The Xylella fastidiosa bacteria also threatens citrus fruit and vineyards. The Commission says at least 10% of the 11 million olive trees in Lecce are infected. It wants Italy to destroy infected trees and restrict any trade in species vulnerable to the disease. New emergency measures are to be proposed by the Commission this week. Thousands of hectares of olives are affected by the outbreak - a major worry for Italy, which is the EU's second biggest olive oil producer after Spain. The Commission set out a range of measures to contain the outbreak last July, but says the situation has deteriorated since then and more action is needed. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) says the disease, which kills trees by desiccation, is spread by various sap-sucking insects. An EFSA spokesperson told the BBC that there remain "a lot of uncertainties" about the Italian outbreak, despite a comprehensive EFSA study of it published in January. "Even trees not showing symptoms might carry the bacteria, which makes it really difficult. Just cutting down trees with symptoms might not be enough," he said. Italian officials in Lecce say 15km-wide (nine-mile) buffer strips will be created around plantations which have infected trees. Those strips should be free of species vulnerable to the disease, so that the blight is contained. Local officials, quoted by Italy's AGI news agency, suspect the disease entered Italy through ornamental plants imported from Costa Rica. The Xylella blight has previously ravaged vineyards in California and citrus groves in Brazil, EFSA says. A local campaign group called Peacelink disputes the EU data on the disease, however, arguing that a fungal infection is most likely to blame. In a letter to EU Health and Food Safety Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, Peacelink says more than 500 olive trees treated for fungi have recovered since spring last year. It says research by the University of Foggia pointed to fungi, rather than Xylella, as the cause. Peacelink urged the EU not to destroy olive trees en masse in the affected area, saying such a move would be "totally unnecessary".

Summary: Italy must step up efforts to contain a bacterial disease blighting olive trees in the southern province of Lecce, the European Commission has warned.


It said its food and funerals business had performed "robustly", with same-store sales in food up 0.4%, but its insurance business had lost money. The Co-op has begun a three-year plan to steady the business after deep problems emerged in 2013 with its bank, which it has since largely sold off. In 2014, it made a net profit of £216m selling its pharmacy chain and farms. Chief executive Richard Pennycock said without the proceeds of the sales the group would have, "at best, broken even". He said the organisation had made good progress reducing its costs, which had fallen from £176m to £146m and it had also cut its debts from £1.4bn to £808m. Co-op Group chairman Allan Leighton told the BBC that the business had strayed a long way: 'We lost the heart of what the Co-op was. I mean look at what's happened to the business, it's terrible. "The Co-op did used to stand for something and it was in the community, membership was important. Co-operation was important, but we've had unco-operation, we should have been called the unco-operative. Because that's the reality of where we've been." The Co-op is the country's largest mutually-owned organisation with more than eight million members, who share in the profits of the business. It is the UK's fifth-largest food retailer with almost 2,800 stores. In the last year, the group added 82 convenience stores and refurbished more than 700 stores. It plans to expand by adding another 100 outlets this year. But despite the improving performance, the business warned it would not be paying a dividend to its members until 2018. Last year, the Co-op recorded a net loss of £2.3bn, once one-off losses relating to its bank and its then-owned Somerfield business were taken into account. It was forced to divest itself of a large chunk of the bank to a number of private investors, largely hedge funds, and now owns just 20% of that business. That prompted a review by Lord Myners in which he called the group "manifestly dysfunctional" and recommended a major shake-up in its organisational structure. Co-op members will also get the chance to vote on whether the group should continue to make donations to political parties. BBC business editor Kamal Ahmed says that in effect, the board is asking the members of the Co-operative Group whether they want to continue financially supporting the Co-operative Party. The Co-op Party includes among its members a number of prominent Labour MPs such as Ed Balls, Stella Creasy and Chris Leslie. They stand as candidates of both the Co-operative Party and the Labour Party. Our business editor points out that the board has "carefully not given a view. But it is interesting to note that the new Co-op chairman, Allan Leighton, did sign a letter backing Labour in 2001".

Summary: The Co-operative Group has revealed it made a profit of £124m in 2014 compared with a loss of £255m the previous year.


The six-year-old victor, ridden by Noel Fehily, was cut to about 16-1 from 66-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. Alary, trained by Colin Tizzard, had been considered a Gold Cup hope but was pulled up before the third last fence. Bristol De Mai sealed a Haydock double for Nigel Twiston-Davies after The New One became the first horse to win the Champion Hurdle Trial three times. The nine-year-old, ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies for his trainer father, produced a gutsy display to edge past runner-up Clyne. Unbeaten Neon Wolf ran out a nine-length victor of the novices' hurdle, while 2014 Champion Hurdle winner Jezki returned from a 632-day absence with a comfortable success at Navan. Earlier, Ascot's Grade One meeting and Taunton's card on Saturday were called off because of frozen ground. The Ascot fixture was due to feature the Clarence House Chase, which has been rescheduled to take place at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day on 28 January. Cheltenham will now have a nine-race card next week, with racing starting at midday. Cornelius Lysaght, BBC horse racing correspondent Abandoned Ascot was billed as the day's top fixture, but had it been on, it'd have struggled to compete for interest with Haydock in terms of the build-up to March's Cheltenham Festival. The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained pair The New One and Bristol De Mai showed off the fact they are players - not necessarily the biggest - but definitely players in whatever they go for at Cheltenham. But the horse to really catch the eye was the Harry Fry-trained Neon Wolf who breezed home under jockey Noel Fehily (2-05) and will line-up in one of the Festival's big novice hurdles.

Summary: Bristol De Mai romped home to win the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock as the well-touted Alary disappointed.


In February, clubs agreed "in principle" to use the system from next season and those plans were confirmed at an EGM on 6 April. Goalline technology has been used in the Premier League since 2013. It has also been utilised in previous Football League play-off finals. However, this season the technology will be available for both Championship semi-finals, as well as the final at Wembley on Monday, 29 May. "The introduction of goalline technology is a significant step forward for Championship clubs and reflects the importance of the outcome of every single game in the division," said EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey. "It has already proved successful elsewhere in our competitions and I'm confident it will have a similar positive impact week in, week out in the Championship, starting with this year's Championship play-off semi-finals."

Summary: Goalline technology will be used in this season's Championship play-offs before being introduced in all second-tier matches in 2017-18, the English Football League has said.


Each course teaches students, who must be 18 or older when attending, about GCHQ's work to combat cyber-threats and helps them develop their "cyber-skills". The schools are held at four sites in the UK, an increase from two last year. The expansion was made following high demand for places, GCHQ has said. One of the schools, Cyber Insiders, will give participants the chance to learn from a range of cybersecurity experts and will be held at Cheltenham from 4 July to 9 September. Another, named Cyber Exposure, is targeted at students with a "natural curiosity for technology and problem-solving". The Cyber Exposure courses will be held at sites in Scarborough, the Manchester area, and the Thames Valley between 11 July and 19 August. "It is good that GCHQ is doing this, it increases the number of people that are learning about cybersecurity," cryptography expert Prof Mark Ryan, at the University of Birmingham, told the BBC. "We do have a cybersecurity skills gap where we just aren't training enough people in cybersecurity." The Cheltenham-based school is targeted specifically at first- and second-year students studying computer science, maths, physics or related subjects. The other courses are open to students of any subject who have five GCSEs, including maths and English, who are also on track to achieve two A-levels at C grade or higher. In a statement, GCHQ said that work at the summer schools would cover a wide range of technologies. "Students will learn about GCHQ's role in defending the UK against cyber-threats whilst being paid £250 a week," the agency said. Applications are now open at the GCHQ careers website.

Summary: UK intelligence agency GCHQ has announced it will pay £250 per week to students attending its Cyber Summer Schools this year.


The 77-year-old retired farmer lives alone in his isolated rural cottage at Aughabrack near Dunamanagh. Neighbours heard him calling for help at about 20:00 GMT on Sunday. Two men rushed to help and used their car to block the gang's vehicle. As they approached, three men came running out, their faces masked by scarves. "All I saw was the barrel of the shotgun being pointed at us. One of the gang was shouting; 'Shoot them, shoot them'," one of the neighbours said. As the men withdrew, the gang managed to escape. The two neighbours gave chase before losing them on country roads. They returned to the house to find the elderly farmer badly shaken. It is understood he suffered serious burns to his arm when he tried to throw boiling water at his assailants. He had also been threatened with a knife. It's understood the shotgun used by the gang to threaten the neighbours belonged to the farmer. It was loaded. The pensioner is staying with relatives. Police are seeking information about a Seat car used by the gang. A Seat Toledo car CKZ 8800 was found burnt out at Daisyfield Park off the Letterkenny Road, Londonderry early on Monday. SDLP councillor Patsy Kelly described the gang who carried out the attack were "cowards".

Summary: A gang of men who assaulted a County Tyrone pensioner during a robbery threatened to shoot two neighbours who came to his aid.


The Leyton Orient defender, who used to play for Liverpool, was held in Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, on Tuesday, the BBC understands. The Met Police said a 33-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were arrested and taken to a west London police station. They have been bailed until late April. In a statement, Leyton Orient Football Club said: "The club are aware of the incident reported earlier today involving Andrea Dossena." It added it would not comment further whilst it was being dealt with by the authorities. Dossena scored against Manchester United and Real Madrid while he was at Liverpool. After joining Liverpool for £7m in July 2008, Dossena scored in the Reds' 4-0 win against Real Madrid in the Champions League in March 2009 and then again in the club's 4-1 away victory at Old Trafford against Manchester United. The Italian, who won 10 caps, joined Napoli in January 2010 before a spell at Sunderland in 2013-14. He joined League One Leyton Orient in November last year.

Summary: Ex-Premier League footballer Andrea Dossena has been arrested on suspicion of shoplifting at London department store Harrods, the BBC has learned.


Save Fenton Town Hall say they are protesting because the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is selling the building. They say a World War One memorial is at risk of being destroyed if the building is sold. However, the government has said "a legal covenant" means any buyer would have a duty to preserve the memorial. The group said they wanted to see the building preserved for community use and were prepared to stay there all night. The magistrates' court, which was built in 1886 as a town hall, closed in December 2012 as part of government plans to shut 93 courts in England and Wales in a bid to save Â£41m. The Great War Memorial, which contains 498 names of soldiers from Fenton, is built into the wall of the court. An MoJ spokesman said: "We are aware of the issue at the court. We understand the police are in attendance and the protest will be a matter for them."

Summary: Some 30 campaigners have occupied a former town hall and magistrates' court in Stoke-on-Trent.


The Ivorian government has approved a near €6 million euros (£5.1m) budget for the team's campaign in Gabon. It is an increase of €600,000 euros (£507,000) from the last finals in Equatorial Guinea two years ago. Ivory Coast kick off their tournament against Togo on 16 January, before facing DR Congo and Morocco in the group stage. The two-time champions opened a training camp in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday where they will face Sweden in a friendly on 8 January and will complete their warm-up with a game against Uganda, another Nations Cup-bound side, three days later. The Confederation of African Football has revealed the winners of this year's Nations Cup will collect $4m (£3.26m) in prize money, which is a 64% increase from a previous $1.5m (£1.2m). Kicking off on 14 January, the tournament ends with the final on 5 February.

Summary: Defending champions Ivory Coast have been given extra financial support for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals.


At Warwick Crown Court her barrister accused the prosecution of launching a "tabloid attack" against her. Mrs Wadsworth and her husband Tony are on trial accused of indecently assaulting seven boys in the 1990s. The couple deny the offences and charges of outraging public decency. Mrs Wadsworth's barrister, David Hislop QC, criticised the prosecutions use of a "Naughty but Nice" charity calendar, in which Mrs Wadsworth posed as Lady Godiva, to suggest her career was forged "on the twang of a stocking". He suggested the prosecution used the calendar because of "shortcomings in their evidence". Mr Hislop claimed that prejudice and emotion had infected the investigation into allegations against the couple who previously worked for BBC Leicester and Birmingham-based BBC WM. He stressed to the jury that Mrs Wadsworth was not on trial to assess her morals. She accepts having sexual encounters with "young men" but denies they were underage. The couple, from Broughton Astley in Leicestershire, are charged with five counts of outraging public decency alleging they engaged in sexual activity "against a tree" in woodland in Warwickshire in view of others between July 1992 and June 1996. They deny the charges. Mrs Wadsworth has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges of indecent assault, while her husband denies nine counts of the same offence. The trial continues.

Summary: Former BBC presenter Julie Wadsworth, accused of sex offences against under-age boys, is the victim of "poisonous and untrue" allegations, her defence claims.


The so-called "cold cases" include ones dating back to the founding of the force in 1974. Det Supt Simon Atkinson, from the Homicide and Major Inquiry team, said the money would be used to employ 35 new staff. The funding comes from the office of the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner. Det Supt Atkinson said: "One undetected murder is one too many. "That is why the PCC has announced these extra resources to recruit staff to review all these cases and we are determined to do our best to get some answers, to find the people responsible and to bring them to justice." He said major advances in forensic techniques could make a real difference in reviewing all 55 cases. West Yorkshire's most well-known unsolved murder cases include the death of 13-year-old Lindsay Rimer, from Hebden Bridge, in 1995. Her body was found in the Rochdale Canal five months after she disappeared. Lindsay's sister, Kate Rimer, said: "We miss her so much and every memory of her is tainted because of what happened to her." Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson said: "There are still people out there, in our communities, enjoying their liberty, who are responsible for terrible crimes. "They present a real threat of further harm and need bringing to justice." Mr Burns-Williamson said the money had been found from spending reviews and would fund the team for 18 months.

Summary: Funding of £1.5m will be used to help West Yorkshire Police review 55 unsolved murders.


Glenn Murray put the Eagles ahead when he headed in from close range after Bolasie's deflected cross. Bolasie added a second soon afterwards as he poked the ball past Costel Pantilimon after Murray's knockdown. A lofted finish from Bolasie made it 3-0 and he completed his treble from Murray's pass before Connor Wickham volleyed in a late consolation. The result, the second time in three home games that Sunderland have conceded four goals, increases the Black Cats' relegation fears. Media playback is not supported on this device They have been in the Premier League for eight successive seasons but are now 16th in the table, only three points above QPR and Burnley. Sunderland have only six games left to save themselves, but their last two matches of the season are away at Arsenal and then at current leaders Chelsea. Dick Advocaat, brought in after former manager Gus Poyet had been sacked following a 4-0 home defeat by Aston Villa, had stressed the importance of this match to his side. But he was let down by some woeful defending as the hosts capitulated and conceded four goals in a 14-minute spell early in the second half. After a quiet first half that was low on quality and goalscoring chances, but high on fierce challenges, the match sprung into life within three minutes of the restart. Murray headed in his sixth goal in six games to set Palace on their way to their eighth win in 12 Premier League games since Alan Pardew took over at the start of the January. But even he could not have expected what was to follow. The hosts fell apart and three minutes later Bolasie, with one goal in his previous 27 league matches this season, got to Murray's flick-on first to make it 2-0. Media playback is not supported on this device The third goal was a poor one to concede, although Bolasie showed great technique to lift the ball over advancing Sunderland goalkeeper Pantilimon. Sunderland, who had beaten Newcastle 1-0 in their last match, fell further behind as Murray again linked up with Bolasie and he scored at the second attempt after being initially denied by Pantilimon. Advocaat had named what looked an attacking line-up with Jermain Defoe, Steven Fletcher and Wickham named in a three-man forward-line, although it took the hosts 44 minutes to record a shot on target. In front of a near-empty home support, who left the ground en masse after Palace's fourth goal, Wickham did well to steer the ball into the net in the 90th minute after Patrick van Aanholt's pullback. But it could not take the shine off Palace's day as they boosted their hopes of finishing in the top half of the Premier League for the first time ever. However, for Sunderland it was another dark day at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat said: "We have to recover in 14 days with an away game against Stoke and we have to do better as this was not good enough. "After the Newcastle game we did not

Summary: Yannick Bolasie's 11-minute hat-trick helped Crystal Palace humiliate relegation-threatened Sunderland.


England's last one-day international tournament meeting with the Black Caps ended in an eight-wicket defeat at the World Cup in February 2015. Morgan says that heavy loss was like "men against boys", with New Zealand going on to reach the final. "It's completely different now, two years down the line," said Morgan. England recovered later that year to beat Brendon McCullum's tourists 3-2. Another victory in Tuesday's match, which starts at 10:30 BST, would put them into the Champions Trophy last four, after New Zealand's game with Australia on Friday was abandoned because of rain. "We've got a completely new team, pretty much," added Morgan. "A lot of it has to do with confidence. We come into this tournament full of confidence. "The dominant factor in New Zealand was that they had that confidence, whereas we didn't." Morgan's side face Australia at Edgbaston on Saturday in their final Group A game. Steve Finn has replaced injured all-rounder Chris Woakes in the squad and Morgan says the Middlesex seamer was an automatic choice. "It was backing up consistency in selection and trying to get guys together as a group that we've showed trust in over the last couple of years," he said. "We've tried to go like-for-like as often as we can. But when we can't, we go for a guy we can throw the ball to at any stage in order to try to make an impact in the game. "Finny is one of those guys, and I'd have no hesitation in playing him if we felt it was the right thing to do."

Summary: England captain Eoin Morgan says his side have the confidence to beat New Zealand in Cardiff on Tuesday and reach the Champions Trophy semi-finals.


The 8,000 capacity stadium at Huntington was due to open in August 2016 but will not be ready for occupation until around December, the club said. York Council said it would work with the Minstermen to "minimise any impact to the club and its fans". City said the delay would have "very little impact". In a statement, it added: "Although some may be slightly frustrated that the club will not be in a position to move into the new stadium for the start of the 2016/17 season, ensuring the future development is built correctly is crucial in providing a fantastic new home for York City for decades to come." Work on the Jockey Lane site was expected to start in June but the council said it is still finalising contracts. A spokesman added: "Once these matters are finalised the development phase can commence and work can begin on the stadium itself." York FC will continue to play at Bootham Crescent until the new stadium is complete. "The club wish to point out that precedents have been set by fellow football clubs switching stadiums during a season and although some fans may not view it as ideal, the eventual move to the York Community Stadium will be fundamental in securing York City's long term future," the club said.

Summary: A new £37m home for York City FC will not be finished until part way through the 2016/17 football season.


He is the highest-ranking US official to publicly implicate Beijing since news of the data breach emerged. China always dismissed suggestions that it was behind the hacking. The statement comes after three days of high-level talks in which China and the US agreed to a "code of conduct". "China remains the leading suspects," said Mr Clapper at a conference in Washington DC, but "the US government continues to investigate" he added, according to his office. Background to a "massive" hack in five points US hit by 'massive data breach' China military unit 'behind prolific hacking' At the Washington talks where cyber security was a top priority, US Secretary of State John Kerry said there was a need to work with China to develop a "code of conduct" on state behaviour in cyberspace - Chinese representatives had agreed with these conclusions. "It's something that we agreed needs to be addressed and hopefully it can be addressed soon," State Department spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday. China has said any suggestion that it was behind the hacking is "irresponsible and unscientific".

Summary: China is the "leading suspect" in the massive hack of a US government agency holding the personnel records of millions of Americans, US intelligence chief James Clapper has said.


Mae cronfa a elwir yn Daliad Tai yn ôl Disgresiwn (DHP) yn cael ei roi i gynghorau sir bob blwyddyn gan Lywodraeth y DU. Bwriad yr arian yw helpu pobl lle nad yw eu budd-dal yn ddigonol ar gyfer talu rhent. Y cyngor sydd â'r penderfyniad i ddosbarthu'r arian i bobl sydd ei angen. Os nad yw'r arian yn cael ei wario erbyn ddiwedd mis Mawrth, mae'n mynd yn ôl i'r Llywodraeth ac mae Cymru yn derbyn llai yn y flwyddyn ganlynol. Dywedodd llefarydd ar ran Shelter Cymru: "I filoedd o bobl yng Nghymru, Taliadau Tai yn ôl Disgresiwn yw'r unig beth sy'n sefyll rhyngddyn nhw â digartrefedd. "Dangosodd ffigyrau yn 2015/16 bod cynghorau Cymru wedi anfon swm o £289,000 yn ôl i San Steffan." O ganlyniad, yn gynharach yn y flwyddyn lansiodd Shelter Cymru ymgyrch "Gwariwch neu fe Gollwch" er mwyn codi ymwybyddiaeth am y gronfa ac annog cynghorau i wneud defnydd llawn o'r adnodd. Meddai Shelter: "Gwnaeth rhai cynghorau fynd gam ymhellach i helpu pobl yn eu hardal gan ychwanegu arian ychwanegol i'r gronfa DHP. Gwnaeth eraill recriwtio staff ychwanegol i brosesu ceisiadau i sicrhau bod mwy o bobl yn cael eu helpu. "Fodd bynnag, doedd y darlun ddim yr un peth ar draws Cymru gyda rhai cynghorau ddim hyd yn oed yn gwario'r swm yn llawn. "Pam na wariwyd yr arian hwn? Rydym yn gwybod bod y galw yn uchel ar draws Cymru. Gyda mwy na 15,000 o bobl yn cael eu gwneud yn ddigartref bob blwyddyn, yn cynnwys dros 2,800 o blant, mae'r gronfa hon yn hollbwysig. Yn ôl Shelter y pum cyngor a ddychwelodd y mwyaf o arian i Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig oedd Sir Gaerfyrddin, Gwynedd, Blaenau Gwent, Ceredigion a Wrecsam. "Roedd y cynghorau hyn yn gyfrifol am tua 75% o'r tan wariant o £100,000 a gafodd ei ddychwelyd i 'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau. "Gallai'r arian hwn fod wedi helpu o gwmpas 300 o aelwydydd i aros yn eu cartrefi ac osgoi digartrefedd." Wrth ymateb dywedodd llefarydd ar ran Cyngor Gwynedd wrth Cymru Fyw: "Mae gan Gyngor Gwynedd bolisi Taliad Tai yn ôl Disgresiwn (DHP) i sicrhau fod y modd yr ydym yn dyfarnu yn gyson a thryolyw ac wedi'i seilio ar haeddiant. "Rydym yn hyrwyddo taliadau DHP mewn sawl ffordd, gan gynnwys gweithio yn agos gyda'n partneriaid megis Cymdeithasau Tai, Shelter Cymru a Chyngor ar Bopeth, ac rydym yn gwneud pob ymdrech i ddosbarthu'r dyraniad blynyddol sy'n cael ei dderbyn gan y Llywodraeth. "Yn 2016/17, roedd ein dyraniad DHP gan y Llywodraeth yn £659,887, ac fe wnaethom lwyddo i ddosbarthu £646,656 sy'n cynrychioli 98%. "Roedd ein dyraniad DHP yr ail uchaf trwy Gymru, gan fod y Llywodraeth (Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau) wedi cydnabod fod Gwynedd yn un o'r ardaloedd gyda'r poblogaeth lleiaf dwys ym Mhrydain. Mae hyn yn golygu fod yna lai o opsiynau ar gael i denantiaid lle mae eu Budd-dal Tai wedi ei effeithio gan doriadau diwygio lles." Yn y cyfamser, mae Shelter Cymru yn galw ar y cyhoedd i adael i ffrindiau, teulu a chymdogion i wybod y gallant o bosibl

Summary: Nid yw cynghorau yn gwneud y gorau o arian sy'n cael ei roi iddyn nhw i helpu pobl sy'n cael trafferth talu rhent, medd elusen, Shelter Cymru.


Northumberland County Council is planning to scrap Haydon Bridge station as well as downsizing West Harton Community Station. Dave Ledger, chairman of the Northumberland Fire and Rescue Authority, said the council had "no choice" but to make the cuts. The council also plans to scrap engines in Ponteland, Seahouses and Wooler and replace them with smaller appliances. It has to save £500,000 on top of £1.5m cuts and has just finished a three-month consultation on its proposals. The authority said a number of concerns had been raised, including how the county would cope in the face of further flooding when fire crews are called to help. During the consultation it received three petitions, 84 online responses and 76 letters raising concerns over the plans, a spokesman said. Mr Ledger, who is also the deputy Labour leader of Northumberland County Council, said: "To say I am concerned about the future is an understatement. "We simply have no choice. The Government keeps saying we have choices - well I'd like them to tell us what the choices are." The fire service has 88 full-time firefighters and 180 on-call officers in the county. A full cabinet meeting will be held on 21 March when a final decision will be made. Mr Ledger added: "Should the recommendation be approved, we will continue to have 21 emergency response vehicles and, through the introduction of smaller fire appliances, in some areas we will be able to increase the cover we provide."

Summary: A fire station in Northumberland is facing closure amid £500k budget cuts.


The BHA aims to halt a decline in the number of horses taking part in races lower down the scale with an increase in prize money and appearance fees. The scheme has the support of the Racecourse Association and Horsemen's Group. The proposals come as the 2018 fixture list is released, with 1,508 meetings next year, 11 more than in 2017. Richard Wayman, chief operating officer for the BHA, said: "Although there has been growth in total prize money in recent years, much of this has been at the top end. The returns to our sport's participants further down the scale are simply not sufficient at present to be sustainable. "Targeting grassroots with extra funding will help racing's participants to maintain their involvement in the sport, keeping more horses in training, as well as helping with the recruitment and retention of staff to care for our horses." The BHA proposes to invest additional levy income in racing from 2018, with the aim of delivering three key objectives for the sport - supporting ownership, delivering more competitive and compelling racing, and increasing customer engagement. A statement by the BHA proposed that, in addition to the increased number on meetings next year, there will also be "customer-friendly slots on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons throughout summer with the aim of increasing attendances". "We need the fixture list and race programme to work in a manner that meets our customer's requirements. As customer and betting habits change it is essential that our sport evolves with them," Wayman added.

Summary: Grassroots racing will receive an extra £9.7m in 2018 under new proposals from the British Horseracing Authority.


The National Housing Federation inquiry shows a worker paid the region's average wage - £23,405 - would need close to a £15,000 pay rise to qualify for an 80% mortgage. The average home in the region costs almost £166,000, more than seven times the average salary. In Harrogate, North Yorkshire, the average cost rises to 11 times salary. The NHF report shows Harrogate has an average house cost of almost £277,000, where the average salary is still £24,731. In comparison it found in Barnsley, Hull, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire the average house cost less than six times the average salary. £277,000 Average house price in Harrogate £166,000 Average house price in Yorkshire and the Humber £38,000 The minimum salary needed for an 80% mortgage £23,405 Average salary in Yorkshire and the Humber The cost of renting or buying a home in the region was getting "further out of reach for many", according to the NHF. Jo Allen, of the NHF, said: "In some places people are completely priced out of their local communities. In others we see areas which need employment opportunities and investment in empty homes." The foundation represents independent non-profit housing associations in the United Kingdom. It uses the mean average for house costs and wages and assumes an 80% mortgage based on a lending ratio of 3.5 times salary. Salary data is based on the Annual Survey on Hours and Employment by the Office for National Statistics. Yorkshire and the Humber is one of nine regions of England identified for statistical purposes.

Summary: Workers need to earn about £38,000 a year to afford a mortgage in Yorkshire and the Humber region, a report said.


The assessment, to be published in mid-October, will be used to inform parties at Northern Ireland's political talks. In a statement on Friday, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said she is also to establish a fund to tackle organised crime associated with paramilitary groups. The two unionist parties now say they will join cross-party talks on Monday. Unionists had said the issue of continued paramilitary activity was crucial to their involvement. Democratic Unionist Party leader Peter Robinson said he was "content" with the announcement. "Policing and security in Northern Ireland is not just the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive, the secretary of state has a particular responsibility as well," Mr Robinson said. The National Crime Agency (NCA) became operational in Northern Ireland in May. Given its wide-ranging remit and resources, it would be reasonable to assume it knows the extent of paramilitary involvement in organised crime in Northern Ireland. It should be in a position to provide an assessment of paramilitary involvement to the Northern Ireland Secretary and political parties. So, it seems unlikely that the review to be published by the independent panel in October will tell Theresa Villiers and political parties anything they could not be told today by the NCA and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Read more He said "permanent and statutory steps" to address paramilitary activity and links should be determined within the talks process. The Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt described Ms Villiers statement as a "positive step forward". Ms Villiers said the assessment of paramilitaries would be carried out by UK security agencies and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and would be reviewed and checked by three people whose names would be announced early next week. "I also intend to establish dedicated funding aimed at increasing the capability of agencies working to tackle criminality and organised crime associated with paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland," she said. "It will support agencies to enhance specialist capabilities such as forensic accounting to strengthen their capacity to seize criminal assets. "Lastly, I am planning to discuss with the Northern Ireland justice minister and the Irish justice minister how we can work best together in our efforts to tackle cross-border crime." Read more on how the crisis unfolded In response, Sinn FÃ©in's Martin McGuinness said: "Obviously with today's developments and the response of unionist leaders, as we hoped all-party talks will resume on Monday. "We're entering the talks on Monday in a positive and constructive spirit." But on the subject of the assessment, the deputy first minister added: "I don't think anybody is going to learn anything over the next four weeks that they didn't know over the last 20 years." The Police Service of Northern Ireland's Chief Constable George Hamilton said he welcomed the "clear focus" on organised crime that the assessment would provide. Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said it would be a "once-off exercise". He added that it was intended to assist the political parties in considering "how the impact and legacy of paramilitary activity should best be addressed". Alliance Party leader David

Summary: The government has commissioned an independent assessment of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland.


Father-of-two Greg Gilbert, 39, from Southampton, has been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. His fiancée Stacey Heale said his only chance of survival was to go abroad for treatment which she said was not available to him on the NHS. GoFundMe said the appeal was one of the "fastest ever" campaigns on its site. More than 4,000 people have so far donated to the fundraising page, posted at 10:30 GMT on Wednesday, including music stars Craig David and Ellie Goulding. In a Facebook post, Mr Gilbert said the response was " truly humbling". "I can't begin to express our gratitude - not a penny is being taken for granted and we've been moved to tears many times over the last few days reading the supportive messages from not only friends and family but also strangers from all over the world." Ms Heale said she and Mr Gilbert had been "in tears and holding hands" as they watched the pledges come in. She said: "It's been overwhelming; our phone has been ringing off the hook. I was refreshing the page this morning and were just like, 'oh my God, we've done it'. "Grateful doesn't cover it. We've had one person donate £2,000. After such a difficult year for people, to have this at Christmas is so hopeful for us." Ms Heale said she was researching options for treatment, including personalised immunotherapy in Germany and the USA. She said she was considering posting a new fundraising target of £250,000, after a private specialist warned that Mr Gilbert's medical bills could amount to £100,000 a year. Writing on the funding page, Ms Heale said her fiancée had begun chemotherapy for the cancer, which had spread to his lungs. She said she was disappointed the drug Avastin, for advanced bowel cancers, was currently not routinely available on the NHS. A fundraising gig has been organised on 5 January at the Southampton venue, the Joiners, where Delays have played many times during their career. The band was formed in Southampton in 2001 by brothers Greg and Aaron Gilbert with Colin Fox and Rowly.

Summary: An appeal to pay for cancer treatment for the lead singer of indie band Delays has reached its £100,000 target in 48 hours.


Although ratification in national parliaments will be needed before its total application, approval of the deal would be an important symbolic moment. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is due to speak to MEPs on Thursday, the day after the ratification vote. The speech will be the first made to a full meeting of the Parliament by a Canadian PM. New Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen will also make his first address to MEPs on Tuesday. As well as that, MEPs are due to vote on new legislation relating to border checks and terrorist offences. They will also vote on a motion setting out their position on where the EU should go after Brexit. Here are the main events coming up in the week ahead... The sitting will kick off in the afternoon with a debate on ways to promote greater use of natural pesticides in European farming. In a motion on Wednesday, MEPs are likely to call for current EU authorisation rules for such pesticides to be eased. The day's main debate is on suggestions for improving the EU's Emissions Trading System (ETS), a scheme which aims to reduce carbon emissions. The scheme works by making large power plants buy "allowances" authorising them to emit greenhouse gases, within an overall agreed limit. Critics of the system say it is ineffective because the price of permits is too low and the overall cap has become overly generous due to lower economic activity. The EU Commission has proposed to increase the speed at which emissions permits are withdrawn from the market in the nine years running up to 2030. MEPs will take a position on the changes on Wednesday, although the necessary agreement from EU governments on where to go from here has not yet been found. In the evening, they will debate non-binding reports in a number of areas, including one on the EU's competition policy. They will also debate a draft motion which calls for whistleblowers to gain greater protection in EU law. The day begins with a debate on three separate motions on the future of the treaties and powers of the EU. These non-binding reports will set out the Parliament's position on the bloc's future ahead of next month's events to mark the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. The most notable is the one drafted by the assembly's Brexit observer Guy Verhofstadt, which calls for a "comprehensive" review of the EU's current treaties. Among the many recommendations endorsed at committee stage was a call for the European Banking Authority and the European Medicines Agency - both currently based in London - to be moved out of the UK after Brexit. The three motions - along with amendments - will be put to a vote on Thursday. At lunchtime, MEPs will decide whether to support an agreement to allow Europol to conclude data-sharing powers with Denmark after it quits the body. Denmark is due to leave the EU police co-operation agency in May, when it is due to acquire a raft of new powers. Continued membership would have

Summary: After seven years of talks, MEPs will finally decide whether to ratify the EU's trade deal with Canada during their plenary sitting in Strasbourg this week.


3 February 2015 Last updated at 17:47 GMT He's been in prolific goal scoring form for Derry City and by the time he tucked himself into bed on Monday night, the transfer window had closed and Michael Duffy was living his boyhood dream. He will be moving to Celtic after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms with the Scottish champions. BBC Newsline's North West reporter Keiron Tourish has more.

Summary: He's 20 and a Northern Ireland U21 international.


The Northern Ireland striker headed home on the hour mark as Ian Cathro's side struggled at Borough Briggs. Dunfermline, having played a game more, top Group B after a 9-8 penalty shootout win over East Fife following a goalless draw. The shootout victory meant the Pars picked up two points with East Fife taking one. After 17 penalties without a miss, Ben Gordon was the unlucky man to fail with his spot-kick. Hearts head coach Cathro was happy to see summer signing Lafferty open his account for the club. "We anticipated it would be difficult, it's not an easy place to come and play," he told BBC Scotland. "They defended well and we had to be patient. "I'm pleased that we stayed calm and that Kyle (Lafferty) got a goal. It was a good finish." In Group A, Inverness Caledonian Thistle held on to top spot despite needing a shootout following a 0-0 draw away to Stirling Albion. Liam Polworth and Iain Vigurs were the only ones to score in the shootout to hand John Robertson's men a 2-0 win on penalties and the bonus point. In the derby between Brechin City and Forfar Athletic, Mark Millar took the game to spot-kicks with a late penalty after Isaac layne had given Brechin a second-half lead. Brechin moved into third place, one point behind Falkirk, after Kalvin Orsi's winning penalty earned the bonus point. Inverness Caley Thistle manager John Robertson blamed a lack of a killer instinct for his side failing to earn all three points. "In terms of the ball, we dominated most of the match," said Robertson. "We knew Stirling would be at it and they were, all credit to Dave Mackay and his team. "We lacked belief in the first half, had great chances to score and didn't take them. Second half we said up the tempo and get at them, which we did. But we just couldn't find that killer instinct. "The more it went, the more frustrating it was. I thought we were going to be here until midnight with the penalties. Two scored out of eight, that's incredible. Two of our guys missed the target and for professional players that's bad technique."

Summary: Kyle Lafferty scored on his debut to give Hearts a 1-0 win over League Two Elgin City in the League Cup.


Dubbed "swirl face" due to efforts he made to disguise himself, Neil is classed a "high-risk sex offender". The 42-year-old Canadian was arrested in Thailand in 2007 following a global manhunt and a worldwide appeal for public information by Interpol. He has spent time in jail in both Thailand and Canada for sexually abusing young boys. Corrections officials from the province of British Columbia (BC) issued a public warning following Neil's release on Sunday. BC Corrections spokeswoman Cindy Rose said in a statement that Neil will be "subject to an intensive level of monitoring and supervision in the community". It includes: Neil was arrested 10 years ago when Interpol, the international police agency, appealed for help after experts unscrambled his digitally-swirled internet photos. It was the first time Interpol had made a direct worldwide appeal for public information in a case. Online images of Neil showing him abusing young boys had been manipulated to disguise his face with a swirl pattern, but German computer specialists were able to produce identifiable images. Neil was jailed in Thailand between August 2008 and September 2012 following a conviction for sexual offences against two boys. He was released and deported to Canada. In December 2015 he pleaded guilty to five new charges involving the sexual abuse of young boys in Cambodia and possession of child pornography in Canada. His sentenced was reduced due to time already served. Neil, originally from Maple Ridge, BC, had spent about 15 years in Asia teaching English.

Summary: Convicted paedophile Christopher Paul Neil has been released from custody and will settle in Vancouver.


It looked at the number of accidents recorded at each junction, then weighted the results according to the severity of injuries sustained and how many cyclists were active in the area. The Arkleston Road/A761 junction in Paisley headed the list. The charity, which promotes walking and cycling, said the results highlight the importance of better infrastructure. The findings will be presented at the Scottish Transport Applications and Research conference this week. Locations with dangerous junctions included Wallyford, Dundee, Tranent, Inverness and Stirling. Roundabouts were featured in eight of the dangerous junctions, with seven others being T-junctions or staggered junctions. Sustrans Scotland director John Lauder said: "Safety is often cited as the main reason why people don't cycle for more of the journeys they make every day. "This research highlights the importance of having high-quality cycling infrastructure in place at junctions, so that collisions can be prevented. "We know that better cycle infrastructure increases the feeling of safety and ultimately the number of people on bikes." He added: "Put quite simply: the more people in a place who cycle, the safer it becomes for everyone." Sustrans Scotland has been working with local authorities to address some of the specific concerns. It contributed to a consultation on improving one of Edinburgh's busiest junctions, at Sheriffhall roundabout. A Transport Scotland spokesman said: "The Scottish government remains committed to undertaking improvements at Sheriffhall roundabout having announced the preferred route option earlier this year. "As part of the scheme, grade separation at Sheriffhall will improve access for pedestrians and cyclists compared to the existing arrangement. "By allowing Edinburgh City Bypass traffic to pass over it will significantly reduce congestion and improve accessibility for all modes of transport including pedestrians and cyclists."

Summary: A list of the country's top 20 cycling collision hotspots has been drawn up by the charity Sustrans Scotland.


The 70-year-old will take charge of pre-season after having a tumour removed from his bladder, the Sun on Sunday has reported. Tests later showed that the tumour was not malignant, but Redknapp will have further check-ups every three months. "I could feel it in my body - I knew it wasn't right. This is the first time I've been properly worried," he said. Redknapp took charge of the Championship club in April after Gianfranco Zola resigned, and succeeded in saving them from relegation. The former West Ham and Tottenham boss signed a one-year contract with Birmingham the following month. He told the paper that it was his wife Sandra who urged him to seek medical advice. "They cut it out, took it away, sent it away to make sure it is not malignant and luckily everything was OK. I know I am fortunate," Redknapp said. "They cut it out, there was no other option. Once they did that I was up and about after a couple of days. I am relaxed about it now because what can you do?" Redknapp and the Birmingham squad arrived in Austria on Sunday for a pre-season trip that will see them play friendly matches against German club Union Berlin and Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona from Israel.

Summary: Birmingham City boss Harry Redknapp has been given the all-clear by doctors after emergency cancer surgery.


Notts folded on the eve of the Women's Super League One Spring Series season, prompting concern that players would be left without a club for the campaign. Players told the BBC on Friday that the timing had left them "abandoned". Four of England's squad for Euro 2017 - Carly Telford, Jo Potter, Laura Bassett and Jade Moore - played for Notts. A Football Association statement on Thursday said: "The FA can confirm that it has given Notts County Ladies players the opportunity to move to new clubs within England with immediate effect. "Following Notts County's decision last week to terminate its women's team, the FA has worked closely with the PFA and wider stakeholders to enable players to find new clubs as soon as possible. "Players are now in a position to sign for new clubs in England. They may also move to leagues in other countries where the transfer window is open." A statement from the Professional Footballers' Association on Friday had said: "We have also been in discussions with the FA and FAWSL to ensure that players can register with other clubs outside of the transfer window given the exceptional circumstances the players find themselves in due to no fault of their own." What remains unclear is how many WSL clubs will have contingency within their budgets for the Spring Series to sign additional players.

Summary: Notts County Ladies players will be allowed to sign for other sides after the club were liquidated, despite the English transfer window being closed.


It has announced that loans made to students in England between 2002 and 2006 will be put up for sale - to be followed by other pre-2012 loans - with the aim of raising £12bn. Universities Minister Jo Johnson said the sale would have "no impact on people with student loans". But the National Union of Students said it was an "ugly move on students". "It is outrageous that bankers will profit off the backs of graduates who took out loans because they had no other option," said the union's vice-president Sorana Vieru. The government has had a long-standing aim to sell the student loan book to private investors - with types of loans being sold in separate stages. Over the next four years it aims to dispose of the loans from before 2012, when tuition fees in England were trebled to £9,000 per year. The slice of loans now being put on sale - dating from 2002 to 2006 - have a face value of £4bn. The government is promising that there will be "no changes to the terms and conditions" for borrowers - so that rates of repayment for former students will remain the same. It means that interest on these student loans will become an income for private investors, but repayments will continue to be collected through taxation and the Student Loans Company. The Intergenerational Foundation think tank has calculated that a student borrowing for three years' tuition could pay back £54,000 - before debts are cancelled after 30 years. The Universities Minister Jo Johnson says the sale of assets is part of the drive to bring "public finances under control". But he said it would "only proceed once we are satisfied that it represents value for money for the taxpayer". David Gauke, chief secretary to the Treasury, said it was the right time to start the sale process. "This sale makes sense for taxpayers and will play an important contribution in our work to repair the public finances," he said. But John Pugh, the Liberal Democrats education spokesman, said: "The Conservative Brexit fire-sale is well underway, as ministers scrabble around to sell just about anything that isn't nailed down." Earlier versions of student loans have previously been sold - but it is now approaching the point in which the bigger "income-contingent loans", introduced in 2006 when fees rose to £3,000, will be the next in line for sale. The National Union of Students attacked the sale as "economic illiteracy" and warned that it would begin a process in which loans would have to be made more attractive to private buyers - at the expense of student borrowers. "It doesn't just penalise students and graduates, it is taking money from the public purse which could and should be spent on services over the long term," said Ms Vieru. However, Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, said that there was much "misinformation" about the sale of loans, and the key issue was making sure that the taxpayer received good value. "What the government is doing may make

Summary: The government has started the process of selling more student loan debt to the private financial sector.


It was widely anticipated the Spending Review would confirm the need for police efficiencies would remain at the top of the agenda, at least until 2020. The Home Office is not one of the favoured "protected" ministries shielded from cuts. And as 71% of its gross spending goes on crime and policing, that is where most of the department's cuts have bitten. Add to that Home Secretary Theresa May's determination to reform policing, and there was a strong sense the government would not change course. That was certainly the expectation at Manchester Town Hall, where chief constables and police and crime commissioners (PCCs) had gathered for their annual joint conference. At 12:30, a large group of them took their places around a television set in a room set aside for exhibitors to watch the chancellor's statement. The mood was sombre. Most chiefs and PCCs had been planning for cuts of 20-25%. The Inspectorate of Constabulary had suggested that by 2018, forces would have to shed at least 12,000 officer, staff and police community support officer (PCSO) posts, with further reductions after that. The inspectorate, known for its careful, measured commentary, warned some forces might not be able to withstand another round of cuts, because they were not efficient enough. It said the "operational viability" of some could be "in jeopardy". The National Police Chiefs Council, which co-ordinates the work of forces, feared the job losses would be even worse - 35,000 by 2020, which, Sara Thornton, who chairs the council, said in July, would be a "game changer". Constabularies with large urban areas stood to lose the most, as they tend to rely more on Home Office funding, among them Northumbria, which gets 85% of its income from central government, and the West Midlands, 83%. So, when the announcement came, towards the end of Mr Osborne's statement, that there would be no further policing cuts, there was genuine disbelief, mixed with delight. Kevin Hurley, Surrey's PCC, described the atmosphere as "euphoric", as though England had won the World Cup. Essex Chief Constable Steve Kavanagh held his hand over his mouth in shock. "I'm aghast," he said. At moments such as this, journalists reach for the official documents to look at the small print. Could it really be true? The Treasury statement appears unequivocal. "The government will protect overall police spending in line with inflation - an increase of Â£900m by 2019-20," it says. The Home Office press release, however, says the funding will enable individual forces to maintain their budgets at current cash levels. That means each force will not automatically get enough money to keep pace with inflation. They will get the same in 2019-20 as they are getting this year. Instead, extra funding will be distributed in certain specialist policing areas - firearms, tackling cybercrime and child sexual exploitation, some of which might be dealt with regionally - as well as to forces that demonstrate efficiencies. It is that extra funding that enables the government to say overall police funding is going up in real terms. In other words, the

Summary: Finding savings and fending off cuts has dominated the policing debate in England and Wales for more than five years.


Watch out for plenty of brinkmanship, particularly on a key amendment to the Criminal Finances Bill (see below). This will also make the whole timetable pretty fluid and prone to last minute alteration as new events are crowbarred in. A few of the MPs who are departing at this election may deliver their Commons swansongs - and the final PMQs could be a particularly bare-knuckle occasion. Meanwhile, up on the committee corridor, it's raining reports, as the various select committees rush out the results of their inquiries - up to 50 more reports should be out before dissolution. The subjects include: the Women and Equalities Committee on Building for Equality: Disability and the Built Environment; the Education Committee on Exiting the EU: challenges and opportunities for higher education; Scottish Affairs on Jobcentre Plus closures, and Public Accounts (which has quite a few offerings in the pipeline) on the HMRC Estate. The Commons meets at 2.30 pm for Communities and Local Government questions - with any urgent questions or ministerial statements likely to be slotted in at 3.30pm. The main event will be the rushing through of the Northern Ireland (Ministerial Appointments and Regional Rates) Bill, which is designed to keep the devolved system in place while the political parties on the Assembly negotiate to set up a new executive. The adjournment led by the Conservative Richard Drax in on primates as pets - it will raise the issues highlighted in a petition of more than 110,000 signatures calling for new welfare standards for primates. This had been gathered by visitors to Monkey World, a primate rescue centre in Mr Drax's constituency, which calls for a change the law so that those who want to keep primates have to meet exacting standards of welfare that equal those found in zoos and wildlife parks. In Westminster Hall (4.30pm) MPs debate e-petition 172405 on closed book examinations for GCSE English Literature. The exams require students to learn and memorise as many as 250 quotations from 15 poems, two plays and a novella. The petition argues that the exams should not test the student's memory, but how they interpret texts. The petition has attracted 109,285 signatures. The scheduled hearing of the Commons Liaison Committee, the super committee of select committee chairs with the prime minister, has been cancelled because of the election. They now aim to hold a hearing as soon as possible in the new parliament, but since the new set of chairs are unlikely to be in place before mid-July, that may not be before the summer recess. In the Lords, business opens (2.30pm) with tributes to Sir David Beamish who has stood down as the top official of the House, the Clerk of the Parliaments (the Clerk of the Commons is "under-clerk") to be led by the Leader of the House, Baroness Evans. And then peers move on to a series of orders and regulations, including the Trade Union (Deduction of Union Subscriptions from Wages in the Public Sector) Regulations 2017, the Immigration Act 2016 (Consequential Amendments) (Biometrics and Legal Aid) Regulations 2017,

Summary: It's the last rites of the 2015 Parliament - and in a frenzy of last minute deal-making, the legislation which can be completed will be rushed to the finishing line, while all manner of bills and other parliamentary business is dropped for lack of time.


All Japan's nuclear plants were gradually shut down after a series of meltdowns at the Fukushima plant sparked by the tsunami and earthquake. But after passing stringent new safety tests, Kyushu Electric Power restarted the number one reactor at its Sendai plant on Tuesday morning. There is still strong public unease about a return to nuclear power. Protests have been taking place outside the Sendai plant and at Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's residence in Tokyo, about 1,000 km (600 miles) away. The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo says that after being told a disaster like Fukushima could never happen, public confidence has been shaken. A total of 25 plants have applied to be restarted, he says, but all are facing legal challenges from concerned locals. What is happening inside the Sendai reactor? Kyushu said reactor No.1 at Sendai began operating again at 10:30 local time (01:30 GMT). TV images showed the plant's control room as workers turned the reactor back on. Kyushu Electric spokesman Tomomitsu Sakata said the reactor had gone back online without any problems. It will be about 24 hours before a full reaction takes place, and the plant is expected to start generating power by Friday. It will reach full capacity some time next month. Prime Minister Abe said on Monday that the reactors had passed "the world's toughest safety screening". "I would like Kyushu Electric to put safety first and take utmost precautions for the restart," he said. Since shutting down all nuclear plants, Japan has been relying on imported fossil fuels for its energy, at huge expense. The government has said nuclear power must resume to cut both import bills and growing CO2 emissions. Experts have also warned that reactors left idle for years tend to experience teething problems and that such a mass restart of dormant reactors has never been attempted before, says our correspondent. Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority approved two reactors at the Sendai plant last September under stricter safety rules. The second reactor is due to be restarted in October. More than $100m (Â£64m) has been spent on fitting new safety systems at the Sendai plant. But local residents say the new safety regulations are not stringent enough - they are worried about potential dangers from active volcanoes in the region. Protesters were rallied by Naoto Kan, prime minister at the time of the Fukushima crisis, who told the crowd: "We don't need nuclear plants." He said the Fukushima disaster had "exposed the myth of safe and cheap nuclear power, which turned out to be dangerous and expensive". One of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded struck off the coast of Japan in March 2011, triggering a huge tsunami which damaged the Fukushima nuclear plant, leading to meltdown. Almost 16,000 people died and more than 2,500 are still listed as missing, though none of the deaths has been linked to the nuclear disaster. Some 160,000 people were evacuated from the surrounding areas in the following weeks - continuing high radiation levels mean most have never been able to return home.

Summary: Japan has restarted its first nuclear reactor under new safety rules following the 2011 Fukushima disaster.


The Northampton skipper will not be able to play until 14 May, meaning he is free to take part in England's June tour to South Africa if selected. Ireland flanker Ferris drew attention to the incident during England's 30-9 Six Nations victory on 17 March, but it was not spotted by referee Nigel Owens. "I am disappointed by the result," said Hartley, who may decide to appeal. "I will wait for the written judgment as to how the panel came to their conclusion. "I now have to put it behind me and focus on supporting Saints in training and off the field." Hartley has been ruled out of the rest of the regular domestic season but he could return if Saints reach the Premiership final on 26 May. The lowest suspension for biting is 12 weeks, with a maximum sanction of four years. But an independent Six Nations disciplinary committee decided Hartley's case was worthy of a lesser punishment after Tuesday's hearing. "The offence merited a low entry point in the International Rugby Board's table of sanctions and allowed mitigation of four weeks," said a statement released by the committee. The panel listened to evidence from both Hartley and Ferris, who spoke via videolink, while England forwards coach Graham Rowntree and Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder also represented their player. Rowntree said: "It is unfortunate for Dylan and Northampton, especially as he was in good form during the Six Nations, and he has developed as a player and a leader. "However, we are looking forward to him being available for the tour to South Africa." Mallinder added: "We are disappointed that Dylan has been suspended, especially at a crucial part of the season." It is the second time Hartley has received a lengthy suspension from the game. He received a six-month ban for eye gouging while playing for Northampton against Wasps in 2007.

Summary: England hooker Dylan Hartley has been handed an eight-week ban for biting the finger of Ireland's Stephen Ferris.


The pro-European cabinet minister said UKIP had no positive policies and was just "against" foreigners. UKIP leader Nigel Farage hit back by accusing Mr Clarke of holding millions of British people "in utter contempt". He said Mr Clarke was "obviously not interested" in winning back disaffected Tory voters at Thursday's local elections in England and Wales. It comes as UKIP accused the Tories of conducting a "morally reprehensible" smear campaign against its local election candidates. The anti-EU party has expanded rapidly, recruiting a record 1,732 candidates to contest Thursday's local elections. It admits it has not had the time or money to vet all of them properly. UKIP says it has evidence that smears about its candidates are being spread by Conservative Central Office, which it claims has been trawling would-be UKIP councillors' Twitter and Facebook pages for months. "Were we inclined to return the favour, we would find even more examples to use against them. "We deem that using our candidates as cannon fodder to undermine a political campaign (is) morally reprehensible and downright dirty," said a spokesman. The party is investigating six candidates over links to the BNP and other far right groups or alleged racist and homophobic comments, following stories in national and local newspapers. "I am glad they have found some candidates in the BNP because we don't want them. We are quite pleased. We don't want these people in the party," a UKIP spokesman said. He said the row showed the Conservative Party was "rattled" by UKIP, which is hoping to make significant gains in Tory heartlands on Thursday, but added: "This isn't scrutiny, it's smear." Asked on the BBC's Andrew Marr show about UKIP's claims, Transport Secretary Patrick McLaughlin said all candidates had to be scrutinised, but added: "I don't know anything about a smear campaign." But his cabinet colleague, Ken Clarke, minister without portfolio, added fuel to the row in an interview with Sky News. He said: "They of course have not been able to vet their candidates. Fringe right parties do tend to collect a number of waifs and strays... "Some of them are saying quite different things now they are in politics than their actual views." Asked whether he agreed with David Cameron's 2006 claim that UKIP was made up of "fruitcakes and closet racists", Mr Clarke replied: "I have met people who satisfy both those descriptions in UKIP. "Indeed, some of the people who have assured me they are going to vote UKIP I would put in that category. I rather suspect they have never voted for me." Mr Clarke said he was sure that "most of the UKIP people are perfectly nice when they are having a drink". But he added: "The trouble with UKIP really is it is just a protest party. "It is against the political class, it is against foreigners, it is against immigrants. But it does not have any very positive policies. They do not know what they are for." He added: "The temptation to ordinary voters to UKIP is these are very difficult times, the political

Summary: Veteran Tory Ken Clarke has waded into his party's war of words with UKIP by branding them "a collection of clowns".


Fe gafodd corff Christine Solik, oedd yn 57 oed ac yn wreiddiol o Aberpennar, ei ddarganfod wedi'i glymu 50 milltir o'i chartref yn nhalaith Kwazulu-Natal. Yna ddydd Llun fe gafodd corff ei gŵr Roger, oedd yn 66 oed, ei ddarganfod gerllaw. Mae'r heddlu yn Ne Affrica yn credu bod y cwpwl wedi cael eu herwgipio o'u cartref yn ystod lladrad ddydd Gwener, 17 Chwefror. Fe wnaeth Mrs Solik ddychwelyd i Gymru fis diwethaf i fynd i angladd ei thad Glyn Savage. Mae pedwar plentyn y cwpwl wedi cyhoeddi datganiad yn annog pobl i roi cymorth wedi'r lladrad. Fe ddywed y datganiad: "Roedd ein rhieni yn anwahanadwy ac roedd eu perthynas yn ysbrydoliaeth. "Mae'n anodd deall sut y gallai rhywbeth mor dreisgar ddigwydd ar eu stâd fferm gymunedol, gyda bryniau naturiol hyfryd a chymdogion 100 metr i ffwrdd." Fe wnaeth y cwpwl, sydd hefyd â dau o wyrion, briodi yng Nghymru yn 1980 a symud i Dde Affrica y flwyddyn ganlynol. Yn wreiddiol fe wnaethon nhw ymfudo am ddwy flynedd, ond yna fe wnaethon nhw benderfynu aros yn Ne Affrica.

Summary: Mae cwpwl, o dde Cymru yn wreiddiol, wedi cael eu llofruddio yn Ne Affrica.


Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi announced that Tiran and Sanafir would be transferred in April, during a visit by Saudi Arabia's King Salman. More than 150 people were jailed in connection with protests over the deal, though many were later acquitted or had their sentences reduced on appeal. The Egyptian government has said it will challenge Tuesday's ruling. Tiran and Sanafir are uninhabited and located at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba, a strategic part of the Red Sea bordered by Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Egyptian troops have been stationed there since 1950 at Riyadh's request. Mr Sisi's decision in April to cede control of them to Saudi Arabia sparked widespread criticism. The president was accused of violating the constitution and "selling" the islands in return for a multi-billion dollar aid package unveiled by King Salman during his visit. But Mr Sisi insisted that Tiran and Sanafir had always belonged to Saudi Arabia. On Tuesday, Egypt's State Council, an administrative court, issued a verdict annulling April's maritime borders agreement between Cairo and Riyadh. The maritime border agreement signed earlier this year between Egypt and Saudi Arabia took many Egyptians by surprise. Since then, protesters have taken to the streets calling the arrangement unconstitutional, and accusing the government of giving away Egyptian territories in return for aid packages and investments worth billions of dollars from Saudi Arabia, a strong backer of President Sisi. Some of these protesters were arrested and charged with disrupting public order. A few are still behind bars. The lawsuit was filed by a number of prominent human rights lawyers, headed by a former presidential candidate, Khaled Ali. When the verdict was issued, many cheered inside the courtroom, chanting "the islands are Egyptian". But the legal battle has not come to an end yet, because the decision can be appealed. The verdict stated that the two islands would "remain under Egyptian sovereignty". If it is approved by the country's High Administrative Court it will become legally binding. However, the State Lawsuits Authority, which represents the Egyptian state in lawsuits, said on Tuesday evening that it would challenge the ruling, state television reported. Mr Sisi has cracked down on all dissent since leading the military's overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi in 2013. Since then, more than 1,000 people have been killed and 40,000 are believed to have been jailed, most of them supporters of Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood.

Summary: An Egyptian judge has quashed a government decision to hand control of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia.


Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Thomas Winsor said forces had mainly "done well" with 20% cuts in four years and more savings were likely. Sir Thomas said a "smaller service" would have to "work smarter". In December, the chief of the Met Police warned public safety would be at risk unless radical measures were taken to deal with funding cuts. But speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend, newly knighted Sir Thomas said: "Austerity is here to stay. "The police have already made, and done it well in the main, cuts of 20% in the last four years and they are facing cuts of a further 5% next year. "There will inevitably be a time where they can't take any more but let us remember that measured crime has fallen dramatically - but so have the demands made on the police." Asked if there was room for further cuts, Sir Thomas said: "In some respects there are further efficiencies to be obtained, that is undoubtedly the case. "They [police forces] need to work smarter because they will be working smaller." Sir Thomas said forces had not done enough work to analyse new demands being made on them, particularly with regards to cyber crime. He also said that while any crime reported to the police had to be taken seriously, there were some crimes that were "more serious than others". "Nobody would argue that shoplifting is as serious as a violent assault and therefore the police need to look for the crimes that matter most to people, that do greatest harms to communities - serious and organised crime, drugs, violent offences, the grooming and sexual exploitation of children," he said. Last month, Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said that unless police "act fast" and with "courage" to implement far-reaching reforms, the cuts would endanger public safety. He suggested police forces in England and Wales should merge and share resources with other emergency services. Sir Hugh Orde, the Association of Chief Police Officers' president, has also recently warned that police forces were struggling to deal with reductions in funding.

Summary: Police cuts in England and Wales are "here to stay", the head of the police watchdog has said.


Scottish Borders Council will set up a working group to examine how it handled the procedure. It comes after more than 4,000 people signed a petition against the project, to which the council allocated Â£3.5m. Concerns have also been raised that its planning application was approved by a committee of just four members. Tweeddale councillor Keith Cockburn said the group will address "public disquiet" over the decision-making process. "We can definitely make sure that we can learn some things about the consultation," he said. "There's been many questions about how we looked at the alternative sites, how we looked at the feasibility of the business plan, etc. "A decision has been made so we have to recognise and respect that, but also look at what we can learn from it." A petition against basing the tapestry at Tweedbank was considered "very carefully" by councillors, council leader David Parker said at the time. However the petitions and deputations committee decided to take no further action. Councillor Jim Torrance said the working group was not needed as the subject had been fully debated twice at council. "It's been debated so much I don't see what any working group is going to find out from it that's going to be of any use," he added. The council's scrutiny committee voted to set up a tapestry working group at its next meeting.

Summary: The process which led to the decision to house the Great Tapestry of Scotland in Tweedbank is to be the subject of an investigation.


The 77-year-old man, from Newhaven, and the woman, from Lewes, were on the A259 at White Rock when the accident happened on Thursday evening. They and the motorcyclist were taken to the Conquest Hospital in Hastings, where the man later died. Police said the 22-year-old motorcyclist, from St Leonards, and the woman were not detained. Sussex police are appealing for witnesses to the accident, which happened just after 21:00 BST on Thursday.

Summary: A man died and a 90-year-old woman was injured in a collision with a motorcycle on a busy road in Hastings.


Dead Sheep focuses on the events leading up to Howe's infamous 1990 resignation speech, in which he savaged his long-time boss and one-time political soulmate Margaret Thatcher. That speech - one of the first to be shown on television live from the House of Commons - was the beginning of Thatcher's downfall as prime minister. It was all the more remarkable because no one thought Howe had it in him to be Thatcher's political assassin. Least of all Thatcher herself. Howe had been at her side as her chancellor, foreign secretary and deputy prime minister since the very beginning of her reign in Downing Street. But he was often viewed as an ineffectual yes-man, and was someone she increasingly treated with impatience and disdain, in front of cabinet colleagues. The play's title comes from one of the most widely-quoted political put-downs of all time, when Labour's Dennis Healey described being attacked by Howe as like being "savaged by a dead sheep". Howe's frustration at Thatcher's increasingly strident anti-EU stance at a time when he was trying to negotiate Britain's membership of the European Exchange Rate mechanism, and his demotion to the "non-job" of deputy prime minister, was the trigger for his resignation. His resignation speech, given two weeks after he quit the cabinet, stunned the Commons into silence, as he compared himself to a cricketer who had been sent out to the crease, only to discover his bat had been smashed by the team's captain. But in an era packed with larger-than-life Conservative politicians such as Michael Heseltine, Alan Clark and Thatcher herself, the famously uncharismatic Howe is still not the obvious choice to place centre stage. "I just admire him so much because he really, really meant it. In all these films and plays I've seen he gets treated like a shifty-eyed buffoon and I was thinking 'No!,'" playwright Jonathan Maitland told BBC News after the play's opening night. "I've read his book umpteen times. He agonised over it and he really, really cared. "And it was a very difficult thing for him to do and he stood up and did the right thing for his country and his party and I just think that's incredibly heroic. He's just a hero. He's a political hero." Maitland is hoping Dead Sheep will strike a chord with fellow Howe fans. "A lot of people have nursed a secret admiration for him, because he's like Captain Mainwaring meets William Gladstone." The play focuses on Howe's relationship with the two formidable women in his life - Margaret Thatcher and his wife Elspeth. Maitland describes him as a "panda between two lionesses". "It's a personal drama. It's a love story. Two types of marriage - Geoffrey's and Elspeth's, and Geoffrey's and Margaret's. One's a traditional marriage, one's a political marriage." He admits to using a bit of dramatic licence when it comes to portraying Howe's wife, played by Jill Baker, in the Lady Macbeth mould - a key scene sees Elspeth, encouraging a hesitant Howe, played by James Wilby, to go for the jugular in his

Summary: The grey, unassuming Sir Geoffrey Howe, now Lord Howe of Aberavon, is not many people's idea of a political hero - but a new play opening in north London aims to change that.


No advantage was being sought for Britain's 264 athletes in Rio, he said. Concerns have been raised that some Paralympic athletes are being deliberately mismatched. But Hollingsworth said: "We are here to win medals, but within both the letter and the spirit of the Paralympics." Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, an 11-time Paralympic champion, has said the issue "goes to the heart of the integrity of the sport". The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) says the system is always under review, while UK Athletics said it will review classifications after Rio. The Paralympics start on 7 September and run until 18 September. The classification system puts athletes into groups depending on the level of their impairment to try to ensure fair competition. But British T37 200m sprinter Bethany Woodward told the Sunday Times she was withdrawing from the ParalympicsGB squad for Rio and had lost faith in the way the team was selected. Woodward, 23, who has cerebral palsy, said: "I represented my country for a long time but if I can't compete like I used to compete, because they've brought in people who are not like me in terms of disability, what's the point?" UK Athletics has said that Woodward was not in consideration for selection because she had not met the necessary criteria. It has also been claimed some competitors try to manipulate their classification to compete against athletes with more severe impairments and therefore improve their chances of success. A recent IPC report found no clear evidence of "intentional misrepresentation" after analysing some 80 cases. Media playback is not supported on this device IPC head Sir Philip Craven has defended the classification system but told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was "permanently being reviewed". "It is a developing system and a developing science," he said. Asked whether there was a "risk" some countries were too keen on winning medals, Craven said he would not "respond to that question", adding: "All countries are very keen on performing well and performing within the rules." Former Paralympic swimmer Natalie Jones said classifying athletes was a "really hard job", with more than 4,000 athletes to test worldwide. But Hollingsworth insisted: "We are very focused on getting the right athletes in the right class. We've got nobody going into the Games in our view who doesn't have the appropriate classification. "I dispute a view that what has been discussed over the last few days should lead to conclusion there is anything along those lines going on." Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson told BBC Radio 5 live: The reality is athletes will fall one side of the line or the other and that's what happens when you have these groupings. The old system used to be very disability specific. They're moving it to sports-specific so it's how your impairment affects you doing that sport. There's a system in place and athletes have to have faith and people watching have to have faith that the system is right. It doesn't mean it doesn't evolve and doesn't change and need to be looked at from time to time to check it's

Summary: Claims that the classification system for disabled athletes is being manipulated to boost medal chances has been rejected by British Paralympic Association boss Tim Hollingsworth.


The gaffe was picked up by a number of viewers, among them Sanjeev Bhaskar, who suggested the broadcaster had "misunderstood diversity issues". ITV News blamed the mistake on "an error in the production process". Sir Lenny said he was "very thankful" to receive a knighthood from the Queen for services to drama and charity. The Comic Relief co-founder has often spoken out on the subject of diversity in the media, a topic he was again asked to comment about on Friday. "We've made progress as far as on-screen representation is concerned," said the 57-year-old following the investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. "But there's a lot of work to be done in the furthering of diversity behind the camera." "ITV News apologises for the error broadcast in the lunchtime news package today regarding Sir Lenny Henry's knighthood at the palace," said an ITV News spokesperson. "This was the result of an error in the production process in a piece intended to celebrate Sir Lenny's significant achievements in British entertainment." BBC News has contacted Ainsley Harriott for comment.

Summary: ITV has apologised for showing a news item about Sir Lenny Henry receiving a knighthood that briefly featured footage of TV cook Ainsley Harriott.


The Magpies held crisis talks with manager John Carver earlier this week after losing their last eight league matches - their worst run since 1977. They are now two points above the relegation zone with three games left. "On behalf of the squad we would like to apologise for the moment we are going through," wrote Coloccini. "Players and staff have come together in order to leave all past problems aside and to focus 100% on the three 'cup finals' that we have left. "I would like to make a call to all fans today to also leave aside all differences, all different opinions, anything that divides us as people who love this club." Newcastle host West Brom on Saturday before travelling to QPR on 16 May and then hosting West Ham on 24 May. "The time we have left to turn around this situation is short but after the end of the season we will try to learn from the mistakes we made so that we don't have to go through this again," added Coloccini. "This is as painful for us as it is for you, because when this team comes onto the pitch we do so with the intention of winning and to defend not just the colours of this club, not just our shirt, but also to represent thousands of fans, the whole city." Carver's position came under fresh scrutiny after he accused defender Mike Williamson of deliberately getting himself sent off in Saturday's 3-0 defeat by fellow strugglers Leicester City. However, the club issued a statement insisting he was staying. BBC Sport understands Derby County boss Steve McClaren was asked to take over for the final three games but turned the job down.

Summary: Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini has written an open letter to fans calling for unity as the club battles to stay in the Premier League.


In the 1960s and 70s, the spirits of scores of convicted Japanese war criminals were "enshrined" there. The most controversial were the 14 "Class A" war criminals, including wartime leader Hideki Tojo, who were "enshrined" in the late 1970s. These men were the ones who ordered and oversaw Japan's brutal war in China and South East Asia. Yasukuni Shrine It was a war in which millions died, in which there were widespread massacres of civilians, in which rape was routinely used as a weapon and where Japan used chemical and biological warfare against civilians. So if the shrine is so offensive to China and South Korea why did Mr Abe go? Firstly, because he wanted to. Close observers of the Japanese prime minister say he is at heart a nationalist and a historical revisionist. He believes the trials that convicted Japan's wartime leaders were "victors' justice". His own grandfather Nobusuke Kishi served in the war cabinet and was arrested by the Americans on suspicion of being a Class A war criminal. He was later released without charge. But the stain of association with Japan's war crimes in China never completely went away. Secondly, Mr Abe's support base comes from the right wing of the Liberal Democratic Party. According to Professor Jeff Kingston of Temple University in Tokyo, Mr Abe is "showing he is a tough guy", that he is not afraid of China. It is something that plays very well to his base. But there is perhaps a bigger goal that Mr Abe has in mind. He wants to radically revise Japan's post-war constitution. This, too, is a long-held dream that started with his grandfather in the 1950s. Mr Abe believes he is the man to complete the historic task of getting rid of the hated "peace constitution". Like many on the right here, Mr Abe believes that constitution was forced on Japan by America and is a humiliation. It imposes not only pacifism, but also Western notions of human rights and civil liberties. It rejects Japan's uniqueness in favour of "universal values". Mr Abe would like to change a lot of this. But it will be very hard. And so he will need some help. "Abe has provoked China, and China has reacted just as Abe wanted it to," says Prof Kingston. "There is a shrewd political calculus at work here." What he means is that having an external threat in the shape of big and frightening China may be just what Mr Abe wants to help push through his controversial nationalist agenda at home.

Summary: Whatever Shinzo Abe says, any visit to the Yasakuni shrine by a Japanese prime minister is deeply political and sure to cause offence.


As a result, people should be cautious about using them to judge what to eat, Stanford University scientists said. The study recommended that companies release data showing how their devices work out measurements. The accuracy of seven wrist devices were tested while 60 volunteers were asked to walk, run and cycle. Researchers found that six out of seven of the fitness devices were good at estimating the heart rate of the person wearing it, with an error rate under 5%. They were the Apple Watch, Fitbit Surge, Basis Peak, Microsoft Band, PulseOn and MIP Alpha 2 - but the Samsung Gear S2 had the highest error rate of 6.8%. However, when it came to keeping track of energy used during exercise, the five devices that performed this function were all a long way out. Not one of the devices had an error rate below 20% - and some, such as the PulseOn, were much more inaccurate, the US research team found. Dr Euan Ashley, co-author of the study from the department of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford University, said the public should be aware of the strengths and limitations of fitness devices worn on the wrist. "People need to know that on energy expenditure they give rough estimates. "If you go to the gym, and you think you've lost 400 calories, then you might feel you've got 400 calories to play with," he said. That could be an issue if people were basing their diet on what they thought they had burnt off, he said. Technology for measuring heart rate had moved on quickly over the past five or six years, but on energy expenditure "it's not quite there yet", he added. It may be that companies are not using heart rates in their calculations. There is also a very wide difference in calories burnt between one person and another. For example, 10,000 steps could equate to anything from 400 kilocalories to 800 kilocalories lost, depending on a person's height and weight alone, the study said. Dr David Ellis, lecturer in computation social science at Lancaster University, said working out the number of calories burnt was a tricky business and relied on many different factors such as height, weight, percentage of body fat, heart rate and more. "However, because manufactures do not share the algorithms [which are constantly updated] used to determine calories burned, it is almost impossible to know the exact source of error at this stage," he said. Fitness trackers can have a very positive effect on people's activity levels, so complete 100% accuracy may not be vital if the devices are encouraging more exercise. But recent trials have suggested that wearing them doesn't always result in a positive outcome, or improve the chances of losing weight. The researchers urged companies to be more transparent and publish the results of their own accuracy tests. They said this would ensure the public and clinicians were aware of the devices' limitations. The Stanford team has set up their own website to share this kind of data with others.

Summary: Most fitness trackers are good at measuring heart rate but poor at measuring calories burned, a study suggests.


Jason Nelson, 32, admits killing Jordan Maguire, 20, at his Luton home, in a "spree of violence" on 26 May 2013 but claims it was done in self-defence. The former resident of Marsh Farm Estate in Luton has pleaded not guilty to murder, rape and sexual assault. A man who saw Mr Maguire stabbed three times said the accused "showed no regrets or remorse" afterwards. Luton Crown Court heard the attacks happened at Mr Maguire's home in Thrales Close between 18:00 and 20:15. The prosecution allege Mr Nelson was in the middle of a spree of violence, having sexually assaulted a 25-year-old woman in the stairway of some flats and then a 60-year-old woman in her flat. Witness Dennis Kamau said he and his girlfriend were looking to buy some cannabis when he came across Mr Nelson near the Nisa store on the estate. He took the pair to Mr Maguire's home where the men entered the house while the woman stayed outside. After the pair agreed to share a deal, they went to the kitchen where Mr Maguire removed a tin from a kitchen cabinet. Mr Kamau said: "The next thing I saw was a knife rise above and attack Jordan. "I saw the knife go into Jordan. Jordan acted all shocked. He stabbed him a second time." Mr Kamau told the jury the victim was then stabbed in the back by Mr Nelson who said "You little pussy" before putting the knife away and riding off on his bike. "I was scared, terrified and shocked," said Mr Kamau. Asked how the accused appeared, he said: "He showed no regrets or remorse." A stab wound to the chest had punctured Mr Maguire's aorta and he was fatally injured. The jury earlier heard Mr Nelson stayed for two weeks with a girlfriend in Ipswich before flying to his native Grenada and was later arrested in Trinidad.

Summary: A man who stabbed a drug dealer to death showed no remorse after the knife went in, a jury has heard.


Baker made his name as the robot in the first Star Wars film in 1977 alongside Anthony Daniels' C-3PO character. Lucas said Baker was "a real gentleman" and Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker, said he had lost "a lifelong friend". Born in Birmingham, Baker's other films include Time Bandits and Flash Gordon. Star Wars R2-D2 actor Kenny Baker dies Preston pays tribute to R2-D2 actor Lucas said: "Kenny Baker was a real gentleman as well as an incredible trooper who always worked hard under difficult circumstances. "A talented vaudevillian who could always make everybody laugh, Kenny was truly the heart and soul of R2-D2 and will be missed by all his fans and everyone who knew him." Writing on Twitter, Hamill said: "Goodbye #KennyBaker A lifelong loyal friend-I loved his optimism & determination He WAS the droid I was looking for!" Anthony Daniels, who played C-3PO, added his voice to the tributes, tweeting: "Sad to hear of Kenny's passing. One of the truly original cast, so famed for his iconic role as R2. He'll always be remembered by so many fans." C-3PO may have once described him as a "nearsighted scrap pile" and an "overweight glob of grease", but he like film fans all over the world has always had a huge degree affection for R2-D2. Artoo's appearance may have been likened by some to that of an industrial vacuum cleaner, but Kenny Baker worked hard to make sure he managed to convey the right emotions at key moments. Kenny used an array of movements ranging from subtly shuffling himself forward to rocking from side to side to give the robot personality. Together with the Ben Burtt-designed whistles and beeps that are Artoo's voice, it made the droid as real a character as any other in the saga - human or alien. We were all also able to relate to Artoo; here was a character who bickered with his friend C-3PO, occasionally manipulated those around him and displayed his courage when necessary. We may never have been able to understand exactly what the astromech droid was saying, but we always seemed to know what he was thinking, thanks to the way Kenny Baker was able to humanise him. Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie, who plays Captain Phasma in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VIII, tweeted: "Rest in peace Kenny Baker. It was a pleasure to meet you & thank you for all the joy you brought us." Chris Weitz, one of the screenwriters for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which is due out this December, wrote the touching tribute: "RIP Kenny Baker. You made my childhood better, " while Greg Grunberg, who played Snap Wexley in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, simply added: "RIP 'Star Wars' Kenny Baker. So sad." Ant Man writer and Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright paid tribute by tweeting: "RIP R2D2. Farewell Fidget, Time Bandit. Goodbye Mister Kenny Baker." Game of Thrones star Daniel Portman, who plays squire Podrick Payne, added: "Met Kenny Baker multiple times, a real

Summary: Star Wars' George Lucas and Mark Hamill are among the big names paying tribute to actor Kenny Baker, who has died aged 81, describing him as "the heart and soul of R2-D2".


The 25-year-old played 31 games for Hull KR in 2016 but could not help them avoid relegation from Super League. His loyalty has been criticised by Rovers chairman Neil Hudgell, who says the club supported Walker during child sex charges that were dismissed in May. "We're looking forward to seeing him develop further at the club," said Saints head coach Keiron Cunningham.

Summary: St Helens have signed Scotland international forward Adam Walker from Hull KR on a two-year contract.


The first bird emerged at the Cors Dyfi reserve near Machynlleth on Friday, followed by a second on Sunday. The eggs were laid six weeks later than usual leading to concerns over whether the chicks would hatch. Parents Monty and Glesni set up home on a 30ft (9m) tall man-made nest on 3 May. They are one of only two known breeding pairs in Wales, with a second pair nesting near Croesor in the Glaslyn Valley. Staff and volunteers at the Cors Dyfi nature reserve had an anxious wait for the chicks who took 32 hours to emerge from their shells. Cracks in the first egg were spotted on Friday afternoon, with the bird finally hatching at about 21:00 BST. The second chick started chipping away from inside its egg on Saturday afternoon but did not hatch until 20:40 BST on Sunday. Monty and Glesni became a breeding pair for the first time this year after Monty's previous partner of two years, Nora, did not return from her African migration. Ospreys return from migration in late March or April and usually lay eggs two or three weeks later. But Monty and Glesni did not pair until 3 May and their two eggs were laid between 22 and 25 May - six weeks later than average. Alwyn Evans, of Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, said: "By the time Monty finally paired off with his new partner, Glesni, a three-year-old bird from Rutland Water, it was getting late in the season. "At that stage none of us knew if they would lay eggs, let alone whether they would hatch. "It's been an emotional weekend to say the least." Mr Evans said cracks in the second egg on Saturday were greeted with loud applause and shouting from visitors at the wildlife trust's osprey centre who had gathered to watch the birds hatch. Last month the wildlife trust said ospreys were still persecuted and egg collecting remained a problem in the UK. To protect the Powys eggs, more than 50 trust volunteers have worked 1,300 hours to ensure the nest has been watched 24 hours a day during the six-week incubation period. The first osprey chick in the Dyfi valley for 400 years hatched in 2011. Once prolific birds of prey in the UK, their numbers were drastically reduced in the 1840s after years of persecution, including egg collecting, hunting, taxidermy and loss of habitat. The Dyfi Osprey Project has been popular with tourists, with an average of about 30,000 people visiting the nesting site annually.

Summary: Two osprey chicks have hatched at a nature reserve in Powys despite fears their parents had paired up too late in the mating season.