The National Union of Teachers said the money was spent on 62 free schools, university technical colleges and studio schools which either closed, partially closed or did not open. The NUT said the data was mainly drawn from government websites. The Department for Education said free schools were popular with parents. The figures were published by the National Union of Teachers during its annual conference - which had highlighted concerns about school budget shortages. The union's general secretary Kevin Courtney said ministers should apologise to teachers and parents for the £138.5m "thrown away" on these abandoned projects. "These figures make clear that the free school, UTC and studio school programmes were ill-thought policies which, in many cases, resulted in an appalling waste of significant sums of money," said Mr Courtney. University technical colleges (UTCs) and studio schools have an emphasis on vocational skills for 14 to 19-year-olds. "In the case of the closed UTCs, an average of £10m was spent on each school, rising to £15m in the case of Tottenham UTC. "That sums of this magnitude have been thrown away at a time when schools across the country are crying out for funding for staff, to provide a broad and balanced curriculum and to ensure essential resources and equipment are available, is criminal." Education Secretary Justine Greening this week announced that 131 new schools had been approved under the free school programme, creating around 69,000 places. Free schools are state schools that are outside of local authority networks and which are set up by groups such as academy trusts, charities, parents and community groups. There are now about 800 free schools either open or in the pipeline. The NUT said the £138.5m on the closed or unopened schools would have paid for 3,680 teachers for a year. Mr Courtney added: "The true cost of these policy failures is even greater. There is a human cost in the disruption caused to the education of the thousands of those pupils who attended schools which have closed. "Usually it is local authorities who have had to pick up the pieces by finding alternative places for the displaced children. "The NUT's biggest concern is that the government is intent on proceeding with these programmes despite growing evidence that the UTC and studio schools programmes cannot attract sufficient numbers of pupils." The Department for Education said free schools were popular with parents and their creation had given parents more choices in finding good local schools. "The construction costs of a newly-built free school are 29% lower than those built under the previous school building programme," said an education department spokeswoman. "They also operate under a much more robust accountability system than council-run schools, meaning we can take swift action to deal with underperformance." But Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner said the data was further evidence that the "free schools programme is a deeply inefficient way to provide the new school places that are desperately needed". "Billions of pounds of taxpayers' money has been sunk into free schools, but there is still little evidence that the government

Summary: Almost £140m has been "wasted" on free schools and other new types of school, which either closed early or failed to open at all, says a teachers' union.


Elliot Investors' call to remove Antony Burgmans follows the Dutch firm's refusal to enter talks with US rival PPG Industries over a $24bn takeover. Akzo has rejected two offers from PPG, but some shareholders - including Elliott - support the bid. Mr Burgmans and chief executive Ton Buechner say the bid undervalues Akzo. Elliott said it was one of a group of investors that meets the Dutch legal threshold of 10% support needed to call an extraordinary meeting to vote on a proposal to remove Mr Burgmans. That process takes about two months. An Akzo Nobel spokesman said the company strongly supported the chairman and would respond to the request within 14 days as required by Dutch law. "The removal of Mr Burgmans would be irresponsible, disproportionate, damaging and not in the best interest of the company, its shareholders and other stakeholders," he said. Meanwhile, the company has reported Elliot and PPG to Dutch regulators for possibly sharing potentially "sensitive" information with PPG regarding support for an extraordinary meeting. It was not clear what rules, if any, the shareholder and PPG might have violated. Elliott, which has a 3.25% stake in Akzo, said it would respond to the company's allegations soon. PPG could not be reached for comment. Elliott, which became an Akzo shareholder in December, is known for its aggressive moves. Founded in 1977 by American activist investor Paul Singer, it made a name investing in national debt in countries such as Peru. The firm is most famous for its long legal battle over Argentine debt, which climaxed when the firm seized an Argentine naval ship docked in Ghana. The hedge fund is also pushing mining giant BHP Billiton to reorganise and spin off its US oil unit. The PPG offer that Akzo rejected on 22 March was worth more than 24bn euros. Akzo shares were flat at 79.12 euros in Amsterdam on Wednesday. Mr Buchner has proposed selling Akzo's chemicals division and has embarked on a series of share repurchases. The firm, which is scheduled to meet with investors later this month, has also drawn opposition from Dutch politicians concerned about potential job losses.

Summary: An activist investor in Akzo Nobel has increased the pressure on the Dulux paint owner by calling for its chairman to be removed.


The dispute began on Tuesday in Anaheim when an un-uniformed officer grabbed a 13-year-old boy walking across his lawn, accusing him of making a threat. Footage of the incident shows two other youths shove and punch the officer, who pulls a pistol from his waistband. About 300 people took to the streets of Anaheim on Wednesday night. Several windows were smashed on homes during the rally, police said. Some 24 people were arrested, including eight women and six juveniles, according to the Los Angeles Times. Anaheim police told the newspaper the dispute arose from "ongoing issues" with young people walking across the officer's property. During the ensuing argument, the LAPD officer detains the 13-year-old, whom he says threatened to shoot him. The boy insists he only threatened to "sue" him, and accuses the officer of directing an obscene epithet at one of the girls in the group, which the man denies. "Let me go," the boy says repeatedly. During the stand-off, a group of young people stand by, telling the man to release him. One of the young onlookers shoves the officer over a hedge and another throws a punch at him. The man, still holding on to the 13-year-old, pulls a pistol and a single gunshot rings out, though it is not clear if he fired deliberately. Police arrested two of the boys, but not the off-duty officer. A 13-year-old faces charges of battery and making criminal threats. A 15-year-old was detained on suspicion of assault and battery. The off-duty officer has been placed on administrative leave, pending an inquiry. An Anaheim woman, who claims to be the 13-year-old's mother, described the video on Facebook as "devastating" and "disturbing".

Summary: Hundreds of protesters have taken to the streets of a Los Angeles suburb after an off-duty policeman fired a gun during a fracas with teenagers.


Police said she was Andrea Harris from Ardrossan. The crash, involving a Stagecoach bus and an Isuzu 4x4, took place north of Ardrossan at 14:15 on Monday. The 48-year-old driver of the Isuzu and the 36-year-old bus driver are "serious but stable" in Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. Four bus passengers, two men and two women, are also in hospital. They were taken to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock for treatment. A further five passengers on the bus - three men and two women - received medical treatment at the scene or were taken to Crosshouse Hospital but were released after treatment. The Scottish Ambulance Service declared the scene of the crash, near the Rowan Tree restaurant, a major incident. Two air ambulances attended, along with specialist trauma teams. Police Scotland have appealed for witnesses to the crash. Sgt Kevin Blackley from the Trunk Road Policing Unit, Irvine, said: "I would urge anyone who witnessed the crash, who has not yet spoken to police, or anyone with information that may assist our investigation to contact us through the non-emergency number 101."

Summary: A 45-year-old female bus passenger killed in a crash on the A78 in North Ayrshire which left six people in hospital has been named.


Jac Holmes, from Bournemouth, Joe Akerman, from Halifax, and Irish citizen Joshua Molloy were detained by the Kurdistan Regional Government. Mr Holmes posted on Facebook: "Got out of jail peeps, thanks for the support." His mother met with Kurdistan officials on Friday to help secure his release. The three men had been returning home at the time of their arrest, crossing from Syria into Iraq. They were held for more than a week in a prison in Erbil. Mr Ackerman updated his status on Facebook, simply posting: "Free". "We are helping two British men make arrangements to leave Kurdistan after they were released from custody," a Foreign Office spokeswoman told the BBC. Confirming the release of Mr Molloy, a former Royal Irish Regiment soldier, Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said: "I welcome Joshua's release and I am pleased that he is now on his way home to join his family in Ireland." We understand the men had been waiting on the border between Syria and Iraq for several weeks trying to cross. However, the border was closed. They made their way to another point to cross and were arrested and told they were crossing into Iraq illegally. The border is a politically sensitive zone between Iraq and Syria. The two countries have numerous groups in conflict with one another. Jac Holmes's mother told me it had been an anxious time as the days passed, and that she had visited Kurdish officials in London to do what she could to get Jac and the other men released. She wrote "I was prepared to chain myself to the railings" to try to ensure the men's safe passage home. Kurdish supporters in the UK have rallied around in support Mr Holmes during his time fighting in Syria. He is one of a number of western volunteers fighting with the Kurds. They call him a "hero", while British officials continue to warn strongly against travelling to any conflict zones. The British Government maintains that anyone fighting abroad could find themselves breaching UK terrorism laws.

Summary: Three men arrested attempting to cross the Iraqi border after joining Kurdish forces to fight the so-called Islamic State group in Syria have been released, the BBC understands.


Mitch Garbutt opened the scoring for Leeds, but Dorn's treble and tries from Denny Solomona and Joel Monaghan made it 30-6 to Cas at the break. Solomona added his second after a mistake from Ash Handley, who soon crossed for Leeds, but Gadwin Springer and Ben Crooks extended the lead. Grant Millington took Cas past 50 points after fine work from Luke Gale. The defeat was the 11th of the season for the reigning Super League champions and the second time they had conceded 50 points this campaign following their 56-12 loss to Widnes in February. Rhinos had few answers to deal with Tigers' veteran full-back Dorn in his first game back following two months out with a hamstring injury. The 33-year-old collected Junior Moors' offload to cross for his first before collecting Gale's kick into space to score under the posts. The Australian then completed his hat-trick just after the 30-minute mark as Mike McMeeken's pass left him with a simple finish. Castleford move above Wakefield and Widnes to sixth in the table. Leeds Rhinos: Golding; Handley, Watkins, Keinhorst, Hardaker; McGuire, Lilley; Galloway, Burrow, Garbutt, Jones-Buchanan, Ferres, Cuthbertson. Replacements: Mullally, Sutcliffe, Achurch, Walters. Castleford Tigers: Dorn; Flynn, Crooks, Monaghan, Solomona; McShane, Gale; Patrick, Milner, Jewitt, McMeeken, Moors, Massey. Replacements: Cook, Millington, Springer, Tickle. Referee: Richard Silverwood

Summary: Luke Dorn scored a first-half hat-trick as Castleford Tigers thumped Super League's bottom side Leeds Rhinos.


Pedro Godinho, 22, died in hospital after being discovered in Canonsleigh Road, Leicester, on Sunday morning. Ezekiel Braithwaite, of no fixed address, has been charged with murder and attempted grievous bodily harm. Taome Stabanner, 21, of Rowena Court, Mountsorrel, has been charged with assisting an offender. Both are due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court later. Mr Godinho's cousin, Rafael Godinho, said on behalf of the family: "Pedro was sadly taken from us. He was only 22-years-old, with a promising life ahead of him. "At this time, the family is working closely with Leicestershire Police. "Anybody who knows him would tell you what a good heart he had, he'd be the one to give you the shirt off his back."

Summary: A 19-year-old man has been charged with murder after another man was found fatally stabbed after an attack in a residential car park.


Team Pacific Rowers were taking part in a race between California and Hawaii when their vessel began taking in water about 100 miles from shore. Rower Sam Collins, 25, from Cornwall, said: "It's really frustrating because we are a great team and it is only the equipment which let us down." The rowers were airlifted to safety by US coastguards on Saturday. Mr Collins, Fraser Hart 34, from Tunbridge Wells, James White, 36, from London and Colin Parker, 36, from New Zealand, were taking part in the Great Pacific Race. The Pacific Rowers team set off on Wednesday to row 2,400 miles (3,862km) from Monterey in California to Honolulu. Former BBC Guernsey journalist Mr Collins said: "The first couple of days were great. Team spirits were good. We were getting used to life on the boat. "But the sea conditions were quite rough and worsening. "Then late in the second day, out at sea, we started realising that water was permeating into the cabin. "It just got worse and worse." The crew used an electric bilge pump to keep the problem at bay but the water kept coming in. Water eventually got into all the internal lockers and the boat was so low in the water that waves were crashing over it continuously, Mr Collins said. "The boat had been through severe testing but in some places it was permeating through the side of the boat because of the force of the waves," he added. The team called for assistance and a support boat reached them 10 hours later. But with waves of 20ft (6m) and gale-force winds, it was decided that the safest rescue was by coastguard helicopter. In darkness, a helicopter winched the crew to safety. "I cannot talk highly enough about the coastguards," he said. The team is now considering entering the 2016 event. "We are very disappointed, a lot of effort went into this," said Mr Collins.

Summary: One of four rowers rescued from the Pacific said extreme weather conditions had exposed weaknesses in their boat.


Martin Johnson, 56, from Harlow, Essex, made the threats on an easyJet flight from Bristol to Malaga in April. Bristol Crown Court heard he bought two bottles of duty free wine and drank one before boarding and the other on the aircraft. The flight had to turn around and return to Bristol. The court heard cabin crew found an empty wine bottle in the toilet and that someone had urinated all over the cubicle. Johnson became abusive after they announced the flight would be returning to the departure city. "If the pilot turns us around I am going to stab him and I am going to hit him," he said. "I'm going to stab an air hostess and kill everybody on the plane." Johnson, originally from Scotland, was arrested when the flight landed after it had turned back 25 minutes into its journey. The court heard his behaviour caused disruption to many of the 153 passengers on board, whose holidays and travel were delayed, and it cost easyJet tens of thousands of pounds. Representing himself, he denied he had threatened to stab anybody and said he was not violent. Sentencing him, Judge Michael Longman said his behaviour would have caused "fear and alarm" to passengers. "The vast majority of aircraft passengers are sensible and law abiding and when people act irresponsibly and idiotically like you did, sentences of imprisonment will always be required. "I take into account there was no physical violence although the oral threats were bad enough. "In the circumstances there must be a sentence of immediate imprisonment." Johnson, also known as James Kelly, has been given a lifetime easyJet ban.

Summary: A drunk aeroplane passenger who threatened to stab the pilot and everyone on board has been jailed for eight months.


But US President Donald Trump appears to be laying claim to the phrase for himself. In an interview with The Economist published on Thursday, he used the metaphor to describe his hopes for tax reform. Then he asked: "Have you heard that expression used before? Because I haven't heard it. I mean, I justâ€¦ I came up with it a couple of days ago and I thought it was good. It's what you have to do." His claim immediately raised eyebrows. Or, as The New York Observer put it: "The Entire Internet Is Trolling President Trump Over 'Priming the Pump." Far from being a Trump-coined neologism, priming the pump has a long history in economic theory and was in widespread use by the 1930s. It's most often associated with John Maynard Keynes, the influential British economist who urged public spending to stimulate a weak economy. Newspapers also made the comparison during the presidency of Herbert Hoover, who was in office during the Wall Street Crash. Early Thursday morning, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary Twitter account struck back, noting: "'Pump priming' has been used to refer to government investment expenditures since at least 1933." The Oxford English Dictionary identifies the phrase used in a business context even earlier, quoting a 1916 edition of Everybody's Mag: "When the waters of business are stagnant, gentlemen, it becomes necessary, if I may say so, to prime the pump." The White House press office did not respond to an email seeking clarification on Mr Trump's comments. But even Mr Trump has a longer history with the expression. A non-exhaustive internet search revealed he used it in a speech in December and in earlier interviews with Time and The New York Times.

Summary: Students of 1930s economics are no strangers to the idea of 'priming the pump' - public spending to get the economy back on its feet.


If the US team is right, they may have found a new route towards treating and preventing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's . Their work, in the Proceedings B journal, lends weight to a scientific theory experts have been chasing for decades. The story began in the 1950s on a small Pacific Island called Guam. Many of the indigenous people who lived there - the Chamorros - were dying from a perplexing paralytic disease. US Army doctors described symptoms similar to dementia, Parkinson's and motor neuron disease. Post-mortem examinations revealed abnormal collections of proteins in the brain that can also be seen in patients with Alzheimer's. Researchers began to look at the island environment and what the Chamorros were eating to see if there was any link. And a hypothesis began to emerge that an environmental toxin called BMAA could be to blame. Beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine is made by bacteria found on and around the island. Experts identified it in algae-rich pools of water and in the roots and seeds of the native cycad palm trees. Fruit bats, known as flying foxes, a local delicacy, which feast on the cycad seeds, also harboured the toxin. What was missing, until now, was experimental evidence that BMAA could trigger the telltale brain changes seen in the villagers. So, Dr Paul Cox, from the Institute of Ethnomedicine, and colleagues from the University of Miami fed monkeys fruit laced with BMAA. After 140 days, they all had abnormal proteins (tangles) in the brain. The control monkeys, who received only regular fruit, had none of these brain changes. Dr Cox repeated the experiment with more monkeys - 32 in total - and found the same. "Every single one that had eaten the BMAA bananas developed the brain tangles," he said, "even the cohort given low-dose BMAA." "If what we found in these animals holds up in man, then it means a few things. "We need to protect people from this toxin. "We have to get very serious about clean water supplies. "And it may be possible to prevent some other neurodegenerative diseases." Dr Cox has been focusing on motor neuron disease - a progressive condition that attacks the nerves. Working with Dr Ken Rodgers and Dr Rachael Dunlop in Sydney, his team has found BMAA mimics an amino acid called L-serine and inserts itself into brain proteins, causing them to misfold and tangle. And clinical trials are testing whether giving patients L-serine tablets might prevent this. "We do not know if it will work, but we really hope so," Dr Cox said. Dr Laura Phipps, from Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "This research in animals suggests that BMAA exposure could directly lead to hallmark features of neurodegenerative disease, providing new insight into the likely cause of this condition on Guam. "While investigating rare forms of dementia can lead to insights into the more common causes of the condition, further research is needed to understand whether the findings have relevance to diseases like Alzheimer's or motor neurone disease in other parts of the world. "The research suggests that L-serine could reduce

Summary: Scientists say they now have good evidence in animals that exposure to a toxin from algae can trigger dementia-like changes in the brain.


Stacey Burrows, 16, and Lucy Pygott, 17, were killed while on a training run in Aldershot, Hampshire, on 8 November. Judge Phillip Gillibrand revealed he had lost his own brother in a car crash as he expressed sympathy for the girls' relatives. Michael Casey, 24, is charged with causing death by dangerous driving. Mr Casey, of St Paul's Road, Tottenham, London, was bailed to appear at Winchester Crown Court on 13 April. Addressing the teenagers' relatives, Judge Gillibrand said: "I do not know the incident but I myself lost my brother in a road traffic accident. "I know the trauma and the anguish you must be going through." He was interrupted by a member of the public knocking on the window of the public gallery. The judge asked them to leave the court and for people to "respect the rule of law" in a case where "emotions are flying high". During the short hearing, Mr Casey spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth. He did not enter pleas but the court was told he was likely to do so when the case is next heard. The girls, who were members of Aldershot, Farnham and District Athletic Club, were warming up for an evening run when they were hit by a black Ford Focus in Queen's Avenue. Lucy Pygott, who was from Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, had won a 3,000m bronze medal at the European Youth Championships in July. Stacey Burrows, from Farnborough, was the Hampshire under-17 3,000m champion.

Summary: A judge has told a court he understood the "trauma and anguish" of the families of two teenage athletes who died after being hit by a car.


The so-called Valley fire is thought to be one of the worst in the state's history, and is still only 30% contained, spanning three counties. One disabled woman has died and four firefighters have been injured, while 23,000 people have been forced to flee their homes. Two dozen fires are raging in Oregon, California and Washington state. But the most destruction is in California, where mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted in some areas so residents can return to survey the devastation. Firefighters are scrambling to protect not only homes but the state's famed giant Sequoia trees, as the largest of a dozen fires edges ever closer to one of the national parks in which they grow. While the Valley fire has been the most destructive, covering an area twice the size of San Francisco, a second known as the Butte fire, outside Sacramento, has claimed 166 homes. Firefighters say it is covering 71,780 acres (29,048 hectares) and is now 40% contained. Officials say fire teams have been helped by cooler weather and higher humidity, although the forecast is for higher temperatures to return at the weekend In California, the sound of summer is the crackle of flames. No one here in Lake County can remember anything like the Valley Fire. Firefighters say it has already consumed an area twice the size of San Francisco. And still it burns, leaving behind a landscape drained of colour, silent and lifeless. Ranches which stood here for more than a century were wiped out in seconds. And in the little communities of Cobb, Middletown and Hidden Valley, entire streets have been destroyed. For mile after mile the ashes are still smouldering. Most people have not yet been allowed to return to inspect the damage but when they do many will find that there is nothing to salvage. Cooler weather with some moisture in the air is helping but it will take more than that to stop the blaze. The fires burns and burns and California is counting the cost. In northern California, people who have been evacuated from their homes or lost their homes completely are gathered at emergency centres and high schools. Andy Elliott, a British firefighter working to battle the Valley fire, said it is one of the most extreme in California for a long time. Firefighters are calling it a "career fire", such is its speed and force, he said. "The fire behaviour is unprecedented." Mr Elliot said he knew the four injured firefighters and had breakfast with them just before they were hurt. "It's a very extreme incident... very sad." California is used to battling raging wildfires. But after a four-year drought, the state is suffering more than usual - 5,255 fires have scorched 217,827 acres of land so far this year, compared with 3,638 fires burning 90,894 acres during the same period last year. Northern California is currently bearing the brunt of the blazes, with 13,000 firefighters working 24-hour shifts to try to contain more than a dozen fires sweeping across parched hillsides in Butte, Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties.

Summary: A blazing wildfire in northern California has grown to 104 square miles, with nearly 600 homes destroyed.


The blaze broke out at Denbeath Bowling Club in Buckhaven, Fife, at 12:35. Police are warning people to keep their windows closed due to the amount of smoke in the air. Surrounding roads are closed and police are diverting drivers away from the area. The bowling club is next to Denbeath Primary School in the town, however there have been no injuries.

Summary: Firefighters are tackling a huge blaze at a bowling club in Fife.


The programme will be back on BBC One next month after a nine-year break. The new titles show the main characters Jack and Victor, played by Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill, from the 1960s, 70s and 80s to the present day. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra have also made a new recording of the iconic title music. Filming on the new series, once again written by Kiernan and Hemphill, has been taking place on a purpose-built set at BBC Scotland's Dumbarton Studios and around Glasgow. Still Game follows the antics of pensioners Jack Jarvis and Victor McDade and ran for six series between 2002 and 2007. The new series will also see the return of Sanjeev Kohli as Navid, Gavin Mitchell as Bobby, Paul Riley as Winston and Mark Cox as Tam. Reruns of the show have proved popular with audiences and it has also attracted new fans on TV streaming service Netflix.

Summary: The titles and theme tune for the popular comedy Still Game have been revamped ahead of the launch of a new series.


The car, going at 88mph, hit a pole causing a power cut and stopping the town clock, the spoof statement said. The satire was among the first of what could end up being many tributes paid on Back to the Future Day. Movie fans are celebrating 21 October 2015, the date Marty and Doc visited in the 1989 sci-fi time travel adventure sequel Back to the Future II. The crash described in the police press release mirrors the key moment in the Back to the Future II plot, when Marty McFly, 17, and Doc go forward in time. It said officers asked the 17-year-old driver what speed he had been doing, to which he replied, 88mph (142km/h) - the speed the pair's modified silver DeLorean had to hit to trigger the flux capacitor to send them back in time. "A 17-year-old man was charged and was in possession of a licence which expired over 30 years ago," police said. "Investigations into the vehicle and what a flux capacitor is, are ongoing." It also posted an edited image of officers rushing to the scene on their hoverboards. Mount Isa Cinema owner Jodi Saunders was quoted as saying the driver had asked when Jaws 19 - the film being screened at the Holomax cinema in the film - was showing. Mount Isa Mayor Tony McGrady, meanwhile, was quoted as saying repairs were under way to save the clock tower, which in the famous scene is hit by lightning. Queensland Police Media is famed for its light-hearted social media posts. It has previously posted warnings on Facebook about wet roads from the tears of Top Gear fans after the show was cancelled, and has cautioned drivers not to "go ape" after a lorry carrying bananas crashed.

Summary: Police in Queensland say they have deployed their "hoverboard unit" after a silver car crashed near a cinema.


The independent report for the county council said A12 improvements are essential if Sizewell C goes ahead. Traffic will increase on the stretch through Stratford St Andrew, Marlesford, Farnham and Little Glemham. EDF Energy, planning to build Sizewell C, said it was not considering funding for the bypass as a priority. The county council report looked at the impact of construction traffic on the A12 and predicted it would be slightly reduced compared to earlier studies. However, the additional number of vehicles generated by projected "natural" growth, in addition to the Sizewell C project traffic, meant road improvements were essential. The report recommends a dual or single carriageway bypass should be built and ready before work starts on the new power station. The report said that traffic at the busiest time of the day could increase by 14% and the proportion of vehicles taking more than seven minutes to travel through the four villages would more than double. The high levels of Sizewell C traffic would result in increased journey times, a higher accident rate and poorer air quality, the report said. Tom McGarry, from EDF Energy, said it was listening to local concerns but its priority was getting cars off the road in the first place. Guy McGregor, Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for roads and transport, said: "Two months ago we said that EDF Energy needed to wake up and truly realise the scale of the impact Sizewell C will have on local communities in Suffolk. "We hope that this independent report from experts with international repute will help them come to their senses now. "It's time for EDF to take note of the strength of feeling and undeniable evidence on this critical issue." "The A12 from Woodbridge to Lowestoft is just not fit for purpose - let alone to carry the volumes of heavy lorries in particular which will be necessary for the Sizewell C project," a Suffolk Coastal council spokesman said.

Summary: Four villages in Suffolk must be bypassed to take anticipated growth in traffic due to the construction of a nuclear power station, a report says.


The 20-year-old singer was pictured in the Sun newspaper walking on crutches after returning to the UK. "Hey guys I know most of you have seen those pics today! Yes I've had major knee surgery, a much larger surgery than first anticipated," he tweeted. "But i would like to tell u , it was a complete success! Considering the scale of it." One Direction are due to tour later this year, with their UK dates starting in May. "All I ask of you guys is that you would respect my privacy as I try to recover... for the Where We Are tour," he wrote on Twitter. Earlier this week bandmate Liam Payne apologised for a picture taken of him balancing on a ledge. The photo had been posted on Twitter but has since been taken down. The singer tweeted: "You may have seen a photo of me today taken on top of a building. I regret being there and having a photo taken. "It was a stupid and irresponsible thing to do. I am sorry, and do not endorse any fans trying to repeat this, as it is extremely dangerous." It has also been announced that the band will release two books in 2014. The group have signed a deal with HarperCollins to publish an official autobiography and One Direction: The Official Annual 2015. Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter

Summary: One Direction singer Niall Horan has confirmed that he has had an operation on his knee in the US.


However, when you're at the very top of an organisation and juggling multiple demands it's even tougher. To drive their organisations to success, chief executives need to be crystal clear about their goals. They also need to not get distracted when carrying them out. The key to keeping on top of your workload and not getting overwhelmed includes: Delegating work, keeping meetings fairly short and working intensely in only short bursts. You should also remember to stay focussed, and keep a decent work-life balance otherwise you will risk burning out. Here some of the world's top business leaders share their secrets to not getting bogged down by the details. "You really have to evolve into a headset where you're only going to hold yourself accountable for the things you can control. If you bear every burden of the world, you're going to die a young death as a CEO. "If you're going to say, 'Oh my god, what am I going to do about the French economy? It's so terrible right now' - you can't do a damn thing about that and you can't worry about that. You just have to hold yourself accountable for those things you personally can have an impact on and leave the rest behind." "I think you can either delegate or you can't, and my whole modus operandi is to get it off my desk as quickly as possible onto someone else's desk. "It's a really good policy. I recommend it to any chief executives. Just get rid of the email onto someone else if you can." "It's managing your time and making sure you have energy left over. It's very hard to travel halfway around the world and land and visit 10 hotels and sit across the table from owners and make sure that you're sharp the whole time. Taking care of yourself and pacing yourself is actually important. "I'm not terribly good at saying no. If someone feels like I can help them somewhere, my first bias is to try to get there to do that, and there are just points where you have to say if I try to do too much, I'm not going to be good at what I need to do." "We can only can function at an optimum level for about 90 minutes. In other words we can do intense work for about 90 minutes and then we need to do something else. "And if you try to keep focusing you'll notice there's some long meetings, people begin to wander, their attention can't be focused and you get to this real point of diminishing returns. "You'll find you can do your best work in these sort of short bursts and you have creative 'oh my gosh' epiphanies and things are coming and you get it down. But then you've got to go renew yourself." "The most important thing in life is to have a balance. Just being a CEO and just constantly being under pressure and working and driving yourself, at the end of the day you'll be no good

Summary: Getting things done can be hard for anyone.


American Woods, who last competed in August last year, planned to play in this week's Safeway Open, but withdrew saying his game was "too vulnerable". The 14-time major winner had back surgery in September and October 2015. "It's going to be a hard grind to come back and compete against the best in the world," said Briton Faldo, 59. Faldo was "not surprised" when the world number 786 withdrew from the PGA Tour opener on Monday. The 40-year-old has not won on the Tour since 2013 and sits on 79 victories, three behind the all-time record held by fellow American Sam Snead. Faldo told BBC Sport: "Golf is a wicked game, it dangles a carrot. "Ten years ago, I'd hit balls and think, 'I can still play, I can still hit it'. Then you'd go to the course and can't make a score. Everything is stacking up against him now. Physically, mentally and obviously competing." Woods was a vice-captain for the United States as they beat Europe to win the Ryder Cup earlier this month, but Faldo thought he looked like he was "struggling just getting in and out of the golf buggie". The Englishman added: "Watching him walk, he just doesn't look supple to me. "I know the stamina needed to play 72 holes. He may be able to hit balls on a range, but there's a rhythm to that. "On a course, you get a five-minute gap between two shots. I think maybe he is starting to hit the ball better, but it's the stamina to play." Woods will also miss the Turkish Airlines Open in November but said he may be ready for his foundation's event, the Hero World Challenge, in December.

Summary: Six-time major winner Sir Nick Faldo says "everything is stacking up against" Tiger Woods in his attempt to return to golf following injury.


Extra college places would be paid for by introducing a graduate contribution to raise funds from university leavers. The Tories said 140,000 places had been lost from Scottish colleges since 2007, and vowed to reinstate them. The party also supports creating an extra 10,000 modern apprenticeships. Party leaders have started setting out their stalls ahead of May's elections. Labour has announced a housing policy targeting first-time buyers, while the SNP pledged to put education "front and centre" in their plans. The Conservatives produced figures suggesting the number of students at Scottish colleges was at its lowest number on record, with staff numbers also down a fifth since 2008. Party leader Ruth Davidson said the SNP's record on colleges was the government's "hidden shame". She said: "The SNP has built monuments to itself on so-called free education, while quietly demolishing the ladder of opportunity that our colleges provide to thousands of youngsters. "We reject the discrimination which favours academic over vocational courses. A Scottish Conservative government would therefore reverse the cuts made by the SNP to Scotland's college budget. "We would pay for this through our existing plan to back graduate contribution, paid for only after university graduates are earning a decent wage." Education is set to be a key battleground in the election on 5 May, with first minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon promising to put it "front and centre". She said Scotland under the SNP was reducing the attainment gap "faster than the rest of the UK". The SNP criticised the graduate contribution plan, saying it showed a vote for the Tories was "a vote to end free higher education in Scotland". George Adam, a member of the education and culture committee at Holyrood, said: "The Tories claim that their colleges policy will be funded 'in its entirety' by a graduate contribution - but without any detail about how much students would be expected to pay, or exactly when they would have to start paying it, their colleges policy has absolutely no credibility. "It is also completely unacceptable to leave young people considering going to university in the dark about what it will cost them." Scottish Labour's opportunity spokesman Iain Gray said: "The SNP want to be judged on their record and the first minister said education is her top priority. "Well, the SNP's record on colleges is simply shameful with 140,000 fewer students in Scotland's colleges, and 3,500 fewer lecturers "That record means lost opportunities for our young people, but those young people deserve better than unfunded promises from the Tories."

Summary: The Scottish Conservatives have pledged an extra £60m to Scotland's colleges as the party sets out its election platform.


Salon Privé has relocated from London to Blenheim Palace for its 10th anniversary, and the three-day event culminates with a "public day" on Saturday. Co-founder David Bagley described the cars on display as "amazing". They include the Aston Martin DB10, only 10 of which were made, soon to be seen in James Bond movie Spectre. However, 007's car can only be seen by premium ticket holders. Mr Bagley said: "It's the first time we've had a public day. "For me it's a real opportunity for dads and their lads. All kids love cars. "The cars we bring here, half of them will have never been seen before. There's going to be a lot of noise, a lot of atmosphere." There are supercar and hypercar models on show by Ferrari, Koenigsegg, Pagani, McLaren, Zenvo, some of which are worth in excess of £1.5m. The top tier hypercar category is one increasingly used by car aficionados, and refers to the most expensive and highest-performing supercars. The event is usually targeted at private buyers, collectors and enthusiasts, but "outgrew" its original locations in Hurlingham and Syon Park. Mr Bagley added: "As beautiful as they were, Blenheim now offers us an opportunity to create a lovely private event on the south lawn and a public event on the Great Court." The public part of the show will include a grand parade of more than 60 supercars from 1975 to the present day. Jamie Spencer-Churchill, the 12th Duke of Marlborough, said it was an honour for the palace to be involved. "My wife, and son The Marquess of Blandford, and I are personally looking forward to the event as big motor enthusiasts," he added.

Summary: A prestigious motor show for rare and luxury cars is to open to the general public for the first time.


A seven-wicket victory over Middlesex sealed Glamorgan's place at the top of the Southern Group and a home tie with Leicestershire in the last eight. "It would be a great achievement, it's really important to perform well in the quarter-final," Morris said. Glamorgan will try to secure the return of batsman David Miller for the match. The South African left-hander, who was contracted to Glamorgan for six group games, is due to be playing for South Africa 'A' in Bloemfontein until the day before the Cardiff quarter-final on Wednesday, 23 August. "It's going to be very tight, no question, but if David's here it's a bonus, if he's not, we still believe we've got a squad to perform well since we've won a lot of games without David," Morris told BBC Wales Sport. Glamorgan have only previously reached Finals Day once, ending in a semi-final defeat against Leicestershire in 2004, while they lost in the quarter-finals in 2008, 2014, and 2016. Coach Robert Croft was pleased to end the home campaign with a win in Cardiff, albeit again shortened by rain, after four wash-outs and two defeats. "The supporters that have been here all summer, shall we call it a summer? It's been important we got a game on and showed people what we could do, we played very well," he said.

Summary: Glamorgan chief executive Hugh Morris says it would be a "great achievement" for the club to make T20 Blast Finals Day for the first time since 2004.


Some who follow the subject closely argued that the Â£2.45bn deficit across health trusts in England in the last financial year was not as bad as it might have been. But it was still a dramatic increase on the previous 12 months and it illustrates two major challenges for the government - one immediate and the other longer term. Right now, the deficit at English hospital and other trusts, in other words the difference between the money they received and what they had to pay for patient care, is causing real headaches at the Department of Health. Official accounts are being prepared for the financial year which ended in March and are set to be published in the summer. If senior civil servants can't demonstrate that the DoH kept within the limit of around Â£116bn voted on by Parliament, there will be serious and unprecedented trouble in Whitehall. A National Audit Office inquiry could follow, along with heavy political flak directed at the government. Usually deficits among health trusts can be balanced by surpluses elsewhere in the system, for example in clinical commissioning groups. This time, officials have struggled to find the money in the system to balance the books. A finance director at a hospital trust has told the BBC anonymously that unorthodox methods are being used to make the sums add up. He alleged that the department was "cooking up accounting alchemy" to turn large hospital deficits into a much lower figure to ensure the NHS meets its spending limit. He claimed that transferring money from investment to day-to-day spending was being encouraged on a much wider scale than was normal. The same finance director went on to say that consultancy firms had been sent into 20 trusts to assess whether their accounting assumptions were too cautious. He claimed that their findings were being passed back to the Department of Health which would use them to adjust the overall deficit position downwards. He said: "I am deeply worried that the findings of the 20 site visits are likely to be used to alter the NHS accounts." The Department denied there was anything untoward going on, while acknowledging that parts of the NHS were under pressure. A spokesman said: "The transfer from capital to revenue makes no difference to the overall departmental picture given Parliament has voted to approve it - to say otherwise is misleading. Our financial statements will be audited by the independent National Audit Office." Ministers also argue they have helped hospitals curb the increase in spending on agency staff. Looking beyond the current scramble to balance the books, there is a longer term financial challenge for the NHS. It is hard to see how the aggregate trust deficit can be reduced significantly this year. So a chunk of the extra money allocated by the chancellor for 2016-17 will be eaten up before a single extra patient is cared for. The deficit reflects a fundamental mismatch between the funding flow to hospitals and what they need to find the right staff and provide appropriate care. Ministers argue they

Summary: The deteriorating state of NHS finances in England has been well documented.


The award is considered the top prize in the field. It is sometimes called the Little Nobel Prize for Literature. The jury said Cao was a unanimous choice for the writing prize, because he "writes beautifully about the complex lives of children facing great challenges". The Peking University professor of Chinese and children's literature is well known in literary circles in China, and has won several prizes at home. He is known particularly for his books set in 1950s and 1960s rural China, drawing from his childhood experiences. Cao, 62, grew up in backbreaking poverty in Jiangsu province, the son of a principal for rural primary schools. In one of his books recounting his childhood, he recalled he often had nothing much to eat and would look forward to having a meal of rice gruel once every 15 days. "My home village was well known for its poverty. Day in and day out, my family lived with deprivation," he wrote. "I would gather grass from the riverbanks. Mother would diligently stir fry it in a oil-less steel wok, saying she was making me a dish of stir-fried leeks to eat." The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), which gives out the Hans Christian Andersen Award, noted that "his childhood, though materially poor, was emotionally and aesthetically rich", attributes it said were evident in his writing. One of Cao's best-known children's books outside China is his 2005 work Bronze and Sunflower, set during the Cultural Revolution. It tells the tale of a young city girl, Sunflower, who accompanies her artist father when he is forcibly sent to the countryside to labour among peasants, as millions of Chinese were in the 1960s and 70s. She befriends a peasant boy, Bronze, who persuades his family to take Sunflower in after her father dies and looks out for her, while she teaches him to read and write. Critics praised it for its meaningful story and Cao's lyrical prose. "Bronze was hungry to learn and gobbled up every character Sunflower knew, writing them out on the ground and in his notebook. The two of them never stopped. Wherever they went, whatever they saw, Bronze wanted to know what the characters were... Bronze saw the beautiful world around him transform into the magical world of characters. The sun became more gorgeous, more vivid, more enticing than ever. Likewise, the moon, the sky, the earth, the wind, the rain... everything took on a new life. And Bronze, who was used to careering around the fields whatever the weather, was changing too. He was calmer than he used to be." Translated from original Chinese text by Helen Wang Another book published in 1997, Straw House, traces the coming of age story of a young village boy, Sang Sang, throughout his six years in primary school. Cao told China's Xinhua news agency in 2007 that the book was based on his experiences as his family followed his father, who was often transferred from school to school across the province. It won several prizes in China including the country's top

Summary: Beijing-based author Cao Wenxuan has become the first Chinese author to win the Hans Christian Andersen award for children's literature.


Andrew Whitby, 51, from Teddington, south-west London, was recognised by the Guinness Book of Records. He underwent the operation after experiencing health problems associated with a lifelong heart defect. He appealed for people to sign the organ donor register, describing transplantation as "life-changing". Figures published by the NHS on Monday show the number of people in the UK donating organs after death has fallen for the first time in more than a decade. Mr Whitby was born with a hole in the heart, which doctors predicted would mean he was unlikely to live more than a few years. He defied expectations and lived normally until the age of 20, when his health began to deteriorate. Mr Whitby developed problems with his lungs and eventually one collapsed, which led to the decision to attempt a heart-lung transplant. When the procedure was carried out in 1985 at Harefield Hospital in north-west London, he was only the ninth person to undergo it in the UK. Heart-lung transplants are relatively rare because there are few suitable donor organs available and priority is normally given to people who only need a heart transplant. Mr Whitby used the occasion of the 30th anniversary of his transplant to draw attention to the need for organ donors. He said: "My heart-lung transplant has improved and extended my life beyond measure. "We need more people to sign the organ donor register - without donors, where would that leave people like me?" Andre Simon, director of transplantation at Harefield Hospital, said: "Andrew's world record shows how a person's life can be completely transformed through the gift of organ donation."

Summary: A man has celebrated 30 years since his heart-lung transplant - thought to be the longest anyone has survived after the procedure.


The 33-year-old Australian ended his second spell at Fir Park this summer. "Things have changed a little in terms of the Australia (move) in that it has not turned into what I exactly want," McDonald told BBC Scotland. "I think everyone thought I'd made my mind up and pretty much I'm open to all offers." McDonald was with Well from 2004-2007 before he joined Celtic and enjoyed three successful years at Parkhead. Following spells at Middlesbrough and Millwall he returned to Fir Park in 2015, but his hopes of a switch to an Australian side this summer have yet to materialise. "It was well documented at the end of the season that I was maybe looking to go home," McDonald added. "Things haven't gone the way I would have liked in that area at the minute, so that's still ongoing. "You get a couple of crazy ones (offers) here and there abroad. Locally, I haven't looked into it too much as yet."

Summary: Scott McDonald's proposed move to Australia has stalled and the former Motherwell striker says he will consider offers in Scotland.


The SNP-led administration's budget was approved by 33 votes to 32 following two hours of debate. Co-leader Richard Thomson told members he wants to use an extra £6m announced in the Scottish government's budget on a scheme to ease the impact of business rates rises. The 2.5% council tax increase adds more than £28 to a Band D property. Higher band properties will see their charges rise more due to national changes agreed last year.

Summary: Aberdeenshire councillors have narrowly voted in favour of a 2.5% rise in council tax.


Hassan al-Mandlawi, 32, and Al-Amin Sultan, 30, both Swedish nationals, were found guilty of actively taking part in the murders, which were filmed. The Gothenburg court convicted the pair even though they did not wield the knife used in the killings in Aleppo. The men had denied the charges and will appeal the verdict, their lawyers said. The court in Gothenburg, south-west Sweden, was presented with footage of the murders that was discovered on a USB stick in Sultan's home. Two men are heard giving directions in Swedish. One prisoner is beheaded, the other has his throat cut. The court found the duo had actively taken part in the murders, though they did not hold the knife. It also ruled it had been proven that the pair fought in Syria during the spring of 2013. Anti-terror campaigners have applauded the verdict, pointing out that it shows that Sweden is prepared to put people on trial for crimes committed in other countries. The case against the pair is the first time that a "terror crime" - as opposed to "crimes against international law" have been staged by a Swedish court, Radio Sweden reported. In order to secure a conviction for a "terror crime", the prosecution must prove that the intention was to cause fear among others. A crime against international law is defined as a case where it has been proven that the men fought with a group in an armed conflict. Sultan's lawyer insisted that it was not his client's voice in the film and accused the prosecution of singling him out because he was wearing similar clothing to the guilty person, Radio Sweden reported. The defence argued that pictures of him posing with weapons were taken when he was in Turkey and Syria doing volunteer relief work. His accomplice, Mandlawi, uses a wheelchair after being shot while allegedly working abroad as a sniper and has suffered brain damage, Radio Sweden quoted his lawyer as saying. Mandlawi's defence team said that the evidence against him was meagre. More than 250,000 people have died in nearly five years of civil war in Syria.

Summary: A court in Sweden has sentenced two men to life imprisonment over "terror crime" murders carried out by Islamic State militants in Syria in 2013.


17 October 2016 Last updated at 15:37 BST Accounts filed with Companies House show the organisation had invested just £18m by the end of 2015. But the US presidential hopeful's representatives claim the amount of investment has shot up to about £150m this year. Trump Organisation claims £150m Turnberry investment

Summary: Donald Trump pledged to invest £200m in Turnberry after buying the Ayrshire resort in 2014.


The ride-hailing app went to court after Transport for London (TfL) said that drivers should have to prove their ability to communicate in English. Uber argued that the standard of reading and writing required by the test was too high. The US firm said the test was "unfair and disproportionate" and it would appeal against the court's decision. The ruling will also apply to all minicab firms in London. "TfL are entitled to require private hire drivers to demonstrate English language compliance," said Judge John Mitting as he rejected Uber's claim. Tom de la Mare QC, for Uber and the drivers, told the judge that the language requirement would result in 70,000 applicants failing to obtain a licence over three years. The proposals would have a disproportionate impact on drivers from countries where English was not generally spoken and give rise to "indirect discrimination on grounds of race and nationality". TfL argued that the requirements were vital to ensure passenger safety and to raise standards. Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said: "Drivers being able to speak English and understand information from passengers and licensing requirements is a vital part of ensuring passengers get the high standard of service they need and deserve. "TfL will of course look at the High Court judgment in detail to ensure all our policies fully comply." Sam Dumitriu, head of projects at the Adam Smith Institute, a conservative think tank, criticised the ruling. "These tests are not only expensive but excessive, and will do little to improve public safety. We've already seen London taxi drivers of 20 years or more struggling with essay questions about the Aurora Borealis and snowboarding, do we need them to have read Shakespeare too?" he said. "There's clearly no public interest here, only the interests of the vocal Black Cab Lobby. Sadiq Khan should listen to drivers and scrap them." Uber said the judge ruled in its favour on three other points, including not having to open a UK-based call centre.

Summary: Uber has lost its attempt to prevent its drivers being forced to take English language tests.


He played the famous spy in seven Bond films including Live and Let Die and A View to a Kill. Sir Roger's family confirmed the news on Twitter, saying he had died after "a short but brave battle with cancer". The statement, from his children, read: "Thank you Pops for being you, and being so very special to so many people." "With the heaviest of hearts, we must share the awful news that our father, Sir Roger Moore, passed away today. We are all devastated," they said in a Twitter post. The actor took the character of James Bond in a more humorous direction than his predecessor Sean Connery. Sir Roger's Bond was calm and suave - a smooth operator who could seemingly get himself out of a tricky situation with ease. The veteran star, who died in Switzerland, will have a private funeral in Monaco in accordance with his wishes, his children said. "The love with which he was surrounded in his final days was so great it cannot be quantified in words alone," read the statement from Deborah, Geoffrey and Christian. "Our thoughts must now turn to supporting Kristina [Tholstrup, his wife] at this difficult time." The statement added: "We know our own love and admiration will be magnified many times over, across the world, by people who knew him for his films, his television shows and his passionate work for UNICEF which he considered to be his greatest achievement. Along with his famous Bond role, Moore was also known for TV series The Persuaders and The Saint. Sir Roger was also well known for his humanitarian work - he was introduced to Unicef by the late Audrey Hepburn and was appointed as a goodwill ambassador in 1991. Russell Crowe led the tributes to the actor on Twitter, writing simply: "Roger Moore, loved him." Michael Caine said: "I am truly sad and think I will be in tears if I talk about him. "Roger was the perfect gentlemen, adored by all his friends." Michael Ball said: "My dearest uncle Roger has passed on. What a sad, sad day this is. "Loved the bones of him. Generous, funny, beautiful and kind." Mia Farrow wrote: "Few are as kind & giving as was Roger Moore. Loving thoughts with his family & friends," while Boy George added: "RIP Sir Roger Moore. He was the king of cool." Duran Duran, who sang the Bond theme song for A View To A Kill, simply tweeted: RIP Roger. In a statement, fellow Unicef ambassador and actor Ewan McGregor said: "Thank you, Roger, for having championed so tirelessly the rights of all children for the last 26 years. "You've shown that we all have the power to make a change to the lives of the most vulnerable children." Frank Gardner, the BBC's security correspondent, recalled how he and Sir Roger had become good friends in recent years. "He even watched me ski past his chalet in Crans-Montana [Switzerland] while sipping a drink on his balcony," he said. "He had a wonderful sense of humour and I will

Summary: Actor Sir Roger Moore, best known for playing James Bond, has died aged 89, his family has announced.


Bath's injured Faletau will not resume training until the middle of November. Wales coach Rob Howley has included him in his squad for the four-match series. "Wales need to find a different option and maybe give them a run of games through these matches that will provide Toby with competition," Delve said. Faletau suffered a knee injury in September on his Aviva Premiership debut for Bath, who do not expect the British and Irish Lion to start training until the middle of November. "Although it's a huge loss to Wales you have to weigh up the value of rushing him back for those possible last two games or get him completely fit and firing for the Six Nations and the Lions tour," added Delve, who also played for Bath. Wales play Australia in Cardiff on 5 November, followed by Tests against Argentina and Japan, concluding against South Africa at the Principality Stadium on 26 November. Faletau and his likely replacement Ross Moriarty of Gloucester would not be available for the opening game against Australia. The game falls outside World Rugby's international window and Premiership Rugby will not sanction the release of English-based Welsh players. Northampton Saints wing George North, Harlequins centre Jamie Roberts and Bath pair Luke Charteris and Rhys Priestland will also be unavailable for the Wallabies game. Ospreys fly-half Sam Davies has been included in Howley's squad after his recent performances for the region. "I think Sam has really put himself in the mix. His early season form has been fantastic," said Delve, a former Ospreys team-mate. "It's a nice headache to have and it will be interesting to see if Sam Davies does get a run through the course of the four games. "Whether he gets the opportunity to get that backline moving in the way that Rob has said he wants to evolve."

Summary: Taulupe Faletau's absence at the start of the autumn internationals presents an opportunity for another forward to stake a claim for Wales, says former number eight Gareth Delve.


Jordon Saxton, from Faringdon, Oxfordshire, was convicted of the manslaughter of 11-week-old Jayden Saxton, but cleared of his murder. Jayden died in November after suffering 18 bone fractures as well as multiple brain and spinal injuries, a trial at Oxford Crown Court heard. Saxton, 21, was sentenced to nine years in prison. During the two-week trial, jurors heard the baby was living at a flat with his parents and had been left alone with Saxton on 17 November. They heard that Jayden never recovered from what the prosecution described as a "violent assault", in which he was squeezed so hard several of his ribs were broken. He was taken to hospital by paramedics, but died the following day. During the trial, Saxton told the court he had dialled 999 after Jayden stopped breathing and was in a state of panic because he thought something was stuck in his son's throat. Passing sentence, Mr Justice Rabinder Singh QC, said the baby's death was "undoubtedly a tragedy for everyone concerned". He told Saxton: "No-one but you will ever know exactly what happened that afternoon. "I conclude that you acted as you did in frustration at the fact that you could not settle Jayden." Det Ch Insp Kevin Brown of Thames Valley Police said Jayden's family had been through a "living nightmare" since November. "The medical and forensic evidence in this investigation proved how Jayden was assaulted, causing him serious bodily harm that led to his death. "The evidence was clear that Jordan committed manslaughter." Adrian Foster, chief prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it was "impossible to imagine a more vulnerable victim". He said that old rib fractures also discovered during the post mortem indicated that Jayden had previously been forcibly gripped and shaken between 21 October and 4 November. "Jordan Saxton denied causing the death of his defenceless son and offered no explanation for how he obtained his injuries," he added.

Summary: A man has been jailed for killing his baby son after squeezing his chest and shaking him.


22 December 2015 Last updated at 09:56 GMT Photographer Ben Gadsby-Williams filmed them off the Norfolk coast at Morston Quay.

Summary: The Aurora Borealis - better known as the Northern Lights - was spotted across parts of England on Sunday night into Monday morning.


The 23-year-old, who joins from Weston-Super-Mare, turned down interest from Swedish top-flight side Ostersunds to join the Spitfires. Eastleigh boss Chris Todd said: "I am excited to have Scott join the squad. "He is an incredibly hungry individual who is looking to succeed in the game and has a huge desire to progress with Eastleigh." Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: National League side Eastleigh have signed striker Scott Wilson on a one-year contract.


Sgt Elor Azaria, 20, shot Abdul Fatah al-Sharif, 21, in the head while he was lying immobile on a road. The incident happened in Hebron in the occupied West Bank last March, after another soldier was stabbed. Sgt Azaria said he thought Sharif might have an explosive vest, but prosecutors said his motive was revenge. The high-profile trial has proven extremely divisive in Israel, says the BBC's Yolande Knell in Tel Aviv. There have been rallies to support the soldier and some senior politicians backed Sgt Azaria. However, top military figures were quick to say that his actions did not reflect the values of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). In the incident on 24 March, Sharif and another 21-year-old Palestinian, Ramzi Aziz al-Qasrawi, stabbed and wounded an Israeli soldier before troops opened fire on them, wounding Sharif and killing Qasrawi. Footage of the scene several minutes later, filmed by a Palestinian and released by the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem, shows Sharif alive. A soldier, identified as Sgt Azaria, is then seen cocking his rifle and fatally shooting Sharif from several metres away. In their indictment, prosecutors said Sgt Azaria "violated the rules of engagement without operational justification as the terrorist was lying on the ground wounded and represented no immediate threat for the accused or others who were present". Delivering the verdict on Wednesday, the panel of three military judges rejected Sgt Azaria's defence that he shot Sharif because he continued to pose a threat. He had told the court that he believed there might be a suicide belt under the Palestinian's jacket. The judges, who took two-and-a-half hours to deliver their verdict, noted that Sgt Azaria's company and battalion commanders had testified that he did not mention the same concerns when they questioned him immediately after the shooting incident. The judges also said there was no dispute regarding the veracity of the statements made by another soldier, who testified to military investigators that Sgt Azaria had told him during the incident: "They stabbed my friend and tried to kill him - he deserves to die." Sgt Azaria told the court that he did not recall having any such conversation, but the head of the judging panel, Col Maya Heller, described him as an "unreliable witness". "His motive for shooting was that he felt the terrorist deserved to die," she said. Prosecutor Lt Col Nadav Weissman said: "This is not a happy day for us. We would have preferred that this didn't happen. But the deed was done, and the offence was severe." A spokesman for Sgt Azaria's family said evidence proving his innocence had been ignored. "It was like the court was detached from the fact that this was the area of an attack," he said. The soldier's mother, Oshra, shouted at the judges: "You should be ashamed of yourselves." The defence team has said it will appeal against the verdict. Sentencing is expected in the next few weeks. Manslaughter in Israel carries a maximum 20-year term. Sharif's father Yusri was quoted as saying Sgt Azaria deserved a life sentence.

Summary: An Israeli soldier filmed shooting dead a wounded Palestinian attacker after he had been disarmed of a knife has been convicted of manslaughter.


McCormack had 61 seconds to spare from Deirdre Byrne as she won in 33 minutes and 30 seconds as Maria McCambridge completed an all-Irish podium. Wicklow woman McCormack ran the Olympic 10,000m mark in the US last weekend. Britain's Andy Maud won the men's race in 29:55 ahead of Irish pair Mick Clohisey and Kevin Maunsell. Olympic Games marathon hopeful Clohisey was five seconds behind Maud with Maunsell a further 23 seconds in arrears as the athletes had to battle windy conditions at the Phoenix Park. Sunday's event, which attracted almost 8,000 runners, honoured the memory of late Ballymena & Antrim athletics club great Sean Kyle. Great Ireland Run organiser, former Irish international athlete Gareth Turnbull came up with of incorporating a team match into the event which would pay tribute to the renowned coach, who formed a remarkable partnership with his wife, the three-time Olympian Maeve Kyle at the Ballymena & Antrim club. The team component saw an Ireland line-up which included McCormack, lifting the inaugural Sean Kyle Cup, as they defeated a Commonwealth select The mixing of the sport's grassroots and elite athletes is something that would have delighted Ballymena athletics doyen Kyle, who died after a long illness last November. Sunday's meeting also included a Great Ireland Mile event won by Irish international John Travers in four minutes and 11 seconds which left him ahead of British runners John Ashcroft (4:13) and Phillip Sesemann (4:16). Thomas Frazer and Kerry O'Flaherty took the victories at the Titanic Quarter 10K in a windy Belfast on Sunday. Belfast man Frazer, who will run the London Marathon in two weeks in the hope of booking his Olympic Games Rio, had five seconds to spare from Gary Murray as he triumphed in 30 minutes and 48 seconds. "I am really happy with that. I am in the form of my life and will be adopting an all or nothing stance in London to make the team for Rio," said Frazer, 34. Lisburn's Chris Madden finished third in 31:31 which left him eight seconds ahead of fourth-placed Conor Duffy, who won last year's men's race. Olympic Games-qualified O'Flaherty won the women's event in 34:17 which left her 14 seconds ahead of runner-up and last year's winner Ann-Marie McGlynn. Laura Graham took third in 35:21 with Olympic Games marathon hopeful Gladys Ganiel fourth in 36:07. "I knew this would be tight especially as 10K is over my distance," said O'Flaherty. "However I have really been working on my stamina to assist in the last kilometre of the steeplechase and it paid off today. "I am now going to altitude training in France in preparation for track races in June in the build-up to Rio."

Summary: Fionnuala McCormack clinched a comfortable victory in the women's race at the Great Ireland run as Britain's Andy Maud won the men's event.


Ex-Labour Northern Ireland Secretary Lord Hain said the peace process could "so easily unravel". He said the Brexit bill should be changed to support maintaining the open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. A government minister said the government was committed to building on the peace process. They were speaking as peers debated the government's draft legislation that will authorise the UK's departure from the EU. Among several amendments that were proposed was Lord Hain's, to require the prime minister to support the maintenance of the open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as set out in the Good Friday Agreement. He said: "If the referendum means Brexit at any price it may well mean a dangerously high cost for the Northern Ireland peace process." "The settlement in Northern Ireland is built on a delicate balance of the three strands of the Good Friday Agreement - relationships within Northern Ireland, between Belfast and Dublin, and Dublin and London," Lord Hain told peers. "Brexit will test each of these relationships, and if the government pursues a hard Brexit it could do profound damage to all three." Any physical border will create ill-feeling and could destabilise the region and "unravel" the peace process, he warned. Northern Ireland Minister Lord Dunlop said the government was absolutely committed to maintaining and building upon the peace process. He said: "Nobody wants to see a return to the borders of the past." But he said the two-clause bill will simply trigger the Brexit process and did not need to be amended to enshrine a commitment to maintaining an open border, adding: "No such undertaking is necessary in this bill. "Particularly in light of the strong assurances I have given, and our desire to keep this bill clean and simple." Lord Hain, who withdrew his amendment in light of the minister's assurances, later attempted to amend the Brexit bill to keep the UK in the single market. After a debate, this was rejected by peers by 299 to 136. Other proposed amendments which will be considered by peers focus on the rights of EU nationals living in the UK to remain after Brexit, and calls by Labour for a "meaningful vote" on the deal reached after the negotiations. MPs have already voted in favour of the government's Brexit bill, which was drawn up after the Supreme Court ruled that Theresa May could not invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty without consulting Parliament. If the Lords back any amendments to the legislation, it will return to the Commons where MPs will decide whether to accept peers' proposals.

Summary: Brexit could mean a "dangerously high cost" for peace in Northern Ireland, a former minister has warned.


The proposals for Walton Breck Road in north Liverpool form the latest phase of a £260m regeneration of the area. If approved, derelict buildings would be demolished or rebuilt and the road would be narrowed to make the area more pedestrian friendly. Liverpool's deputy mayor Ann O'Byrne said the "ambitious" plan would "make a massive difference to the area". "People come to visit Anfield every day of the week and we want to make sure it's as inviting as possible," she said. The work, which would be carried out in phases over the next three to four years, would see the building of new homes, office spaces and a hotel as well as community and landscaped areas. The Anfield regeneration scheme was announced in 2013 as a joint venture between Liverpool City Council, Your Housing Group and Liverpool Football Club. It has already seen the football club expand the main stand to accommodate an extra 8,500 fans. Brian Cronin, from Your Housing Group, said: "We envisage a mixture of traditional properties with some more modern properties, just to give the area a different feel." Residents are being asked to give their feedback when the plans go on display in Stanley Park from Monday.

Summary: Plans to rebuild a high street next to Liverpool FC's stadium in Anfield have been revealed by the city council.


Parliamentary Speaker Radoslaw Sikorski announced that parliamentarians will be trained at an army firing range. The country's military age is capped at 50 but exceptions will be made for "healthy and youthful looking" MPs. Poland's recently adopted security strategy states that the country is threatened by warfare and names Russia as an aggressor. Speaker Sikorski said he hopes the training would demonstrate to young Poles that it was time to start preparing to defend the country. He added that these are "troubled times". Polish Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak has called on Poles aged between 18 and 50 to undergo voluntary military training. The offer comes after Krystyna Pawlowicz, a 63-year-old MP, asked to be given military training to provide an example to others. Warsaw has been a firm opponent of Russia's actions in Ukraine and many Poles are concerned the country could come under attack. An opinion poll from May last year found 61% of respondents felt the Ukraine crisis threatened Poland's security. In another poll from April, when asked which country Poland should most fear, 80% of respondents said Russia, up from 49% in 2010. On Thursday, a top Polish official said that arming the Ukrainian army could stop the conflict in eastern Ukraine escalating. Stanislaw Koziej, the head of Poland's National Security Office, said that it was in the "interest of Europe, of Poland and of Ukraine to strengthen Ukraine's army and to supply it with weapons." So far Poland has only offered non-lethal supplies and training to the Ukrainian government.

Summary: Polish MPs will be offered military training because of fears that the war in Ukraine could spread.


Electronics giant Sony, as well as automakers Honda and Toyota cited damage at their plants. The quakes killed at least 41 people and have caused severe destruction to buildings and infrastructure. The suspensions in Kumamoto, a manufacturing hub, could cause supply chain disruptions. Chipmaker Renesas Electronics also said there had been damage to some equipment at its Kumamoto plant, which produces micro-controller chips for cars. Toyota said it would suspend operations at most assembly plants across Japan. The suspension across Toyota's facilities will be done in stages, and will last for about a week. The world's biggest car manufacturer said it had been unable to source parts from some of its suppliers. This includes its affiliate Aisin Seiki which is a key supplier for Toyota. Japan's Nikkei newspaper has reported that Aisin Seiki has been forced to stop producing doors, engines and other parts at its subsidiary in the Kumamoto prefecture, as the area is still experiencing aftershocks. The company is making plans to shift production to other facilities at home and abroad. The staggered suspension across Toyota's plants is expected to lead to a drop in production, by about 50,000 vehicles, the Nikkei said citing industry analysts. Sony said at the weekend it was assessing damage at its factory producing image sensors for smartphones, and that the plant would remain closed. The earthquake in Kumamoto has also affected restaurants and retailers in the area. Supermarket operator Aeon kept all 27 stores in the area shut on Sunday.

Summary: A number of Japanese manufacturers have suspended operations after two powerful earthquakes hit Kumamoto in south-western Japan.


Liu Han, ex-head of mining conglomerate Sichuan Hanlong Group, was charged with his brother Liu Wei and 33 others. His gang, active since 1993, were being charged in connection with nine murders, Xinhua news agency reported. It described the gang as one of the largest criminal organisations in China to be prosecuted in recent years. Liu Han has been detained since March last year. The Xianning People's Procuratorate in Hubei province in central China filed the charges on Thursday, state media said. In addition to murder and intentional assault, the defendants were also accused of illegal detention, extortion and casino crimes, Xinhua reported. Police seized 20 guns and three hand grenades, it added. According to prosecutors, "the defendants also did everything possible to entice and corrupt state officials, to seek their protection, and to consolidate and widen their influence on society", Xinhua added. Liu Han was ranked 148th on Forbes' list of the richest Chinese businesspeople in 2012. His former company, Sichuan Hanlong Group, has tried to take over Australian miner Sundance Resources Ltd in the past. Liu Han was previously a delegate of Sichuan's political advisory body. Several Sichuan-linked officials have been investigated by the authorities in recent months, including Ji Wenlin, the vice-governor of Hainan province, and Li Chongxi, who was chair of Sichuan's Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Summary: A Chinese court has charged a tycoon with crimes including murder, intentional injury and organising a "mafia-style gang", state media report.


The 23-year-old was a free agent after leaving the Shrimpers in December. The Czech started his professional career with Liverpool before joining Yeovil in June 2014, making 45 league appearances for the Glovers. He will be unable to play for the Pilgrims, who have not disclosed the length of his deal, against the Reds in the FA Cup third round, having already played for Southend in the competition. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Plymouth Argyle have signed former Southend United defender Jakub Sokolik.


Media playback is not supported on this device McIlroy, 27, is one of 20 players to have withdrawn from next month's Games, citing fears about the Zika virus. He said he would not watch the Olympic golf on television. Speaking after Thursday's first round at The Open, McIlroy said: "I decided to stop dancing around the issue and tell everyone what I thought." Media playback is not supported on this device The four-time major winner added: "I've thought about Olympics and golf for the last seven years and this is just how I feel. "Some people don't like it, I get that; but it's my opinion. "I don't think anyone can blame me for being too honest. It was seven years of trying to give the politically correct answer and finally I just cracked." On Tuesday, the Northern Irishman said: "I'll probably watch the Olympics, but I'm not sure golf will be one of the events I'll watch." Asked which events he would watch, McIlroy replied: "Probably track and field, swimming, diving, the stuff that matters." Media playback is not supported on this device Those comments received criticism from English squash player Laura Massaro, whose sport is not included in the Olympics. She called McIlroy's comments "unacceptable" and said he had shown a "lack of appreciation for how the Olympics can transcend an individual sport". However, McIlroy, who is six shots off the lead after the first day of the Open, has tried to elaborate more on his comment that he "didn't get into golf to try to grow the game". Find out how to get into golf with our special guide. "I feel I've done my bit to grow the game," added the world number four. "It's not like I'm uninterested and golf is a great vehicle to instil values in kids. "I'm an ambassador for the PGA Junior League and I've used my success in golf in a very positive way." We've launched a new BBC Sport newsletter, bringing all the best stories, features and video right to your inbox. You can sign up here.

Summary: Former world number one Rory McIlroy has remained defiant in the face of criticism over his controversial views on golf at the 2016 Rio Olympics.


Anders Behring Breivik, 32, described his actions as "gruesome but necessary", and said he would explain himself at a court hearing on Monday. At least 85 people died when a gunman ran amok on Utoeya island on Friday, hours after an Oslo bomb killed seven. As Norway mourned the victims, police continued to search for the missing. At least four people from the island camp shooting are yet to be found; it is thought some may have drowned after swimming out into the lake to escape the hail of bullets. Police are using a mini-submarine to search for the missing bodies. In Oslo police said the death toll could rise further as bodies or body parts were in buildings damaged by the bomb but still too unstable to search. Police have also said another person may have been involved in Friday's attacks, which happened within hours of each other. 'Demanding suspect' "He thought it was gruesome having to commit these acts, but in his head they were necessary," Mr Breivik's lawyer Geir Lippestad told Norwegian media. He added that the actions had been planned for some time. Mr Breivik has been charged with committing acts of terrorism, and is due to appear in court on Monday when judges will decide whether he should be detained as the investigation continues. The suspect is reported to have had links with right-wing extremists. Still pictures of him, wearing a wetsuit and carrying an automatic weapon, appeared in a 12-minute anti-Muslim video called Knights Templar 2083, which appeared briefly on YouTube. By Chris MasonBBC News, Oslo In driving rain, and with the sound of thunder in the air, people are standing in a circle outside Oslo's cathedral. In the middle of the circle is a carpet of flowers, illuminated by candles. There are people hugging, holding hands, and standing in silence. I pass a couple whose eyes are bloodshot through crying, tears dripping down their faces. I have heard one Norwegian man say for so long this country felt it lived on the outskirts of fear. It doesn't feel like that any more. A 1,500-page document written in English and said to be by Mr Breivik - posted under the pseudonym of Andrew Berwick - was also put online hours before the attacks, suggesting they had been years in the planning. The document and the video repeatedly refer to multiculturalism and Muslim immigration; the author claims to be a follower of the Knights Templar - a medieval Christian organisation involved in the Crusades, and sometimes revered by white supremacists. Police have not speculated on motives for the attack but the bomb in Oslo targeted buildings connected to Norway's governing Labour Party, and the youth camp on Utoeya island was also run by the party. In the document posted online, references were made to targeting "cultural Marxists/ multiculturalist traitors". "He has had a dialogue with the police the whole time, but he is a very demanding suspect," police chief Sveinung Sponheim said. Norway has had problems with neo-Nazi groups in the past but the assumption was that

Summary: The man accused of a massacre at a youth camp in Norway and a bombing in the capital, Oslo, has admitted responsibility, his lawyer says.


The money is to help "build the global reach of the World Service" to half a billion people and "increase access to news and information". Director general Tony Hall said he "warmly welcomed" the announcement. The government will provide £34m between 2016-17 and £85m a year from 2017-18 for digital, TV and radio. The next review of this funding will be in 2020. "This new funding is the single biggest increase in the World Service budget ever committed by any government," said Lord Hall. "The millions announced today will help the BBC deliver on our commitment to uphold global democracy through accurate, impartial and independent news reporting. "The World Service is one of the UK's most important cultural exports and one of our best sources of global influence. We can now further build on that." He added: "The funding will also help speed us on to our target of reaching half a billion people globally." The BBC currently reaches 308 million people worldwide, and its goal is to reach 500 million people by 2022. Announcing the new funding in its document the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review, the government said: "The BBC World Service reaches into some of the most remote places in the world, providing a link to the UK for individuals and societies who would otherwise not have this opportunity. "We will invest £85 million each year by in the BBC's digital, TV and radio services around the world to build the global reach of the World Service and increase access to news and information." The announcement on page 49 of the Government's Strategic Defence Review makes it very clear what this money is all about - soft power. Britain's reputation, values and influence around the World. In 2010, the coalition government decided the £253 million spent on the World Service was coming to an end. The BBC would have to absorb the cost out of the licence fee. Five years later, Chancellor George Osborne has, partially, reversed that cut in return for the BBC expanding services in to North Korea, Russian speaking areas, the Middle East and Africa. Areas described as suffering from a "democratic deficit" - a shortage of impartial news. And while the Government will be helping to pay the bills - editorial control remains entirely with the BBC. And there is also another factor which may have influenced this decision to promote Britain abroad - the rapid growth of rival international news services from Russia, China and the Middle East. The BBC's radio services around the world are in decline - the new cash will help the switch towards more TV, mobile and online services as the BBC seeks to grow its global reach from around 300 million at the moment to a target of 500 million. The list of services to be expanded using the funding include enhanced TV services for Africa, new radio services for audiences in North Korea and radio and digital services for Ethiopia and Eritrea. Details of which languages the BBC will broadcast in to Ethiopia and

Summary: The government is to invest £85m a year in enhancing BBC services around the world including in Russia, North Korea, the Middle East and Africa.


Jihadist propaganda was posted on the station's website in April by individuals claiming to represent Islamic State. A police investigation is now focussing on a group of Russian hackers called APT28, according to French media. The group has tried to hack the White House in the past, L'Express reports. It has also targeted the computer systems of Nato members, Russian dissidents and Ukrainian activists, according to the newspaper. A judicial source told AFP that investigators were narrowing the search by probing the IP addresses of computers used in the attack. TV5 Monde was forced to broadcast pre-recorded programmes after the hack, which it described as "unprecedented in the history of television". A message warning French troops to stay away from Islamic State was published on the station's Facebook page. The hackers also posted documents purporting to be ID cards of relatives of French soldiers involved in anti-IS operations.

Summary: A cyber attack on the French television network TV5 Monde may have been carried out by Russian-based hackers, police believe.


Her casting as Simone was criticised when it was announced in 2012, with Simone's daughter suggesting she was "not the best choice". A tweet this week by Saldana, promoting Nina, was met by a furious response from the late singer's twitter feed. It read: "Please take Nina's name out your mouth. For the rest of your life." A later tweet, posted on the official Nina Simone account on Wednesday, summed up the depth of feeling in the Simone camp: "Hopefully people begin to understand this is painful. Gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, nauseating, soul-crushing. It shall pass, but for now..." The renewed criticism comes after a poster and trailer for the film were released on Wednesday, ahead of the film's official release on 22 April. Saldana, who is of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent, drew backlash for taking the role of the world famous jazz singer and civil rights activist, after photos first surfaced of her in the role wearing an afro wig and with clearly darkened skin. Writing on the official Nina Simone Facebook page in 2012, daughter, Simone Kelly, wrote: "I love Zoe Saldana, we all love Zoe... From Avatar to Colombiana, I've seen those movies a few times. But not every project is for everybody. And I know what my mother would think. I just don't get itâ€¦" With the issue of race playing such a pivotal role in Simone's story, many fans of the singer felt an African-American actress would have been more suitable. Saldana, 34, replaced singer Mary J Blige - who dropped out of the project due to scheduling conflicts. The unauthorised film biopic focuses on the last eight years of Simone's life and the relationship between the singer and her then-manager Clifton Henderson, played by British actor David Oyelowo. Ms Kelly is on record as saying she would have preferred to see Oscar-winner Viola Davis in the role, or Beloved actress Kimberly Elise. She told Ebony magazine in 2012: "Both of the actresses that I've mentioned are women of colour, are women with beautiful, luscious lips and wide noses, and who know their craft." "I also have no problem introducing someone we've never heard of before who can play my mother." Last year, Star Trek actress Saldana told InStyle magazine: "I didn't think I was right for the part, and I know a lot of people will agree, but then again, I don't think Elizabeth Taylor was right for Cleopatra either... An artist is colourless, genderless..." Aaron Overfield, who manages Nina Simone's official website, reacted angrily to the newly released trailer on his Facebook page: "It took them THAT long to end up with ... THIS? There is a special place in hell reserved for this film." The film will be hoping to benefit from renewed interest in Nina Simone, following the critically acclaimed Netflix documentary What Happened, Miss Simone? - made in conjunction with the Nina Simone estate - which was nominated for an Oscar last weekend. The documentary includes previously unheard recordings, archive footage and interviews with those closest to the singer, recorded over three decades.

Summary: A forthcoming biopic about singer Nina Simone has faced fresh criticism over its film trailer which shows lead actress Zoe Saldana with darkened skin.


Catherine Burns, 29, left Ireland for the US in 1832 to begin a new life, but within six weeks she was dead. A funeral mass and burial took place at St Patrick's Church in Clonoe, near Coalisland. She was one of 57 Irish migrants hired to build a stretch of railway in Pennsylvania known as Duffy's Cut. Within six weeks of arriving in Philadelphia, all 57 workers - who hailed from counties Donegal, Tyrone and Londonderry - were dead. It is thought some died from cholera, while others were murdered by local people who believed the immigrants were spreading the disease. Most were buried anonymously in a mass grave near the shanty town where they lived and worked, but Catherine was among several workers buried separately. Officials with the Philadelphia and Columbia railroad never notified the immigrants' families of their deaths. Parish priest Father Benny Fee told the funeral: "Catherine is one of our own, she's no stranger, she has Tyrone blood in her veins, but we know so little about her. "What we do know is that she knew suffering. She was married and already widowed at the tender age of 29 - before she was 30 she had loved and lost. We also know she knew poverty, she knew what it was to have nothing in her purse. "She took the boat to the USA for no other reason than she had no choice - she could stay at home and starve, or she could gamble on taking a boat across the Atlantic and with a bit of luck catch the tail of the American dream. "But as Christy Moore's song Duffy's Cut says so well, she was sailing into Hell and less than two months into her arrival in the new world, she and her 56 Irish companions in Duffy's Cut were dead and buried in unmarked graves." This is the second repatriation of remains found at Duffy's Cut, now a wooded area behind suburban homes in the borough of Malvern, about 20 miles west of Philadelphia. In 2013, 18-year-old John Ruddy was reburied at Ardara, County Donegal. An investigation into what happened to the 57 Irish workers began in 2002, when Malvern's Immaculata University professor Bill Watson, his twin brother Frank, a Lutheran minister, and fellow Immaculata professor Earl Schandelmeier, began the Duffy's Cut archival and research project. The trio accompanied Catherine on her journey home to County Tyrone and attended the wake and the funeral in Clonoe. Fr Fee thanked them for the "courtesy and respect they have shown our Tyrone Catherine". He added: "You have brought Catherine back from her exile to her native pastures. Now there's no fear, no terror for Catherine anymore."

Summary: A woman murdered in America 183 years ago has been buried in her native County Tyrone after her remains had lain in an unmarked grave.