The management gender pay gap stands at an average of £3,188 - or 13%. Although this is less than the UK average of 22%, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) said it was still "unacceptable". The findings are in its annual salary survey of more than 72,000 professionals across the UK. How big is the gap? The findings are reflected in the most recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures. These show women in professional occupations in Wales received an average of £678 gross pay a week in 2014 - compared to men on £794 a week. That 15% gap also exists between women and men's pay across all sectors in Wales - and has remained largely unchanged for a decade. It is slightly better than the UK average - 20% and 19% if you exclude London and the south east. The ONS said it was a complex issue and prefers we look at median hourly earnings for those in full-time work, which suggests the pay gap is now the lowest on record. It is now 9.4% between all working men and women - around £100 a week - compared to 17.4% in 1997. Why does the pay gap exist? Cardiff University researchers last year found the working patterns of men and women are very different. "Feminised" jobs attract lower hourly pay rates and have high concentrations of part-time hours, it suggested. In summary: The university research team claimed, with little training or career progression opportunities, women can get "stuck" in these working patterns for life. ANALYSIS by Sarah Dickins, BBC Wales economics correspondent Forty five years after the UK Government passed the Equal Pay Act, working women in Wales are still earning on average more than £3,000 less than men. In effect they are working for 34 days each year for free. In Wales the gap between what men and women earn is less - at 13% - than for the UK as a whole, which is 22%. On the face of it, that may seem to be good news and could be used to suggest that Wales is a more equal society. But it could also be seen as a reflection of the fact that the Welsh economy has relatively fewer high paid jobs across many aspects of the private sector. Today's report highlights the fact that the gap between what men and women are paid is greatest at the senior or director level and greater as women grow older. Q&A: How can we bridge the gender pay gap? Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to eliminate the gender pay gap "within a generation". New legislation coming into force in 2016 will require organisations with 250 or more staff to report publicly what they pay male and female staff. On Monday, accountancy firm Deloitte revealed it paid women on average 17.8% less than its male workers, but said there was an "ever increasing understanding" of the issues. The CMI wants more companies to publish gender pay details before they have to next year, as well as reviewing starting salaries to ensure

Summary: Women managers in Wales are effectively working for free for nearly an hour every day, a professional body claims.


Staff at Plantasia found the fish in their heated waters in the glass-domed hothouse. Swansea council said it had worked "closely with our vet and a vet from the government body Defra" in an unsuccessful bid to save the carp. Tests are being carried out before replenishing the stock, to determine how the fish died. A spokesman said: "All animals, fish and plants at Plantasia are looked after with great care."

Summary: More than 20 koi carp have died at a Swansea indoor rainforest attraction.


Scientists carried out a series of experiments to assess the economic and ecological importance of the nocturnal insect-eating mammals to farmers. Globally, bat populations are under pressure as a result of habitat loss and the spread of diseases. The findings appear in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "The results of this study are a testament to the value of ecosystem services," said co-author Josiah Maine from Southern Illinois University. (Source: US Fish & Wildlife Service) Bats videos, news and facts from BBC Nature In North America, many bat populations are under threat from a disease called White-Nose Syndrome. Since 2007, the disease has killed millions of bats and continues to spread. The US National Wildlife Health Centre estimated that bat populations in the north-east of the country have declined by about 80% since the first reported cases of bat fatalities as a result of the disease. It added: "The true ecological consequences of large-scale population reductions currently underway among hibernating bats are unknown. However, farmers might feel the impact." Mr Maine told BBC News that he was interested in finding out how effective bats were in terms of providing a pest control service to farmers growing corn (maize). The team constructed a number of exclosures (a controlled, open-air experimental area) measuring 20 metres by 20 metres and seven metres high, consisting of netting that was suspended by cables. "This netting allowed the insects to move freely but prevented bats from foraging in those areas," He explained. "We were only interested in excluding the bats so we constructed the exclosures so all the netting could be slid to one end so we could open them up during the day to allow birds to forage in the area." Using the data gathered from the field study and combining with other previously published data, the team was able to extrapolate the findings to a global scale and estimate a monetary value for the ecological service provided by bats in terms of pest control in cornfields. The team wrote: "We estimate that the suppression of herbivory by insectivorous bats is worth more than US$1bn globally on this crop alone." Mr Maine told BBC News: "Bear in mind that this figure does not take into account for the impacts of bats on the fungal diseases we found in the corn, or the micro-toxins produced by those fungal species. "It also does not account for the reduced amount of pesticides used in fields, as bats could be providing an additional valuable service to agriculture by suppressing pest populations below the threshold where pesticides are necessary." Farmers' friend According to the IUCN's Bat Specialist Group (BSG), bat species account for one fifth of all terrestrial mammals. As well as being an important predator of insects, bats are also considered to be key seed dispersers and pollinators for many plants. Yet, the BSG observed: "They are among the most endangered of the world's creatures, primarily because much of their habitat has been eliminated by human development or because they are persecuted. "Their loss has serious consequences for

Summary: Bats provide a service worth an estimated US $1bn (Â£649m) globally by controlling pests on corn crops, a study has suggested.


Yet despite their current struggle for survival, the Swans will not be short of reasons to be hopeful. As well as winning two of their past four matches at Old Trafford, their boss Paul Clement will be able to call on a particularly personal inspiration. The 44-year-old was in the away end at the 'Theatre of Dreams' 12 years ago, watching his brother Neil play for West Bromwich Albion in their bid to pull off the most dramatic of escapes from relegation. The Baggies had been bottom of the Premier League at Christmas but a remarkable turnaround in the second half of the season saw them visit Manchester United on the penultimate weekend with their hopes of survival somehow intact. "I actually remember going to Old Trafford that season when they got a draw. It was 1-1 and proved to be a massive point," Clement recalls. "I was sitting up in the corner with the West Brom fans, went up from London on the train. I was a coach at Fulham in the academy at the time. "I didn't go to the last game. They were bottom going into the last day of the season and played Portsmouth at home. The bottom three were changing - the great escape." It was indeed a great escape. West Brom started the final day of the 2004-05 campaign at the foot of the table and, despite leading Portsmouth 2-0, were heading to the Championship with 82 minutes gone as Crystal Palace led against Charlton. But Jonathan Fortune's equaliser for the Addicks - and defeats for Norwich and Southampton - secured survival for West Brom, whose jubilant fans spilled on to the Hawthorns pitch at full-time to celebrate an escape Harry Houdini might have deemed farfetched. The similarities to Swansea's current situation are striking. When Clement was appointed the club's third boss of the season in January, the Swans were bottom of the Premier League. They won five of their next eight league games to climb out of the relegation zone but a subsequent run of six matches without a win dumped them back into the bottom three. Last Saturday's win over Stoke lifted morale, yet the joy was tempered by Hull's victory against Watford which kept Swansea two points adrift of safety. Hull remain Swansea's chief competitors in their battle to avoid the drop and the Tigers are away at Southampton on Saturday, although Clement insists that game will have no bearing on his approach at Old Trafford. Media playback is not supported on this device "No. I've decided that already," he says. "Whatever happens in that game, we're going to approach United in the same way because we know there's different tests coming after that and that's not going to change. "I think we just have to focus on our performance and that's really what we did very well when we went to Liverpool [and won in January]. "Forget it's Liverpool, forget it's Anfield, focus on a good performance and we'll see what happens. That's what we're here to do." January's improbable win over

Summary: Facing Manchester United at Old Trafford is a daunting task for most sides, so it would be understandable if Swansea City, deep in relegation strife, travelled there on Sunday with some trepidation.


Shelter Cymru said evictions were at a seven-year high after analysing Ministry of Justice data on court possessions. It comes as the number of mortgaged property repossessions in recent years has fallen. A total of 958 social housing tenants had their homes repossessed. Across all types of rental, nearly 2,200 householders lost their homes. Shelter Cymru's director John Puzey said: "This year has been particularly tough for social tenants, many of whom have suffered due to changes in welfare benefits and the rising costs of living. "We have been working with landlords to ensure that they are doing everything they can to help tenants stay afloat - but these figures show that more clearly needs to be done." A spokesperson for the Welsh government said it had repeatedly expressed its concern about the scale, scope and speed of the UK government's welfare reform and its impact on the people of Wales. "We are doing all we can to help mitigate these effects and are investing over Â£11m to prevent homelessness in the next financial year," a spokesman added. "The latest official statistics show homelessness fell by 8% during April to June 2014 compared with the previous year. This is promising, however, we're determined to do more to tackle the problem."

Summary: The number of social housing tenants who have had their homes repossessed has risen by 12% in the past year, a charity has said.


Media playback is not supported on this device Goals from Ali Crawford and Jesus Garcia Tena nudged the Dark Blues down to seventh as Hamilton Academical triumphed 2-1. "It's a real disappointment," Hartley told BBC Scotland. "I just don't think they performed today - especially the first 45 minutes. They were off it compared to the standards that they've set." Hartley's men were 2-0 down at half-time following Crawford's fifth goal of the season and Garcia Tena's penalty. Gary Harkins came on and pulled one back for the visitors but overall it was an off-colour display by the Dens Park side. "It's a massive blow for us, we came here with high expectations," said Hartley, who guided Dundee to a top-six finish last season. "I knew Hamilton would start the game well. We had to handle that and match them and we didn't do that. We didn't stop the crosses coming into the box and we didn't handle the physical side of it. "We now need to regroup and finish as high as possible." Hartley remained in the dressing room talking to his players for well over 20 minutes after the match. "It was just quiet," he added. "We had a chat with them. There were no angry words exchanged. We just had to get our points across. "It wasn't just this game, it's the amount of draws we've had this season when we've been in good winning positions." Accies player-manager Martin Canning was delighted to win a first home game in over six months. "First half we were excellent and could've been further ahead," he told BBC Scotland. "Second half Dundee came back into the game as they were always going to do. We had determination and spirit to hang on - which is something we've probably lacked a bit of late - but we're back to winning again at home which is important. "We defended well after we lost the goal, we regrouped." Twenty-year-old striker Eamonn Brophy had a hand in both goals for the hosts and Canning praised the youngster for an effective shift up front with Carlton Morris. "He's a talent," added Canning, who felt Julen Extabeguren should have been shown a second yellow card for fouling Brophy in the box to concede the penalty. "If he continues to develop the way he is now then he's going to have a real good career in football."

Summary: Dundee manager Paul Hartley has described missing out on a top-six finish as a "massive blow".


The Northern Irish party's 10 MPs will support the Conservatives in key Commons votes in areas such as the Queen's Speech, Budget and Brexit. Labour warned it would undermine trust in the UK government over Northern Ireland. But the Conservatives said they had a duty to form a government. The Conservatives and the DUP have said the deal makes the restoration of the power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland - which collapsed amid a bitter row between the DUP and Sinn Fein about a botched green energy scheme - more likely. Negotiations lasted 18 days after the general election on 8 June resulted in a hung parliament. The support of the DUP, added to the Tories' 317 MPs, means Mrs May passes the 326 figure needed for an overall Commons majority under a "confidence and supply" arrangement planned to last until 2022. After talks with DUP leader Arlene Foster at Number 10, the prime minister said the two parties "share many values" and the agreement was "a very good one". Mrs May said it would would "enable us to work together in the interests of the whole United Kingdom, give us the certainty we require as we embark on our departure from the European Union, and help us build a stronger and fairer society at home". Mrs Foster said she was "delighted" with a package that includes Â£1bn of new funding, plus more flexibility on almost Â£500m of previously announced funds, on infrastructure, health and education in Northern Ireland. The agreement has prompted calls for more money for Wales and Scotland. Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones called the deal a "straight bung" and said it "kills the idea of fair funding". The Scottish National Party's leader at Westminster, Ian Blackford, said Scotland should get "its fair share". "For years the Tories have been cutting budgets and services, but suddenly they have found a magic money tree to help them stay in power," he said. Labour said the deal was "shabby and reckless" and would undermine the trust in the impartiality of the UK government which was vital to the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said: "For the government to be putting such an agreement in jeopardy just to prop up this dismal prime minister is nothing short of a disgrace." Sinn Fein said the DUP were effectively supporting continued austerity and cuts, as well as "a blank cheque for a Tory Brexit which threatens the Good Friday Agreement". However, First Secretary of State Damian Green said only the Conservatives had "the ability and legitimacy to lead the government our country needs". "As the party with the most seats at the general election, the Conservative Party had a duty to form a government," he added. "It is right that we talked to other parties to seek to ensure that the government can provide the competence the country needs at this crucial time." Mr Green said the agreement should help to break the deadlock at Stormont which has meant there has been no power-sharing executive since elections in March.

Summary: Theresa May's Â£1bn deal with the Democratic Unionist Party to back her minority government has been branded "a bung" and "shabby" by opposing parties.


Surrey Police, who were alerted to the closure at about 17:30 GMT, said the tunnel was expected to be closed for "at least another five hours". Officers have been deployed to help with traffic control and co-ordinate road closures and diversions. The tunnel diverts traffic on the A3 London to Portsmouth road at the Devil's Punch Bowl. A Surrey Police spokeswoman urged motorists to avoid the area if possible. A diversion is in place. The engineers behind the Â£371m tunnel, which opened in 2011, said at 1.25 miles (1.8km), it was the "longest under land" road tunnel in the UK. Its construction followed decades of severe congestion on the A3.

Summary: The Hindhead Tunnel has been closed in both directions owing to what police believe is a "technical fault".


Jerry Brown ordered "all necessary and viable actions" be taken to stop it. More than 2,000 families have been moved from their homes and many people have reported feeling ill because of the leakage, which began in October. It stems from a vast underground storage field in Porter Ranch, on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Gas is spewing into the atmosphere at a rate so fast that the well now accounts for about a quarter of the state's total emissions of methane - an extremely potent greenhouse gas. The well is situated in a mountainous area more than a mile away from residential areas, but residents have complained of health effects like headaches, nausea, vomiting and trouble breathing. "Let's call it an environmental and public health catastrophe," Tim O'Connor, a lawyer with the Environmental Defense Fund, told the BBC's environment correspondent, Matt McGrath. "In terms of timelines this is going to surpass the gulf oil problem by a mile. What we do know is that that climate equivalent of this leak is like burning thus far almost 700 million gallons of gasoline or it's the same amount of pollution as 4.5 million cars put out every day, it's tragic." Methane - the main component of natural gas - is a very strong greenhouse gas, capable of trapping solar radiation in the atmosphere. It belongs to a category of gases called short-lived climate pollutants. While methane and other short-lived pollutants remain in the atmosphere for a relatively short time compared to other gases, the California Air Resources Board says that "when measured in terms of how they heat the atmosphere, their impacts can be tens, hundreds, or even thousands of times greater than that of carbon dioxide". The BBC's Matt McGrath says the large amounts of powerful gas that are leaking could have a significant impact on climate change. Residents have been complaining of nausea, headaches and other symptoms, but the utility company says that "scientists agree natural gas is not toxic and that its odorant is harmless at the minute levels at which it is added to natural gas". Health officials in the area have said the long-term effects of being exposed to the gas are unknown. The utility company is providing temporary accommodation or funds for the displaced residents, and several thousand people in Porter Ranch have been relocated while the gas continues to leak and repairs take place. But, according to CBS News, only 2,200 families have been relocated even though 6,500 have applied for help. "You have kids going to school outside their neighbourhoods, families that are living in hotels" says Paula Cracium, president of the Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council. "The longer this goes on the more stress there is." A broken injection-well pipe about 500 ft (152.4m) below the surface is believed to be the culprit behind the leak, reports say. Pipes like this are used by utility companies to insert gas into the ground for storage until a later time when it can be withdrawn and sold for use. It is not known why the pipe ruptured.

Summary: The governor of California has declared a state of emergency in a suburb of Los Angeles over the leaking of methane gas from an underground storage field.


Public Health Wales (PHW) officials were responding to Welsh Government plans launched in November. PHW backed moves to restrict smoking but said ministers should go further. The body was giving evidence to the assembly's health committee. The proposals are part of the Welsh Government's second attempt to bring in the Public Health Bill, that does not include a controversial ban on e-cigarettes in some enclosed places. Ministers hope the legislation will be passed by May. PHW's submission to the committee said: "We would suggest that there would need to be a clear definition of 'playground' and that 'schools' should include early years educational settings such as nurseries (private and public). "In the case of schools and playgrounds this should include the perimeter of these settings otherwise the intended impact of the restrictions is unlikely to be achieved i.e. if parents or other adults are permitted to smoke at the perimeter of a playground or at the school gates in clear view of children this will not impact on the intended goal of 'denormalisation' (reduce smoking being modelled to children as normal behaviour). "We would also propose that the restrictions should not be limited to hospitals but should include the grounds of premises used predominately for the delivery of healthcare to include community health facilities and primary care." Currently, the Welsh Government plans to ban smoking within five meters of playground equipment "due to this being beyond the distance of potential second hand smoke harm from a single cigarette, plus an additional buffer to protect against weather elements". On Wednesday, PHW Director of Health Improvement Dr Julie Bishop told the committee that a broader definition of a "playground" was needed. "If we're narrowing that definition to, literally be play equipment; so I presume by that we mean things like slides and swings and those kind of things, that's actually quite a small area of what most of us would consider to be playgrounds in the broader sense," she said. "So I would encourage playing fields and sports grounds to be included in that definition."

Summary: Plans to ban smoking in school and hospital grounds and playgrounds in Wales should also extend to outside all nurseries, GP practices, playing fields and sports grounds, a health promotion body has told AMs.


The tourists' 24-21 victory in Wellington on Saturday was their first victory over the All Blacks since 1993. Henry, who steered the All Blacks to win the 2011 World Cup, believes Wales coach Gatland, 53, could follow in his footsteps with his native country. "Warren's done a great job in getting them all together and he's possibly a future All Blacks coach," Henry said. Current New Zealand coach Steve Hansen guided the All Blacks to 2015 World Cup victory and is contracted until the end of the 2019 tournament. Gatland was appointed Wales coach in 2007 and has also signed a deal to take them through to the 2019 World Cup. Media playback is not supported on this device The New Zealander also took a break to coach the Lions in 2013 when he led them to a 2-1 series win over Australia. Gatland has also coached Ireland and was in charge at Wasps when they won the European Cup in 2004. Henry was the first overseas coach to take charge of Wales and also coached the Lions on their 2001 tour of Australia, when they lost the Test series 2-1. "He [Warren] is one of the most experienced coaches in the world, he's had a long run with Wales and won a couple of Six Nations," Henry told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek programme. "He's been with the Lions for some time and done exceptionally well." Gatland and Hansen are now preparing for the series decider at Auckland's Eden Park on Saturday. The Lions are attempting to win a Test series in New Zealand for the first time since 1971. "The All Blacks are currently the world champions and ranked number one in the world," said Henry. "So to beat the All Blacks at home with a side which has had very little rugby together would be an astronomical achievement."

Summary: British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland could take charge of New Zealand one day, says Sir Graham Henry.


The authorities silence dissent by intimidating journalists and by using "exhaustive" litigation, says the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists. Self-censorship is commonplace. Television is the most popular medium. The State Committee for TV and Radio operates four national networks and regional channels. There are more than a dozen private TV stations. Russian TV is widely-watched. Radio can be the sole source of information for those living in very remote areas. The newspaper sector comprises government-owned and private titles. Most of these publish weekly and circulation figures are low. There are nearly 1.4 million internet users (InternetLiveStats.com, 2014). The authorities routinely block websites and social media platforms, including Russia's Odnoklassniki, Facebook and YouTube. But users are adept at using proxies to get around this. Opposition websites operate mainly from abroad. ImruzNews - private, publishes Monday-Friday Asia-Plus - private, twice-weekly, in Russian Jumhuriyat - government-owned, publishes in Tajik three times a week Khalq Ovozi - government-owned, publishes in Uzbek three times a week Narodnaya Gazeta - government-owned, publishes in Russian three times a week Tojikiston - private, Tajik-language weekly Najot - weekly, published by main opposition Islamic Rebirth Party Tajik TV- state-run; operates Tajik TV first channel, Safina youth channel, news channel Jahonnamo, children's network Bahoriston and regional channels Soghd TV - state-run regional station in north Khatlon TV - state-run regional station in south SMT (Independent Television of Tajikistan) - private, Dushanbe Tajik Radio - state-run, operates Radio Tajikistan, Radio Sado-i Dushanbe (Voice of Dushanbe), culture network Radio Farhang, external service Ovoz-i Tojik Radio Imruz - private, available in all regions Radio Vatan - Dushanbe, private Radio Tiroz- Khujand, private Radio Asia-Plus - Dushanbe, private Asia-Plus - private, English-language pages Khovar - state-run, English-language pages Avesta - private, English-language pages

Summary: The media have greater freedoms than in some other Central Asian states, but officials dictate editorial policy at the state media and obstruct critical outlets.


Rivals were awestruck by the amount of mileage the team were able to manage with a brand new car. Mercedes were determined to turn so many laps that they had to start splitting each day between drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg to avoid over-exerting them. "Amazing," said Williams technical chief Pat Symonds. Another senior figure put it into context: "800km is an entire grand prix weekend in one day." Not everyone was charitable, though. "It looks like they're gearing up to take that car to Le Mans," said one rival. "It's admirable, but it's taking the Mickey a bit. You don't need to do that many miles." Perhaps not. But, at this stage of the preparations, as Hamilton put it: 'Mileage - that's the key. To try and get as much mileage as we can." The world champion added: "It's incredible. And I've never seen anything like it. Just the strength of this car, it just keeps going and going and going. "To think we won the two world championships and going into a third year you would think it is so easy to lose focus, but everyone has done an even better job with delivering the whole package." The Mercedes did not produce any stand-out lap times, but then that was not in the programme. Others were left to do that. Nevertheless, Hamilton's team-mate Nico Rosberg made it clear they were not lacking for performance. "I'm paying attention, of course," said Rosberg, who described the car as "quick". "We have strategists and they're doing calculations already, so more or less we already know where we are, with a band of errors. "Would you like to know? Sorry, I'm not going to say!" Red Bull team principal Christian Horner called Mercedes "stand-out favourites" on the first day of the test. Nothing that happened over the next three days made it feel like that analysis needed to be revised. Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel left the test with the fastest time - a one minute 22.801 seconds lap set on the second day on the new ultra-soft tyre. Indeed, Ferrari were fastest on three of the four days. Vettel's time was two seconds quicker than Mercedes' best, set by Rosberg on the medium tyre, which Pirelli estimates to be in the region of 1.8-2.3 seconds slower than the ultra-soft around Barcelona. In isolation, that makes it appear as if Ferrari were pretty even with Mercedes, even if other teams were not as impressed by Vettel's time as you might expect at face value. Now, let's state before we get too far into this that it is notoriously difficult to draw firm conclusions from pre-season testing times, especially the headline fastest laps. That's because there are so many variables - fuel load, usage of the DRS overtaking aid, circuit conditions, engine mode, different tyres. The list is endless. But ex-Jordan, Jaguar and Stewart technical director Gary Anderson used to say that you could get a reasonable idea by looking at the fastest times set by each car and factoring in the tyre used and the

Summary: Formula 1 pre-season testing reached its halfway point in Barcelona on Thursday evening and one thing is abundantly clear - Mercedes are once again in formidable shape.


Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire will introduce the changes by early 2016. The three forces already work together on major crime and forensics units. Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping said some job losses were likely, but did not have an exact figure. "We have reduced the number of chief constables, resource officers, we're going to continue to do that... but how many job losses? It's too early to say." He said proposed budget cuts to policing would mean "a painful period going forward". "It isn't a merger - but we are being asked to make savings of 25% or 40% over next few years," Mr Tipping said. "We are determined to share senior officers - and I think this is a sensible thing to do." A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: "There is a strong desire to build on existing relationships by forming a strategic alliance, integrating services to protect the public." The Police Federation said it was concerned the move might add extra pressure on remaining staff, adding its main priority was protecting frontline services. Derbyshire has not joined the new system. It's Chief Constable Mick Creedon said: "One problem with proposed strategic alliances is that there is no immediate financial benefit. "Forces need to adjust their budgets in the short term as well as for the future. Pinning hopes on alliances may not be the answer."

Summary: Three East Midlands' police forces have agreed to share some staff including assistant chief constables in a move to cut costs.


Olivier Giroud scored his fourth goal this term when he tucked in Theo Walcott's low cross at the near post. Andros Townsend had a shot saved in an open start, while Hugo Lloris denied Giroud and Walcott after the break. Wojciech Szczesny stopped Jermain Defoe's deflected shot as Arsenal moved fourth in the Premier League table. Media playback is not supported on this device There was one worry for Arsenal fans as midfielder Jack Wilshere came off before half-time but Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said afterwards it was illness rather than injury that prompted the 21-year-old's withdrawal. That will potentially be a relief to England boss Roy Hodgson, who has two upcoming World Cup qualifiers, starting on Friday. This absorbing encounter lacked the high-scoring of the 5-2 victories the Gunners have enjoyed over Spurs for the last two seasons. But a fourth consecutive win since they lost to Aston Villa on the opening day was a perfect response from the Gunners to taunts about Arsene Wenger's lack of spending compared with Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas. Tottenham have only won once at Arsenal since 1993 and, despite creating several good openings, it was Arsenal who enjoyed the more clear-cut opportunities, Santi Cazorla twice showing his invention from clever free-kicks early on. Villas-Boas has spent close to £105m on new players this summer but while his side look powerful, they were often lacking the speed of an Arsenal team with more Premier League experience - and it was an illustration of what they might miss without Gareth Bale, who has completed his move to Real Madrid. There have been 125 goals scored in Premier League meetings between Tottenham and Arsenal, more than any other fixture. The first-half goal that won the game was a case in point as the ball was swept out to Walcott on the right, the Tottenham defence misjudging their attempt to move up and catch the Gunners attack offside, and the England winger crossed low for the darting Giroud to poke in at the near post. Arsenal also came close to adding to that goal when some sharp interplay led to Walcott bursting into the inside right channel but the advancing Lloris came out to thwart him on the edge of his penalty area with an expertly timed tackle. Wenger's team, looking comfortable, were then deflated as Wilshere was withdrawn, to be replaced by new signing Mathieu Flamini making his first Arsenal appearance since April 2008. Tottenham were more energetic and had more of the ball after the break. They had a penalty appeal when Laurent Koscielny made contact with Roberto Soldado in the penalty area. Media playback is not supported on this device But it was the hosts who again carved out the better openings as they struck on the break, Giroud drawing a superb stop from Lloris after his shot was deflected by Danny Rose. The French goalkeeper also denied Walcott twice, substitute Nacho Monreal making a hash of the follow-up from the second of those chances. Defoe was introduced after 69 minutes and had a deflected effort

Summary: Arsenal continued their fine home record against Tottenham by handing their north London rivals a first defeat of the season.


The BBC understands 39 children have arrived this week, but there have been questions whether some may be adults. Conservative MP David Davies called for mandatory teeth checks to reassure the public, but the British Dental Association said this was unethical. The Home Office said the migrants would face different checks once in the UK. "We do not use dental X-rays to confirm the ages of those seeking asylum in the UK. The British Dental Association has described them as inaccurate, inappropriate and unethical," the Home Office said. It is understood that further checks to be carried out will include interviews with relatives in the UK and fingerprinting to cross-check with other records which may contain age details. One 14-year-old migrant, who arrived from Calais on Monday to be reunited with his older brother, said he had to get documents to prove his brother was in the UK, and was interviewed twice in Calais by French authorities and the British. He was interviewed again once in the UK. In Calais, the young Afghan boy looked strained, rubbing his hands together nervously on a chilly morning. But, after a 100-mile journey, and on the other side of the Channel, his face broke out into a broad grin. His dream of a new life was within reach. The setting was a back entrance to a drab government building in Croydon, but as officials ushered him towards the next step in the asylum process, well-wishers greeted the 13-year-old with whoops and cries of "well done". His long journey, which he shared with singer Lily Allen in a BBC Victoria Derbyshire film last week, began when he fled his home country to escape the Taliban. His father sold his land to pay to send his young son to Europe. But the slow legal process in Calais kept him there for two months, and every night he made a fresh attempt to stow away on lorries to reach the UK. Now, he can look forward to being reunited with his family and starting school in England. The new arrivals were placed on a list drawn up by the charity Citizens UK, which is working with the government to bring unaccompanied minors over from Calais. The list was ratified by French authorities, who would have carried out interviews with the children before they could travel to the UK. If they have no proof of age, officials consider their looks and demeanour. But since the migrants' arrival in the UK, photographs of some have appeared in newspapers alongside headlines questioning their age. Mr Davies, Monmouth MP, said that one of the migrants arriving had "lines around his eyes and looks older than I am". He said: "If they are jumping on lorries, they are not going to be adverse to lying about their ages. We should do the tests." Fellow Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, who is also calling for more stringent checks, said it was "very worrying" that "older migrants are reported to be pushing children out of the way". But the British Dental Association, which represents UK dentists

Summary: Child migrants from the Calais "Jungle" camp will not face dental checks in the UK to verify their age, the government has insisted.


The SNP said the Ipsos Mori survey for STV was a "sensational" endorsement. The poll also indicated that the Nationalists would win next May's Holyrood election with 74 seats. Scottish Labour said it was focusing on what mattered and the Scottish Tories said they would continue to make a positive case for the UK. The survey, which questioned 1,002 people last week, comes almost a year after Scotland rejected independence by a margin of 55% to 45%. It is thought to be the first poll to show a majority for "Yes" among all those questioned. Previous polls in the run-up to the September 2014 vote that showed a majority for independence had excluded those who were undecided. Half of those questioned for STV said they would like to see another referendum within five years while 58% said they would be in favour of having one in the next 10 years. Support for the SNP continues to be high in the wake of the party's landslide general election victory north of the border, winning 56 of Scotland's 59 Westminster seats. The poll found that 55% of those who gave a voting intention would back the Nationalists in the Scottish Parliament constituency vote if the election was held tomorrow. About a fifth (21%) would vote Labour, with support for the Tories at 12%, Liberal Democrats at 7% and Greens at 3%. In the list vote, SNP support fell to 50% and backing for the Greens rose to 8%, with the preferences for the other parties remaining the same. The SNP's business convener Derek Mackay said: "This is a sensational poll for the SNP - it shows not only that people across Scotland support us in huge and growing numbers eight years into government, but that they believe we have a strong record on key issues like health and education." He added: "It is welcome to see support for independence now stands at over 50 per cent, as people see the SNP in government and at Westminster stand up for Scotland." A Scottish Labour spokesman said that the party, under the new leadership of Kezia Dugdale, was changing. He added: "We want people to take another look at Scottish Labour. "But we know it's too early to be asking people for their votes. "Over the coming months, we will put Labour's values first and we will focus on the things that matter in people's lives - like the standards in our schools and our hospitals." The Scottish Conservative Party said it would "always stand up for" the two million people in Scotland who voted "No" in last year's referendum. A spokesman added: "For its part, rather than revelling in this poll, the SNP needs to focus on the day job. "While the Scottish government takes Scotland down the constitutional cul-de-sac, education standards have fallen and the police service set up by this SNP government just two years ago is facing breakdown. "Scotland needs a better way forward, not a step back to yet another referendum." The pollsters interviewed 1002 people between the 24 and 30

Summary: Political parties have been reacting to a poll suggesting that 53% of voters in Scotland would back independence if there was another referendum.


Just over £7,900-worth of virtual currency has been moved from the Bitcoin address listed in the blackmail demand that appeared on hacked PCs. One expert said there was little doubt the funds had been tapped by those responsible for the crime. And it seems they have now made a fresh ransom demand. However, analysts suggest the move is intended to confuse investigations into the matter. In other related developments, Ukraine's interior minister has said the police managed to prevent a second wave of attacks by shutting down and confiscating computer servers used by a local software company, which is thought to have unwittingly helped the Petya-variant virus to spread. And after having repeatedly denied any involvement in the transmission of the malware, the developer Intellect Service has acknowledged an upgrade to its MeDoc tax software was indeed "contaminated", allowing the attack to be carried out. "As of today, every computer which is on the same local network as our product is a threat," the company's chief executive Olesya Bilousova told reporters. She added that one million computers in Ukraine had MeDoc installed on them. The police have recommended that everyone stops using the program and turns off computers that have it. Although the majority of the detected attacks occurred within Ukraine, according to analysis by security firm Eset the malware also affected businesses across the world. Their computers became inaccessible after the code spread over their internal networks, scrambling a part of the PCs' operating systems used to locate where files are stored. High-profile casualties included Nurofen-maker Reckitt Benckiser, Oreo cookie manufacturer Mondelez International, the shipping group Maersk and the advertising agency WPP. Most of those struck did not, however, pay the ransom demand. This was in part because the email address given by the attackers to contact them was shut down by its German operator. And until Tuesday, the funds that were raised lay dormant. But at 22:32 BST on Tuesday, three transfers were triggered. Two of these were sent to Bitcoin wallets used to collect donations to the PasteBin and DeepPaste text-sharing services - platforms often used by hackers to announce their activities. The third and largest of the transfers went to an address that had previously been empty. A little later, a post appeared on DeepPaste demanding 100 bitcoins ($256,300; £198,500) for a "private key to decrypt any hard disk" affected by the attack. "Unless the hackers gave away the Bitcoin account linked to the original ransom demand, only they could have moved the funds," Prof Alan Woodward from the University of Surrey told the BBC. "People are gobsmacked they have gone anywhere near it - they can't be daft enough to try and cash it out. "As far as we can tell, there's no way to actually decrypt affected PCs even if you paid the new demand. "So, it may be that they are trying to lead a false trail away from themselves." Ukraine has accused Russia of being involved in the attack, but the Kremlin has denied any responsibility. The news site Motherboard said it spoke to

Summary: The perpetrators of a recent cyber-attack that disrupted businesses across the world appear to have accessed the ransom payments they raised.


She told the Conservative conference companies were "getting away" with not training British workers and tougher recruitment tests were needed. Students on "low-quality courses" could also face tougher entry rules. She promised councils Â£140m to address migration pressures and moves to deport EU criminals for "minor crimes". In a wide-ranging speech, her first significant policy address since becoming home secretary in July, Ms Rudd also announced a further crackdown on illegal immigration through new powers to go after landlords, employers and banks that facilitate it. But the proposals were met with concern by business groups while Labour said they would be taken with a "pinch of salt" given the government's failure to meet immigration targets. Prime Minister Theresa May has said she is still committed to reducing net migration to "sustainable" levels - taken to mean below 100,000 a year - even though David Cameron failed to meet the target between 2010 and 2015, with net migration recently exceeding 300,000. Ms Rudd, who campaigned to remain in the EU during the referendum, said immigration had brought benefits to the UK but the difference between those settling in the UK and those leaving was "too substantial" and that the Brexit vote had shown British people demanded action. Although this would not happen "overnight", she said only a substantial reduction could help "change the tide of public opinionâ€¦ so once again immigration is something we can all welcome". "I come here today with a warning to those that simply oppose any steps to reduce net migration," she said. "This government will not waver in its commitment to put the interests of the British people first "Reducing net migration back down to sustainable levels will not be easy. But I am committed to delivering it on behalf of the British people." Launching a consultation on entry rules for foreign workers and students, Ms Rudd said the tests that employers had to undergo before recruiting from abroad had become "tick-boxing exercises" and too often resulted in British citizens being discriminated against. "The test should ensure people coming here are filling gaps in the labour market, not taking jobs British people could do," she said. "So I want us to look again at whether our immigration system provides the right incentives for businesses to invest in British workers." While she was committed to attracting the best students from around the world, she said the current system too often "treated every student and university as equal" with insufficient consideration given to the contribution they could make to the UK against the obligations they placed on the state. "Foreign students, even those studying English Language degrees, don't even have to be proficient in speaking English. We need to look at whether this one-size-fits-all approach really is right for the hundreds of different universities, providing thousands of different courses across the country. "And we need to look at whether this generous offer for all universities is really adding value to our economy. This isn't about pulling up the drawbridge. It's about making sure students that come here, come to study."

Summary: New curbs on foreign workers and students may be needed to "change the tide" of public opinion on immigration, Home Secretary Amber Rudd has said.


But the government agreed to Labour proposals for 13 new conditions to be met before shale gas extraction can take place. During a Commons debate, ministers also pledged an "outright ban" on fracking in national parks. Earlier, a committee of MPs called for a moratorium on the practice on the grounds that it could derail efforts to tackle climate change. The Environmental Audit Committee also warned that there were "huge uncertainties" about the environmental impact of fracking. Protests took place in Westminster as MPs gathered for a final Commons debate on fracking legislation in the government's Infrastructure Bill. In the Commons, committee chair Joan Walley backed an amendment tabled by a cross-party group of MPs calling for fracking to be suspended for up to 30 months while an assessment is carried out. Q&A: What is fracking? But the measure did not attract front-bench support and was defeated by 308 votes to 52. A Labour amendment was added to the bill, to loud cheers from opposition benches, which would impose 13 tests to be met before fracking. These include the completion of an environmental assessment and the need to consult residents on an individual basis. A ban on drilling in national parks was another of the suggestions in the Environmental Audit Committee's report. After Labour and other MPs tabled amendments to allow the change to be made, Energy Minister Amber Rudd told the House that the government would remove the provision that shale gas exploration would be allowed in such areas in "exceptional circumstances". She later said there would be an outright ban in "national parks, sites of special interest and areas of national beauty".

Summary: MPs have overwhelmingly rejected a bid to suspend fracking for shale gas.


Media playback is not supported on this device GB's Abbie Brown opened the scoring after just 15 seconds before Fiji's Litia Naiqato finished off a stunning team move to level. But Alice Richardson and Joanne Watmore gave Team GB a 19-7 half-time lead, and Brown sealed the win with her second. Australia and Canada will play in the second semi-final on Monday. Great Britain earlier beat a strong Canada side 22-0 in their final group game. Find out how to get into rugby union with our special guide. And Brown said that Sunday's improvement came because the team had "settled" after feeling nerves on the first day. "It is an Olympics, the nerves are going to hit," she said. "We have shown everyone today with Canada and Fiji, we have done ourselves justice." Britain's semi-final will get underway at 19:00 BST on Monday, with the final following at 23:00. Day-by-day guide to what's on Media playback is not supported on this device

Summary: Great Britain women will face New Zealand in the semi-finals of the Olympic rugby sevens after beating Fiji 26-7 in the last eight at Rio 2016.


And it backed expectations interest rates may rise in about a year's time. Mr Carney also said deflation could emerge during the year, but that inflation was expected to pick up notably towards the end of the year. Inflation was 0% in March for a second month, well below the Bank's 2% target. The figure marks the lowest rate of Consumer Prices Index inflation since estimates of the measure began in 1988. The Bank's base rate has been at a record low of 0.5% for more than six years. Mr Carney blamed falling inflation on a sharp fall in energy prices, lower food prices and strong sterling. He said these factors explained about three-quarters of the fall in inflation. However, the Bank's governor said he was relaxed about the low inflation rate and said the factors which had driven it to zero would be "relatively short-lived". "A temporary period of falling prices should not be mistaken for widespread and persistent deflation," he said, emphasising that the economy was growing and that there was no evidence household spending was being delayed. He said inflation should return to its 2% target within two years before rising slightly above this. Analysis: Robert Peston, BBC Economics Editor Just to remind you of the point of all this soothsaying by the Bank, the Governor Mark Carney sees inflation rising back to the 2% target over the two-year policy horizon. That is based on market expectations that the interest rate it sets will finally rise from the current 0.5% rate to 0.75% some time between April and July next year. So interest rates to rise in roughly a year. You have been told. Read Robert's blog in full The Bank also downgraded expectations for wage growth in 2015 from 3.5% to 2.5%. Meanwhile, Mr Carney warned of "underlying weakness" as the Bank gave a gloomier picture for productivity growth. The Bank revised down its productivity forecast because it sees a disproportionate number of new jobs as low-skilled and low-output. Productivity growth is now expected to improve only modestly in the coming year before remaining below past average rates. "Today's report should leave nobody in any doubt about the fundamental role of productivity growth in the UK economy's performance," said Aberdeen Asset Management chief economist Lucy O'Carroll. "The Bank of England has downgraded its growth outlook, and Mark Carney has put poor productivity right at the centre of the story. "He may have put part of the productivity disappointment of recent years down to a disproportionate pick-up in low-productivity jobs, but he has also admitted that underinvestment has played a role. He's right." Mr Carney also warned that "persistent headwinds continued to weigh on the UK economy", which would mean more gradual increases in interest rates than previously. "The Bank of England's latest inflation report supports financial markets' (and our own) view that the MPC [Monetary Policy Committee] is in no rush to raise interest rates," said Vicky Redwood, chief UK economist at Capital Economics. "This suggests that the MPC sees the market expectations on which the forecast is

Summary: The Bank of England has cut its 2015 growth forecast from 2.9% to 2.5%, and for next year from 2.9% to 2.6%, as governor Mark Carney unveiled his quarterly inflation report.


Dozens of Conservatives were expected to defy the government and oppose the plan to limit the time available for debating plans for proposed changes. But the government later won a separate vote on the principle behind a mainly elected chamber with a majority of 338. But 91 Conservative MPs voted against the bill as a whole. One of the rebels, Angie Bray, has been sacked from her role as a ministerial aide. The vote means that proposals for an 80% elected House of Lords that is half its current size will proceed to their next stage of parliamentary scrutiny in the autumn. By Robin BrantPolitical Correspondent, BBC News Nick Clegg's dream of reform of the House of Lords has slipped away. Not forever, not yet anyway, but it's suffered a very significant setback. The reason: David Cameron couldn't deliver the numbers. And it is, ultimately, a numbers game. The prime minister was facing a massive rebellion, so he decided to step back, apparently telling his deputy he needed more time to garner support from the Tory side. So the government has opted for another go in the autumn, when it says it will try, again, to get support for a programme motion. On the face of it it weakens both men. One couldn't persuade a sizeable chunk of his own MPs to back a key part of the coalition's policy programme. The other has failed the first test in delivering what he hoped would be a key legacy of his time in office. The more Machiavellian view is of a prime minister who sanctioned a soft whipping operation and who wanted to see the prospect of an insurrection in the 100+ category. And also of a man who is content to present his coalition partner with the harsh reality of another delay on the road to reforming the Lords. But critics said the whole future of the bill has been thrown into doubt by the government's decision not to put a so-called programme motion to a vote. This would have limited the time for future debate on the proposed changes in the House of Commons to 10 days. The government had been facing defeat on the vote and Lib Dem sources say Prime Minister David Cameron told his deputy Nick Clegg that the timetabling motion should be pulled to gather support for it among Conservatives over the next two months. BBC political editor Nick Robinson said a spokesman for Mr Clegg had declared "a plague on both their houses" when asked whether he blamed the Conservatives or Labour for the setback. Labour and rebel Conservative MPs said this did not allow enough time to discuss a crucial constitutional change. Commons leader Sir George Young told MPs the timetabling vote would be postponed until after the summer recess. He blamed Labour for the climbdown, saying the opposition was not prepared to support the government in Tuesday's vote despite supporting the idea of changes to the Lords. "It needs those that support reform to vote for reform," he said. The government "remain committed to

Summary: The coalition has dropped plans for a crucial vote on its plans to reform the House of Lords after it faced likely defeat over the issue.


A demonstration was held at the weekend by animal rights campaigners in Derby over the planned facility near Foston. Midlands Pig Producers (MPP) said allegations its pigs would be kept in cramped conditions were untrue. The farm would hold 2,500 sows and 20,000 piglets and use biogas from the slurry to produce electricity. MPP has finished giving extra information to Derbyshire County Council as part of the planning process. It said it had addressed concerns about animal welfare and emissions. A company spokesman said: "We are astonished at some of the highly misleading claims and accusations. "Claims that pigs will be crammed into narrow crates are simply not true. "Our acclaimed 360 Farrowers were named because the sow can turn around 360 degrees at will. "We urge people to either contact us, or refer to the planning application so that they may ascertain the facts of the matter for themselves." About 100 animal rights protesters marched through Derby on Saturday claiming the large-scale development would be cruel to pigs. Critics said that the only time the pigs would see the outside world would be on their way to slaughter. It has also been claimed the site could put small-scale farmers in the area out of business. MPP said the farm would observe the highest welfare standards and pointed out there was already a unit in the UK containing 3,500 sows. South Derbyshire District Council handed over duties for dealing with the application to the county council because of its waste implications. If planning permission is given, construction on the farm will take about a year.

Summary: The company behind a proposed large-scale pig farm in Derbyshire has hit out at "misleading" claims surrounding its plans.


Enrique is leaving after three years in charge at the Nou Camp. Ibai Gomez hit the post for Alaves before Messi scored his 54th goal of the season with a 20-yard curler. Theo Hernandez bent in a free-kick to equalise, but Neymar turned in from close range and then Messi played in Paco Alcacer right on half-time. It has been a disappointing season for Barcelona, who finished runners-up to Real Madrid in La Liga and were eliminated from the Champions League by Juventus in the quarter-finals. They did at least restore some pride with victory over last season's second division champions in what was the final match to be played at Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon Stadium. There were some records set along the way as Enrique's team retained the trophy, having beaten Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla in the last two finals. Messi, who struck the opener after exchanging passes with Neymar outside the penalty area, became the first player to score in four Copa finals since Athletic Bilbao's Telmo Zarra in 1950. Neymar, who forced in Barcelona's second when Messi played in Andre Gomes to cross low from the right, is the first man to score in three successive Copa finals since Ferenc Puskas, who achieved the feat with Real Madrid between 1960 and 1962. Messi's through pass for the third goal was sublime, and was finished calmly by Alcacer - who has been inconsistent since his move from Valencia last summer. The one major worry for Barcelona was a nasty head injury to Javier Mascherano, who was carried off on a stretcher after an early collision with Marcos Llorente, He suffered concussion as well as a cut to his head, and an injury to his right knee that will need further tests, the club said afterwards.

Summary: Lionel Messi was inspired as Barcelona beat Alaves to secure the Copa del Rey for the third year running and give coach Luis Enrique a winning send-off.


MEP Patrick O'Flynn said the party's support had broadened in the final days of the campaign and suggested their vote share would be more than 10%. Earlier, deputy chairman Paul Nuttall said UKIP MPs could offer vote-by-vote support to a minority government. But he told the BBC a referendum on the UK staying in the EU was a "red line". UKIP is attracting around 14% support, according to the latest BBC poll of polls. The party had two MPs at the end of the last Parliament - both of whom won by-elections after defecting from the Conservatives. The party's leader, Euro-MP Nigel Farage, is standing for election to the House of Commons in the Kent constituency of Thanet South. Here is a full list of the candidates contesting the seat. Speaking about UKIP's prospects, economy spokesman Mr O'Flynn said the party had managed to defy expectations of a squeeze. He said: "Tomorrow we will significantly and perhaps dramatically outperform the expectations of pollsters and pundits alike. What are the top issues for each political party at the 2015 general election? Policy guide: Where the parties stand "That means doing much better than a political class consensus of a vote share of around 10% and one or two seats in the Commons. "The so-called squeeze on the UKIP vote predicted by so many of the media class simply has not happened. "On the contrary we are getting indications of a very substantial energising and broadening of our support in the final days of the campaign." Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Nuttall repeated that his party would not enter a formal deal after the election. He said: "We've made it perfectly clear there will no coalitions, there will be no pacts, and if we did go down the line of a deal whereby we vote with the government on a vote-by-vote basis, it will be a loose deal." He said a "red line" would be a "free, full, fair referendum" on EU membership "as soon as possible, preferably before the end of the year." Mr Nuttall was asked whether a vote for his party could harm the prospects of Tory success and therefore an vote on the EU. He said: "The problem you've got with Mr Cameron's promise of a referendum is one he's promised a referendum before and gone back on that deal and secondly he's talking about a negotiation through 2016 and into 2017 with an organisation that has made it perfectly clear that renegotiation isn't on the table." He added: "We're looking to get as many votes as possible tomorrow to ensure we have real change in British politics, whether that's with the European Union or indeed electoral reform." The best of BBC News' Election 2015 specials

Summary: The UK Independence Party (UKIP) will "significantly and perhaps dramatically outperform" expectations in Thursday's election, a spokesman has predicted.


No, not getting your hands on a ticket to the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Much, much more difficult will be to avoid all mention of the film anywhere for the next few weeks. If you are one of the people not so keen on catching the latest installment and wanting to avoid all reference to it, you have already failed by clicking on this article. But while you're here, you might as well carry on reading: here are some invaluable pointers for how to keep your head down until the hype has passed. Or Chad. Or North Korea. If online interest in the film is any indication, you're in deep trouble if you're not into Star Wars and live in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and (for some reason) Hungary - that's where interest is at its most feverish. A quick look at the rest of Google's map shows a bigger picture though: Some pretty big areas don't really care that much about Star Wars, so you could move there. Most of Africa doesn't seem too bothered, and the same goes for central America, where the weather is quite pleasant at this time of the year. (For the record - the map is likely to be blank in some countries due to a lack of data available to Google, rather than an aversion to sci-fi.) The film's page on the IMDb film database shows it is opening in more than 80 countries in the next month - China is the last to get it on 9 January. Incidentally, if you are in Bhutan, we can't say whether The Force Awakens will be shown there - the country's two cinemas have not yet replied to the BBC. This goes without saying. Even traditional art-house cinemas in London have jumped on the bandwagon, with some offering screenings from midnight on Thursday. The regularity of screenings makes listings for some cinemas look more like bus timetables. In the middle of this, however, is the Institute of Contemporary Arts in central London, where Friday night will see a Q&A on Catalan avant-garde cinema. A spokeswoman for the ICA told the BBC it will not be screening the film at any point, nor will it be showing any Star Wars trailers - they show trailers only for independent films that will be screened at the venue. Quite a few people are expected to see the film. Some might reasonably be expected to discuss it afterwards, so avoiding humans altogether is perhaps the best policy. Having said that, not as many people might see it as you would expect. In the US, it is opening in 3,900 screens, and while that sounds like a lot, it is actually some 500 fewer than for the third Twilight film in 2010. This had led Forbes to speculate that The Force Awakens may not end up being the highest-grossing film of all time. If you're going to avoid all humans, it might be wise to do so online too. As of 10:50 GMT on Monday,

Summary: It is likely to prove to be one of the biggest challenges this year.


While the City of London tends to grab more headlines, Edinburgh is the UK's second largest financial centre, employing thousands of people in financial services. Where will banks, investors, brokers, lawyers and accountants choose to ply their trade if the UK were split? "If in doubt, people may say they don't want to take the risk - they gravitate to London, where more deals can be done," says Prof Ranald Michie of the University of Durham, a financial historian who has studied the City of London for 35 years. Financial firms have fewer physical constraints to consider compared to a shipyard or a distillery. And they're likely to move to where they can find other companies to provide the advice and services they need, and where they can recruit skilled staff in the greatest abundance, says Prof Michie. Scottish lender Royal Bank of Scotland has said it will move its legal centre to London in the event of a Yes vote, but has no plans to move jobs. Banks like RBS already have large offices in London they can simply nominate as their new head office, says Peter Hahn, a former Citigroup banker who is now a senior lecturer at Cass Business School. "Many of these companies are really run from London anyway." But for Scotland independence could also create opportunities. "What has grown up in Edinburgh is fund management and insurance," says Prof Michie. "For them, the gravitational pull of London is much, much less - Scotland has cheaper rents, cheaper labour. But they have done well tapping business in the UK, so they would need to try to keep that." Edinburgh could create a business environment to suit its strengths and attract more insurers and asset managers, he says. "But it will be difficult to stop other cities and financial centres doing the same." But the City of London stands to gain too in the event of independence, according to Sir Martin Jacomb, former chairman of insurer Prudential and of BZW, Barclays' first foray into investment banking. "London will become somewhat busier than it was before," he says. "Some Scottish businesses and also Scottish people will move." Writer Nicholas Shaxson also thinks the City of London could benefit from an independent Scotland, although by less high-minded means. He is author of Treasure Islands, a book about tax havens. One of the City's big businesses is helping companies and the wealthy pay less tax, he says. "Scottish people have always been vibrant contributors to British democracy, and history has shown that one thing the City doesn't like very much is democratic demands from a big and bolshy populace. "A reduction in the UK population would lessen democratic pressures, somewhat, and make the UK look still more like a tax haven than it already is." An independent government in Edinburgh might decide to keep taxes on the financial sector low as the two cities compete with each other to attract businesses, says Mr Shaxson. The winners either way would be lawyers, accountants and advisers, says Cass Business School lecturer Dr Hahn. This

Summary: As Scotland decides whether to become an independent nation, some financiers are asking themselves what this could mean for two of the oldest money centres in the world: London and Edinburgh.


Over the years, the 17th Century monument has been threatened by pollution, unabashed construction, a crematorium and even bombs. The BBC's Geeta Pandey in Delhi reports on five threats - past and present - to India's "monument of love". An invasion of the insect called Chironomus Calligraphus (Geoldichironomus) is turning the Taj Mahal green, says environmental activist DK Joshi. Mr Joshi has filed a petition in the National Green Tribunal - a special tribunal set up by the government to deal with environmental disputes - saying that the "explosive breeding" of the pests in the polluted Yamuna river is marring the beauty of the monument. "Fifty-two drains are pouring waste directly into the river and just behind the monument, Yamuna has become so stagnant that fish that earlier kept insect populations in check are dying. This allows pests to proliferate in the river," Mr Joshi told the BBC by phone from the northern city of Agra where the Taj is located. The stains the bugs leave on the marble are washable and workers from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have been trying to scrub the walls clean, but Mr Joshi says frequent scrubbing can take the sheen off the marble. He says the problem has a simple solution - just clean up the Yamuna. On Monday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav ordered officials to "trace the factors behind the problem and find a solution". Built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth, Taj Mahal is often described as one of the wonders of the world. It is also India's biggest tourist attraction, visited by heads of states, celebrities and millions of Indian and foreign tourists every year. But pollution from the industries in Agra and a nearby oil refinery have seen the white marble yellowing over the years. To restore the monument's beauty, the ASI has been applying "mud packs" on its walls to draw out the pollutants. Manoj Bhatnagar of the ASI's chemical department told the BBC that the mud-pack is based on a traditional recipe used by Indian women from ancient times to restore a natural glow to their faces. "A layer of fullers earth - a type of lime-rich clay - mixed with water is applied over the walls and left on for 24 hours or more to dry," he said. "Once it dries, the mud is removed and the surface is washed with distilled water to remove impurities." The marble mausoleum had been given this treatment several times in the past: in 1994, 2001, 2008 and 2014. Mr Bhatnagar said the next round of beauty treatment will begin once the weather cools a bit - the heat wave currently blowing across India will dry out the mud-pack too quickly and render it ineffective. In November 2002, the government of the Uttar Pradesh state began work on a shopping complex near the Taj Mahal. The state government, led by then chief minister Mayawati, said the mall was being constructed to relocate shops that had been removed

Summary: India's iconic Taj Mahal has been threatened in recent weeks by insect poo - environmentalists say that bugs from the polluted Yamuna river nearby are invading the monument, leaving greenish-black patches of waste on its pristine white marble walls.


Carla McGurn, 20, had been accused of assaulting the two-month-old boy on various occasions between January and February 2015 at a house in Fife. She denied the charge, which was found not proven by a jury after a trial. Miss McGurn, from Burntisland, had been accused of assaulting the boy by seizing hold of him and shaking him repeatedly. It had been alleged that she inflicted "blunt force trauma" to the boy's head and body by "means unknown to the prosecutor", and that the assault had been to the child's "severe injury" and to the "danger of his life".

Summary: A woman has been acquitted of assaulting a baby boy to the danger of his life.


Media playback is not supported on this device The hosts recovered from Guilhem Guirado's early try to lead 18-5 after Stuart Hogg and Duncan Taylor tries, the latter a superb individual effort. Gael Fickou's score reduced France's half-time deficit, and two Maxime Machenaud penalties made it 21-18. But Hogg's brilliant overhead pass saw Tim Visser's try secure victory. Greig Laidlaw's penalty with five minutes left added further gloss to a rapturously received triumph, their first over France since 2006. It also ended a demoralising sequence of seven straight home Six Nations defeats at Murrayfield over three years since Ireland were beaten in 2013. Scotland's victory confirmed England, who beat Wales on Saturday for their fourth straight win, as Six Nations champions, the first time the title has been decided with a round to go. The Scots may have started brightly, confidence buoyed by their 36-20 win in Rome a fortnight ago, but their momentum was checked inside five minutes. France set Murrayfield alight with some of the flair which appeared to have disappeared from their game, resulting in a try for their admirable captain Guirado. The hooker set Virimi Vakatawa away down the right, and after the wing slipped the ball inside to Wesley Fofana, Guirado was there to collect the scoring pass and plunge over. Fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc, on his return to the side, missed the conversion from a wide angle, and then what should have been a straightforward penalty attempt. So instead of a 10-0 deficit, within five minutes Scotland had turned the game on its head with two Laidlaw penalties, the second earned by a scrummage which continued to provide sustenance. It was an admirable response having lost Finn Russell to a head knock - the fly-half collided with flanker John Barclay's outstretched leg - in the build-up to France's try. But Russell's replacement Peter Horne stepped into the breach superbly, and his half-break and offload to Richie Gray after a dozen phases allowed Hogg to dart over in the 33rd minute. Within four minutes. Murrayfield was on its feet again after a stunning solo score from Taylor. Taking a quick tap penalty 10 metres inside his own half, the Saracens centre sped up the right touchline, bulldozing through the attempted tackle of Vakatawa. As space opened up in front of him, the 26-year-old motored on, eluding Wenceslas Lauret before touching down for a thunderous try. Referee Glen Jackson did consult a television replay after a suspicion Laidlaw had impeded Lauret with a tug of his shirt, but was satisfied the Frenchman's momentum had not been checked. Laidlaw added the conversion for an 18-5 lead, but a penalty conceded by Barclay with two minutes of the half left allowed France to strike back. The visitors kicked the penalty to touch on the right flank, launched a line-out drive and several phases later, Fickou sliced his way through in the left corner. Machenaud, taking over the kicking duties from Trinh-Duc, made it a six-point game at the interval. Hogg's monster 54-metre penalty early in the second half made it 21-12,

Summary: Scotland ended a 10-year winless streak against France to record back-to-back Six Nations victories for the first time in three years.


However, flanker Tom Wood has been left out of the 25-man training squad. Fiji-born soldier Rokoduguni replaces Marland Yarde at right wing, while Nathan Hughes will come in for Wood if he recovers from a leg injury. It is understood last season's Premiership player of the season Alex Goode will start in place of regular full-back Mike Brown. Goode last appeared for England from the bench in their Six Nations win in Italy in February. Hughes, also born in Fiji, could make his first start if he overcomes a minor niggle, with Teimana Harrison set to step in if the Wasps player fails to recover. Head coach Eddie Jones is seeking an 11th straight victory since taking charge of the side. England are now ranked second in the world and face Argentina and Australia on consecutive weekends after the visit of Fiji, who are ranked 10th. Elsewhere, with lock Dave Attwood ruled out though injury, his Bath team-mate Charlie Ewels is set to make his England debut from the bench. It is also thought Jonathan Joseph is being considered for a return to the starting XV at the expense of Elliot Daly, after the Bath centre trained in the number 13 position on Tuesday. Number eight Billy Vunipola recovered from upper body soreness to take a full part in the training session. Wood started for England for the first time since the Rugby World Cup in Saturday's 37-21 victory over South Africa, but has now returned to his club Northampton. He is not injured so his release comes as a surprise. England will confirm their match squad on Thursday. Forwards: Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Jamie George (Saracens), Teimana Harrison (Northampton Saints), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens) Backs: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath Rugby), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Te'o (Worcester Warriors), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Summary: Wing Semesa Rokoduguni is set to make his first England appearance since 2014 against Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday.


Australia media reported that Stephen Brady's partner of 32 years was barred from an airport greeting party. Peter Stephens was reportedly told to "wait in the car" rather than join Mr Brady on the tarmac to meet Mr Abbott. Mr Brady offered to resign after ignoring the instructions, which Mr Abbott said were not from him. The incident happened in April, as Mr Abbott was flying into Paris from Turkey where he had been marking Anzac Day. He was not travelling with his wife, so under normal diplomatic protocol the receiving ambassador would be expected to welcome him without his or her partner as well. The prime minister's office said he had been "very happy to be met by ambassador Brady and his partner when he arrived in Paris last month". Mr Abbott said on Wednesday that there was "some issue at the level of junior officials and I don't concern myself with these things". He said Mr Brady was "a fine servant of Australia, a really fine servant of Australia. He's a friend of mine, always has been and as far as I'm concerned always will be". Opposition leader Bill Shorten, however, said that if the report was true Mr Brady and Mr Stephens "deserve an apology". Australia largely has progressive attitudes towards homosexuality though it does not allow same-sex marriages. Parliament voted down a bill to legalise it in 2012, and Mr Abbott has expressed personal opposition. Earlier this week, some of Australia's most prominent business leaders came together to call for marriage equality. The CEO of national airline Qantas, Alan Joyce - who is himself gay - said it would show young gay Australians that "they're not in some way second-class citizens".

Summary: Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott has dismissed as "trivia" a media row over the treatment of the gay partner of his ambassador to France.


A statement of intent from the recently appointed Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager Richie Foran as he faced the media on Wednesday for the first time since being appointed a month ago. It also hinted at a change in approach from his predecessor John Hughes. "Yes, you want to play attractive football, play the ball out from the back, but when you get into the opposition half I want to go and attack," said Foran. "Our style is going to change a little bit. I want crosses in the box, shots on goal, the crowd up and down off their seats. You want exciting football but it's all about the three points." At 36, Foran is young and untested as a manager but has an impressive air of authority about him; a seriousness that suggests he's determined to succeed. "One message I got from an ex-manager was 'welcome to the asylum' which put a smile on my face," laughed Foran. There weren't too many laughs after that. He was extremely business-like. "I'm sure it's not as bad as that. I'm sure we'll have challenging times. With the squad, the chairman, the board, right behind me I'm sure we can have a good season." Dubliner Foran, who has been at the club since 2009, has a lot to live up to. Hughes won a Scottish Cup in 2015, finished third in the Premiership the same season and got the club into Europe for the first time. Things deteriorated slightly last term, a harsh injury list not helping as Caley finished seventh. The budget available ultimately led to divorce between the previous manager and the club. "There's been a lot of talk about the budget. I'm delighted with the budget," states Foran, kicking that delicate subject into touch. Two further areas stick out. The club appointed Foran on a four-year contract, a tremendous show of faith in a first-time manager. "It was only right of the board to match Richie's commitment to the area and to the club," said Thistle chairman Kenny Cameron. "Since he came in, he's been a tremendous acquisition for this club. It was right the club showed faith in Richie and gave him four years." Foran duly expressed his passion for everything Inverness. It's something he frequently shares and is genuine. "I'm dedicated to the club. It's always been about the club for me, not about Richie Foran. I'm dedicated to the city. I've no interest in leaving the city; my family is born and bred here. "I'm going to spend the rest of my life living here because I'm so dedicated to the place. That probably reflects the four-year deal." A month into the job, one obvious problem might have been how he makes the transition from the dressing room to manager. Without hesitation, Foran states it is not an issue. "You just have to distance yourself, but I've been doing that for the last few years. I haven't played a lot of football with them so you can nearly say I've been retired for a couple of years now.

Summary: "My philosophy is win at all costs, simple as that."


Nazimuddin Samad was hacked with machetes at a traffic junction late on Wednesday and then shot, police said. The 28-year-old was reported to have been an organiser of the Ganajagran Manch, a secular campaigning group. A string of prominent secular bloggers have been attacked or killed by religious extremists in Bangladesh in the last year. Bangladesh is officially secular but critics say the government has failed to properly address the attacks. Who is behind the Bangladesh killings? Attacks send shockwaves through Bangladesh The threat of small-scale terror attacks Police said three assailants on a motorcycle attacked Mr Samad and then shot him, The Dhaka Tribune reported. Police have not named any suspects in the case nor confirmed a religious motive. Mr Samad, a student of Jagannath University, regularly wrote against religious extremism on his Facebook page. He had written "I have no religion" on his profile under religious views. There have been several deadly attacks in Bangladesh in recent months, although it is not clear who is behind them. Last year, four prominent secular bloggers were killed with machetes, one inside his own home. They all appeared on a list of 84 "atheist bloggers" drawn up by Islamic groups in 2013 and widely circulated. There have also been attacks on members of religious minorities including Shia, Sufi and Ahmadi Muslims, Christians and Hindus. Two foreigners, an Italian aid worker and a Japanese man, were also shot dead late last year, in seemingly random attacks. The so-called Islamic State group has said it carried out many of the attacks - but this has not been independently verified. Members of another militant Islamist group, the Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), were arrested over an assault on an Italian Catholic priest late last year.

Summary: A Bangladeshi law student who had expressed secular views online has been killed in the capital, Dhaka.


It pulls together 20 existing planning polices into a single Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS). The SPSS confirms the "precautionary principle" approach to fracking, a method of oil and gas extraction. It means fracking will not be allowed unless there is "robust evidence" of its safety on all environmental impacts. It also confirm a "town centres first" approach to retailing. The SPSS will be used as a guide for councils in the development of new Local Development Plans. Mr Durkan said the final document had been informed by "a lively and constructive debate" following the publication of a draft version. He said that, as a result, the final SPPS had been "much improved". However, he said that there were significant issues raised which were beyond the scope of the SPPS, particularly in relation to renewable energy and strategic policy development in the countryside. "Publishing the SPPS unlocks development potential, supports job creation and will aid economic recovery. but not at the expense of our planet, environment and people," Mr Durkan said. "It consolidates over 800 pages of existing policy into a single document and brings clarity and certainty to important planning matters throughout the north." The environment minister said that significantly and for the first time, a "no to fracking" was enshrined in policy, unless there was sufficient and robust evidence of its safety on all environmental impacts. "I believe this is a sensible and reasonable approach," he said. Overall, Mr Durkan said, this "key document" would "help ensure that the planning system delivers for all, now and for future generations".

Summary: A planning blueprint for Northern Ireland has been published by Environment Minister Mark H Durkan.


The 24-year-old Mali international missed most of last season with a cruciate ligament injury, but has played 19 matches this term. Head coach Paul Lambert told the club website: "He has been great since I have been here having come back from a long-term injury. "And he is still only a young guy. He has his whole career in front of him." Dicko scored 15 goals in 40 appearances for Wolves in the 2014-15 season, but his injury lay-off meant he played just six matches last season. His only two goals so far this term came in the EFL Trophy victory over Crewe in October. Lambert added: "Players like Nouha are really difficult to find, with such genuine speed. "He is a major threat to opposition defenders with his pace and now I think he just needs to get a goal under his belt."

Summary: Striker Nouha Dicko has signed a new deal which will keep him at Championship club Wolves until 2020.


Media playback is not supported on this device The Briton, seeded second, won 7-5 6-1 6-4 on Centre Court and will next face French 12th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Wednesday. After matching Murray for 40 minutes, Kyrgios' challenge faded quickly under sustained pressure from the Scot. Murray, the 2013 champion, is into the last eight without dropping a set. The 29-year-old has now won eight matches in a row on grass, and joins Pete Sampras and John McEnroe in reaching nine consecutive Wimbledon quarter-finals. Murray had beaten Kyrgios at the other three Grand Slams - and he brushed aside any thought this might be the Australian's time with a brilliant display. The world number two was focused throughout, winning 80% of points on the Kyrgios second serve and denying the 21-year-old a single break point. "The first set was very tight. I managed to get the break at 6-5 but it was tight up to that point," Murray told BBC Sport. "The second set was much more comfortable, Nick lost his focus a bit. I was able to dictate a lot of the rallies." Asked about the growing expectation of a second title following top seed Novak Djokovic's defeat on Saturday, Murray added: "Every year I play here it's the same. "I try my best to win my matches and go as deep as possible. "The matches, as you progress, get tougher. Tsonga is next who is a tough grass-court player and I'll have to play very well to win that one." Kyrgios said: "As soon as I lost the first set, I just lost belief. It obviously felt like a mountain to climb after losing the first. "He played pretty well, as well. I don't think he missed too many balls either." It is a measure of how sharp Murray is looking that he won the opening set despite Kyrgios making 30 of 34 first serves - the bedrock of his game. There were flashes of brilliance all over the court from the Australian and a tie-break appeared inevitable after 11 games without a break point, but Murray grabbed the initiative with a brilliant return game. A backhand pass gave the Scot a 0-30 lead before a clever cross-court chip drew a loose volley from Kyrgios, who suddenly found himself staring at three set points. Two were saved with big serves but Murray drilled a cross-court forehand on the third that Kyrgios could only divert into the net. If the first set was a tight, tense contest, the second disappeared in just 26 minutes as Murray maintained the quality of a tournament favourite, while Kyrgios' belief appeared to drain away. Murray was now peppering the baseline with his returns, drawing Kyrgios into rallies, and he made the breakthrough with another pass that the Australian could only net. Two games later and the pair's much-discussed friendship appeared briefly on hold as Murray slowed the quick-fire Kyrgios serving pace, prompting the Australian to thrash a wild forehand out and hand over another break. Murray crunched down his sixth ace to clinch a two-set

Summary: Andy Murray saw off the threat of Australian rising star Nick Kyrgios with a clinical performance to reach his ninth Wimbledon quarter-final.


They claim to have evidence Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was pressured by ministers to drop his earlier appeal. He was allowed to return home to Libya in 2009, suffering from terminal prostate cancer, and died three years later. The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) has been asked to look again at his conviction. The involvement of Megrahi's family may overcome a legal hurdle against a bid for a re-examination of the case. The Libyan secret service agent, the only man convicted of Britain's worst act of terrorism, was jailed for life following his conviction in 2001, and ordered to serve a minimum of 27 years. He died in May of 2012, three years after being allowed out of prison on compassionate grounds. Shortly before that, he had abandoned an appeal against his conviction which had been brought after a four-year investigation by the SCCRC. Ministers have always claimed they played no part in this. But Aamer Anwar, the lawyer who is taking the case to the commission, said: "To date both the British government and Scottish government have claimed that they played no role in pressuring Mr Megrahi into dropping his appeal as a condition of his immediate release. "However the evidence submitted to the Commission today claims that this is fundamentally untrue." Mr Anwar added: "The fundamental question for the commission is whether it regards it as in the interests of justice to refer a case back to the High Court where the convicted person himself had commenced an appeal on a SCCRC reference and then chosen to abandon it? "The answer might depend on the precise circumstances in which the appellant came to abandon his appeal. "Mr Megrahi's terminal illness; the fact that prisoner transfer was not open while the appeal was ongoing; and whether Mr Megrahi had no way of knowing that (Justice Secretary) Kenny MacAskill would ultimately opt for compassionate release rather than prisoner transfer or, as is alleged, that he was led to believe that he would not be released unless he dropped his appeal." Mr Anwar, who is acting for six relatives of Megrahi, who are not being named because of the volatile political situation in Libya, has asked the commission to consider the grounds of appeal before the court when the last proceedings were abandoned. He has also asked the SCCRC to consider further evidence. This includes claims that it was impossible for the bomb timer identified by prosecutors at Megrahi's trial to have been responsible for the bombing; and that there is evidence the bomb - which the court heard had been put onto a flight at Malta - had already been at Heathrow Airport, the flight's departure airport. Relatives of some of the 270 victims of the bombing - led by Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora died on Pan-Am Flight 103 - previously said they would seek to have the conviction reviewed. In a statement released last month, before it was known that Megrahi's family were to making a request to the SCCRC, the commission said it would have to decide whether

Summary: The family of the Lockerbie bomber has instructed a Scottish lawyer to apply to have his conviction reviewed.


The technical error has directed people searching for the national park more than 150m (241km) away to a location between Chelsea and Knightsbridge. Brecon Beacons National Park Authority posted the image online with the caption: "We have now moved. Londoners get an upgrade thanks to Google Maps." Chief executive John Cook joked: "Well the move has come as a bit of a shock to us all." He added: "I'm sure it will come as good news to Londoners who want some fresh mountain air on their doorstep. "The truth is we are only three hours away from London - don't rely on your sat-nav or Google Maps - just head to Bristol on the M4, cross the bridge, ask a local and they'll know exactly where to find us."

Summary: A glitch on Google Maps has located the Brecon Beacons in the heart of London.


The world governing body said local officials could instead be appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board. There will be two Twenty20 and three one-day internationals from 22-31 May. On Thursday Zimbabwe cancelled the tour after news of a terrorist attack in Karachi, then retracted the statement. No top-level international cricket has been played in Pakistan since Sri Lanka's team bus was attacked there by gunmen in 2009.

Summary: The International Cricket Council will not send umpires to Pakistan to officiate in their upcoming limited-overs series against Zimbabwe because of security concerns.


The force confirmed it was examining a number of buildings used for firearms training between 1980 and 2007. It also said it was in the process of contacting "a large number of officers" who might have been affected. At one time asbestos was frequently used as a building material. Exposure to asbestos can cause serious and potentially-fatal diseases including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. It is thought it is generally only people who regularly work directly with materials containing asbestos who are at any serious health risk but Health and Safety Executive figures estimate there are 5,000 deaths a year caused by exposure to the substance. Short-term exposure is not considered to pose a danger. The HSE says asbestos can be present in any building built or refurbished before 2000. The Met said it would undertake rigorous examinations at all buildings where firearms training took place to establish whether asbestos was present. Ch Supt Mike Gallagher said officers still working for the force had been contacted. He said inquiries had identified a possible issue at some buildings used historically and detailed investigations had been carried out to identify all those individuals potentially affected. "Due to the time period in question and number of possible sites, we need to make contact with a large number of officers," he added. "This will include those who have left, retired, or transferred, so clearly this is a process which will take some time." Professor John Cherrie, of Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, who has worked on several asbestos research projects, said most people were exposed to low levels of asbestos at some time during their life. "However, people who become ill from asbestos are usually those who were exposed to it on a regular basis, most often in a job where they worked directly with asbestos-containing materials."

Summary: Up to 30,000 police officers might have come into contact with asbestos at training facilities, the Metropolitan Police have said.