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Polls have now closed in the Northern Ireland council elections, with counting of votes to begin on Friday morning. Voters cast their ballots to decide who should represent them on Northern Ireland's 11 councils. A total of 807 candidates are competing for 462 seats. The first ballot boxes are expected to be opened at about 08:00 BST on Friday, with counting anticipated to continue into Saturday. About 1.4 million people were eligible to vote in the election, which was originally due to take place on 4 May but was delayed due to the King's Coronation. It is only the third election to 11 so-called super councils in Northern Ireland. Groom Pat Campbell (far right) and part of his wedding party called at the polling station at St Patrick's Primary School in Clonoe, County Tyrone, on the way to his marriage ceremony It was also only the second time in 26 years that Northern Ireland held a standalone council election - normally they are run alongside polls for Stormont or Westminster. Voters used the single transferable vote (STV) system, the same as that used in Northern Ireland Assembly elections. People ranked candidates in numerical preference, marking their ballot 1,2,3 and so on for as many or as few preferences as they want. Candidates are then elected according to the share of the vote they receive. To find out who stood in your area, type your postcode into the bar below. A modern browser with JavaScript and a stable internet connection is required to view this interactive. Opens in a new browser tab More information about these elections Is there an election in my area? To provide you with information on local candidates and where to vote the BBC sends your data to the Electoral Commission. Data privacy notice To find your council candidates and polling station The number of candidates is slightly down from the 819 people who put their names forward for the previous council elections four years ago. • None All you need to know about NI council elections

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Kirsten Dunst opens up about the Hollywood gender pay gap Hollywood star Kirsten Dunst has said she grew up at a time when there was "major pay disparity" between herself and her male co-stars. She said she was paid less than male co-stars, even though she had more box office success, with films such as Jumanji (1995) and Bring It On (2000). "I was very young and it just felt like at the time, what do you do?" she said. "I was 17, I was still learning my taste in film. I didn't even think to ask," she added. Dunst has previously referred to the pay gap between her and actor Tobey Maguire, who she starred alongside in Spider-Man in 2002, as "very extreme". Alex Garland, who directs Dunst in his latest film, Civil War, agreed it had been a major issue but "nobody questioned it, male executives didn't question it, these were all inherited opinions. They weren't thought about." Dunst plays a war photographer documenting the United States in the grip of conflict and falling apart. The star says the dystopian movie is "very much a warning" about what can happen. The film "leaves people with so much to think about" and "is a very moving, realistic piece about journalists", the actress adds. Dunst, 41, says it is refreshing her character is the lead in an action film and not a "damsel in distress". She drew inspiration for the role from the famed war correspondent, Marie Colvin. The actress plays a war photographer in her new film, Civil War In the film, US government forces are fighting the separatist "Western Forces" led by Texas and California. The civil war of the film's title appears to have been sparked by the president, played by Nick Offerman, who has ripped up the constitution by serving a third term in office (no-one is allowed to serve as president more than twice). Parallels have been drawn to current US politics and events such as the 6 January insurrection, when supporters of Donald Trump attacked the Capitol Building in Washington DC. But Garland, who also wrote the film, says the themes are not just about the US. "The film is set in America but really this film is about two things. It is about journalists and it's about polarisation. Populist politics and polarisation which lead to extremism and extremist thinking." Garland, who wrote 28 Days Later and Ex Machina, adds: "That's happening in America but it's happening here in this country [the UK] and it's been happening here for a long time and it's happening across Europe, the Middle East, Asia. I could list the countries where that would be true." He adds that journalism is "under attack" which he finds "strange, scary and dangerous". "You get people saying 'Do not trust the BBC' and you will be in places where you would be attacked and criticised for saying the unbiased news reporting organisation that you belong to." The director says he was trying to showcase "old fashioned journalists" who document what is happening, without bias or opinion and leave other people to interpret what they do. Alex Garland wrote and directed the film while Nick Offerman stars as the president The film has garnered largely positive reviews, with The Telegraph's Robbie Collin awarding it five stars. "Civil War moves in ways you'd forgotten films of this scale could," he wrote, "with compassion for its lead characters and a dark, prowling intellect, and yet a simultaneous total commitment to thrilling the audience at every single moment. "Each leg of the journey toggles between pin-drop suspense and rivetingly frantic firefights, often staged with a mesmerisingly surreal edge." Empire's John Nugent, giving it four stars, added: "It never lets up, always gripping, always pummelling your senses, always ghoulishly compelling. Whatever your response to its political prevarication, this is undeniably confident, intense, sweaty-palmed filmmaking at the highest level." But the Guardian's Adrian Horton was less keen, awarding it three stars overall. Civil War is "decidedly anti-war but firmly unspecific", she said, "assiduously avoiding any direct correlation to current politics or, it turns out, any politics at all". "The distance," she concluded, "makes for an at times frustrating watch - stimulating on the level of adrenaline, not emotions." Dunst grew up in front of the camera, beginning her career when she was three years old. She says pay disparity isn't the only issue when it comes to sexism in the movie industry. One of Dunst's leading roles in her early 20s was in Sofia Coppola's 2006 Marie Antoinette biopic. She played the titular role and says the movie "was panned" by film critics. "The people that were watching that movie were my age, they weren't movie reviewers. Movie reviewers were old men. So to me, the people that enjoyed Marie Antoinette have now grown up and are like 'We loved this movie' but they weren't the people writing the reviews. "We grew up in a world where it's man-kind, man-made, man this, man that, that's how we grew up." But Dunst does think times have changed: "Hopefully, the way I carve my path will help other actresses." Civil War is released in the UK, US and Canada on 12 April.

The then Prince Charles meets fishmonger Pat O'Connell at the English Market in Cork in 2018 As King Charles III prepares to take to the throne he also takes on another legacy left over by his mother. Queen Elizabeth II's 2011 trip to the Republic of Ireland is often seen as a turning point in Anglo-Irish relations. Will her son continue those steps in reconciliation and what has his relationship been with the Republic of Ireland? Marie Coleman, professor of 20th Century history at Queen's University Belfast, said that rather than building on his mother's legacy he is "continuing his own legacy of building those good relations". "The Queen's visit didn't happen in isolation. The groundwork had been laid by the man who is now King Charles," she told BBC News NI. Queen Elizabeth II and President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin in Phoenix Park, Dublin 2011 Before the Queen's visit to the Republic of Ireland in 2011, King George V's visit in 1911 was the last by a British monarch. During that century-long gap there were seismic events that strained an already complicated relationship - Irish independence, partition and, in the latter part of the 20th Century, the Troubles. Prof Coleman said "the ice between the Irish and the British royals" had been broken by Charles himself when he visited the Republic of Ireland in 1995. It was the first official visit by a British Royal Family member since Irish independence. "I'm not convinced that enough credit is given to him for that particular visit," said Prof Coleman. In many ways King Charles III has a had a closer personal relationship with Ireland than his mother did. As Prince Charles he has come on private visits as a personal friend of the Duke of Devonshire of Lismore Castle in County Waterford. He was also co-patron with Irish President Michael D Higgins of the Institute of Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool. There have been huge changes in Ireland since Charles' great-grandfather King George V visited Maynooth, County Kildare "He has one of the closest relationships with Ireland, certainly in the last decade, than any monarch I can think of in recent centuries," said Prof Coleman. Since his 2015 Mullaghmore visit he has been a regular visitor. As soon as Covid restrictions were lifted he was back visiting in 2022 - with a trip to Tipperary. "I would not be surprised if the Republic of Ireland was high on his agenda for some sort of significant visit early in his reign," added Prof Coleman. The royals paid a visit to the Rock of Cashel in 2022 As Prince Charles he made a meaningful trip in 2015, visiting Mullaghmore in County Sligo where his great-uncle was murdered in 1979. The IRA detonated a bomb on a fishing boat at Mullaghmore, killing Lord Mountbatten, his 14-year-old grandson, Nicholas Knatchbull, and 15-year-old Paul Maxwell. The Dowager Lady Brabourne died the day after the attack. "We know that he (Mountbatten) was a formative influence on the prince in his in his early years, so that must have been quite a significant emotional blow to him," said Prof Coleman. The visit was a significant milestone - the then prince was the first senior member of the Royal Family to visit the scene of the attack. During that visit he also met Gerry Adams, then president of Sinn Féin. Speaking at the time, he said: "At the time I could not imagine how we could come to terms with the anguish of such a deep loss, since for me Lord Mountbatten represented the grandfather I never had. He said the island of Ireland had "more than its fair share of turbulence and troubles" and "those directly affected don't easily forget the pain". Then Prince Charles and his wife Camilla with Timothy Knatchbull whose twin brother died in the bomb which killed Lord Mountbatten "So I suppose in some ways, maybe that trip brought him some closure," said Prof Coleman. "But it is representative of the way in which the Troubles affected not just people on the island of Ireland or people from Britain who are affected, but it it affected the Royal Family and the King himself in a very personal way," she added. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. "It seemed as if the foundations of all we held dear in life had been torn apart irreparably" - Prince Charles The invite and acceptance list for the Coronation shows signs of how far Anglo-Irish relations have come. Prof Coleman said the attendance of the President of Ireland is significant. "The Irish Free State when it was still a dominion refused to go in 1937. The Republic of Ireland was not represented in 1953 so it's quite an important departure for the Republic of Ireland also." Even more significant is the presence of Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O'Neill - who has accepted an invitation to attend the coronation. "It's even an advance on Sinn Féin's position last September, at the time of the death of the Queen, where they drew a distinction between attending events which marked the passing of the Queen, and not attending events which mark the accession of the new King," said Prof Coleman. "So it looks like their position has even developed from that," she added. However, the academic said that much of the progress made in Anglo-Irish relations has been affected by Brexit. Brexit - the UK's departure from the EU - saw it leave a union once shared with Ireland. It also raised questions of sovereignty, identity and borders. Has the drawn-out departure and protracted negotiations over the Irish border and trade put extra strain on relations between the two governments? Prof Coleman said the process had "damaged those good relations which the Queen had done so much to forge particularly during that visit in 2011".

Ronan Kanda was mistaken by his murderers for his friend Two 17-year-olds have been sentenced for stabbing a 16-year-old boy to death in a case of mistaken identity. Ronan Kanda was murdered close to his home in Wolverhampton after he visited a friend's house to buy a PlayStation controller in June 2022. A trial heard his attackers, one of whom had just collected knives bought online, mistook him for his friend. Prabjeet Veadhesa will serve a minimum term of 18 years and Sukhman Shergill a minimum of 16, the court heard. Before passing sentence at Wolverhampton Crown Court, the judge, Mr Justice Choudhury, lifted reporting restrictions on naming the teenagers. He made the decision in part to send out a strong message about the seriousness of knife crime, he said. Ronan's mother, Pooja Kanda, said she had lost a lifetime of dreams and ambitions The court was told Veadhesa was owed money by Ronan's friend and intended to confront him on 29 June 2022. The judge said it was a "tragic coincidence" they saw Ronan leave the house where their intended victim lived and assumed he was the boy they were looking for. He was just yards away from his family home, but was attacked from behind as he listened to music on headphones. Earlier in the day, Veadhesa had collected a ninja sword set and a large machete from a local post office after buying them online using a fake name. The court heard Shergill carried the machete but Ronan was stabbed twice with the sword by Veadhesa and died at the scene. He suffered a 20cm-deep wound in his back and hip area, and a 17cm-deep wound in his chest. The pair fled after they realised they had attacked the wrong person, dumping their weapons and clothes. Ronan's parents and sister as well as other supporters wore "Justice for Ronan" T-shirts at Wolverhampton Crown Court Many of Ronan's family, who were in the courtroom wearing "Justice for Ronan" T-shirts, sobbed as tributes were read during the hearing. Ronan's mother, Pooja Kanda, read out a personal statement and said she replayed the last time she saw her son alive in her mind every day. "I have lost a lifetime of dreams, hopes and ambitions," she said. "He was the son that every mother needs." Addressing the defendants, who both looked at the floor as she spoke, she told them "your evil actions have taken my son's life" which left her with "nothing but hatred for this world". His father, Chander Kanda, said the death of his son had destroyed his life. Ronan's sister, Nikita Kanda, said she was "no longer the same person" and added "my world has stopped, I feel empty and I'm just surviving". Although Shergill, from Willenhall, did not inflict any blows, a jury found he acted in the joint enterprise of his murder and convicted both teenagers after a five-week trial. In defence of Veadhesa, from Walsall, Adam Morgan said his client was of good character and was "genuinely remorseful". Timothy Hannam KC, defending Shergill, said his client should be treated more leniently as "Veadhesa was the one who actually killed Ronan". West Midlands Police described it as an "unbelievably callous and shocking case of mistaken identity". Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Antony Blinken, who arrived in Beijing on Sunday, is the highest-ranking member of President Joe Biden's administration to visit China US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held "candid" talks with his Chinese counterpart at the start of two days of meetings with officials in China, the US state department says. Mr Blinken emphasised the need for diplomacy and keeping "open channels of communication", a statement added. His trip is the first by a top US diplomat to China in almost five years. A planned Blinken visit in February was called off after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew in US airspace. US officials say the main goal of the Beijing talks is to stabilise a relationship that has become extremely tense. China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang told Mr Blinken that Beijing was committed to building a stable, predictable and constructive relationship with the US, state media said. US officials said he had agreed to a visit to Washington at the talks. Mr Qin said Taiwan was the "most prominent risk" for China-US relations and described the Taiwan issue as one of "China's core interests", state media said. China sees self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province that will eventually be under Beijing's control, but Taiwan sees itself as distinct from the Chinese mainland with its own constitution and leaders. US President Joe Biden said last year that the US would defend Taiwan in the event of an attack from China, a move condemned by Beijing. Mr Qin greeted Mr Blinken on Sunday morning at the Diaoyutai State Guest House, a lavish estate that typically hosts visiting dignitaries. The two shook hands as they stood before their respective flags, then sat down with their delegations at long tables to begin their meetings. The greeting was business-like, underscoring the chilly relations that have developed between the two superpowers in recent years. The US had been lowering expectations for the trip and both sides have made clear they do not expect any major breakthrough. The war in Ukraine, trade disputes over advanced computer technologies, the fentanyl drug epidemic in the US and Chinese human rights conduct are all topics the Americans were expecting to be discussed. Chinese officials have reacted coolly to Mr Blinken's visit, questioning whether the US is sincere in its efforts to mend relations. It is not clear whether he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. Mr Blinken is the highest-ranking US government official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. "If we want to make sure, as we do, that the competition that we have with China doesn't veer into conflict, the place you start is with communicating," Mr Blinken told reporters on Friday. Later he said he hoped to meet President Xi in the next few months. A meeting between President Biden and Xi Jinping in Bali in November briefly eased fears of a new Cold War, but since the balloon incident high-level communication between the two leaders has been rare.

After health inspectors considered closing a maternity unit over safety fears, the BBC's Michael Buchanan looks at a near-decade of poor care at East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust. "I've been telling you for months. The place is getting worse." The message in February, which I received from a member of the maternity team, was stark but unsurprising. In a series of texts over the previous few months, the person had been getting increasingly concerned about what was happening at the East Kent trust. The leadership is "totally ineffective" read one message. "How long do we have to keep hearing this narrative - we accept bad things happened, we have learned and are putting it right. Nothing changes." Friday's report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is unfortunately just the latest marker in a near-decade of failure to improve maternity care at the trust. The revelation that inspectors considered closing the unit at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford comes nine years after the trust's head of midwifery made a similar recommendation for the same reasons - that it was a danger to women and babies. The failure to act decisively then allowed many poor practices to continue. An independent review published last October found that between 2009 and 2020, at least 45 babies may have survived with better care, while 12 other babies and 23 mothers wouldn't have suffered harm if they'd received good maternity care. Put simply, the trust has repeatedly failed to provide good care - and then failed to act when presented with evidence of poor care. Consider the extraordinary deaths of two new mothers from herpes at two of the trust's hospitals, just six weeks apart in 2018. The trust told the families there was no connection between the deaths. There were. A BBC investigation three years later found they'd been operated on by the same surgeon, and that the trust had failed to test him for herpes despite being told to do so. When those disclosures led to an inquest being ordered, the trust delayed its start for weeks by making last-minute legal arguments about wanting the coroner to put reporting restrictions on naming the surgeon, arguments it could have made months earlier, as it had been repeatedly discussed at previous hearings. When the inquest took evidence, a consultant microbiologist at the trust, Dr Sam Moses, was reprimanded for allegedly coaching a colleague in how to respond to answers while another clinician was sitting in the witness box. Dr Moses also admitted that he hadn't told one family about the connections between the deaths, despite being in a meeting in which the mother of one of the women who had died asked explicitly about a link. He told the court that "my role was to assist the trust. I didn't know whose responsibility it was to tell" about the connection. At the heart of the trust's problems, it seems, is a dysfunctional culture that stretches back almost a decade. In 2015, a review of its maternity services by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists found multiple problems, including consultants failing to carry out ward rounds, assess women or attend out-of-hours calls. The report was dismissed as "a load of rubbish" by the trust. A Maternity Improvement Plan, overseen by NHS England, was devised. However, by the end of 2019 fewer than a quarter of its action points had been completed. Improving care is virtually impossible if colleagues don't get along. An Employment Tribunal decision, published in February, concluded that a "toxic and difficult working environment" existed at William Harvey Hospital's maternity unit where people were "shouted and sworn at over differences of professional opinion". Olukemi Akinmeji, a black midwife, sued the trust for race discrimination and victimisation after colleagues "joked" that they should "check their bags" on her last day at the hospital. Ms Akinmeji, who worked at the William Harvey between 2018 and 2020, won her case. The tribunal judgement described hearing evidence of a broken working environment and a foul-mouthed registrar that one former colleague described as "totally unprofessional". Since Ms Akinmeji left the trust, that doctor has been promoted to consultant, after apparently being told to cut out the swearing. Three former staff have told the BBC there is a clique of senior midwives at the William Harvey, nicknamed by some as "the untouchables". They are described as "watching each other's backs", swearing, prone to talking disparagingly about both patients and colleagues. They've been working there for many years and are resistant to new working methods, and often, outsiders. "It is the worst trust I've ever worked for," says one, "there is so much unprofessional behaviour". Another former staff member says,"midwives often left the end of their shifts in tears, or broke down during a shift. People felt they couldn't speak up - even the managers had their favourites." In that context, it's little wonder that the CQC found low morale and low levels of staff satisfaction, particularly among maternity staff at the William Harvey. Last year's staff survey, recently published, found that on all nine measures rated - including "we are safe and healthy" and "we are always learning" - the scores from all maternity staff were significantly lower than elsewhere in the trust. Bear in mind that the trust's overall scores included some of the lowest scores of any trust in England. It's not as if East Kent has been left alone to sort its problems out. NHS England has been all over the trust for years, overseeing improvement plans and sending, as it announced in 2020, "an expert team into the trust to ensure that improvements are made immediately". Asked why their effort hadn't improved maternity care, NHS England couldn't provide an answer but said they had helped them recruit more nurses and midwives. In a statement to the BBC, the East Kent trust said it accepted it "was not consistently providing the standards of maternity care women and families should expect." But it says that in the past few years, it has "worked hard to improve services," including investing "to increase the number of midwifes and doctors" and to improve staff training. On the final day of evidence in the inquest into the two deaths from herpes, in a different room in the same building, a pre-inquest review was taking place into the death of a 14-day-old boy in September 2022 at the William Harvey Hospital. Evidence heard at that hearing suggests that with better care, his death may have been avoided. The full inquest later this year will come to a final conclusion. The baby's death, the CQC report and its actions at the herpes inquest show that East Kent's problem are deep-rooted and ongoing, and that multiple changes of various directors over many years have led to little discernible improvement.

Thousands of children with severe developmental disorders have finally been given a diagnosis, in a study that found 60 new diseases. Children, and their parents, had their genetic code - or DNA - analysed in the search for answers to their condition. There are thousands of different genetic disorders. Having a diagnosis can lead to better care, help parents to decide whether to have more children, or simply provide an explanation for what is happening. Taken individually the disorders are rare, but collectively they affect one in every 17 people in the UK. The Deciphering Developmental Disorders study, conducted over 10 years in the UK and Ireland, was a collaboration between the NHS, universities and the Sanger Institute, which specialises in analysing DNA. Among the findings, researchers discovered Turnpenny-Fry syndrome. It is caused by errors in one genetic instruction within our DNA and leads to learning difficulties. It also affects growth, resulting in a large forehead and sparse hair. Jessica Fisher's son, Mungo - who took part in the study - was diagnosed with the syndrome. At the time, he was one of only two people in the world to be diagnosed with it. The other child was in Australia, but Jessica recalls that the Australian child's physical similarities to Mungo were so strong they "could have been his sibling". Jessica subsequently started an online support group, which is now made up of 36 families from around the world, including America, Brazil, Croatia and Indonesia. "It's devastating to learn that your child has a rare genetic disorder, but getting the diagnosis has been key to bringing us together," said Jessica. The study analysed the genetic code of 13,500 families with unexplained disorders - and was able to give a diagnosis to 5,500 of them. The results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, revealed 60 of those disorders were new conditions. Most were errors that had occurred spontaneously at conception, rather than being inherited. Prof Caroline Wright, from the University of Exeter, told the BBC: "We were able to find new genetic conditions, which means that not only people in the study benefit, but there are huge benefits to future generations. "Getting a genetic diagnosis is hugely important to families. It allows them to speak to other families who might be affected by the same condition, and hopefully target much more personalised management and ultimately treatment." Around a quarter of children in the study had their treatment changed once a clear diagnosis was given. This kind of genetic analysis is becoming more routine within NHS care. The discovery of Turnpenny-Fry syndrome meant Dasha Brogden's daughter, Sofia, was diagnosed when she was just one month old. Her diagnosis made everyone aware heart conditions were a possibility, and a scan led to Sofia - now aged nearly three - having surgery when she was two months old. Dasha, from Oxfordshire, said: "For us, getting a diagnosis really helped us to understand what to expect. Compared to families who came before the condition had an official diagnosis, we were lucky.

The ICC's Karim Khan played an integral part in issuing the arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin in March The International Criminal Court says it is "undeterred" by Russia putting its chief prosecutor on a wanted list. It comes two months after the ICC's Karim Khan issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a statement on Saturday, the court said the move was an attempt to undermine its "lawful mandate to ensure accountability for the gravest crimes". Russia, which is not an ICC member, previously described the warrant against Mr Putin as being "void". Mr Khan, a British lawyer, issued the arrest warrant for President Putin in March. It alleged he is responsible for war crimes, and has focused its claims on the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia. A warrant was also issued for Russia's child rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova on similar charges. More than 16,000 children are thought to have been forcibly transferred to Russia from Ukraine since the war began, according to officials in Kyiv. The ICC said at the time there were reasonable grounds to believe both Mr Putin and Ms Lvova-Belova bore individual criminal responsibility. The Kremlin's investigative committee in turn announced this week that it would begin an investigation into Mr Khan for the "criminal prosecution of a person known to be innocent". In a statement on Saturday, the Hague-based ICC said it was "aware and profoundly concerned about unwarranted and unjustified coercive measures reportedly taken against ICC officials". Branding the measures "unacceptable", the court said it would not be prevented from continuing to "deliver on its independent mandate". Mr Khan is yet to comment on the action against him. Meanwhile, the special representative of the United Nations secretary-general for children and armed conflict, Virginia Gamba, came under separate scrutiny after she reportedly met with Ms Lvova-Belova in Moscow. The Russian was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying the conversation was "constructive and sincere". Rights groups and senior officials took issue, though, with some suggesting the meeting was inappropriate. "Ukrainian victims deserve to see Lvova-Belova behind bars in The Hague, not meeting with high-level UN officials," Balkees Jarrah, associate director in the International Justice Programme at Human Rights Watch, said. Last September, Ms Lvova-Belova complained that some children removed from the city of Mariupol "spoke badly about the [Russian President], said awful things and sang the Ukrainian anthem."

Some scooters were decorated in honour of The Specials singer Hundreds of people have taken part in a scooter ride-out in Terry Hall's home city of Coventry to mark what would have been his 64th birthday. Hall, singer with The Specials, died in December of pancreatic cancer. Scooters were a symbol of the Two Tone scene of which Hall was an icon, at its peak in the late 1970s and early 1980s. "The whole mods and rude boys, it all just amalgamated into one scene. They all rode scooters; they all looked sharp," said organiser Richard Willie. Hannah Tobin, from the city, said the sheer number of scooters who turned out from all over the West Midlands had been "absolutely amazing". "It was quite moving and brilliant seeing them all in convoy to remember him," she said. People from scooter clubs wanted to pay their respects to Terry Hall Suki Singh, who helped to organise the event, said many people had been in touch, asking to take part, "We've had other clubs - CV Collective, All or Nothing, groups from Solihull, Kettering and Northampton - that all wanted to get involved and as soon as people found out about it - it just got sort of bigger and bigger," he said. "Some things pass you by at the time but suddenly, years later, we realise how big Two Tone was, and a massive part was played, obviously, by The Specials. The city's 2-Tone Village has music and stalls to raise funds for Tonic, a charity supported by Hall, that aims to help people's mental health and recovery through music. People were moved by the number of scooter riders taking part Parking in the village was affected The top end of Marlborough Road became a scooter park for the day, affecting parking in some roads, the village said. The Specials spearheaded the Two Tone and ska scenes, their music reflecting an era of upheaval, unemployment and racial tension. This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original tweet on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post by Hannah This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. They split in 1981 but hits such as Ghost Town and Too Much Too Young ensured their legacy. Hall went on to found Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield and Vegas, and also performed as a solo artist. Terry Hall died in December aged 63 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer The Specials reformed in 2008, featuring Hall, but without co-founder Jerry Dammers. Mr Willie, who runs the Lounge Lizards Scooter Club, said Hall had "touched all of our souls". "We all loved Terry Hall," said Mr Willie. "When he died, we just wanted to do something to honour his legacy and all the music he made, which was a massive part of our lives." Richard Willie organised the event, with The 2 Tone Café owners Angela and Alf Knight set to cater for the riders Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk

We are pausing our live coverage of Travis King, the US soldier who crossed the border from South Korea to the North without authorisation. It's still unclear why he fled to North Korea. Pentagon officials are investigating the incident, and have said his safety is Washington's top concern. There has been radio silence from Pyongyang and behind the scenes, officials are desperately trying to open communication lines. We've learned from local media in the last few hours that King served two months in a South Korean jail on assault charges and was released on 10 July. His mum has also told US television that she couldn't believe what her son what had done, and wished he was home in the US safe. Our writers on this page were Kelly Ng in Singapore and Ali Abbas Ahmadi in London, with editing by Ayeshea Perera and Joel Guinto.

Last updated on .From the section Women's Football Scotland captain Rachel Corsie says the reaction to the scenes at the end of Arsenal's League Cup final win over Chelsea reflects the growing interest in the women's game. Chelsea manager Emma Hayes and Scotland international Erin Cuthbert clashed with Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall after his side won 1-0 in extra time. The result ended Chelsea's hopes of a quadruple, though they can still win the Champions League, WSL and FA Cup. "Probably some people feel all media's good media," said Corsie on the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast. "I think it was a case that there were heightened pressures. "It's drawn a lot of attention, which there probably is an element of it compounds the growth of the women's game - more people talking about it." Eidevall said it was "irresponsible" of Hayes to refer to "male aggression" when asked about the altercation. The Swede also had a brief altercation with Chelsea midfielder Cuthbert during the game, which he said arose because the teams had disagreed about whether there should be a multi-ball system when the ball went out. "We would love for more people to be talking about football-specific things," added Aston Villa's Corsie. "Next week it'll be something else. Everyone wants the best for the game."

Jodie Comer plays a barrister who defends people who have been accused of sexual assault in Prima Facie Actress Jodie Comer abruptly walked off stage during a Broadway performance on Wednesday after saying she had trouble breathing due to wildfire smoke. Comer's one-woman show, Prima Facie, continued after her understudy stepped in to complete the matinee performance. Canada wildfire smoke has blanketed New York City in recent days. A performance of Hamilton and several sports matches were postponed on Wednesday as residents were advised to stay indoors or wear N95 masks outside. "Today's matinee of Prima Facie was halted approximately 10 minutes into the performance after Jodie Comer had difficulty breathing due to the poor air quality in New York City because of smoke from the Canadian wildfires," a spokesperson for the production told The Hollywood Reporter. Understudy Dani Arlington replaced the Killing Eve star in the role of Tessa, completing the roughly 100-minute performance and earning an enthusiastic applause, a witness told Deadline. The audience member told Deadline that after about three minutes into her performance, Comer coughed and called out to a stage manager: "I can't breathe this air". Reports on social media and in Variety indicated Comer was helped off the stage by a member of the production team. By the time the announcement was made that the actress would not return to the stage that afternoon, some members of the audience had reportedly left their seats, with many requesting new tickets for a future performance or for refunds. On Twitter, one audience member wrote: "We came to see Jodie Comer. She started [the] show. Had to stop for air quality. Now want us to see understudy. What is refund policy? Exchange? We came and paid high price to see Jodie." Comer pictured signing autographs for fans in New York after a recent appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Comer, who hails from Liverpool in the UK, has received rave reviews for the show since its debut in April. In Prima Facie she plays a barrister who defends people who have been accused of sexual assault, but is then herself attacked by a colleague. Comer has been widely acclaimed for her performance in the play - she is nominated for best actress at this Sunday's Tony Awards and has already won an Olivier. The British star, who has also appeared in The Last Duel and Free Guy, is due to continue playing the role on Broadway until 2 July. Smoke from Canada has tinged the sky orange in New York and led to health warnings in parts of Canada and the US northeast. The Environment Protection Agency has said the air quality in New York was "unhealthy", and citizens were warned to limit outdoor activity. Wednesday evening's performances of Hamilton, at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, and and Shakespeare in the Park's Hamlet, were among the shows cancelled due to the poor air quality in New York. Other venues to be affected included the Vineyard Theatre, which cancelled Wednesday night's performance of This Land Was Made. The off-Broadway theatre said the cancellation was "in the interest of prioritising the health and safety of our audience members, performers, and staff". Some parts of Canada have been evacuated. About 7,500 people have left Chibougamau, the largest town in northern Quebec and roughly 4,000 residents have fled the Cree town, Mistissini. Zach Taylor, a US National Weather Service meteorologist, said the weather pattern meant smoke was being funnelled into the US. He said the air should begin to clear after rain this weekend and early next week, adding further relief would come from containing or extinguishing the fires. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: How to keep safe from wildfire smoke

TS Queen Mary is currently berthed in Glasgow near the Science Centre The restoration of a 90-year old Clyde steamer has been boosted by a £1m anonymous donation. The money will be used to upgrade steel decks on TS Queen Mary in the hope it can carry passengers again. The vessel, currently berthed at Glasgow's Pacific Quay, is the last turbine ship built in Scotland which is due to return to service. The fundraising campaign to restore the vessel so it can sail again is now nearly halfway towards its £10m target. Iain Sim, Chairman of Friends of TS Queen Mary said: "We are overwhelmed by the generosity of this individual. It delivers a massive boost to our fundraising endeavour which has caught the public mood across Britain and around the world. "The individual who made such a substantial cash gift wishes to remain anonymous and we, of course, respect that request. But to say we are over the moon is putting it mildly." TS Queen Mary carried thousands of passengers from Glasgow on "doon the watter" trips on the Clyde In its heyday TS Queen Mary carried 13,000 passengers each week and was known as "Britain's finest pleasure steamer". Because of her strong connection to Glasgow she was also affectionately known as "The Glasgow Boat." The steamer was eventually retired in 1977 and spent several years as a floating restaurant on the Thames before being towed back to the Clyde in 2016. Initially it was thought it might become a static attraction but two years ago, Princess Anne - who is Royal Patron of TS Queen Mary - announced plans to restore the ship to working order. The steamer was named after her great-grandmother Queen Mary, who was the wife of King George V. The late Harry Potter and Cracker actor Robbie Coltrane was an enthusiastic supporter of the restoration project, while Hollywood star Sam Neill is TS Queen Mary's "Commonwealth Patron." TS Queen Mary was built in 1933 by shipbuilders William Denny in Dumbarton, for many years providing "doon the watter" trips from Glasgow to destinations such as Dunoon, Rothesay, Millport and Arran. In 1935 it was renamed Queen Mary II at the request of Cunard White Star Line to release the Queen Mary name for the much larger liner that was being built at the John Brown shipyard in Clydebank. • None Historic steamer to sail on River Clyde once again

Last updated on .From the section European Football They said I was too old, I made the Premier League look old - Ibrahimovic AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic has retired from football at the age of 41, bringing to an end one of the modern era's most glittering careers. "I say goodbye to football but not to you," the Swede told the San Siro crowd after Sunday's last game of the season. Ibrahimovic had already announced he would leave the Italian club. He scored 511 goals for clubs including Paris St-Germain, Manchester United and both AC and Inter Milan, winning league titles in four countries. • None How well do you know Ibrahimovic? Ibrahimovic began his second spell with AC Milan in early 2020, having won the Scudetto with them in 2011, and helped them win the title again last season. But he played only four times and started one match for the Serie A side this term - and scored one goal - following a series of injuries, and his contract was set to expire this month. "There are too many emotions for me right now. Forza Milan and goodbye," an emotional Ibrahimovic said, holding back tears. "The first time I came here you gave me happiness, the second time you gave me love. "You welcomed me with open arms, you made me feel at home, I will be a Milanista for the rest of my life." Ibrahimovic won 34 trophies - including 14 league titles - in a career that began in the last century, and was nominated for the Ballon d'Or 11 times. The one major club trophy that eluded him was the Champions League, with his only European title coming with Manchester United in the shape of the 2017 Europa League. The striker also retires as Sweden's all-time top scorer with 62 international goals in 122 matches. He quit the national side after Euro 2016 but returned in 2021 for their unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign. "I used to be scared when journalists asked by about my future, but now I can accept it, I'm ready," he told reporters after his announcement. "I've been doing this all my life. Football made me a man. It allowed me to know people I otherwise would never have known. I've travelled the world thanks to football. It's all thanks to football." The Swedish great was given a guard of honour by his AC Milan team-mates as he left the pitch Ibrahimovic started his professional career with hometown side Malmo FF in 1999 before moving to Ajax in 2001 for a three-year spell in which he won three league titles. A move to Italy followed in 2004 with Juventus, where he won two league titles, both of which were later stripped from the club as a result of the Calciopoli scandal. However, the Swede won three more Serie A titles with his next club, Inter Milan, before a move to Barcelona in 2009. Ibrahimovic spent only one season at the Catalan club, winning a La Liga title before being loaned to AC Milan, a move which was made permanent in 2011. A year later, however, and Ibrahimovic was on the move again, signing for Paris St-Germain, where he scored 113 goals in 122 league appearances and won four Ligue 1 trophies. In July 2016, he signed for Manchester United for a two-year spell with the Premier League club that saw him win the League Cup and the Europa League. Ibrahimovic signed for MLS side LA Galaxy in 2018, spending two seasons in California before making his return to AC Milan. • None No small talk, no messages, just one kiss: • None 'The shorter your sleep, the shorter your life': Joe Wicks learns why sleep is fundamental to our health

Lt-Gen Tsokov has reportedly died following a missile strike in Berdyansk A senior Russian general has been killed in a missile strike in Ukraine, Russian sources have said. Lt Gen Oleg Tsokov is said to have died in a strike on a hotel housing Russian military commanders in Berdyansk, on Ukraine's occupied southern coast. Russia's defence ministry has not officially confirmed his death. But it was widely announced by Russian war channels on the Telegram messaging app. TV host Olga Skabeyeva said "absolutely all media" were reporting it. Lt Gen Tsokov was deputy commander of Russia's southern military district. Ms Skabeyeva who presents a talk show on the state-run Rossiya-1 channel said he was killed by a UK-supplied Storm Shadow missile. Andrei Gurulyov, an MP and retired general who appeared on her popular 60 Minutes show on Tuesday, said the general had returned to Ukraine despite being badly wounded earlier in the conflict. He was hit last September while commanding Russia's 144th Motorized Infantry Division in the Svatove area of occupied eastern Ukraine. "Unfortunately, he died heroically. This man deserves huge respect," the retired general said. Several Russian war accounts on Telegram also reported his death, including blogger WarGonzo and Military Informant, a channel with more than half a million followers. In the absence of official comment from Moscow, military bloggers have previously proven an insightful source of information on the Russian side. The BBC has not independently verified the death, which was also highlighted by Ukrainian officials. Reports said he was caught up in a Ukrainian attack that destroyed a hotel accommodating Russian military commanders in Berdyansk, a city in the south-eastern region of Zaporizhzhia on the coast of the Azov Sea. Images and video from various parts of Berdyansk have circulated on social media, but none show the exact site of the blast. BBC Verify has confirmed that one photograph shows a column of smoke rising from the area where the Dune Hotel is located. Some users said the hotel had been completely levelled, affirming earlier comments from the Berdyansk city military administration, currently operating from Ukraine-controlled territory. Although there is no confirmation that a Storm Shadow cruise missile was used, the UK government said in May that it had donated an undisclosed number of the missiles to Ukraine. The Storm Shadow has a range of over 150 miles (240km) - triple that of the missiles Kyiv had previously been using, making it much easier to launch precision strikes. Ukraine has claimed attacks on Russia's military commanders in Berdyansk before, however, there was initially some doubt that Lt Gen Tsokov was there. Russia's defence ministry had given no official announcement that he had been promoted from his role as commander of the 144th Motorised Infantry Division in eastern Ukraine, to deputy commander of Russia's Southern Military District. The military district has a far larger remit, including areas of southern Russia as well as occupied areas of Ukraine. The defence ministry has either been slow to detail changes in command or it has simply avoided announcing them altogether. • None Who are Russia's war bloggers and why are they popular?

Puffin numbers on Rathlin have gone down in recent years Think of Rathlin Island and you most likely think of puffins. But with numbers declining by 40% since 1999, the race is on to protect the colourful ground-nester from predators before the balance tips. Now, in a world first, a new project will see ferrets and rats trapped to eradicate non-natives from the island. After a year of preparation, 450 traps with wireless monitoring and 6,000 bait stations are being laid all over the island from this winter. Ferrets are believed to have been introduced to Rathlin Island in the 1980s The aim is to have all ferrets and rats removed by 2026, restoring the island to a safe haven for internationally significant breeding seabirds. As well as puffins, there are razorbills, kittiwakes, Manx shearwaters, guillemots and fulmars. Monitoring will continue beyond the five-year £4.5m the LIFE Raft project to maintain biosecurity. Rats most likely arrived on boats more than a century ago. But ferrets, voracious and efficient hunters, were released deliberately to control the rabbit population. Both species quickly turned their attentions to the seabirds and their young. They are now all over the island and RSPB warden Liam McFaul is worried that matters are at a tipping point. He said without some control mechanism to control the predators, there could be a day when hardly any puffins will be left on Rathlin. He has lived his whole life on the island and has monitored seabirds here for more than 30 years with the RSPB. "I can't imagine the day that there wouldn't be any of these seabirds or a real big shift in numbers of the population. "Rathlin's such a strategic and important nesting site for the seabirds because it's an off-shore island and in that case should be safe," he said. A team of people, like conservation scientist James Crymble, has spent the year surveying the island and training in preparation for what is a mammoth undertaking. "Rathlin is actually quite a big island and it's quite a diverse island as well, there's lots and lots of different habitats, different terrain. The weather's pretty mean and it's going be a huge job," he said. "The best way to do it is to lay out a grid across the whole island." That entails laying a trap every 250m, the range an individual ferret will cover. Everywhere will need to be targeted, said James, including grassy ledges scattered down the cliffs - an undertaking that requires some extreme training. "There'll be a huge amount, obviously abseiling, rope access skills, off-roading skills, all terrain vehicles, obviously first aid, things like that. "By the end of it we'll be an elite force." He added: "And all of that will take place during winter. So absolutely the worst time of year, really, for us walking around." But winter is the best time to target predators, who will be getting hungry as their prey migrates from the island. Protecting the seabird population is also about protecting people. The economy on the island relies on thousands of visitors who come here every year for the wildlife. The cliffs on Rathlin Island are thronged with sea birds So while conservation like this - destroying one species to protect another - can be controversial, people on Rathlin are wholeheartedly behind the project. "The island resident population have started to catch on to this," said Michael Cecil, chair of the Rathlin Development and Community Association. "There's more and more interest from around the world, from scientific communities and other islands that are interested in similar things. So yeah, we're starting to pick up a bit of notice, more and more so and islanders are starting to talk about this project." Similar projects have been undertaken on the Isles of Scilly, in the Shiants off Scotland and, most recently, on Gough Island in the south Atlantic But this is the first time that ferrets will be targeted as part of a conservation effort like this. "It's not cheap to get rid of these animals, but it's hugely beneficial for the wildlife here," said James. "Nature is in crisis. We're looking at climate change. We're looking at overfishing at sea and this is the best way to really protect the island for future generations and just give them a bit of a buffer zone to face these overarching global problems." It will take time for the populations to recover, but at the upside-down lighthouse that is home to Rathlin's Seabird Centre, Liam McFaul is hopeful. "Seabirds are a very long-lived species and you're taking out the predators. You're not going to just immediately see next year lots and lots more birds, it'll take a number of years for them to build up. "Rathlin is an internationally important mixed seabird colony. There's 150,000 guillemots and 22,000 razorbills, that's just literally breeding birds sitting on the cliffs. "When you look on the sea, that's just peppered with birds and you look in the air, they're flying all over the place. "So a census of these birds only takes consideration of what's sitting on eggs and on the cliffs. There's thousands and thousands more that's not counted. "So lots and lots of monitoring will be done over the next few years, to see the changes from the predators being taken out."

PC Bettley-Smith's lawyer said of the events: "There's a huge difference between reading about it, and being there" A PC's second set of blows to ex-footballer Dalian Atkinson on the night he was killed by her colleague was "wholly unjustified" and "outrageous", a disciplinary panel has heard. Mary Ellen Bettley-Smith beat Mr Atkinson multiple times with her baton as he lay on the ground in 2016. A criminal retrial last year acquitted her of actual bodily harm. In a separate police hearing, she denies excessive force amounting to gross misconduct. Mr Atkinson died after being tasered and kicked in the head by PC Bettley-Smith's West Mercia Police colleague, and romantic partner, PC Benjamin Monk, who was jailed for Mr Atkinson's manslaughter in 2021. The panel, sitting in Telford on Thursday, heard how the PCs had responded to a 999 call, arriving to find Mr Atkinson outside his father's Telford home, appearing "in the grip of a psychotic episode". The hearing was told how PC Bettley-Smith, 33, had initially hit Mr Atkinson three times with her baton. With Mr Atkinson tasered and kicked by Monk, she struck the former Aston Villa, Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday striker a further three times, telling the panel she was "looking over her right shoulder" to see back-up arriving. Outlining the case against her, Dijen Basu KC said: "The second set [of blows] were wholly unnecessary, wholly unreasonable, wholly unjustified and above all, to use normal language, it was outrageous to do that in the circumstances. "The man had just been kicked in the head, having been tasered, and dropped to the floor, and with other officers arriving." PC Benjamin Monk was found guilty of the manslaughter of Dalian Atkinson but cleared of his murder PC Bettley-Smith told the panel during her evidence on Wednesday: "I just remember what I perceived to be a really aggressive, hostile, growling [person] and just thought we had antagonised him even more by tasering him. "I perceived him to be trying to propel himself to get up and proceeded to strike Mr Atkinson to the fleshy areas of his body to try and get him down and under control." But the hearing previously heard that at least three different residents, watching from their windows, described how Mr Atkinson did not move once felled by the taser. A joint medical report summary recorded Mr Atkinson probably hit his head on the road as he was grounded by a 33-second-long taser burst, and this was "likely to have caused concussion, exacerbated by any kick or kicks to the head" which would possibly have "deepened any loss of consciousness". The report concluded it was "possible... he was too exhausted to move once the taser was turned off". Dalian Atkinson died after being tasered by PC Bettley-Smith's partner, Benjamin Monk In his closing arguments, Patrick Gibbs, Bettley-Smith's barrister, said: "To state the very obvious, this is a short incident, takes place in the dark, it was unexpected, violent. "Although we examine it in calm and peaceful circumstances, unless you have ever been threatened with violence and had to face it, it may be it is hard to appreciate fully what it's like. "There's a huge difference between reading about it, and being there." The panel is set to deliver its finding on Friday, with PC Bettley-Smith facing the sack if the hearing finds against her. Mr Atkinson started his football career at Ipswich Town, before moving to Sheffield Wednesday, Real Sociedad, Aston Villa and Fenerbahçe in the 1990s. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk

Rishi Sunak spoke to reporters on the plane trip to Washington DC Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he expects to discuss Joe Biden's flagship package of investment in green industries when he meets the president during his trip to the United States. Travelling to Washington DC, Mr Sunak said "subsidy races" were not a solution to hitting climate goals. Some British ministers have criticised Mr Biden's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) as harmful to world trade. The law includes $370bn (£297bn) to boost green technology in the US. In a drive to cut carbon emissions, billions in tax credits and subsidies has been allocated to speed up the production of solar panels and wind turbines, and encourage the up-take of electric cars. The European Union has described the law as anti-competitive, while earlier this year, Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said the package was "dangerous because it could slip into protectionism". It is expected to be one subject of discussion when Mr Sunak meets Mr Biden for the fourth time this year, for talks at the White House on Thursday. The prime minister's spokesman suggested Mr Sunak would also talk about boosting green tech, the war in Ukraine, and the regulation of artificial intelligence. Downing Street said the prime minister would seek to boost economic security, bringing it into line with the level of UK-US co-operation on defence. Mr Sunak began the formal events of the US trip on Wednesday by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Personnel from the US army, navy, marines, air force and coastguard formed a guard of honour. The ceremony comes ahead of meetings with senior US politicians and business leaders, as well as the president. Tensions over the global implications of Mr Biden's economic package have been building ahead of the visit, Mr Sunak's first official trip to Washington DC as prime minister. The UK government has said it had no plans to emulate the scale of the US plans, prompting accusations from Labour that the UK could fall behind in a global race to attract future industries. Mr Sunak's visit was made the day after the 79th anniversary of D-Day During his flight to Washington, reporters asked Mr Sunak if there was anything Mr Biden could do to ease the economic impacts of his package on the UK. "It's something that he [President Biden] and I have discussed in the past and you'd expect us to continue discussing it," Mr Sunak said. When asked whether Mr Sunak accepted President Biden's argument that a resilient economy sometimes required a protectionist approach to key sectors, the prime minister referenced a joint statement issued by the G7 at the end of its latest summit in Japan. The statement, he said, "makes it very clear that G7 countries don't believe in protectionism as the answer to this challenge and also don't believe in in subsidy races that are zero sum". There have been reports his trip could see the two sides unveil a critical minerals pact that would allow British carmakers that export electric vehicles to the US to benefit from some of the tax credits offered to American firms. The US signed such a deal with Japan earlier this year, and has entered into talks with the EU. However, one area where progress has stalled is over a wider UK-US free trade deal, where President Biden has put talks on ice, leaving the UK to deepen trade ties through less comprehensive mini-deals with around 20 states. Another area where Mr Sunak hopes to hold discussions is the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI), where Mr Sunak is seeking to carve out a role for the UK as a global player. The prime minister is hosting a global summit on AI regulation in the autumn, and has reportedly expressed an interest in the UK hosting any new international regulator for the emerging technology. However, the extent to which the UK will be able to shape new global rules outside the EU is unclear, with the UK now shut out of key gatherings between European and American regulators such as the Tech and Trade Council (TTC). The two leaders will also discuss the war in Ukraine, which is expected to enter a decisive period soon, with signs a long-awaited counter-offensive from Ukrainian forces may have begun. It comes after Ukraine blamed Russia for the collapse of the Kakhovka dam in Russian-held Ukraine, prompting the evacuation of thousands of people. Moscow has denied destroying the dam, instead blaming Ukrainian shelling. Speaking to reporters on the plane to the US, Mr Sunak said it was "too soon" to make a "definitive judgement" on whether Russia was behind the attack. But he said if Russia were found to be responsible, it would "demonstrate the new lows that we will have seen from Russian aggression."

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. WATCH: "We feel so excited, we feel so happy" A group of Ugandan children is on the verge of glory after reaching the final of hit UK talent show Britain's Got Talent, where they have won over the judges and the public with their dazzling dance moves and bubbly personalities. They have already made history after becoming the first act to be given a "golden buzzer" by one of the judges before they had even finished their performance. This sent them straight through to Wednesday's semi-final, where they received most public votes, meaning they are now among the 10 acts taking part in Sunday's final. The group of six children aged between six and 13 all come from impoverished backgrounds in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, where they were taken in and cared for by their guardian-turned manager Dauda Kavuma. He told the BBC that he hopes their success can encourage other children living in similar circumstances. "We feel so happy to keep doing this and to bring hope to all the children around the world who are in the ghetto, who are disadvantaged, who are less privileged - that they can make it in life." While they are winning over a new audience in the UK, the Ghetto Kids are already a global internet sensation and performed at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. But one of the group, Priscilla Zawedde, 13, told the BBC that winning the TV show - and the £250,000 ($313,000) prize money - would mean "a bigger house for everyone". Some 30 children currently share a five-bedroom house in Kampala, where they are looked after by Kavuma. He set up the Inspire Ghetto Kids Foundation in 2007 to care for street children in the Kampala neighbourhood of Makindye and told the AFP news agency that having a bigger house would be a "dream" as the children would have more space. They currently rely on donations from well-wishers, earnings from their social media posts as well as fees for live performances. Kavuma also started life on the street before he was given a chance by a man who spotted him playing football and asked him if he wanted to go to school. "He let me join his team and helped me pay my school fees. He was someone who helped me without knowing me. So from that day, I promised myself that when I grow up I'd hope to help a child one day," Kavuma told the BBC. But he then switched to music, which he is now using to transform the lives of others. "Most people thought street kids... have no value in society but I thought otherwise," he told AFP. "I thought: 'What if I use music, dance and drama to transform the underprivileged in the ghettos?'" he says. Akram Muyana, 13, told the BBC that dancing had always been his way of escaping reality after his father died. "Whenever I dance, I feel so happy, and my stress goes away. I started going to churches to dance to get money to give my mother for her to buy me clothes and food." This is the second generation of Kavuma's Ghetto Kids to have found global stardom - the first generation was discovered dancing to Ugandan singer Eddy Kenzo's "Sitya Loss" and went on to have millions of YouTube views.

Silvio Berlusconi recorded his message from his hospital room following a serious illness Italy's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has told supporters he's ready to go back to work after a month in hospital. The 86-year-old, who is suffering from leukaemia, was rushed into intensive care with a related lung infection but his condition has since stabilised. There has been no word on when he might leave hospital. In a video address from his room, Mr Berlusconi thanked his Forza Italia party members for their support. "I never stopped, not even in the past few weeks," he said in the pre-recorded message, in which he appeared smartly dressed in a suit. "I worked on the party's new structure and I'm ready to return to work with you and fight alongside you our fights for freedom." Party members clapped enthusiastically at the end of the speech and some could be seen holding back tears. The message was filmed on Friday after relatives and doctors stopped the billionaire media tycoon from being discharged out of concern he would try to attend the party's two-day convention in Milan, according to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. He spent two weeks in intensive care before being moved to a general ward in mid-April. Forza Italia was founded by Mr Berlusconi and he remains its leader after serving four terms as president. The party is a junior member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's coalition government but has been in decline in recent years. Mr Berlusconi's latter years in power were overshadowed by sex and corruption scandals and he remains a divisive figure in Italian politics. Earlier this year, he was finally cleared of bribing young showgirls to lie about his notoriously raunchy "bunga bunga" parties. Mr Berlusconi was elected to Italy's upper house, the Senate, last September but has repeatedly required hospital treatment and is rarely seen in public. His recent return to hospital caused concern in Italy and politicians from across the spectrum have wished him well.

Sir Keir Starmer met with new local Labour leaders on Tuesday to discuss his party's plans Sir Keir Starmer has asked Labour councillors to focus on easing living costs to capitalise on the party's local election results last week. The Labour leader credited a "single focus" on the issue during the campaign for its strong showing, where it gained more than 500 councillors. The result, he added, gave new local Labour leaders a "duty to deliver". Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak has insisted his five priorities remain the best way for the Tories to win back voters. The prime minister is facing pressure to explain how he will improve the Conservatives' standing with voters ahead of the next general election, expected next year, after losing more than 1,000 councillors. Labour won control of 22 councils last week, after running a campaign focused on increased costs for households amid soaring inflation. These new Labour local authorities have now been tasked with drawing up "action plans" to lower living costs within the next 100 days. At a meeting with new Labour council leaders earlier, Sir Keir said he was "absolutely convinced" the issue was behind his party's gains, adding it had consistently come up on the doorstep during the campaign. Although councils have limited powers to change the economic forces behind rising prices, he said the plans could provide a "blueprint" for how his party could tackle the issue if it wins power nationally. Ideas raised by local leaders at the meeting included "financial MOTs" to help people claim the maximum amount of tax credit, and acting as a co-ordinator for local groups offering support. In a possible hint of the party's focus ahead of the next election, the councils have also been tasked with reviewing local housing and development policies. Meanwhile, Mr Sunak has insisted that his promises to cut inflation, bring down NHS waiting lists and tackle small boats, are the best way to put his party back on track after the local election losses. Some Conservative MPs have privately suggested Mr Sunak is likely to need to go beyond reiterating his five priorities - outlined earlier this year - to improve the Tories' fortunes. But he doubled down on Tuesday, telling reporters during a visit that his priorities were "the right ones" to win back voters and "the country's priorities". "I know that's not going to happen overnight, but what I can tell people is we are working day and night to make their lives better," he added. Conservative MP Justin Tomlinson said the results were "devastating" for his party, and should serve as a "wake-up call for the party at all levels". Speaking to Times Radio, he criticised the party's pitch to voters, adding it lacked a "coherent message" and it felt like it had "forgotten" to launch its campaign. "Before we know it, we'll be heading into the general election, and we need to be back on the front foot," he added. "We actually need to show that determination and that fight, and set out those tangible reasons why people should vote for what would be an unprecedented fifth term in office."

A number of workers at the RNLI have raised some concerns about sexist and bigoted behaviour at the organisation. Internal surveys from 2021 and 2022 on the attitudes of staff and volunteers working at the UK lifeboat charity cite sexism and bullying. The documents, first reported by the Times, have been seen by the BBC. The RNLI told the BBC it was sorry to anyone who had faced "behaviours and actions that no one should have to tolerate" and "will act". The organisation, which has more than 30,000 staff and volunteers, had about 3,600 survey responses over two years, mostly positive comments. But the survey results show concerns also included "blame" culture, misogyny, being overworked, and a lack of space to openly call out inappropriate behaviour. In the 2022 survey, one female respondent recounts being "repeatedly" called sexist terms by male colleagues. "I have not once felt like the RNLI supports women or minorities," she said, adding that she would not recommend it "as an employer to anybody". A comment in the previous year's survey described the level of sexism at RNLI stations and around the coast as "abhorrent". "I have never been at a station/around a branch and not heard an inappropriate comment or joke regarding race, sex or sexual orientation". Matters reported to senior members were "not dealt with effectively and timely," the person said, leading to some individuals getting away with "disgraceful behaviour". A respondent to the 2022 survey said their mental health has been affected by many factors, including a lack of holding people to account, being overworked and "awful misogyny". Bullying was mentioned in a number of survey responses. There were no specific examples given but a respondent to the 2022 poll talked about experiencing a "culture of bullying and harassment". But colleagues were praised for being "caring" by many survey respondents, and one comment says the RNLI is "very inclusive of everyone and the relationships in the team make it a great place to work". The RNLI's Code of Conduct says volunteers must not "participate in any form of inappropriate behaviour or activity", including bullying, harassment or unlawful discrimination. Sue Barnes, RNLI's People Director, said: "We are sorry to our volunteers and staff who have faced behaviours and actions that no one should have to tolerate. "There is no place for misogynistic, sexist, and non-inclusive behaviours at the RNLI and we are committed to taking action and tackling such behaviour." She added that it has a "range of methods" members can use to report unacceptable behaviour, including a whistleblowing reporting line. "We know we have more work to do to ensure we become the truly inclusive lifesaving charity we strive to be," she said. Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

A cache of classified US documents leaked online sheds new light on American intelligence gathered about other countries. Images of the covert files have appeared on messaging app Discord since early March. Complete with timelines and dozens of military acronyms, the documents, some marked "top secret", paint a detailed picture of the war in Ukraine and also offer information on China and allies. Pentagon officials are quoted as saying the documents are real. BBC News and other news organisations have reviewed the documents and these are some of the key findings. The US believed the UN secretary general's stance on a key grain deal was undermining attempts to hold Russia accountable for the war in Ukraine. Antonio Guterres was too willing to accommodate Russian interests, according to files which suggest Washington has been closely monitoring him. Several documents describe private communications involving Mr Guterres and his deputy. One leaked document focuses on the Black Sea grain deal, brokered by the UN and Turkey in July following fears of a global food crisis. It suggests that Mr Guterres was so keen to preserve the deal that he was willing to give in to Russia's demands - a stance which was "undermining broader efforts to hold Russia accountable". While the bulk of the leaked documents concern, in one way or another, the war in Ukraine, there are others that touch on a huge range of unrelated issues. Many of them shed light on some of Washington's global preoccupations. Like the spread and purpose of Chinese technology. The documents appear to have been printed out and folded before being photographed and posted online Three documents based on intelligence from late February detail discussions among senior Jordanian officials over whether or not to shut the Chinese firm Huawei out of its 5G rollout plans. Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein, in charge of the rollout, is said in the document to be worried about retaliation from China if they keep Huawei out. Nor is this the only place where fears about Chinese technology are revealed Another document marked top secret addresses China's "developing cyber-attack capabilities." It says these are designed "to deny, exploit, and hijack satellite links and networks as part of its strategy to control information, which it considers to be a key warfighting domain." Newly discovered documents suggest Russian officials are at loggerheads over the reporting of casualties. The main intelligence agency, the FSB, has "accused" the country's defence ministry of playing down the human impact of the war, the files show. These findings show the extent to which the US agencies have penetrated the Russian intelligence and military. One document, dated 23 March, refers to the presence of a small number of Western special forces operating inside Ukraine, without specifying their activities or location. The UK has the largest contingent (50), followed by Latvia (17), France (15), the US (14) and the Netherlands (1). Western governments typically refrain from commenting on such sensitive matters, but this detail is likely to be seized upon by Moscow, which has in recent months argued that it is not just confronting Ukraine, but Nato as well. Other documents say when a dozen new Ukrainian brigades - being prepared for an offensive that could begin within weeks - will be ready. They list, in great detail, the tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery pieces that are being provided by Ukraine's Western allies. One map includes a timeline that assesses ground conditions across eastern Ukraine as spring progresses. According to the Washington Post newspaper, one document from early February expresses misgivings about Ukraine's chances of success in its forthcoming counteroffensive, saying that problems with generating and sustaining sufficient forces could result in "modest territorial gains". Ukraine's difficulties in maintaining its vital air defences are also analysed, with warnings from late February that Kyiv might run out of critical missiles. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: The Pentagon leaks explained in under 60 seconds. Casualty figures are also listed. One slide refers to as many as 223,000 Russian soldiers killed or wounded, and as many as 131,000 Ukrainians. Some Ukrainian officials have dismissed the leaks, suggesting they might constitute a Russian disinformation campaign. But there are signs of frustration and anger too. One presidential advisor, Mykhailo Podolyak, tweeted: "We need less contemplation on 'leaks' and more long-range weapons in order to properly end the war." President al-Sisi is said to have told officials to keep production of rockets for Russia secret - but an Egyptian official says the allegation is baseless The Washington Post obtained access to another document from mid-February, where they found that Egypt had plans to produce 40,000 rockets for Russia in secret. The Post said President Abdul Fatah al-Sisi told officials to keep production and shipment secret "to avoid problems with the West". An official is quoted as saying he would "order his people to work shift work if necessary because it was the least Egypt could do to repay Russia for unspecified help earlier". It is unclear what the earlier help refers to. In January, Reuters reported that Russia's share of Egyptian wheat imports had risen in 2022, offering one possible explanation. There is no indication that Egypt - a recipient of US security assistance, worth around $1bn a year - went ahead with the proposed sale to Russia. An unnamed official quoted on Egyptian news channels described the allegation as "utterly baseless" and said Cairo did not take sides in the war. The Kremlin called it "just another canard" and the White House said there was "no indication" Egypt was providing lethal weapons to Russia. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Expert: US and Egypt ready to move forward after leak A classified document, seen by the BBC, reveals that South Korea was torn about selling weapons for use in Ukraine. The report, based on signals intelligence, details a sensitive conversation between national security advisers. They are torn between US pressure to send ammunition to Ukraine and their policy not to arm countries at war. One of the advisers suggests sending the shells to Poland instead, to avoid appearing to have given in to the US. As part of a resupply deal last year, Seoul insisted that the US could not pass the shells on to Ukraine. Seoul has been reluctant to arm Ukraine, for fear of antagonising Russia. The leak has triggered security concerns in Seoul, with opposition politicians questioning how the US was able to intercept such a high-level conversation. The Post also found that Beijing tested one of its experimental missiles - the DF-27 hypersonic glide vehicle - on 25 February. The missile flew for 12 minutes over a distance of 2,100km (1,300 miles), according to the documents.

Have you ever seen a "snow tornado"? Michael Peterson was feeding his sheep on his croft in Shetland when he spotted the rare weather event following a hailstorm on Tuesday. He told BBC Radio Shetland he was lucky to be in the "right place at the right time". An Arctic blast continues to hit many parts of Scotland, with school closures in Shetland, Aberdeenshire and Highland.

We're drawing our live page to a close, but before we go let's take a look again at some of George Alagiah's most memorable moments on our screens: Tributes have been pouring in from his colleagues at the BBC, friends elsewhere, and members of the public after a statement from his agent said he "died peacefully today, surrounded by his family and loved ones". The BBC's director general Tim Davie has described Alagiah as "one of the best and bravest journalists of his generation". Today's page has been edited by me and James FitzGerald and written by Emily Atkinson, Jacqueline Howard and Sam Hancock.

Rick Slayman (seated) pictured with his partner and team of doctors The first man to receive a genetically modified kidney transplant from a pig has been discharged from hospital. The 62-year-old was sent home on Wednesday, two weeks after the ground-breaking surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Organ transplants from genetically modified pigs have failed in the past. But the success of this procedure so far has been hailed by scientists as a historic milestone in the field of transplantation. The news was shared in a press release on Wednesday by MGH, which is Harvard Medical School's largest teaching hospital in the US city of Boston. In the release, the hospital said the patient, Richard "Rick" Slayman of Weymouth, Massachusetts, had been battling end-stage kidney disease and required an organ transplant. His doctors successfully transplanted a genetically-edited pig kidney into his body over a four-hour-long surgery on 16 March. They said Mr Slayman's kidney is now functioning well and he is no longer on dialysis. In a statement, Mr Slayman said being able to leave hospital and go home was "one of the happiest moments" of his life. "I'm excited to resume spending time with my family, friends, and loved ones free from the burden of dialysis that has affected my quality of life for many years." In 2018, he had a human kidney transplant from a deceased donor, however it began to fail last year, and doctors raised the idea of a pig kidney transplant. "I saw it not only as a way to help me, but a way to provide hope for the thousands of people who need a transplant to survive," he said. The new pig kidney he received was modified by Cambridge-based pharmaceutical company eGenesis to remove "harmful pig genes and add certain human genes to improve its compatibility with humans," it said. For the procedure, the hospital said it drew from its history as being behind the world's first successful human organ transplant - a kidney - in 1954, as well as research it had conducted with eGenesis on xenotransplantation (interspecies organ transplants) over the past five years. The pig kidney was genetically modified to make it more compatible with the human body The procedure was greenlit by the Food and Drug Administration, who offered a single Expanded Access Protocol - also known as compassionate use - that is used for patients with life-threatening illnesses to grant them access to experimental treatment. The team behind the transplant hailed it as a historic step that can provide a potential solution to the world's organ shortage, especially to those from ethnic minority communities whom the shortage disproportionately affects. "An abundant supply of organs resulting from this technological advance may go far to finally achieve health equity and offer the best solution to kidney failure - a well-functioning kidney - to all patients in need," said Winfred Williams, Mr Slayman's doctor at MGH. According to data by US non-profit United Network for Organ Sharing, more than 100,000 Americans need a lifesaving organ transplant. Meanwhile, the number of donors - deceased and living - in 2023 was just under 23,500. It is estimated that 17 people die each day in the US while waiting for an organ, and kidneys are the most common organ needed for a transplant. While this is the first pig kidney transplanted into a human, it is not the first pig organ to be used in an transplant procedure. Two other patients have received pig heart transplants, but those procedures were unsuccessful as the recipients had died a few weeks later. In one case, there were signs that the patient's immune system had rejected the organ, which is a common risk in transplants.

Politicians and not civil servants should make any "exceptionally difficult decisions" on Stormont's public finances, a union representing senior civil servants has said. Permanent secretaries have been running Stormont departments since October due to the political stalemate at Stormont. The FDA told the NI secretary they are tasked with "exceptionally difficult decisions" related to the budget. It added that any cuts should fall on an "accountable, active politician". A Northern Ireland Office (NIO) spokesperson said restoring the Executive was "the most immediate way of delivering local governance and prosperity". "The UK government's priority remains to see restored devolved institutions in place to take the decisions and action needed to address the challenges facing Northern Ireland at this time," they added. The Stormont Executive is not functioning due to a boycott by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which is opposed to Northern Ireland's post-Brexit trading arrangements. However, with none of the nine government department ministers in place, the powers of civil servants are severely limited. They can only implement policies previously agreed by politicians and their ability to react to changing circumstances is negligible. Last month, BBC News NI reported that Stormont officials were planning for budget cuts of at least £500m in cash terms. In a letter, first reported by the Belfast Telegraph, FDA general secretary Dave Penman said no civil servant had accepted their post with the intention of taking decisions "ought properly to be taken by democratically-elected ministers". "The FDA is aware, from the statements you and local parties in Northern Ireland have made in recent days, that you expect to set an exceptionally challenging budget for Northern Ireland by the end of this week. "FDA members who are accounting officers, and those who support them, are being tasked by you to implement this challenging budget, requiring exceptionally difficult decisions to be taken which fall far outside the scope of what should be decided by officials operating without the direction and control of a minister." This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post by Dave Penman This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The required financial decisions will be "significant and controversial" according to Mr Penman. He added there is a "serious risk of causing detrimental impacts to the most vulnerable in society in Northern Ireland", including children and those relying on the health service. Mr Penman asked Mr Heaton-Harris to legislate an amendment to the Northern Ireland (Executive Functions) Act 2022 to empower a Westminster minister to provide ministerial direction to civil service colleagues. He said this will ensure decisions of a political nature "are taken at the right level, with suitable democratic accountability". Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris is likely to make the calls on spending totals for each department Mr Heaton-Harris has not yet set a Northern Ireland budget for 2023-24 in the absence of an executive at Stormont. School budgets have been hit already with the Department of Education axing "holiday hunger" payments and certain mental health services. In March, the chancellor said his budget will mean an additional £130m for public spending in Northern Ireland over the next two years. Typically, it would fall to politicians in the power-sharing government at Stormont to decide how any extra cash from the budget is spent. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Speaking to BBC News NI, the FDA's general secretary said civil servants feel it "is not appropriate" to be making any financial decisions as they are dealing with "very different territory" at the moment. "Previously it was business as usual... look at previous decisions, there was a lot of precedent. "The difference now is the scale of the budget cuts," he said. Mr Penman added this is "not an ordinary spending round" and that the scale of decision making will be "unprecedented". "The people of Northern Ireland, they will not know what's about to come in terms of budget cuts." Mr Penman said the letter, which was sent on Friday, has yet to receive a response from Mr Heaton-Harris.

Rail workers are to strike next month after the RMT union rejected the latest pay deal from train operators. RMT members will strike on 13 May, the day of the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. Train operators said they had been "blindsided" by the strike, and denied union claims they had changed their offer. It follows train drivers' union Aslef calling strikes on 12 and 31 May, and on 3 June, the day of the FA Cup Final. The offer by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train firms, was aimed at ending the long-running dispute. But the RMT union said accepting it would mean no further strike action could take place further down the line. There had been ongoing discussions as the union and train firms tried to reach a deal. Mick Lynch, RMT general secretary, said the (RDG), which represents the train companies, had "reneged on their original proposals and torpedoed these negotiations". But Steve Montgomery, chair of the RDG Group said the union was "negotiating in bad faith, again denying their members a say on a fair pay deal, needlessly disrupting the lives of millions of our passengers, and undermining the viability of an industry critical to Britain's economy". Workers at 14 train operators will now go on strike for 24 hours on 13 May. Previous strikes had been called off when it was clear a new offer from the train firms was on its way. The union had been considering the detail of the RDG's latest proposals. They involved one year's pay increase that was dependent on the union agreeing to go into a "dispute resolution process" and, the industry would say, accepting the general principle of changes to working practices. This would be followed by a second year's pay increase dependent on those reforms being negotiated at individual operators. But the RMT has rejected the offer because it said it would not be able to call any more strikes if it accepted the first year's 5% pay increase. The industry argues that has always been clear. The union is currently balloting its members for another mandate for strike action lasting a further six months. There were no train strikes in the diary this morning. Now there are four, some of them falling on the day of major sport and music events. Any hopes the RMT's dispute with 14 train companies was close to being solved, have now been dashed. It's very much not over - unlike the dispute with Network Rail, which saw signallers and maintenance staff accept a deal in March. The dispute with the train operators always looked harder to resolve than Network Rail, because of the changes to working conditions involved - the strings attached, from the unions' perspective. There's more misery for passengers on the way - hitting confidence in railway travel again - and workers will lose more pay. Train companies' separate dispute with the train drivers' union Aslef has never looked close to a resolution, and today it announced three more strike dates. But today's announcement from the RMT was a surprise, and makes it hard to see how their dispute goes from here. The RMT's strikes have less impact than they did when Network Rail was involved too. But right now, it looks like there's still plenty of disruption ahead. The government has a significant role - it holds the purse strings. It has shown no sign recently of being prepared to allow the train companies to put more money on the table. The last rail strike on 18 March meant only 40% to 50% of trains could run as workers across 14 train operators walked out. The ongoing dispute has affected services since June last year. How are you affected by the latest round of rail strikes? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Former US President Donald Trump has been consulting lawyers at Trump Tower in New York City as he prepares to face history-making criminal charges. He has been under investigation over hush money paid just before the 2016 election to a porn star who says they had sex. He denies wrongdoing. Extra security measures are in place with the authorities expecting protests outside the Manhattan court on Tuesday. Mr Trump, 76, is the first ex-US president to face a criminal case. "WITCH HUNT," the Republican wrote on his Truth Social platform shortly before travelling from his home in Florida to New York on Monday - a journey which drew blanket coverage across the US news channels. On Tuesday morning, dozens of police and court officers, as well as Secret Service agents, are expected to escort Mr Trump through the streets of New York to the Lower Manhattan court complex. The charges he faces will be disclosed in full at the hearing, which is scheduled for about 14:15 local time (19:15 BST). His lawyers have already said he will plead not guilty. The former president is expected first to surrender at the office of Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg. Once Mr Trump is fingerprinted and processed by officials, he is considered under arrest and in custody. He will then be arraigned in court - meaning the charges will be read out and he will plead. Mr Trump has been under investigation over a $130,000 (£105,000) wire transfer by his former attorney, Michael Cohen, to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. Hush money agreements are not illegal, but the Manhattan prosecutor has been investigating whether business records were falsified in relation to the payment. Mr Trump faces at least one felony charge in the case, according to US media. Other reports suggest there are about 30 counts in his indictment. Media outlets lobbied Judge Juan Merchan to allow cameras inside the court, a motion that was opposed by Mr Trump's legal team because they said it would "create a circus-like atmosphere at the arraignment". But on Monday night, Judge Merchan ruled that some press photographers will be allowed to take pictures for several minutes before the arraignment formally starts. The former president is expected to be released on bail and to return to his Florida home Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday evening, where he plans to deliver remarks at 20:15 local time. His trip on Monday lunchtime from Palm Beach to Manhattan was closely watched by millions. Live trackers followed his plane - painted in red, white and blue with "Trump" in big letters on the side - throughout the nearly four-hour flight from West Palm Beach to LaGuardia Airport in Queens. Anticipating his arrival, the intersection around Trump Tower - the former president's Manhattan residence - was thronged with New Yorkers and tourists alike. Dozens of media crews had set up camp on every available corner while at least five news helicopters hovered high over Fifth Avenue. Mr Trump waved at media and the crowd before walking in to the skyscraper under tight security, just after 16:15 local time (20:15 GMT). He is understood to have spent Monday evening at Trump Tower consulting with legal advisers, a team that grew with the addition of Todd Blanche, a white-collar criminal defence lawyer and ex-federal prosecutor who previously represented onetime Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Mr Trump's 2024 White House campaign has raised over $8m since news of the charges against him broke last week, according to his team. At a news conference on Monday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams warned any potential "rabble-rousers" to "control yourselves". Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene plans to hold a pro-Trump rally near the court on Tuesday. Unlike the days preceding the Capitol riot in 2021 by Trump supporters, New York officials say they have not seen any influx of protesters to the city in recent days. President Joe Biden, at an event in the state of Minnesota on Monday, told reporters he had no concerns about unrest in New York, saying: "I have faith in the New York Police Department." With additional reporting from Kayla Epstein in New York Do you have questions about Donald Trump's court hearing? In some cases your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy. Use this form to ask your question: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or send them via email to YourQuestions@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any question you send in.

China is pressuring Uyghurs living abroad to spy on human rights campaigners by threatening families back home, researchers say. Refugees and activists tell the BBC intimidating tactics are tearing communities apart. "My dearest son," said Alim's mother as she flickered into view. "I didn't think I'd see you before I died." Alim - not his real name - says he was overcome by the moment. The reunion over a video call was their first contact in six years, since he fled as a refugee to the UK. But it was bittersweet: someone else was in control of the call. Like all Uyghurs - a mostly Muslim minority from north-western China - Alim's mother lives under intense surveillance and control. They could never call each other directly. Instead, a middleman phoned Alim and his mother from two separate mobiles. He held the phone screens to face each other, so the pair could see wobbly images of each other - and hear muffled sound from the speakers. Alim says they barely spoke, and spent most of the call in tears. He doesn't know if the plain white wall he could see behind his mother was in her house in Xinjiang or an internment camp, where the Chinese government is alleged to have detained more than a million Uyghurs. China has long denied those charges. But Alim says he knew this contact with his mother would come at a cost - because the man brokering the call was a Chinese police officer. Uyghurs in China live under intense surveillance and more than a million have allegedly been detained in internment camps (file photo from 2019) When the officer called again, he asked Alim to attend meetings of Uyghur human rights activists, gather intelligence and pass it back to the Chinese state. "Whenever there was an anti-China protest in London, they would call me and ask who would be attending," says Alim, who shared with the BBC recordings of the phone calls requesting he work as a spy. Alim was offered money, too, so he could try to befriend the leaders of campaign groups - many of them UK citizens - by taking them to restaurants and picking up the bill. The officer suggested setting up a company as a front, in case suspicions were raised about his newfound wealth. Plenty of businesses had already been set up on behalf of others for that exact purpose, Alim was told. The implied threat, that his family may come to harm if he refused, has left him in a vicious bind. "They are using my family as hostages," Alim says. "I am living in a dark moment." Watch more on BBC Newsnight on BBC Two at 22:30 on Monday 31 July, or catch up afterwards on BBC iPlayer The tactics employed by governments to police their diasporas abroad are known as transnational repression. Research suggests this particular kind - controlling access to family members in the home country through video calls, in exchange for compliance overseas - is commonly used by Chinese police. Dr David Tobin at the University of Sheffield has conducted some of the most comprehensive research on the topic to date, with his colleague Nyrola Elimä. They have interviewed and surveyed more than 200 members of the Uyghur diaspora in several countries. He says all Uyghurs living outside China are victims of transnational repression. "Family separation is the central tactic," he says. Even where phone calls are technically possible, relatives still living in China won't pick up, according to Dr Tobin. He says there is an assumption that calls will be monitored, and a fear that communicating freely will put them at risk. Dr David Tobin says all Uyghurs living abroad are victims of transnational repression This severing of family ties allows Chinese police to step in and offer tightly managed access - over video calls - as an incentive to comply, with the threat of repercussions for the family if they do not. In the UK, Dr Tobin surveyed or interviewed 48 Uyghurs, from a population of about 400 people. Of those, two-thirds reported having been contacted directly by Chinese police - and pressured to spy, refrain from advocacy work, or stop speaking to the media. And Uyghurs in the UK are far from the worst affected. In Turkey, traditionally a safe haven for Uyghurs where 50,000 live in one of the largest communities outside China, 80% of the 148 of respondents reported similar threats from Chinese authorities. Abdurehim Paraç arrived in Istanbul in 2014, having fled China a year earlier. "Turkey was completely different to anything we'd experienced. We could travel wherever we wanted. The police didn't bother us," he says. "I couldn't believe such a life was possible." But in the past few years, the picture has changed for Uyghurs in Turkey. Reports that police based in China have pressured people to spy on each other have filtered through the community, splintering their sense of camaraderie. Abdurehim Paraç says Turkey was a safe haven for Uyghurs, but China's tactics are driving the community apart In a video posted on Facebook, a young Uyghur man who appears to have been captured and beaten by his peers, offers a troubled confession - admitting to spying on behalf of Beijing. While the circumstances surrounding the scene are unclear, the footage has been circulated among the Uyghur community, and the man has been widely condemned online. The accumulation of stories like these is having an effect, Abdurehim says. "Young people are distancing themselves from Uyghur protests and meetings. They are worried that people there might be spies," he says. "China's plan is working." Dr Tobin thinks Turkish authorities are aware of what's happening and have been slow to respond. "The more dependent a country is on investment from China, the more likely it is to cooperate or to turn a blind eye," he says. Turkey is seen as having grown closer to China in recent years, and questions have been raised about its commitment to protecting its Uyghur community. The Turkish government did not respond to a request for comment. But China is not only targeting people in countries where it has economic supremacy. Julie Millsap, a US-born activist who works with the Uyghur Human Rights Project in Washington DC, says China has tried to pressure her through her in-laws. Julie Millsap, a US-born activist, says her husband's family in China faced police harassment for her work with Uyghurs Her husband is Han Chinese, part of the country's largest ethnic group, and the two met in China before moving to the US capital in 2020. After Julie began campaigning on behalf of Uyghurs, local police began dropping in on her extended family in China, saying they "wanted to be friends". She and her husband received threatening messages from her sister-in-law's phone, suggesting Julie's children may end up "as orphans". "They weren't written in a language style that she used," says Julie, who suspects the police were instructing her to send them. During a recent video call between her husband, in Washington DC, and his sister, in China, the police happened to stop by, allowing Julie to record the moment, and confront one of the officers directly. "He stammered and asked us not to misinterpret his intentions," she says. The officer told her police were arranging visits to all local families with US relatives, in light of the "delicate" relationship between the US and China. Julie Millsap confronted a police officer who dropped in on her sister-in-law in China Julie recognises that a white American and a Han Chinese family are afforded a degree of safety that Uyghurs are not. "But we're still talking about police harassment, about threats, about a daily reality that is anything but good," she says. She thinks it is alarming that Chinese authorities feel comfortable targeting foreign citizens and attempting to dictate their work. The US government is beginning to address the problem formally. In March, senators introduced the Transnational Repression Policy Act, listing a range of abuses including "coercion by proxy", which covers threats to family members overseas. If passed, the law would see the creation of a dedicated phone line to report threats, and prompt Congress to bring sanctions against perpetrators wherever possible. Abduweli Ayup, a Uyghur rights campaigner based in Norway, thinks the US legislation would be a step in the right direction, but that Western governments should go further. Each time a case is reported to the authorities, questions should be lodged directly with the Chinese government, requesting assurance that family members are safe, he says. "We are your citizens, your neighbours and your taxpayers. Our governments should take some responsibility," says Mr Ayup. Dr Tobin recognises the complications inherent in tackling the issue. "Saying 'would you like to speak to your family?' isn't a crime. We know it's a threat. We know it breaks communities, and causes mental health problems and trauma, but it is not a crime on British soil," he says. The UK Home Office says attempts to intimidate overseas critics are "unacceptable", that an internal review into transnational repression is underway, and all such incidents should be reported to law enforcement. In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in London called the allegations of transnational repression "totally groundless". The Chinese government "protects Uyghurs and their communication with overseas relatives in accordance with the law", it said. Alim chose not to report his case to the police, but confessed his predicament to a group of Uyghur rights activists in London. One of the group's leaders told us the requests were very common, and posed challenges to the integrity of the community - but insisted their advocacy work would continue. In their experience, almost all advances from Chinese police are rejected. Alim wrestled with the issue before reaching a decision. "I realised that betraying others for the sake of my family would mean selling out my nation, and I couldn't do that. "If that was the price I had to pay, so be it." He too refused China's offer.

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Conservation efforts have seen the number of red squirrels on Anglesey go from 40 to 1,000 Wales' red squirrels face being wiped out by a deadly virus unless a vaccine is developed, campaigners have warned. The pox killed up to 80% of red squirrels over winter at one of just three sites where they can still be found in Wales. Nearly 11,000 people have signed a petition calling on the Welsh government to fund vaccine research. The Welsh government said it would look at "emerging evidence and opportunities to best support populations". Invasive, non-native grey squirrels carry squirrel pox virus, but are not affected by it. Dr Craig Shuttleworth, an honorary research fellow at Bangor University, said there were only about 1,000 red squirrels left in north Wales, mostly on Anglesey. There are tiny populations at Treborth, near Bangor, and in the Clocaenog forestry near Ruthin, Denbighshire. There is also a project to restore the squirrels to Ceredigion, but the numbers remain small. "We've got 1,000 and believe it or not, that's a conservation success," said Dr Shuttleworth. "When we started on Anglesey we only had 40, now we've got about 800, potentially a few more. But they are under threat, a massive threat." There has been a successful programme to cull all the grey squirrels on Anglesey, to protect the reds, but this has proved almost impossible to repeat on the mainland. Dr Craig Shuttleworth says squirrel pox is the biggest threat facing native red squirrels in Wales It led to the Treborth red squirrels almost being wiped out in November and December after coming into contact with grey squirrels carrying the pox virus. The virus rapidly develops in the reds, causing cuts, blisters and growths on the skin. It is highly infectious and kills them in about three weeks. Dr Shuttleworth said "we don't need a grey squirrel to set foot on the island for pox to come here" as reds moved between Anglesey and Gwynedd on the mainland. A red squirrel in Cumbria with lesions in his eyes and hands and that can barely eat - the virus is fatal to red squirrels He is convinced a vaccine could help prevent further deaths and help rebuild the population across the UK. According to the Red Squirrels Northern England group, there are now only 290,000 squirrels left in the UK. "We are asking the Welsh government to take the lead, to be daring and to start funding vaccine research again," said Dr Shuttleworth. A petition to the Senedd calling for the move has attracted 10,700 signatures, which means it will now be considered for a debate. Work on a vaccine was under way at Scotland's Moredun Institute until funding dried up in about 2010. Dr Colin McInnes, who led the original research programme, said there was "still quite a bit of work to be done", including how it would be delivered and how much protection it offered. Those backing the vaccine bid believe it would be money worth spending, with Dr Shuttleworth estimating tourists coming to see the squirrels was already worth about £1m a year. "What about the wellbeing value?" added Dr Shuttleworth. Hugh Rowlands has been dubbed "The Squirrel Whisperer" One person who knows more about this than perhaps any other is Hugh Rowlands, a retired Army veteran from Llangefni on Anglesey. He has post-traumatic stress disorder after his time in the military and seeing the red squirrels at a nature spot has changed his life. "It's very rewarding. It used to stop me getting in trouble with the law," he confessed. "I come here maybe five times a week for hours on end and just sit with the squirrels and feed them. "If a grey squirrel came in here and these squirrels disappeared, I would be absolutely devastated - there's no two ways about it." Hugh has been able to capture scores of images of his beloved red squirrels Hugh has now spent so much time in the area, the squirrels come out when they hear his voice, knowing food will follow. It earned him the nickname "The Squirrel Whisperer of the Dingle" from the television wildlife expert Iolo Williams. But he is sceptical: "I think it's this Welsh accent of mine they hear, and I just talk and talk and they come down." Responding to the petition lodged with the Senedd, a Welsh government official said: "We welcome the important work being carried out by people to protect this vulnerable species. "We have seen some positive progress for increasing numbers of red squirrels in Wales but there is much more to do."

Last updated on .From the section Man City Manchester City have been crowned Premier League champions for the third successive season after title rivals Arsenal lost at Nottingham Forest. The Gunners, top for the majority of the campaign, are four points behind City with only one game left to play after being beaten 1-0 on Saturday. Pep Guardiola's side have won the title in five of the past six campaigns. They also have a chance to claim the Treble, with FA Cup and Champions League finals to come next month. Only Manchester United, in 1998-99, have previously achieved that feat - and it is their derby rivals whom City will meet at Wembley on 3 June, before facing Inter Milan a week later in Istanbul, where they will hunt a first Champions League triumph. City will lift the trophy after they play Chelsea on Sunday (16:00 BST). Captain Ilkay Gundogan - who has scored four goals in the past two league games - said: "The Premier League is without doubt the most demanding and competitive league in the world, so that tells you everything about what an achievement this is. "To have won this trophy three times in a row and five times in six years is incredible. That quality and consistency helps sum up what Manchester City stand for and ensures the club will continue to strive for success going forward. "It has been a season I will never forget." City, champions for a ninth time in the club's history, had trailed Arsenal by eight points on 7 April, although they had played one game fewer than Mikel Arteta's leaders at that point. It is only the fourth time that a team has been as many as eight points clear after at least 28 Premier League games and failed to win the title. Only one team has ever had 69 points with 10 games remaining - as Arsenal did - and failed to win the title. That was Liverpool in 2018-19, when they finished on 97 points, one behind City. But City have won 11 league games in a row - and dropped just two points from a possible 42 - to overhaul Arsenal and clinch the title with three games remaining. "Arsenal have pushed us right to the limit," said full-back Kyle Walker. "They've been fantastic and full credit to them, but I think we just went on an incredible run, and we've managed to end up where we have now. They've had a few hiccups and we've managed to capitalise on that. "It's the players we've got. We're a bunch of lads who have achieved so much over the last number of years and we understand the standards we've set." • None 'An unstoppable juggernaut' - where will Man City dominance end? City are only the fifth club to win three successive top-flight titles in England, following Huddersfield Town (1924-26), Arsenal (1933-35), Liverpool (1982-84) and Manchester United, who did it twice under Sir Alex Ferguson (1999-2001 and 2007-09). It is also the third occasion Guardiola has managed to win three league titles in a row, having done so in La Liga with Barcelona from 2009-11 and in the Bundesliga from 2014-16 with Bayern Munich. City's Premier League dominance of five titles in six seasons was last achieved by Manchester United between 1996 and 2001 - a period where they also won the Treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. United also won seven titles in nine seasons between 1993-2001; as well as five titles in seven seasons between 2007-2013 - so City's current dominance is not unprecedented. Before that, Liverpool in the late 1970s and early '80s enjoyed similar periods of league success. City will complete their league campaign with away games against Brighton and Brentford, before resuming their Treble bid. Their push for that achievement has been driven, in part, by Erling Haaland's remarkable goalscoring record since the forward joined from Borussia Dortmund last summer. The 22-year-old Norwegian has scored 52 goals in 48 games in all competitions - including a record-breaking 36 goals in 33 Premier League appearances. Haaland is just the second player in English top-flight history to score more than 50 times in all competitions - and the first to do so for 95 years. He broke the Premier League record for goals in a season with his 35th at the start of March, which moved him one clear of Andy Cole and Alan Shearer - whose 34-goal tallies had come in a 42-match campaign. The title win comes three months after City were charged by the Premier League with more than 100 breaches of its financial rules following a four-year investigation. The charges cover the period of 2009-2018, since the 2008 takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group, led by billionaire Sheikh Mansour, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family. They are accused of effectively falsifying their accounts and artificially inflating sponsorship and commercial deals over a number of years to allow them to spend more but stay within Uefa and Premier League rules. City said they were "surprised by the charges" but welcomed the "review of this matter by an independent commission to impartially consider" their case, which City said was supported by a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence". City, who have always denied financial wrongdoing, said they "look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all". The club has been referred to an independent commission, which can impose punishments ranging from a fine and points deduction to expulsion from the Premier League. It is not known how long the process will take. • None Our coverage of Manchester City is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment • None Everything City - go straight to all the best content

The UN says more than 2,000 people have been forced to flee violence between rival factions at a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. The clashes between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement and Islamist groups left 11 people dead, the UN says. A ceasefire has now been agreed although gunfire was still being reported on Monday. Established in 1948, the Ein el-Hilweh camp is the largest in Lebanon. The UN says it houses more than 63,000 registered refugees, but some estimates say the population is higher. The camp, situated near the southern city of Sidon, falls outside the jurisdiction of the Lebanese security forces. It is left up to rival factions within the camp to maintain its security, but factional disputes are common. The weekend's violence erupted on Saturday when a member of an Islamist group was killed, AFP news agency reports, quoting an unnamed source inside the camp. Tensions continued to mount through to Sunday, culminating with the death of a Fatah commander, Ashraf al-Armouchi, and several of his aides. A ceasefire agreed on Sunday soon broke down, and heavy fighting was again reported on Monday with gun and anti-tank fire echoing through the camp. More than 40 people were injured in the clashes, including a UN aid worker, and two schools were damaged, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said. A second ceasefire agreed on Monday after a meeting with the local MP appears to have improved the situation, although there are still reports of some gunfire. The Palestinian presidency denounced the fighting, calling the security of the camps a "red line". "It is not permissible for anyone to intimidate our people and tamper with their security," it said in a statement. As well as the nine dead, Lebanese soldiers were also injured during the violence, the Lebanese army said. The director of the UNRWA in Lebanon, Dorothee Kraus, said all the agency's operations in the camp had been suspended. She called on "all parties to immediately return to calm and take all measures necessary to protect civilians, including children". More than 479,000 refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, the agency says. About half live in the country's 12 refugee camps, which have "dire" living conditions, it adds. You may also be interested in: This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Syrian refugees in Lebanon describe how living on aid is "eating us up inside"

The body of Jean Hanlon was recovered from the sea off Crete 14 years ago A third investigation into the death of a Dumfries woman in Crete has ruled it was foul play but the case has been closed due to lack of evidence. The body of Jean Hanlon, 53, was pulled from the water in Heraklion in 2009. A post-mortem examination concluded she drowned but information later suggested there may have been a struggle. Her son Michael Porter has said the latest ruling by Greek authorities was "infuriating" and called for the case to be reopened. Neither the Greek Ministry of Justice nor the Hellenic Police have responded to the BBC's requests for comment on Ms Hanlon's death. Speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Porter said: "To be told for a third time 'this isn't an accident, it is foul play, but there's just not enough evidence so we closed the case,' it's heart-breaking, it's frustrating and it's just infuriating. "It changes you as a family." Michael Porter, now 38, has called for the investigation into his mother's death to be reopened At the time Ms Hanlon died she had been living in Crete for several years, working in bars and tavernas. The mother-of-three's body was recovered from the sea off the Mediterranean island on 13 March, 2009, four days after she disappeared. Although the initial post-mortem examination said Ms Hanlon drowned, information later emerged suggesting she suffered injuries consistent with a struggle. For the last 14 years Ms Hanlon's family have campaigned for justice having been frustrated with the Greek police investigations. Her case was reopened in 2019 following a television documentary but it failed to secure a breakthrough. In 2020 the family issued a fresh appeal on the Greek equivalent of Crimewatch. The third and latest investigation was reopened in 2021 by police dealing with organised crime - the family received their ruling in November last year. Mr Porter said he was unsure of the timeline of the investigation but he said he believed police had done a good job. The family say they know for sure that on the night of her death, Ms Hanlon was with a man in the port of Heraklion who had still not been traced. "That's the million dollar question for us," Mr Porter said. "If this man left on good terms and mum was still happy, alive, then why has he not come forward? "Has he maybe for some strange reason not seen the news in 14 years, or is he not coming forward because he knows something? "We know someone knows something and allies change over the years." The youngest of three sons, Mr Porter said the search for answers has taken a "massive toll" on the family. He has previously spoken about the financial struggle associated with loved ones dying abroad - and lack of support available to their families. Despite the latest investigation failing to provide fresh leads, Mr Porter said he refused to give up hope. "Over time you get hardened up and you start to worry what else can we do that we haven't already done over the 14 years," he said. "We'll hold onto the fact that we've had two departments confirm to us that it wasn't an accident. It's something you're thrown into and you will fight until the end."

Zana Cousins-Greenwood said Harry Styles was "what you want him to be, which is lovely" A horse trainer has told how she urged Harry Styles to "fake it to make it" when getting in the saddle for his latest music video. In the video for Daylight, the singer rode a horse from Hertfordshire-based Stampede Stunt Company. Handler Zana Cousins-Greenwood had to keep her experience secret after they met on set in Kent 14 months ago. She said: "We trained him to ride, we trained him to look good and he listened." Stampede Stunt Company said Harry Styles "took the time with everybody and learnt all the skills" The former One Direction singer revealed he had never a ridden a horse to Ms Cousins-Greenwood and her team as they shared a lunch break together. This meant Styles only had about 20 minutes of training before cameras started rolling. "We said to Harry 'just look like you're confident on a horse - fake it until you make it'," Ms Cousins-Greenwood told BBC Three Counties Radio. The Hemel Hempstead company has worked with many celebrities including Sir Anthony Hopkins and the late Paul O'Grady. Usually, stars visit the training centre to practice. However, due to his busy schedule, the team met Styles for the first time on set at a circus outside a garden centre. Stampede Stunt Company has been training horses for 20 years Towards the end of the video, released on Wednesday, Styles rears the horse in slow motion while coolly holding eye contact with the camera. "I'm pleased that the horse went nice and high, he can be lazy at times," said the trainer. The Friesian horse, named Teake, was not initially meant to star in the video. Harry Styles only received 20 minutes of training before filming started Originally a horse named Carnival was chosen, with Teake brought along to the shoot to keep the white stallion company. However, the the video's director preferred Teake and Carnival was forced to instead appear in the background of a shot. Poppleguy has previously worked with the comedian and broadcaster Paul O'Grady The firm also provided a parrot for the video shoot. Poppleguy the parrot sits on Styles' shoulder as he feeds him a cashew nut. Ms Cousins-Greenwood said that inclusion was unplanned because, although the parrot often features in music videos, he does not normally like to sit on people's shoulders. "He's a little bit picky and he went straight on Harry Styles' shoulder, the sign of a good vibe," she said. Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830

Oliver Dowden has replaced Dominic Raab as deputy prime minister and Alex Chalk is the new justice secretary Rishi Sunak has appointed two close allies to the senior positions vacated by the resignation of Dominic Raab. Oliver Dowden becomes deputy prime minister and Alex Chalk gets his first cabinet job as justice secretary. Mr Dowden, as cabinet office secretary, already played a key role at the heart of the prime minister's administration. But both men have long been close to Mr Sunak and it was no surprise when they re-entered government following the short-lived tenure of Liz Truss. Like the prime minister, both were first elected to Parliament in 2015 and are firm friends with him - though, unlike Mr Sunak, both voted to remain in the EU in the Brexit referendum. Mr Dowden, 44, ran Mr Sunak's leadership campaign last summer and Mr Chalk, 46, was one of his most enthusiastic supporters. Mr Dowden had served as a junior minister under Theresa May, and at the cabinet office and as culture secretary under Boris Johnson, before he became Conservative Party Co-Chairman in September 2021. But he resigned from Mr Johnson's cabinet on the morning after the party suffered by-election defeats in Wakefield, and Tiverton and Honiton, in June 2022, saying: "We cannot carry on with business as usual." Within two weeks, Mr Johnson had quit as Tory leader. In a tweet, Mr Dowden, MP for Hertsmere in Hertfordshire, said he was "deeply honoured" by his latest appointment. For Mr Chalk - who like the prime minister attended elite private school Winchester - this is a significant promotion. He moves from the Ministry of Defence, where he was in charge of procurement. He represents Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, but had a majority of just 981 over the Liberal Democrat candidate at the last general election. As justice secretary, he will be no stranger to legal matters. A trained barrister, he is a former solicitor general for England and Wales, and has been prisons and probations minister. He has described his new job as "a hugely important brief that upholds the values of our great country - the rule of law, justice for victims and the right to a fair trial". Mr Chalk is the 11th person appointed to the post since the Conservatives took power in 2010. With a reputation for being sunny, affable and unfailingly polite, the new justice secretary is very different to his predecessor - or at least the character described in Adam Tolley KC's report. You might say they're Chalk and cheese. These appointments say something about the prime minister's confidence too. When he became prime minster last October, he made a point of keeping several former Liz Truss supporters in the cabinet - such as Therese Coffey, Sella Braverman and Alister Jack. Six months on and with the Tory party in parliament in a state of comparative calm, he has used this moment to reward the ranks of Team Sunak and to buttress his premiership with loyalists. Downing Street has also announced that Chloe Smith will cover as science secretary while Michelle Donelan is on maternity leave. Ms Smith, who was work and pensions secretary under Liz Truss, is to stand down as MP for Norwich North at the next general election. James Cartlidge has taken over from Mr Chalk as defence procurement minister, while his previous job as exchequer secretary has gone to Gareth Davies.

President Raisi (pictured) is an ultra-conservative close to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Iran says Saudi Arabia has invited Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi for an official visit - just over a week since the countries agreed to restore diplomatic relations. The invitation is said to have come in a letter from King Salman, but has not yet been confirmed by the Saudis. The Middle East's recent history has been dominated by hostility between the two nations. China brokered the thaw, which could reshape the region's geopolitics. A senior Iranian official, Mohammad Jamshidi, tweeted about the invitation to visit the Saudi capital, Riyadh, saying Mr Raisi had welcomed it and "stressed Iran's readiness to expand co-operation". Separately, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told reporters that the two countries had agreed to hold a meeting at foreign minister level, and that three possible locations had been proposed. He did not name the locations, nor say when the meeting might take place. The BBC's Middle East Editor, Sebastian Usher, says the recent improvement in bilateral relations, which came unexpectedly following days of talks brokered by China, appears to be building serious momentum. Both have announced they will reopen embassies within two months and re-establish trade and security relations. This development was cautiously welcomed by many, including the US and the United Nations, after previous attempts at reconciliation were unsuccessful. Saudi Arabia cut ties in January 2016 after demonstrators stormed its embassy in Tehran. That was after Riyadh had executed the prominent Shia Muslim cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, who was convicted of terror-related offences. Since then, tensions between the Sunni- and Shia-led neighbours have often been high, with each regarding the other as a threatening power seeking regional dominance. They have been on opposing sides of several regional conflicts, including the civil wars in Syria and Yemen. Mr Amir-Abdollahian also said that Iran hoped steps would be made to improve ties with Bahrain, a close Saudi ally that followed Riyadh in severing diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2016. "We hope that some obstacles between Iran and Bahrain will be removed and we will take basic steps to reopen the embassies," he said. Bahrain has not responded to the comments, but earlier welcomed the Iran-Saudi agreement to restore diplomatic ties. Iran has also expressed a willingness to resume or improve relations with other regional Arab rivals, including Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.

Following an hour-long stand-off, neighbours described hearing two rounds of gunshots A 36-year-old woman who was shot at a house has died. Armed police were called to the property in Priory Road in Dartford, Kent at 12:40 BST on 6 May after reports of gunshots. A 29-year-old man remains in hospital in a critical condition after also suffering gunshot wounds. Kent Police, which is now investigating the attack as a murder, said a trained negotiator tried to engage with a man inside the property. Witnesses reported the woman had been "held hostage", and was shot after an hour-long stand-off with police. The woman died in hospital in London on Monday. Police said the injured man was being treated as the suspect and the shooting treated as an isolated incident. The woman died two days after being shot in Dartford Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk.

Official photographs from the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla have been released. Hugo Burnand, who also took their wedding portrait in 2005, captured the royal couple in their regalia shortly after Saturday's Westminster Abbey ceremony. Group shots of senior royals and family members were also taken. The striking images were captured in Buckingham Palace's Throne Room and Green Drawing Room. The King is pictured wearing the Robe of Estate, the Imperial State Crown and is holding the Sovereign's Orb and Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross. He is seated on one of a pair of throne chairs that were especially made for use at the 1902 coronation of King Edward VII. Those chairs were also used by King Charles and Queen Camilla at Westminster Hall to receive addresses from the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament last year. The Queen is pictured in the Green Drawing Room wearing Queen Mary's Crown and Robe of Estate. King Charles III and Queen Camilla are pictured here with members of the working Royal Family In a statement, the King expressed his and Camilla's "most sincere and heartfelt thanks" to all those who helped to make the Coronation weekend "such a special occasion". To people who joined in the celebrations, the King said: "To know that we have your support and encouragement, and to witness your kindness expressed in so many different ways, has been the greatest possible Coronation gift." King Charles added that he and his wife would now rededicate their lives to "serving the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and Commonwealth". These photographs are sending an unmistakable message. It's showing King Charles and Queen Camilla in the most formal trappings of royalty, wearing their robes and crowns, showing them taking their place in these historic roles. It's the kind of official shot you'd see on the wall of a public building rather than in a family album. The picture of Camilla is also making it clear that this is now Queen Camilla, no longer the Queen Consort. The choice of who is in the group shot of the Royal Family is also symbolic. It says that the focus is limited to the "working royals", that core group who will carry out official duties on behalf of the King. It's not the extended family or any hangers-on, these are the royals we're going to see representing the new reign.

More than 12% of physiotherapy positions are currently vacant in Northern Ireland Training places at Ulster University for degree courses in physiotherapy and other health specialities are to be cut, BBC News NI understands. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in NI said it was expecting training places to be reduced after a budget briefing from the Department of Health. The society expressed extreme concern, saying more than 12% of physiotherapy positions are currently vacant. The Department of Health said the move is part of its attempts to save money. In a statement, the department said it was making decisions on spending reductions with "great regret". It added that it is in the impossible position of "having to fulfil conflicting responsibilities". The department said it was "living within the budget, acting in the public interest and safeguarding services". Civil servants have been tasked with running Stormont departments and managing public services in the absence of a devolved government, but they must stick to the budget published last month by Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris. The Department of Health received the biggest allocation, but its budget of £7.25bn was similar to the amount it got last year. That has been viewed as a difficult settlement because of the high rate of inflation and outstanding pay disputes involving nurses and other health workers. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in Northern Ireland said: "The current political hiatus has created an intolerable situation for public services here and will add to the significant pressures already facing the health and social care system." It added that although it did not yet have exact figures, it was "extremely concerned" by the anticipated cuts to number of physiotherapy undergraduate training places at Ulster University (UU). The number of nursing training places is to be cut from September "The health and social care service in Northern Ireland already has record numbers of workforce vacancies," the society said. "Last year saw approximately 900 applications for roughly 100 training places for the physiotherapy course in [UU] Magee." On Monday, the BBC revealed that the number of nursing training places is to be cut in September from 1,325 to 1,025. The Royal College of Nursing's Northern Ireland director, Rita Devlin, described the move as an "act of destruction". The department said it recognised the importance of staffing and was committed to 1,025 new nursing places. This was the level in place before the New Decade, New Approach deal, which included provision for an extra 300 nurse training places each year to address staff shortages and concerns over safety. But Ms Devlin said the news of cuts had left members "bewildered" with almost 3,000 vacant nursing posts in Northern Ireland. "It is unimaginable that the Department of Health has been put in the position of having to cut the number of student nursing places for 2023-2024 because of the political and financial crisis in Northern Ireland," she explained.

Shanshan and her Taiwanese boyfriend have found themselves caught up in strained relations of their governments (file image) Shanshan had never met anyone from Taiwan before January last year. The 24-year-old, from Changsha City in central China, had also not really paid much attention to news about the self-governing island, which her country believes is Chinese territory and has promised to take one day. But then she fell in love - she met her Taiwanese boyfriend playing online video games. They started chatting for hours, long talks during which she discovered he was "gentle and sensitive". But even as Shanshan and her partner Guodong share sweet messages across the Taiwan Strait - preparing to meet her parents during the Chinese New Year festival - their governments are trading a ramped-up war of words in the run-up to Taiwan's presidential elections on Saturday. China's President Xi Jinping has cast the decision at Taiwan's ballot box as a choice between war and peace. Under his leadership, Beijing has taken an ever sharper, firmer and often more aggressive tone towards the democratically-governed island, warning the world that it alone will decide how and when unification will happen. However, despite regular military activities in the Taiwan Strait, President Xi has also repeatedly offered "peaceful reunification", while Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office maintains that "both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family". But those most likely to listen to this message are its own people - not those living across the strait. Taiwan sits just 68 nautical miles away from China's Pingtan island - just visible through binoculars Shanshan and Guodong have very different views on the future of Taiwan. "My boyfriend just wants to maintain the status quo and doesn't want independence or unification. But I support our country's position and hope for unification one day. We only discuss, we don't argue. The key is that we can't change these things, so we hope for positive developments," she says. Their differing views have not affected their relationship. And yet, the issue has created very real barriers for the couple. China banned "individual tourists" from visiting Taiwan in 2019. That means Shanshan cannot visit her partner's home or his parents, and she wonders if that will ever change. But things are not much easier for Guodong when he arrives in China. Shanshan has discovered that she and her boyfriend may share the same language, and her government says they are the same people, but he faces the same hurdles as many foreigners hoping to settle in mainland China. The administration and paperwork involved for either one of them to stay with the other for any length of time is substantial. Paying for most things involves the need to generate a QR code on pre-registered Chinese phones, with Chinese apps linked to Chinese bank accounts - none of which he has. "For example, when he comes to visit, buying tickets, booking hotels, and making payments are challenging, and even going to tourist sites, taking taxis, or going to the bank, he faces difficulties," Shanshan explains. "After being together, I realised that there are many cross-strait couples facing restrictions and difficulties in meeting each other, and the marriage process is complicated and tedious." China's relationship with Taiwan is therefore critical for this couple. Closer ties could make it easier for them to move between countries. For them, politics across the strait is tangible. For others in China, Taiwan is part of a vision - the government's view of the future. State media highlights the ties between the two as a shining beacon of brotherhood and shared cultural heritage. Chinese tourists flock to this spot, embracing Beijing's vow to unify with Taiwan On a rocky outcrop of Pingtan island in Fujian province, the closest part of the Chinese mainland to Taiwan, tourists pay to stand on a platform and peer through binoculars at an outline of Taiwan 68 nautical miles (126km) away. Many have travelled thousands of miles to get here. They brave the biting January winds and struggle to brace themselves against the gales as they stare out to sea over the rising white horses. Sea fog and cloud obscure any view of Taiwan, but still, they line up to take photographs at a strategically placed stone arch, using their arms to make love heart signs above their heads. For some, this is a poignant moment. Cui Xiuwen has come from northwest China's Shaanxi province in the hope of just a glimpse of Taiwan. "My biggest wish after visiting here is that I hope the island of Taiwan can return to our motherland soon," the 61-year-old tells us excitedly. "The urge and feeling became stronger while I've been here. In the past I didn't feel this so keenly. Our compatriots are watching each other across the water and we cannot unite." She hugs our team warmly as she talks about her fear of conflict. "We see and hear much talk about Taiwan and the mainland on TV. That's why I want to come here quickly and look at it. I hope Taiwan will be reclaimed in a peaceful way. I don't want war. The casualties will be huge. We want peace." One young couple - dressed head to toe in Christian Dior - pose for their social media feeds in sunglasses while gazing wistfully out to sea. They stand in stark contrast to some of those who live and work on this island, who admit to rarely thinking about their neighbour, just a few hours away by boat. But Chinese citizens struggling to earn a living along the same coast rarely think about their neighbours Dozens of local workers gather in groups on the concrete walls of the small port on the island to sort abalone shells for harvesting. Huddling together out of the wind, wrapped up in fleece headscarves and fishing overalls, they barely look up as they speak to us. They need to keep working to earn money - that is their main concern. "I don't feel a connection. I have no friends or relatives there," says one woman as she uses her knife to scrape through the baskets to release the shellfish. "I don't care whether it's reunified or not. We ordinary people don't care. This is up to the officials. We have no wish or hope. We just want enough to eat, we want a better life. We don't care about other things." Read more about the Taiwan election: There are around 40 million people living in Fujian province. Many Taiwanese are thought to be descendants of Fujian immigrants, and Beijing often uses these ties as an argument for closer economic and social integration. It wants Fujian province to be the model for "peaceful unification with the motherland". It's part of what analysts call a "carrot and stick" approach to Taiwan. Or more recently - a display of warships and wooing. China has named its new aircraft carrier after Fujian. It unveiled new images of its first domestically designed warship on state television just last week - part of President Xi's goal of making the People's Liberation Army a "world class military". But alongside these flashy displays of military power, there is some evidence that Beijing is attempting to entice more Taiwanese people to the mainland. The Chinese government has unveiled a detailed plan this week to try to bring more Taiwanese investors to Fujian and to encourage Taiwan residents to study, work and live in the south-eastern province. One block of flats in Fuzhou, the BBC found, was even going as far as to offer incredibly cheap rent to Taiwanese people. "Welcome home" said the sign on the front door, but when we spoke to a real estate agent they said that any such rental agreement needed permission from various government departments. China also plans to build a high-speed railway across the strait "at an early date". The simple fact is the two need each other, economically. China is Taiwan's biggest trading partner, and exports to China have enabled its economy to enjoy strong growth. Beijing is keen to encourage Taiwanese people to live and work in China In an alleyway in Fuzhou, the main city in Fujian province, Li Haoyu from Taiwan tosses noodles into the sizzling wok as customers on mopeds wait for their dinner. He came to China seven years ago for a job at a funeral home. His path from there is a little vague, he's not even sure how old he is. He hasn't been back for five years, but has to return soon as his travel permit to China will soon expire. Taiwanese noodles have a simpler flavour, he says as his swirls the hot pan over the fire. World headlines about war and business worries across the Taiwan Strait do not worry him. He is only concerned with the flow of customers in his street. But he knows the relationship between his past and current homes are not good. "I think the feelings are good between the people. But I don't know how the two governments feel about each other," he says as he carefully loads the noodles into a bowl. "I hope ties can be normalized. I hope the two sides can be like two brothers, like a family," he adds. The ties between Taiwan and China after this election could also have an impact on Shanshan's blossoming relationship. Beijing has already warned that any attempt to push for Taiwan's formal independence will mean conflict - although many doubt Beijing will want a war on its doorstep as it battles an economic downturn. All Shanshan can do is "hope for a better cross-strait relationship". Luckily, their own relationship is going well, she adds. "Despite the distance, we can be together. Both of us hope for a future together. We can accept these difficulties, and even if it's challenging, we will support and help each other."

The Welsh government says it will not be banning foods, but will work with retailers on offers Meal deals with a high fat, sugar or salt content will be restricted in Wales under plans to tackle obesity and diabetes. Price drops and multi-buy offers on unhealthy foods will be banned in the Welsh government's proposals. Retailers have raised concerns as food prices remain high and an eating disorder charity says it could be detrimental to those in recovery. The legislation will be introduced next year and rolled out by 2025. A number of retailers offer lunch deals which combine a sandwich, drink and a snack for a set price. Restrictions will be placed on certain combinations that have a high fat, sugar or salt content above the recommended daily amount. "If I want to buy something with more sugar or salt in it then it's my choice," says Bethan Walker The new law will also prevent retailers from temporarily lowering prices and offering promotions such as two-for-one on the unhealthiest foods. The new rules will also try to curb junk food impulse buys by asking retailers not to promote certain items at the end of aisles or next to checkouts. The legislation will apply to all businesses which employ more than 50 people. • None 33% buy meal deals once per week or more • None 6lb/2.8kg weight gain a year if you ate an average meal deal five days a week for lunch • None 47lb/21kg weight gain a year if you ate a high calorie meal deal five days a week for lunch Similar changes in England have been delayed by the UK government, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying it would be unfair to restrict options when food prices remain high. In June 2020, Scotland "paused" a new bill to place restrictions on the promotion of junk food due to the Covid pandemic. Shoppers at a supermarket in the Vale of Glamorgan had mixed views on the proposed legislation. "I think it's a great idea," said June Milne. "I think the government should put restrictions on it. It's about time we put health before profits." Mohamed Gomaa believed putting health warnings on food packaging would be more effective, like the health warnings on cigarette packets. Bethan Walker said: "I understand what is going on, but personally, my view is that if I want to buy something with more sugar or salt in it then it's my choice." Filco supermarkets director Matthew Hunt described the timing as "ludicrous". "It is notable Rishi Sunak has recently been talking about relaxing this legislation, that it in itself is inflationary and not the right time to be taking this approach especially when food inflation in particular is as high as it is. "What should be avoided at all costs is the creation of confusion caused by different governments not being aligned with what is included and excluded. "It's about time we put health before profits," says June Milne Speaking on BBC Radio Wales Drive on Tuesday, Claire Reynolds from Eating disorder charity, Beat said: "There's a huge risk by putting these sorts of restrictions and red flags it can be a real sort of detriment for someone who is trying to recover from an eating disorder. "They may be on a prescribed meal plan which says they need to eat these particular things and then they are being told actually that's not right and they shouldn't." The Welsh government said there was strong public support for action to help people make healthier food choices. According to Public Health Wales data, 60% of people in Wales are overweight and one in four children are obese by the age of five. The number of people with type 2 diabetes in Wales is also at a record level. Deputy minister for mental health and wellbeing Lynne Neagle said: "This legislation will take forward our commitment to improve diets and help prevent obesity in Wales. "Our aim is to rebalance our food environments towards healthier products, so that the healthy choice becomes the easy choice." The Welsh government said it would not be banning any products, but it will continue to work with retailers to find a nutritional balance in all offers available to customers. Filco supermarkets director Matthew Hunt is concerned about "the creation of confusion" Dr Ilona Johnson, consultant in Public Health for Public Health Wales (PHW) said: "We know that from the evidence that policies targeting the food environment are effective and a strong legislative framework is an important step in helping us to shift the balance towards healthier choices and healthier people." The Welsh Retail Consortium said: "We are particularly concerned over possible plans to restrict price promotions and to restrict products in meal deals. "Promotions within categories allow retailers and brands to compete to attract customers, improving competition and keeping prices down." Welsh Conservative spokesman for mental health, James Evans said: "Obesity is a pressing issue across the western world that is a costly drain on the limited resources of our precious Welsh NHS and it is a shame that is has taken the Welsh government this long to address the problem. "However, during the cost of living pressures we are all facing, we need cast-iron assurances from the Welsh Labour government that they do not intend to ban meal deals and that any new regulations will not increase the average weekly cost for shoppers." Plaid Cymru said it "supports measures that focus on making it easier to choose healthy lifestyle options". "It's so important to find the balance between taking steps that could prevent poor future health rather than measures that involve the government restricting what we can do when too many households are already facing unreasonable squeeze on their budgets." The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Last updated on .From the section Premier League Arsenal restored their five-point advantage at the top of the Premier League in outstanding fashion with a ruthless victory at Fulham. Mikel Arteta's side responded to Manchester City's narrow victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday night by wrapping up this win by half-time as they opened up a 3-0 lead with a devastating attacking display. Gabriel Martinelli had already had a goal narrowly ruled out for offside by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), before defender Gabriel headed in Leandro Trossard's corner after 21 minutes - the first of a trio of assists for the Belgian. Trossard then crossed for Martinelli to beat the static Antonee Robinson to head home at the far post five minutes later, before providing the delivery for captain Martin Odegaard's cool finish in first-half stoppage time. Fulham mounted a belated threat after the break as visiting keeper Aaron Ramsdale denied Bobby de Cordova-Reid, while Tosin Adarabioyo headed against the woodwork. Arsenal, however, were always in control and Arteta was able to re-introduce influential striker Gabriel Jesus for the first time since he required knee surgery after being injured playing for Brazil against Cameroon at the World Cup for a 13-minute cameo. • None Team news followed by live text coverage of Sunday's Premier League action • None Go straight to our Arsenal content Trossard stands out as Gunners pass another test This had all the hallmarks of a hazardous fixture for Arsenal given Fulham's impressive campaign and the pressure on after Manchester City reduced their lead to two points. But, once again, the steel, character and skill that has characterised their season was on show. The £21m capture of Trossard from Brighton in January looks increasingly shrewd by the week and he ran riot down Fulham's right flank, taking on the role of creator-in-chief before being substituted to a standing ovation in the closing stages. Arsenal have been presented with examinations of different types on a regular basis in this impressive attempt to win a first title since 2004 - and they passed this one with flying colours. The Gunners dug deep to come from two goals down to beat Bournemouth in the 97th minute in last weekend's game at Emirates Stadium, while here they stamped their authority all over a lacklustre Fulham from the first whistle. Manchester City had asked the question by winning at Selhurst Park. Arsenal provided the answer at Craven Cottage with their fifth successive Premier League win. Marco Silva's Fulham have been an outstanding addition to the top flight this season - a surprise package given they were rated as relegation favourites by many. Here, however, they were well short of the standards they have set and this comprehensive defeat capped a disappointing week after losing the west London derby at Brentford on Monday. There were mitigating circumstances with two of their most influential performers missing, Willian ruled out with a back muscle injury and Joao Palhinha suspended. The goals have also dried up for main marksman Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has 11 this season, but last scored in January. After a below-par display, Fulham only came to life after the break when the game was effectively over. Currently in eighth place, they have done so well to put themselves in contention for European football next season. Silva's main task now is to ensure the conclusion to this campaign does not drift away into anti-climax. • None Attempt blocked. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. • None Attempt blocked. Fábio Vieira (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. • None Attempt missed. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Reiss Nelson. • None Attempt missed. Harry Wilson (Fulham) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Harrison Reed. • None Attempt saved. Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fábio Vieira. • None Offside, Fulham. Tim Ream tries a through ball, but Aleksandar Mitrovic is caught offside. • None Attempt blocked. Reiss Nelson (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page • None Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment

The Iron Shiek squared off against other wrestling greats including Hulk Hogan The Iron Sheik, a heavyweight champion WWE wrestler and hall-of-famer, has died aged 81, his family announced. He was a "true legend, a force of nature and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark" on the wrestling world, they said in a statement on Wednesday. "It is with great sadness that we share the news." Born in Iran, the wrestling icon's real name was Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri. His cause of death has not been given. At the peak of his wrestling career, in the 1980s, Vaziri faced off against other greats in the ring including Bob Backlund, Sgt Slaughter and Hulk Hogan. He defeated Backlund for the WWF World Heavyweight title in December 1983. One month later, in front of an electric crowd of over 20,000 at New York's Madison Square Garden, Hogan took down Vaziri and won the championship belt for the first time. The upset launched Hogan's career. The WWE called the event "one of the most famous wrestling matches of all time". Vaziri was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. "He was a trailblazer, breaking barriers and paving the way for a diverse range of wrestlers who followed in his footsteps," the family said. With his iconic shaved head, handlebar moustache and curled-toe shoes, Vaziri paid tribute to his Iranian heritage with his persona. According to ESPN, before wrestling he was a bodyguard for Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi of Iran. He almost made his country's Olympic wrestling team in 1968. Vaziri eventually moved to the US, became an assistant coach for the American wrestling team, and joined the WWE (then under the name WWF) in 1979. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Caryl Vaziri, and his children Tanya, Nikki and Marisa. "He was a loving and dedicated father," his family said. "He instilled in them the values of perseverance, determination, and the importance of following their dreams. The Iron Sheik's guidance and unwavering belief in their potential served as a driving force for his children, empowering them to become the best versions of themselves."

The Daily Mirror previously obtained and published still images from the same party The Metropolitan Police is reopening an investigation into breaches of Covid regulations at a Christmas gathering at Conservative Party HQ. A video of the event, where aides were invited to "jingle and mingle", was published by the Sunday Mirror. Police say they will not investigate alleged gatherings at the prime minister's country home, Chequers, when Boris Johnson was PM. But they are also now investigating an event in Parliament on 8 December 2020. According to the Guido Fawkes website, this event involved Conservative backbencher Sir Bernard Jenkin. Sir Bernard sits on the Commons Privileges Committee, which last month published a highly critical report about Mr Johnson. He told the BBC it was not appropriate to comment on an ongoing investigation. Mr Johnson - who stood down as an MP with a stinging attack on the committee - had accused Sir Bernard of "monstrous hypocrisy" if the allegations on the Guido Fawkes site were true. Conservative MP Virginia Crosbie issued an apology for attending the event while Covid restrictions were in place. The Ynys Mon MP confirmed the event took place but said she had not sent out any invitations. The Met police investigated the December 2020 party at Tory HQ last year, after a picture emerged showing former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey and Tory aides raising glasses besides buffet food, when indoor socialising was banned in the area. In November, the Met said they were taking no further action against Mr Bailey or the others pictured. They have now said they are reopening their inquiry, as the video published by the Mirror was not previously provided to officers. An invitation to the gathering, seen by the BBC, invited people to a "jingle and mingle" party. Mr Bailey - who was given a seat in the House of Lords in Mr Johnson's resignation honours list - previously said he apologised "unreservedly" for the event, which he said had "turned into something" after he left. He claimed he was "very upset about the video" as he had "never seen it before". The Liberal Democrats said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak should stop Mr Bailey "from taking his seat as a peer while this investigation takes place". Meanwhile, the Met Police and Thames Valley Police said they would not launch an investigation into potential rule-breaking between June 2020 and May 2021 at Downing Street and Chequers. In May, the forces said they were assessing information handed to them by Cabinet Office officials after a review of Mr Johnson's official diary as part of preparations for the Covid inquiry. Thames Valley police were looking into visits by Mr Johnson's family and friends to Chequers - the prime minister's country house in Buckinghamshire - during the pandemic. The Met were looking at possible further rule-breaches in Downing Street. In a jointly-issued statement on Tuesday, the forces said that after "further clarification" on the diary entries, they had decided the events did "not meet the retrospective criteria for opening an investigation". When news of his referral broke, Mr Johnson denied there had been any Covid breaches at the events, saying the actions of the Cabinet Office bore "all the hallmarks" of a "politically motivated stitch-up". The Cabinet Office said at the time that the material it had passed to police came from the "normal" process of reviewing documents. Former prime minister Mr Johnson stood down as an MP last month after a Commons committee accused him of misleading Parliament over separate events in Downing Street during the pandemic. The BBC has approached him for a fresh comment. Sign up for our morning newsletter and get BBC News in your inbox.

Some motorists are facing waits of more than three months at their closest test centre Some drivers in Northern Ireland are still struggling to book an MoT despite a record number of tests being carried out in the last six months. There has been a backlog since testing was suspended several times in 2020. The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said more than 500,000 tests were conducted in the last six months as part of efforts to cut delays. But some drivers trying to book online still face long waits for an appointment. Between September last year and the end of February 2023, a total of 506,967 full vehicle tests had been carried out by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA), she added. That is a 22% increase on the same period in 2021/2022. "This increase in capacity has been achieved by adopting a range of measures including the recruitment of additional vehicle examiners, the use of overtime to provide cover for leave and by offering vehicle test appointments on a Sunday and bank holidays, when testing is not normally available," the DfI said. "The DVA currently issues reminder notifications six weeks in advance of your MoT expiry date. "The DVA will keep this notification period under review as it continues to manage the demand for vehicle testing." They added that it did not currently hold information to enable it to accurately report the average waiting times for vehicle tests "given that this position changes on a regular basis". BBC News NI logged on to the booking system on Friday to check the current availability. The soonest date some MoT centres are offering in Northern Ireland are in June and July It appears many motorists are facing two or three-month delays for an MoT, unless a cancellation appears, when using the DVA online system. An MoT certificate ensures a vehicle meets legal standards and is required for tax and insurance purposes. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) previously said it would not penalise drivers whose MoT has expired as long as they met a number of criteria. The PSNI told BBC News NI that exemption remains in place. "In the event police encounter a vehicle with no current MoT, so long as we can ascertain that a vehicle is roadworthy, has a forthcoming MoT test date and is not sorned (statutory off road notification), then police will not take any further action," a spokesperson said. As for insurers, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) said "where motorists in Northern Ireland have a confirmed MoT appointment booking for their test, they should not be prejudiced by a lack of a valid MoT certificate if it has run out before the test takes place". ABI said its members had agreed to maintain cover for customers who, "through no fault of their own", could not get a test. "However, motorists whose MoTs are due must keep trying to book a test with the DVA, even if the date falls after when their MoT certificate expires." The spokesperson added that insurers must keep their vehicle in a roadworthy condition. Drivers requiring an MoT to tax their vehicle, who cannot get an appointment before their current certificate expires, are asked to "book the earliest available appointment and keep checking the booking system for an earlier appointment", according to the DfI. "If they get to within five days of the expiry date of their vehicle tax and they have been unable to secure an appointment or their vehicle tax has expired, they should contact the DVA customer services team at dva.customerservices@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk and they will do their best to get an urgent appointment for the vehicle," a spokesperson added. MoT tests in Northern Ireland were first suspended in January 2020 due to safety concerns about equipment being used during the tests. Then Covid-19 hit, bringing another halt to MoT tests in March 2020. Testing resumed in stages from June 2020, at a reduced capacity due to social distancing measures, before returning fully in July 2021. A new online booking system was set up in September 2021 to deal with the backlog that built up from January 2020, but it initially faced technical problems and created further delays.

Last updated on .From the section Championship Vincent Kompany's Burnley secured promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt with victory over fourth-placed Middlesbrough. The Clarets, unbeaten in the league since November, took an early lead when Ashley Barnes redirected Josh Brownhill's low shot into the back of the net. The home side equalised just after half-time when Championship top scorer Chuba Akpom scored from the spot after Josh Cullen felled Cameron Archer in the penalty area. Connor Roberts steered in the winner from Nathan Tella's near-post cross and Kompany's men saw out the rest of the game in comfort to spark wild celebrations on the pitch and among their travelling fans. Victory for the east Lancashire side sent them 19 points clear of third-placed Luton, who have six games left to play. • None Kompany says Burnley can 'go for more' after Premier League return Kompany left Belgian top-flight side Anderlecht to take over at Turf Moor after they were relegated on the final day of last season, and the 36-year-old former Manchester City defender has enjoyed a near-flawless first campaign. Despite a massive turnaround of players in the summer following the end of their six-year spell in the Premier League they have become the first team in the English Football League to secure promotion in 2022-23, having been top of the table since 25 October. The Lancashire side now need just 11 points from their final seven games to secure the title, while 13 will see them become the first Championship team to break the 100-point barrier since Leicester City in 2013-14. The Clarets host second-placed Sheffield United, the last team to beat them in a league game 19 matches ago, on Monday. For fourth-placed Middlesbrough this was a damaging second successive defeat and they are nine points adrift of the Blades, who have also played a game fewer. Burnley have now won promotion to the Premier League in each of their past three seasons in the second tier. However, this has looked very different to their previous successes under long-serving boss Sean Dyche, who, incidentally, was sacked on Good Friday last year. From the first game of the season, when they saw off Huddersfield in the Championship curtain-raiser back in July, it was apparent that they would be playing a far more possession-based game to the one employed by Dyche. They suffered defeat at Watford in the third game of the campaign and had just six points from their first five matches, but the Kompany did not waiver and a 16-match unbeaten run sent them to the top of the league. A heavy 5-2 defeat at Sheffield United did not derail them, as they secured a 3-0 win over east Lancashire rivals Blackburn in their next game. They picked up where they had left off after the break for the World Cup and they equalled a club record with a 10-game winning run that saw them open up a huge gap on the chasing pack. No side has won promotion to the Premier League with seven games left since the second tier rebranded in 2004 - and Burnley will now look to secure the title, break the 100-point barrier and become the first team to go unbeaten at home in a Championship season since Newcastle United in 2009-10. Given the amount of change that Kompany has overseen since taking charge it was somewhat ironic that it was a combination of two players who were there when he took over that gave them the lead. Brownhill's low strike from the edge of the area might have been going in anyway but 33-year-old Barnes, who has now won promotion to the Premier League three times with the club, stuck out a foot to redirect it and leave Boro keeper Zack Steffen with no chance. Barnes said after the game that he would be leaving the Clarets in the summer after nine years, saying it was "the end of an era" and it was "time for him to move on". Tella missed a gilt-edged chance to double their lead before the break when he fired wide after being played in behind the home defence. Akpom's 27th goal of the season brought Michael Carrick's men back into it and they enjoyed a spell of dominance thereafter. However, they could not create another real chance of note and were opened up by a pass into the inside right channel that Tella latched on to, before putting it on a plate for former Boro loanee Roberts to score. Akpom had a chance in the last minute to delay the Burnley celebrations for a few days at least but he headed wide at the back post. There was a sour note when Clarets midfielder Johann Berg Gudmundsson was struck by a coin thrown from the Middlesbrough end during the celebrations of the league leaders' second goal. Successive defeats for the Teessiders means they will almost certainly have to go through the play-offs if they are to join Burnley in the Premier League next season. "Credit to them firstly, I have to say congratulations. I've been in the changing room and seen the players and the staff because I think they deserve a congratulations for what they've achieved. "It hurts us to see them celebrating in our stadium but we totally respect the position that they are in and they deserve that. "In terms of the game, hugely proud of the lads. I thought there was a real high level game in terms of intensity. I know there wasn't loads of chances but I think that shows how good we both were and how far we've come really. "The boys are bitterly disappointed but at the same time I think they've taken a lot from it. "We've gained confidence, belief, we're a better team now. We've lost two games on the bounce but for me it's not a big deal because we'll take a lot more from this game tonight than we'll lose." "It's Easter and there's seven games to go and we're already celebrating. We didn't expect it. "We wanted to experience this at some point but quicker is better sometimes as well. "There's a couple of logical rules we all know, if you don't have squad cohesion at the beginning then it takes time. There's 46 games so you have the stress of games that help you improve quicker. "It wasn't easy. They're celebrating like kids and that's fun to see." • None Attempt missed. Chuba Akpom (Middlesbrough) header from very close range misses to the left. Assisted by Riley McGree with a cross. • None Offside, Burnley. Josh Cullen tries a through ball, but Vitinho is caught offside. • None Delay over. They are ready to continue. • None Delay in match because of an injury Arijanet Muric (Burnley). • None Substitution, Burnley. Michael Obafemi replaces Nathan Tella because of an injury. • None Delay over. They are ready to continue. • None Delay in match because of an injury Nathan Tella (Burnley). Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page

The UK government wants to introduce consistent recycling collection policies across England The UK government's plans to introduce consistent waste collection policies across England could prove chaotic and unworkable, councils have warned. The details of major government reforms to waste collection in England are expected to be confirmed soon. The changes could see councils ordered to arrange the separate collection of six types of recyclable waste. The government said standardisation will increase recycling rates and simplify waste management. But council leaders told the BBC the changes could backfire, with one saying it would be "madness" to force local authorities with different needs to collect waste in the same way. Peter Fleming, the Conservative leader of Sevenoaks District Council in Kent, said the reforms would mean more bin lorries on the roads and do nothing to encourage household waste reduction through behavioural change. "The idea that standardisation - a national bin service - is the way forward makes absolutely no sense," he told the BBC. Waste management is largely a devolved matter in the UK, with the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland setting their own policies. At the moment, councils in England have discretion over how and when waste is collected from households and businesses. But last year, the government passed a new law that required a consistent set of recyclable waste materials to be collected separately from all households and businesses. Local authorities will be required to collect the recyclable waste streams separately unless it is not technically or economically practicable, or there is no significant environmental benefit in doing so. The Environment Act, which became law in 2021, also requires that food waste collection must take place at least once a week. The government also wants councils to collect garden waste for free, but give them the right to charge for this beyond the basic service. Progress on recycling across the UK has been slower in recent years, with the rate in England hovering around the 45% mark since 2015. The UK government has committed to meet a 65% municipal recycling rate by 2035. In 2021, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) ran a public consultation on the best way to use its waste collection powers under the Environment Act. The BBC has been told councils expect the government to release its long-awaited response to the consultation this week. A Defra source did not deny this but would only say the response would be published "in due course". The consultation says the government expects councils to start implementing these new waste policies this year. The proposals in the consultation would cost more than £465m per year for the first seven years of implementation, according to research by the District Councils' Network, a lobby group. The government has said it would "fully fund" all new waste collection burdens on local authorities. Given the pressure on council budgets, "it is essential that the full implementation and running costs of any changes are reimbursed", a spokesperson for the District Councils' Network said. The spokesperson said they were concerned about the reforms and "their potential to reduce local freedom to deliver services that work in the best way for our communities". Those concerns were echoed by Sarah Nelmes, the leader of Three Rivers District Council in Hertfordshire. Council leader Sarah Nelmes fears the standardisation of waste management could be counterproductive Three Rivers says its residents currently recycle 63.5% of their waste and the council is consistently near the top of the league table for recycling in England. "Our residents do the recycling, we just make it easy for them," Ms Nelmes said. "If we change the rules, some people just won't bother. If I had to have another three boxes, would I recycle?" She said if the changes go ahead as planned, there may be "hidden costs" for councils and "bottlenecks" as they scramble to buy new bin lorries and expand depots. "I'm concerned it will be chaos because everybody will be trying to do the same thing at the same time," she said. "If every council in the country is having to buy different bins, that's not going to work great." Following the outcome of this consultation, Environment Secretary Therese Coffey will specify the types of materials to be collected within each recyclable waste stream, in new regulations. Charlotte Paine, who leads South Holland District Council's operational services, said collecting recyclable materials separately was appealing, in principle. "But trying to say that has to be done in a particular way just will not work given the complexities of different areas," she said. "Much depends on where your waste goes, your local recycling facility, and how well they can deal with that. That's where this consistency is going to fall down." Mr Fleming questioned the environmental benefits of forcing councils to buy more plastic bins and expanding waste collection operations. He said: "In a place like mine, where the majority of people don't live in the towns, why should we be running 26-tonne diesel vehicles all over the countryside to pick up Mrs Miggins's jam jar, or a bit of peeling from her potatoes? "This does feel like some kind of zealot in Defra pushing this through. And I'm not sure they'll achieve the environmental outcomes they're looking for." A Defra spokesperson said the reforms to waste management would "make recycling easier and ensure that there is a comprehensive, consistent service across England". "This will help increase recycled material in the products we buy and boost a growing UK recycling industry," the spokesperson said. "We have held a public consultation on the proposed changes and will announce further details shortly."

The stars have genuinely collaborated on previous songs including The Ride and Live For A song that uses Artificial Intelligence to clone the voices of Drake and The Weeknd has gone viral on social media. Called Heart On My Sleeve, the track simulates the two stars trading verses about pop star and actress Selena Gomez, who previously dated The Weeknd. The creator, known as @ghostwriter, claims the song was created by software trained on the musician's voices. "This is just the beginning," they wrote under the song's YouTube video. "We really are in a new era," responded one listener in the comments. "Can't even tell what's legit or fake anymore." "This is the 1st example of AI-generated music that really wowed me," added Mckay Wrigley, an AI developer, on Twitter. Since it was posted on Friday, the song has been viewed more than 8.5 million times on TikTok. The full version has also been played 254,000 times on Spotify. It opens with a repetitive piano figure that transitions into a booming bass beat, as the AI Drake raps: "I came in with my ex like Selena to flex/ Bumpin' Justin Bieber the fever ain't left." The fake Weeknd responds with a verse where he "alleges" Gomez cheated on him before their break-up in 2017. The track even includes a call-out to producer Metro Boomin', who has worked with artists such as 21 Savage, Future, Nicki Minaj and Kanye West. It's not perfect. The song has the scratchy, low quality vibe of a bootlegged demo; and the vocals are sometimes slurred and glitchy - likely to be artefacts of the AI process. Neither artist has responded to the song yet, but Drake recently expressed displeasure at his voice being cloned. "This is the final straw AI," he posted on Instagram, after stumbling across a fan-made video in which he appeared to be rapping the Ice Spice track Munch (Feeling U). Drake's complaint came after Universal Music Group wrote to streaming services including Spotify and Apple Music, asking them to prevent artificial intelligence companies from accessing their libraries. It is thought companies have been using the music to "train" their software. "We will not hesitate to take steps to protect our rights and those of our artists," UMG warned in the email, first obtained by the Financial Times. Several websites already offer fans the ability to create new songs using soundalike voices of pop's biggest stars. French DJ David Guetta recently used a site called uberduck.ai to mimic the voice of Eminem and add it to one of his instrumentals. "I'm sure the future of music is in AI," he told the BBC. However, he said the technology could only be useful "as a tool" - like the drum machine and the sampler before it. "Nothing is going to replace taste," he said. "What defines an artist is, you have a certain taste, you have a certain type of emotion you want to express, and you're going to use all the modern instruments to do that." Guetta was named producer of the year at the Brits 2023 Other faked tracks that have gone viral recently include a "deepfake" of Rihanna singing Beyoncé's Cuff It; and a cloned Kanye West singing the acoustic ballad Hey There, Delilah. The rapid rise of the technology has rattled the music industry. Heart On My Sleeve, for example, does not infringe copyright, as it appears to be an entirely original composition. The author has also made it explicit that Drake and The Weeknd were not involved in the making of the song, which should (in theory) protect them from a "passing off" claim, where they profit from misleading the audience into believing it is genuine. In response, a broad coalition of musicians and artists have launched a "Human Artistry Campaign", whose aim is to ensure artificial intelligence will not "erode" human creativity. Backed by the Recording Industry Association of America, the Association for Independent Music and the BPI - which organises the Brits - the group has outlined seven principles advocating AI best practices, and stressed that copyright protection should only be afforded to music created by humans. "There is so much potential with AI but it also presents risks to our creative community," said Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr, launching the initiative. "It's crucial that we get this right early on so we don't risk losing the artistic magic that only humans can create."

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: The Angel Inn hotel in Sussex engulfed by a fire A 400-year-old hotel that was housing Ukrainian refugees has been engulfed by a major blaze. The fire started in a property in North Street, Midhurst, in the early hours, before spreading to the roof of the Angel Inn hotel next door. More than 30 people, including "a number" of Ukrainian refugees, have been evacuated, firefighters said. The community was praised for its "generosity and keenness to help" after an appeal for donations was inundated. Local resident David Behan, who witnessed the fire, said the refugees spent the night in a nearby Indian restaurant before they were transported to a leisure centre, from where they have been re-homed. Mr Behan said: "They arrived at Christmas with very little. And what little they had, they've just completely lost, which is desperate." More than 30 people, including a number of Ukrainian refugees, were evacuated Midhurst Town Council arranged a donation point nearby for those who have been affected by the fire. The site became inundated with donations and closed only hours after it opened. A council spokeswoman said: "We have been overwhelmed by people's generosity and keenness to help, and now have everything we need to provide support for those who have lost their homes and belongings." The refugees had been very much welcomed into the community here. Some had jobs, and you'd often hear people speaking Ukrainian on the streets. The Angel Inn has been here for about 400 years, and has been owned by the same family for at least two generations. The firefighters have told some of the residents that the building cannot be saved. It is going to have to be demolished. It would be a horrible thing to have to lose for Midhurst. Another local resident, Hilton Holloway, said some children were among those evacuated from the hotel, which he said had about 15 rooms. "I spoke to one young woman who seemed relatively calm," he added. The cause of the fire is not yet known. Four people were treated at the scene but did not require hospital treatment. Road closures are in place, and firefighters, police and paramedics remain at the scene. The fire brigade said crews were called to North Street at 01:08 GMT, and 15 fire engines and two aerial ladder platforms were deployed. A total of 15 fire engines and two aerial ladder platforms were sent to the scene Firefighters were met with a "significant fire in the roof space" at the hotel, which spread to neighbouring properties, a spokesman said. "More than 30 people, including a number of Ukrainian refugees, were safely evacuated from the buildings, and they are now being looked after in a local relief centre," he added. Speaking at the scene, the brigade's area manager, Richard Abbot, said: "We are advising residents to keep their windows and doors closed as there is large amounts of smoke in the area. "It's too early in the incident to know the cause of the fire, however we will be investigating the fire as soon as it is safe to do so." Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Hallie is described as "so gentle and kind-natured" by her aunt An appeal for a million pounds has been launched to pay for leukaemia treatment for a 20-month-old girl. Hallie, from Coventry, was diagnosed at Birmingham Children's Hospital when she was eight months old. But when her last stem cell transplant failed to work, her family said they were told their best option might be to pay for treatment in the United States. "It seems a very big mountain to climb," Hallie's aunt, Hannah Dugdale, said. Hallie was first diagnosed in the summer of 2022 while on a family holiday in Spain and was flown home for treatment. She has a rare form of leukaemia known as JMML and has undergone chemotherapy, blood transfusions and two stem cell transplants. Ms Dugdale said they discovered on Thursday the latest transplant had not worked and a consultant at the Birmingham hospital suggested their only remaining option was CAR T-cell therapy. Hallie first started showing symptoms while on holiday in Spain, aged eight months. CAR-T works by removing a type of immune system cell, called a T cell, from the patient's blood. Those cells are then genetically modified in the lab to make them more effective at targeting cancer cells, multiplied, and infused back into the patient drop by drop. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) described them as "personalised immunotherapy treatments" which are "usually given as a one-off treatment". A trial is due to start at Great Ormond Street Hospital in the coming months, but Hallie's aunt said they would prefer not to wait that long and were hoping to take her to the US instead. It will require a third transplant, which the family said the NHS would not fund. Ms Dugdale said she and her sister had talked about having children for a long time and said Hallie was "the sweetest little girl, she's is so gentle and kind-natured". Her niece "deserves to be given every chance at a long and happy life", she added. She said her sister, Kim, was "devastated as any mother would be" but also overwhelmed by the support she received and the appeal had already passed £180,000. Ms Dugdale said she hoped they would be able to start the treatment before they raised the full amount through the Go Fund Me page. Birmingham Children's Hospital said: "Sadly, a third transplant isn't a current treatment option for Hallie, who has a rare form of leukaemia." It also said its teams were continuing to explore options for her, including the possibility of experimental CAR-T therapy, as part of a clinical trial. NHS England have been contacted for a response. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk Sign up for our morning newsletter and get BBC News in your inbox. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Google's earthquake warning system failed to get to many Turkish residents before February's deadly tremor, a BBC Newsnight investigation has found. Google says its alert system can give users up to a minute's notice on their phones before an earthquake hits. It says its alert was sent to millions before the first, biggest quake. However, the BBC visited three cities in the earthquake zone, speaking to hundreds of people, and didn't find anyone who had received a warning. The system works on Android phones, essentially any phone that isn't an iPhone. Android phones, which are often more affordable, make up about 80% of the phones in Turkey. "If Google makes a promise, or makes an implicit promise, to deliver a service like earthquake early warning, then to me, it raises the stakes," says Prof Harold Tobin, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. "They have a responsibility to be able to follow through on something that is directly related to life and limb." Google's product lead on the system, Micah Berman, insisted it had worked. "We are confident that this system fired and sent alerts," he told the BBC. However, the company did not provide evidence that these alerts were widely received. More than 50,000 people died in February's earthquake. After the first major 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck in the early hours of the morning, another major tremor shook the surrounding area at lunchtime. The BBC was able to find a limited number of users who received a warning for this second quake. Google's Android Earthquake Alert System was announced in Turkey in June 2021. The system is operational in dozens of countries around the world. The company describes the ability to send quake alerts as a "core" part of its Android service. It works by using Android's vast network of phones. Smartphones contain tiny accelerometers that can detect shaking. When many phones shake at the same time, Google can pinpoint the epicentre and estimate the strength of a quake. Google has made an explainer on how it works. When an earthquake of magnitude 4.5 or greater is detected, the Android system can send a warning. "This is an alert unlike any you've probably seen on your phone before. It takes over your phone screen," Mr Berman says. The warning says "drop, cover, hold" and is accompanied by a loud alarm. It should also override a user's do not disturb mode automatically, so you don't need to switch it on. "No matter what state your phone is in, you should get that warning," Mr Berman says. Google claims the system successfully sent alerts on 6 February to millions of people. How much warning people should have got from Google would depend on how far away they were from the earthquake, Mr Berman explains. A message travelling over the internet can travel much faster than the waves of an earthquake travelling through the earth. "Sometimes [the warning] might be a second or a fraction of a second, sometimes it might be 20 or 30 seconds, sometimes it might be 50 or 60 seconds," he says. Despite extensive reporting across the earthquake zone in the hours, days and weeks after the quake, no-one mentioned getting an alert to the BBC. So we began to search specifically for people who had got the warning. Our team travelled to Adana, Iskenderun and Osmaniye, cities between 70km (43 miles) and 150km (93 miles) away from the epicentre. We spoke to hundreds of people with Android phones. Although we managed to find a small number of people who had got an alert for the second earthquake, we couldn't find anyone who got a warning ahead of the first, most powerful quake. In Iskenderun, we spoke to Alican who lost his grandmother when a hospital collapsed. He says he had received the alert before, but he didn't get it this time. We put our reporting from the earthquake zone to Google's Mr Berman. He said: "It's possible, given the massive impact of the first event, that this just quietly happened in the background, while users were really paying attention to lots of other things. At the end of the day, I think that's probably the most likely explanation." But the people we spoke to were adamant that none arrived. Funda, who has been living in a temporary tent encampment since the quake, says she lost 25 members of her family. "We literally dumped people into the ground. My brother-in-law and nephew were buried hugging each other," she says. Funda lost 25 members of her family in the quake She owns an Android phone but told us she was "certain" she didn't get an alert. After an earthquake you would expect people to post on social media that they had received a warning. This is common in other countries where quakes have occurred since Google's system launched. "One of the few feedback sources that we have is being able to look on social media," Mr Berman says. And yet after the first earthquake in Turkey, social media was unusually quiet - something Mr Berman accepts. "I don't have a resounding answer for why we haven't seen more reaction on social media to that particular event," he says. The BBC asked for data that showed people had received the notification. The only evidentiary document Google shared was a pdf with 13 social media posts the company had found of people talking of a warning that day. So we contacted the authors of the posts. One was Ridvan Gunturk, who had posted that he had got a warning in the city of Adana. However, after speaking to the BBC, he clarified that this was for the second earthquake. He confirmed he had not received an alert for the first earthquake. Ridvan Gunturk received an alert for the second quake In fact, only one of the social media posts referenced a warning about the first quake, giving a detailed account. The BBC has spoken to the author of the post, but they wouldn't give their name. The author said they believed they had received an alert, but couldn't be completely certain of their memory of events at the time. Google also said it had received feedback from user surveys that say the system worked. However, it declined to share this information. Prof Tobin told the BBC Google's system was relatively new, and could be useful, but that it was important for the company to be transparent. "If you are delivering an essential life safety or public safety piece of information, then you have a responsibility to be transparent about how it works and how well it works," he says. "We're not talking about an anecdote of, 'oh it's popped up here and there.' These are intended as blanket warning systems. That's the whole point." Turkish earthquake expert Prof Sukru Ersoy told the BBC his wife was in the earthquake zone. She has an Android phone but did not receive an alert. He says that he has not spoken to anyone who got a warning. "If Google's system had worked, perhaps it could have been very beneficial," he says. "But the system not working in an important earthquake such as this one begs the question: if this is a beneficial system, why couldn't we benefit from it in this major earthquake, one of the biggest earthquakes of the last 100 years?" In a statement given to the BBC by Google after the interview, Mr Berman said: "During a devastating earthquake event, numerous factors can affect whether users receive, notice, or act on a supplemental alert - including the specific characteristics of the earthquake and the availability of internet connectivity." • None Why was the Turkey-Syria earthquake so deadly?

Friends and colleagues have paid tribute to Sasha Bondarenko's humour, intelligence and big heart Former BBC News Ukraine journalist Oleksandr Bondarenko has been killed on duty on the front line in Ukraine. He volunteered for Ukraine's territorial defence at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, working as a communications expert and media trainer and then becoming part of the military. Details of how he was killed in action are not yet known. Close friends said only that "death caught up with him in a battle". Friends, former BBC colleagues and Ukraine's wider media community paid tributes to a talented journalist who went on to be a successful communications professional. Known as Sasha or Sashko, Bondarenko was originally from Luhansk in eastern Ukraine. He worked for the BBC's Ukrainian Service from 2007 to 2011 as a news reporter, presenter and editor of radio programmes broadcast from Kyiv. He left the BBC to work for other media organisations. At the start of the war Sasha Bondarenko worked as a communications expert and media trainer. At the start of the war he was in charge of special projects for leading Ukrainian communications agency, RMA, whose staff paid tribute to his intelligence, humour and voice. He was one of many thousands of Ukrainians who have left their civilian jobs across all walks of life to defend their country from the Russian invasion. Among well-known Ukrainians who enlisted were members of one of Ukraine's top rock bands, Antytila, who became army medics, and broadcasters Pavlo Kazarin and Yurii Matsarskyi. A number of journalists have lost their lives reporting on the war too. A Ukrainian fixer working with an Italian reporter was killed this week as they came under fire near the southern city Kherson. Vasyl Samokhvalov of RMA paid tribute to Sasha Bondarenko as a man who volunteered on day one: "A human with a will of steel. A human with the clearest motivation. A human with the best music playlist." The former head of the BBC's Ukrainian Service, Maciek Bernatt-Reszczynski, said the corporation was extremely lucky to have him on the Kyiv team: "It was always new challenges with this extraordinary man. Including the last, heroic one, to defend his country from aggression." Bondarenko graduated from Luhansk teacher-training college and started his career in journalism at a local radio station in the east of Ukraine, before working for leading Ukrainian TV channels and and then the BBC's Ukrainian Service. BBC Ukraine's editor-in-chief Marta Shokalo (R) paid tribute to her former colleague "I look at our photos together and can't stop crying even though I can only remember our carefree days in the Kyiv office and how we laughed together," said Marta Shokalo, BBC Ukraine's editor-in-chief. He went on to work as a TV reporter, covering the mass Maidan anti-government protests in Kyiv in 2013-14 and later Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014. As a native of eastern Ukraine his insight of the complexities of Ukraine's relationship with Russia was seen as especially valuable. A keen athlete, he achieved a long-held ambition of swimming the Bosphorus. His last photo published on Facebook was captioned: "Somewhere in the Kharkiv woods." Colleagues described an unpretentious but highly knowledgeable journalist who seemed "brilliant at everything"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says an alleged Russian agent involved in the deadly attack in Kramatorsk will be charged with treason. Those helping Russia destroy lives deserve the "maximum penalty", he said. Twelve people, including three teenagers, were killed in Tuesday's missile strike on a popular restaurant. Ukraine said the man, a resident of Kramatorsk, sent video footage of the restaurant to the Russian military hours before it was destroyed. Fourteen-year-old twin sisters Yuliya and Anna Aksenchenko and a 17-year-old girl were among those killed. "Russian missiles stopped the beating of the hearts of two angels," Kramatorsk city council's education department said in a statement. At least 60 others were injured, including Colombian nationals and a leading Ukrainian writer. On Wednesday, Ukrainian security services released a photo of a local man that they arrested, describing him as a Russian agent. Speaking in his nightly address, Mr Zelensky explained that the country's security services had worked alongside police special forces to detain the suspect - who may face life imprisonment. Emergency services said on Wednesday that search and rescue efforts were still ongoing. Kramatorsk, an eastern city in the Donetsk region, is under Ukrainian control but it is close to Russian-occupied parts of the country. In April last year, more than 50 people were killed and many more were wounded in a missile strike on a train station in the city. The Ria lounge, which was targeted this time, was a popular venue regularly hosting international journalists, volunteers and Ukrainian soldiers taking a break from the nearby front lines. Authorities in Kramatorsk named two of the victims of last night's attack as 14-year-old twins Yuliya and Anna Aksenchenko. Sergio Jaramillo Caro, a former Colombia peace negotiator, told the BBC he was sitting in the restaurant when it came under attack on Tuesday night, but he only suffered minor injuries. Mr Jaramillo Caro described the moments that followed the explosion, saying that he saw "particles moving in slow motion" as he tried to understand what was going on. A leading Ukrainian writer sitting with them - whose identity is not being disclosed - is in a critical condition and "fighting for her life". "Please pray for her", Mr Jaramillo Caro said. Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned Russia's attack on "defenceless" Colombians, saying it violated war protocols. Mr Petro went on to instruct his foreign ministry to deliver a diplomatic note of protest. Valentyna, a Kramatorsk resident who owns a cafe near the site spoke of the damage following the attack. "Everything has been blown out there," she told Reuters news agency, adding that "none of the glass, windows or doors are left". The Kremlin claimed again to only carry out strikes on military targets, and Russia's defence ministry claimed it had destroyed a "temporary deployment of [Ukrainian] commanders" in Kramatorsk, without elaborating further. An adviser to Ukraine's defence ministry, Yuri Sak, told the BBC that Ukraine's air defences were currently "insufficient to cover the full territory of Ukraine". Ukraine continues to ask its allies to provide them with modern fighter jets to help it defend itself from Russian strikes. Last month, the US said it would support the war-torn country by allowing Western allies to supply American-made F16s, and by training Ukrainian pilots to use the jets. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. • None Eight killed in strike on centre of Ukrainian city

Intense and widespread rioting has been taking place across France, following the shooting of a 17-year-old during a traffic stop. Video on social media showed the moment the police shooting of Nahel M took place, in the Paris suburb of Nanterre on 27 June. Riots erupted later that same day and have continued each day since, spreading throughout the country. The officer involved has apologised to the family and been charged with voluntary homicide.

Elton John - who has long been fashion first - promises to go out with a Rocket Man bang, as he headlines Glastonbury at his last ever UK show Tent: check. Sun cream: check. The next thing: what am I going to wear? With Glastonbury 2023 ready to start, festival season is well under way. The festival prides itself on being eco-conscious, but how do fans plan their outfits sustainably? Festival and concert fashion has become a huge part of event planning: a quick scroll on TikTok and you'll see cowboy hats and feather boas as the uniform for Beyoncé and Harry Styles concerts. Jess Potter, 36, from Cardiff, will be going to Glastonbury with her online second-hand clothing business. At the festival she will be hosting the second-hand style awards, where festival-goers will be judged on their best sustainable looks from the weekend. Jess confesses she has not always been sustainable. During her first Glastonbury in 2014 she bought everything new, she used to be a "retail addict". That's where she met her now husband and business partner Davey, and they are now "on a journey to sustainability together". The idea for UsedandLoved.com - a search engine tool that allows you to search for second-hand items all under one roof - came from a sleepless night idea, said Jess. Jess Potter working on her stall, which will be in the Green Futures area of the festival She said second-hand shopping was "all about finding your own style", and seeing content creators styling the outfits was key to changing people's attitudes on buying them. In her spare time, Jess goes around Cardiff picking up bags of clothes that are left on the side of the road, which she sifts through and gives a new lease of life. "I've found stuff from Ralph Lauren and Zara in them, all in really good condition," she said. She plans to put the clothes found on the streets of Cardiff on display at Glastonbury with the idea that "they are free again and their destiny has been changed because they are going to get another life, and that clothes can live on for so long if you let them". Bethany Lewis, from Swansea, planned her whole festival wardrobe via second hand shops and went on online clothes site Vinted for the In It Together festival in Margam, Neath Port Talbot. When she booked for In It Together, she was adamant she would not buy anything new. Bethany Lewis didn't buy anything new for the In It Together festival she attended last month "I've never done a festival in that kind of heat before so I kind of took all the basics out of my wardrobe, so I mostly managed to use things I already owned," she said. "But then, if I was looking for something specific, like I wanted like a mesh top to wear under an outfit so I went on Vinted, looking for stuff specifically. "Rather than buying it new, I knew that I got it cheaper. I was also reducing my impact on the environment by buying it." Cost plays a part too, with tickets for festivals not cheap. A ticket to Glastonbury would set you back £335 this year - and that's without buying your camping essentials like tent, wellies and booze (if that's your thing) - so many people try to use second-hand sites to get their outfits. Caitlin Smith, a fashion blogger from Church Village, Rhondda Cynon Taf, who's based in London, said: "I don't tend to buy anything that doesn't work with at least five pieces in my wardrobe. So, if I'm looking for a festival 'fit, I'll only buy items that I know I'll wear again. "I blame being a Capricorn for my frugality, so I don't like feeling like I've wasted money on something I'll wear once." Caitlin Smith says Vinted is her "one true love" "I also tend to look for accessories or builder pieces that I can layer over things I already own. Accessorising and layering are such fun and easy ways to change up your look without having to buy a completely 'new' outfit." Rachel Cosgrove-Pearce, the head of retail operations for Oxfam, said shopping second-hand was a great way to express individuality. "For the festival season, a lot of the (Oxfam) shops will pull together festival-style windows to help people choose their outfits for going. They'll have festival displays inside and the beauty of shopping second-hand with Oxfam is that you can be your own stylist." "You can go in, you shop in a variety of brands, you're not being influenced around the latest trends, and you can literally go and choose the pieces and create your own look unique for you. "Everyone is more conscious than ever now about sustainability and by shopping with Oxfam not only are you going to look fabulous, and you know you're going to feel fabulous." So that's the fashion advice. But what to do about the weather? With Glastonbury predicted to be a scorcher, the advice is to try and pack for the heat - and if it does rain, trusty wellies and a raincoat will always be in style.

A serving member of the UK's armed forces shared "highly sensitive" military information, a court was told. Thomas Newsome, 36, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday charged with two offences under the Official Secrets Act. He was deployed overseas until April 17, when prosecutors allege he made a "damaging disclosure of information relating to defence". It follows an investigation by Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command. Mr Newsome is also accused of possessing documents "which he failed to take such care of as to prevent the unauthorised disclosure of those documents as a person in his position may reasonably be expected to take", on April 18. He confirmed his name and date of birth, but his address and the names of his lawyers were withheld on national security grounds. Mr Newsome is alleged to have shared a 10-page document with two senior officers who had clearance to view it, and a civilian who did not. He allegedly took photographs of the document and sent them by social media. Prosecutor Brigid Fitzpatrick said the document, which Newsome allegedly had digital and hard copies of, contained "highly sensitive military information". She alleged that if it were leaked it would pose a "real and immediate threat to the lives of British citizens outside the UK" and "facilitate the targeting of personnel". Mr Newsome is also accused of possessing separate secret information on a USB stick. He was not granted bail, and will next appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 28 April. The Metropolitan Police said Mr Newsome was charged on Friday with offences contrary to section 2 and section 8 of the Official Secrets Act. He was initially arrested on Tuesday and detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson confirmed the arrest of a serving member of the armed forces, but said it would be inappropriate to comment further. • None What is the Official Secrets Act?

Bebe Rexha has yet to comment on the incident Pop star Bebe Rexha was rushed off stage during a concert on Sunday after being hit in the head by a phone thrown by a fan. The star, who was performing in New York, collapsed to her knees when the projectile struck the side of her head. She was later escorted from the venue, apparently still in pain, with her hands pressed to her face. Video posted online showed a man being removed from the crowd by security as fans shouted "that's assault". New York Police later confirmed that a 27-year-old concertgoer had been charged with assault. This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post by Alex Chavez This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The singer, whose hits include I'm Good (Blue) and Meant To Be, posted photos showing her injuries to Instagram on Monday. They showed bruising around her left eye and a cut on her eyebrow. However, she captioned the pictures, "I'm good", and gave the camera a thumbs-up. Gossip website Pop Base quoted her mother as saying the star received medical treatment and needed three stitches. The BBC has contacted Rexha's team for further comment. The star showed the severity her injuries on an Instagram post The star was at the end of her set at Pier 17 in New York when the incident occurred. She had previously invited a tearful fan from El Salvador onto the stage to sing I'm Gonna Show You Crazy; and played an impromptu version of Seasons after a request from the audience. Fans who attended the show expressed their disbelief at how the show ended. "I'm still in shock two hours later," wrote one on Twitter. "I saw something fly and hit her. I thought it was a CD or a paper until I saw he[r] drop." "People really dressed up and were in a good mood that they were going to a concert but this old man ruined everything," added another. "Super unsettling ending to an otherwise great show," commented a third. "I hope she's okay." Rexha, is next due to perform on Tuesday 20 June at The Fillmore in Philadelphia. She will bring the tour to London on 28 July when she plays the Shepherd's Bush Empire. There has been a growing trend of fans throwing their phone onstage in the hope that artists will pose for a selfie and return the handset. Harry Styles has even been known to pick up a phone and call the owner's friends to leave a voicemail. However, he was hit in the eye by a handful of Skittles during a set in Los Angeles, and spent the remainder of his show rinsing his eye out with water. N-Dubz star Tulisa had her sunglasses knocked off by a fan's phone at one of the band's reunion gigs in Glasgow. And David Bowie remonstrated with a fan at a Norwegian music festival in 2004 after being hit in the eye by a lollipop. The hard candy - known locally as "love on a stick" - was presumably thrown as an act of affection, but caused the singer huge discomfort. He backed off the runway, hunched over, and was assisted by his set crew, before returning to the microphone and swearing at the culprit. Explaining that he only had one good eye after a childhood fight, he said: "The other one has just become a little bit more decorative than it was before… Lucky you hit the bad one". Regaining his composure, he announced plans to punish the crowd with an "even longer concert" than planned. Towards the end of the concert, he threw a guitar pick into the crowd and jokingly asked if he'd hit anyone in the eye.

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Rishi Sunak says more fines and inspections will help tackle potholes Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has promised a clampdown on potholes, as campaigning for the local elections gets under way. On a visit to Darlington, in north-east England, he said new powers would help ensure firms repair roads properly after carrying out works, through more fines and inspections. Some 230 councils across England are holding elections on 4 May. The PM was in Darlington for a campaign visit, alongside Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen and local MP Peter Gibson. The Conservatives are currently the largest party on Darlington Council, after Labour lost control of the council in the 2019 local elections. The area is part of the so-called Red Wall of former Labour strongholds in the north of England and the Midlands, which the Conservatives are keen to retain at the next general election. Earlier this week, The Tories also set out plans to tackle anti-social behaviour , including banning the sale of nitrous oxide and making people who vandalise public spaces repair the damage they cause. The prime minister said the Tories were "delivering locally for the North East", with the government putting more money into fixing potholes and clamping down on utility companies which left behind damage after digging up roads. "There'll be more fines, more inspections, that's also going to help. We want to make sure it's easy for people to get around," he added. New regulations, which were announced last year and come into force on Saturday, will bring in a performance-based inspection regime, with companies assessed on the quality of their road repairs and the worst-performing companies inspected more. The Department for Transport said highway authorities now charged £50 per inspection, and a further £120 for follow-up inspections, so there would be a financial incentive for firms to improve. The government said it was investing more than £5.5bn between 2020 and 2025 in highways maintenance, with an extra £200m to help fix potholes announced in March's budget. Labour's shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh accused the government of "playing catch up after its own failures have left UK roads crumbling". "In 2021 the prime minister vowed to make potholes a thing of the past, but his decisions have left millions of them on our roads," she said. The Liberal Democrats said the announcement was "nothing new and just a complete re-hash". Motoring groups have previously called for more investment to help improve the state of the country's roads. Earlier this month, a survey commissioned by the Asphalt Industry Alliance suggested councils in England and Wales only received two-thirds of what they needed this year to stop local roads further deteriorating. The organisation said budgets had not kept pace with cost increases and government funding was not enough to prevent further decline of road conditions. It found that 18% of the local roads network had been assessed as being in poor condition and having less than five years of life remaining.

King Charles and the Queen Consort attend the Royal Maundy Service at York Minster King Charles has taken part in a centuries-old Easter tradition for the first time since becoming monarch. He and the Queen Consort handed out specially minted coins at York Minster during a day of visits in the region. The pouches contained a coin celebrating the King's upcoming 75th birthday, and one marking the 75th anniversary of the Windrush generation. The tradition of kings and queens distributing gifts on Maundy Thursday dates back to AD600. The King waved to crowds as he arrived at the medieval cathedral, while a smaller group of protesters holding up placards reading 'Not my King' jeered as the royal car passed. Queen Consort Camilla meets members of the public in York The King waved to large crowds as he arrived at York Minster The King and Queen Consort's car passing a noisy group of protesters The monarch and the Queen Consort were handed a traditional small bouquet of flowers as they entered the cathedral for a service marking the important Holy Week date, which commemorates Jesus washing his disciples' feet and the Last Supper. The royal couple were also expected to formally open the Minster's new Refectory Restaurant as part of their visit, which is on the site of a former school that was forced to close in 2020 due to financial difficulties. The Maundy Money ceremony takes place each year on the Thursday before Easter Sunday, with special coins given to one man and one woman chosen for each year the monarch has lived - 148 in this instance. A white purse contained silver Maundy coins equivalent in value to the age of the King. A red purse contained two commemorative coins, which symbolise the sovereign's historic gift of food and clothing. The first recorded distribution of Maundy money took place at Knaresborough in North Yorkshire by King John in 1210. Queen Elizabeth II decided the traditional ceremony should take place in a different Anglican cathedral each year, to ensure it was not always held in London. The coin-giving ceremony has been held at York Minster on two previous occasions by the late Queen, on 5 April 2012 and 30 March 1972. The archbishop said the monarch's visit was a "joy," especially given that the final choice of location for the Maundy service rests with the King. "We weren't really expecting this, we were delighted because it's his choice where he comes," he said.

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are now on Instagram In 1926, when Japanese Emperor Hirohito ascended the Imperial throne, he was revered by millions of Japanese people as a living god. Almost 100 years later, the world's oldest continuing monarchy is sporting a very different look. His grandson, Emperor Naruhito vowed to bring the country's royal family into the modern age when he took over five years ago. And on Monday, the royal household took a very definite step into the 21st Century: they joined Instagram. The move comes some 15 years after Britain's royals first made their social media debuts. "The [Japanese] were perhaps the last notable royal family not to fully engage the digital era," notes social media analyst Andrew Hughes. But it was an inevitable move. The family had made clear their wish to engage with younger generations and stay relevant; and given those subjects increasingly only get content through their phones, the family would also have to go online. But for those hoping to get a more authentic glimpse into Imperial Family's day-to-day lives, the 48-hour presence of the @kunaicho_jp account so far might disappoint. "When I heard [they] created an Instagram, I quickly checked it out. But of course the emperor wouldn't post 'today's lunch (heart emoji)' or anything like that," one fan wrote online. In the 70 pictures and five videos uploaded across the kunaicho_jp [Imperial Household] profile so far, Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their widely adored only child, the 22-year-old Princess Aiko feature prominently. But a page divulging personal notes, reflections or even just more candid pictures of the royals this is not. The British royals - who have had an official Instagram for several years - post different style of images to the new Japanese instagram page The gallery so far is pretty formal in tone - just a round up of royal duties these last few months: public appearances, visits to museums, earthquake sites and meetings in drawing rooms with royals from other lands. There's some bonsai and a lot of bowing. A birthday celebration post shows the Emperor and Empress seated at a low table, smiling for the cameras. Instagram influencers go to great lengths to curate the overall look of their grid - for potential new followers to be won over in one glance by a brand that's cohesive and easy on the eye, a definable aesthetic. The Japanese royals appear to have one too. A melange of beige and grey. "The account's posts are extremely dull, the same kind of photos it shares in press releases," says Jeffrey Hall, a Japanese studies lecturer at Kanda University. The Japanese royals hosting a visit with the royals from Brunei The captions, written solely in Japanese, so far remain just factual recaps of the event shown in photos. Don't expect a casual first name sign-off just yet or any personal musings from the Emperor. And while they've seized on the Stories function- the tool usually used by Instagram users to post sporadic flashes of life - it appears so far the Imperial Household officials are just using it to showcase the B-roll of event photographs. "I don't think that the conservative officials at the IHA have any intention of providing an interactive or entertaining experience for their Instagram followers," says Mr Hall. Crucially, they've also turned the comments off - a trend emerging out of the corporate world, social media analysts note. "It stops any brand damage from those platforming their own causes, hijacking of comments… and basically diluting the content and harming the brand," says Mr Hughes, who teaches advertising and marketing at the Australian National University. "They may yet change it but I wouldn't expect that as that would open a can of worms and they have very much seen what happens from overseas examples with other royal families." Certainly, while the Japanese royals might be making their online debut 15 years later than the Windsors, the furore over a photoshopped image of the Princess of Wales and her family in recent months would certainly be front of mind. After all, this is a royal family whose Chrysanthemum throne rule and lineage trace millennia, a royal house which did not wish to taint themselves with social media for well over a decade. "Expect a very tight and narrow narrative and content as the Japanese royal family want to reinforce their conservative and safe brand image," says Mr Hughes. "There will be no (Prince Harry's autobiography) Spare-style works emerging or any Photoshopped dramas." He notes too that the Japanese have a slightly different relationship with their royals - more reverential, more respectful. "They don't need to provide constant content initially, just more a subtle reinforcement of brand and minimising AI and disinformation and misinformation by controlling what is released and discussed. For me, this is smart brand management," says Mr Hughes. And while there have been tabloid scandals in the past, the Imperial Household has worked hard to keep the Crown family clean - by and large, they are still viewed by the Japanese populace as morally upstanding role models. Posts featuring Princess Aiko, like this one, have received the most likes so far The family has long used traditional media channels, photography, newspapers and since the Meji period, TV programmes and weekly magazines to get their message across. "However, these mediums were often employed to reinforce their positive yet distant image rather than fostering familiarity with the public," says Masafumi Moden, a Japanese Studies lecturer at the Australian National University. It seems with Instagram, the family are continuing that strategy. Social media might encourage close-ups, but for the Japanese royal family they're content to remain at arms length.

Vladimir Kara-Murza told the court he believed Russia could one day be truthful, democratic and free Evgenia Kara-Murza has been surviving on autopilot ever since her husband, Vladimir, was convicted of treason for his public criticism of President Vladimir Putin and Russia's war on Ukraine. On Monday, the Russian opposition politician was sentenced to 25 years in a high security prison and his wife has no idea when she or the couple's three children will ever see him again. She's been so outspoken herself, she can't risk travelling to Russia in case she too ends up in jail. "I'm afraid they might detain me to put pressure on Vladimir, and I can't afford him losing my voice as well, or leaving our kids without both parents," Evgenia explained over the phone from the US, where the family live for safety. She says she's "heartbroken" - she hasn't even been allowed to speak to her husband since his arrest over a year ago - but for now she's numbed herself against the enormity of the verdict to focus on rallying international support. Vladimir Kara-Murza is also a British citizen, but whilst the US, Canada and Latvia moved quickly to sanction Russian officials they hold responsible for the activist's plight, his own government has been left playing catch-up. On Friday, the UK Foreign Office announced sanctions against one judge and two investigators involved in Kara-Murza's trial, as well as two Federal Security Service (FSB) agents suspected of links to his sudden, critical illness in 2015 and 2017 caused by a toxin that has never been identified. Evgenia welcomed that move, but it's well short of the more than 30 names she put forward. "It only saddens me that it took a year of unlawful detention, a horrific sentence of 25 years in a strict regime and a very concerning deterioration of my husband's health for the British government to move to a somewhat stronger response," she told me, shortly after the announcement. Vladimir Kara-Murza has again been losing feeling in both his feet and his left hand - symptoms which first appeared after his poisoning. A prison doctor has diagnosed polyneuropathy, which affects the nerves. "For years, he was able to keep those symptoms at bay with regular exercise, but now they've returned and seem to be spreading," Evgenia says. "I believe the Russian authorities are using it as torture; slowly killing a person." A college profile photo of a young Vladimir Kara-Murza - he later graduated from Cambridge and returned to Moscow in 2003 Vladimir Kara-Murza was born in Moscow in 1981 and moved to the UK as a teenager when his mother married a Yorkshireman. He went to public school in Harrow then read history at Cambridge. He has a taste for tweed jackets and smoking pipes, and in one of the letters he sent me from prison, he listed Yes, Minister! and Fawlty Towers among his favourite TV shows. Kara-Murza is as eloquent in English as in Russian, and uses both to condemn how President Putin has systematically crushed the democratic values that the activist holds so dear. But his political ambitions have always focused firmly on his homeland. In his application to study at Cambridge, which I was shown, a teenage Kara-Murza described his greatest aspiration as "leading the country in which I was born". He grew up during Russia's short-lived but intense burst of democratic chaos as the Soviet Union fell apart. At 13, he even set up his own children's political party and tried to get it registered with the Justice Ministry in Moscow, which refused. "Even for those democratic days, this was too much," he joked in one letter to me from his cell, with a grinning emoji. His first significant political memory is of the failed coup in 1991, when hardliners tried to topple Mikhail Gorbachev and reverse his liberalising reforms. Kara-Murza's father joined the giant crowd that built barricades around the parliament then, and the activist describes those as "the best and freest days" in Russia's modern history. By the time he graduated and returned to Moscow in 2003, President Putin was tightening the political screws. That autumn, aged 22, Kara-Murza ran for a seat in the Russian parliament and lost. Genuine opposition candidates were still allowed on the ballot in those days, but the city authorities would extinguish the lights on his campaign billboards, and when he appeared in a TV debate, his microphone was cut. Two decades on, he still refuses to be silenced. Kara-Murza delivered an address in the Moscow court from a cage of bulletproof glass His trial for treason was held behind closed doors although no state secrets were involved. Even the official charge sheet makes it clear that he's being punished for challenging the Kremlin: the case is based on public political speeches, made at home and abroad. So when he gave his final address to the court from a cage of bulletproof glass, the only audience before him was made up of prosecutors, investigators and judges: all cogs in the system that had found the activist guilty the day it ordered his arrest a year earlier. But the text of his speech was quickly leaked by his supporters who posted it online in a modern-day version of samizdat, the way works of dissident writers were copied and shared in Soviet times. It was short, under four minutes, if you read it aloud. But Kara-Murza would have weighed every word, aware that it was the most important address of his political life. It delivers his own, damning judgement of President Putin's rule. He calls Russia's president a "dictator" and "usurper" and condemns his "criminal war" on Ukraine. It's exactly the kind of talk that got him arrested. Kara-Murza also recalls his great friend and political inspiration, Boris Nemtsov. Once a prominent reformer, Nemtsov was shot and killed in 2015, just metres from the Kremlin. Kara-Murza himself first fell critically ill a few months later. Kara-Murza (right) seen alongside former Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov After meeting in England, the two became close allies and friends, later collaborating on a project that was a huge irritant to Russia's most rich and powerful. They lobbied hard in the US for legislation known as the Magnitsky Act, allowing for punitive sanctions against Russian human rights violators. The bill took aim at a corrupt elite enjoying private schools, bank accounts and extravagant property in the West whilst trampling on basic freedoms at home. A series of European countries soon passed their own versions of the law and Evgenia Kara-Murza believes the treatment of her husband is payback. "I think it's for a combination of things, including how he continues being unequivocal in his opposition to the regime and its crimes," she says. "But 35 or 36 countries have the Magnitsky legislation now, which shows that Vladimir is very effective in his work. It's why they hate him so much." Sergei Podoprigorov, the chief judge who sentenced Kara-Murza to prison, was one of the earliest targets of the list. But Kara-Murza's "Last Word", his speech to a small, wood-panelled court in Moscow, was more than a denunciation of tyranny and a terrible war. It also conveyed his own dream, of another Russia. A country he still believes can one day be truthful, democratic and free. "That day will come as surely as spring comes after even the iciest of winters," he insisted from the dock, addressing anyone who might hear, against all the odds. It's that vision that has carried Vladimir Kara-Murza this far. It's now the faith he must cling to in the solitude of his prison cell.

Last updated on .From the section Premier League Champions Manchester City will kick off the Premier League season on Friday, 11 August at promoted Burnley - managed by their former captain Vincent Kompany. Luton Town's first top-flight match since 1992 is at Brighton a day later, when fellow promoted club Sheffield United host Crystal Palace. Mauricio Pochettino's reign as Chelsea manager begins at home to Liverpool on Sunday, 13 August. New Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou takes his side to Brentford that day. • None Check out your team's fixtures in our club-by-club guide Manchester United start the season against Wolves at Old Trafford on Monday, 14 August. Manchester City, who are celebrating a Treble after winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in 2022-23, are now looking to become the first English team to win four successive titles. Pep Guardiola's side have won the Premier League in five of the past six seasons. The 2023-24 Premier League season concludes on Sunday, 19 May 2024. In a statement on Thursday, the Premier League said it was "committed to giving supporters a minimum of six weeks' notice on broadcasting selections until December 2023, and five weeks' from 24 January 2024". First round of fixtures in full The season schedule returns to normal, having been affected first by the Covid-19 pandemic and its knock-on impact, and then by last year's World Cup break. And the mid-season break returns, with teams given a clear weekend in January. That break is set to be staggered, with some teams given the second weekend of the new year off, and others the third. Luton's return to the top flight completes a remarkable resurgence; in 2013, they opened their season in the Conference Premier - now the National League - with a defeat at Southport. Ten years on, the Hatters - who defeated Coventry in the Championship play-off final - will welcome Burnley to Kenilworth Road for their first Premier League home game on 19 August. Work is taking place on the ground, which has a capacity of 10,356, to meet Premier League requirements. Manchester City finished 2022-23 five points ahead of nearest rivals Arsenal, who start next season at home to Nottingham Forest. Mikel Arteta's side will host the first north London derby of the season against Tottenham on 23 September, with the return fixture on 27 April. Liverpool's opener at Chelsea follows a request to the Premier League to start the season away from home, because of ongoing works to expand the Anfield Road Stand. Jurgen Klopp's side host Bournemouth in their first home match on 19 August. Everton visit Anfield for the first Merseyside derby on 21 October, then host the Reds on 16 March. New Liverpool signing Alexis Mac Allister returns to Brighton, who have agreed to sign Reds player James Milner, on 7 October. The first Manchester derby of the season is at Old Trafford on 28 October, with City hosting United at Etihad Stadium on 2 March. • None Luton's game at Brighton will be their first in the top flight since a 2-1 loss at Notts County in May 1992. They're the 51st team to play in the Premier League, with two of the last three clubs making their debut in the competition winning their opening match (Huddersfield in 2017, Brentford in 2021). • None Nottingham Forest go to Arsenal, having defeated them 1-0 in their most recent league meeting in May - they have not won consecutive games against the Gunners since September 1978 under Brian Clough. • None This is just the second time Chelsea and Liverpool will face one another in their opening game of a Premier League season, with the Blues winning 2-1 at Anfield in 2003-04. • None No team has won their opening Premier League game more often than Manchester United (20). • None Burnley have won just one of their past 23 league matches against Manchester City (drawing six and losing 16) and have lost the past eight in a row by an aggregate score of 26-1. • None The last time Tottenham began a Premier League campaign with a London derby was in 2014-15 - they won 1-0 at West Ham in Mauricio Pochettino's first game in charge. • None West Ham, who visit Bournemouth, have lost their opening Premier League game 15 times - more often than anyone else. David Moyes has lost 10 Premier League openers - more than any other manager. • None Fulham have faced Everton in their opening game of a top-flight season twice previously and lost both games, losing 3-0 in 1963-64 and 1-0 in 1966-67. • None Sheffield United have won their opening league game in just one of the past nine seasons (D1 L7), beating Brentford 1-0 in 2017-18. They've lost their last three in a row, only once having a longer such run (four between 1928-29 and 1931-32). • None Newcastle are unbeaten in their past 14 Premier League home games against Aston Villa (winning eight and drawing six) since a 3-0 loss in April 2005 - a match in which team-mates Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer were sent off for fighting each other. • None Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before - follow your team and sign up for notifications in the BBC Sport app to make sure you never miss a moment

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Cleaning up the 'cavern of lost souls' Social media photo seekers are "killing" special places, says a caver after volunteers hauled piles of rubbish out of a 19th Century mine. Anthony Taylor said a YouTube video of old cars dumped in the Gwynedd quarry had more than six million views, bringing an influx of visitors. Dozens of photos of the "car grave" have since appeared on Instagram. But those taking the pictures also left behind rubbish and graffiti. "They are beautiful places, and a lot of people don't want them to be ruined," said Mr Taylor, 42, from Aberystwyth, Ceredigion. "Instagram seems to be the killer of a lot of things," he said. "People turn up, take a picture and then leave [a mess]." Gaewern slate mine is on private land near Corris Uchaf. Mining began in 1820, and continued after a merger with nearby Braichgoch slate mine until the 1970s, employing 200 at its peak. The "car grave" is illuminated by shafts of light at certain times of day After it closed, old cars and televisions were dumped into one of the mine's two main chambers above a lake, creating the unusual scene of a rusting scrap metal heap that gets illuminated by shafts of sunlight at certain times of day. "It's a bizarre environment, probably the one of the oddest places in the world," he remembered from his first visit in 2022. "How often do you see hundreds of cars underground with lights coming onto them from the sun?" But to get there, he first had to pass an entrance littered with discarded bin bags that visitors had used to try to keep their feet dry. The cavers removing graffiti and rubbish from Gaewern in March "From about 30ft (9m) in, the spray painting starts, and it was awful," he said. The graffiti gets worse in the main chamber towards the cars, he said, with more rubbish on the floor, including discarded glow sticks and human faeces. "When you get to the end, it was just a sea of boats, inflatable dinghies everywhere," he said. "It's just disgusting, really sad and disheartening. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Preserved boots, lanterns and massive machinery frozen in time are captured in videos and photos "The whole reason people want to visit a place like this is because they've seen it on the internet and think, 'That's an amazing place to go and see', so why would you trash it?" Mr Taylor said he and his fellow cavers hauled as many dinghies out as they could and held a bigger clean-up with six volunteers on 22 March. "Something had to be done," he said, estimating his group and another from the YouTube channel Hell on Earth removed 30 discarded dinghies in total. "The people that go to these places, influencers they call themselves… they go because they've got inherent value to them. Why destroy it for everyone else?" Caver Gareth Jones and the other volunteers alongside the rubbish brought to the surface He wants to educate people about the value of old mines, and fears sites like Gaewern could one day be sealed off. "If these things keep happening, it's going to be lost to everyone forever." During his many trips to abandoned mines around mid Wales he has found a child's footprint, hobnail boots, tools, miners' gloves and a 170-year-old barrow "still where the miner originally left it". "If you can't see [the value] in that, I don't know. "I wouldn't have thought you'd have to teach people these things, but you really do in this day and age." The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

This week, scientists published evidence that supermassive black holes send shockwaves which distort space and time as they orbit each other. One of the groups that made the discovery is the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOgrav) Collaboration, which is chaired by Northern Ireland native Dr Stephen Taylor. The 35-year-old credits his love of all things space-related with seeing a partial solar eclipse during the summer of 1999, which also happened to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the first moon landing. "The combination of those things and us learning about it at school - it just really sparked my imagination," Dr Taylor said. He continued his education at Wallace High School in his home town of Lisburn and his passion for science, he says, never left him. "I was always fascinated by it and that really played a big role in what subjects I chose for GCSE and A-level," he said. Artist impression: Supermassive black holes at the heart of galaxies spiral in on each other, sending gravitational shock waves across the Universe While studying for his A-level's, Dr Taylor went for work experience at a laser laboratory in Oxford. It is there that he had a chance encounter with another Northern Ireland scientist whose work played a large role in his later research. While at Oxford, he had the opportunity to attend a talk by Dame Jocelyn Bell-Burnell who discovered pulsars while a grad student at Cambridge. Pulsars are dead stars which rotate and send out bursts of radio signals at extremely precise intervals. "She gave a fantastic talk and I went up afterwards spouting the popular science I had read, thinking I knew everything," he said. "But she was just really nice and kind of humoured me, if I am honest." Pulsars would then be measured by Dr Taylor and his team in this latest paper. "I think it's really nice that Northern Irish people are on both ends of this - because I certainly didn't hear accents like mine giving these kind of science interviews or talks," he said. Dr Taylor then went on to do his undergraduate degree at Oxford, followed by a PhD at Cambridge looking at gravitational waves. "At the time the idea was still theoretical. There were mainstream projects such as Ligo" - the US-based Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory - "but people were more focused on other aspects of physics. "But my philosophy was, if I am going to do this I am going to enjoy it and this was what fascinated me most." The first in his family to go to university, Dr Taylor said his parents always encouraged him to make choices that made him happy. From there, the "Nasa-mad" Dr Taylor had the opportunity to work at the space agency's jet propulsion laboratory before spending some time at the California Institute of Technology. This led him to begin taking up leadership roles, chairing a working group looking at gravitational waves and getting a permanent position at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. His team have been studying the signals which are emitted by pulsars and the affects of gravitational waves on their frequencies. Dr Taylor described the radio beams from pulsars as being like light beams from a lighthouse. When the frequency at which they hit Earth changes, this shows gravitational waves as predicted by Einstein. He said the most plausible cause of these waves is the orbit of supermassive black holes. "We've seen loads of hints along the way but this is the first evidence in this kind of data set which is really exciting." Dr Taylor said that, due to the frequencies, these black holes would be billions of times as massive as the sun and sit at the centres of galaxies. "I never thought I would be involved in something like this. It was fun to be part of the physics and maths problems but I never thought it would get to this point," he said. Dr Taylor said that the support of family, friends and his schools played a vital role. "They never put up road blocks. I mean, if someone said they wanted to be a theoretical astrophysicist and try to make a big discovery, many would say, 'Catch yourself on'. "But no-one ever really said that." But it is not all plain sailing for people in Dr Taylor's field. "It is not like in the movies, with a load of scientists around a computer saying, 'We got it; we're in'. There is no eureka moment. "In this line of work it is a lot more about the small successes. The big breakthrough moments rarely happen and are often a long time coming." Dr Taylor is looking forward to collaborating with similar projects around the world, combining their readings in order to learn more about these black holes and their gravitational affects.

Footage appears to show the moment a Ukrainian drone hit a building in Russia's Tatarstan region. Reuters was able to verify the location from the nearby buildings in the town of Yelabuga, more than 1,300km (807 miles) from the Ukraine-Russia border. The attack is the deepest into Russian territory since the start of the war. According to media reports, at least 12 people - all of them students - were injured.

Toys and flowers were left at the scene in 2021 A woman charged with murdering her baby and attempting to murder her toddler told a court that her life was "a nightmare". Giving evidence at Belfast Crown Court, she said she was "beaten, assaulted, threatened, abused" by her partner. Her trial, now in its fourth week, had to be stopped early after the woman broke down when asked to describe what she had done to her children. She accepts she stabbed her children in 2021 but denies the charges. She is charged with murdering her eight-week-old son and attempting to murder his sister on 27 July 2021. The woman cannot be named to protect the identity of her surviving child. She told the court she met her partner in 2018 and moved in with him two weeks later. She claimed he would lock her in the house for several days at a time, sometimes with no food, and would regularly physically and sexually abuse her. She alleged that on one occasion, when her baby was a week old, she was sexually abused by her partner while both her children slept in the same room. When asked what her life was like with her partner, she replied: "Like in a dog cage". She said: "My life was a nightmare." The woman claimed her partner showed her footage of men with guns, and told her: "These are my friends." She alleged he threatened her and her family. The woman said she "urinated" herself because of how scared she was. She said when she heard her partner turning the key in their front door she would think: "What will he do to me today? How will he abuse me today?" The woman said that after the birth of her son she felt "really distressed" and had "no help, no support" and was "isolated". A defence barrister told the jury that as well as murder and attempted murder, they should consider if the defendant might be guilty of infanticide or manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. He said they should consider not just what she did, but why she did it. He told the court her life was "one of horror." The barrister said: "She lived in fear that he would kill her. "In a click of his fingers she would be gone, disappeared in seconds. "It all came tumbling down around her and doing what she did was the only solution she could see." The barrister asked the woman if she could remember what happened on the day of the stabbings. She replied: "I remember what I did." But after being asked to recount what she did to her daughter, the woman repeatedly broke down and the trial was halted for the day.

A man in the US has caught the moment three whales breached in almost perfect synchronisation off the coast of Massachusetts. Robert Addie and his family were on holiday in Cape Cod when they witnessed the “pretty epic whale moment”. A scientist confirmed to local media that these were humpback whales.

Satellites captured images of how the gamma blast lit up dust rings in space Scientists have revealed how Nasa satellites detected the brightest gamma ray explosion in space. The gamma-ray burst (GRB) occurred two billion light-years from Earth and illuminated much of the galaxy. Images of the rare and powerful cosmic phenomenon show a halo and "bullseye" like shapes. Experts, including academics from the University of Leicester, say the GRB was 10 times brighter than any other previously detected. They have released detailed analysis of the powerful explosion that was spotted on 9 October, 2022. The blast was officially named GRB 221009A but has been nicknamed the BOAT - Brightest Of All Time - by those working on a mission Nasa calls Swift. The images captured have shown unprecedented details of GRBs X-ray astronomer Dr Phil Evans, who leads the University of Leicester's involvement in Swift, said: "We were really lucky to see something like this. We estimate that events this bright occur roughly once every thousand years. "By studying the evolution of this astonishingly bright GRB in great detail, we can learn a lot about the physics of a blast wave. "Just like slow-mo cameras reveal details about movement, breaking our data into small time pieces allows us to see how the GRB changes and learn more." The Swift team said its Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a satellite telescope designed to study GRBs from space, was initially unable to observe the burst because the Earth was obstructing its view. However, 55 minutes later, when the satellite's orbit allowed it to have a clear view of the GRB, its systems successfully detected it and created images of it. Dr Andy Beadmore, who is also part of the Swift team at the University of Leicester, said: "These patterns are not just beautiful but are also useful scientifically. "We're seeing a significant amount of dust in our galaxy being lit up by the intense burst of light from the GRB - two billion light years away - like a torch shining through a cloud. "This lets us study its nature and composition, which was found to extend to large distances from the Sun. "The brightness of this GRB means that we can collect much better data than normal, and so move beyond simple models of the GRB physics that we normally use - they just can't explain these data." Dr Evans adds: "Even after 18 years of operation, Swift can still surprise us with something unexpected, awesome, and scientifically powerful, and it can still challenge us. "Those dust rings may look pretty but they gave us some headaches, they really complicated the data analysis. "Even with those complications, though, this event gives us an opportunity to study a GRB in unprecedented detail. "Then there's the beautiful dust halo that Andy discovered. "This is caused by massive clouds of dust in our galaxy - but it's the light from the GRB, around two billion light years away - that's actually revealed those clouds to us. "Now, we can measure their distance and their composition using this GRB 'backlight'. "This discovery is a testament to the power of careful observation and the potential of serendipitous discoveries. "I'm thrilled that our team was able to contribute to our understanding of the Universe in such a meaningful way." Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

The home secretary has told police leaders to "ramp up" the use of stop-and-search powers to prevent more knife attacks and "save more lives". In a message to all 43 forces in England and Wales, Suella Braverman said the "dangerous culture" of carrying weapons must end. She also called on forces to publish bodycam footage quickly to stop police facing "trial by social media". Opponents of stop-and-search say it unfairly targets ethnic minorities. In England and Wales, police can stop and search an individual or vehicle if they have "reasonable grounds" to suspect the person is carrying a weapon, drugs, stolen property or something that could be used to commit a crime. Critics say the practice disproportionately targets those from ethnic minorities - particularly black men - and can leave people feeling victimised. But the government says it is a "common sense policing tactic" and the Met Police has described it as a "hugely important power" for protecting the public. The government said new data shows more than 100,000 weapons have been removed from Britain's streets since 2019 through a range of tactics - almost half of which were seized in stop-and-searches, which have led to more than 220,000 arrests. In a press release to forces, Ms Braverman said: "My first priority is to keep the public safe, and people who insist on carrying a weapon must know that there will be consequences. "The police have my full support to ramp up the use of stop-and-search, wherever necessary, to prevent violence and save more lives." Government statistics suggest black people are seven times more likely to be stopped and searched compared with white people. And campaign groups have previously warned that relaxing restrictions on police use of the power could compound discrimination. The Home Office said it accepted that black men were more likely to be stopped by police, but that they were also "disproportionately affected" by knife crime. The home secretary added: "Every death from knife crime is a tragedy. That's why I also back the police in tackling this blight in communities which are disproportionately affected, such as among young black males. We need to do everything in our power to crack down on this violence." The Home Office called on officers to use available powers to arrest people who unlawfully obstruct stop-and-searches. It said forces should publish footage from body cameras worn by officers quickly to prevent innocent officers from being "subject to trial by social media". The Home Office also said it was planning to put into law two conditions for using stop-and-search powers. The department said police should communicate with "the local community" when putting in place Section 60 orders - that is, stop-and-searches that can be carried out without requiring "reasonable grounds". Police forces can authorise the use of Section 60 orders in set areas - usually a neighbourhood or sometimes a whole borough - for a defined period of time. The Home Office also said data on every stop-and-search interaction must continue to be collected for it to publish for transparency and public scrutiny. The National Police Chief's Council described stop and search as a "valuable policing tool". Dorset Police Chief Constable Amanda Pearson said: "We know that the use of stop-and-search can have a significant impact on individuals and communities, particularly our black communities and young people. "It is our responsibility as leaders to ensure that we balance tackling crime with building trust and confidence in our communities." But former Metropolitan Police Ch Supt Dal Babu said Ms Braverman's attempt to direct officers on stop-and-search was a "very troubling" intervention, and it should be down to local commanders to decide when it is used. Emmanuelle Andrews, policy and campaigns manager at Liberty, said the home secretary's push was going to do "immense harm to our communities". The policing watchdog has previously called for an end to the overuse of stop-and-searches on people from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds. In 2022, the Independent Office for Police Conduct said it was a "legitimate policing tactic", but it was time to "break the cycle" of its disproportionate use, which was causing "trauma" and damaging confidence in policing.

Cardiff University said it is aware of the potential impact of AI programmes on assessments and coursework University students have confessed to writing essays with the help of ChatGPT's artificial intelligence program. Cardiff University students said they had received first class grades for essays written using the AI chatbot. ChatGPT is an AI program capable of producing human-like responses and academic pieces of work. Cardiff University said it was reviewing its policies and would issue new university-wide guidance shortly. Tom, not his real name, is one of the students who conducted his own experiment using ChatGPT. Tom, who averages a 2.1 grade, submitted two 2,500 essays in January, one with the help of the chatbot and one without. For the essay he wrote with the help of AI, Tom received a first - the highest mark he has ever had at university. In comparison, he received a low 2.1 on the essay he wrote without the software. "I didn't copy everything word for word, but I would prompt it with questions that gave me access to information much quicker than usual," said Tom. He also admitted that he would most likely continue to use ChatGPT for the planning and framing of his essays. A recent Freedom of Information request to Cardiff University revealed that during the January 2023 assessment period, there were 14,443 visits to the ChatGPT site on the university's own wi-fi networks. One month before, there were zero recorded visits. Despite the increase in visits during January's assessment period, the university believes there is nothing to suggest that the visits were for illegitimate purposes. "Most visits have been identified as coming from our research network - our School of Computer Science and Informatics, for example, has an academic interest in the research and teaching of artificial intelligence," said Cardiff University. John, not his real name, is another student at the university who admitted using the software to help him with assignments. "I've used it quite a few times since December. I think I've used it at least a little bit for every assessment I've had," he said. "It's basically just become part of my work process, and will probably continue to be until I can't access it anymore. "When I first started using it, I asked it to write stuff like 'compare this niche theory with this other niche theory in an academic way' and it just aced it." Although ChatGPT does not insert references, John said he had no issue filling those in himself. "I've also used it to summarise concepts from my course that I don't think the lecturers have been great at explaining," he said. "It's a really good tool for cutting out the waffle that some lecturers go into for theories which you don't actually need to talk about in essays. "It probably cuts about 20% of the effort I would need to put into an essay." Both students said they do not use ChatGPT to write their essays, but to generate content they can tweak and adapt themselves. As for being caught, John is certain that the AI influence in his work is undetectable. "I see no way that anyone could distinguish between work completely my own and work which was aided by AI," he said. However, John is concerned about being caught in the future. He said if transcripts of his communication with the AI network were ever found, he fears his degree could be taken away from him. "I'm glad I used it when I did, in the final year of my degree, because I feel like a big change is coming to universities when it comes to coursework because it's way too easy to cheat with the help of AI," he said. "I like to think that I've avoided this, whilst reaping the benefits of GPT in my most important year." Cardiff University said it took allegations of academic misconduct, including plagiarism, "extremely seriously". "Although not specifically referenced, the improper use of AI would be covered by our existing academic integrity policy," a spokesman said. "We are aware of the potential impact of AI programmes, like ChatGPT, on our assessments and coursework. "Maintaining academic integrity is our main priority and we actively discourage any student from academic misconduct in its many forms."

Extinction Rebellion demonstrators took part in a rally outside Parliament Thousands of activists marked Earth Day with a demonstration in central London organised by Extinction Rebellion (XR). Members of the climate group gathered at Parliament Square, in Westminster, on Saturday, for the second day of what they are calling "The Big One". Some wore fancy dress, including red-robes and masks of King Charles III and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Chris Packham warned the planet is "in crisis" during a speech to the crowds. The wildlife presenter told protesters their "mission" was to "build as wide a community as possible". Extinction Rebellion demonstrators took to the streets of London on Saturday Demonstrators also took part in a "die-in" in London on Saturday "Our planet is in crisis and if we don't take action then we will not protect that life, which includes us," the 61-year-old said. Along with Extinction Rebellion members, activists from more than 200 organisations, trade unions and charities also took part in the demonstration. Jo from Bristol told BBC News he came to the demonstration because he wanted to "send a message to the government that we are not going to stand by until we get change". Another demonstrator, who is a retired nurse, added that "a lot of health professionals that are working now are seeing more and more the impacts of climate change on people's health, the air quality, the heat". The family-friendly rallies and marches over the weekend mark a change for the group which is has been known for its disruptive tactics, including blocking roads, throwing paint and smashing windows. Rob Callender, action co-ordinator from Extinction Rebellion, explained the group was adopting a new peaceful approach after hearing from the public that disruption "is a barrier". Elsewhere in London, thousands more activists staged a "die-in" on Saturday as part of their efforts to warn about what they said was the future extinction of humanity due to global warming. The activists said the "die-in" shows that "humans and nature will not survive if nothing is done about climate change". Saturday's action marks the second of four organised days of protests. The weekend demonstrations coincide with the TCS London Marathon on Sunday which will see tens of thousand of runners pound the city's streets. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he hopes "there is no disruption by XR or anybody else". The group has said it has worked with the organisers to ensure the marathon will not be disrupted.

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: 'I have done nothing wrong' - Nicola Sturgeon Nicola Sturgeon has said she is certain she has done nothing wrong after appearing in public for the first time since her arrest last Sunday. Scotland's former first minister told journalists she intended to be back in the Scottish Parliament this week. Ms Sturgeon was questioned for more than seven hours as part of a police investigation into the SNP's finances. She temporarily moved out of her Glasgow home after being released without charge. Returning there a week after her arrest, the former first minister said: "For now, I intend to go home and catch up with family. "I know I am a public figure - I accept what comes with that. But I'm also a human being that is entitled to a bit of privacy." When asked if she had considered stepping back from the SNP, Ms Sturgeon said: "I have done nothing wrong and that is the only thing I am going to assert today." Ms Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell did not return to the house at the same time. Police Scotland has been investigating for the past two years what happened to more than £600,000 of donations given to the SNP by independence activists. As part of Operation Branchform, officers searched Ms Sturgeon's home and the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh on 5 April. Ex-SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, was arrested before later being released without charge pending further investigation. A luxury motorhome which costs about £110,000 was also seized by police from outside the home of Mr Murrell's mother in Dunfermline. Almost two weeks later, SNP treasurer Colin Beattie was also arrested and released without charge while further inquiries were carried out. Ms Sturgeon, Mr Murrell and Mr Beattie were the three signatories on the SNP's accounts and the arrest of the former first minister had been widely expected - although there was no indication of when it was going to happen. She announced on 15 February that she would be standing down as both SNP leader and first minister once a successor was elected, with Humza Yousaf winning the contest to replace her. Ms Sturgeon said at the time that she knew "in my head and in my heart" that it was the right time to go, and has since denied the timing was influenced by the police investigation. She was Scotland's longest-serving first minister and the only woman to have held the position.

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Crews in Vermont are assessing the damage after a storm dumped up to two months of rain on the state in a matter of days, triggering dangerous flash floods that submerged homes. The state's governor said there had been "historic and catastrophic" flooding. Some areas saw more than 9in (0.22m) of rain. In the capital city, Montpelier, crews are beginning to clear debris and inspect buildings. More rain is expected later this week. People in Montpelier as well as nearby Berlin have been told to boil their water, amid concerns that the flooding may have contaminated drinking water. The picture is similar elsewhere in the state, such as in the town of Ludlow, where the scale of the damage is only starting to become clear as the floodwater recedes. "I talked to people today that said my house is gone," said Ludlow Municipal Manager Brendan McNamara. "[We] sustained catastrophic damage. We just really took the brunt of the storm." A freight track on the Green Mountain Railroad that runs through the town was left dangling in the sky after the floods carved a deep gorge underneath it. A spokesperson for the Vermont Rail System told the BBC's US partner CBS News that operations had been "temporarily suspended" due to "a washout". Andrew Molen, the co-owner of a restaurant in the town, told the outlet that the flooding there was "devastating" and his business was in a mess. "We lost bridges, we lost roads, cars went down rivers, the power, there was such force it was moving dumpsters that were full," he said. Some Vermont residents returned to their homes on Tuesday to survey the damage caused by the floods Vermont's commissioner of public safety, Jennifer Morrison, told CNN on Wednesday more than 200 people have been rescued and over 100 evacuations had been performed. She called the situation "an absolute crisis" that could take years - potentially even a decade - to repair. There had been concerns about several dams in the state as they neared capacity, but on Tuesday night Montpelier officials said the Wrightsville Dam was "beginning to recede" and both major rivers were "now below flood stage". "It looks like [the dam] won't breach. That is good. That is one less thing we have to have on our front burner," Montpelier Town Manager Bill Fraser said. An emergency order was lifted on Tuesday in the city even as some streets remained underwater after the Winooski River burst its banks. But Governor Phil Scott urged caution over the coming days. "We expect more rain later this week which will have nowhere to go in the over-saturated ground," he said. "We're not out of the woods - this is nowhere near over." He added that the deluge in some parts of the state had surpassed that seen during Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, which killed six people in Vermont. Kelly Tackett, who owns the Minikin children's store in Montpelier, was unable to get through the floodwaters on Tuesday to check on her deluged business. But upon seeing pictures of the ruined premises taken by a photojournalist she said she was in tears and feared her business may not recover. "This was my lifelong dream shop," she told the Burlington Free Press. The National Weather Service forecasts more rain for Thursday and Friday in Vermont, but no more torrential downpours. Flood watches remain in effect for parts of New York, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Connecticut. In New York state, which has also seen some of the worst flooding in years, a woman named by authorities as Pamela Nugent, 43, died in Orange County after she was swept away while trying to flee her home with her dog. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Homes, businesses and roads were significantly damaged in the county. Many factors contribute to flooding, but a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely. The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions.

The fire happened near the Dubai Creek in one of the oldest parts of the city Sixteen people are dead and nine others injured after a fire at a residential building in Dubai, local media report. The blaze happened in the Al-Ras area, one of the oldest parts of Dubai. It is home to many migrant workers and traders. The fire broke out on the fourth floor of the five-storey building, according to local media reports. Dubai Civil Defence said it was caused by a lack of compliance with building security and safety requirements. Fire crews arrived on the scene at 12:41 local time (09:41 GMT) on Saturday. The Al-Ras area is near the city's gold and spice markets, which are popular tourist attractions. Dubai Civil Defence told UAE newspaper The National that an investigation into the deadly blaze was under way. It said it was important that "residential and commercial building owners and residents" fully comply "with security and safety requirements and guidelines to avoid accidents and protect people's lives". Among the dead are four Indian and three Pakistani nationals, local media say. Salinga Gudu told The National that his brother Gudu Saliyakoondu, a watchman from India's Tamil Nadu state, had died trying to save residents inside the building. "I was so scared because that is the building my brother works in. He went up to help and never came back down," he said. No-one has yet been arrested as part of the investigation.

Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. More coverage details A year ago, Ons Jabeur had a photo of the Wimbledon women's trophy on her phone screen as she chased history. She swiftly erased it after missing out on the real thing but on Saturday has another chance when she faces Marketa Vondrousova in the final (14:00 BST). The popular Tunisian hopes her third major final proves lucky as she aims to be the first African or Arab woman to win a Grand Slam singles title. "Hopefully, I can make history not just for Tunisia but for Africa," she said. Like last year, sixth seed Jabeur heads into the women's final as the favourite. The 28-year-old faces Vondrousova, who is ranked at number 42 and is also aiming for her own slice of history by becoming the first unseeded woman to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish. Vondrousova, 24, was in London as a tourist with her wrist in a plaster cast when Jabeur lost to Elena Rybakina last year, following the surgery that sidelined her for six months. "I'm just so grateful to be here. It's crazy that this is happening," Vondrousova said. The Czech was runner-up in the 2019 French Open as a 19-year-old, so like Jabeur - who lost in the US Open final two months after her Wimbledon disappointment - has previous Grand Slam final experience to draw on. Jabeur going to 'learn' from last year In the Open era, only one player representing an African nation has won a Slam singles title - South Africa's Johan Kriek at the 1981 Australian Open. Kriek also won again a year later, although by then he was representing the United States. As Jabeur seeks to become the first woman from the continent to triumph, she has been motivated by revenge at the All England Club and used that to despatch Rybakina in the quarter-finals. The Kazakh was one of four Grand Slam champions Jabeur has had to beat in a tricky route to the final, having also made it past Australian Open title holder Aryna Sabalenka, two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova and 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu. She says when it comes to the final, it makes no difference whether you are facing a major champion or not. "I think a final is a final," Jabeur said. "Whoever could handle more the emotions, whoever could be more ready on the court, will definitely win that match." Jabeur's run to another major final has come in a stop-start season where she has been hampered by injury and had minor knee surgery. In typical fashion for a player known as the 'Minister of Happiness' back home, she sees the positives from those troubles and last year's disappointments. "[The injuries] teach me how to be very patient and accept whatever happened to me ... because it was out of my control," she said. "I mean, if you tell me you [would] get injured and be in the final of Wimbledon, I would take it." Jabeur, whose emotional displays have won her many fans, is also hoping it will be third time lucky. "I'm going to learn a lot from not only Wimbledon's final but also the US Open final, and give it my best," she said. "Maybe this year was all about trying two times and getting it right the third time." And perhaps to avoid jinxing things, she has revealed this year what is on her phone's lock screen to motivate her this time round, telling reporters: "You're going to know after the final." No clothing sponsor yet, but cat sitter is sorted for Vondrousova Vondrousova has come through tough tests in the past two rounds, knocking out American fourth seed Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals before a two-set win over Elina Svitolina. The latter came in front of a partisan Centre Court crowd, who were emotionally invested in Ukrainian Svitolina's run that came nine months after having a baby and against the backdrop of war. She is the latest in a long line of Czech female tennis players to reach Grand Slam finals, with nine major women's singles finals in the last 10 years - including Saturday's match - featuring players from the country. But grass is not her best surface and certainly not one on which she would have expected to win a major title. "When it was clay or hard, maybe I would say, yeah maybe it's possible," said Vondrousova, who has been flying so far under the tennis radar recently that she no longer has a clothing sponsor. "But grass was impossible for me. It's even crazier that this is happening." So unexpected was her run that she told her husband to stay at home in Prague to look after their cat, Frankie. She has now changed her mind. "We texted the cat sitter to come to our home," she said. "He [husband] is coming tomorrow." Former world number one Tracy Austin on BBC's Today at Wimbledon: "This is the major she [Jabeur] wants. She's put Wimbledon above everything else on the tour. It's what she's wanted her entire career since she was a little girl. "Last year it was either 50-50 or Rybakina with a little bit of an edge. But now she's against Vondrousova - number 42 in the world, unseeded, the first unseeded finalist in 60 years, and she's just been playing with house money. "Remember in the quarter-finals, Vondrousova was down 4-1 in the final set [against Pegula] and somehow turned that around. She's loosened up and doesn't seem to be bothered about what stage it is. She's been to one final before, Roland Garros a few years back, it will be very interesting." Nine-time Wimbledon singles champion Martina Navratilova on BBC's Today at Wimbledon: "[Vondrousova] has a nice game for grass. Obviously, the variety works for every surface but especially on grass with the drop shots and the slices. "She's only won four matches on grass in her career [before this fortnight] and she's been around for six or seven years. So really it's surprising she hasn't done better, but she's finally putting things together. "[Against Svitolina] she was firing on all cylinders and looked a veteran of grass-court play. "Clearly, Vondrousova likes the roof closed. It takes the wind out of the equation, and you can just hit your shots knowing the ball will land where it's supposed to. Vondrousova should play the final hoping the roof will be closed." • None Alerts: Get tennis news sent to your phone

Mark Gordon and Constance Marten have now been found and arrested in Brighton - this CCTV image shows them in London in January The police search for Constance Marten and Mark Gordon - and their newborn baby - began in early January, after the couple's car was found burning on the side of the motorway. Police said Ms Marten, 35, had given birth one or two days before the fire, and had not been seen by medical professionals. Gordon, her partner, is a convicted sex offender. The couple had left their home in Eltham, south-east London, in September, after Ms Marten first showed signs of pregnancy. After the car fire in January, the couple were on the move for a total of 53 days before being found - apparently evading police. They were arrested on 27 February. Police said the pair would look away or cover their faces whenever they were near CCTV cameras. In the images of them that have been captured, they can often be seen wearing face masks. Detectives also said Ms Marten was from a wealthy family, from whom she was estranged after meeting 48-year-old Gordon, and that her inherited wealth could allow the couple to live off-grid for some time. This is what we know about the couple's movements, based on CCTV images. CCTV still released by police of the couple's car on fire on the hard-shoulder of the M61 in Bolton on the evening of 5 January The investigation began after a car was found on fire at around 18.30 on Thursday 5 January on the hard shoulder of the M61 near Bolton. The owners were not there, and police believe the fire had destroyed their belongings. It was established that the car belonged to Constance Marten and Mark Gordon and that they had safely left the scene. In the first few days after their disappearance, the pair travelled from the Bolton area to Liverpool, Essex, London and East Sussex, all in quick succession. The couple were initially seen with carrier bags and a pushchair. Police believe the couple first travelled to Liverpool and from there took a taxi to Harwich in Essex, arriving at about 03:30 on Friday 6 January. A member of the public saw Marten, Gordon and a baby in Harwich at about 09:00 on Saturday 7 January. There were also several confirmed sightings of them in Colchester on 6 and 7 January. The pair were later seen on CCTV near East Ham Station in east London between 10:30 and 12:30 on Saturday 7 January. The couple in East Ham on CCTV The same day, they took a taxi from East Ham to Whitechapel - another part of east London - and can be seen arriving on Whitechapel Road at around 18:15 with a pushchair and large carrier bag. CCTV captured the couple arriving in Whitechapel by taxi on 7 January Gordon is initially seen wearing plastic bags on his shoes, which he later removes. CCTV of the couple walking along Whitechapel Road shortly after 6pm on 7 January Minutes later, Gordon visits the Whitechapel Argos, where he buys camping equipment, including a blue two-person tent, two sleeping bags and two pillows. Police say this sparked fears the couple may have been camping in freezing temperatures. CCTV image of Mark Gordon in Whitechapel with Argos bags after he bought camping gear CCTV shows Gordon walking with the two bulky Argos bags. The couple then walked in the Whitechapel Road area for the next few hours, and tried unsuccessfully to flag down three separate taxis before walking to nearby Brick Lane. Mark Gordon and Constance Marten on Brick Lane in east London The couple walked to Flower and Dean Walk near Brick Lane at about 23:45, and appeared to dump various items, including the pushchair, before getting a taxi to Harringey, north London. Mark Gordon and Constance Marten walking through Flower and Dean Walk near Brick Lane, east London, after dumping items including a pushchair At 01:24 on Sunday 8 January, they got in another taxi in Allison Road, Haringey, and travelled for over three hours to Newhaven in East Sussex, where they got out just outside the port at 04:56. CCTV of Mark Gordon and Constance Marten in Newhaven (in red ring) CCTV sighting of the couple near a petrol station on Avis Road in Newhaven, East Sussex Just over an hour later, they were seen walking along Cantercrow Hill in Newhaven into some fields, where they were believed to have set up camp. CCTV of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon on Cantercrow Hill in Newhaven Following this final sighting, there were no new confirmed sightings of the couple and baby for many weeks. They were next seen at around 21:30 on 27 February in Stanmer Villas, Brighton, around half an hour's drive from Newhaven. The couple were found and arrested on suspicion of child neglect in Stanmer Villas on the same night, but their baby remains missing. On 28 February they were further arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, as police said they now had to consider the possibility that the baby had "come to harm". Police are now focusing their efforts on finding the child in an "urgent search" using helicopters, drones and police dogs. They have been looking through an allotment and golf course on the Sussex Downs - and local people have been asked to check sheds and outhouses.

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Heavy snow has caused widespread disruption to schools, roads and rail services in mid and north Wales for a second day. A Met Office yellow warning for snow was in place until about midday as the Arctic blast continued to hit the UK. A further yellow warning for ice until 10:00 GMT on Saturday warns of temperatures as low as -11C (12F). More than 350 schools were closed on Friday and people were urged to avoid travelling. Sixty-two homes in Merthyr Tydfil lost power on Friday morning but this has since been restored. Meanwhile, SP Energy Networks also reported power cuts in the Mold area, at Carmel, Greenfield, near Holywell, in the Whitford area, Flintshire, and at Bwlchgwyn, near Wrexham. Transport for Wales has suspended its trains between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llandudno, and Shrewsbury and Llanelli via the Heart of Wales on Friday due to the weather. The provider added that passengers were advised not to attempt travel. This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original tweet on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post by Trafnidiaeth Cymru Trenau Transport for Wales Rail This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. End of twitter post by Trafnidiaeth Cymru Trenau Transport for Wales Rail Heavy snowfall led to the closure of several major roads on Friday, but traffic conditions improved throughout the day. The A458 remains closed in both directions at Buttington, Powys, from the Buttingdon roundabout to Halfway House. A section of the A55 was closed earlier but has since re-opened, Traffic Wales said. Traffic cameras show snowy conditions on the A55 in Flintshire North Wales Police said it was "advising motorists to only travel if necessary" on Friday morning. "We are experiencing a high number of calls, please be patient and only use the 999 line in an emergency," the force added. This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original tweet on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post 2 by Derek Brockway - weatherman This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. It is estimated some areas could see up to 30cm (12in) of snow, with a snow depth of 27cm (10.6in) at Capel Curig, Conwy county, the greatest depth so far recorded in the UK. At 09:00, Met Office weather stations recorded 16cm (6in) of snowfall in Lake Vyrnwy, Powys, 5cm (1.9in) in Hawarden, Flintshire and Bala, Gwynedd, and 4cm (1.5in) in Sennybridge, Powys. At Llanrwst, Conwy county, paramedic Tom McLay skied to his job in the town's ambulance station from his home in Capel Curig about 9 miles (14kms) away. This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original tweet on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post 3 by Welsh Ambulance This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Lynda Jones, who owns Fronheulog Caravan Park in Lake Vyrnwy, said she was "so glad" the caravan site is shut until 1 April. The site homes sheep and two horses, which she admitted were lapping up the snow. "They love it because they're so young - they're out in the snow playing, they're like little kids," she said. Katie Wilby, of Flintshire council, told Radio Wales Breakfast: "It's pretty challenging conditions. We've had gritting crews out ploughing and gritting all night. We've had extra vehicles out. "There has been significant snowfall overnight. We've seen 20 to 40 centimetres in places, particularly on high ground, but I think most parts of Flintshire have seen snow this morning and will wake up to snow. "It's coming down as fast as we're clearing it at the moment so it's really tricky." Ms Wilby added that the authority has spread about 360 tonnes of gritting salt and covered 1,466 miles (2,360km) of road in 36 hours. She said some disruption must be expected, adding: "We are working really hard to keep the roads open but I would advise that people don't travel unless absolutely necessary." This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original tweet on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post 4 by Arriva Buses Wales This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Councillor Hugh Jones, lead member for environment at Wrexham council, added: "All our resources have been out overnight. The work has been hampered by a number of fallen trees as well, but we have managed to get the main routes open. "The advice is if you don't have to travel, don't travel, because there will be enough people who have to travel to spread the salt. "People have to understand that our teams have been working for over 24 hours, so it's really a tough time." Arriva bus said that Wrexham services suspended on Friday morning have since returned to operation but buses would only be using the main roads until further notice. Both Wrexham and Flintshire councils have also confirmed that all refuse and recycling collections will be suspended on Friday, with updates posted to their respective websites. Tucker and Molly enjoying the snow in Pandy, Wrexham on Thursday Helen Kynaston, of the Newtown Community Cafe in Powys: "This morning it was snowing really heavily early on. "Yesterday was a major challenge and we only had a handful of customers, but our chef managed to get in. It took my neighbours and I about three-quarters of an hour to dig [us] out. "We made the bowling club really nice and warm and we had requests from our regular customers who really struggled, so we delivered to them which we don't normally do on a Thursday." This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original tweet on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post 5 by BBC Weather This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Meanwhile, Brian Dulson from Tanat Valley Coaches said the company has had to cancel its Powys services for a second day. He said: "Still pretty heavy in the last couple of hours. Our local schools are closed. "Everywhere the snow is really bad, so it's getting the buses out because if you get stuck in the snow it's a nuisance. We've got little lanes and side roads, our routes are not just on the main roads."

Lucy Letby's trial has been hearing about her police interviews following her arrest Nurse Lucy Letby told police she did not question a spike in baby deaths on her neonatal ward and it did not need "to be looked into", a court has heard. Ms Letby has denied murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 others at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016. Manchester Crown Court heard she told police the sudden rise was "a shock". Officers also asked her if she thought her presence at the incidents was "bad luck", to which she replied: "Yes." The court heard police interview summaries in relation to a number of infants in the case. In them, officers asked Ms Letby what she was thinking in June 2015 after a "spike" in baby collapses. "That it was a shock," Ms Letby said. Asked how she coped with the sudden rise in fatal and near-fatal incidents, she said: "You just have to find a way to deal with it and carry on." She told police she did not question why the spike had happened as she "didn't feel there was anything that needed to be looked into, it was just a shock for everybody". The court heard earlier that Ms Letby was seen standing at the cot side of a baby boy who collapsed six minutes after she had a "frustrating" text conversation with a colleague. The baby, known as Child C, is alleged to have been the second baby murdered by Ms Letby at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit. The jury has previously heard that on the night Child C collapsed, in June 2015, Ms Letby was the designated nurse for another baby in nursery three. Jurors have heard Sophie Ellis, the nurse caring for Child C, went briefly to the nurses' station and whilst there she heard Child C's monitor sound an alarm. When she re-entered nursery one, Ms Letby was already standing next to the cot and told her: "He's just dropped his heart rate and saturations." Ms Letby was asked by police why she was in nursery one, despite having another child to care for in nursery three. She told officers: "I don't remember specifically when or why I entered the room." Lucy Letby is accused of murdering babies at Countess of Chester Hospital Ms Letby said she could have entered nursery one to carry out "checks" on equipment or said she may have heard Child C's alarm sounding. She agreed with detectives that she was "frustrated" at not being asked to work in nursery one that evening. The court later heard that six minutes prior to Child C's alarm sounding, Ms Letby was texting an off-duty colleague to say she had wanted to be in nursery one because it would be cathartic for her and would help her to see a living baby in the space previously occupied by Child A, who died the previous week. Ms Letby agreed with the interviewing officer she was "frustrated" and "upset" by the text conversation, as she was not receiving the emotionally supportive messages she expected. Ms Letby was asked, in her police interview, "did you cause (Child C) to collapse six minutes after that conversation?" She responded "no" and denied causing the infant any harm. Summaries of interviews in relation to Ms Letby's first alleged victims, twins Child A and B, were also read to the court. She told officers she could not explain Child A's death or Child B's near fatal collapse. When it was put to her that medical experts had concluded the likely cause was an injection of air into their bloodstreams, she said: "I didn't do anything deliberately to harm" both Child A and B. Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Harry and Megan Tooze were killed at their farmhouse home in Llanharry on 26 July 1993 Police hope advances in forensic science will finally lead them to the killer who brutally murdered a married couple at their farmhouse 30 years ago. Harry and Megan Tooze were shot dead at their home in Llanharry, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on 26 July 1993. Their daughter's boyfriend Jonathan Jones was found guilty of their murders and sentenced to life in prison in 1995, but was later freed on appeal. South Wales Police has launched a forensic review into the cold case. The announcement comes on the 30-year anniversary of the double murder that shocked a close-knit rural village and intrigued the nation. The force will be working alongside forensic scientist Angela Gallop, whose work has helped solve notorious cases such as the killings of Lynette White and Damilola Taylor and the Pembrokeshire murders. Supt Mark Lewis, who is leading the review, said they would be looking at exhibits retained from the original case using the latest forensic techniques. The case remains one of Wales' most notorious unsolved murders "As years have gone on, forensic science has moved on, there are new sensitivities in relation to DNA, in relation to the way we look at other evidence, whether that's fibres, whether that's blood," he said. When asked how likely it was that they would ever solve the murders, he said: "The honest answer is I don't know if we will find the killer from this forensic review - we know forensic science has moved on, there might be other opportunities now. I am cautiously optimistic but I can't say if we will or not." Supt Lewis appealed for anyone with information to come forward. "To kill two people in their own home with a shotgun in broad daylight - I think that would be a difficult secret to keep, so I wouldn't be surprised if somebody knows who the killer is and where information might be to lead us to that killer," he said. Anyone with information has been asked to submitted it to the investigation using an online public portal. The bodies of the couple, who were in their 60s, were found in the cowshed at their farm the day after they were reported missing. They had both been shot in the head with a shotgun and covered in carpet. The couple were shot dead at their home in Llanharry A neighbour later told police they had heard two gunshots at about 13:30 on the day they were reported missing but had assumed Harry was out shooting rabbits. At the time, their daughter Cheryl's boyfriend Jonathan Jones, then 35, was a self-employed recruitment consultant. He told police on the day the Toozes were killed he took the day off work and went into Orpington to look for office space to rent, but police could not find anybody who had seen him that day. The Toozes' daughter Cheryl and Jonathan Jones at their funeral His partial thumbprint was also on a cup and saucer that had been found in the couple's living room. He was arrested in December, five months after the murders. Cheryl stood by him, moving in with his family in Caerphilly after his arrest. A year after his conviction Jonathan Jones was released on appeal. Three appeal court judges took five minutes to reach their decision. The original trial judge was criticised and it emerged police had failed to seal the crime scene properly. Cheryl Tooze and Jonathan Jones kissing outside court after his conviction was quashed Former BBC Wales journalist Penny Roberts was the first reporter on the scene in 1993 and reported on the case throughout her career. She recalled arriving to a "terrible scene" shortly after the bodies were discovered. "There was blood in the cowshed, it was a very sobering scene," she said. She hopes the forensic review will finally lead police to the killer. "The community of Llanharry and Harry and Megan's own family really want justice now," she said. "At first we all thought it was a random killer, then it was almost like an execution. "Either way, everybody was very, very frightened and even now, 30 years on, there's rumour and gossip around these murders and I think for them, for the community, they need answers."

The shockwaves triggered by the impact of Russia's invasion on food and energy bills have been felt globally. But inflation in the UK has climbed faster and been more stubborn than in the US and EU. Some, including Mark Carney, the former governor of the Bank of England, claim Brexit may be to blame. But it's a complex picture. Singling out the impact of Brexit isn't easy, especially with the effects of a pandemic and a war. But there is evidence that the red tape - the form filling and other hurdles - required to bring goods into the country may have added to food bills. More than a quarter of our food is imported from the EU. Researchers at the London School of Economics (LSE) compared how the prices of some of those items rose compared with those of food from elsewhere. The differences may reflect other factors, and may not be purely down to Brexit. But the academics claimed that if they were, then the extra red tape could have added £250 in total to the typical household's grocery shopping bills between December 2019 and March 2023, with meat and cheese particularly affected. Most of that rise - about £210 - they say came through before our current cost-of-living crunch, in 2020 and 2021, as businesses were preparing and first implementing the new processes. But in total, the LSE team reckons the changes could have accounted for over a quarter of the rise in food bills we've seen since the end of 2019. By contrast, the cost savings in new trade deals agreed since then have been minimal. So while Brexit may not have been the biggest reason for our surging food inflation, the higher costs it added may have played a significant part. But here's a small crumb of comfort - even with these changes, academics at Oxford Economics believe food is 7% cheaper in the UK than on average in the EU. And official statistics show a smaller part of spending in the UK goes on food - less than £1 in every £8 - than in France or Germany. However, a trip to the butchers, deli counter or nipping out for a pizza could become still more expensive. The remainder of post-Brexit import checks and formalities on items brought into the UK to guard against risks to animal health and food fraud are due to be phased in from October, after they were postponed during the pandemic. The government has streamlined several processes in the meantime, considerably reducing the extra bills importers were due to face. But meat, dairy or fish products, for example, will have to be signed off as safe by a vet before entry, at a cost of hundreds of euros. Every consignment of goods in such medium- and high-risk categories entering the UK will face a new charge at border posts of up to £43. The changes will cost businesses hundreds of millions of pounds per year. And customers may ultimately foot the bill. Meanwhile, the end of free movement means 330,000 fewer workers in the UK, according to one estimate from economists at the Centre for European Reform. That is 1% of the workforce, but it is hitting some sectors harder than others - transport, hospitality and retail are all seeing more acute staff shortages. Such employers tend to have to offer larger pay rises to attract and keep staff. While that is good news for those in work, who might have scored a bigger pay rise than they would have done otherwise, those costs are often passed on to customers. Then there is a less visible possible impact. Investment - in things like equipment, skills and IT - has stalled since the referendum. Economists, including those at the government's own independent forecasters, say part of that gap may reflect Brexit-related costs or uncertainty. That makes the UK less efficient than it could be, meaning the cost of producing stuff is higher. But with the Windsor Framework settling the arrangements for trading with the EU between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, economists hope some uncertainty has disappeared, and investment may get a boost. But that takes time. The current inflation shock is truly global. But those escalating bills in the UK may come with a Brexit surcharge on top - just when households and businesses feel they can least cope.

An unprecedented analysis of how cancers grow has revealed an "almost infinite" ability of tumours to evolve and survive, say scientists. The results of tracking lung cancers for nine years left the research team "surprised" and "in awe" at the formidable force they were up against. They have concluded we need more focus on prevention, with a "universal" cure unlikely any time soon. Cancer Research UK said early detection of cancer was vitally important. The study - entitled TracerX - provides the most in-depth analysis of how cancers evolve and what causes them to spread. Cancers change and evolve over time - they are not fixed and immutable. They can become more aggressive: better at evading the immune system and able to spread around the body. A tumour starts as a single, corrupted cell, but becomes a mixture of millions of cells that have all mutated in slightly different ways. TracerX tracked that diversity and how it changes over time inside lung cancer patients and say the results would apply across different types of cancer. "That has never been done before at this scale," said Prof Charles Swanton, from the Francis Crick Institute and University College London. More than 400 people - treated at 13 hospitals in the UK - had biopsies taken from different parts of their lung cancer as the disease progressed. "It has surprised me how adaptable tumours can be," Prof Swanton told me. "I don't want to sound too depressing about this, but I think - given the almost infinite possibilities in which a tumour can evolve, and the very large number of cells in a late-stage tumour, which could be several hundred billion cells - then achieving cures in all patients with late-stage disease is a formidable task." Prof Charles Swanton says challenge of tumours evolving inside our body means we need to focus on preventing cancer. Prof Swanton said: "I don't think we're going to be able to come up with universal cures. "If we want to make the biggest impact we need to focus on prevention, early detection and early detection of relapse." Obesity, smoking, alcohol and poor diet all increase the risk of some cancers. Tackling inflammation in the body is also being seen as a way of preventing cancer. Inflammation is the likely explanation for air pollution causing lung cancers and inflammatory bowel disease increasing the risk of colon cancer. The evolutionary analysis has been published across seven separate studies in the journals Nature and Nature Medicine. The researchers hope the findings could, in the future, help them predict how a patient's tumour will spread and to tailor treatment. Dr David Crosby, the head of prevention and early detection at Cancer Research UK, said: "The exciting results emerging from TracerX improve our understanding that cancer is a disease which evolves as it progresses, meaning that late-stage cancers can become very hard to treat successfully. "This underscores the crucial importance of further research to help us to detect cancers at the earliest stages of their development or even better, to prevent them from happening at all."

Troubled banking giant Credit Suisse says it will borrow up to 50bn francs ($54bn; £44.5bn) from the Swiss central bank to shore up its finances. The lender said it was taking decisive action to strengthen its liquidity as it looked to become a simpler bank. Shares in Credit Suisse fell 24% on Wednesday after it said it had found "weakness" in its financial reporting. This prompted a general sell off on European markets, and fears of a wider financial crisis. Credit Suisse said its borrowing measures demonstrated "decisive action to strengthen [the bank]". "My team and I are resolved to move forward rapidly to deliver a simpler and more focused bank built around client needs," Credit Suisse's chief executive Ulrich Koerner said in a statement. Problems in the banking sector surfaced in the US last week with the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, the country's 16th-largest bank, followed two days later by the collapse of Signature Bank. After Credit Suisse shares plunged on Wednesday, a major investor - the Saudi National Bank - said it would not inject further funds into the Swiss lender. The worries spread across financial markets with all major indexes falling sharply. "The problems in Credit Suisse once more raise the question whether this is the beginning of a global crisis or just another 'idiosyncratic' case," wrote Andrew Kenningham of Capital Economics. The Swiss National Bank, which is Switzerland's central bank, and the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority sought to calm investor fears, saying they were ready to help Credit Suisse if necessary. Strict rules apply to Swiss financial institutions to "ensure their stability" and Credit Suisse meets the requirements for banks considered systemically important, the regulators said. "There are no indications of a direct risk of contagion for Swiss institutions due to the current turmoil in the US banking market," they said in a joint statement. The BBC understands that the Bank of England has been in touch with Credit Suisse and the Swiss authorities to monitor the situation. Credit Suisse, founded in 1856, has faced a string of scandals in recent years, including money laundering charges and other issues. It lost money in 2021 and again in 2022 - its worst year since the financial crisis of 2008 - and has warned it does not expect to be profitable until 2024. Shares in the firm had already been severely hit before this week - their value falling by roughly two-thirds last year - as customers pulled funds. The bank's disclosure on Tuesday of "material weakness" in its financial reporting controls renewed investor concerns. These were intensified when the chairman of the Saudi National Bank, Credit Suisse's largest shareholder, said it would not buy more shares in the Swiss bank on regulatory grounds. At that time, Credit Suisse insisted its financial position was not a concern. But shares in the lender ended Wednesday down 24%, as other banks rushed to reduce their exposure to the firm and prime ministers in Spain and France spoke out in an attempt to ease fears. A bank run on Silicon Valley Bank ended in its collapse last week This comes after Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) - which specialised in lending to technology companies - was shut down on Friday by US regulators in what was the largest failure of a US bank since 2008. SVB's UK arm was snapped up for £1 by HSBC. In the wake of the SVB collapse, New York-based Signature Bank also went bust, with the US regulators guaranteeing all deposits at both. However, fears have persisted that other banks could face similar troubles, and trading in bank shares has been volatile this week. In the US, shares in both small and large banks were hit, helping to push the Dow down almost 0.9%, while the S&P 500 fell 0.7%. The UK's FTSE 100 fell by 3.8% or 293 points - the biggest one-day drop since the early days of the pandemic in 2020. "This banking crisis came from America. And now people are watching how the whole thing could also cause problems in Europe," said Robert Halver, head of capital markets at Germany's Baader Bank. "If a bank has had even the remotest problem in the past, if major investors say we don't want to invest any more and don't want to let new money flow into this bank, then of course a story is being told where many investors say we want to get out."

Shekhar Kapur says Hollywood's push to cast actors of colour comes from guilt Director Shekhar Kapur has said Hollywood's push for more diverse casts has come from its guilt over "all the actors who are not getting work". Kapur said the inclusion of ethnic minority actors in shows such as Netflix's Bridgerton is "a good thing" in terms of opportunity. But, he said, it hides "a greater, more fundamental issue" of which stories are brought to the big screen. He added the rise in protests had helped bring the issue to the fore. "Hollywood should be telling stories of that culture, of the culture of the brown people, of the African-American people, of the black people, of Asians," he told BBC Newsnight's Sima Kotecha. "But what's happening is they're still addicted to their, you know, the narrative is still their point of view." Kapur is best known for his films Elizabeth and its sequel The Golden Age, both starring Cate Blanchett, and Bollywood films such as Mr India and Bandit Queen. When asked about Hollywood's efforts to increase the diversity of actors in its films, Kapur described it as "a guilt trip" and woke. "It's Hollywood feeling guilty about all the actors that are not getting work. And because there's a huge rise of protests," he said. The live-action remake of The Little Mermaid released in cinemas in May starred black actress and singer Halle Bailey as main character Ariel, which caused controversy in some quarters. Halle Bailey starred in Disney's live-action remake of The Little Mermaid earlier this year Kapur joined the film industry in India as an actor, before going on to become a director. His 1998 film Elizabeth, about the early years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, received widespread critical acclaim and several Oscar nominations. Following its release, the director said many of the scripts he received went on to be "a huge success", including ones that he turned down. Discussing international scripts he would receive, he said: "It's always an American going in, fixing the world's problem, going to Africa... and I said, 'Don't send me those scripts because it's not true'. Kapur was educated in Delhi before moving to London for a career as a management consultant and chartered accountant "For example, if you were going to make Gandhi the answer, the question was: 'Who's the American in it? Who's the American who goes and fixes all the problems? And who's the white man in the film?' "And I would refuse to do those films. Absolutely. Because it's not patently not true." Kapur was educated in Delhi before moving to London for a career as a management consultant and chartered accountant, but later turned to film directing, releasing his first film Masoom in 1983. The 77-year-old, whose most recent film What's Love Got To Do With It? starred Shazad Latif and Lily James, suggested the film industry is contained within far too small a geographical area. "I really believe that Hollywood's too concentrated together as like a group," he said. "I think it needs to be taken away and spread out. "I would love to see it in Shanghai if you can. I would love to see it in Mumbai or in Tokyo or as it's happening in Seoul."

The actor arriving at Southwark Crown Court in London on Wednesday morning Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey left the four men who made allegations against him in a sexual assault trial feeling small, diminished and worthless, prosecutors have said. Summing up, Christine Agnew KC told Southwark Crown Court the case involved an "enormous imbalance of power". Kevin Spacey denies nine sexual offences between 2001 and 2013. Earlier, the jury was told four counts against him had been removed because of legal technicalities. The four indecent assault charges, which were alternative, lesser counts, were struck off by the judge due to a "legal technicality" - not because the prosecution had abandoned any allegation. In her closing speech, prosecutor Ms Agnew told jurors the case was "about power and taking advantage of that power". She questioned Mr Spacey's claim that his accusers were motivated by money and suggested the trial was a result of his "aggressive, oppressive and intimidatory behaviour". There was no doubt he was "a very famous and lauded actor" who was "used to getting his own way", she said - and his behaviour made his accusers "feel small, it made them feel diminished, it made them feel worthless". "He is undoubtedly someone who is kind to those he chooses to be kind to," she said, referring to character witnesses for Mr Spacey. But she added: "History is littered with those who are benevolent to some and cruel to others." She went on to say it was "not simply a strength-in-numbers case" against Mr Spacey but that of four separate men who told friends and family, the police and then the court their stories in search of justice. These men were entitled to the same protection in law as a woman, she told the jury at Southwark Crown Court. "Why on earth should these men put up with what they say has happened to them?" she asked. She added they were not motivated by "money, money, money" but instead had come forward because they no longer wanted to be the "secret keeper" for someone who had abused them. Mr Spacey, 63, denies using his celebrity to get people into bed, and has rejected claims he is a sexual bully. He previously called the case against him "weak". His defence lawyers are expected to sum up their case on Thursday.

We're now ending our live coverage following the death of Barry Humphries soon, thanks for joining us. We've brought you tributes to the comedian from the worlds of entertainment and politics, as well as a selection of photos from his illustrious and colourful career. More news can be found in our main story and you can read more about Humphries' life in our obituary. Today's coverage was brought to you by myself, Heather Sharp, Charlene Rodrigues and Antoinette Radford. We'll finish with this look back at some of Dame Edna's funniest moments...

A woman bled to death after it took the medical team looking after her 38 minutes to call for specialist help, an inquest has heard. Rana Abdelkarim died at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in March 2021 following a bleed after giving birth. The inquest found there were "delays" in how her bleed was managed. Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust apologised and said changes had been made to prevent further tragedies. The inquest at Gloucestershire Coroners Court heard how Ms Abdelkarim, 38, was admitted to hospital two years ago to be induced at 39 weeks pregnant. Her husband Modar Mohammednour, 44, did not go to hospital with her as he was at home looking after their other daughter. He explained previously that the family did not understand Ms Abdelkarim was being induced but merely thought it was a check-up. Witness statements submitted to the court said there were language barriers with Ms Abdelkarim, who left Sudan with her husband and made her home in Gloucestershire. Modar Mohammednour said his eldest daughter Reem asked about her mum all the time Staff said her English was "poor" but some felt they could "communicate effectively using simple words and hand gesticulations". A Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) report into the death said: "There was no effective communication with Rana and the events that occurred traumatised staff." Soon after giving birth to her daughter, Ms Abdelkarim started to experience a major bleed. Senior coroner Kay Skerrett noted in her conclusion that, after the bleeding started, care "was not at this time escalated to the obstetric team" despite there being "immediate, heavy vaginal bleeding". "The emergency call bell system was not used to call for help from the obstetric emergency team," the coroner said. The coroner also noted there were "differences of understanding amongst staff of the code red process". It was some 38 minutes later that the code red emergency call for a major bleed was made at 05:06 GMT. Soon after, consultants started battling to save Ms Abdelkarim's life by inserting a uterine tamponade balloon - a balloon inflated inside the uterus to stop bleeding - and they performed a hysterectomy. The court heard how the HSIB report found staff underestimated how much relative blood volume she was losing because she was small and thin, which contributed to the delay in calling for emergency help. Despite extensive resuscitation efforts, her condition continued to worsen and she was pronounced dead two hours later. Professor Mark Pietroni, medical director and deputy chief executive at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said in a statement addressing the inquest: "We want to take this opportunity to apologise once again for the immeasurable distress that this loss has caused." He added the death was "thoroughly investigated" through the HSIB report and the trust did a further investigation. "The findings of these investigations have been shared with Rana's family and HM Coroner and we have implemented all 10 recommendations made in the HSIB report," he said. Modar Mohammednour and the family's solicitor, Hannah Carr, outside court Dr Christine Edwards, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, gave evidence about what steps the hospital had taken. They included the trust updating their interpreter policy and installing a hands-free phone in each antenatal unit, so patients, doctors and a interpreter can be on the same call. A video has also been made explaining what a code red is and what happens when it is called, which is being shown to staff on mandatory training days. Dr Edwards also said that, during training days, staff are reminded to evaluate the relative blood loss to a patient's weight, and a specialist drugs trolley for major bleeds after childbirth is on the delivery ward. Rana Abdelkarim had moved from Sudan to Gloucestershire Dr Edwards said a survey with staff was done in April 2022 on how comfortable they felt calling a code red, and one commented there was a "fear" and "shame" in pulling the bell, in case it was not needed. The consultant said the "culture of leadership on the delivery suite has been looked at quite intensely" since then, and changes had been put in place. Ms Skerrett said: "I've been taken through all the steps taken by the Trust since this tragic death and, with Dr Edwards' evidence in court, I'm incredibly reassured by a lot of the steps taken." She added that a report to prevent future deaths will be looked at once the hospital has completed a new survey, to see if the changes are working. The family's solicitor Hannah Carr, from Novum Law, gave a statement after the inquest. She said: "I cannot begin to imagine how terrified Rana would have felt, without access to interpretation services and without access to her husband by her side. "For Modar, while the trust has taken steps to learn from Rana's tragic death, this does not change things for him and his family. "That said there is a sense of justice for him, as he has always said he wanted to prevent this from happening to other families." Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Earlier this year, researchers raised eyebrows when Australia's traditionally conservative medicines regulator approved the use of psychedelics to assist therapy sessions. The decision will see psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms, used for treatment-resistant depression. It will also allow MDMA, known as ecstasy in tablet form, for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The changes come into effect on Saturday, making Australia the first country to classify psychedelics as medicines at a national level. While initial access to the drugs will be limited and costly, many experts and patients are hailing it as a landmark moment. But major health organisations have also urged caution. Marjane Beaugeois was diagnosed with severe depression in 2017. "Within two months, I lost my mother, grandmother, beloved pet dog and my romantic relationship," she recalls. She couldn't eat, shower, or leave her house in Melbourne - but says prescription antidepressants left her "zombie-like, unable to cry, self-soothe or feel better". "I'd still go to bed praying not to wake up," the 49-year-old says. When her research for alternative therapies led her to a psilocybin clinic in Amsterdam, she was hesitant. "I have no history of drug or alcohol use. As an addiction counsellor, I was always very against it," she says. But she was also desperate to escape her treatment-resistant depression, so in 2018, she booked herself in. The psilocybin was taken in a tea. "Colours became more vivid. I felt powerfully reconnected to the world; warm and fuzzy. I'm getting emotional just talking about it… it was a massive, beautiful experience of unconditional love." Three sessions later, she felt healed. "I could smile, feel joy, go about my daily routine with clarity," she says. "When I got home, friends said they saw my eyes shining again." When Glen Boyes suggested microdosing psychedelics to treat his crippling depression, his therapist was sceptical. "He explained it wasn't something he does, but he couldn't stop me, and would do brain scans to track my progress," he says. The 33-year-old veteran says he began experiencing "lingering PTSD" from his time in the army, during Covid-19 lockdowns in Sydney. But after 10 weeks of microdosing and therapy sessions, red areas on his initial brain scans showing blockages had cleared. "My brain fog evaporated. I could think clearly again." Due to no other country rescheduling these substances for clinical use on a national level, the cohort who've experienced psychedelic therapy is small. Professor David Nutt, Head of Neuropsychopharmacology at the UK's Imperial College, congratulated Australia on "leading the world in this vital treatment innovation". Psychedelic researcher and psychiatrist Dr Ben Sessa described the approval as pioneering. "This is where the global psychedelic spotlight now shines," he told the BBC. Dr Sessa has resigned from his job running the UK's primary psychedelic clinical organisation and will spend the next 18 months travelling to Australia to deliver a bespoke psychedelic prescribing training programme. Other countries have explored psychedelics for compassionate use, including Switzerland, Canada, and Israel - where regulators have made similar decisions, although not nationally like in Australia. Psychedelic clinics also operate legally in countries including Jamaica and Costa Rica. But how Australia rolls out clinical prescriptions for both drugs, and at what price tag, will be closely watched. First developed as an appetite suppressant in 1912, ecstasy was used in therapy sessions in the US until the mid-1970s when it was outlawed. It entered Australia in the 1980s as a party drug due to its reported effects of increased energy, empathy, and pleasure, and was criminalised in 1987. In the 2000s though, research slowly started up again - with recent trials finding that both MDMA and psilocybin can quickly improve symptoms of severe depression, though little is known about how they do this. Mind Medicine Australia (MMA), a charity which lobbied for psychedelic treatments, is helping to train health professionals tasked with procuring and prescribing the drugs. To become an authorised prescriber, psychiatrists must apply to an ethics committee and to Australia's drugs regulator the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). They'll then need to source and supply both MDMA and psilocybin. Once all expenses are factored in - including the drugs themselves, supervision from multidisciplinary teams, psychiatrist sessions and hiring a private clinic - costs could spiral to A$30,000 (£15,700, $20,000) per treatment, according to one psychedelics expert. Due to the prohibitive price tag, Dr Stephen Bright, senior lecturer at Edith Cowan University, says he doubts these treatments "will be very widely available at all" for the first 12-18 months. Philanthropist Peter Hunt, chair of MMA, disputes those estimates, telling the BBC patients should expect to pay between A$10,000 for two psilocybin assisted therapy sessions, and A$15,000 for three MDMA assisted sessions. "We costed the treatments with a mental health clinic," he said. But with no planned government subsidies, the five-figure treatments are expected to remain unaffordable for most patients. Australia's major medical and mental health bodies are among the loudest voices pushing back against psychedelic treatments. "There's been considerable caution from the scientific and medical community," said Kristen Morely, a professor of addiction medicine at the University of Sydney. According to MMA, the "weight of submissions from thousands of Australians whose current mental health treatments just aren't working" helped get the TGA approval over the line. But the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) have expressed serious concerns. Both groups have called for larger-scale studies and better research into psychedelic treatments, warning of unknown risks, long-term side effects and "potentially very limited benefits" from their use in therapy. "Psychedelic-assisted therapy may offer hope to a small number of people where other treatments have been attempted without success. But it's not a miracle cure," warned Professor Richard Harvey, who chairs the RANZCP's Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Steering Group, warned. He urged a "cautious, considered and informed" approach, due to the "potential for psychedelic substances to cause fear, panic and re-traumatisation". "Vulnerable people can understandably feel distressed if their experience doesn't match their expectations of this therapy," he said. It's also unclear, he argued, whether the results from psychedelic treatments stemmed more from the substances themselves, or the psychotherapy. "Put simply, psychedelic-assisted therapy is in its infancy. There is more we need to know."

Temperatures in the final stages of the campaign have hit 40C and millions of voters will be on holiday Spain is holding a highly unusual election on Sunday at the height of a scorching summer, after four years of left-wing rule. Current Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the vote in response to a dismal performance at the May local elections in which his Socialist party came second to main rival, the conservative Popular Party. No general election in Spanish history has ever been held so late into the summer, with temperatures topping 40C in this country of 48 million people. The timing of the vote has been criticised when so many in Spain are on holiday, but 2.6 million voters have chosen to cast their ballot by post. The Popular Party (PP) under Alberto Núñez Feijóo have their eye on victory but may struggle to form a government on their own. To win a majority they need to secure more than half the 350 seats in the lower house of parliament. Spaniards will also vote for their upper house. The conservatives may need the support of far-right party Vox, while Mr Sánchez will be able to look to left-wing grouping Sumar. LGBT and gender issues have become prominent campaign issues in the run-up to this election. Opposition parties PP and Vox have staunchly criticised the left-wing government's new laws on transgender rights - including making it easier for people to change their legal gender - and abortion. They have also attacked Spain's controversial "Only Yes Means Yes" law on sexual consent. It was passed only last August but created a loophole that cut jail time for over 1,000 convicted rapists - and Mr Sánchez ended up having to apologise and push through changes. The very existence of gender violence has been questioned by some Vox party officials, causing tensions with their potential conservative partners. Nationalism has been a hot issue too. The PP and Vox have labelled Mr Sánchez a "traitor" for pardoning jailed pro-independence leaders and downgrading the crime of secession. One highly effective right-wing tactic has involved targeting the prime minister with a slogan for relying on separatists to pass key reforms. He has been denounced for his pact with Basque separatist party Bildu, led by Arnaldo Otegi, who was jailed for crimes by the Eta militant group. The slogan "Let Txapote vote for you" accuses Pedro Sánchez of relying on the support of separatist killers The slogan Que te vote Txapote, meaning "Let Txapote vote for you", refers to another Eta militant who carried out a number of deadly terror attacks. As Spain experiences worsening droughts and heatwaves, most parties have measures to fight climate change. Only Vox's electoral programme fails to mention the issue entirely. The biggest issue for most voters is the economy, even if much of the campaign has focused on other issues. Spain is enjoying a period of growth and inflation slowed to below 2% in June, one of the lowest levels in Europe. But dismal jobless figures are one of the opposition's most frequent lines of attack against the current government. In May, Spain had the highest unemployment rate (12.7%) of all EU countries. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (L) called the snap election but Alberto Núñez Feijóo is favourite to win He became the first politician in Spain to snatch power from a sitting prime minister through a no-confidence motion in 2018. Then he narrowly won a confidence vote in January 2020 to form Spain's first coalition government since democracy was restored in the late 1970s. Pedro Sánchez, 51, is seen as a passionately pro-European integrationist and speaks English fluently; he has lectured in economics in Spain and had a spell working for the UN high representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina. His brand of governing has been labelled Sanchismo, and his opponents have styled the election as a choice between Sanchismo or Spain, suggesting he is a threat to the country, its traditions and values. He has spearheaded a law to bring dignity to victims of dictator Gen Francisco Franco, backed a rule giving workers the right to menstrual leave and laws expanding abortion rights. But this snap election could be a gamble too far, as his party trails his conservative rivals. He has accused the PP of seeking to put Spain in a "sinister time machine" with the support of far-right Vox and take the country back to "who knows where". Mr Feijóo has been less than enthusiastic about the prospect of a coalition with the far right The Popular Party leader has knowingly cultivated a low-key image, saying recently that "what for some may be boring, I think for the majority of citizens are qualities that a prime minister should have". He was seen to have won the only head-to-head TV election debate with Mr Sánchez, telling him he had no right to give lectures on governing pacts because the Socialist leader had relied on separatists. But Mr Feijóo was later criticised for skipping the final televised debate before the election, which was attended by both his opponents, Mr Sánchez and Ms Díaz, and his potential coalition partner, Santiago Abascal. A former civil servant born in Galicia in Spain's north-west, he has led the conservatives since 2022. He has gained a reputation as a safe pair of hands, serving as president of the former national health service and of the postal service. However, his rivals have highlighted 10-year-old rumours that he had a close friendship with a Galician drug trafficker and money launderer called Marcial Dorado. Photographs of the two on holiday together on a yacht in 1995 were unearthed by Spanish daily El País in 2013. Mr Feijóo says he was unaware Dorado was a criminal when the two became friends because "back then we had no internet or Google". Mr Sánchez has accused Mr Feijóo of lying, but the PP leader has hit back accusing him of using "rubbish" to seek to discredit him. Santiago Abascal's party takes a hard line on gay marriage, adoption by gay couples, abortion, euthanasia and transgender rights He has led the far-right Vox party he helped found in 2014, and he is known for his controversial declarations. He has said he does not believe in climate change and he has criticised the "totalitarian law of gender ideology", which he claims criminalises men. Last month, he used the riots in France to call for tougher immigration policies. "Europe is threatened by mobs of anti-Europeans… who are unwilling to adapt to our way of life and our laws," he said. "Europe cannot continue to accept immigrants from Muslim countries." Vox has already reached coalition deals with the conservatives in dozens of cities and three autonomous regions - Extremadura in the west, Valencia in the east and Castille and León, north of Madrid. In the Balearic Islands, Vox have reached a pact with the PP but have no positions in government. Now Mr Abascal is looking for a share of national power too. He has cultivated strong ties with other European far-right and nationalist groups, from Hungary's ruling Fidesz and France's National Rally to the Brothers of Italy party of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Ms Meloni has given Vox's election campaign her backing, recording a video to reaffirm the parties' "great friendship". Yolanda Díaz has gained popularity in Spain for her headline-grabbing policies If Vox are the potential kingmaker for Alberto Núñez Feijóo, then for the Socialists it would be Yolanda Díaz's Sumar (Unite) alliance of 15 left-wing groups. A former Communist, she has been Spain's second deputy prime minister as well as labour minister and she is keen to be Spain's first female leader too: "because women's time has come, and women want to be the ones who make history". Sumar have made a big pitch for the youth vote, pledging €20,000 (£17,139) of funding to help 18-23 year-olds to kick-start their lives. Ms Díaz is a popular politician who has helped increase the Spanish minimum wage to €1,259 and scrapped unpopular labour laws. Sparks flew between Ms Diaz and Mr Abascal in the last televised debate before the election as the two clashed over issues of gender violence, while she and Mr Sánchez appeared to form a united front. While opinion polls have narrowed, the conservatives and Mr Feijóo are favourites to win. But they may need to form a coalition with Vox to form a majority and avoid repeat elections. The last opinion polls published in Spain put the PP on 33%-36% of the vote and the Socialists on under 29%. Vox and Sumar are almost neck and neck on 12.5-13.5%. To win an absolute majority a party needs 176 seats, so no party would win outright with these results. Vox has made great strides in securing power-sharing deals with the conservatives in three autonomous regions, and lesser alliances have been reached in Murcia, Aragon and the Balearic Islands, But Mr Feijóo is less than enthusiastic at the prospect of governing with the far right. The PP leader has seemed rattled by his rival's accusations of a "shameful" pact with Vox. In their TV debate Mr Feijóo said Vox's Mr Abascal would not be a member of a prospective PP government "if I don't need the votes". He even offered the Socialists' Mr Sánchez a pact for the losing party to support the winner so that neither would need to rely on either the hard right or left. But Vox could be the only option. Last month Maria Guardiola, the PP president of the western Extremadura region, said she would never govern with a party that "dehumanises immigrants" and that "rubbishes" LGBT rights. She later changed her mind and welcomed Vox into her government, stating that "my word is not as important as the future of Extremadura". As well as taking a hard line on gay marriage, adoption by gay couples, abortion, euthanasia and transgender rights, another big issue that has driven support for Vox is its unequivocal stance on opposing Catalan nationalism. It has also taken a dim view over the status of Gibraltar, a British overseas territory at the southern end of the Iberian peninsula. Last year Vox objected to reports of talks between the UK and Spain by warning that "any agreement that does not go through the recognition of the Spanish sovereignty of Gibraltar is an act of treason against Spain".

We could be entering the era of Alzheimer's treatments, after the second drug in under a year has been shown to slow the disease. Experts said we were now "on the cusp" of drugs being available, something that had recently seemed "impossible". The company Eli Lilly has reported its drug - donanemab - slows the pace of Alzheimer's by about a third. However two volunteers, and possibly a third, died as a result of dangerous swelling in the brain. Donanemab works in the same way as lecanemab, which created headlines around the world when it was the proven to slow the disease. Both are antibodies like those the body makes to attack viruses. But these are engineered to clear a sticky gunk from the brain, called beta amyloid. Amyloid builds up in the spaces between brain cells, forming distinctive plaques that are one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's. "The decades-long battle to find treatments that change Alzheimer's disease is changing," Dr Cath Mummery, the clinical lead for the cognitive-disorders clinic at the UK's National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, said. "We are now entering the time of disease modification, where we might realistically hope to treat and maintain someone with Alzheimer's disease, with long-term disease management rather than palliative and supportive care." The full details of Eli Lilly's trial have yet to be published - but it has revealed the key findings: However, brain swelling was a common side-effect in up to a third of patients. It was mostly mild or asymptomatic despite being detected on brain scans - but 1.6% developed dangerous brain swelling, with two deaths directly attributed to it and a third volunteer dying after such a case. "We are encouraged by the potential clinical benefits that donanemab may provide, although like many effective treatments for debilitating and fatal diseases, there are associated risks that may be serious and life-threatening," Eli Lilly group vice-president of neuroscience research and development Dr Mark Mintun said. The company said it would begin the process of having its drug approved for use in hospitals in the next few months. Dr Liz Coulthard, from the University of Bristol, said there were "significant side-effects" and a lack of long-term data but the drug could "help people live well with Alzheimer's for longer". Having two drugs slow the disease by targeting amyloid in the brain has also convinced scientists they are on the right track after decades of misery and failure. "This should dispel any lingering doubts about this approach," Prof John Hardy, from the UK Dementia Research Institute, whose work led to the idea of targeting amyloid, 30 years ago, said. "Having two drugs is great for competition." Dr Susan Kolhaas, from Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "We're now on the cusp of a first generation of treatments for Alzheimer's disease, something that many thought impossible only a decade ago." However, these drugs appear to work in only the earliest stages of the disease - before the brain is too damaged. And if they are approved in the UK, it would still take a revolution in how the disease is diagnosed to make a difference. Only 1-2% of people have either brain scans or a spinal-fluid analysis to determine whether they actually have Alzheimer's or another form of dementia against which the drugs would be useless. And the NHS would have to decide whether it could afford them. Lecanemab costs more than £21,000 per person per year.

Reaper drones are full-size aircraft designed for reconnaissance and surveillance A Russian fighter jet has collided with a US drone, causing the unmanned US aircraft to crash into the Black Sea, the American military says. The incident highlights the increasing risk of direct confrontation between Russia and the US over the Ukraine war. The US says the drone was on a routine mission in international airspace when two Russian jets tried to intercept it. Russia said the drone crashed after a "sharp manoeuvre", and denied that the two aircraft made direct contact. The Russian defence ministry also said the MQ-9 Reaper drone was flying with its transponders turned off. Transponders are communications devices that allow the aircraft to be tracked. The incident happened at about 07:03 Central European Time (06:03 GMT) on Tuesday, according to the US military. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. "Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9," the statement said. Several times before the collision the Su-27 fighter jets dumped fuel on the drone in a "reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner", it said. The US summoned the Russian ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, to protest against the move. Following the meeting, Russian state media quoted Antonov as saying that Moscow saw the drone incident as "a provocation". Tensions have risen over the Black Sea ever since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine the US and the UK have stepped up reconnaissance and surveillance flights, though always operating in international airspace. The key question is whether Tuesday's encounter was an attempt by Russia to disrupt the US drone and its work, or whether it was a deliberate attempt to bring it down. According to the US, there has been a "pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots" interacting with allied aircraft in the region. So this could simply have been a mistake by a Russian pilot who got too close as they "buzzed" the drone. But if this was a deliberate attack on a US aircraft by a Russian warplane, then that would amount to a huge provocation and a substantial escalation. In that case, the attack would be seen as an attempt by the Kremlin to test the response of the United States. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Western allies have worked hard to stop the war in Ukraine escalating into a direct confrontation with Russia. But this incident over the Black Sea is just that. The US will now have to evaluate its response. As US military commanders warned in their statement, this was a dangerous act that "could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation".

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: Why Hunter Biden is important to Republicans An agreement expected to see US President Joe Biden's son, Hunter, plead guilty to tax charges and admit a gun offence has dramatically fallen apart in court. The plea deal, negotiated over several weeks, was likely to spare the younger Mr Biden prison time. But a judge on Wednesday said she could not "rubber stamp the agreement". The case marks the first time the justice department has charged the child of a sitting president. Hunter Biden's lawyers have been given 14 days to hash out a new deal with the prosecution. It follows a five-year investigation into the finances of the US first son, who arrived on Wednesday morning at the court in Wilmington, Delaware. In a plea agreement announced last month, he was to be charged with two misdemeanour counts for failing to pay his taxes on time in 2017 and 2018. He was also to admit that he had illegally possessed a gun while being a drug user, and agree to drug treatment and monitoring in lieu of a more serious felony charge and possible jail time. But during the three-hour hearing, US District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika questioned whether the deal would also provide Hunter Biden with immunity from crimes he could be found liable for in the future. She said the agreement contained "non-standard terms" and its proposed resolution for the gun possession offence was "unusual". Officials with the justice department are still investigating whether Hunter Biden violated federal laws that required him to register as a foreign agent while working in China and Ukraine during his father's vice-presidency, CNN reported. Legal teams for both sides were seen negotiating in full view of reporters inside the court in an effort to salvage the plea deal or carve out a narrower agreement. But the hearing ended with Judge Noreika, a Trump appointee, declining to sign the deal. She gave the two parties a fortnight to reach a new agreement and brief her. Hunter Biden, who initially offered to enter a guilty plea, ended by pleading not guilty for the timebeing. In a statement on Wednesday, the White House said the president and first lady "love their son and they support him as he continues to rebuild his life". "Hunter Biden is a private citizen and this was a personal matter for him," said press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. The misdemeanour tax counts are minor charges compared to the more serious allegations against Hunter that congressional Republicans have introduced in committee hearings. Republicans allege that he was offered an unusually lenient plea deal because he is the president's son. The House of Representatives Oversight Committee has already heard testimony from a whistleblower who claimed the justice department had deliberately stalled the tax investigation. That is denied by the US Attorney for Delaware, David Weiss, who led the investigation. Mr Weiss was appointed by former President Donald Trump and left in place by the Biden administration to finish the investigation into Hunter. He has offered to testify in front of Congress to address criticism of the inquiry. Republicans, who are examining various allegations against Hunter Biden, have focused on a notorious laptop that he apparently abandoned in a computer repair shop in Delaware. The contents have been used to try to prove bribery and corruption against the president's son, and to attempt to connect his father to illegal business dealings. But Democrats say it is no coincidence that Republicans are attacking the justice system while Mr Trump faces two criminal indictments and may soon learn of charges against him in two more cases.

Ukraine says one of the Russian missiles shot down over the Kyiv region fell in the backyard of a house Ukraine's capital Kyiv has been attacked from the air by Russia for the ninth time this month. Kyiv's authorities said it seemed all incoming missiles had been destroyed, but debris falling from the air caused some damage in two districts. One person has been killed and two more wounded in a missile strike on the Black Sea port of Odesa, officials say. Blasts were also heard in the central-western regions of Vinnytsia, Khmelnytsky and Zhytomyr. Overall, 29 out of 30 missiles launched by Russia overnight were shot down, Ukraine's Air Force said in a statement. Russia has significantly increased the frequency of its missile attacks on Ukraine over the past days and weeks, while Ukraine appears to be shooting down more of Russia's missiles. So far in May, Russia has carried out four mass launches - two them between 16 and 18 May alone - compared to one each in April and March, and two in February. The last time Russia attacked with such intensity was in the period after New Year, when four attacks took place in quick succession between 31 December and 26 January. The train derailed near Simferopol on Thursday morning, Russian-appointed officials in Crimea say In a separate development, rail traffic was suspended between Simferopol and the city of Sevastopol after a freight train carrying grain derailed. Simferopol is the regional capital of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Vladimir Konstantinov, the Moscow-installed head of the regional parliament, told Russia's state media that the derailment was caused by an explosion. An investigation is now under way. In the latest overnight attack on Kyiv, Russia used cruise missiles and reconnaissance drones, the capital's military administration said in a statement. It said that "a series of air attacks on Kyiv, unprecedented in their power, intensity and variety, continues". On Tuesday, Ukraine said it had shot down six Kinzhal hypersonic missiles as part of an "exceptionally dense" attack. Speaking before the all-clear was given, Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a fire had broken out in a garage in the Darnytsya area of Kyiv, but added no one had been injured. The head of Kyiv's civilian military administration said a heavy missile attack had been launched from Russian strategic bombers over the Caspian Sea. Serhiy Popko said the attack probably included cruise missiles, adding that Russia had deployed reconnaissance drones over Kyiv after unleashing its wave of air strikes. He said a second fire had broken out in a non-residential building in Kyiv's eastern Desnyansky district, but did not give an update on if anyone was hurt. At least eight people were reportedly killed - including a five-year-old boy near Kherson - and 17 were injured by shelling on Wednesday, as both sides traded accusations of striking civilian areas. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Two adults and a five-year-old killed after Russian shell falls near playground Slowly but surely Ukraine is getting ready to launch a huge assault on Russia's invading forces. Western officials say Ukraine's army is at "an increased state of readiness" ahead of a long-awaited counter-offensive against Russia's invasion. The officials said many of Kyiv's military capabilities were now "coming together" - including its ability to deploy tanks, fighting vehicles and combat engineers, as well as clearing mines, bridging rivers and striking long-range targets. They said Russian troops were in a parlous state but warned that Moscow's defensive lines in Ukraine were "potentially formidable" and guarded by "extensive minefields". So the officials argued the success of any Ukrainian offensive should be measured not just by territorial gains but also by whether it convinced Russian President Vladimir Putin to rethink his strategy. The "cognitive effect on the Kremlin", they claimed, was more important than Ukrainian forces cleaving through Russian lines all the way to the border. On Wednesday, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba met with a Chinese diplomat in Kyiv and rejected any peace plan which would involve them giving up territory to Russia. But an agreement allowing Ukraine to export millions of tonnes of grain through the Black Sea has been extended for two months, the day before it was due to expire. • None 'We thought it'd be a crisis we could live through'

The 26-year-old beautician died shortly before midnight on 24 December A man has denied the murder of Elle Edwards, who was shot at a pub on Christmas Eve. The 26-year-old beautician died after being shot while out with friends at the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village at about 23:50 GMT on 24 December. Merseyside Police said Ms Edwards was not the intended target of the attack and four other men were injured. Connor Chapman, of no fixed address, pleaded not guilty to murder via video-link at Liverpool Crown Court. The 23-year-old also denied two counts of attempted murder, three of wounding and one each of possessing a firearm and possessing ammunition, related to a converted Skorpion submachine gun, and handling stolen goods, namely a Mercedes A class vehicle, between 22 and 26 December. Wearing a grey tracksuit, he spoke only to enter his pleas and confirm his name during the hearing. A second man, Thomas Waring, of Private Drive, Barnston, Wirral, also pleaded not guilty to possession of a firearm and to assisting an offender by helping dispose of the car allegedly used by Mr Chapman after the shooting. Both defendants were remanded in custody ahead of scheduled trial at the same court on 12 June. Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

The MP spoke in the House of Commons while awaiting the results of a Covid test MP Margaret Ferrier should be suspended from the Commons for 30 days for breaching Covid rules, the standards committee has recommended. The suspension would likely lead to a by-election in her Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency if imposed. Ferrier spoke in Parliament in September 2020 while awaiting the results of a Covid test. She then took the train home to Glasgow after being told she had tested positive. She lost the SNP whip and has since pleaded guilty to breaching Covid rules. She was sentenced to carry out 270 hours of community service. The charge stated that she had failed to self-isolate and had "exposed people to risk of infection, illness and death". MPs will vote on whether or not to follow the recommendations of the committee - and would generally back its suggested punishment. Any MP suspended from the Commons for at least 10 days can be recalled and a by-election held if at least 10% of the registered voters in their constituency sign a petition calling for it to happen. Labour would have high hopes of winning any by-election in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency. Ferrier had a majority of 5,230 at the last general election when she won it for the SNP, with Labour finishing second. She has been sitting in the Commons as an independent MP since losing the SNP whip. The parliamentary commissioner for standards, Daniel Greenberg, began an investigation into her conduct on 12 October following Ferrier's self-referral. He concluded that she had put her own personal interest ahead of the public interest by not immediately self-isolating in London, and had therefore caused "possible risk of harm to health and life for people she came into contact with". The commissioner also said her actions had "caused significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the House of Commons as a whole, and of its members generally" and noted that people in many other walks of life would have been sacked for a similar breach of the lockdown rules. Ferrier told the commissioner her self-referral was "an open acceptance" and an "indication of remorse" that she had brought Parliament into disrepute. But she maintains that she did not put her personal interest above that of the public. Glasgow Sheriff Court was told last August that she had taken a Covid test on Saturday 26 September 2020 because she had a "tickly throat". While awaiting her results, she went to church on the Sunday and gave a reading to the congregation, and later spent more than two hours in a bar in Prestwick, Ayrshire. She then travelled to London by train - which had 183 passengers on board - on the Monday and spoke in the Commons later that day before finding out a short time later that she had tested positive for the virus. Margaret Ferrier campaigning with SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon ahead of the 2019 General Election Ferrier wore a face mask in the Commons, and after speaking in the chamber at about 19:30 had sat at a table with DUP MP Jim Shannon, where they conversed for 20 minutes. The positive result from the test was delivered to her shortly after 20:00, by both text and email. The MP decided to get a train back to Glasgow the following day, fearing she would have to self-isolate in a London hotel room for two weeks. New SNP leader Humza Yousaf called on Ferrier to quit as an MP and said he would look forward to fighting a by-election in her constituency. He added: "We've said from day one that Margaret Ferrier should have stepped down because of her reckless action. "We'll take nothing for granted, we won't be complacent. We've got strong support in Rutherglen and right across that region but it will take hard work". Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said said it was right that Parliament had "thrown the book" at Ferrier, and said the SNP still had questions to answer on what they knew and what they did at the time. "Ferrier should do the right thing and stand down as an MP. Her constituents deserve better and that means a by-election", he said. The recall process has only been used three times in the past. In the first instance - a petition against DUP MP Ian Paisley in 2018 - the 10% threshold was not met. However, it was met in the other two cases, against Labour MP Fiona Onasanya and Tory Chris Davies in 2019. Ms Onasanya did not contest the by-election in her seat, while Mr Davies stood in the by-election and lost. The rules of the House of Commons mean that if an MP is suspended for 10 sitting days, a recall petition can be opened in their constituency. The petition is open for six weeks, and if 10% of voters in the area sign it, it will trigger a by-election. So there are a few hoops to jump through - the suspension is still to be approved by MPs, and given the ongoing parliamentary proceedings against Boris Johnson there is fierce debate about what sanctions should be applied for Covid rule breaches. Ms Ferrier also has the right to appeal the committee's decision. But it still seems likely there will be a by-election in Rutherglen and Hamilton West - a seat which has changed hands at the last three general elections. Ms Ferrier won it for the SNP with a majority of 9.7% in 2019, but it was already a key target for Labour. An early contest would be an immediate test for the SNP leader Humza Yousaf - and also for Labour counterparts Sir Keir Starmer and Anas Sarwar, in their quest to spark a revival in former Scottish heartlands.

Joe Flaherty performs onstage during the Second City 20th Anniversary show in Chicago, 1979 Joe Flaherty, the American actor and comedian known for his roles on Freaks and Geeks and the sketch comedy series SCTV, has died at the age of 82. Flaherty's death was announced by his daughter, Gudrun, who said it came after a "brief illness". Born in Pittsburgh, Flaherty got his start in comedy as part of Chicago's improv group The Second City. His career spanned nearly five decades, with credits on many beloved television comedies like Frasier and Family Guy. In a statement, Gudrun said her father had an "unwavering passion for movies from the 40s and 50s", which influenced his career. She added that he was particularly fond of his time on SCTV. "He cherished every moment spent on the show, so proud of its success and so proud to be part of an amazing cast," she said. Comedian Martin Short, Flaherty's former SCTV castmate, said in a statement: "There were very few people as wise or hilarious when it came to comedy, teaching improvisation and the art of character work as Joe. "In SCTV we called him the anchor. In life, he was simply the funniest man in the room. I just adored him." After eight years on SCTV, Flaherty was cast on the teen comedy-drama Freaks and Greeks as Harold Weir, the father of two awkward teenagers. The series was cancelled after a single season but later became a cult classic and launched the careers of several young actors, including James Franco, Seth Rogen, Busy Philipps, Jason Segel and Linda Cardellini. Flaherty was also known for a small but memorable role in the 1996 film Happy Gilmore, where he played a heckler who taunts the titular golf player, played by Adam Sandler. The actor was beloved not only in his native US but also in Canada, where he had later moved to launch Toronto's arm of the improv troupe The Second City. Cast members from SCTV, including Joe Flaherty (far left) around their star on the Walk of Fame in Toronto, Canada He appeared in several Canadian sitcoms and had a guest appearance on Canadian sketch comedy show the Royal Canadian Air Farce. In a post on Instagram, Adam Sandler said he "worshipped Joe growing up". "Couldn't be more fun to have him heckle me on the golf course. The nicest guy you could know. Genius of a comedian. And a true sweetheart Perfect combo," Sandler wrote. "Much love to his kids and thanks to Joe for all the greatness he gave us all." "I was so thrilled to be able to work with him," wrote Jennifer Tilly, who starred alongside Flaherty in the 1997 film The Wrong Guy. "His performance was pitch perfect. A great comedian. Gone too soon." Flaherty was married to Judith Dagley for 22 years until their divorce in 1996. He leaves behind two children, Gudrun and Gabriel Flaherty.

A girl has died after a Land Rover crashed into a primary school in Wimbledon, south-west London, on Thursday morning. The driver, a woman in her 40s, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. Police say they are not treating the crash as terror-related.

Two far-right activists destroyed a copy of Islam's holy book outside Iraq's embassy in Copenhagen last week Denmark is considering banning protests involving burning the Quran or other religious texts over security and diplomatic concerns. The Danish foreign ministry said whilst protecting freedom of expression is crucial, such protests benefit extremists and pose a security threat. Copenhagen is looking at legal means to intervene in some circumstances, including protests outside embassies. Sweden's prime minister also said work on a similar process has begun there. Both Scandinavian countries have come under pressure in recent weeks, after authorities gave permission for a series of controversial protests where Islam's holy book was destroyed, stoking diplomatic tensions with several Muslim-majority nations. In its statement, Denmark's foreign ministry said it wants to explore intervening in some protests where "other countries, cultures, and religions are being insulted, and where this could have significant negative consequences for Denmark" - including security concerns. But the Danish government emphasised free speech was a fundamental value and any change must be done "within the framework of the constitutionally protected freedom of expression and in a manner that does not change the fact that freedom of expression in Denmark has very broad scope". The statement also specifically acknowledged the impact these controversial protests have had on Denmark's international reputation, repeating the government's earlier condemnation of burning religious texts. These protests have reached a level where Denmark "is being viewed as a country that facilitates insult and denigration of the cultures, religions, and traditions of other countries" in many parts of the world, it added. In a separate statement, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said a similar process was already underway and confirmed he had been in close contact with his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen. "We have also started to analyse the legal situation already... in order to consider measures to strengthen our national security and the security of Swedes in Sweden and around the world," he wrote on Instagram. Both statements followed several high-profile incidents where the Quran was burned or stamped on in recent weeks. In June, an Iraqi Christian refugee living in Sweden, burned a copy of the religious text outside Stockholm's central mosque. The man was then given permission to destroy a Quran for a second time last week, which led to Sweden evacuating its embassy staff from Baghdad after the building was stormed and set fire to by protesters Following this, last week two Danish far-right activists stamped on a Quran and set it alight in a tin foil tray next to an Iraqi flag on the ground outside Iraq's embassy in Copenhagen. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

An extra 5,000 hospital beds will be available this winter to help the NHS in England to cope, health bosses say. It will mean nearly 100,000 permanent beds accessible at the busiest time of the year - a 5% rise on current levels. NHS England is also promising quicker discharge arrangements to get patients out of hospital when they are medically-fit to leave. This will be achieved through the rollout of what have been dubbed "care traffic control centres". These centres bring together the NHS, community, housing and charity teams to help co-ordinate support for those patients who need help once they leave hospital. The idea is that plans for a prompt and efficient discharge can be started shortly after patients are admitted to hospital, thanks to better co-ordination among teams over follow-up care. Last winter, one-in-eight beds were taken by patients who were ready to be released, but could not be discharged because of a lack of available support. Many departments already use this approach, but NHS England has requested all areas have joint teams in place for winter. Hospitals will also be provided with financial incentives to improve performance, such as keeping A&E waiting times to four hours or less. The details have yet to be finalised, but it is thought likely it will include extra money for the 2024-2025 financial year for those hospitals that exceed expectations over the winter period. Alongside these measures there will be at least 10,000 'virtual' hospital beds open by autumn. Under such an arrangement, doctors provide remote monitoring of patients in their home, who would otherwise have to be admitted to hospital. They have been used in recent years for patients with conditions such as respiratory infections and heart problems. There will also be the option for hospitals to open emergency escalation beds if needed, NHS England said. Sarah-Jane Marsh, from NHS England, said the measures would help the service increase its "resilience" during the busy winter months. Matthew Taylor, of the NHS Confederation - which represents hospitals - said the measures were based on "sound evidence", but questioned whether there will be sufficient funding and staff to make the plan work. One-in-10 nurse posts are currently vacant.

Adam Price took over as party leader in autumn 2018 Adam Price said Plaid Cymru's "time has come" when he took over as leader five years ago. His victory was not unexpected - with his imposing presence and strong oratory skills, Mr Price had long been regarded as a future leader. But he departs after a report heavily criticised the workplace culture that existed in his party, alleging harassment, bullying and misogyny. A miner's son from the Amman Valley, Adam Price's politics were shaped by the long miners' strike of the mid-1980s. He became an MP in 2001, representing Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, and made his mark in Westminster by leading an unsuccessful attempt to impeach the then prime minister, Tony Blair, over claims that Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. Mr Price stood down as an MP in 2010 before going to study at the prestigious Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in the US. In 2016 he returned to frontline politics - this time in Cardiff Bay, still representing his home constituency. One campaign leaflet that year famously described him as an "X-factor politician" and the "mab darogan" (the son of prophecy) - a figure from Welsh mythology who it is said will redeem Wales in its hour of need. Adam Price and other party leaders meeting the Prince of Wales at the Senedd last year Two years later he ousted Leanne Wood and became the first openly gay leader of a Welsh political party. Mr Price described the decision to challenge one of his "oldest friends in politics" as "the most difficult thing I've had to wrestle with in my political life". Ms Wood would later tell the BBC that the move led to the collapse of their friendship. In a departure from his predecessor's approach, Mr Price put the notoriously tricky subject of independence at the heart of his political plan, pledging to hold a referendum on the issue by 2030. But at the snap general election of December 2019 the party found itself squeezed out of the Brexit-dominated debate, and though Plaid held on to its four seats in Westminster, its share of the vote fell back and it came a disappointing third in its main target seat of Ynys Môn. Labour First Minister Mark Drakeford and Adam Price signed a co-operation deal in late 2021 And so to the 2021 Senedd election, where independence would be front and centre of the party's campaign. Ahead of the vote, Mr Price said that he would count anything less than becoming first minister as a "failure", and he ruled out working with the Conservatives and joining a coalition with Labour as a junior partner. But the party slipped back into third place, losing its grip on the Rhondda seat held by Ms Wood, as it struggled to compete with the favourable response towards the Labour First Minister Mark Drakeford's leadership during the pandemic. Months later, and with Mr Drakeford having fallen just short of a majority in the Senedd, Mr Price formed a co-operation agreement with the Welsh Labour government. This was to be a new kind of deal, and one which would allow Plaid Cymru to push through some of its key policies, including Senedd expansion, the extension of free school meals, and free childcare for two year-olds. And that's why in the run-up to last May's Welsh local elections Mr Price - by now a father of two young children - was able to claim his party was "making a difference", and had "snatched a moral victory from the mawing jaws of defeat". By the end of the year the party was engulfed by claims of a toxic culture within Plaid and criticism of the leadership's handling of the situation. That culminated in a report by Nerys Evans which said the party had tolerated "too many instances of bad behaviour". Mr Price initially insisted he would remain in post, arguing that quitting would be "abdicating" his responsibility. However a week on Mr Price has announced that he will step down and so it will be up to his successor to address the issues raised by the report and set a course for the party into the general election.