British Transport Police said the incident happened at Glasgow Central station on Friday 20 October at 16:25. The two dogs were described as a tan coloured Staffordshire or pitbull terrier and a German shepherd. The woman had long brown hair, glasses, and was wearing a grey hooded top with the number 88 on the front. Police said she may have boarded the 17:30 train to London Euston.

Summary: Police have released a CCTV image of a woman who they want to speak to in connection with a guide dog that was attacked by two other dogs.


To give some idea of the amount of the currency that represents - there were more than 90 billion banknotes in circulation in India last March. Most central banks destroy soiled and mutilated banknotes on a regular basis and replace them with new, crisp ones. The Reserve Bank of India, similarly, shreds such notes and makes briquettes of them. But they are not your usual briquettes. Briquettes - usually made of farm waste in India - are used for cooking, lighting and heating. They are cheaper than coal, have lower ash content, are less polluting, and easier to store and pack. They are mostly used as fuel in factory boilers. But briquettes made out of shredded cash are brittle and serve no such purpose, a senior central bank official told me. So the bank's 27 shredding and briquetting machines in 19 offices across India will now snip the expired banknotes into the smallest of pieces and the resulting briquettes will be then dumped in India's vast landfills. Sometimes the shredded currency is also recycled to make files, calendars and paper weights and ballpoint pen shells, tea coasters, cups and small trays as souvenirs for guests. The practice is similar in the US: counterfeit banknotes are sent to the Secret Service, while unfit notes are shredded and sent to landfills or given away as souvenirs to the public touring the Federal Reserve Bank. Central bank officials believe shredding 20 billion banknotes will not be a huge challenge. In 2015-16 the Reserve Bank of India destroyed more than 16 billion soiled notes. More than 14 billion were removed in 2012-2013 after nearly 500,000 fake notes were found in the system. "Destroying so much cash is not a challenge because we have enough shredding and briquetting machines with very high capacities. These are automatic machines which shred the cash into the finest of pieces," says an official. So, India's mountain of expired currency will soon become rubbish, literally.

Summary: India's central bank will have to destroy, by one estimate, some 20 billion "expired" banknotes after it scrapped two high-value denominations - the 500 ($7.60) and 1,000 rupee notes - this month to crack down on "black money" or illegal cash holdings.


The M48 Severn Bridge has been shut due to strong winds and an overturned lorry near junction 2 on the A466 (Chepstow), affecting nearby M4 traffic. Arriva Trains Wales reported speed restrictions on some services in north Wales due to the adverse weather. BBC Wales forecaster Sue Charles said 20-40mm of rain was likely with gusts of 80mph possible along exposed coasts due to Storm Gertrude. The Met Office yellow "be aware" warning for strong wind covers north and mid Wales until 18:00 GMT with heavy rain forecast across Wales. Check if this is affecting your journey

Summary: There are weather warnings for winds of up to 80mph and heavy rain on Friday.


Daniel Craig will reprise his role as the British spy, with the script penned by Oscar winner, John Logan. Producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said: "We're really excited to be working once again with Daniel Craig, Sam Mendes and John Logan." Bond 24 is due for release in the UK on 23 October 2015. It will have its US release two weeks later, on 6 November. Mendes, who directed the recently-opened West End musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, said he was "very much looking forward to taking up the reins again, and to working with Daniel Craig, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for a second time". He added: "I am very pleased that by giving me the time I need to honour all my theatre commitments, the producers have made it possible for me to direct Bond 24." Skyfall made $1.1bn (??700m) at the worldwide box office. It was also the highest-grossing film of all time in the UK, earning more than ??94m from ticket sales in 40 days to beat the previous record holder Avatar, which made ??94m in 11 months. Skyfall won two Oscars - singer Adele's theme song of the same name won best original song and there was an award for sound editing. It was also named the outstanding British film by Bafta. It was reported in May that Mendes had resumed talks with producers about directing the next Bond film, having previously ruled himself out due to other commitments. Mendes is due to follow Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by directing Shakespeare's King Lear at the National Theatre in January 2014. The last film-maker to lead consecutive Bond movies was former editor John Glen, who directed five films in a row between 1981 to 1989.

Summary: Skyfall director Sam Mendes is to direct the 24th James Bond film, due for release in 2015, it has been announced.


Emergency services were called to the Fernways unit on Cecil Road, Ilford, at about 22:20 BST on Saturday to reports of an assault. Two people found with stab wounds were pronounced dead at the scene. A 50-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and is in custody at an east London police station. Police believe the victims and the man arrested knew each other, but said they were not related and were not staff at the unit, which is part of the care provision of Redbridge Borough Council. Officers say they know the identities of the deceased and their next of kin have been informed. Post-mortem examinations on the pair will be held later, the Met said.

Summary: A woman in her 50s and a man in his 80s have been stabbed to death at a sheltered housing unit in north-east London.


The muppet was donated by creator Jim Henson's widow Jane, along with nine other characters from the 1955 TV show Sam and Friends. Some of the other muppets in the collection include early versions of Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch. Henson's oldest puppet, Pierre the French Rat, was also donated. Jane Henson said the original characters provided five minutes of fun each night after the local news where they mostly mimed to popular music. "I think people realized that if you put Kermit's face up there, it was just as powerful - we were mostly just doing it to entertain ourselves," she said. The Smithsonian already has a familiar Kermit the Frog puppet made famous on Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. But the original Kermit looked more like a lizard, made with ping-pong ball eyes and green felt from an old coat thrown out by Henson's mother. Museum curator Dwight Blocker Bowers said the muppets would be a boon for the museum's collection. "It certainly shows the muppets at the beginning of the career of a large family of entertainers," he said. "More than anything, I think it shows the genius of Jim Henson." Bowers said the museum plans to have the original muppets on display by November in the pop culture gallery. The Hensons are also to give the Smithsonian more puppets in the years to come, possibly including a Miss Piggy to join her amphibian boyfriend.

Summary: The original Kermit the Frog has been donated to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington.


Joshua, 27, will reportedly earn £2m for the second defence of the belt. A proposed match against Wladimir Klitschko, pencilled in for next April, could earn the Briton as much as £15m. "Fighters can lose their way after tasting a bit of success but it's not about money, it's about class," said Joshua, who is undefeated in 17 fights. "It's about morals, how you conduct yourself. Glitz and glamour doesn't come into it. I don't live in luxury, I'm still at home with my mum." Joshua often shares a gym in Sheffield with Great Britain's amateurs, with whom he shares trainer Rob McCracken. And Joshua, who came through the same system before winning a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, says training with young, ambitious boxers keeps him grounded. "These amateurs who train day in, day out and live the life are better than half the pros who are taking the glory," said Joshua, who stays in the same accommodation in Sheffield as when he was in the GB squad. "It's good to be around that, they don't give me a chance to slack." Joshua expects to make Molina his 18th victim inside the distance, but is not complacent before the fight at the Manchester Arena. "People like Molina are unpredictable," he said. "They seem nice but when they come in the ring they come with bad intentions. "There is a lot of expectation on me, but it's also my expectation to win, win, win. We're singing from the same hymn sheet. "At the moment it's going well, but there will be bumps along the way. I'd be silly not to think that, so I have to plan for things going wrong." Molina, 34, lost his first fight as a pro in 2007 but has been beaten only twice in 27 bouts since. In 2012 he was knocked out in the first round by Chris Arreola, before lasting nine rounds with WBC champion Deontay Wilder. In his most recent fight, in April, Molina caused an upset by beating Tomasz Adamek in Poland. And the Texan believes he will shock British fans with a knockout victory, just as his mentor Oliver McCall did to Lennox Lewis in London in 1994. "I have a lot of respect for Anthony Joshua, he's bringing a lot of excitement to the heavyweight division," said Molina. "But we've yet to see him in a lot of situations. There's more to heavyweight boxing than just beating down the guy in front of you. "There are other avenues. We're going to try to put him in some spots and surprise him. "He thinks it's going to be an easy night, the whole world thinks it's going to be an easy night, so my most powerful weapon is the element of surprise." Starts 17:30 GMT - times subject to late changes 4x3 mins welterweight contest CONOR BENN (10st 7lbs 3oz) v STEVE BACKHOUSE (10st 3lbs 9oz) Followed by 8x3 mins heavyweight contest LUIZ ORTIZ (17st 3lbs 3oz) v DAVID ALLEN (18st 6lbs 9oz) Followed by 12x3 mins British light-heavyweight championship HOSEA

Summary: Anthony Joshua is adamant fame and fortune will not spoil him as he prepares to defend his IBF heavyweight title against Eric Molina on Saturday.


The new Bishop of Hull will be the Reverend Canon Alison White, the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu has announced. Mrs White is currently priest-in-charge of Riding Mill in the Diocese of Newcastle. Dr Sentamu said: "This is a joyous day. I am delighted to be welcoming Alison as the next Bishop of Hull. She's a very gifted person." Mrs White said she was "absolutely amazed" by the news. "It's been a long time in coming and so many people have prayed, hoped and thought about the way God is taking this into the future," she said. "It feels like a wonderful gift. It's going to be a huge adventure. "Hull's got a great story. I love that video that was done in support of its bid to be City of Culture. What a wonderful time to be coming in as Bishop of Hull, it couldn't be better." The Church of England's first woman bishop is The Rt Rev Libby Lane, who was consecrated as the eighth Bishop of Stockport at York Minster in January. Mrs White replaces the Right Rev Richard Frith, who became Bishop of Hereford in November 2014. She will be consecrated at York Minster on 3 July. The 58-year-old became a priest in 1996 and has served in Durham, Sheffield, Peterborough and Newcastle. She is married to Bishop Frank White, Assistant Bishop of Newcastle. The couple have family in England and South Africa. The Church's General Synod formally approved plans in November to ordain women bishops after years of division and in the face of stiff opposition. Frank and Alison White - or Mr and Mrs Bishop, as they will be - are the first married couple who'll both serve as bishops in the Church of England. Welcoming her appointment, the Archbishop of York said his first reaction was simple: "Yippee! She has great people skills." The Whites met in 1980 and married in 1982, and Canon Alison White says that even as bishops, "we are first and foremost Frank and Alison - we've been married for over 30 years now." Both finish each other's sentences, and Frank adds that they are great friends and "I think we'll learn from one another and share stories along the way." They're relieved that they can now share the news with friends and family, having known about the appointment for several weeks. Asked if there is any rivalry between them, both shake their heads in unison. Bishop Frank White is a Newcastle United supporter, and has spent years trying to persuade his wife that football is a good thing - and hopes she will now become a great supporter of Hull City. Alison pays tribute to the work of Libby Lane, the first woman to be appointed as a bishop in the Church of England. She says that having two bishops in one family may seem excessive, but that it is their marriage that's sustained both her and her husband Frank, as well as their shared vocation - even if her new appointment means they'll both be busier than ever.

Summary: A second woman has been appointed a bishop by the Church of England.


He was getting on the Sunmi on the River Thames at Gravesend Reach in Kent at about 18:10 BST on Wednesday when it happened, the PLA said. Emergency services were called but were unable to save him, the authority said. PLA chief executive Robin Mortimer said: "Our deepest condolences are with our colleague's family and friends at this very difficult time." He added: ""We have been in touch with the family and are offering whatever support we can." No details of the nature of the accident have been revealed by the PLA. The authority and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch have started an investigation into the accident and will be attending the PLA's Gravesend base on Thursday.

Summary: A Port of London Authority (PLA) river pilot has been killed in an accident while boarding a ship.


Mark Stoneman (61) and Keaton Jenning's opening partnership of 96 helped Durham reach 180-5 from their 20 overs. Glos slumped to 6-2 and 61-6 but Jack Taylor (80) staged a fightback, scoring nearly half of his side's runs. But when Taylor was run out, Durham deservedly joined Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire in the semi-finals. Relive Durham's win over Gloucestershire as it happened Durham's victory was significantly aided by some smart fielding that led to four run outs, as seven of Gloucestershire's batsmen failed to reach double figures. But for Taylor's resilient 80 from 41 balls, which included five sixes and seven fours, the visitors could have won by a huge margin. Neither side have ever won the T20 Blast and, while Durham's bid for a first T20 crown goes on, Gloucestershire are now set for a trophyless 2016. Glamorgan host Yorkshire in the fourth quarter-final on Thursday.

Summary: Durham produced a dominant 19-run win to reach the 2016 T20 Blast Finals Day by knocking out South Group winners Gloucestershire in the quarter-finals.


The two men are filmed speaking in Arabic and referring to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. One holds a piece of paper on which the IS flag is printed. Fr Jacques Hamel, 86, had his throat cut in the attack on Tuesday at a church in a Normandy suburb. Both attackers were shot dead by police after taking hostages. The video was posted by Amaq news agency, the media arm of IS, which has posted the group's videos and statements in the past. It has not been verified by French police. Reports on Tuesday said the men had filmed the attack, but it is not clear where the video posted by Amaq was recorded. More on this story Friends recall 'brainwashed' Kermiche Jacques Hamel: Tributes to priest who dedicated life to church What we know about church attack France responds with calls for peace and understanding One of the two attackers has already been named by police as Adel Kermiche, 19, who had twice tried to reach Syria to join IS. French investigators believe they are close to identifying the second attacker, according to French media reports. Officers are said to have found an ID card at the home of Kermiche belonging to an individual named as Abdelmalik P, from Aix-les-Bains in eastern France. It is not known whether this is the second attacker, whose face was badly disfigured by the police shooting. France's Le Monde newspaper also reports that French security officials received a tip-off on Friday from an unnamed foreign intelligence partner that an individual was planning an attack in the coming days. The newspaper says a photograph of the individual was provided but no identity, and French police were hunting for the man in the run up to the attack. It may be that the so far unidentified man is the dead second attacker, the BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says. A number of media outlets in France have announced that they will no longer publish images of people responsible for terror attacks. In an editorial, Le Monde said it was doing so "to avoid giving posthumous credit" to those responsible, while adding that the intention of killing Father Hamel was to provoke "the blind vengeance that would place the entire country under the empire of hatred". The move was repeated by the broadcasters BFMTV, France 24 and RFI. A statement by the joint editorial team of France 24 and RFI said that they were "conscious of the echo that is being offered by our antennae... to terrorist movements who claim a state that does not exist". The Catholic daily La Croix, which said it was following suit, said in its editorial on Wednesday that "responding to hatred with hatred would mean that evil has triumphed". The newspaper would now give only the first name of attackers, it said. The Europe 1 radio station announced it would not name perpetrators of terror attacks. The killing in Normandy came 12 days after the truck attack in Nice in which 84 people died. The Nice killer also pledged allegiance to IS.

Summary: The so-called Islamic State (IS) has released a video it says shows two men who murdered a priest in France, pledging allegiance to the group.


Officers spoke to him on Saturday, but he was found not to be breaking any law and was not arrested. The Met's chief, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "It may not have been the flag. But I would like to get to the bottom of it and we will investigate it." He said on average one person a day was arrested for terror-related activity. Pictures of the alleged incident emerged over the weekend. Sir Bernard told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme: "The law says clearly that if you're a member of a proscribed organisation which IS is, or appear to be, then of course the police can take action. "Just having a flag itself, you've got to make a few more inquiries." He said it was vital it was established whether the flag did represent IS or not. It was also put to Scotland Yard's chief that a child had been seen waving a miniature version of the flag, which he conceded "would be a worrying thing" if accurate. He said: "I don't want to over-react because it may not have been the flag. But I would like to get to the bottom of it." The force has faced a backlash on social media about its decision not to arrest or question the man further. Umair J Malik tweeted it was "utter nonsense" that the man had not been arrested, while Malen Zell also called it a "joke". He tweeted: "Utterly disgusted and sickened that a man was allowed to walk the streets of London draped in an #Isis flag." Sir Bernard said the country was currently on the "severe" terror alert with only one level above it. He said: "It can't get much higher in terms of threat, and we know that it's been aggravated by the fact that so many people have gone to Syria. "What it does mean is there are quite a few people out there who we need to keep an eye on and make sure they don't get away with their plans." A full interview with Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe can be watched on the Victoria Derbyshire programme.

Summary: Scotland Yard is investigating whether a man stopped by police outside the Houses of Parliament was draped in an Islamic State (IS) flag.


The value of semis rose by 5.6% over the year, the Land Registry figures show, ahead of flats (up 5.4%) and detached homes (up 5.1%). Overall, property prices increased by 5.1% over the year and by 0.9% from March to April. The average home was valued at Â£179,817, the Land Registry said. Prices rose the fastest in London over the year, up 10.9%, and in the South East of England, up 8.8%. The slowest annual property price growth was in Wales, up 0.3%. Prices in Wales fell by 1.1% in April compared with March. The pace of property price rises generally has slowed, although the picture features significant regional differences. "The property market in Wales and the North East [of England] is a million miles away from the south-east corner of England," said Jonathan Samuels, chief executive of Dragonfly Property Finance. "The broader fall in the number of property transactions over the last year suggests a natural slowdown in the property market after a period of exuberance." The figures come as insurer Legal and General said there was a need for purpose-built homes for the older generation. Nigel Wilson, chief executive of L&G, said that there were more than five million under-occupied homes owned by the over 55s. Two-thirds of them were looking to downsize but there were no appropriate homes for them, he said.

Summary: The price of semi-detached homes rose at the fastest rate of any property type in England and Wales in the year to the end of April, data shows.


The money has been allocated from the Inverness Common Good Fund. Highland Council has set aside £200,000 and Highlands and Islands Enterprise could provide £60,000 to the £360,000 project. The rest of the 19th Century building would continue to be used as a sheriff court.

Summary: Funding of £100,000 has been approved for a project to turn Inverness Castle's North Tower and its look-out into a new tourist attraction.


Works include a pedestrian and cycle bridge across the A63 and extensions to the city's art gallery and theatre. The bridge will cost £11.5m and will link the city centre with Hull's waterfront, which is being redeveloped. The Ferens Art Gallery will get a £4.5m facelift ahead of it hosting the Turner Prize in 2017. Labour councillor Sean Chaytor, chairman of Hull City Council's planning committee, said the bridge was "essential in working towards improving connectivity between two core areas of the city". "We hope that the work to start the bridge construction can now get under way for early next year in order for it to be ready by Easter 2017," he said. Hull was awarded the title of City of Culture in November 2013, beating competition from Swansea, Leicester and Dundee. The year-long event takes place every four years and is awarded by the UK government with the aim of helping tourism and the economy.

Summary: A number of building projects planned for Hull's year as UK City of Culture in 2017 have been approved by the council.


Dame Vera, 99, became known as the Forces Sweetheart for entertaining the troops during World War Two. One of her best-known songs, The White Cliffs Of Dover, featured in a list of the Queen's favourite pieces of music, released earlier this week. Despite this, Dame Vera, who lives in Sussex, said she "never expected" this accolade and was "greatly honoured". She has been made a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for services to entertainment and charity. Dame Vera said: "I was very surprised... I felt very greatly honoured to be given a Damehood and never expected to receive anything else. "So for Her Majesty to bestow a further accolade on me is very unexpected and I feel even more honoured." In her 20s, Vera Lynn played a huge role in keeping British spirits up during the Blitz. She travelled thousands of miles, often at great personal risk, to entertain troops. Her hits included We'll Meet Again, I'll Be Seeing You, Wishing and If Only I Had Wings. In 1941, she was given a BBC radio programme, Sincerely Yours, with a peak-time evening audience. After the war she retired from the stage to bring up her daughter, Virginia, at their home in Ditchling, Sussex, but remained in demand across the world. Dame Vera once said: "I have never been terribly ambitious. I never wanted to be a Judy Garland. "If work came along I liked, I would do it. If it interfered with home life for too long or took me away, I wouldn't." Her accolades include an OBE in 1969, a DBE in 1975, and in 1978 she was given the Freedom of the City of London.

Summary: Dame Vera Lynn has been recognised for services to entertainment and charity in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.


Hopes of reunification have been raised after talks between Turkish and Greek Cypriots in Geneva this week. But a number of stumbling blocks remain, including whether any Turkish troops would stay in northern Cyprus after reunification. The island's communities have been split since 1974. Key obstacles to a deal include the return of property to tens of thousands of Cypriots who fled their homes in 1974, as well as the presence of troops. Turkey still has 30,000 troops stationed in the island's north, whose presence Greece opposes. On Friday, Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades reiterated a call for all Turkish troops to leave. Greece is thought to have about 1,000 troops stationed on the island. Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci said one side demanding that the other remove its troops would rule out a mutually acceptable solution. On Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had said discussions were "at a critical juncture" and that technical experts would now hold talks. The meetings are likely to begin on 18 January, with a focus on thorny security issues, reports say. Property: What should happen to the properties that Greek Cypriots had to abandon in 1974? Should they get the right to take their old homes back, or be compensated - and if so by how much? Security: How can the security of the Turkish Cypriots be guaranteed if Turkey's estimated 30,000 troops leave? Greek Cypriots see them as an occupying force, so should some stay or should Turkey retain the right to intervene? Who would act as a guarantor of the deal? The EU, of which Cyprus is already a member, or the UK, which has two military bases on the island? Power and the role of the EU: There is talk of a rotating presidency, but how would that work? And could a Turkish Cypriot president really represent the country from time-to-time at EU summits? Territory: How much more territory should Greek Cypriots gain to reflect the fact that they make up the majority of the island's population? UN peacekeeping forces estimate that 165,000 Greek Cypriots fled or were expelled from the north, and 45,000 Turkish Cypriots from the south, although the parties to the conflict say the figures are higher. The end goal is for the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to share power in a two-state federation. Any deal would have to win the support of both Cypriot communities in separate referendums. While diplomats have made positive noises on the progress being made, Mr Erdogan said that Greece and the Cypriot government "still have different expectations" from Turkey. Another obstacle, he added, was on a possible rotating presidency on Cyprus. Instead of seeing four Greek Cypriot presidencies for every one by Turkish Cypriots, Mr Erdogan said he wanted a 2:1 balance in Greece's favour instead.

Summary: Turkey's president says a full withdrawal of its forces from divided Cyprus is "out of the question" unless Greece also agrees to pull out troops.


It will operate five times weekly until 12 June, daily from 13 June to 2 September and four times weekly between 3 September and 6 October. The first flight was inaugurated at a ceremony at Edinburgh Airport. The airport said it marked "a significant step" in achieving better connectivity between the Scottish capital and North America. Airport managing director Gordon Dewar added: "This new service will give Scottish passengers the opportunity to visit one of America's most exciting and vibrant cities and take full advantage of the onward travel options to many other US destinations. "We're delighted to continue our good relationship with United and celebrate this new route's inaugural flight." Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the service highlighted the strong relationship between Scotland and the United States. "This service will provide real benefits to Scotland's economy, encouraging more tourism, trade and investment by reducing the need for travellers to make connecting flights via London or the continent," she added.

Summary: The first direct flight service between Edinburgh and Chicago has been launched by United Airlines.


The Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited Haven Nursing Home in September in response to concerns raised by staff and relatives. It found the home, which has a history of non-compliance with regulations, did not have a CQC registered manager. A new manager who took over last month said safety and comfort had been improved. Inspectors found that staff were kind and tried their best to provide care. It also said relatives and friends were allowed to visit at any time of day. Updates on this story and more from Coventry and Warwickshire. The home can care for up to 70 older people, and mainly looks after people with dementia. Inspectors found: The home will remain in special measures and be kept under review. Maurice Fordy, manager of Haven Nursing Home since October 5, said: "The report refers to a situation as it was prior to September of this year. "We have worked closely with the CQC and the local authority to ensure the improved safety and comfort of residents at the nursing home. "The manager from that time has been replaced and I am pleased with the improvements that we have made so far."

Summary: A Coventry nursing home has been rated as "inadequate" after inspectors found it did not have enough staff.


Staffordshire County Council has a 99-year-lease on the Shugborough Estate in Stafford until 2065. But now it wants the National Trust, which owns the Grade I-listed site, to take it back off its hands. A spokesman for the National Trust has said it is exploring options for the management of the estate. Mark Winnington, Staffordshire County Council's cabinet member for economy, environment and transport, said: "We are meeting colleagues at the National Trust to explore the feasibility of relinquishing our lease and passing the management of the Shugborough Estate to them." The council said it expected to spend Â£650,000 this year maintaining and running the Shugborough Estate. A spokesman said it took the lease on at a time when the National Trust was not as large. He said there was no threat to the building and the council would continue to manage it if an agreement could not be reached. National Trust regional director Harry Bowell said: "At this stage the National Trust is working in partnership with Staffordshire County Council to carry out early-stage feasibility studies to explore options for the management of the Shugborough Estate. "It is important to stress that no decisions have been made at this stage." Shugborough was one of the manors of the bishops of Lichfield in the Middle Ages. The site was purchased in 1624 by William Anson, a lawyer. The current house dates back to 1694.

Summary: The National Trust could take back responsibility for a 17th Century estate to save a council hundreds of thousands of pounds a year.


Emergency services were called to the scene, off Bridge Street in Newcastle Emlyn, at about 12:30 BST on Thursday. Police, fire and ambulance services were involved in the search. Dyfed-Powys Police said he has been formally identified by his next of kin and that there are no suspicious circumstances.

Summary: The body of a 22-year-old man believed to have fallen into the River Teifi has been found, police have confirmed.


Cockerill, 46, was dismissed as Tigers' director of rugby on 2 January, with the club fifth in the Premiership. England head coach Jones told BBC Sport that despite having a forwards coach he would "never close the door". Jones also said Dylan Hartley would continue to captain England if he was fit enough to be selected. Northampton hooker Hartley is serving a six-week ban for catching Leinster's Sean O'Brien with a swinging arm in a Champions Cup match in December. Jones, 56, said last month that the 30-year-old had "let his country down" with the third red card of his career. But the Australian said on Tuesday that Hartley was "doing everything right" to be England captain for the forthcoming Six Nations. Cockerill had been a member of Leicester's coaching staff since 2004, taking over as head coach in 2009 and becoming director of rugby in 2010. But following a 16-12 defeat by Saracens on New Year's Day, and with Leicester 15 points adrift of leaders Wasps, Cockerill was sacked. Jones said: "I have a massive amount of sympathy for Richard Cockerill. "He is a great rugby guy, a great player for Leicester, has been a very successful director of rugby and coach. "You don't like to see that happen to anyone but the reality of being a coach is that everyone goes through that and I am sure he will end up somewhere else. "It has been a discussion point for the Leicester players. They are disappointed for Richard but know they have to get on with the job. "We are very well endowed with the forwards coaches we have at the moment so we can always look at the possibility of that [getting Cockerill]." Former England lock Steve Borthwick is currently England's forwards coach. Hartley's dismissal in Northampton's 37-10 home defeat by Leinster had jeopardised his involvement in England's Six Nations campaign, with their opening fixture against France at Twickenham on 4 February. However, he is eligible to play again from 23 January. Jones added: "A prerequisite to get into the England side is to be very fit and not playing games means he needs to undergo an unbelievably stringent fitness programme over the next five or six weeks. He is doing that and is in the best position to continue as captain. "If Dylan is right to play, he will be captain. "Everyone makes mistakes. In the last 12 months, he has made one mistake and done a hell of a lot of good things so his batting average is pretty high. If that falls, then we need to look at things. "We have had a number of chats, not any longer than five minutes, but plenty of information has been exchanged. He understands where he is at and what he needs to do. He will do it." The former Australia coach said it was a "big relief" to have James Haskell back in contention after the flanker missed the autumn internationals with a toe injury. Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi has been ruled out of England's training camp in

Summary: Eddie Jones says he sympathises with Richard Cockerill and is open to the possibility of the sacked Leicester boss joining England's coaching set-up.


McInnes elected to stay with the Dons despite holding talks with the club relegated from the Premier League. His decision has "delighted" Brown, who is still an Aberdeen director. "It would have to be an exceptional club before Derek would be tempted to go down south and have another interview," he told BBC Scotland. "Sunderland was a unique situation, the Scottish connection may have been the reason that Derek went down. "I genuinely believe that he's better than Sunderland and that he can get a fine job in the Premier League in England in the fullness of time." McInnes, 45, replaced Brown as Aberdeen boss in 2013, winning the League Cup final the following year, the Dons' first silverware in 19 years. In 2015, he and assistant Tony Docherty signed new contracts until 2019, and the club says the duo will now stay until at least that summer. "Everyone I have spoken to are delighted that Derek and Tony are staying and the impact will be considerable," former Scotland manager Brown added. "It looked to be a surprise, but I think that Derek would look to weigh up all the circumstances. "I'm sure he sees, and he has stated, that there is unfinished work at Aberdeen. "The big attraction to remain at Aberdeen would be the fact that he is almost guaranteed European football every year. "And I guess it will be a while before Sunderland approach European football." Aberdeen have finished second to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership for the past three years and were also runners-up to Brendan Rodgers' side in the Scottish Cup and League Cup last season.

Summary: Craig Brown believes Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is "better than Sunderland" and it would take "an exceptional club" to tempt him away.


It is a leaf-based drug that, when chewed, releases juices that act as natural stimulants and is popular with the Somali community. The Netherlands is used as a hub to transport khat imported from the Horn of Africa to other European countries. There are concerns that the drug can cause psychosis or bring on schizophrenia. The BBC's Anna Holligan in the Netherlands says the country has a traditionally liberal approach to soft drugs. However, a Dutch government report cited noise, litter and the perceived public threat posed by men who chew khat as some of the reasons for outlawing the drug. "I'm involved in the ban because it appears to cause serious problems, particularly in the Somali community," Dutch immigration minister Gerd Leers is quoted as saying by Radio Netherlands. Source: www.talktofrank.com He said that 10% of Somali men in the Netherlands were badly affected by the drug. "They are lethargic and refuse to co-operate with the government or take responsibility for themselves or their families," he said. Very few Dutch nationals use the drug, which is mainly chewed by people from Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Yemen. Our reporter says more than 25,000 Somalis now live in the Netherlands and as the population arrived, the use of khat in the country grew. At the moment it is legally imported via Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport four times a week. Khat leaves need to be fresh, otherwise they lose their potency. Last year, khat worth around $18m (£11.6m) was brought into the Netherlands. The use of the stimulant is banned in the US, Canada and several other European countries. But it is still available in the UK where it is legally sold in a small number of grocery stores.

Summary: The Dutch government has announced that it will ban the use of the mild narcotic khat.


Saints finished fourth and Warrington's victory at Hull means they will face the League Leaders' Shield winners away from home in their play-off semi-final. Tries from Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Jack Owens put Saints 12-6 up at the break, with Craig Hall responding. McDonnell's treble after the break helped to seal the win. Theo Fages added the hosts' sixth try to complete the victory, while Wakefield - who suffered a ninth successive defeat and finished bottom of the table at the end of the Super 8s - managed only a Tom Johnstone score in reply after the break. Victory extends St Helens' winning run to four matches leading up to the play-offs, with their only defeat in their past 12 games coming at Warrington in August. They now travel to face the Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Thursday, 29 September, looking to return to the Super League Grand Final for the eighth time in 11 seasons. St Helens assistant coach Sean Long: "Shannon had a great game and went really well against Widnes last week. He's given us a headache for next week. "Full credit to Wakefield who had a real dig at us. We were a little bit off and it wasn't a great spectacle, but we would have taken 32-12 before the game. "The main thing is we came through unscathed for next week." Wakefield head coach Chris Chester: "We played some really good football at times. We wanted to throw the ball around and enjoy ourselves and there was a lot of spirit and pride. "We probably tried too hard in the second half but the final scoreline didn't reflect our effort. "We have got into the top eight through hard work and we now have to continue with our progression." St Helens: Lomax; McDonnell, Percival, Peyroux, Owens; Turner, Walsh; Vea, Knowles, Amor, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Greenwood, Thompson. Replacements: Walmsley, Wilkin, Fages, Davies. Wakefield: Jowitt; Johnstone, Lyne, Arundel, B Tupou; Hall, Finn; Simon, Sio, Fifita, Molloy, Ashurst, Harrison. Replacements: A Tupou, Arona, Crowther, Yates. Referee: Joe Cobb

Summary: Shannon McDonnell's hat-trick helped St Helens round off the regular Super League season with a routine home win over Wakefield at Langtree Park.


The 33-year-old has signed a two-year deal at Cardiff City Stadium after being released by League Two Portsmouth earlier this summer. Murphy joins subject to international clearance and offers competition to goalkeepers Ben Amos and Ben Wilson after David Marshall's move to Hull. "I'm delighted to be here and looking forward to getting going now," he said. "I'm used to working hard and that's what I'll do. "Hopefully we'll push each other every day and when it comes to Saturday, you get what you deserve."

Summary: Cardiff City have signed former Manchester City and Swansea goalkeeper Brian Murphy on a free transfer.


Watford, who were unable to fulfil last weekend's Women's FA Cup third-round tie at Doncaster, now say their future is secure after meetings on Monday. The Women's Super League Two club begin their Spring Series campaign on Sunday against Aston Villa Ladies. "It's been a time of much transition and change," general manager Ellie Kemp told Watford's club website. "However we believe we're now on a very firm footing with Keith leading our coaching set-up." A club statement added that Watford conceded their cup tie against the Belles "in order to ensure necessary preparations were fully in place ahead of the start of the league fixture programme". Boanas, 57, led Charlton Ladies to three successive FA Women's Cup finals, winning the trophy in 2005, before a brief spell as Millwall Lionesses boss. He also won the FA Women's Premier League Cup in 2004 and 2006 during his seven-year spell with Charlton. Watford's former head coach Katie Rowson resigned in August and, prior to Boanas' appointment, no formal replacement had been announced for a first-team boss. Watford pulled out of last Sunday's scheduled Women's FA Cup third-round tie at Doncaster Rovers Belles the day before the game, with the Yorkshire side being awarded a bye. An emergency meeting is understood to have been held on Monday between club officials from the men's and ladies' arms of the club. Prior to Boanas' appointment being announced, a Football Association spokesperson said: "We have contacted Watford about their involvement in the FA WSL Spring Series." The Lady Hornets - who were founded in 1970 - had finished seventh in WSL 2 in 2014 - the first season after the WSL was expanded to include a second tier. They have finished bottom of the second tier for the past two seasons, winning just three times in 36 league games. On 11 January, the club announced a change in their regular venue for home matches, leaving Berkhamsted FC to play at Kings Langley FC's ground, known as Gaywood Park. Kemp added: "The players will be energised and ready for the challenges that lay ahead. We want to be a really competitive team and there's no reason to believe we can't achieve that."

Summary: Former Charlton and Estonia Women's boss Keith Boanas has been appointed as the new head coach of Watford Ladies.


The roadblocks have caused widespread disruption in all Brazilian states. The Senate is due to vote on the impeachment on Wednesday. A simple majority in favour of a full trial will suspend Ms Rousseff for up to 180 days. The government has asked the Supreme Court to suspend the impeachment process for alleged irregularities. However, similar attempts have been rejected by the court. Protesters blocked the main access roads to Brazil's largest city, Sao Paulo, causing huge traffic jams during the morning rush-hour. The protests spread to cities and towns across the country. Police said there were barricades on 14 highways in Brazil's 26 states and the Federal District, home to the capital Brasilia. In Rio de Janeiro, which will host the Olympics in August and September, protesters set up barricades at a major road linking the city to the state of Sao Paulo. In the north-eastern city of Natal, buses did not run in the morning and the road next to the main university was blocked. Classes were suspended. The anti-impeachment protests were organised by a left-wing umbrella organisation, the Popular Brazil Front, which promised to carry on with its direct action tactics. "We will fight everywhere to defend democracy. Brazil says no to the coup!" it said in a Facebook message. President Rousseff has vowed to keep fighting until the end against her impeachment. On Tuesday, the acting Speaker of the lower house of Congress, Waldir Maranhao, surprised the country when he announced that he had suspended the vote that allowed the impeachment process against her to go ahead. He said the 17 April vote in the lower house had breached Congress rules. Members had voted overwhelmingly in favour of the impeachment process going ahead. But within less than 24 hours he had revoked his decision to annul the vote. He gave no reason for his u-turn. If the Senate votes goes ahead on Wednesday and Ms Rousseff loses it, she will be replaced by Vice-President Michel Temer while the trial lasts. She says Mr Temer is a traitor who is taking part in a political coup against her democratically elected government. The president is accused of illegally manipulating finances to hide a growing public deficit ahead of her re-election in 2014, which she denies.

Summary: Supporters of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff have set up burning barricades and blocked roads across the country in protest against moves to impeach her.


And do not take my word for it, jockey Ruby Walsh, looking for his sixth win after five on the great Kauto Star, has two words to describe jump racing's William Hill-sponsored mid-season championship: "Bloody competitive." Walsh's mount Champagne Fever, trained in Ireland by Willie Mullins, has lack of steeple chasing experience and stamina for the three-mile distance to prove, with the former a more likely stumbling block. He is ranked second favourite behind last year's winner Silviniaco Conti, who, with Al Ferof, attempts to add to champion trainer Paul Nicholls' record haul of eight King George victories, five of them also with Kauto Star. Both horses turn up in apparently very good form, 'Silviniaco', after a November success at Haydock over fellow Kempton big-race challengers Menorah, Dynaste and Cue Card. Al Ferof, last year's third, who prefers the going on the drier side, made a superb return from an absence at Ascot, also in November, and given his conditions can be expected to play a major role. Menorah, a stellar mount for Tom O'Brien in place of the suspended Richard Johnson, has been magnificent this season with a good win at Wetherby followed by that gallant second behind Silviniaco Conti. There is no doubting he will put in another sterling performance, but there are doubts about whether he is likely to be quite good enough. Things have not worked out well so far for Cue Card, runner-up in the 2013 King George, with fourth places at Exeter and then at Haydock. Jockey Daryl Jacob, however, believes the eight-year-old, trained by Colin Tizzard and by his son Joe, the horse's now-retired ex-rider, will put in a better show especially as the Tizzard horses are going very well. My fancy though is for Dynaste, trained by David Pipe with, I imagine, this race very much in mind. The shrewd Pipe team will have been very satisfied with the encouraging nature of the already-mentioned Haydock third place by the grey, last year's fifth, and first or second at both of the last two Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals. Although also the winner of the 2012 Feltham Novices Chase - now the Kauto Star Chase - in heavy conditions, if the rain stayed away, as forecast, that would not do him any harm. And chatting to Dynaste's jockey Tom Scudamore did not put me off. He said: "He's one of the best chasers in the country. "You think of the likes of Dynaste, Cue Card, Silviniaco Conti, the main English guns as it were, they are all capable of beating each other, and none of their levels of form is much higher than the rest. "As boring as it sounds, it's just a case of who's better on the day. "You've got the Irish horse Champagne Fever as well, and he's very good. He's been doing a lot of his racing over two miles, so the hustle and bustle and speed of the race shouldn't affect him. "He should stay ok, but you can't be 100% sure until he's done it. "My horse ran well at

Summary: It looks like as wide-open a staging of jump racing's King George VI Chase as there has been for a bit, one of those occasions when you could go into the pub, tip one of five or six and not look ridiculous.


Snowdonia Pumped Hydro (SPH) hopes to build a pumped-storage facility at the former Glyn Rhonwy quarry in Llanberis, in the area of a former RAF bomb store. A previous report suggested unexploded munitions may remain buried there with campaigners also concerned about nerve gas contamination. The MoD said it had made the site safe. The secretary of state for energy and climate change is expected to decide on the proposal for a 600 MWh hydro-electric pumping station in the next fortnight, after a six-month investigation by the Planning Inspectorate. SPH wants to build the facility in one of the site's quarry holes - after pumping out the water and discharging it into nearby Llyn Padarn - which worries some campaigners. During the Second World War the area was known as RAF Llanberis and was used as a bomb store and School of Explosives. It was later used for the post-war storage and disposal of thousands of tonnes of munitions - including bombs, bullets and incendiary devices - before being cleared by the RAF in a six-year project in the 1970s. An SPH-commissioned report said 14,000 tonnes of bombs filled with Tabun nerve gas were temporarily stored there after being taken from Germany - but were moved elsewhere and later disposed of at sea. However, campaigners have told BBC Radio Cymru's Manylu programme their own research shows the Gwynedd council-owned site was more dangerous than previously thought. They have found an official document showing one member of the 1970s clean-up team was injured by mustard gas while clearing the quarry hole which would be part of the proposed development. And following a Freedom of Information request, the MOD has confirmed several mustard gas bombs were found there in the 1970s. Ann Lawton, from Concerned About Glyn Rhonwy, said: "From the beginning, SPH have said there weren't any chemical weapons there and, only after we showed our evidence, they recognised that there had been some there." She said the MoD had two conflicting reports about whether chemicals found at the site were "dumped" there or taken to a research base. The group is also concerned residue from munitions burnt on site could pollute Llyn Padarn, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and a popular area with locals and tourists. "It needs a proper clean-up, done by the MOD with their facilities, and it doesn't want doing with accountants and shareholders breathing down their neck," campaigner Jeff Taylor, who also suggested the MoD pay for the clean-up, said. A spokesman for SPH said the only evidence of mustard gas was the injury to the soldier after a slight spillage from a damaged bomb found during the 1970s clear-up. The firm said only six bombs were found at that time and there was no evidence to suggest further bombs were likely to be present. SPH said if any unexploded ordnance was found on site during development, it had agreed with the authorities to pay for a leading specialist company to safely dispose of it. Last month, Natural Resources Wales granted a discharge licence to the company.

Summary: Opponents of a planned £100m hydro-electric scheme at a disused Snowdonia quarry have urged the Ministry of Defence to first clean the site.


Gary Stacey died in hospital after suffering head injuries in St James' Street, Newport, on the morning of 14 February. Ryan Cooper, 21, of Alma Road, in Southampton, has been charged with his manslaughter. He has been released on bail and is due to appear at Isle of Wight Combined Court on 1 July.

Summary: A man has been charged with manslaughter over a fatal attack on a 49-year-old man on the Isle of Wight.


Sixty-two Russians and 20 nationals from Guinea-Bissau were detained when the navy raided the trawler, Oleg Naydenov, Senegal's military said. Russia has condemned the "crude and aggressive conduct of Senegalese troops", Russian state media reported. West African governments are battling to curb illegal fishing, which is threatening fishing stocks. The French military is helping Senegal to tackle the problem. The Oleg Naydenov was a "repeat offender" which had been spotted by a French military plane, Fisheries Minister Haidar El-Ali said at a press conference. Senegal was planning to adopt a decree that would allow the government to take ownership of foreign ships "that pillage our resources", he said. Senegal could impose a fine of 200m CFA francs ($414,000; Â£253,000, 304,400 euros) for illegal fishing but it could be doubled for the Oleg Naydenov because it was a "repeat offender", Mr Ali said. The minister said the US Agency for International Development estimated that Senegal lost about 150bn CFA francs a year because of illegal fishing by foreign trawlers. "There are about 50 such ships operating off our coast, entering [Senegalese territorial waters] fraudulently from time to time. We will not allow this," Mr Ali said. Russia's Foreign Ministry said on it was seeking explanations from Senegal over the "military action" taken against the trawler on Saturday. In co-operation with a Russian fisheries agency official in Dakar, diplomats were "undertaking further steps aimed at the vessel's earliest release and departure", Reuters news agency quotes the ministry's statement as saying.

Summary: Senegal has seized a Russian vessel after accusing its sailors of fishing illegally in its waters.


The stimulus package will include an extra 6tn Korean won ($4.94bn; Â£3.42bn) in public spending. It will also include an extension of existing tax cuts on cars. Overall, the package will see an additional 21tn won of spending in the first quarter, the Yonhap news agency said. South Korea, Asia's fourth largest economy, has been hit by slowing global growth, falling oil prices, and softer demand out of China, one of its most important trading partners. The latest stimulus measures, which will also see cheaper loans made available to some local companies, are designed to help boost exports and domestic demand. Disappointing trade numbers released on Monday showed exports contracted 18.5% in January from a year earlier. It marked the 13th month in a row the nation's exports had fallen and was the worst result for exports since mid 2009. South Korea's annual inflation rate also cooled to its lowest in four months in January. Official numbers released in January showed the economy expanded in 2015 at its slowest pace in three years - growing 2.6% from a year earlier. The central bank has now revised down its forecast for growth in 2016 from 3.2% to 3.0%. Further still, South Korea is facing high levels of youth unemployment. "The government will mobilise all available means and resources in order to boost domestic consumption and exports in the first quarter to March and to help create new jobs," Yonhap quoted the ministry as saying. South Korea's economy was in part held back last year by the effects of the deadly Mers virus which affected tourism and domestic spending in the first half of the year.

Summary: South Korea's government has unveiled new stimulus measures following a raft of disappointing economic data for the export-dependent nation.


The men, aged 25, 31, 33 and 46, are all expected to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court this week. Police have now made a total of 85 arrests after violent scenes followed a pitch invasion at Hampden on Saturday 21 May. The disorder marred the end of the Hibs v Rangers cup final, which ended in a 3-2 victory for the Edinburgh side.

Summary: Four more men have been arrested in connection with disorder at the end of May's Scottish Cup Final.


Some of the group were wearing ski masks and black military uniforms. They boarded buses which reportedly then took them to a location on Kiev's outskirts. These were members of the Right Sector: an umbrella organization of far-right groups that has attracted a heavy share of international media attention, and has recently come into conflict with Ukraine's newly formed government. The Right Sector was a small but influential group that formed part of the "self-defence units" in the recent anti-government protests on Kiev's Independence Square and elsewhere in the country. The extent of their impact on the events that ultimately forced former President Viktor Yanukovych to flee Ukraine - and the number of people who ultimately make up their ranks - are hotly debated. Nevertheless, it is generally accepted that at certain moments, they exerted an influence disproportionate to their seemingly small numbers. But now the revolution is over, and the Right Sector - like many of the other self-defence groups - is still there on the square, sometimes equipped with firearms and often very aggressive. Their presence has complicated the work of Ukraine's new leaders, who have struggled to demonstrate they are fully in control, after Russia's disputed annexation of Crimea and violent pro-Russian protests in eastern parts of the country. What is more, Right Sector has bolstered the Kremlin's seemingly exaggerated claims that "fascists" have taken over Ukraine's government and are roaming the capital's streets, threatening minorities and Russian-speakers. But now officials in Kiev may at last be tackling the thorny issue of Ukraine's radical far right groups. The government and Right Sector have clashed a number of times in recent days. Acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has said all unofficial armed groups are operating illegally and must turn in their weapons. Last week, a Right Sector leader from western Ukraine, Olexander Muzychko - who at one point was caught on video threatening a local council meeting with a gun and striking an official - was killed in a shoot-out with police. Right Sector activists rejected officials' explanations that Mr Muzychko had fired on police first and then possibly shot himself. On Thursday, hundreds of them marched on parliament, demanding Mr Avakov's resignation and smashing windows. Interim President Olexander Turchynov condemned the group's aggressive actions and said they were trying to "destabilise" Ukraine. Now, with the Right Sector's early-morning retreat, the situation may be reaching its conclusion. Late on Monday evening, an argument in Kiev's centre between a member of the group and another self-defence unit reportedly led to shots being fired. Three people, including a deputy mayor of Kiev, were injured. The Right Sector activist found refuge in the Dnipro Hotel, the group's main headquarters. Riot police quickly surrounded the building and demanded all members of the group disarm and evacuate the building. After a standoff lasting a few hours, they finally agreed and left the hotel. The reaction to these events has been swift. Parliament voted unanimously for the "immediate disarming of illegally armed groups in Ukraine", which would also include pro-Russian groups in the country's east. Criticism

Summary: Early on Tuesday, a group of young men - and a few young women - left the Dnipro Hotel in the centre of Kiev and marched through a cordon of heavily armed riot police.


Rouken Glen Park in East Renfrewshire, which was originally gifted to the people of Glasgow in 1906, was named the UK's Best Park of 2016. The shortlist for the Fields in Trust award included Castle Gardens in County Antrim, Pontypool Park in Torfaen, and Preston Park Rockery in East Sussex. Fields in Trust was established in 1925 by King George V as the National Playing Fields Association. Rouken Glen Park is a 143-acre historic park located next to Thornliebank, Giffnock and Newton Mearns, about six miles to the south of Glasgow city centre. The award came after the completion of a Â£3m transformation project in the park. Fields in Trust chief executive Helen Griffiths said: "It's a beautiful green space and well-deserving of the accolade. The number of parks nominated this year and the votes cast across the competition show just how much the public cherish their local green spaces. "The people of East Renfrewshire have sent a clear message that they love their local park and I hope that East Renfrewshire Council will recognise this by working with us to safeguard Rouken Glen Park as a place for community sport, play and recreation forever." East Renfrewshire Council parks manager Donnie McManus said: "We would like to thank everyone who voted for the park. Also a big thanks to all the staff who work tirelessly in the park, keeping it up to a very high standard. "This award shows that the public of East Renfrewshire and the many visitors to the park hold it in such high esteem." Councillor Vincent Waters, East Renfrewshire's convener of environment, added: "Rouken Glen has always held a very special place in the hearts of all its visitors and now it's official - it's the best park in the UK. "This is a fantastic accolade to win and is just reward for all the hard work our dedicated staff and volunteers have put in to improving the park over the last few years. "It has unrivalled natural beauty and there is something for all ages to enjoy. Rouken Glen has been loved by all for more than 100 years, and will continue to attract thousands of visitors to East Renfrewshire in the years to come."

Summary: A Scottish park has been recognised with a top UK award.


Penrhyn Homes want to build on land at Mindale Farm, off Ffordd Hendre after demolishing farm buildings. Prestatyn Town Council is among the objectors, concerned local roads could not cope with extra traffic. Denbighshire council's planning committee is recommended to approve the scheme at its meeting on Wednesday.

Summary: Controversial plans for a development of 130 homes in Meliden, Denbighshire, look set to get the go-ahead despite objections.


On a summer's evening, beside the River Seine, outside a beautifully idiosyncratic bookshop, a current crop of American creative writing students are listening to readings. These students from New York University (NYU) are in Paris for a month as part of their studies - immersing themselves in the literary culture of the French capital. Accompanied by their teaching staff, the students use the city as a giant writing workshop. The cafes, art galleries, the readings and the Parisian streets become the material for their exercises in fiction and poetry. It must be the most de-luxe cure for writers' block, while still racking up credits towards a degree. It's such an idyllic setting, listening to readings and discussions, in the shadow of Notre Dame, outside the classic Shakespeare and Company shop-front, that the only natural reaction is one of overwhelming jealousy. It's not only NYU which brings its students here. There are other universities and institutions, from the US, the UK and Australia. The Left Bank is becoming a field-trip centre for trainee bohemians. It's also a reflection of how higher education - costing up to $50,000 (Â£32,000) per year in the US - has become about experiences as much as qualifications. But what difference does this kind of Parisian trip make to their writing? "It's good to escape the familiar. You see the world fresh, often with intense clarity," says Deborah Landau, an award-winning poet and director of NYU's creative writing programme. "Paris has always been a city for writers; generations of novelists and poets have flocked to Paris seeking inspiration and literary camaraderie." And she says the students can be inspired by the "sensory pleasures" of the city - whether it's the food, wine, art, music or the small bookstores. "Lingering over coffee for hours in the cafes is absolutely encouraged." Students also have a line-up of novelists and poets to act as tutors. The university has added a "low residency" postgraduate course - taught in intensive blocks rather than full terms. 'Outside their lives' This includes five 10-day stretches in Paris - and novelist Helen Schulman says this is where it can really make a difference for students. "They're on a different hamster wheel, they're so outside of their lives. They're away from their work, their families, all the things that press upon them, they get a chance to follow their dream of writing. And for a grown-up, it's a way of doing that without leaving their job or losing their family," she says. Young writers coming to Paris follow in the footsteps of the likes of James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, Francis Scott Fitzgerald and Samuel Beckett. And the Shakespeare and Company bookshop used by the NYU students is a living link to that legacy. This current shop in the Latin Quarter is the second incarnation. The first was run by Sylvia Beach, a US-born bookseller who published Ulysses by James Joyce in 1922 - when more or less everyone else had turned it down. This was the hang-out for writers such as Hemingway and Fitzgerald, before it was shut

Summary: Forget any images of creative writing groups on metal chairs in draughty community centres, the business of learning to write has developed into something much more lavish.


Simpson, who was acquitted for a double murder in 1995, is serving time for armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and 10 other charges. The sentence, which carries a maximum of 33 years, stems from a 2007 confrontation at a Las Vegas hotel. Simpson, 70, had said he was only trying to reclaim his possessions. The former Hall of Fame running back was found guilty in 2008 - exactly 13 years to the day after he was famously acquitted for the killings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. He and a group of five others stormed into a hotel room to confront two sports-memorabilia collectors to seize items that he claimed belonged to him from his own career. The hearing for Prisoner 1027820 is happening at the Lovelock Correctional Facility, a medium security prison in the Nevada desert. "Mr Simpson, you are getting the same hearing that everyone else gets," a parole panellist, Connie Bisbee, told him as Thursday's hearing began. "Sure," he replied in a husky voice with a shrug and a smile. "Thank you, ma'am." Simpson told parole officials that the objects he took from the Las Vegas hotel room were later ruled by officials to legally belong to him. One panellist asked: "So you believe that the property was yours?" "It's been ruled legally by the state of California," Simpson responded in a raised voice, leaning forward. He said the belongings, which he described as images of his family and friends, were later handed over to him by officials. "It's kind of mind-boggling that they turned over to me property that I'm in jail for, for trying to retrieve." Bruce Fromong, who one of Simpson's victims in the robbery, testified in favour of his release. "I've known OJ for a long time," said Mr Fromong. "I don't feel that he's a threat to anyone. "He's a good man. It's time to give him a second chance. It's time for him to go home to his family, his friends." Simpson appeared to dab a tear during Mr Fromong's testimony. If four out of seven members of the parole board vote in favour of his release, Simpson could be free by October. Experts believe he is likely to be approved for release, after a record of good behaviour at the Lovelock prison. Another panellist asked him if he had completed a specific self-improvement course since his last parole hearing. He said he had not, but that he had taken another course called "alternative to violence". "I think it's the most important course anybody in this prison can take because it teaches you how to deal with conflict through conversation," he said. "I've spent a conflict-free life," he continued, when asked if he had completed an anti-violence course. Simpson also told the commissioners he had helped establish a Baptist prayer event, adding: "I could have been a better Christian." The prisoner also rejected the suggestion that he had an alcohol problem. "I've done my time," he said. "I've done it as well and as respectfully as

Summary: Former US football star and actor OJ Simpson has told a parole board "I've done my time," as he asked for release after nine years in a Nevada prison.


The issue is being made worse by a lack of "fair and equal dispersal", with some areas taking hundreds of people and some taking none, its MPs said. They condemned an "appalling" episode where asylum seekers were told to wear wristbands, and an instance where their doors were all painted one colour. The Home Office said it was committed to providing safe and secure housing. "The dispersal system appears unfair, with whole swathes of the country never receiving a single asylum seeker," said committee chairman Keith Vaz. "The majority are being moved into low-cost housing in urban areas such as Glasgow, Stoke, Cardiff and of course Middlesbrough, where the ratio is 1 asylum seeker per 137 people. "However, on the data we have received, local authorities in areas such as Maidenhead, Lincoln and Warwick have housed none." Other areas listed in the report as having no-one in receipt of aid given to asylum seekers - known as Section 95 support - in the final quarter of 2015 included Cambridge, Cornwall, Midlothian and York. Local authorities with few asylum seekers, or none, should be "actively encouraged by ministers to volunteer" to take some, the MPs said. How many asylum seekers live in your area? At present, 200 local authorities are part of a scheme that provides housing for asylum seekers. The three private firms that operate the programme - known as Compass - the Home Office, and the home affairs committee all agree that getting more councils on board is the key to easing the chronic accommodation shortage. It may well become a crisis if the number of asylum applicants continues to increase. At 38,000 the rate is at its highest since 2004. Some councils would take part if the contractors could find enough suitable and affordable properties; in other areas, it may be the fear of a voter backlash which is putting off local politicians from agreeing to participate. With the government committed to resettling 20,000 Syrians by 2020, as well as accommodating asylum seekers, ministers will have to find a solution - or face the prospect of housing more of them in two-star and three-star hotels. The committee said its findings "leave major questions to be answered" about the running of Compass - the name of the contract for providing asylum support services. The main contractors involved are G4S, Clearsprings and Serco, and the committee said delivery "has been mostly unsatisfactory to date". "G4S, Serco and Clearsprings receive millions of pounds of public money to house asylum seekers, and revelations in recent months have been alarming," Mr Vaz said. "The compulsory wearing of wrist bands and the infamous red doors demonstrate an unacceptable attitude towards vulnerable people. "The Home Office has failed to provide proper oversight and inspection, and must do better." The Home Office said it was working with areas that had not taken part so far in asylum dispersal. A spokesman said: "The Home Office has worked closely with our providers to improve property standards over the lifetime of the Compass contract. "Where a contractor is found to be

Summary: There is an "impending shortage" of housing for asylum seekers in the UK, the home affairs committee has warned.


The 28-year-old Belgian was injured when he landed awkwardly after he appeared to be elbowed by Palace striker Connor Wickham. Wickham has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association. Tottenham said: "Our medical staff will continue to monitor his progress during his rehabilitation to determine when he will be ready to return to training." Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was out for three months earlier this season with a medial ligament injury.

Summary: Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen damaged a medial knee ligament during Saturday's 3-1 win at Crystal Palace.


Rebels broke into the Taftanaz base in north-western Idlib province but were pushed back by the army, rebel sources and state media said. Reports said Aleppo airport was also under siege, and has been closed since Tuesday because of repeated attacks. The attacks come a day after a UN study said 60,000 people had died in Syria. A study commissioned by UN human rights commissioner Navi Pillay concluded that there had been 59,648 deaths between February 2011 and November 2012, and that figure would now have risen above 60,000. She described the bloodshed as "truly shocking". Syrian opposition groups had previously estimated 45,000 people killed. The attack on Taftanaz began on Wednesday, with rebels breaking into the base and detonating a car bomb inside the grounds. Unconfirmed reports said they had destroyed a fighter jet and a helicopter. Further attacks followed on Thursday morning, but reports say the rebels have now been forced to withdraw. Several attempts to take the facility in recent months have failed. State news agency Sana said government forces had "repelled the terrorists' attempt to attack the airport" and inflicted heavy losses. More clashes were reported in suburbs of Damascus, with government troops trying to capture Daraya. There was also fighting around the city and airport of Deir Ezzor. Meanwhile the family of US freelance journalist James Foley have announced on Wednesday that he had gone missing near Taftanaz more than a month ago, shortly after entering Syria. They had previously asked the media not to report his abduction. Foley, 39, is described as an experienced war reporter. He was detained by Libyan government forces for six weeks in April 2011 while covering that conflict.

Summary: Fierce battles are taking place at some northern Syrian airports, as rebels try to neutralise the government's overwhelming air advantage.


Ipswich Town left back Tyrone Mings, 22, published a text message exchange between him and his mother on his Instagram account. His mother thanked him for wiping "all my debt away", with Mings replying she deserved "every penny" and saying: "This is why I do it." A club spokesman said it was a "private matter between Tyrone and his mum". The player won praise on the social networking site, with one person calling him a "hero" and someone "who all children should look up to and aspire to become". It is not the first time the footballer has expressed his generosity. Last July, Mings offered via Twitter to buy new shirts for fans who had his old squad number stamped on their new kits. Four months previously, he gave two match tickets to a fan after he complained he had no money. Mings, who comes from Bath, joined Ipswich Town in 2013 after the manager saw him play for just an hour with non-league side Chippenham Town. He has been linked with a big money move to Premier League giants Arsenal.

Summary: A footballer who has become known for "great gestures" has now seemingly paid off his mother's debts.


Media playback is not supported on this device Kvitova, who was playing only her third tournament of 2017 after being stabbed by an intruder at her home in December, lost 6-1 1-6 6-2 on court two. The American had never won a singles game at Wimbledon before this year and is ranked 95th in the world. In the deciding set, Kvitova struggled physically and needed medical help, but managed to complete the match. "I'm glad it is over," said the 27-year-old Czech player afterwards. "It was really tough and I feel really empty. My body is not great but mentally I'm glad it is over. "I just need to look to the future and focus and prepare for the next tournament." Media playback is not supported on this device Elsewhere, Venus Williams lost the first set before beating world number 55 Wang Qiang 4-6 6-4 6-1 to move into the last 32. Media playback is not supported on this device Five-time Wimbledon champion Williams, 37, was 4-2 ahead in the opening set, but lost four consecutive games to lose the first set, but recovered to move into the third round. She broke Wang's serve late in the second set and twice more in the deciding set for the victory. Williams, who last won the Wimbledon title nine years ago, will play unseeded Japanese player Naomi Osaka in the last 32 after she defeated 22nd seed Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic 1-6 6-0 6-4. Media playback is not supported on this device Former world number one Victoria Azarenka reached the third round with a 6-3 6-3 win over 15th seed Elena Vesnina. Azarenka, 27, is playing only her second tournament of 2017 after giving birth to her son Leo in December. The Belarusian, ranked 683rd, broke the Russian's serve in the sixth game on her way to taking the opening set. Azarenka broke Vesnina's serve twice more in the second set to secure a match with Britain's Heather Watson. Vesnina, a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2016, needed medical attention in the second set as she was struggling with a hip injury, but was able to complete the match. World number 86 Camila Giorgi of Italy secured a big upset as she knocked out American 17th seed Madison Keys 6-4 6-7 (10-12) 6-1. Giorgi served for the match in the second set but was broken and then wasted four match points, including one on her own serve, in an epic tie-break. Ultimately, it did not matter as Giorgi stormed through the deciding set to move into the third round of Wimbledon for the fourth time in her career. Women's second seed Simona Halep is safely into the last 32 after a straight-set win over 21-year-old Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia. Find out how to get into tennis in our special guide. Halep won it 7-5 6-3 to set up a third-round tie with China's Shuai Peng, a 6-2 6-2 winner over Spanish 25th seed Carla Suarez Navarro. Eighth seed Dominika Cibulkova, of Slovakia, who reached the last eight last year, also moved into the third

Summary: Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was beaten in the second round by American Madison Brengle.


Lord Nicholas Monson said his son, Rupert Green, had suffered from psychosis as a result of an addiction to skunk - a strong form of cannabis. Rupert was assessed in hospital and it was agreed he needed a bed, but staff could not find one, Lord Monson says. Surrey and Borders NHS Trust said it was sorry and was investigating. Rupert, who was a biology student at the University of Essex, died last month. Lord Monson told BBC Radio 5 live's Emma Barnett that he had noticed a change in his son's behaviour last year when he had not heard from him for a while. He said: "Suddenly I got a call from him and he apologised for not contacting me. "He said he'd failed his biology exams at university. "He said 'Spies are trying to break into my computer and I think spies are also in my computer'. Everything about him had changed." Lord Monson says his son was assessed at hospital. He said: "The nurse assessed Rupert and said that he really does need to go into a hospital and rang round all the hospitals and none of them would take him. "They said they didn't have any beds... the following day he was assessed by his local psychiatry team and they decided if Rupert just carried on taking the pills, then the psychosis would subside." Lord Monson said his son killed himself a few days later. Jo Young, director of quality at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: "I am sorry for what happened and we are undertaking an internal investigation into Rupert's care and treatment with us. "This will help us understand where we can learn lessons to further improve our support of people such as Rupert." Lord Monson has now lost two children in recent years after his eldest son, Alexander, died in police custody in Kenya in 2012 and said he is "very angry" with himself about what has happened. An inquest last year found that Alexander, aged 28, had died "violently" at the hands of the police. Since Rupert's death, Lord Monson has launched a campaign calling for skunk to be reclassified from a Class B drug to Class A. He said: "In the old days, the psychoactive substance in cannabis was about 1.37% and now it's 22% with skunk... they have taken what is actually quite a decent plant and turned it into a monster." Lord Monson also wants milder forms of cannabis to be legalised. He said the reaction to his campaign has been "extraordinary" and he is shocked by the amount of families who have come forward with similar drugs problems. Lord Monson added: "I know of three friends of mine... one whose son, because of skunk, tried to kill himself. "His brave mother thought: 'I'm going to try this stuff [skunk] and see what it's like'. And she says it was an absolute nightmare. "She said it was like confronting the devil himself when she looked in the mirror. "There's another one who's got long-term psychiatric problems and will

Summary: A hereditary peer has told the BBC his 21-year-old son killed himself days after being turned away from hospital because of a lack of beds.


Ex-Football Association chairman Geoff Thompson made the admission when interviewed during an inquiry into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosting bids. On Tuesday, football's world governing body Fifa released the full 2014 report of the investigation. That followed leaked extracts being published by German newspaper Bild. The 422-page report was written by former Fifa independent ethics investigator Michael Garcia. He quit in protest when the organisation only released a 42-page summary of his document. That version cleared Russia and Qatar, winners of the 2018 and 2022 hosting rights respectively, of corruption allegations. However, it was critical of the actions of some Fifa executive committee members and some of the bidding teams, including England's. The full report goes into more detail about this conduct, and also cites an interview given by the 2018 England World Cup bid chief Thompson around the national team's plans to travel to Thailand to secure a vote for their bid. The offer to stage the friendly was made only eight days before the vote in 2010 to decide the 2018 and 2022 hosts. The offer was withdrawn three weeks later, by which stage it was clear Thailand had not supported the English bid. The FA was open at the time about the friendly being arranged to win support. But Garcia's report reads: "Top English football officials recognised that arranging friendlies with a team from an executive committee's home country in order to advance the England 2018 bid was improper. "Geoff Thompson candidly told the investigatory chamber he 'didn't think it was appropriate' to organise the proposed England-Thailand match-up or other friendlies targeting teams associated with executive committee members 'because I think it's a form of bribery'. "The game's cancellation only underscores the improper relationship between the 24 November 2010 offer to play the game and the 2 December World Cup vote." Fifa said its president Gianni Infantino had always intended to release the full document, but its former ethics chiefs had refused to publish it. The former chairmen of the ethics committee, Cornel Borbely and Hans-Joachim Eckert, were replaced in May after completing four-year terms. Speaking in October 2014, Eckert said: "Publishing the report in full would actually put the Fifa ethics committee and Fifa itself in a very difficult situation legally." The pair moved to clarify their position later on Tuesday, issuing a statement which said the decision not to publish "was in line with Fifa rules" as some cases brought as a result of the report were still ongoing. They added: "To this day, Mr Infantino has never contacted us and asked for a publication." Fifa said it had intended to discuss the release of the report at a meeting next month, but added: "As the document has been illegally leaked to a German newspaper, the new chairpersons have requested the immediate publication of the full report in order to avoid the dissemination of any misleading information. "For the sake of transparency, Fifa welcomes the news that this report has now been finally published." Qatar 2022 officials said they welcomed the report's publication, although they

Summary: A plan for England to play a friendly in Thailand to win backing for their 2018 World Cup bid was "a form of bribery", investigators were told.


GRA president Dermot O'Brien told Irish broadcaster RTÉ that the force's unarmed status was envied but he added that society was becoming more dangerous. Ahead of the GRA annual conference on Monday, Mr O'Brien said officers needed an "intermediate form of force" such as a stun gun. He also said they were angry about pay. The GRA president said his members had taken a 25% pay cut since 2009 and he called for their salaries to be restored by the next government. The GRA is the largest professional body to represent members of An Garda Síochána (Irish police force) and campaigns for better pay and working conditions. Its membership currently stands at about 10,500 officers.

Summary: Irish police officers should be issued with stun guns, according to the Garda Representative Association (GRA), which represents rank and file officers.


First and foremost to the end of the stranglehold on British politics which the two big UK parties have had for so long. British politics is now a national contest between at least four parties - Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and UKIP - and arguably five or more if you add the Greens (who are polling as well as the Lib Dems), the SNP (who are threatening Labour's many former Labour strongholds) not to mention Plaid Cymru and Respect. Not since the emergence of the SDP in the early 1980s - after Roy Jenkins, Shirley Williams, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and others broke away from the Labour Party - has politics looked so fluid and unpredictable. What we are seeing now, though, differs fundamentally from what we saw then. UKIP's rise is not - not yet at least - about a public desire to create an alternative party of government. Their rise has been driven more by an anger with "all of the above", with the "Westminster parties" or what UKIP supporters like to call "the LibLabCon". In that sense - even if in no other - there are parallels between the rise of Nigel Farage and Alex Salmond. On the morning after his victory and near-victory before, Nigel Farage talked of holding the balance of power after the next election, of becoming the Minister for Europe having won more Tory seats in the South and Labour seats in the North. How realistic is that? Before giving the reasons why I think Mr Farage might be over-doing things just a tad it's worth pausing to say that so far his brave talk and giddy optimism has proved much more right than any of his critics or, indeed, the pundits. They said UKIP were extremists who only a few would vote for… They said UKIP could only win elections held under Proportional Representation… They said UKIP would never top 30% in a poll… They said Farage's party could only appeal to angry, former Tory blazer wearing Colonels in the south… They were wrong. UKIP have now proved that they can assemble a huge coalition of protest votes from the right, the left and the centre combining people who are angry about the state of the economy and the state of politics not just immigration and Europe. The academics Robert Ford and Matthew Goodwin have studied the long term drivers of support to UKIP in their book "Revolt on the Right". They identified three - anger with Europe, anger about immigration and with the political system as a whole. A fifth of all voters shared all three concerns. Around a third shared two of the three. Thus, they conclude, UKIP's base support could be between 20% and the low 30s. Remember that UKIP's first place in the European elections in May was the first time any party other than the Conservatives or Labour had won a national election in 100 years and, contrary to the suggestions that they are a party of the English South, they won a seat in every region as well

Summary: It's a breakthrough all right but a breakthrough to what?


It comes as Mr Cahuzac admitted to having had a foreign bank account. The ex-minister had until now denied a report by investigative website Mediapart that he kept an undeclared Swiss bank account until 2010. Mr Cahuzac - who gained a reputation as a vocal crusader against the use of overseas tax havens - quit in March. Mr Cahuzac said he made the admission about the bank account during a meeting with investigating magistrates on Tuesday. In a statement, he said he had about 600,000 euros (£509,000; $770,000) in the account. He also asked for forgiveness from French President Francois Hollande and his former government colleagues. "I was caught in a spiral of lies and lost my way. I am devastated by guilt," the statement said, quoted by the AFP news agency. "It was an unspeakable mistake to think that I could avoid confronting a past that I wanted to consider behind me. I will now face this reality with all transparency," the statement said. Mr Cahuzac had earlier insisted that he had done nothing wrong. He was a plastic surgeon before entering politics. Correspondents say the scandal is embarrassing for the French Socialist government which has made fighting tax evasion a priority, as it tries to cut public debt.

Summary: Former French Budget Minister Jerome Cahuzac has been placed under formal investigation over alleged tax fraud, his lawyer has said.


Sir Norman Bettison was responding to calls for his resignation over the statement he published on Thursday. Sir Norman said he had not intended to suggest Liverpool fans had hindered police during the disaster in April 1989 in which 96 people died. Liverpool fans were "in no way to blame" for the disaster, he said. Sir Norman said he was sorry if he had "caused any further upset". West Yorkshire Police Authority had earlier referred Sir Norman's conduct in the aftermath of the Hillsborough tragedy to a special committee for investigation. The chief constable was coming under mounting pressure to resign after releasing the statement suggesting Liverpool fans made the job of the police more difficult on the day of the tragedy. On 15 April 1989, the former South Yorkshire officer was an off-duty inspector at Sheffield's Hillsborough stadium, which was hosting an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. In his original statement, Sir Norman said: "Fans' behaviour, to the extent that it was relevant at all, made the job of the police, in the crush outside Leppings Lane turnstiles, harder than it needed to be." John Mann, Labour MP for Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire, said many of his constituents were at the game and had called for Sir Norman to resign. "After the statement he made when he seemed to have a go again at Liverpool fans, I think his position is untenable. He has got to go." Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said Sir Norman's comments were "insensitive and ill-judged". In a fresh statement, Sir Norman said: "The fans of Liverpool Football Club were in no way to blame for the disaster that unfolded at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989." That view had been formed after hearing all the evidence presented at the Taylor inquiry into the tragedy, said Sir Norman. "The evidence was overwhelming. The police failed to control the situation, which ultimately led to the tragic deaths of 96 entirely innocent people. I can be no plainer than that." Sir Norman said he was "sorry if my earlier statement, intended to convey the same message, has caused any further upset". The aim was not to "besmirch the fans", he said, and he was "deeply sorry that impression and slight has lingered for 23 years".

Summary: West Yorkshire's Chief Constable has apologised for any upset caused by a statement he issued about his role in the Hillsborough tragedy.


Britain's terror threat level is "severe", but Prime Minister David Cameron said it would reviewed. Police said there would be strengthened policing at UK ports, and more officers at public events in the coming days. It comes as Briton Nick Alexander, from Colchester, was named as among the 129 people killed in Friday's attacks. The 36-year-old died in the attack at the Bataclan concert hall, where he is thought to have been selling merchandise. Read all the latest updates on the Paris attacks His family described him as "generous, funny and fiercely loyal". Friends of Mr Alexander also paid tribute to him on social media. Joe Trohman, lead guitarist of the rock band Fall Out Boy described him as a "great guy". The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell, said he was praying for Mr Alexander's family and had sent a message of support to their local church. A government source said there were fears a "handful" of other British people had been killed. An unspecified number are being treated in hospitals. The Bataclan concert hall suffered the deadliest attack during the wave of violence in Paris, which involved gunmen and suicide bombers. More than 80 people are believed to have died at the concert hall. The US band Eagles of Death Metal were playing a gig when attackers burst into the venue and opened fire, but the band themselves survived unscathed. Michael O'Connor, from South Shields, was at the concert hall when the gunmen attacked. The 30-year-old lay on top of his girlfriend to protect her as other audience members were shot and killed. Both escaped unharmed after playing dead. "What they want to do is to terrify us," he told BBC Radio 5 live's Stephen Nolan show. "We can't let them win and these people just, they're just monsters, they're just, they don't represent anything, they're not Muslims, they're not, they're just animals. "How can you walk in there, I mean, I'm 30 years old, I was probably the oldest, one of the oldest people in the gig. It was full of teenagers and, you know, people in their early 20s going to see a band." Paris hit by 'three teams of attackers' Paris attacks: What we know England v France friendly to go ahead In pictures: UK shows support In other developments: So-called Islamic State (IS) has said it carried out the attacks, and Mr Cameron said it showed the threat from the group was "evolving", with a "new degree of planning and co-ordination and a greater ambition for mass-casualty attacks". He added that the group's "aim is clear: it is to divide us and to destroy our way of life. "So, more than ever, we should come together and stand united and carry on with the way of life that we love." French President Francois Hollande said the attacks were an "act of war" by IS. Talks about the security threat are expected later after leaders, including David Cameron, from the G20 countries meet in Turkey.

Summary: Home Secretary Theresa May will chair a Cobra meeting later to discuss the UK government's response to the attacks in Paris.


The Stags have an option of signing a permanent deal with the 22-year-old striker. Coulthirst, a graduate of Tottenham's academy, made just one first-team appearance while at White Hart Lane. The striker also had loan spells with Leyton Orient, Torquay, Southend, York and Wigan. Coulthirst will join his former team-mate Hayden White at Field Mill, after he was signed on loan from Posh a week ago. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page or visit our Premier League tracker here.

Summary: League Two side Mansfield Town have signed Peterborough United forward Shaquile Coulthirst on loan until the end of the season.