys enough. They've got real mental toughness."
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Ryan Dow had put United into a deserved lead midway through the first half.
However, Saints came back into the match and when Coll Donaldson was sent off for denying Chris Kane an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, the visiting fans may have feared another damaging day in their bid to avoid automatic relegation.
St Johnstone midfielder Murray Davidson hit the crossbar as the home side pressed for an equaliser but United held firm.
"We still have a long way to go but that was a small step towards it," continued Paatelainen.
"The mood is positive. Killie will pick up points so we need to be strong. They have a quality manager, they have fantastic players in every department, but days like this will help our chances of survival and that's what we hang on to.
"I'm really pleased with everybody's effort."
Saints manager Tommy Wright was frustrated at his team's lack of bite in the first quarter of the match.
"Up until they scored we didn't compete well enough, didn't make enough tackles, didn't win enough first headers or second headers," he lamented.
"I thought we got a slap in the face with the goal and we were much better after that. Probably they've defended well enough overall to win the game.
"When you give a team something to hold on to, even with 10 men, it makes it really difficult."
Alan Mannus had made two impressive saves prior to the United goal but he will have been disappointed to have allowed Dow's shot past him.
"I think in the build-up to the goal we should have done better," said Wright.
"We dropped too deep and we should have dealt with the cross better. He got a free contact inside the box.
"Because Alan was on the move, it hit the underside of his body and squirmed over the line." | Mixu Paatelainen praised his Dundee United players' resolve as they beat St Johnstone 1-0, despite being reduced to 10 men for the last 30 minutes. | and Mixu Paatelainen praised his Dundee United team's resolve. Dundee united beat St John |
Joe Storey, 27, had denied murdering Kerri McAuley, 32, who was found dead at Southalls Way, Norwich, on 8 January, but admitted manslaughter.
Storey was high on cocaine when he punched mother-of-two Ms McAuley after a row about an ex-girlfriend.
The jury at Norwich Crown Court took less than an hour to find Storey guilty. He will be sentenced on Friday.
The court had heard friends describe a history of domestic violence which left Ms McAuley "disfigured" and fearing for her life.
In her texts Ms McAuley described Mr Storey's behaviour as "not normal". She wrote: "you are not ready to care for anyone but yourself".
"You were trying to kill me, you were suffocating me until I nearly passed out", adding that if he stays away "hopefully you won't go to prison for beating me to a pulp".
Later Mr Storey and Ms McAuley agreed to meet up again.
Pathologist Dr Benjamin Swift said in the fatal attack Ms McAuley sustained multiple facial lacerations and one of her ears was torn.
Dr Swift said some of the injuries were caused by "blunt force impact".
Storey, of Murrells Court, Norwich, had admitted the pair had a turbulent relationship.
He said he was staying at Ms McAuley's home when she confronted him about his ex-girlfriend who she thought was back in contact with him.
Storey said he struck her five or six times and had a phone in his hand at the time but insisted he had "not to hit her with it".
Prosecutor Simon Spence said Storey behaved like an animal and if "he'd had a scrap of humanity" Storey would have called an ambulance after the attack instead of leaving Ms McAuley to die in the flat. | A man has been found guilty of murdering his "on-off partner" by bludgeoning her to death. | Ein Man wurde ermortt hat er hat er ermortt. |
Barry McGivern, Scott Fryer and Troy Lacey were travelling to work at Dereham along the A47 Acle Straight, near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
They jumped into cold chest-high water to free the man from the crushed car and helped to resuscitate him.
Mr Lacey, 23, said: "I'm just glad we could give him a fighting chance to see his family again."
The victim is in a stable but critical condition at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, police said.
The men stopped when they saw what they thought was a broken-down car and some people running along the road at about 21:00 BST on Saturday.
A blaring horn then alerted them to a car upside down in a dyke where they could see a man struggling inside, said Mr Fryer.
The unnamed victim, believed to be in his 40s, was trapped by his seatbelt in the crushed car and had his head in water.
Mr McGivern, 28, of Great Yarmouth, said he was the first to enter the "freezing cold" water which was chest-high.
Mr Lacey, from Martham, said their experience as security staff helped them to keep calm and they had freed the victim as a paramedic arrived.
"The car was that crushed that at one point I didn't think we would get him out, but I managed to get under his legs and get them free and Barry snapped the seatbelt," he said.
"His pulse was slow so I pumped his chest a few times."
Mr Fryer, also 28, a retained fire-fighter at Gorleston, then gave the victim the kiss-of-life.
"I'm just pleased we were there and we could help a fellow human being who was dying in front of us," said Mr Lacey. | Three nightclub doormen have told how they helped rescue a man trapped in an upturned car in a water-filled ditch. | three nightclub doormen have told how they helped rescue a man trapped in a upturned car in a water-filled ditch |
Sir Bernard announced the move to reassure the public and deter attackers following terrorist attacks in Europe.
The Met has already said the number of armed officers will go up in London by 600 to 2,800.
And a further 900 armed officers are planned to be in operation for the rest of England and Wales.
But Steve White, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said it may take two years to fully train the 1,500 recruits planned nationally.
"When you're recruiting 1,500 it's going to take a lot of time. You've got to find the resources, the facilities and the people," he told the BBC.
However, Deputy Chief Constable Simon Chesterman, the national lead for firearms, said last month that the majority of new armed officers will be in place by April 2017.
The latest announcement comes after 84 people were killed when a lorry ploughed into a large crowd watching a fireworks display in Nice in the south of France last month.
Londoners and tourists out enjoying the August sunshine in central London report mixed feelings about more armed police patrolling the city's streets.
Teacher Julie Banks, who was visiting from Liverpool, says she finds the news reassuring, "especially at this time of year when there are more tourists and crowds. We shouldn't be complacent".
Retired friends John Lee and John Coles, both from London, agree. "It's a good thing. It's not going to stop a terror attack, but it makes people feel more secure," Mr Coles says.
"I never thought I would see the day British police carried weapons in the street like this, but I think that needs to happen now - whether we like it or not," Mr Lee adds.
Bricklayer Gary Johns, 34, approved, but says: "The real question is what their response time is."
Others, however, say the sight of police carrying heavy weapons makes them uneasy. "It makes me more nervous than secure to be honest," says Bryony Wood, a make-up artist, 26, from west London. "It's a reminder of what might happen."
"I have mixed feelings about it," says Ebuka Orunta, 20, from south London. "On one hand I feel safer knowing the Met has a strategy in place to mitigate the risk.
"On the other hand, we've seen the problems with police brutality in the US. It's important the people in charge of this weaponry are the right people who are going to protect us."
Sir Bernard said: "We have no intelligence that there will be an attack shortly but what we do know is what we have seen in western Europe.
"We have seen attacks in Germany, in Belgium, in France and we would be foolish to ignore that, so it's important that we get officers out there with firearms to respond."
The commissioner said the increased firearms teams would be patrolling randomly around the clock.
It comes after he told a newspaper that a terror attack on the UK is highly likely and a case of "when, not if". Writing in the Mail on Sunday, the Met chief said there was a "sense of fear" in Britain.
Mr Khan said: "It's really important that Londoners are reassured that the police service, that the security service, that all of us are doing our bit to keep Londoners in our city safe...
"The threat level hasn't changed but we are learning the lessons from Europe, from Nice, from Paris, from Munich."
By BBC home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani
The Metropolitan Police have long aimed to make the capital as "hostile" an environment as possible for any would-be attacker to carry out a mass-casualty attack.
But if they can't stop someone attacking, the goal is to have enough armed police available to get to the scene of an atrocity quickly to minimise casualties and neutralise the threat.
Armed police reached the scene of the 2013 killing of Fusilier Lee Rigby 11 minutes after the 999 call. The attackers were not armed with automatic weapons and just stood there waiting for police to arrive, rather than attacking anyone else.
Clearly, in a Paris-style scenario, 11 minutes is a long, long time so a great deal of today's security planning aims to accelerate how quickly specialist firearms officers could reach a scene.
None of which addresses a much bigger issue: what if the attack isn't in London, Birmingham or Manchester? Major cities may be well-resourced - but preparing to respond to an incident elsewhere is far more challenging.
The Met said the new armed officers would be "working alongside their neighbourhood and specialist colleagues", and Mr Khan said there would be a second dedicated PC in every London ward by the end of next year.
In Munich, Germany, nine people died in a shooting at a shopping centre in July while in November 2015, gunmen and suicide bombers killed 130 people in Paris.
Meanwhile, Mr White expressed his concern about the time it would take to put the plan in place.
"What we've got to make sure is that we have the resources in the right place at the right time and we've also got to recognise that this isn't London-centric... a terrorist attack could happen anywhere in the country."
Firearms officers in the Metropolitan Police have to undergo a comprehensive selection and training process before they are allowed on to the streets with a gun. | More armed police are to be seen on patrol in London, Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan have said. | Mehr armed police in London will be seen in patrol in London, haben Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Kommissionsmitglied der Metropolitan |
The measure guarantees a majority of seats to the party that wins the most votes in an election.
It is a key element of a package of reforms promised by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
The law seeks to end Italy's post-war era of revolving governments, political horse-trading and unstable coalitions.
The lower house of parliament gave final approval to the bill by 334 votes to 61.
The proportional election system awards 340 out of 630 seats to any party that wins more than 40% of the national vote.
If no party reaches that threshold, there is a second-round run-off between the two parties with the most votes.
The electoral reform is expected to come into force next year.
After the vote, Mr Renzi said: "Commitment achieved, promise respected. Italy needs people who don't always say no."
Critics have accused the 40-year-old former mayor of Florence who became prime minster last year of trying to consolidate his grip on power.
They complain that the law awards too much power to single parties, gives party bosses too much scope to select candidates, and denies voters the chance to directly choose representatives. Opposition parties boycotted Monday's vote.
Renato Brunetta, parliamentary head of centre-right opposition party Forza Italia, said afterwards that it was "a very ugly day for our country's democracy".
Mr Renzi wants to further transform the Italian system by abolishing the Senate and replacing it with a non-elected body with lesser powers.
Currently, legislation is often held up because identical versions of bills have to be approved by both houses. | The Italian parliament has approved a long-debated and extensive electoral reform that aims to give the country more political stability. | Das italienische Parlament hat eine lange debattierte und umfangreiche Reform der Wahlen angefertigt, die die politische St |
The Dow Jones rose 0.2% to 19,251.78, while the wider S&P 500 gained 0.3% to 2,204.71, just missing a new record. The Nasdaq rose 0.5% to 5,333.00.
Banking shares performed strongly, with Wells Fargo up 2.2%, Bank of America rising 1.5% and Goldman up by 1.2%.
Financial shares have climbed by over 15% since the election.
President-elect Donald Trump's plans to reduce corporate tax and regulations are expected to benefit the sector.
Meanwhile, analysts are predicting the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next week, in another boost for banks.
Financials in general are "benefiting from the feeling that interest rates are done going down and we are going to see a much more favourable interest rate and spread environment for financials," said Paul Nolte, portfolio manager at Kingsview Asset Management.
Mr Trump's announcement that Japanese telecoms and internet firm SoftBank had agreed to invest $50bn in the US also boosted markets, with Sprint shares rising 1.5%and T-Mobile gaining 1.8%.
Other telecom stocks also rose.
AT&T shares increased by 1.9% after the firm said its new streaming television service DirectTV Now has gained more subscribers so far than expected.
Verizon shares climbed 1.2 % after the wireless carrier said it was selling 29 data centres for $3.6bn.
Chipotle was one of the top fallers on the S&P 500, dropping 7.6%, after it said sales had not recovered as well as expected.
Quarterly sales have been falling over the past year since food safety issues led to the temporary closure of dozens of Chipotle restaurants across the US. | (Close) The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a fresh high for a second consecutive day after a rally in financial shares boosted the index. | The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a fresh high for a second consecutive day after a rally in financial shares boosted the index |
Joseph Smith was not in a booster seat and suffered multiple injuries when the car he was in smashed into oncoming traffic on Cardiff's Western Avenue.
Dean Collins was found guilty of causing death and causing serious injury by dangerous driving on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old, from St Mellons, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court.
He was also handed a three-year sentence for the serious injury charges, which will run concurrently, and has been banned from driving for eight years.
The Recorder of Cardiff, Eleri Rees QC, told Collins: "You have never acknowledged any fault despite overwhelming evidence it was entirely your fault.
"The obvious inference is that you allowed yourself to become distracted.
"The general manner of your driving was impatient and a general disregard for road safety."
She said he also showed a "blatant disregard" for the safety of his four passengers, had shown arrogance and an aggressive manner of driving immediately before the crash.
The judge criticised his "cavalier attitude" to both his own safety and that if others, adding the lack of a car booster seat had contributed to Joseph's injuries.
The trial heard Collins - who had denied all the charges - was driving a borrowed Ford Focus carrying his partner Laura Bright, 23, her mother Michelle Holmes, Joseph, and the couple's two-year-old daughter at the time of the crash.
The car crossed a central reservation on Western Avenue and slammed into a white Seat Ibiza heading in the opposite direction.
Collins' driving before the collision had been erratic, with the car weaving in and out of traffic and undertaking other vehicles.
Blood samples taken from Collins after the collision contained traces of cocaine.
But the quantity was too small to accurately measure and a toxicologist said it was not possible to say how the drug would have affected Collins' actions.
Collins, who had passed his driving test just three months before, said he had no memory of the crash and insisted it was a "tragic accident".
Four others suffered injuries in the crash, including fractures to the spine, arms, legs, ribs, memory loss and blindness in one eye.
Joseph's mother Laura Bright, who has since married Collins, was unconscious for five days after the crash.
She was cleared at a previous hearing of causing the death of a child in her care.
The court heard she was now pregnant with his third child.
South Wales Police investigating officer PC Tony Farr, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said the crash had had a "devastating impact on so many lives".
"I cannot stress enough how dangerous vehicles can be when they are in the hands of the wrong people," he said.
"Collins was inexperienced and evidence presented to the court showed he had taken drugs in the days or hours before the collision. Tragically, that proved to be a lethal combination.
"Collins also failed to ensure Joseph was seated securely in the vehicle - again a huge error in judgement that he will now have to live with for the rest of his life."
Speaking after the hearing, Joseph's father, Tom Smith, said of the crash: "It's traumatised me, I don't sleep, all I do is think about that little boy."
Ann Haile of the Crown Prosecution Service said: "This case is a stark reminder of how dangerous moving vehicles are when they are not controlled properly, and how important it is for children to be in a suitable, properly fitted car seat." | A driver whose car hit another in a head-on crash, killing his five-year-old stepson, has been jailed for six years. | whose car hit another in a head-on crash and killed his stepson, five, has been jailed for six years |
The 49-strong team for the event, which will be at London Stadium in Stratford from 14-23 July, contains 10 athletes who won gold at Rio 2016.
Two-time Paralympic champion Peacock, 24, missed out on the 2015 World Championships through injury and will look to recapture the 100m title he claimed in 2013.
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Britain won 31 medals in Doha two years ago, including 13 golds, finishing fourth in the medal table.
London will be the first time the event has been held in the same city and in the same summer as the World Athletics Championships, which run from 4-13 August.
Six-time world champion David Weir is not included after withdrawing from British Athletics following a fallout with coach Jenni Banks, and double T11 100m and 200m Paralympic champion Libby Clegg misses out with an injury.
Cox, 26, who has multiple sclerosis, won gold medals in track cycling and athletics at Rio 2016, but has focused her training on athletics this year before her defence of her T37 100m title.
Cockroft, 24, won world gold in the T34 100m, 400m and 800m two years ago, a treble she repeated in Rio last year.
Whitehead, 40, can become a four-time T42 200m world champion in London, while Jo Butterfield will be given the opportunity to defend her club throw titles in the F51 and and Aled Davies his shot title in the F42 .
T38 sprinter Sophie Hahn, who has cerebral palsy, can win her third individual 100m world title, despite only being 20.
Paralympic champions Hollie Arnold and Aled Sion Davies are among nine athletes from Wales included. | Paralympic champions Jonnie Peacock, Hannah Cockroft, Richard Whitehead and Kadeena Cox are in the Great Britain squad for next month's World Para-Athletics Championships in London. | Britain’s Jonnie Peacock, Hannah Cockroft, Richard Whitehead and Kadeena Cox are in |
Shortly after telling the BBC his story the father, called Jahangir, received a call from Ashraf Ghani assuring him that arrests would be made.
His wife was allegedly raped in Badakhshan province eight years ago.
But Jahangir says he has been unable to get the alleged rapists arrested because they are politically powerful.
His wife told BBC Persian about the incident.
"I told one of them, for God's sake, I have just given birth, I'm like your child, even your daughter is older than me," she said.
"I cried a lot, they beat me all over my head and body," she said.
"Their bite marks were still on my body until a couple of years ago."
Analysis: Inayatulhaq Yasini, BBC Pashto
The stand taken by Jahangir and his wife breaks something of a taboo in Afghanistan, where victims of sexual crime are generally cowed into silence.
Soon after the media picked up the case, President Ghani spoke with Jahangir and promised him that "the case will be investigated properly and perpetrators will face justice".
The victim herself told the BBC: "I want justice to save other women from such a fate."
In the wake of the publicity, the Afghan government will be under pressure to investigate the incident properly and ensure some kind of resolution.
But there are also hopes that the stand taken by Jahangir and his wife will embolden other victims of sexual crime, and have a lasting affect on how such cases are dealt with.
Jahangir, a policeman, told the BBC eight men were arrested after the incident, but six have now been freed because of their political connections.
He says he and his family had to flee to the capital, Kabul, fearing for their lives.
He has threatened to kill himself unless that changes: "If they are not put on trial, I'll have to commit suicide to escape the tensions I'm suffering from. There's no other way."
Jahangir went public with the threat on Afghan television. He later met the country's interior ministry to press his case.
While speaking to the BBC following the meeting, he received a phone call from Mr Ghani. He wept as they spoke.
Mr Ghani was sworn in as Afghan president in September, pledging to tackle the issue of corruption as a priority.
As well as political corruption, activists say violence against women is rife in Afghanistan, but rarely attracts much public attention.
In one case that did spark national outrage, five Afghan men convicted of gang raping four women were hanged in October. | The president of Afghanistan has told an emotional husband that a group of men accused of gang raping his wife would be brought to justice. | Der afghanistan-Präsident hat gesagt einem emotional husband, dass eine Gruppe von Männern, die gang rap |
18 January 2016 Last updated at 20:09 GMT
Ben Frost, 27, barricaded himself into his girlfriend's flat in Princetown on Dartmoor on 18 January.
He was arrested two hours after breaking through the roof, Plymouth magistrates heard.
Unemployed Frost of no fixed address admitted two charges of causing criminal damage and two of threatening behaviour. | A man who sparked a drug-fuelled roof-top siege after breaking up with his partner has been given a suspended prison sentence. | sparked a roof-top siege after breaking up with his partner after breaking up with his partner. A man who |
Trott hit 175 as Warwickshire totalled 413 at Taunton, backed by half-centuries from Tim Ambrose (63) and Rikki Clarke (57).
Young paceman Grant Thornton then took two of the four Somerset wickets to fall on his Championship debut.
But Marcus Trescothick was still there at the close on 41, out of 94-4.
After two badly rain-interrupted days. the draw remains the most likely result.
But the Bears, so badly beaten by an innings in their opening two matches, have at least given themselves a chance of forcing victory, although it would take 16 wickets in the day to do it - and getting Trescothick out twice.
Bottom club Somerset's target on day four will simply be to avoid the follow-on - and they need a further 170 to do that.
Somerset's Marcus Trescothick told BBC Radio Bristol:
"One of the office staff told me around 10 days ago how close I was to 25,000 runs and I have been sweating on it since then.
"I knew when I went in that I was 29 away. It got a bit tense as I moved closer.
"It is an achievement I am proud of but there is still a big job for me to do in this game.
"It wasn't a great day for us and we need to concentrate hard tomorrow to make sure we come away with a draw."
Warwickshire's Jonathan Trott told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire:
"It's great that Marcus is still playing county cricket and setting an example to the young players in his dressing room and opposition teams.
"There is no chance I will be still be playing at 41. That's just silly! His will be a huge wicket for us tomorrow.
"I had just got past 100 when the new ball was taken so it was important I hung around for longer if we were to get a decent score. I started to think in terms of 400 when Rikki Clarke came in and played so well.
"There is a bit of turn because it is a used pitch. With so much rain, the crustiness has taken longer to form, but hopefully Jeetan Patel can cause them a few problems." | Warwickshire took command of the battle of Division One's bottom two after Jonathan Trott had reached the 42nd first-class century of his career. | Warwickshire took command of the battle of division One's bottom two after Jonathan Trott reached the 42nd first-class century of his |
The Exiles remain in the League Two relegation zone, a point behind Hartlepool with four matches to play.
The Welsh club were bottom of the table and 11 points adrift of safety when Flynn took over from Graham Westley in early March.
Yeovil stay 20th, but are now only four points clear of the drop zone.
Demetriou fired in left-footed from 20 yards just before the hour as Newport dominated at Rodney Parade to claim a third consecutive win.
Newport County manager Mike Flynn: "It was a huge effort from the players. I know I keep saying but I won't get bored of it they were absolutely outstanding again today.
"I thought we were by far the better team, we just lacked that final cutting edge in the final third. We should have scored two or three today but luckily I told Mickey Demetriou to take the free-kick and he scored."
Match ends, Newport County 1, Yeovil Town 0.
Second Half ends, Newport County 1, Yeovil Town 0.
Substitution, Newport County. Aaron Williams replaces Alex Samuel.
Attempt missed. Kevin Dawson (Yeovil Town) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is just a bit too high.
Corner, Yeovil Town. Conceded by Dan Butler.
Alex Samuel (Newport County) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Liam Shephard (Yeovil Town).
Attempt saved. Kevin Dawson (Yeovil Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Liam Shephard (Yeovil Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Tom Owen-Evans (Newport County).
Substitution, Newport County. Darren Jones replaces Mark Randall.
Corner, Newport County. Conceded by Liam Shephard.
Attempt blocked. Sean Rigg (Newport County) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro (Yeovil Town) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Kevin Dawson (Yeovil Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Ryan Bird (Newport County).
Ryan Dickson (Yeovil Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Ryan Bird (Newport County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Ryan Dickson (Yeovil Town).
Corner, Newport County. Conceded by Kevin Dawson.
Substitution, Yeovil Town. Alex Lawless replaces Matt Butcher.
Foul by Alex Lacey (Yeovil Town).
Alex Samuel (Newport County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Sean Rigg (Newport County) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Attempt missed. Alex Samuel (Newport County) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.
Attempt saved. Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro (Yeovil Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Corner, Yeovil Town. Conceded by Mitch Rose.
Substitution, Yeovil Town. Shayon Harrison replaces Omar Sowunmi.
Francois Zoko (Yeovil Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Dangerous play by Sean Rigg (Newport County).
Attempt saved. Alex Lacey (Yeovil Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Substitution, Yeovil Town. Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro replaces Otis Khan.
Goal! Newport County 1, Yeovil Town 0. Mickey Demetriou (Newport County) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Ryan Bird (Newport County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Alex Lacey (Yeovil Town).
Attempt missed. Scot Bennett (Newport County) header from the right side of the six yard box is too high.
Corner, Newport County. Conceded by Liam Shephard.
Foul by Ryan Bird (Newport County).
Otis Khan (Yeovil Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Alex Samuel (Newport County). | Newport County's recovery under caretaker manager Mike Flynn continued as Mickey Demetriou's second-half free-kick saw them beat Yeovil 1-0. | ’s 1-0 win over Yeovil hat Newport County's under caretaker manager Mike Flynn continued as the team |
The African nation took a first-minute lead, but Grealish quickly levelled.
Skipper James Ward-Prowse's penalty put England ahead, before Nathan Redmond's screamer and another from Grealish gave them a 4-1 half-time lead.
Cauley Woodrow's shot was deflected in by a Guinea defender, with the Fulham forward adding two more in an easy win.
Gareth Southgate's men opened the tournament with a 1-0 win over Portugal on Thursday, Chelsea midfielder Lewis Baker scoring the winner.
Next they meet Paraguay on Wednesday, rounding off their group campaign against Japan on Friday.
"We spoke before the game about any team being capable of scoring against you," Southgate said. "We started in a sloppy manner, so that was disappointing.
"Our response was good, we showed composure to work our way back into the game. The goal difference might end up being important.
"But if we start games like that against better opposition, it will be a struggle to get back into it."
England: Gunn, Stephens, Holding, Hause (Chambers 54), Targett, Ward-Prowse (Chalobah 41), Swift, Grimes, Grealish (Watmore 60), Redmond (Palmer 54), Woodrow. Subs not used: Pickford, Iorfa, Loftus-Cheek, Baker, Chilwell. | Jack Grealish scored twice on his full debut as England Under-21s continued their perfect start to the Toulon Tournament by thrashing Guinea. | England Under-21s continued their perfect start to the Toulon tournament by thrashing Guinea. |
The shadow attorney general apologised for the message, which showed a terraced house with three England flags, and a white van parked outside.
UKIP said she had "sneered, and looked down her nose at a white van in Strood with the cross of St George on it".
Labour leader Ed Miliband was "angry" at her, a senior figure told the BBC.
The resident of the house, Dan Ware, said Ms Thornberry - the MP for Islington South and Finsbury - was a "snob".
"I've not got a clue who she is - but she's a snob," he told the Sun. "We put the flags up for the World Cup (in 2014) and will continue to fly them."
Mr Ware, a car dealer, said he would never vote for Labour in the future, adding that it did not "matter" who was in government.
"I think they (Labour) need to get out of their mansions and visit the working class. Her and Ed (Miliband) should come and say sorry to me."
Ms Thornberry posted the image on Thursday, while voting was taking place in the by-election in Kent. Alongside the picture, she wrote: "Image from Rochester."
Labour came third in the high-profile poll behind UKIP, which won the seat and saw its second MP elected to Westminster.
Speaking outside her London home, Ms Thornberry said she had "made a mistake" and apologised "if she had upset or insulted anybody".
Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander said Labour leader Ed Miliband had "not held back" in expressing his dismay with the MP's actions.
"Anyone who wants to stand for election and be successful next May has to start with a fundamental and deep respect for voters," he told BBC Radio 4's Today.
"The anger Ed (Miliband) felt when he saw that tweet reflected his understanding that we need to earn the support of people around the country."
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the tweet had "given the Tory press an alternative narrative" to the party's defeat in Rochester.
He said: "It is the most extraordinary self-inflicted wound I have seen an opposition party inflict on themselves in many, many years."
Prime Minister David Cameron said the Labour MP's actions were "completely appalling", suggesting that she was "sneering at people who work hard, are patriotic and love their country".
The 54-year-old entered Parliament as MP for Islington South and Finsbury in 2005 and served as shadow energy and health spokeswoman before taking the role of shadow attorney general in 2011.
The daughter of a former assistant secretary general of the United Nations, she was born in Surrey and was called to the bar in 1983, specialising in criminal law.
She had a majority of 3,569 over the Liberal Democrat candidate at the 2010 general election.
Rochester and Strood: What's next for parties?
How unusual is Rochester and Strood?
Ms Thornberry is believed to have had two conversations with Labour leader Ed Miliband after posting the tweet, and offered her resignation during the second one.
In a statement released by the Labour Party, Ms Thornberry said: "Earlier today I sent a tweet which has caused offence to some people.
"That was never my intention and I have apologised. However I will not let anything distract from Labour's chance to win the coming general election."
"I have therefore tonight told Ed Miliband I will resign from the shadow cabinet."
Labour MPs said she had been right to stand down, Chris Bryant telling the BBC "the first rule of politics is surely that you respect the voters".
"She was absolutely wrong to tweet what she did," he said. "All I can say is, if somebody came into my constituency and did that, I would be furious."
And John Mann said the incident was "horrendous" for Labour.
"It insults people like me, it insults the people I know - my friends and family - Labour voters across the country because white vans, England flags, they're Labour values and actually pretty routine Labour values for most of us," he told Today.
He praised Mr Miliband's response, adding: "I think this is a different approach from the Labour leader and his message came out very, very clearly last night and she's had to go, she's been forced out."
But Mr Farage suggested the episode reflected broader attitudes within parts of the Labour Party.
"The Labour Party hate the concept of Englishness," he told the BBC News Channel. "They have done for a very long time.
"New Labour can't even stand the concept of patriotism. They think the flag somehow is unpleasant, backward-looking and nasty. People like Emily Thornberry would rather we had that blue flag with 12 stars on it that comes to us from Brussels." | Emily Thornberry has resigned from Labour's front bench after sending a tweet during the Rochester and Strood by-election which was branded "snobby". | after posting a tweet during Rochester and Strood by-election branded "snobby" she has |
He claims Universal Music have only paid the band a "miniscule fraction" of the money they were owed from downloads on sites like iTunes and Amazon.
The musician is suing for compensation, according to legal documents filed in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The claim is also filed on behalf of his sister, Karen, who died in 1983.
Carpenter hired accountants to examine financial statements from Universal Music and its subsidiary, A&M Records, which has released The Carpenters' music since their debut album in 1969.
He says they found multiple errors, and that the labels "improperly classified" revenue from digital downloads of The Carpenters' music as sales of physical records - which attract a lower royalty rate. He also claims that digital downloads were undercounted.
In a statement, Carpenter said he had been unable to resolve the dispute without suing.
"The Carpenters recordings are among the best sellers in the history of popular music, and after 48 years continue to contribute a substantial amount to [Universal's] annual bottom line," he wrote. "It seems only fair that these companies account fairly to my sister's estate and to me."
Specialising in radio-friendly soft rock, The Carpenters sold millions of records in the 1970s. The brother-sister duo won three Grammy Awards in 1970 and 1971, including best new artist and best vocal performance for the ballad (They Long to Be) Close to You.
The band's career was cut short when Karen developed anorexia nervosa in 1975. Although they continued to record, the condition eventually led to her death, from heart failure.
Richard Carpenter's legal claim is one of many filed in the US after a 2010 court case involving Eminem, which resulted in a ruling that artists should receive higher royalty payments for digital downloads than they do when a CD or vinyl album is sold.
The difference is substantial. According to Billboard, artists get 15% of the money generated by the sale of a record. For downloads, which are counted as "licensed content", the figure 50%.
Artists including Peter Frampton, Public Enemy, Whitesnake and The Temptations have all sued, or threatened to sue, in order to obtain the higher rate.
Universal Music were not immediately available to respond to the latest case.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. | Richard Carpenter has said he is owed at least $2m (£1.6m) in royalties for the hits he recorded in The Carpenters, including Yesterday Once More. | Richard Carpenter has said he is owed at least $2m (£1.6m) in royalties for his hits, including Yesterday Once |
The visit comes after Myanmar opened up to international trade and investment following decades of military rule.
The delegation includes temporary power company Aggreko and oil and gas firms Wood Group, Asco and Bibby Offshore.
Meanwhile, Scottish Secretary David Mundell is in Texas to try to boost support for the North Sea oil sector.
The UK government minister said he was flying to the US to build links with the country's oil industry.
The Myanmar delegation is being led by Scottish Enterprise chief executive Lena Wilson.
Ms Wilson also chairs Scotland's Energy Jobs Taskforce, set up last year by the Scottish government to help tackle the challenges facing the sector following the sustained fall in oil prices.
The delegation will meet Myanmar's new minister for energy and electricity, Pe Zin Tun, as well as local and international oil and gas companies already active in the country to "explore key opportunities in the local supply chain".
Scottish Enterprise said Myanmar had vast underdeveloped oil and gas reserves in deep waters similar to that of the North Sea.
According to the economic development agency, the Myanmar government is also keen to develop its own oil and gas industry and wants to capitalise on foreign investment and technology to build local capacity and expertise.
Ms Wilson said: "Scotland and Myanmar have strong historic connections going right back to the 19th century when Scottish owned Burmah Oil Company became the first company to drill for oil in the country in 1886.
"Myanmar now stands at exciting phase of its own oil and gas development - much like Aberdeen did in the 1970s - with huge natural resources to capitalise on.
"But to grow its local industry, it will need access to technology, skills and expertise across the whole supply chain from seismic surveying and engineering design right through to project management, health and safety and training and education.
"These are all core strengths of Scotland's oil and gas industry built up through 50 years of experience of working in the North Sea.
"We have a real opportunity now to show how Scotland can help support Myanmar to build the capacity it needs while at the same time providing much needed international opportunities for our own industry."
The trade mission follows a visit by a Myanmar delegation to Offshore Europe in Aberdeen last year, which visited a number of Scottish companies including Wood Group in Aberdeen and ASCO's supply base in Peterhead.
Following the visit to Myanmar, Ms Wilson will then travel to Vietnam along with some of the Scottish companies to identify potential opportunities in what is seen as a more established oil and gas market which is still relatively untapped by Scottish companies.
During his trip to the US, Mr Mundell will meet senior figures in the oil centres of Houston and Dallas to encourage ongoing investment into the North Sea.
The talks will involve firms such as Maersk, BP and the Weir Group, he will also seek to find new ways in which Scottish companies could export their expertise in the industry.
Mr Mundell said: "The UK government is determined to do everything it can to support the industry and the many jobs which depend on it.
"My visit to the United States is part of that strategy."
"The north east of Scotland also has a huge amount of expertise which can be exported around the world and the US should be a part of its market."
He added: "There are wider lessons for the north east of Scotland to learn from the American oil and gas industry, and from cities like Dallas and Houston.
"They have successfully diversified their economies, and I will be hearing from officials in those cities about the lessons they have learned and we could apply them in Scotland." | A delegation of Scottish companies is heading to Myanmar this week in an effort to tap into opportunities in the country's oil and gas sector. | Une delegation of Scottish companies is heading to Myanmar this week to seek out opportunities in the country's oil and gas sector. |
For decades, large numbers of Haitians have migrated - many of them without papers - to the Dominican Republic, to escape the poverty and lack of employment in their homeland.
In 2013, the Dominican Republic's highest court ruled that children born there to undocumented migrants were not automatically eligible for Dominican nationality.
An 18-month period followed in which undocumented migrants were asked to "regulate their status".
Thousands who did not meet the deadline left the Dominican Republic, with many saying they were forced out by the authorities.
As the BBC's Will Grant found, the Catholic Church has played a key role in the migration crisis with some priests defending the rights of the returnees while others have been criticised for promoting what activists describe as a policy of division.
Weekly Mass at Parc Cadeau is a simple affair.
The church is a small hut made of wicker and palm, the congregation spread out over a few wooden benches.
Looking around the camp, one of several along Haiti's border with the Dominican Republic, you might think that the parishioners have little to be thankful for.
It is surely one of the poorest places in Latin America.
A year ago thousands of returning Haitians arrived at Parc Cadeau.
Some had been forcibly deported from the Dominican Republic, others left voluntarily to avoid confrontation with the authorities.
Today hundreds of families remain on the dusty ranch, living in hastily erected shacks of plastic sheeting, cardboard and rope, trapped in near stateless limbo.
Soinicier Giles is typical of many in the camp.
He spent 22 years living as a farmer in the Dominican Republic, before being deported last year.
He takes me to a ramshackle hut to meet his wife Eleny and six of their eight children. The other two were left behind when he was deported.
The conditions are extremely harsh, especially for the youngest. "We sleep directly on the floor and it gets wet inside when it rains," Eleny explains.
The children were all born in the Dominican Republic itself.
They are showing signs of malnutrition and have developed a skin condition since arriving at the camp.
"They're very hungry, we all are, because we can only afford one meal a day," she says in Creole-accented Spanish.
One of the few local figures helping the returnees is the parish priest, Father Luc Leandre.
With funds from the International Organisation for Migration, he has helped relocate some of the most desperate families to nearby communities in Haiti.
"It's a grave crisis, very, very bad," Father Leandre tells me.
"The Church is like a mother for everyone and I have a duty to help. Not only that, the Pope told everyone they have to help the refugees wherever they are."
But Father Leandre says the attitude of some conservative priests on the other side of the border, particularly in the Dominican capital, Santo Domingo, has complicated his work.
"The cardinal in Santo Domingo is personally very vocal in his support for the deportations. He supported sending all the Haitians back to their country."
"It's racism," he laments, saying the law specifically targeted black Haitians, a charge denied by lawmakers in the Dominican Republic.
The priest Father Leandre was referring to has been the most influential voice in the Catholic Church in the Dominican Republic for almost 40 years: the controversial and outspoken Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez.
Earlier this month, Pope Francis accepted the cardinal's resignation, which all archbishops are obliged to offer once they reach the age of 75.
But he will remain an important figure in the Church and in Dominican public life.
The BBC repeatedly requested an interview with Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus so he could respond to the criticisms against him but both he and his press secretary declined.
In many ways, the Haitian migrant crisis has exposed greater divisions within the Catholic Church in Hispaniola over where it should position itself in the 21st Century.
Pope Francis - both the first Jesuit pope and the first from Latin America - designated 2016 as the "Year of Mercy" and certainly Jesuits have been instrumental in supporting the Haitian returnees.
In a video that went viral, the cardinal was filmed in a furious diatribe about a Jesuit priest called Mario Serrano calling him "shameless" and a "leftist".
"He's not very accustomed to being publically confronted," Mario Serrano tells me from the northern border region of Dajabon, where he works with undocumented Haitians.
"I just said that (his) kind of speech was not according to the Catholic teaching and was not for a priest or a Christian.
"I think that really made him mad."
Supporters of the new regularisation law, such as the former Dominican ambassador to the US, Flavio Espinal, deny that the legislation was either cruel or motivated by racism.
"Nothing's perfect and the process here has not been perfect. Yet this has been an extraordinary step forward in the direction of regularising close to 300,000 people who were undocumented in this country.
"That's not an easy decision to make nowadays."
At night, to avoid detection, the farmer Soinicier Giles leaves Parc Cadeau and slips back into the Dominican Republic, the border marked by the Pedernales River.
There he strips the trees for firewood to make charcoal, to sell to Dominican traders for a few dollars.
He knows the practice damages the fertility of the soil, but it's the only available source of income.
"This is the only way we can survive," he says, motioning at his family, stuck inside the world's forgotten migrant crisis.
You can hear more of Will Grant's report on Heart and Soul on the BBC World Service. | Immigration has long been a divisive issue on Hispaniola, the Caribbean island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. | Immigration has long been a divisive issue on Hispaniola, the Caribbean island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. |
Sayes Court will double in size and provide an additional 210 places by September 2015.
Surrey County Council said it needs to "bridge a £215m funding gap" for 13,000 places, blaming an "unprecedented demand" on its services.
It said nearby Esher School is also being completely rebuilt to boost capacity by 210 places. | An artist's impression of how an expanded primary school in Addlestone will look has been unveiled. | Ein Künstler's impression of how a expanded primary school in Addlestone will look has been unveiled. |
The 26-year-old midfielder signed a one-month deal at Fratton Park on Monday and made his debut against Coventry in the EFL Cup 24 hours later.
"I haven't come here just to sit on the bench," the Congo international told BBC Radio Solent. "I'm hungry and Portsmouth are a top club."
Linganzi and goalkeeper Liam O'Brien, 24, have both signed short-term deals.
O'Brien returns for a second spell at Portsmouth, having left in 2010.
The former England Under-19 international has previously played for Barnet, Brentford and Dagenham. | New Portsmouth recruit Amine Linganzi is determined to secure a long-term contract with the club. | Amine Linganzi, die New Portsmouth Recruiter Amine Linganzi, ist bestrebt, einen langfristigen Vertrag mit |
Back-row Henderson has a hamstring tear while wing Bowe is recovering from a serious knee injury.
Rob Herring (hamstring), Paul Marshall and Alan O'Connor (both illness) are available to face Zebre on Friday.
Nick Williams (shoulder), Luke Marshall (ankle) and Ian Humphreys (hip/back) could also return against the Italians as Ulster's injury woes begin to ease.
The trio are rated doubtful but Sammy Arnold will be sidelined for up to three weeks because of a "low grade" hamstring tear.
Dan Tuohy will have exploratory surgery on a "significant" ankle fracture before a date is determined for his return.
Wiehahn Herbst will have a further assessment on a toe injury while Willie Faloon is set to see a specialist for a prognosis on a chronic foot injury.
The return of Ireland internationals Henderson and Bowe would be a massive boost for an Ulster side sitting fourth in the Pro12 standings. | Ulster pair Iain Henderson and Tommy Bowe are set to make a return from injury for the end of season run-in. | Iain Henderson and Tommy Bowe are set to return from injury for the end of season run-in. |
They voted unanimously to ask pub firm Punch Taverns to not allow The Corn Exchange pub in Crickhowell to be turned into a convenience store.
The town has only one national chain - Boots chemist - while all other businesses are family run and independent.
Last week 200 people attended a protest over the plan.
The final decision on the application will be taken by Brecon Beacons National Park Authority.
Neither the park authority nor Punch Taverns were represented at the meeting. | More than 400 people have attended a meeting to oppose plans for a supermarket. | Über 400 Personen haben sich an einer Sitzung zur gegen den Plan für einen Supermarkt gestellt. |
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Blair Alston opened the scoring for the Bairns on the brink of half-time, heading an Aaron Muirhead cross into the bottom corner.
John Baird netted his 18th of the season shortly after the break.
But Derek Lyle pulled a goal back with a neat turn and finish and Iain Russell's strike levelled the scores in stoppage time. | Queen of the South fought back from two goals down to draw with promotion-chasing Falkirk in the Championship. | Queen of the South fought back from two goals down to draw with Falkirk in the Championship. |
Mr Abbott has said more Syrian asylum seekers would be let in but has stopped short of boosting overall refugee numbers.
But members of his own party, including several state premiers, have called for more to be done for refugees.
Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Monday called for temporary housing of Syrian and Iraqi asylum seekers.
Mr Frydenberg said there was a good case for a Kosovo-type solution that would see Syrian and Iraqi refugees housed in Australia, then returned home once the countries were safe.
The Federal Opposition on Monday called for 10,000 additional places for refugees from the Middle East, with priority to be given to those from conflicts in Syria and Iraq.
Opposition Labor leader Bill Shorten also said the government should spend an extra $A100m ($69m; £45.6m) on aid for refugees.
The Liberal Premier of Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, Mike Baird, on Saturday challenged Mr Abbott to do more than just stopping refugees making their way to Australia by boat.
Reacting to a photo of a Syrian child refugee recently found drowned on a Turkish beach, Mr Baird said he felt "sick with overwhelming sorrow" about the situation.
Mr Baird, a close colleague of Mr Abbott's, said it was a great thing that Australia was no longer seeing children drowning at sea after trying to get to Australia by boat with their families.
"But stopping the boats can't be where this ends ... I believe we should do even more. And we should do it now," he said, adding that he would talk to the Federal government about what could be done.
Australia detains any migrants trying to reach its shores by boat, and takes them to offshore processing centres to be resettled elsewhere.
Last week, the New York Times described the policy as "brutal".
The lightly-populated island state of Tasmania has also said it would accept an extra 500 refugees, with Liberal Premier Will Hodgman declaring "our door's open".
Australia has accepted about 4,500 people fleeing Syria's conflict, under its current commitment of 13,750 refugees for 2015.
Mr Abbott has claimed Australia is "already the most generous country in the world on a per capita basis when it comes to dealing with refugees through the UNHCR".
Several organisations have challenged that claim.
During a press conference on Sunday, the Prime Minister spoke of how horrified he was by the image of the drowned Syrian boy.
"No parent could fail to be moved by what we saw," he said.
"I have asked the Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to go urgently to Geneva to talk to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees on what more Australia can do to assist on the migration crisis that is being driven by the problems in the Middle East," he said. | Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott is under pressure to increase the country's total refugee intake. | s prime minister Tony Abbott is under pressure to increase the total refugee intake in the country. |
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead announced the move earlier this month.
Almost 30 organisations have signed an open letter seeking an urgent meeting with him to discuss their concerns.
Mr Lochhead said the changes would not affect research.
Under EU rules, GM crops must be formally authorised before they can be cultivated.
An amendment came into force earlier this year, allowing member states and devolved administrations to restrict or ban the cultivation of genetically modified organisms within their territory.
Mr Lochhead announced he would use the amendment to request Scotland be excluded from European consents for the cultivation of GM crops.
The letter - whose signatories include the National Farmers' Union, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Roslin Institute and the European Academies Science Advisory Council - said they were "extremely concerned" about the "negative impact" a ban could have.
It claimed the decision was "political and not based on any informed scientific assessment of risk".
The scientists and academics said outlawing the cultivation of GM crops "risks constraining Scotland's contribution to research and leaving Scotland without access to agricultural innovations which are making farming more sustainable elsewhere in the world."
The letter cited examples where "a GM method has a contribution to make".
It highlighted ongoing research on things which "might benefit Scotland's farmers, consumers and environment" including potatoes that can reduce fungicide use and omega-3 enriched oilseeds that may offer a more sustainable source of feed for salmon farming.
Responding to the letter, Mr Lochhead said he respected the views of those in the scientific community and would be happy to meet them.
He said he would "reassure them that these changes will not affect research as it is currently carried out in Scotland, where the contained use of GM plants is permitted for scientific purposes, such as in laboratories or sealed glasshouse facilities".
He added: "However, just because GM crops can be cultivated in Scotland it doesn't mean they should be.
"Scotland's £14bn food sector has a reputation for a clean and green image across the world and allowing the cultivation of GM crops could damage that unique selling point."
Last week, a former chief science adviser to the Scottish government warned on ban on GM crops could have "apocalyptic" consequences and threaten the country's food and drinks industry.
Prof Muffy Calder, who stepped down from the role in December and has yet to be replaced, said she was "disappointed and angry" and called on ministers to publish the scientific basis for their decision.
Professor Neva Haites, vice president for life sciences at The Royal Society of Edinburgh, told BBC Scotland: "Most governments try to get the best advice possible before they make these decisions.
"In the past we have had chief scientific advisers such as Dame Anne Glover and Prof Calder, who were there to give advice on such subjects.
"We no longer have such an adviser in government at the moment and the scientific body that usually gives advice has not met for some time.
"So we are suggesting it is time they actually looked again and sought some very senior advice on this subject." | A ban on growing genetically-modified crops in Scotland could threaten the country's contribution to scientific research, according to scientists, universities and farming leaders. | Eine Verbot des génétisch-modified crops in Scotland könnte die Beitrag Scotlands zu scientific research beeinträchtigen, so |
St Clare's Catholic Primary School in Birmingham has met with equality leaders at the city council to discuss a complaint from the pupil's family.
The council is supporting the school to ensure its policies are appropriate.
But Muslim Women's Network UK said the school was not at fault as young girls are not required to wear headscarves.
Read more news for Birmingham and the Black Country
The Handsworth school states on its website that "hats or scarves are not allowed to be worn in school" alongside examples including a woman in a headscarf.
Labour councillor Waseem Zaffar, cabinet member for transparency, openness and equality, met the school's head teacher last week.
In a comment posted on Facebook at the weekend, claiming the school had contravened the Equality Act, the councillor wrote: "I'm insisting this matter is addressed asap with a change of policy.
"Senior education officers from Birmingham City Council will also discuss this matter with the concerned school early next week whilst the head and governors discuss their next action."
In a council statement, Brigid Jones, cabinet member for children, families and schools, said: "Each school's governing body is responsible for the creation and implementation of its own uniform policy.
"However, the local authority is supporting the school to ensure its policy is appropriate, in line with legal requirements, and we are engaging with all schools to remind them of their responsibilities when it comes to setting school uniform policies."
Shaista Gohir, from Muslim Women's Network UK - which works to improve equality for Muslim women and girls, said: "The school is allowed to set its uniform policy and schools do have to be mindful and inclusive and cohesive and make sure that they don't breach their duties under the Equality Act.
"But they haven't done anything wrong because there is no Islamic requirement for a four-year-old to be wearing a headscarf."
The school has not commented. | A school has been accused of breaching anti-discrimination laws after claims a four-year-old Muslim pupil was told she could not wear a headscarf. | a school is accused of violating anti-discrimination laws after allegations a school told her she could not wear a |
Alexander Reid repeatedly told Department of Work and Pensions staff in application forms and at interviews that he was single.
But in reality he was living with his wife Kathleen Reid, despite having claimed to be separated.
Reid was found guilty following a trial at Dundee Sheriff Court.
The 59-year-old, from Dundee, had denied a charge under the Social Security Administration Act that he fraudulently claimed employment support allowance and income support totalling £39,808.
Defence solicitor John Boyle asked that Reid be spared jail and given a community payback order as an alternative to a prison sentence.
Sheriff Tom Hughes told Reid: "Because of the sum of money involved a custodial sentence is the only option." | A man who fraudulently claimed nearly £40,000 in benefits over the course of almost 11 years has been jailed for 18 months. | Ein Man, der fraudulently claimed almost £40,000 in benefits over the course of almost 11 years fraudulently claimed fraudulently. |
Matthew Daley, 35, killed Donald Lock, on the A24 in Findon, near Worthing, last July after the 79-year-old ran into the back of his vehicle.
Daley had admitted stabbing Mr Lock to death, claiming diminished responsibility.
Lewes Crown Court heard Daley suffered from chronic mental health problems.
The judge, Mr Justice Singh, adjourned the case for sentencing on 8 July.
Mr Lock's family said the manslaughter verdict brought to a close the "most horrific 10 months of our lives and brings some sort of justice for Dad".
However, they blamed the NHS for his death.
"This verdict effectively provides the Daley family with what they have wanted for the last few years, their son in a safe place away from harm and being treated correctly," the family said in a statement.
"For them they can still visit their son, hug him and talk to him and enjoy aspects of his life with him albeit constrained at the same time.
"For us all we can do is cling on to the wonderful memories of Dad.
"As a consequence of the failings of the NHS and this verdict, it is clear that Dad would still be here today if they had done their job properly."
During the trial, jurors were told Daley's mother pleaded with mental health experts to have her son sectioned.
She told the court, that the day she heard Mr Lock was killed was "the day that all your nightmares came true".
Daley was charged with murder, but never denied killing Mr Lock.
During police interview, he told detectives how he had used a knife to fatally stab Mr Lock, and while in prison awaiting trial he wrote and addressed a letter to the BBC in London, about what had happened on 16 July.
The letter was seized before it was posted and was used as evidence.
The great-grandfather, who had recently been given the all-clear from prostate cancer, was returning from a cycle meeting when his car crashed into the back of Daley's Ford Fusion.
He and his wife Maureen had recently celebrated 55 years of marriage, and had two children.
Chief executive of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Colm Donaghy said they "got things wrong".
"On behalf of the trust, I apologise unreservedly because the care we provided to Matthew Daley should have been better. I also want to offer my sincere condolences to the family of Don Lock and everyone else affected by this tragic, devastating incident."
He said it was clear they should have reviewed the diagnosis, looked at other ways of providing treatment and "listened to his family" more closely.
"We got things wrong. But I do not believe that any of our staff acted in a way which was deliberately negligent or designed to cause harm."
Det Ch Insp Paul Rymarz, of Sussex Police, said Mr Lock's killing was a "tragic case" and had changed the lives of both families forever. | A man who stabbed a retired solicitor 39 times after a crash between their cars has been cleared of murder but convicted of his manslaughter. | solicitor 39 times after a crash between their cars has been cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter. |
The initial estimate showed growth picking up from the first quarter of the year, when it was 0.2%.
The ONS said the growth was driven by services, particularly retail, which more than offset falls in output in the manufacturing and construction sectors.
It added there had been a "notable slowdown" in growth from last year.
However, the figure for the second quarter was in line with economists' expectations.
Analysts said the rise in growth was unlikely to change expectations that the Bank of England will keep interest rates at their current record low next week.
ONS head of national accounts Darren Morgan said: "The economy has experienced a notable slowdown in the first half of this year."
Film production in the UK, plus box-office receipts from cinemas, was one of the best performing parts of the economy during the period.
"While services such as retail, and film production and distribution showed some improvement in the second quarter, a weaker performance from construction and manufacturing pulled down overall growth," Mr Morgan said.
On Monday, the International Monetary Fund downgraded its forecast for UK economic growth this year because of the weak first-quarter figure.
The IMF said it expects UK GDP to grow by 1.7% instead of its previous projection of 2%.
Chancellor Philip Hammond said the UK economy had now grown consistently for four-and-a-half years.
"We can be proud of that, but we are not complacent," he added.
"We need to focus on restoring productivity growth to deliver higher wages and living standards for people across the country."
Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: "Today's GDP figures reveal weak growth under a weak government, and expose the last seven years of Tory economic failure.
"Growth for the first half of 2017 is below expectations, and it follows continued data showing working families are being squeezed with wages not keeping up with prices."
Aberdeen Asset Management chief economist Lucy O'Carroll said: "This pick-up will be taken as good news, but it really doesn't amount to much.
"The figures are the first estimate of growth, based on very patchy data. They always get revised over time, and often substantially so.
"It's the underlying trends that matter. They don't look favourable at the moment, given the uncertainties around Brexit and the pressure on household budgets from higher inflation." | The UK economy grew by 0.3% in the three months to June, driven in part by a booming film industry, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS). | economy grew by 0.3% in the three months to June, driven in part by a booming film industry, said the Office for |
Another measure of success in Canada will be the crowd for the first Women's FA Cup final to be held at Wembley on Saturday.
We've already seen record crowds at Women's Super League games since we've arrived home and about 30,000 tickets have been sold for the game between my team Chelsea and Notts County, which will set a new benchmark.
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If we see those numbers, I see no reason why the FA Cup final cannot be played at Wembley every year. Women's football in England is now worthy of that stage and as one of the first two teams to play this historic occasion, we will be proud to be part of another pioneering moment.
In the build-up to the game, some of my team-mates have been asking me about playing at Wembley, having played there for England against Germany last November and while representing Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics.
I can only say that it is a unique, out-of-body experience to play in front of so many people. It's a feeling that never gets old and we will be going to Wembley before Saturday so that those new to it can get a feel of the iconic 90,000-seat stadium.
In attempting to win Chelsea's first piece of silverware, it's the biggest game in the club's history, but one thing I've been telling them is we have to play the game and not the occasion.
I wouldn't care if it was being played in a local park in Wembley, the most important thing is to win.
With Chelsea's men's team also playing at Wembley the following day when the Premier League champions take on FA Cup winners Arsenal in the Community Shield, we want to make it a historic weekend.
There are many players in our team who have won the FA Cup before, including myself.
The first time was in 2005 with Charlton when I scored the winner against Everton and in 2012 I was part of the Birmingham team which beat Chelsea on penalties following a 2-2 draw.
In our dressing room we have midfielder Katie Chapman, who has won the FA Cup eight times, and Gilly Flaherty, who has won it five times, so we are not lacking pedigree.
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But having missed out on WSL so narrowly last season [on goal difference to Liverpool], it's fair to say that this could mean more because of the journey we have been on together.
Despite losing our last two league games, we aren't panicking. We have strong characters in the dressing room and the belief that got us to the FA Cup final and saw us go unbeaten in 13 matches this year.
There has been plenty of talk about the fact that our unbeaten start to the league season has come to an end.
It would have been nice to hold onto that record, but the WSL is a very competitive league and every team in it has dropped points. We were the last to do so. We didn't play well in a 4-0 loss at Sunderland but the promoted side are now top of the league and our defeat by Manchester City last Sunday came courtesy of a very fortunate winner. Despite the result, our performance was pleasing.
We are a point off the top with five games left and to be in that position in such a competitive season is positive.
Our focus is now on Saturday and we are confident we can win.
Another positive from the World Cup has been the boost to crowds in the WSL.
The first weekend after we arrived back saw record numbers for Manchester City, while 2,061 watched Liverpool beat Arsenal, and more than 1,200 saw us beat Bristol.
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Three weeks after our return, the bounce has lasted. Our first home defeat in more than 18 months by Manchester City was watched by a club-record 1,857 at Staines FC.
Those numbers are a credit to marketing staff at WSL clubs and the players, who are obviously putting on a good show in order to entice supporters back. The time we spend with fans immediately after games also helps too, I think.
The test now comes when the Premier League starts on 8 August.
With the Continental Cup now under way again, our season doesn't end until October, so hopefully the upsurge in attendances will continue and women's football will still very much be something people want to watch.
England and Chelsea forward Eniola Aluko was speaking to BBC Sport's Alistair Magowan. | Since returning from the Women's World Cup, it's been a pleasant surprise that more and more people have approached me in the street and congratulated England on finishing third. | the Women's World Cup, it's been a pleasant surprise to me that to me more people have approached me in the street |
The former Tory MP, 67, defeated UKIP Wales leader Nathan Gill to lead the party's seven-strong assembly group.
Mr Farage said he was "not particularly in favour of Mr Hamilton's return to the front line, aged nearly 70".
Mr Hamilton replied: "If Attenborough can still survive in a jungle of wild animals and predators at 90, I'm sure I'll be fine in the assembly."
Mr Farage, who is 15 years younger than Mr Hamilton, had described the treatment of Mr Gill as "an act of deep ingratitude" after UKIP won its first seats in the assembly.
Speaking about Mr Hamilton on LBC radio on Friday, Mr Farage said: "I think it is difficult to return to frontline politics after a 20-year gap when you are getting on a bit in years.
"But there you are, perhaps he'll surprise me."
He added: "One thing I will say, he is utterly committed to this EU cause, and he has been since the 1960," referring to Mr Hamilton's opposition to UK membership of the European Union.
In response, Mr Hamilton said: "The average UKIP member will be very disappointed at Nigel's ageist remark.
"UKIP has many thousands of active and vigorous senior members.
"It seems particularly odd to knock old age at the very moment we celebrate the 90th birthdays of two icons of Britishness - Her Majesty the Queen and Sir David Attenborough.
"If Attenborough can still survive in a jungle of wild animals and predators at 90, I'm sure I'll be fine in the assembly.
"Clement Atlee was 65 when, as Prime Minister, he introduced the NHS.
"Churchill was 72 when he led us to victory against the Nazis.
"Ronald Reagan was 77 when he brought about the collapse of the Soviet Union and ended the Cold War.
"Is Nigel suggesting he could have done a better job than any of them, because he is 15 years younger than me?"
Among those who supported Nathan Gill in the leadership vote last week was Mark Reckless, a former Conservative MP and now a AM for South Wales East.
Asked what the relationship between Mr Hamilton and Mr Gill was like, Mr Reckless said: "Not good."
"I hope over time wounds will heal and we'll want to do the best for the people who voted for us and Wales as a whole," he told BBC Wales on Thursday.
Mr Reckless said he had supported Mr Gill in the leadership challenge, but added: "I accept the result."
Of Mr Hamilton's bid to go for leader, Mr Reckless said: "It's not what I would have done, but we are where we are.
"I don't want to say anything critical about Neil on that." | Neil Hamilton has rejected suggestions by UKIP leader Nigel Farage that he is too old for frontline politics. | Neil Hamilton hat die Vorstellung von Nigel Farage, der britischen Premierministerin, dass er für Frontlinepolitik zu alt ist |
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The Blues boss says his side have "almost" won the Premier League title after their 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge moved them 10 points clear at the top.
United dominated possession and had more chances than the league leaders.
Mourinho said: "We prepared for it to be like this. It was the game we wanted and expected."
Chelsea will be champions if they win at Arsenal and Leicester in their next two matches, having beaten third-placed United with a first-half goal from Eden Hazard.
Visiting manager Louis van Gaal said it was his side's "best display of the season" but Mourinho insists it was part of the game plan.
"It was difficult, but less than you think," he said. "Control their direct football to Marouane Fellaini and control the wingers from making crosses on the inside foot.
"When we know Wayne Rooney plays in midfield, we control his progression into the box. Control set-pieces and don't give away direct free-kicks as they have three specialists.
"Wait for a mistake and score a goal. We were able to make their important players disappear. Nobody saw them. They were in our pockets."
United went into the match knowing they needed to win for the first time in five league visits to Chelsea to have any realistic hope of winning the title.
But, despite big celebrations at the end of the match, Mourinho was careful to point out his side are not champions yet.
"We are not celebrating," he said. "Football is not about 'ifs' and 'almosts', it is about mathematics. When it is done, it is done, and until that moment we don't celebrate.
"The celebration is because we have beaten one of the biggest clubs in the world. The celebration is because they have everything to win that game and the result is because of the work they did all week to prepare for this game.
"I feel we are almost there but there are no 'almosts' in football." | Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said Manchester United's important players were "in our pockets" in a match that went "exactly" as they wanted. | boss Jose Mourinho said Manchester United's players were "in our pockets" in a match that went "exactly" |
Older People's Commissioner for Wales Sarah Rochira will call on pensioners and their friends and families to hear their experiences of residential care.
The evidence will be used to develop recommendations for care providers and public bodies.
It is part of Ms Rochira's review into the quality of life and care of older people in residential care in Wales.
She said she would highlight good care but also show the impact of poor care upon older people.
"The voices of older people, as well as those who care for and care about them, are at the heart of my work as commissioner, which is why I want to hear about their experiences of residential care," she said.
"I have travelled extensively across Wales, meeting with many older people living in residential care, and have seen for myself the positive impact that high quality care can have on people's lives.
"However, I have also received an increasing amount of correspondence in the past year about the quality of life and care of older people living in residential care and I have spoken publicly about what I consider to be unacceptable variations across Wales."
The commissioner will be reviewing whether older people living in residential care have a good quality of life by looking at factors such as physical and psychological health, social relationships and the care home environment.
Her team will also speak to care providers, social care staff and public bodies.
"By giving a voice to older people and their families, my review and recommendations will ensure that those who are accountable for and run our services understand the day-to-day realities of living in residential care in Wales and the action required to deliver the change needed to ensure that that older people living in residential care have the best quality of life," she said.
The chair of Care Forum Wales, Mario Kreft, said his group was dedicated to developing and promoting best practice in social care and it supported the overall aims of the review.
"Our disappointment however - which will be shared by many providers - is that the commissioner has not included a provider expert on the main advisory panel," he said.
"As far as we can see no-one who has lived in, worked in, managed or owned a care home is represented on the panel.
"In our view, this misses the opportunity for partnership working and to engage the sector fully into the advisory panel." | A review team looking at the quality of life of older people is to swoop unannounced on 100 care homes. | Unannouncement of 100 care homes will be conducted by an independent review team looking at the quality of life of older people. |
Mr Evans joined the civil service in 2010 and is currently deputy permanent secretary to the Welsh Government. He will succeed Ian Jones in the role from October.
S4C's chairman Huw Jones said Mr Evans was a "highly respected leader".
Mr Evans was educated at Ysgol Penweddig, Aberystwyth. He graduated in economics at Swansea University.
He was director of Business in the Community Wales, from 2008 and 2010, and a member of the Welsh Language Board from 2005 and 2010. | Owen Evans has been appointed as the new chief executive of Welsh language television broadcaster S4C. | Owen Evans has been appointed as the new chief executive of Welsh language television broadcaster S4C. Owen Evans has been appointed as the new chief |
Mewn cam annisgwyl, wrth siarad o flaen 10 Downing Street, dywedodd fod y wlad yn dod at ei gilydd yn dilyn pleidlais Brexit y llynedd, ond nad oedd gwleidyddion y gwrthbleidiau yn San Steffan wedi gwneud hynny.
Bydd pleidlais yn cael ei chynnal yn y Senedd ddydd Mercher ar argymhelliad y Prif Weinidog, ac mae'r blaid Lafur wedi dweud y bydd yn pleidleisio gyda'r llywodraeth.
Rhaid i Theresa May dderbyn cefnogaeth y senedd i gynnal etholiad cyn dyddiad swyddogol yr etholiad nesaf oedd wedi ei chlustnodi - yn 2020.
Byddai etholiad cyffredinol ym mis Mehefin yn sicrhau arweinyddiaeth gref a chadarn wrth i'r llywodraeth gynnal trafodaethau gyda'r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn y misoedd i ddod, meddai Mrs May.
"Ar foment genedlaethol arwyddocaol fe ddylai fod undod yn San Steffan ond yn lle hynny mae rhwygiadau. Mae'r wlad yn dod at ei gilydd ond dyw San Steffan ddim."
Dywedodd Mrs May bod y pleidiau eraill yn gwneud eu gorau i lesteirio amserlen y DU i adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd.
Ychwanegodd: "Mae ein gwrthwynebwyr yn credu bod mwyafrif y llywodraeth mor fach y byddwn yn simsanu, y gallen nhw ein gorfodi i newid llwybr. Ond maen nhw'n anghywir.
"Os nad ydyn ni'n cynnal pleidlais gyffredinol rŵan bydd eu gemau gwleidyddol yn parhau."
Dywedodd hefyd bod y rhwygiadau yn peryglu ymdrechion y llywodraeth i gael bargen dda i Brydain wrth adael ac yn achosi "ansefydlogrwydd" i'r wlad.
Ychwanegodd ei bod wedi bod yn gyndyn o gymryd y cam o alw am etholiad, ond y byddai'r etholiad er budd y wlad.
Dywedodd arweinydd y blaid Lafur yn San Steffan, Jeremy Corbyn: "Rydw i'n croesawu penderfyniad y Prif Weinidog i roi cyfle i bobl Prydain i bleidleisio dros lywodraeth fydd yn rhoi buddiannau'r mwyafrif yn gyntaf."
Ychwanegodd arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Andrew RT Davies mai dyma'r "penderfyniad iawn i'r wlad".
"Rydyn ni eisiau i Gymru a Phrydain ddod allan o'r cyfnod yma yn gryfach, yn decach ac yn edrych fwy tuag allan nag erioed, ac fe fyddwn ni'n glynu wrth ein cynllun ar gyfer Prydain gryfach," meddai.
Ond yn dilyn ei chyhoeddiad, trydarodd Prif Weinidog Cymru Carwyn Jones: "Wel, nes i ddim gweld hynny'n dod. Mae galw etholiad yng nghanol etholiad arall yn od. Proses heddwch Gogledd Iwerddon yn cael ei hanwybyddu?"
Ychwanegodd mewn ail neges: "Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud nad yw'r etholiad yma "er budd y wlad". Dylai'r ffocws fod ar Brexit a'r economi, nid polau piniwn."
Dywedodd arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood: "Mae llywodraeth y DU wedi ymrwymo ein gwlad i lwybr economaidd afreolus eithafol.
"Mae Cymru angen ASau fydd yn herio'r Torïaid a bod yn llais rhesymol yn y Senedd, gan amddiffyn cysylltiadau economaidd hanfodol ein gwlad gydag Ewrop a gweddill y byd."
Cafodd y cyhoeddiad ei groesawu hefyd gan arweinydd UKIP yn y Cynulliad Neil Hamilton: "Mae hyn yn gyfle gwych i'r etholwyr bleidleisio i gael gwared â'r ASau oedd eisiau aros yn rhan o'r UE yng Nghymru, ac ethol AS UKIP fydd yn cynrychioli eu buddiannau yn y senedd."
Ychwanegodd Mark Williams, arweinydd y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yng Nghymru y byddai'r etholiad yn "gyfle i newid cyfeiriad y wlad".
"Os ydych chi eisiau osgoi Brexit caled, os ydych chi eisiau cadw Prydain yn rhan o'r farchnad sengl, os ydych chi eisiau Prydain sydd yn agored, goddefgar ac unedig, dyma'ch cyfle," meddai.
Dywedodd arweinydd y Blaid Werdd yng Nghymru, Grenville Ham fod yr etholiad yn "gyfle gwych i roi stop ar lymder" gan fod "pleidiau wedi dilyn ideoleg sydd wedi gorfodi caledi diangen ar y bobl fwyaf tlawd ac anghenus ym Mhrydain".
O dan reolau'r Ddeddf Cyfnod Seneddol Sefydlog, does gan y Prif Weinidog ddim hawl i gyhoeddi etholiad cyffredinol ar fyr rybudd heb gefnogaeth aelodau Tŷ'r Cyffredin.
Yn ôl y polau piniwn diweddaraf, mae gan y Ceidwadwyr fantais sylweddol dros y blaid Lafur - gyda'r Torïaid 21 o bwyntiau ar y blaen yn ôl YouGov.
Bydd yr etholiad sydyn hefyd yn golygu y bydd pobl Cymru'n pleidleisio dros 40 o Aelodau Seneddol, yn hytrach na 29 o aelodau, fel oedd wedi ei fwriadu petai'r newidiadau i ffiniau seneddol wedi dod i rym cyn etholiad 2020.
Cafodd Mrs May ei hethol yn Brif Weinidog ym mis Gorffennaf 2016, lai na mis wedi'r refferendwm ar adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd.
Fe wnaeth ei rhagflaenydd David Cameron, oedd wedi bod yn brif weinidog ers 2010, ymddiswyddo y diwrnod wedi'r bleidlais Brexit. | Mae'r Prif Weinidog Theresa May wedi cyhoeddi y bydd yn gofyn i Dŷ'r Cyffredin bleidleisio o blaid cynnal etholiad cyffredinol ar fyr rybudd ar 8 Mehefin. | o blaid cyhoeddi y bydd yn gofyn |
The project will examine hair, bone and other material from a collection amassed by a Swiss biologist - and will invite submissions from elsewhere.
Many cultures relate legends of hairy, humanoid creatures that lurk in the wilds, rarely seen.
But material claimed to be from such creatures have never been subjected to modern scientific techniques.
"It's an area that any serious academic ventures into with a deal of trepidation... It's full of eccentric and downright misleading reports," said Prof Bryan Sykes, from Oxford University.
The researchers will apply a systematic approach and employ the latest advances in genetic testing, aiming to publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
"There have been DNA tests done on alleged yetis and other such things but since then the testing techniques, particularly on hair, have improved a lot due to advances in forensic science," the Oxford geneticist told Reuters news agency.
Modern testing could get valid results from a fragment of a shaft of hair, added Prof Sykes, who is leading the project with Michel Sartori, director of the Lausanne Museum of Zoology.
A 1951 expedition to Mount Everest famously returned with photographs of giant footprints in the snow, fuelling speculation about giant Himalayan creatures, unknown to science.
Since then, many eye-witness reports of such creatures have emerged from remote regions of the world.
These humanoid beasties are variously known as the "yeti" or "migoi" in the Himalayas, "bigfoot" or "sasquatch" in North America, "almasty" in the Caucasus mountains and "orang pendek" in Sumatra, but there are many others.
Tests up to now have usually concluded that alleged yeti remains were in fact human. But, said Prof Sykes, "there has been no systematic review of this material."
The project will focus on an archive of remains held at the Lausanne museum that was assembled by Bernard Heuvelmans, a Belgian-French biologist who investigated reported yeti sightings from 1950 up to his death in 2001.
Other institutions and individuals will also be asked to send in details of any possible yeti material.
Aside from the yeti question, Prof Sykes said he hoped the project would add to the growing body of knowledge on the interaction between different human species in the past.
"In the last two years it has become clear that there was considerable interbreeding between
Homo sapiens and Neanderthals ... about 2% to 4% of the DNA of each individual European is Neanderthal," he said.
Those who are favourable to the idea of as-yet undescribed creatures say the yeti and orang pendek could represent survivals of
Homo erectus,
Homo floresiensis (the Indonesian "Hobbit") or
Gigantopithecus - a giant ape that once inhabited the forests of East Asia. The idea has even spawned the term "cryptozoology" to describe the search for such beasts.
Others are highly sceptical of such tales, and consider the subject unworthy of serious scientific investigation.
Asked about the project's chances of success, Prof Sykes said: "The answer is, of course, I don't know," adding, "it's unlikely, but on the other hand if we don't examine it we won't know." | A UK-Swiss team will use DNA testing to investigate the origins of remains claimed to be from yeti and bigfoot. | team will use DNA testing to investigate origins of remains claimed to be from yeti and bigfoot. |