Cpl Reginald Robbins's name was on the roll of honour read out at the original unveiling ceremony for Andover's war memorial in 1920. It it not known why it was never included on the actual memorial. A service of rededication was held after his name was inscribed on the Portland stone monument. Cpl Robbins was born in Sussex but moved to Andover with his father when he was in his teens, joining the Royal Engineers in 1917. He saw service in France and Egypt before his death from Spanish flu in 1920 at the age of 25. The disease claimed up to 50 million lives around the world during the pandemic which began in March 1918. Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Councillor Ian Carr, said the inscription, which followed research by local historian Craig Fisher, was a "poignant tribute". "We may never know exactly why Reginald's name was not included on the memorial, but it is important that he is honoured and correctly remembered alongside the other local servicemen who gave their lives," he added.

Summary: The name of a soldier who died in the years following World War One has been added to a Hampshire war memorial, 95 years after it was erected.


Media playback is not supported on this device City are now 10 points behind leaders Chelsea after defeat on Merseyside - the heaviest league loss in Guardiola's managerial career. Asked if the gap was too great, he said: "Yes. Ten is a lot of points." Guardiola, 45, has told his players to unite "in the bad moments" and "forget the table" until the end of the season. He added: "At the end of the season, we are going to evaluate our level and how our performance was, how the coach was, how the players were. After that we are going to decide." The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss insisted he was "so happy in Manchester" despite his side sitting fifth, two points behind fourth-placed Arsenal. Guardiola watched City dominate possession on Merseyside but concede four from the six shots they faced. Only five teams have a lower haul than their four clean sheets in the league - BBC Radio 5 live pundit Robbie Savage said City "cannot defend" and questioned if Guardiola would now change his style. City are the only team in the Premier League to have over 50% of possession in every game this season but they have now conceded from the first shot they have faced in four of their last seven games. Guardiola added: "I said to the players be positive because you made some fantastic things during the season and for many reasons we didn't get what I think we deserved. "In the bad moments we have to be close. It's awful for my players. We created chances but don't score and when they have a chance, they punish us." Everton scored with their first two shots through Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas, with Tom Davies and Ademola Lookman completing the rout. Lookman's goal came after a John Stones clearance was charged down, throwing the young defender again under the spotlight. It was Stones' first visit to Goodison Park since leaving Everton for City in a £47.5m deal last summer. The 22-year-old has been criticised for making too many mistakes, and former Manchester United and Everton defender Phil Neville believes he is being unfairly singled out. However, fellow pundit Alan Shearer told Match of the Day 2: "John Stones did have a nightmare. He is 22 now, he has played nearly 100 Premier League games and everyone keeps saying to me and to the rest of the football world, that he is going to be a top player. "If I'm a centre forward, a young guy and I keep on missing chances, I don't expect to be in the team. Eventually you are going to get left out. I keep seeing Stones making mistakes too often, too many times." City's next outing is a home encounter with second-placed Tottenham, who are on a run of six league wins. Media playback is not supported on this device

Summary: Manchester City are out of the Premier League title race after a 4-0 loss to Everton at Goodison Park, according to manager Pep Guardiola.


Last year meldonium was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited substance list and several athletes later tested positive for the drug. Tennis player Maria Sharapova is now serving a two-year ban. "Athletes and their entourage have ample time to familiarise themselves with the list," Wada president Craig Reedie said. "There can be no tolerance for people who intentionally break the rules." The updated list comes into force on 1 January 2017. It covers substances and methods banned in and out of competition, and which substances are banned in different sports. Wada said in April that scientists were unsure how long meldonium stayed in an athlete's system. It also suggested athletes who tested positive before 1 March could avoid bans, provided they had stopped taking it before 1 January. Sharapova, 29, tested positive for meldonium at the Australian Open in January 2016 and an out-of-competition test on 2 February. The Russian said she had been taking meldonium since 2006 for health reasons and was unaware it had been added to the banned list as she knew it only by the name mildronate.

Summary: Athletes have been warned to prepapre for an updated list of banned substances coming into force in 2017.


Police were called to the woman's mobile home after receiving a 911 call about a woman suffering chest pains. But when officers arrived, the woman pointed a gun at them and threatened to shoot anyone who came near her. The woman stayed put despite police using flash grenades and tear gas. The standoff in the town of Topanga, near Los Angeles, finally ended early on Friday after the woman attempted to crawl under her mobile home and police pulled her out. "It's very unusual, but we're just happy that we're able to bring this to a peaceful resolution," said Lt. A J Rotella of the Sheriff's Department's Malibu station told the Los Angeles Times. "No-one wants to see an elderly woman, for whatever reason she acted this way, no one wanted to see her get seriously hurt." It was unclear whether the crisis-negotiation robot was damaged in the incident. The woman also hit it with a broom and threw a cover over it. Some police departments in the US use the robots - equipped with two-way radios and cameras - to scout dangerous situations and establish communication between police and suspects.

Summary: An elderly California woman has surrendered to police after a 22-hour stand-off, in which the woman shot at a police robot that was sent to communicate with her.


In the six months to 13 August, sales climbed 14.4% to Â£259.5m, with profits rising 20.5% to Â£21.5m. This was despite rival retailers struggling due to unseasonal weather. "This is the company's first update since Brexit, and is a strong showing," said George Salmon, an analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. "The second half of the year is more important to Ted Baker than the first, nonetheless the news that sales growth remains robust provides reassurance that the group can continue to thrive, even in challenging times." The company, which opened its first store in Glasgow in 1988, now has 470 outlets worldwide selling fashion and accessories. It grew in all its markets, with retail sales in the UK and Europe - its biggest market - up 8.5%. In North America sales climbed 28.7% and they were 15.8% higher in Asia. Online sales meanwhile leapt 29.7% as the firm invested in web design, personalised content and language-specific websites. Brands such as Next and H&M have reported below-forecast results this year, with sales hit by colder weather in March and April this year. However, Zara-owner Inditex reported strong first-half profits, driven partly by rising online sales.

Summary: Fashion group Ted Baker has reported strong profits for the first half of 2016 despite challenging trading conditions.


R&B Distillers has proposed turning Borodale House, a derelict Victorian hotel, into a distillery and visitor centre. The building work is scheduled to begin in April this year and the production of whisky next year. The distillery would be one of the largest employers on an island with a population of about 170 people.

Summary: Highland Council has approved plans for the Isle of Raasay's first whisky distillery.


The current provider, Silcox Coaches, is facing an uncertain future after experiencing financial difficulties. The Pembroke Dock-based company has 28 school contracts with Pembrokeshire council, but BBC Wales understands it intends to file for administration unless a buyer can be found. Edwards Coaches will be the new provider after half term. Based in Pontypridd, Edwards Coaches is the largest family owned coach-company in the country employing over 500 staff and operating 260 vehicles. Its managing director Mike Edwards confirmed all former Silcox home-to-school transport routes will be operated by Edwards when school term resumes on Monday, 6 June. Silcox Coaches operates a further 18 public transport routes in Pembrokeshire and separate arrangements are being considered for these services.

Summary: An alternative coach company has been brought in to provide school transport in Pembrokeshire.


Nicholas Eggington was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault and two counts of gross indecency against a male child between 1992 and 1993. The 58-year-old, who taught at the Cheam School in Hampshire, was placed on the sex offenders' register for life. He is also subject to a sexual harm prevention order. Winchester Crown Court heard Eggington, from Nottingham, worked at the school in Headley between 1987 and 1993. Following sentencing on Friday, a Hampshire Police spokesman said the victim had shown "courage" during the "difficult investigation".

Summary: A teacher has been jailed for three years for sexually abusing a boy at a preparatory school.


Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded the north in response to a military coup on the island which was backed by the Athens government. The island was effectively partitioned with the northern third inhabited by Turkish Cypriots and the southern two-thirds by Greek Cypriots. United Nations troops patrol the "Green Line" dividing the two parts. Reunification talks have proceeded slowly. Cyprus successfully diversified its largely agrarian economy into one based on services - including a large tourism sector - and light manufacturing. More recently it has also developed into an important financial hub, especially for investors from Russia and Eastern Europe. Population 1.1 million (combined) Area 9,251 sq km (3,572 sq miles) (combined) Major languages Greek, Turkish Major religions Christianity, Islam Life expectancy 78 years (men), 82 years (women) (UN) Currency euro; Turkish lira in the north President: Nicos Anastasiades Conservative Democratic Rally candidate Nicos Anastasiades won the February 2013 run-off election by one of the biggest margins for many years, promising to do whatever was needed to secure a financial rescue package. He pledged to hammer out a quick deal with foreign lenders and bring Cyprus closer to Europe, in a shift from the policies of the outgoing Communist government that first sought aid from Russia before turning to the European Union. He quickly reached agreement with the UN and IMF on a 10bn-euro bank bailout, which was equally quickly amended to safeguard smaller bank accounts after parliament rejected the deal. On the question of reunification with the separatist Turkish Cypriot north, President Anastasiades welcomed the election of pro-unity Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci in 2015 and immediately agreed to the resumption of hitherto stalled talks. Turkish Cypriot leader: Mustafa Akinci Mustafa Akinci, a social democrat, swept to victory in the Turkish Cypriot communal presidential election in 2015, promising to push harder for a peace deal in Cyprus. He beat the nationalist incumbent Dervis Eroglu. As long-serving mayor of the Turkish Cypriot municipality of North Nicosia between 1976 and 1990, Mr Akinci had pioneered cooperation with his southern counterpart on practical sanitation and heritage projects. This experience illuminates his later devotion to the cause of Cypriot reunification. He founded the Peace and Democracy Movement in 2003 in support of the UN's Annan Plan for a united Cyprus within the European Union, and also advocates a policy of greater independence from Turkey in policy matters. The Cypriot government welcomed his election. The status of Northern Cyprus as a separate entity is recognised only by Turkey. The Cypriot media mirror the island's political division, with the Turkish-controlled zone in the north operating its own press and broadcasters. Some 95% of Cypriots were online by 2015 and 70% on Facebook. Some key dates in the history of Cyprus: 1914 - Cyprus annexed by Britain, after more than 300 years of Ottoman rule. Britain had occupied the island in 1878, although it remained nominally under Ottoman sovereignty. 1955 - Greek Cypriots begin guerrilla war against British rule. The guerrilla movement, the National Organisation of Cypriot Combatants (EOKA), wants enosis (unification) with Greece.

Summary: By legend the birthplace of the ancient Greek goddess of love Aphrodite, Cyprus's modern history has, in contrast, been dominated by enmity between its Greek and Turkish inhabitants.


15 May 2017 Last updated at 13:14 BST The narwhal is a mysterious member of the whale family that mostly lives in the Arctic. It has a long pointy tusk that points out of the end of its nose - that's led to the creature having the nickname, the "unicorn whale". Scientist knew very little about what these tusks were for until they started filming them in the wild, using drones. Now they know it's part of a clever way to hunt fish... Watch this...

Summary: Scientists reckon they've figured out why the narwhal has its famous tusk.


The Union of Construction Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) said staff at Green Hill Construction were told it was closing on 11 April. Workers were given no notice period and were not consulted, the union said. The firm, which employed over 150 people, built houses for housing associations. Green Hill was set up in 2006 to build affordable homes for social landlords and had worked for associations including Seren and Cardiff Community Housing Association. In January 2013 it announced it was creating 20 new jobs after receiving Â£146,650 from the Welsh government's economic growth fund. Dave Gunter, regional organiser for UCATT, said the company had showed no signs of being in trouble before its closure announcement. "The first we knew about it was when our members called saying they had been told there was no work for them," he said. "It was obviously a sad day for them." Mr Gunter said workers had been advised by the firm to claim outstanding payments from the Redundancy Payments Service, but the union had been unable to contact the company to confirm that. BBC Wales understands the future of the company will be resolved next week. Green Hill Construction could not be contacted for a comment. The Welsh government said it would work with the company to see if jobs could be secured. A spokeswoman said: "The company received financial support from the Welsh government and we always seek to recover public funds if and when possible to do so. "Our first priority is to assist the company and its staff at this difficult time."

Summary: Workers at a Newport building firm are facing redundancy after the company warned it was going into administration, union leaders claim.


The film, based on the fantasy game World of Warcraft (WoW), will open in China on 8 June, two days before it begins screening in the US, although it will be screened in various countries prior to that. The game sees players exploring a vast landscape, complete quests and interact with other gamers, and is known for its colourful array of monsters and landscapes, giving rise to its Chinese name "World of Magic Beasts". China is one of the biggest markets for WoW. The Chinese are estimated to make up about half of its five million players. One of the studios behind the movie, Legendary Entertainment, is majority owned by Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda, which acquired a controlling stake in January. But the decision is also part of an accelerating trend where Hollywood has been wooing China by staging elaborate premieres and tie-ups. The last Transformers movie was partly funded by Chinese backers and shot in China - though that ran into controversy - and the latest Star Wars movie was heavily promoted in China with publicity stunts and the appointment of pop star Luhan as an ambassador. The love story between China and WoW is one of perseverance, as the game's popularity has soared despite deep government suspicion prompting heavy controls, according to tech blog Engadget. Chinese players had to make do with a special version of the game with its violence, gore and even character design toned down. Skeletons were "covered up" with flesh, and even the colour of spilt blood was changed to a darker, less shocking hue. The government also insisted that a timer mechanism be built into the game to prevent people from playing it for too long, following widespread fears of internet addiction. Last year one WoW player reportedly collapsed and died after playing it for 19 hours without a break. Operation of the game in China was originally in foreign hands, but it eventually was bought over by Chinese company NetEase. But such obstacles could not stop its runaway success - part of the reason was the timing, as the game was first introduced China in 2005, at a time where online access and internet cafes were fast proliferating amid a booming tech scene. In a nod to its popularity, creator Blizzard Entertainment made a Chinese-inspired expansion to the game called Mists of Pandaria in 2012, featuring panda warriors and monk characters. In recent years the number of players of WoW globally has dropped, but it has made a lasting mark in China as a cultural touchstone. Entrepreneurial Chinese have cashed in on the craze - sometimes without official permission. There is WoW merchandise, a WoW-themed restaurant, and even a massive knock-off theme park in Changzhou. Perhaps unsurprisingly there is also a knock-off Warcraft movie - this month, a Chinese-produced movie called MyWoW will open in cinemas ahead of the official film.

Summary: Hollywood film Warcraft will come to China next month, in what is the culmination of a decade-long love affair between the world's most populous country and one of the most popular online games of all time, writes the BBC's Tessa Wong.


Lamara Bell, 25, was found conscious inside the car near Stirling on 5 July but died in hospital four days later. Her partner John Yuill, 28, died in the crash which was reported to police but not followed up. Ms Bell's brother Martin said police investigations revealed she was able to speak to rescuers when they found her. In a post on Facebook, Mr Bell said: "She was defo 100% conscious. She was able to tell them her name. She added 4 years on to her age and told them she was 29. She did also say she was only in the car for 20 mins. He added: "They also said she was still moving around trying to get out the car but was trapped. "Proud of my sis for doing so well over those three days then the following days in hospital for not giving up the fight. Brave amazing girl. She gave it her all and fought until the end." Ms Bell, a mother of two from Falkirk, was found beside Mr Yuill in the couple's blue Renault Clio on 8 July. The car, which had left a slip road and gone down an embankment, was reported to police on the day of the accident by a member of the public. But the details were not entered into the police system. It was eventually located by officers following up another call from a member of the public who had seen the vehicle. Scottish Justice Secretary Michael Matheson has ordered a review of all police call handling and the case is also the subject of an independent investigation by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc).

Summary: A young mother who lay trapped in a car for three days after it crashed on the M9 was trying to escape when rescuers arrived, her brother has said.


Valdes, 32, has signed an 18-month contract at Old Trafford. De Gea, 24, won United's player of the year award last season. "Nobody is happy to be number two and Victor has to have ambition to beat David De Gea - but it shall be very hard for him," said Van Gaal. Valdes had been training at United as he recovered from a serious knee injury. De Gea has 18 months remaining on his present deal with United after signing for the club in 2011, but he has recently been linked with a move to Real Madrid. However, the United boss says he will extend the player's terms with the club rather than succeed the 33-year-old Iker Casillas at Real. When asked if he thought De Gea would stay, Van Gaal said: "I think so, yes. There is no problem for him to sign." The Dutchman also does not see an issue with having two full Spain internationals in his squad fighting for one position. "My ambition is that I have the best players who can collaborate with each other to form the best team in the world," he said. "When we invited Victor in to have his rehabilitation at Manchester United, we did it for him and ourselves, so I could see if his quality is also still the same. He has confirmed both." Valdes' arrival on a full-time basis is likely to mean the exit of previous back-up goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard. Unbeaten in 11 games, United play Southampton with their manager able to pick from a virtually fully fit squad for the first time this season. "We only have one player injured. Can you believe it?" said Van Gaal. "I have to select, for the first time in my career at Manchester United, the 11 players and the 18." Van Gaal confirmed England winger Ashley Young would be missing for between four and six weeks with a hamstring injury.

Summary: Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says he signed Victor Valdes knowing the former Barcelona goalkeeper will not be happy being back-up for fellow Spaniard David De Gea.


High Performance Computing (HPC) Wales will provide computers that can handle and analyse massive amounts of data at a high speed. The assembly government said it will help the economy by encouraging world-class research and development. Researchers have welcomed the project. The new technology will mean that tasks that usually take months using normal computers can be done in days or even minutes. It can be used for many diverse tasks, such as facial reconstruction modelling, animated graphics, nuclear energy research, petroleum exploration, car crash simulations and airflows over aircraft wings. The assembly government, which is helping to fund the technology, said it will give Wales a super-computing capacity and network at a scale not attempted anywhere else in the UK or Europe, which will help the country's economy and business competitiveness. It will also help create over 400 jobs in industry, it added. "The scale of this project is ambitious and will reach all four corners of Wales," said Lesley Griffiths, deputy minister for science, innovation and skills in the assembly government. DEMENTIA STUDY, BANGOR UNIVERSITY- Teams are working on different brain images to try to understand pain and dementia and how to protect against further deterioration of the brain. HPC will help analyse the data. ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY, ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY - Scientists have developed computer software applications that analyse satellite image data to monitor environmental impact and change. HPC will speed up the process and help environmental initiatives and businesses. HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION, CARDIFF UNIVERSITY - Researchers are trying to better understand plate motion history and the role of the Earth's mantle. Scientists are starting to create models of the history of plate motion going back 80 million years. Plate models dating further back need HPC to help work out if they are correct and realistic. Source: Welsh Assembly Government "It will speed up innovation from research carried out in Welsh universities through to commercial market ready products." The main computer hubs for HPC Wales will be in Cardiff and Swansea, with links to Aberystwyth, Bangor and Glamorgan universities, along with University of Wales Alliance Universities and Technium business innovation centres around Wales. More than 100 innovation collaborative projects between the universities and industry in Wales have already been identified that would benefit from HPC technology. These range from modelling and simulating medical implants to analysing satellite images for monitoring environmental change. Professor Ian Cluckie, Swansea University's pro vice chancellor for science and engineering, said the new technology would help researchers and businesses across Wales. He said: "It will ensure that researchers, students and businesses have access to state-of-the-art high performance computing, that is required to undertake the internationally recognised research that drives the knowledge economy and underpins the Welsh agenda in crucial sectors such as health, science, engineering and advanced manufacturing." Professor Noel Lloyd, chair of Higher Education Wales and vice chancellor of Aberystwyth University, added: "This is tremendous for Wales, both in terms of research capacity and the ways in which the higher education sector can work in collaboration to provide opportunities and training for business." The assembly government is

Summary: A £40m super computer project has been launched that will give businesses and universities in Wales access to the most advanced computing technology currently available.


It is understood 150 people work at the office in Dundalk, County Louth. eBay have not said how many staff will be impacted by the closure. It said it will begin a formal consultation with employees. The company said the plant will close in the second quarter of 2017. The closure comes after the decision to separate eBay and its PayPal business. After the split, PayPal became landlords of the facility in Dundalk from which both companies have been based. PayPal had told eBay that it intended to expand its business and asked tenants to leave so it could occupy the facility. "We will begin a formal consultation process with our colleagues in Dundalk and will share any further information with them as a matter of priority," eBay said in a statement. A spokesperson for PayPal said it was committed to its offices in Dundalk and Dublin. "Today PayPal employs more than 2,600 teammates across both sites, and we're on track to reach 3,000 by 2018. The commitment is in line with our previous jobs announcements. "Our operations will expand and move into the office space vacated by eBay."

Summary: Internet auction site eBay has told staff at an office in the Republic of Ireland that the facility will close next year.


"It's a mixture of craziness and political action," said Professor Jerzy Sarnecki from Stockholm University's Department of Criminology. "This is not a person without psychological problems. But he has been inspired by the discourse we have in this country now related to the question of refugees and foreigners." Sweden expects to receive 190,000 asylum applications this year, one of the highest rates per capita in Europe. Support for the far right has risen as Sweden's ability to house and integrate the new arrivals comes under strain. Amid the febrile debate, some polls suggest the Sweden Democrats party - which is critical of Islam and immigration and won 13% of the vote in the 2014 election - is now the country's biggest party. "Sweden as we know it will not survive the influx of refugees, that is what the party is saying," said Prof Sarnecki. "Anonymous people on the internet say much worse things. They say there is no other way but to kill these people and burn the barracks where they are staying. They will celebrate this guy as someone who has offered his life for the survival of his people." More than a dozen arson attacks this year have targeted refugee reception centres and homes. However the Trollhattan attack is the worst thing that could have happened for the Sweden Democrats, Prof Sarnecki said: "It has made them toxic." The attack has similarities to far right attacks that happened in the 1980s and 1990s, when Sweden was welcoming in refugees from the Bosnian and Iran-Iraq War, according to Professor Jonas Hinnfors, professor of political sciences at Gothenburg University. But he says the deeper trend is that Swedes have become far more open-minded towards immigration, and he doesn't foresee that changing. Up to 40% of people want fewer migrants today, down from 65% in the 1990s, he pointed out. "Public opinion has become drastically more open on issues of race, immigration and people from different cultures. On the other hand, the far right is mobilising - and certain groups may feel their resistance is hardening. Whether one side will have much of an impact on the other in future is hard to say," he said. Prof Sarnecki agrees that most Swedes are not against the society's rapid transformation from a homogeneous racial group into an ethnically mixed society. "But a substantial group is against it," he said. "And they are scared to death."

Summary: Clad in black, with a Darth Vader-like mask, a Nazi helmet and a sword, Anton Lundin Pettersson marched like a soldier through the school corridors, singling out those with dark skin to attack.


Officials said the link was not spotted until a post-mortem examination because the woman lacked some of the common symptoms of measles, such as a rash. Measles is highly contagious, but it has been rarely fatal in the US. The death comes after an outbreak of measles at California's Disneyland in 2014 that infected over 100 people. Although no one died from that outbreak, it sparked an intense debate across the US about mandatory vaccinations for schoolchildren, which some parents oppose. Officials said the case in Washington state was not linked to that Disneyland incident. The woman was on medication that had weakened her immune system, Washington State Department of Health spokesman Donn Moyer told reporters. She was hospitalised for several health conditions in the spring at a facility in Clallam County, Mr Moyer said. "She was there at the same time as a person who later developed a rash and was contagious for measles," he added. Officials have not revealed her name or her age but did say that she was not elderly. An autopsy concluded the cause of death was pneumonia due to measles. "This tragic situation illustrates the importance of immunising as many people as possible to provide a high level of community protection against measles," Mr Moyer said. There have been 176 cases of measles in the US so far this year, with 117 of those cases linked to the Disney outbreak, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The last US death from measles was in 2003.

Summary: The death of a woman in Washington state in spring has been confirmed as the first US fatality from measles in 12 years, health authorities say.


The Barbados-born 21-year-old made his first-team debut in 2016, taking 28 wickets in seven first-class games. He signed a first professional contract in August, but the club have now tied him to a longer deal. "I'm happy to extend my contract. I can develop without any pressure and the aim is to continue to build on what I did last season," said Archer. "My aim for next season is to take 70 wickets across all three formats, and if I can cement my place in the team then I think that can be a reality." He also showed batting potential by making a career-best 73 against Essex and coach Mark Davis believes he is an "immense talent". Davis added: "He is still a young man learning his trade but the signs are clearly there that he will be an integral part of our future success."

Summary: Sussex pace bowler Jofra Archer has agreed a two-year contract extension to run until the end of the 2019 season.


The sustainable development white paper was launched at a school in Blaenavon, Torfaen, dubbed a good example for helping the wider community. However, the Conservatives said urgent action was needed amid growing environmental concerns. And Welsh language campaigners feared their cause could fall lower down the priorities of public bodies. Delegates from organisations including local councils were told that Blaenavon Heritage Primary School was chosen as the location for the launch as it provided a wide range of courses and services across the area for residents with a number of public bodies working together. "Our approach is very much rooted in Welsh values, with a focus on fairness, pride in our communities and our heritage," said John Griffiths, environment and sustainable development minister. "The proposals set out in this White Paper are about focusing on the social, economic and environmental well being for Welsh people and Welsh communities over the long term." The Sustainable Development Bill includes: For the Conservatives, shadow environment minister Russell George said: "While this consultation and its influence on future policy is extremely important, we have long called for Labour ministers to get a grip on sustainable development. "With greenhouse gases on the rise, mobility policy failing, health inequalities getting wider and wildlife habitats in decline, it's more important than ever that we see urgent improvements." Meanwhile, the Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg) has concerns. Sustainable communities spokesperson Toni Schiavone said: "The government's language strategy is completely clear that Welsh needs to be mainstreamed in all its departments, especially where the work affects the future of Welsh speaking communities. "However, under this Bill, there is a risk that public bodies will downgrade the Welsh language as a policy consideration. "The government intends to make sustainable development public bodies' central organising principle. "In that context, it's essential that the welfare of the Welsh language is part of the definition of sustainable development." The consultation runs until March with a number of public events from January.

Summary: The Welsh government wants to introduce a new law to protect the "well-being" of community life.


The report, by Wales' Children's Commissioner Sally Holland, found homes provide the right care for some, helping them feel more stable. But it also highlighted concerns, such as children being criminalised by frequent police call-outs. Thirty-four looked-after children were interviewed, along with professionals. Ms Holland called on people who work with children in care to listen to their opinions and experiences. "They are the experts on what works and it is important that their voices are heard," she said.

Summary: Children leaving residential care at 18 feel they lack support while others claim they have limited say in where they will live, a report has found.


The letter was written just six hours before her execution on 8 February 1587. The 430-year-old handwritten letter has not been on display in Edinburgh since 2009. For preservation reasons, the letter was only to be on show for six hours between 10:00 and 16:00. It will now be on show until 19:00. Entry is free. Queues have started forming at the National Library of Scotland where the letter is on display. Mary is one of the most fascinating figures in Scottish history. She became queen of Scotland when she was six days old but spent most of her childhood in France. On her return her brief reign resulted in disastrous marriages, murder and war. She gave up the throne at the age of 24 and was a prisoner in England for most of the next 20 years until she executed on the orders of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I. Her son James became king of Scotland and England. Mary's last letter was written at two o'clock in the morning on Wednesday 8 February 1587 as she prepared to meet her death at Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire. Writing in French to Henri III, King of France - the brother of her first husband - she said: "I am to be executed like a criminal at eight in the morning." In the letter she said her "crime" was her loyalty to her Catholic faith which, together with her claim to the English throne, made her a considerable threat to her cousin, Elizabeth. She also expressed concern for the servants she would leave behind who had served her so loyally during her 19-year imprisonment in England. Towards the end of the letter, she beseeched King Henri to have "prayers offered to God for a queen who has borne the title Most Christian, and who dies a Catholic, stripped of all her possessions".

Summary: The last letter of Mary, Queen of Scots, is to be displayed for an extra three hours due to high public demand.


During a visit to County Down in June, Theresa May said a Leave vote would end an open north-south border. She also said it was inconceivable to suggest a Leave vote would not have a negative impact on the border. However, she said she wants to see no return to old style border controls. In her first interview as prime minister with a journalist from Northern Ireland, she said she wants to see free movement. As home secretary, Mrs May visited County Down in June and told the BBC: "If we are out of the European Union with tariffs on exporting goods into the EU, there would have to be something to recognise that between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. "And if you pulled out of the EU and came out of free movement, then how could you have a situation where there was an open border with a country that was in the EU and had access to free movement?" But speaking to BBC News NI at Downing Street on Friday, Mrs May said she agreed with the Irish government and Northern Ireland Executive about not seeing a "return to the borders of the past". She would work "closely together" with them to ensure free movement across the border, she added. Mrs May denied that she had changed her view. "What I said was that of course if we leave and there is a land border with a country within the European Union, that does bring a change to that relationship across the border," she said. "All parties are clear about the intent and will to ensure we have an arrangement that isn't a return to the borders of the past." Questioned on how the border would be policed or controlled after Brexit, Mrs May said: "We are discussing with the Irish government at the moment how we can develop these ideas in ways that are going to ensure that we deliver on the intention of all parties." One of Ms May's first acts as prime minister was to visit Belfast, and she has pledged that the Northern Ireland Executive would be fully involved in Brexit discussions. "We are going to make a success of Brexit, there are real opportunities for the United Kingdom," she said. "We need to grasp those opportunities around the world but the devolved administrations will all be - and the government in Belfast will be - involved and fully engaged in the discussions we are having." It is 100 days days since the EU referendum and the result has transformed the political landscape. The issue of Brexit is likely to dominate the Conservative Party conference which begins this weekend. The annual gathering in Birmingham marks Theresa May's first as leader and she will make her keynote address next Wednesday. Although the UK voted to leave the European Union, 56% of people in Northern Ireland voted to remain.

Summary: The prime minister appears to have rowed back on her comments during the EU referendum campaign that there could be Irish border controls if the UK left the EU.


Tom Bradshaw scored twice with 15-yard shots either side of the break, after on-loan Adam Armstrong had fired the Tykes ahead with a 25th-minute penalty. From 2-0 down, Jonathan Kodjia offered hope, scoring from a narrow angle a minute after Bradshaw's first goal. But Bradshaw's second condemned Villa to a seventh defeat in eight games. Watched by their lowest league home crowd of the season, Villa are still seven points clear of relegation danger after a defeat inflicted by two strikers who were last season scoring their goals in the Midlands for League One clubs, Armstrong for Coventry City and Bradshaw for Walsall. Barnsley are ninth, six points shy of a play-off place, after their first victory - and goals - in three games. Villa had a lot of early first-half possession and created decent openings, with Henri Lansbury going close three times, while Albert Adomah powered a shot just over and former Barnsley captain Conor Hourihane missed a free header. But, out of the blue, the game changed on 25 minutes when winger Marley Watkins fell heavily under Jordan Amavi's challenge and striker Armstrong, on loan from Newcastle, confidently converted the resulting penalty to Sam Johnstone's right. Kodjia twice went close for Villa, either side of Barnsley's Liverpool loanee Ryan Kent having a free-kick tipped away for a corner by home goalkeeper Johnstone. However, on 43 minutes, Barnsley worked a second goal from the right, with Andy Yiadom flicking on for Bradshaw to clip a neat right-foot finish inside Johnstone's right post. Villa's response was instant, scoring just a minute later when Adomah's low ball from the right made it beyond the far post, where Kodjia turned in coolly from a narrow angle. But, on 58 minutes, Barnsley made the game safe when Villa failed to clear their lines from a badly-defended free-kick, allowing Bradshaw to drill a low left-foot finish into Johnstone's bottom right corner - only a seventh goal of the season for the summer signing. Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce told BBC WM: "It's not good enough. That's for sure. We started off all right for the first 25 minutes and had a few chances but, as has happened over the last four or five weeks, we didn't take them, we make a mistake, we get punished and it goes round in a vicious circle. Confidence drains away, it takes over everything and it ends up being one of those ugly nights. "We have to go back to the basics of what we were and how we changed things round when we first came in four months ago. We have to cut out the silly mistakes. We handed them two goals. "The reason why we've got one of the biggest wage bills in the Championship is we've got to deal with the mentality and expectation. That's why they get paid more than anyone else in this division. "But I'm convinced they are made of the right stuff and can get better, and it's my responsibility to make them better." Barnsley boss Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Sheffield: "We

Summary: Aston Villa's awful start to 2017 continued as Barnsley sent them to a fourth straight Championship defeat - and second at home in four days.


The Trust is bidding to take over the League Two club from owner Les Scadding. And it now has £236,000 following a fund-raising campaign that included a share issue to fans. A supporters group statement read: "What an achievement and one the Trust Board are truly humbled by." The trust took interim control of the Rodney Parade-based club in August. Their millionaire backer Scadding backed the move in which the club's board stood down. Newport had already announced major shareholder Scadding was gifting his holding to the Trust. Interim chairman Tony Pring told BBC Radio Wales: "People seem to think that Les sort of gets a chunk of that money and basically that money now goes into the club and becomes a working capital. "Les, with several other people, have loans on the club that must be paid - they're club loans [and] they will be budgeted for… with monthly repayments. "But the £236,000 actually basically goes into the club's bank account for working capital for running the club this season." The prospective new owners say they will strive to ensure The Exiles live within their means to support manager Terry Butcher. "This is possible. We need to be prudent in our spending, driving down our cost base and increasing our revenue through a number of channels," added the statement. The Football League must approve the takeover, but Trust members expect that to be a formality. "Now the hard work really starts," added the statement. "No one should underestimate the challenge ahead. "The club has been in a difficult place and it is going to take some time before it gets to where we would like it to be. "That said, we are confident we can achieve this with the plans we have." Newport are bottom of the table after one league win this season and face Exeter at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

Summary: Newport County football club is set to become fan-owned after its Supporters Trust comfortably passed a £195,000 fund-raising target.


Ban Ki-moon said he witnessed a looting incident in Les Cayes, where he promised more aid to Haiti. He also urged countries to donate more. Officials says more than 1.4 million people urgently need humanitarian help. There are also fears of a cholera outbreak, with spikes in cases and deaths reported in the south west. The waterborne disease reached the island via Nepalese UN troops after the deadly earthquake in 2010, causing the deaths of nearly 10,000 people. Tensions have been high as help has yet to reach many families whose crops and water supplies have been destroyed. Haitian police and UN peacekeepers used tear gas to disperse a group of 100 residents who attacked humanitarian convoys in Les Cayes on Saturday. "We understand the impatience and the anger of the population who are waiting for emergency relief. We are doing all we can to facilitate the arrival of the assistance soon as possible," Mr Ban said. He flew over areas hit by the hurricane alongside Prime Minister Enex Jean-Charles. "I was very, very sad when we saw the complete devastation. But people the world over stand with you," the UN chief added. "We are going to mobilize as many resources and as much medical support as we can to first of all stop the cholera epidemic and second support the families of the victims." Some 120,000 homes were either damaged or destroyed when Category Four Hurricane Matthew swept through on 4 October with winds of 145mph (230km/h). Mr Ban visited a shelter in Les Cayes and told the displaced "kembe fem" in Creole, meaning "hang in there". In the town, one of the worst affected by Matthew, the streets have been cleaned and business have reopened. But power, transport and communications links are still difficult in other areas. Last week, Mr Ban called for a "massive response" to help the country, the poorest in the Americas. The UN launched an emergency appeal for nearly $120m (Â£97m) in aid, but just a fraction of it has been raised. Mr Ban acknowledged there was aid "fatigue", but urged countries to help Haiti.

Summary: Angry Haitians looted aid trucks as the UN secretary general visited parts of the country hit by Hurricane Matthew, which killed 900 people.


NICE, the advisory body for the health service, has already been exploring the issue. But it now wants to know what the public thinks after the idea got the thumbs up from its citizen's council. Nearly two thirds of the 32-strong group - used as a sounding board for sensitive topics - backed incentives. In May, NICE officials told the BBC incentives could play a key role in tackling smoking, obesity and drinking rates and was working with academics to see how and when they worked best. Merit Its citizen's council agrees the idea has merit - as long as the payments are not allowed to be used for unhealthy pursuits. The backing has prompted the public consultation which will be run until the end of November. Incentive schemes are already operated in some areas to mixed success, while NICE has already backed their use for drug users. However, it is unlikely the current government would allow NICE to formally recommend incentives as an option for the whole health service. A Department of Health spokesman described them as an undesirable use of money and should only be adopted as a "last resort". Instead, it seems the only way the advisory body would end up backing them would be for niche groups, such as specific age groups or for people from certain social backgrounds, if there was strong evidence they worked. NICE chairman Sir Michael Rawlins said: "We clearly face several public health challenges in today's society, some more obvious than others, and we must seek to improve these in ways that are likely to achieve the best health outcomes for those affected."

Summary: A public consultation is being launched over whether the NHS in England and Wales should offer financial incentives to encourage healthier lifestyles.


West African mediators spent several hours with Mr Jammeh on Friday, negotiating his future. The motorcade carrying the presidents of Guinea and Mauritania has left the official residence, but they are not thought to have left the country. Mr Jammeh was defeated in December's election and his successor Adama Barrow has been inaugurated. A tweet from an account believed to belong to the new president, saying that Mr Jammeh had agreed to step down and go into exile, has since been deleted. But Mai Fatty, a senior aide to the new president, told the BBC's Umaru Fofana that Mr Jammeh had agreed to step down. News agency AFP reported that Mr Jammeh had agreed in principle to go but that the terms of his departure were still being finalised. Mr Barrow told Gambians who had fled the country that they now had "the liberty to return home". "The rule of fear has been vanished from The Gambia for good," he said in the Senegalese capital, Dakar. Mr Barrow has been in neighbouring Senegal for days. He was sworn in at the Gambian embassy there on Thursday. West African nations, including Senegal, have deployed troops in The Gambia - threatening to drive Mr Jammeh out of office by force. Mr Barrow's legitimacy as president has been recognised internationally, after he won last month's elections. Mr Jammeh was given an ultimatum to leave office or be forced out by UN-backed troops, which expired at 16:00 GMT on Friday. The deadline was set by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), a regional grouping backed by the United Nations. The man who once said he would rule The Gambia for a billion years is finally leaving. He is thought to have been offered an amnesty deal, so that he will not face charges of human rights abuses. He had wanted to stay in The Gambia but this was not negotiable. There have been suggestions he may now go to Guinea, although he has been offered asylum in Nigeria and it is thought Morocco has done the same. Mr Jammeh's term expired at midnight on Wednesday - but, while still president, he engineered a parliamentary vote to extend his presidency. As Mr Barrow has already been sworn in, the country could be said to have two presidents at the same time. Ecowas said that its forces, from Senegal and other West African countries, had encountered no resistance after entering The Gambia. After first accepting defeat in the election he reversed his position and said he would not step down. He declared a 90-day state of emergency, blaming irregularities in the electoral process. The electoral commission accepted that some of its early results had contained errors but said they would not have affected Mr Barrow's win. Mr Jammeh had said he would stay in office until new elections were held.

Summary: The Gambia's leader Yahya Jammeh is to step down and leave the country, officials involved in negotiations say.


Built in 1937, the concrete structure was the "last fragment" of the derelict seaside lido used for the street artist's "Bemusement Park" exhibit last year. Conservationists said they had been told the fountain, in Weston-super-Mare, would be spared from destruction. But North Somerset council said it was demolished due to its poor condition. Visitors to Dismaland were greeted by the sight of the fountain upon entering, and it was picked out by a spotlight at night. Its dilapidated appearance, however, was not the work of the elusive Banksy, but rather a truck which hit the fountain after the site became derelict. The impact caused the upper cascade to tip over, leaving it sitting on its side atop the bottom part of the structure. Weston Civic Society chairman Howard Smith said he felt "angry and upset" the fountain had gone. "They [the council] gave us an assurance at the end of last year that it would be conserved," he said. Mr Smith said the fountain survived the building of the Tropicana at a time when the original diving stage was destroyed. "It was the last fragment of the actual bathing part of the original Art Deco pool. "It was a beautiful object and it would not have taken much to erect it in another part of the town." Work to turn the site into a space for arts and performances has been taking place since the end of 2015. A spokesman for the council, which owns the site, said: "The top of the fountain was dislodged, the surround of the base was broken down and could not be used as a water reservoir, the main stem had numerous cracks in the structure and the edges on the lower main tier were damaged. "Given its condition, the decision was made to take it down and demolish it."

Summary: The demolition of an Art Deco fountain which featured in Banksy's Dismaland show has been slammed by campaigners.


He said he was happy to give the PM a copy of his party's manifesto, adding, "or better still an early election so the people of this country can decide". Mrs May will use a speech on Tuesday to call on parties to "contribute and not just criticise". She says there are a range of issues on which MPs from different parties agree. First Secretary of State Damian Green described the post-election change in Mrs May's style of government as a "grown-up way of doing politics". But Mr Corbyn used the PM's Commons statement on the weekend G20 summit in Hamburg to claim it showed "weakness from this government". "The government is apparently asking other parties for their policy ideas," he said. Turning to the prime minister, he said: "If you would like it, I'm very happy to furnish you with a copy of our manifesto or better still, an early election so the people in this county can decide. "Let's face it, the government has run out of steam at a pivotal time in our county and the world around uncertainty over Brexit, conflict in the Gulf states, nuclear sabre-rattling in North Korea, refugees continuing to flee war and destruction, ongoing pandemics, cross-border terrorism, poverty and inequality and the impact of climate change are the core global challenges of our time. "Just when we need strong government, we have weakness from this government." Theresa May's speech is a pitch for cross-party consensus. "Come forward with your own views and ideas about how we can tackle" the challenges the country faces, Mrs May will say, adding: "We may not agree on everything, but ideas can be clarified and improved and a better way forward found." Bluntly, it is an explicit acknowledgement of her fragility; her authority and majority shrivelled. Government sources say it is a mature approach that maintains a commitment to taking on big, difficult and complex challenges; not just Brexit but reform of social care, too, for instance. Labour says Mrs May's speech proves the Conservatives have "completely run out of ideas" and were reduced to "begging" for policy proposals from them. But Mrs May insisted the government had "an ambitious agenda to change this country", adding that there were many issues on which she "would hope we would be able to achieve consensus across this House", such as police and security agencies having the powers they need to deal with the terrorist threats they face. The exchanges came ahead of Mrs May's speech which will return to the message from her first day in Downing street last July, when she succeeded David Cameron, and vowed to lead what she called a "one nation" government that works for all and not just the "privileged few". The speech is being seen by some as a "re-launch" or "fightback" after Mrs May lost her majority - and much of her authority - in the snap election last month. In her speech, the PM will say that although the result of June's election was not what she wanted, "those defining beliefs remain, my

Summary: Jeremy Corbyn has said Theresa May's call for rival parties to contribute their policy ideas showed the government "has run out of steam".


"The likelihood of Hitler being able to accomplish his goals would have been greatly diminished if the people had been armed," he told CNN on Thursday. An anti-Semitism monitoring group says linking US gun control to the Holocaust is "historically inaccurate". Mr Carson is polling second in the Republican race behind Donald Trump. On Friday, Mr Carson reiterated his views about gun control. "Basically, what I said is when tyranny occurs traditionally around the world, they try to disarm the people first," Mr Carson told the National Press Club in Washington. The retired neurosurgeon drew condemnation last month for saying a Muslim should not run for president because Islam was inconsistent with the US constitution. On Friday, he compared his view to the constitutional requirement that a president be a natural-born citizen. America's founders, he said, didn't "even want to take the slightest chance to put someone in that position who had divided loyalties". After a week of uttering one controversial remark after another, many of which made US headlines, Ben Carson gave a lunchtime address in the proverbial lion's den - the National Press Club in Washington. Early in his speech, he acknowledged what everybody in the audience already knew. "I'm not politically correct," he said. "And that's one of the reason why some of the people in the press don't like me. But it's OK. What I really love is this country. I don't really care if the press likes me or not." As his speech concluded, Mr Carson left little doubt about what he thought of criticism in the media of comments he said were taken out of context, noting that the American people "were on to" a biased press corps. "We're doing well," said the man who is second only to Donald Trump in national polls. "And the more they attack me, the better I do." During the CNN interview, Mr Carson was asked about part of his new book, A More Perfect Union, where he wrote "through a combination of removing guns and disseminating propaganda, the Nazis were able to carry out their evil intentions with relatively little resistance". He was then asked by CNN presenter Wolf Blitzer: "Just clarify, if there had been no gun control laws in Europe at that time, would six million Jews have been slaughtered?" Mr Carson said he doubted Hitler would have been able to achieve his goals if Germans had been armed at that time. "I'm telling you that there is a reason that these dictatorial people take the guns first," he added. The Anti-Defamation League, an anti-Semitism monitoring group, has previously said that drawing comparisons between the gun control debate in the US and the Holocaust was "historically inaccurate and offensive", especially to Holocaust survivors and their families. In 1943, armed Jews in the Warsaw ghetto fought the Nazis. Jews killed about 20 Nazis, but about 13,000 Jews died in the uprising. Ben Carson's comments come days after a mass shooting at a college in the US state of Oregon, in which nine people were killed. Speaking after the

Summary: US Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson has defended comments that suggested the Holocaust may have been avoided if people had been armed.


Sam Spaven drove his Audi into Richard Pencott, 44, as he rode home from work in Harworth, Nottinghamshire, in June. Nottingham Crown Court heard Spaven had become abusive to his ex-partner when he learned she was seeing Mr Pencott. The 27-year-old, of Bircotes, Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial and must serve at least 25 years behind bars. Spaven has a son with his former partner Amy Sherwood but the court was told they split up in April. He became angry after finding out she had been seeing Mr Pencott, a former work colleague of his. On visiting her home, he told Ms Sherwood "I'm going to chew your face off'" before threatening to kill her and Mr Pencott, Michael Evans, prosecuting, said. Updates on this story and more from Nottinghamshire Spaven returned the next day and was told to leave around the time Mr Pencott was finishing his shift. He then posted on Facebook: "Richard Pencott and Amy Sherwood have broken me and my family apart and my boy" before driving to "exact his revenge", Mr Evans said. He mounted the pavement in Blyth Road and drove into Mr Pencott's bicycle, which landed the other side of a 10-foot fence. The father-of-two died almost instantly from head and chest injuries. Spaven then drove to work at a gym in Rotherham, where he was arrested. Witnesses reported seeing damage to his car's windscreen and a big dent in the body work. Judge Michael Stokes said it was "premeditated, deliberate murder." "Why? Because you, obsessed as you were with your former partner and mother of your child, were blinded by jealousy and bent on revenge." A statement from Mr Pencott's family described him as "honest and hardworking" and called the murder "unprovoked and cowardly".

Summary: A motorist who murdered a love rival when he ploughed into his bicycle at 40mph has been jailed for life.


The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence says female patients should have free access to the drug, better known as an anti-wrinkle aid. Some five million women in England and Wales have urinary incontinence, but many suffer in silence because they are too embarrassed to seek help. Botox helps control the muscular bladder wall. NICE says those with "overactive bladder syndrome" that has not responded to recommended lifestyle changes should be offered the injections. It is not clear what causes it, but those affected by an overactive bladder have a frequent urge to urinate and can experience leakage before they can make it to the toilet. Cutting down on caffeinated drinks such as tea and coffee, as well as alcohol, doing pelvic floor exercises and making scheduled trips to the toilet can help, but some people will need medical treatment or surgery. The condition is different to stress incontinence - when the pelvic floor muscles are too weak, as can occur after childbirth, causing leaks with coughing and laughing. With an overactive bladder, there is a problem with how the bladder responds to getting fuller, meaning the person feels they urgently need to urinate more often than most. Someone with this condition might end going up to the toilet up to 15 times a day and three times a night, for example, when the norm is to go four to eight times a day and up to once a night. It affects both sexes, but most often women. The NICE guidelines, which cover England and Wales, only discuss treating women. Botox treatment is thought to help dampen chemical messages that your bladder uses to tell the brain that you need to urinate. The injections are administered directly to the bladder wall via a small device inserted into the urethra - the tube you urinate through. Clinical trials suggest this treatment may last for up to six months, but NICE says people also need to be aware of the possible side-effects. The treatment can make it more difficult to pass urine and some people may find they need to use a catheter for a time. There is also a chance of getting a urine infection. Anyone who starts on this treatment should have a face-to-face check up or be reviewed over the phone within four weeks, says NICE. Prof Mark Baker, director of the Centre for Clinical Practice at NICE, said: "Urinary incontinence is a distressing condition affecting the lives of millions of women of all ages. "While rarely life-threatening, it may seriously influence a woman's physical, psychological and social wellbeing. "Over the years we have seen an increase in women seeking treatment, yet many others are still suffering in silence and not receiving the appropriate care for their condition. "This updated clinical guideline suggests a range of treatments that women should be able to access to limit the distress that urinary incontinence can cause."

Summary: Botox injections can now be offered as a treatment for urinary incontinence, says England's NHS drugs watchdog.


The answer is complicated. Increasing school resegregation - the renewal of segregation - and the continuing inequality of black students is resulting in lower achievement and graduation rates, signalling a reversal of civil rights gains. Achievement disparities, referred to widely as the black-white achievement gap or test-score gap, frequently position black students at the low end of the scale and white (and Asian) students at the top. This situation often engenders simplistic individual and group explanations for the gap, which frequently frame the lives and educational experiences of black children in ways that involve a deficit of some sort. However, there are enormous variations in these students' social, economic, historic, political and educational opportunities. When gaps in achievement are addressed without a deliberate investigation of racial inequities, students, parents, teachers and neighbourhoods tend to be blamed for the poor educational outcomes of black students. I contend that inquiries into how black students perform in school must include investigation of the harsh disciplinary sanctions in public schools for black students, the disinvestment in black neighbourhoods and why the least prepared teachers are those most likely to serve black students. I would be remiss if I did not say that some schools and educational settings have made tremendous strides toward creating equitable spaces. However, these advances are few and far between and, when present, reflect only incremental and slow growth when it comes to improving black students' educational outcomes. If their failure in potential includes opposing those who would position them as failures, who defy low expectations, then the question we should be asking is: Are schools failing to live up to their potential for equitably educating black students? Additionally, black students are experiencing intense levels of stress and challenge. Many are exposed to a bevy of chronic stresses that include, but are not limited to, disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards, violence and poor healthcare, which negatively impact their educational outcomes. Recent research has challenged the educational community to better understand the long-term physical, mental, emotional and psychological effects of living in a white-dominated and privileged society, and its threats to the mental and physical health of black students. Moreover, black students live within an additional state of fragility because of how their intellects and life chances are positioned in this society. Despite this, many of them resist this unfair placement by striving for educational success, demonstrating that black students have the wherewithal and ability to develop robust academic identities that minimise but do not eliminate the impact of being marginalised. Moreover, some black students develop and implement coping mechanisms to safeguard academic hardiness and provide a counter-defence against negative evaluations and low expectations in what are often toxic and discriminatory educational environments. Racial biases often place undue burdens on black students who already experience multiple forms of discrimination and prejudice, while the educational and social institutions they learn in, perpetuate white privilege. Stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields are a particular cause for concern because within them there are more pronounced stereotypes, extreme competitiveness and gender inequities regarding the abilities and competencies

Summary: The gap between black and white pupils' achievement is widening in the USA - so what are the causes and what barriers are preventing this problem being overcome?


She was taken ill on a flight from London to Los Angeles on Friday and was taken to hospital when the plane landed. A family statement announced she had died on Tuesday morning. Tributes have been pouring in, with Star Wars co-star Mark Hamill simply tweeting: "No words #devastated". In a statement released on behalf of Fisher's daughter Billie Lourd, spokesman Simon Halls said: "It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8.55 (16:55 GMT) this morning. "She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly. Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers." Her mother, the actress Debbie Reynolds, wrote on her Facebook page: "Thank you to everyone who has embraced the gifts and talents of my beloved and amazing daughter. I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers that are now guiding her to her next stop." Star Wars co-star Harrison Ford described Fisher as "one-of-a-kind" who lived her life "bravely". Series creator George Lucas said she was "extremely smart; a talented actress, writer and comedienne with a very colourful personality that everyone loved". Fans of the actress have been sharing stories with the BBC about meeting her, including John Moore, who remembers discussing mental health problems which she has admitted suffering. "She has inspired me by teaching me that just because you're a little broken or a little different you can still be an inspiration and shine like she did. She was honest about her health issues and was just herself. "She taught me to not feel embarrassed or a lesser person just because you sometimes struggle to get through the day. Her death has hit me hard but it also makes me feel so proud to have been like her, different." The fans' princess Fisher had been on tour promoting her latest book, The Princess Diarist, when she was taken ill in the later stages of the flight to Los Angeles. A medic who was travelling on the plane administered first aid before it landed. The daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, Carrie Fisher made her film debut opposite Warren Beatty in 1975's Shampoo. She also appeared in The Blues Brothers, When Harry Met Sally and Hannah and Her Sisters, and provided the voice of Peter Griffin's boss Angela in the adult animated sitcom Family Guy. But her enduring fame is thanks to her role as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy, a part she reprised in last year's reboot The Force Awakens. Discussing the part, she told the Daily Mail in 2011 that when she got the role in a "little science-fiction film", she just thought of it as a bit of fun. "It exploded across the firmament of pop culture, taking all of us along with it. It tricked me into becoming a star all on my own." She was also a successful writer, publishing several novels and memoirs, and working on the scripts for films like The Wedding Singer and Sister Act. Her latest

Summary: US actress Carrie Fisher, best known for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars series, has died aged 60, days after suffering a cardiac arrest.


The study, by Carnegie UK Trust, showed 51% of people aged 15-24 used libraries in 2016 - an increase of 9% since 2011. Overall, there has been an increase in public library use, from 45% to 46% over five years. Northern Ireland has also seen its library use go up, but there have been declines in England and Scotland, the wellbeing trust said. The findings are based on 10,000 interviews conducted in 2011 and 2016. The trust said there was also a jump in library use in households with pre-school children (7%) and primary age children (3%). Chief executive Martyn Evans said: "Public libraries remain an immensely popular civic resource, both in Wales and across the rest of the UK and it's extremely promising that there's been a rise in library use in Wales amongst households with pre-school and primary children, as well as young people."

Summary: More than half of young people in Wales use public libraries, research has shown.


The 55-year-old's death is being treated as 'unexplained' by police. Police say they want to trace a woman who may have more information about how the victim came to sustain his head injuries. They also asked for people in the Prince of Wales Avenue and Oxford Road area between 02:00 and 02:30 BST on Sunday to come forward. The woman sought by police is described as mixed-race, 5ft 2ins (1.57m) tall, aged around 35, and slim with long wavy black hair.

Summary: A man has died in hospital after being found unconscious inside a property in Reading in the early hours of Sunday.


The ad was taken down from a Melbourne street this week after threats were made to the billboard company. The digital image was accused of being "propaganda" and not reflecting Australian culture. The campaigners have raised funds to pay for "multiple billboards across Australia". Dee Madigan, the creative director behind the advert, which was promoting a series of government-backed events, organised the crowd-funding campaign to show that "most Australians are not horrible racists". "I'm really angry, this was a photo of two young Australian girls celebrating Australia Day," she told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. "I feel for the Muslim community, they're damned if they do, damned if they don't. "You get all the racists saying 'oh, they don't assimilate' and then there's literally a photo of them celebrating Australia Day and you get the same people saying 'that's not right' - it's just not OK." The photo featured on the billboard was one of a series taken at last year's Australia Day event in Melbourne. It featured two young girls holding wearing hijabs and holding Australia flags. Lawyer and community rights advocate Mariam Veiszadeh said the girls featured in the photo and their family supported moves to reinstate the photo or include it in another campaign. "From my perspective I explained we could associate those images with something positive, and the girls' time in the media spotlight would be accompanied by thousands speaking up against Islamophobia, gathered around them to stand in support and solidarity," she told Guardian Australia. Australia Day is a public holiday celebrated on 26 January, marking the day Britain's First Fleet arrived in 1788.

Summary: A campaign to reinstate an Australia Day advert featuring two girls in hijabs has raised more than A$100,000 (Â£60,000; $75,000) in donations.


The Pirates were bottom after losing their first two games but Tom Lockyer headed them into a 55th-minute lead before Billy Bodin struck twice to secure their first points of the season. Jermaine Beckford and Nicky Ajose scored consolations in stoppage time but the scoreline flattered a woeful Bury side. Beckford and Harry Bunn tested Sam Slocombe in the first half but otherwise Rovers played some fine football, with Bodin firing wide as they racked up 26 shots. Ellis Harrison and Tom Nichols were then denied by Bury keeper Joe Murphy before Chris Lines fired over. Nichols and Ollie Clarke also went close before the break but 22-year-old centre-back Lockyer - in his 200th appearance for Rovers - then headed home from Lee Brown's corner. The hosts offered little in reply and Bodin headed home from Joe Partington's 72nd-minute corner before poking in from close range after 86 minutes. Beckford headed home from Tsun Dai's late corner while Ajose converted Greg Leigh's cross in stoppage time but Bury could not avoid a second straight defeat. Match report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Bury 2, Bristol Rovers 3. Second Half ends, Bury 2, Bristol Rovers 3. Goal! Bury 2, Bristol Rovers 3. Nicky Ajose (Bury) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Greg Leigh. Tsun Dai (Bury) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Liam Sercombe (Bristol Rovers). Goal! Bury 1, Bristol Rovers 3. Jermaine Beckford (Bury) header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Tsun Dai with a cross following a corner. Corner, Bury. Conceded by Ryan Sweeney. Attempt saved. Liam Sercombe (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Goal! Bury 0, Bristol Rovers 3. Billy Bodin (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lee Brown following a set piece situation. Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Dominic Telford replaces Tom Nichols because of an injury. Corner, Bury. Conceded by Liam Sercombe. Attempt missed. Tom Nichols (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from very close range is too high. Attempt saved. Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Attempt saved. Tom Nichols (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Foul by Callum Reilly (Bury). Dominic Telford (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Hand ball by Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers). Goal! Bury 0, Bristol Rovers 2. Billy Bodin (Bristol Rovers) header from very close range to the top left corner. Assisted by Joe Partington. Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Stuart Sinclair replaces Chris Lines. Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Rory Gaffney replaces Ellis Harrison. Foul by Zeli Ismail (Bury). Liam Sercombe (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Harry Bunn (Bury) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Ollie Clarke (Bristol Rovers). Attempt saved. Ellis Harrison

Summary: Bristol Rovers brushed aside their poor start in League One by cruising to an impressive 3-2 win at Bury.


Bridgewater Community Healthcare (BCH) said it had "made a lot of progress" since an inspection last summer. But Labour MP Rosie Cooper said it was "staggering" that BCH was due to take over most of Liverpool's community health services from July. The Department of Health is yet to respond. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) conducted its first full inspection at BCH - which is used by about 1.5m people in north-west England annually - in May and June 2016. It said it measured 40 domains across the services with one rated as outstanding, 27 as good and 12 as requiring improvement. Overall, the trust received a rating of "requires improvement". Ms Cooper, MP for West Lancashire, said she called on the CQC in July to publish its inspection report ahead of any decision on "awarding the multimillion-pound contract for Liverpool community health services". She said: "What this report tells us is Bridgewater Community Healthcare needs to improve the services they have currently got." Last November, BCH was chosen to run most of the city's community health services by NHS England and Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Ms Cooper said that the inspection rating "raises some very serious questions about the entire transaction process in Liverpool". "I have called on the Secretary of State to review this sorry state of affairs and intervene to uphold NHS rules," she added. Colin Scales, chief executive at BCH, said: "All the essential actions the CQC has asked us look at have already been addressed since the inspectors were on site, so we've made a lot of progress and are in a stronger position now as we move forward." Katherine Sheerin, chief officer for NHS Liverpool CCG, said: "Bridgewater NHS Foundation Trust was identified as the preferred provider of community services in Liverpool because we believe it is the best organisation to help accelerate our Healthy Liverpool plans for making more care available in the community so that people do not end up in hospital." She added the CCG was "confident the Trust is already taking action to address the issues which have been identified".

Summary: An MP has called on the government to review a decision allowing an NHS trust that "requires improvement" to run community health services in Liverpool.


Patricia Alejandra Lorenzo Harris travelled from Rawson to Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd. a year after the towns were twinned to mark 150 years since the migration. She said it was a "dream" to visit her great-grandfather's home country. Next year a grant will allow someone from the town to visit Rawson. The first Welsh settlers to reach Patagonia founded Rawson, which is the capital of the Province of Chubut. Among the nearly 200 settlers who sailed south on the Mimosa in 1865, at least five were from Blaenau Ffestiniog, and the towns were twinned last year to help re-establish the link. Historian Ms Harris, president of the twinning commission, travelled with her friend Marisa Conde to learn more about where her ancestors came from. They visited the Welsh Highland Railway, Llechwedd Slate Caverns, took part in a Spanish lesson at Aberystwyth University and visited Ysgol Maenofferen where they presented gifts from children of 178 Suyay Hue School in Rawson. Ms Harris said: "It's been my dream to come to Wales and see the country. When I was young, I spent a lot of time speaking to my grandfather and he told me about how his father had travelled from Wales with his family. "I also feel a great responsibility to bring greetings from the whole of the community in Rawson and to re-establish the link between between Rawson and Ffestiniog."

Summary: A descendant of two of the first people from Wales to resettle in Argentina's Patagonia has visited the north Wales town where her relatives came from.


Some 90,450 children were living in temporary accommodation in the last quarter of 2014, a rise of almost 10,000 in a year, the statistics show. The National Housing Federation called the rise "shameful". The government said its changes were helping councils move families out of temporary accommodation more quickly. The statistics, from the Department for Communities and Local Government, also show there were 2,040 households with children in bed-and-breakfast hotels at the end of last year. Of these, 780 were in bed-an-breakfast accommodation for more than six weeks. David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation said the dramatic rise in the numbers of children "stuck in temporary accommodation like hostels and bed and breakfasts" revealed "the true cost" of not building enough homes in England. "Often living in cramped and poor conditions, it's no way of life for a child and no way to help homeless families to get back on their feet and rebuild their lives. "It is totally unacceptable that these figures are at a six-year high. "Children are paying the price for the failure to build the affordable homes we need and will continue to do so until politicians take bolder action and commit to end the housing crisis within a generation," said Mr Orr. Communities Minister Kris Hopkins said the government was working to ensure support was in place to help homeless families move on with their lives. "Households now spend on average seven months less in temporary accommodation than at the start of 2010," said Mr Hopkins in a written ministerial statement. Local authorities now had more flexibility to find "good quality, suitable and settled accommodation in the private rented sector", he added. The government had also made it clear that the long-term use of bed-and-breakfast accommodation for families with children "is both unacceptable and unlawful", said Mr Hopkins.

Summary: The number of children living in temporary accommodation in England is at a six-year high, according to official figures.


Severn Trent issued a warning in Derbyshire and Leicestershire on Friday after it found high levels of the chemical at a reservoir. About 3,700 properties are affected in postcode areas DE11, DE15, DE65, DE73 and LE65. It is hoped the water will be safe to use later, although the firm said customers can now flush their toilets. Latest updates: Severn Trent Water problems Severn Trent has been handing out free bottles of water to affected customers at Sainsbury's in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, and Tesco in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire. Nigel Thornylowe, who lives in Woodville with his two children, said it was a "nightmare". "We got caught up in the frenzy yesterday and unfortunately... we haven't got any bottled water," he said. "We've tried in vain but all the supermarkets have run out." He said the situation had been poorly managed and bottles of water should be distributed at more locations than just the two supermarkets. But other residents have been looking out for their neighbours with one couple filling up the water carrier in their caravan and distributing it to elderly neighbours. And another woman said she coped on Friday night by "drinking spritzers" instead of water. In a statement, the firm tried to reassure customers who may have drunk the water that, if they did not notice a strong chlorine smell or taste, then it was "unlikely to have caused any harm". But it added that anyone with concerns should speak to a doctor. "We're very sorry for the inconvenience this has caused but we want to reassure customers that this is a precautionary measure due to the levels of chlorine in the water supply," it said.

Summary: Thousands of people are still being told they should not use their water because of high levels of chlorine.


Thousands of them have been on picket lines and the hostilities between the government and the doctors' union, the BMA, show few signs of abating. There's no question this is a very significant problem for the government. Thirty eight per cent of junior doctors did go to work today, but that figure includes the planned emergency cover, and those non-members of the BMA. And falling out with the medical profession, allowing relations to have got so bad, potentially risking patients' health, is a serious risk for any government. There's not much sign though of ministers backing down. In terms that could hardly be stronger, one well-placed government source told me today: "We all know they are going to lose." And when you listen to the words of the health secretary who says this strike is unnecessary, that the government promised to make changes to the NHS in its manifesto and they're determined to drive them through, it's clear ministers are a very long way from giving up. And it's worth noting the government does have the option of just imposing the new terms and conditions as contracts are renewed - that could start as early as next month. More talks are planned for later this week. And ministers are not yet at the stage of deciding to use brute force to impose the changes. The hope in government is that once today's strike is over, progress might be made in the talks in the two weeks before the second planned walkout. Neither side, publicly, is willing to give any ground. But there are nerves about the third planned strike, planned for the middle of February, which is expected to be an all-out strike where no emergency cover would be arranged. There's a belief in government that's a line that no-one wants to cross. But there is a risk for the government too if public opinion settles on the doctors' side. PS: In different times, the Opposition would likely have been criticising the government's handling of a situation like this as loudly as possible. Today has been rather different. Labour has not been making the political running on the issue. It's worth noting that the shadow health secretary, Heidi Alexander, did not join any of the strikers on the picket line, while others like the shadow chancellor John McDonnell did.

Summary: Junior doctors have been out on strike in the first protest like it for decades.


The Plaid Cymru leader will say she is determined to lead her party into government at the assembly elections. Ms Wood will attack Labour's record, accusing First Minister Carwyn Jones's government of failing. She will say Scotland has a nationalist government with a track record of making the most of its powers. "In Wales we have a double whammy: a nation without basic powers and a government that wouldn't have a clue what to do with them," Ms Wood will tell the conference. Plaid and the SNP are long-standing allies. But while the SNP has overtaken Labour as Scotland's biggest party, Plaid goes into next May's devolved elections as the assembly's third party - behind Labour and the Conservatives. Ms Wood will say: "Indeed it is my determined resolution to lead Plaid Cymru into government next May because that represents the change Wales needs - the future our people deserve. "It is my hope therefore to return to your conference next year and congratulate you on yet another famous election success and to do so as the newly-elected first minister of Wales."

Summary: Wales is suffering from a "double whammy" of a Labour government and weak devolution, Leanne Wood will tell the SNP conference in Aberdeen.


The team, founded by five-time Olympic champion Sir Bradley Wiggins to develop young British talent, was omitted from the race which runs from 28-30 April. "It's very disappointing and it is very much a surprise," said the team's sports director Simon Cope. Race organisers said the event was oversubscribed and "unfortunately someone had to miss out". A total of 49 teams applied for 36 slots - 18 in the men's race and 18 in the women's. The decision on who was included was made between Welcome to Yorkshire and cycling event organisers ASO, who jointly run the event. A Welcome to Yorkshire spokesman said that Team Wiggins were welcome to apply for any future editions of the race. But Cope told Cycling Weekly that he believed the team, who are the only British third-tier UCI Continental outfit not included, could have made an impact in the race. "Good or bad press at the moment, there's a percentage of the UK population who will be going to the race who want to see (Team) Wiggins there," he said. "You would have thought that we would have got in, but the organisers have made their selection and that's it, we can't do anything about it. We will have to go and find another bike race to do." An investigation by UK Anti-Doping is currently ongoing into allegations of wrongdoing in cycling involving Wiggins - who retired in December - and Team Sky. Cope, who used to work for Team Sky, was questioned by MPs earlier this month about the contents of a medical package he delivered to Wiggins when he was racing at the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine in France. Team Sky have admitted "mistakes were made" around how medical records relating to the package were kept but deny breaking anti-doping rules.

Summary: Team Wiggins say they are "surprised" and "disappointed" after being excluded from next month's Tour de Yorkshire.


There's no doubt he's getting back to his best form just in time for his fourth final, but he's striking a blow against sexism in tennis too. In early 2014, Murray split with his then coach Ivan Lendl - who'd helped Andy become a Grand Slam champion. His decision to replace Lendl with Amelie Mauresmo prompted more than a few raised eyebrows. Never before had a top male player hired a woman as coach (except for Jimmy Connors but the woman in charge of his game was his mother Gloria, so it doesn't count). The early signs for the new partnership weren't good. Murray appeared to be slipping back into some bad habits, playing defensively and berating himself in the process. Despite a late season surge, 2014 was Murray's most forgettable year since establishing himself as one of the "Big Four". Had Murray continued his iffy form into the Australian Open, there's no doubt the vultures would have been circling over the Murray-Mauresmo axis. But they'll have to wait as his early season form is arguably better than ever. His play against Tomas Berdych had Mauresmo's finger prints all over it - full of variety and controlled aggression. It was certainly Grand Slam-winning form, and if he can keep it up a first Australian Open title is definitely on the cards. "A lot of people criticised me for working with her," Murray said in his on-court interview. "So far this week we've shown that women can be good coaches as well." Mum Judy has always played a strong role in Andy's career, and she hailed the impact Amelie was having off the court, describing her as a "calming influence". Many male players have been dismissive of the women's game, albeit not as noisily as in the past. The 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek famously dismissed 80% of the women's tour as "fat pigs" in 1992. Last year, Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni criticised the appointment of a woman as Spain's Davis Cup captain. "Men's tennis isn't the same as women's tennis," he said. If Andy can win the Australian open under Mauresmo's tutelage you wonder if uncle Toni might consider changing his view. Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube

Summary: Andy Murray's Australian Open semi-final win was a seminal moment, and not just for the Scot's career.


"Fake cocaine death drug was sold on our streets" is the headline on the front page of the Ballymena Times. The story says that a letter circulated to health professionals across Northern Ireland states that the substance - U47,700 - is available in the Ballymena area. It says the powder has been linked to two deaths in Northern Ireland during November and December 2016, and to three further three cases in December where the user was found unconscious. The letter says some of those who have used it have been sold it as cocaine, while others may have believed it was heroin. The paper also reports that an Ahoghill man who assaulted security staff and police with a walking stick in Ballymena Courthouse is one of the first people in the area to be served with a Violent Offences Prevention Order (VOPO). The Ulster Gazette has the story of the Armagh musician who's been "hand-picked by pop sensation" Ed Sheeran to play on his new album. Brian Finnegan, a flautist and tin whistle player, said he first came to Sheeran's attention after guesting on an album by County Antrim band Beoga. He said Sheeran "invited the band over to his place to get a feel for each other's music. It was a very organic process, hanging out and jamming." Brian plays on four songs on Sheeran's new album Divide. Elsewhere in the paper, the grand-niece of a teenaged soldier killed in the Battle of the Somme tells of her pride that his experiences have been immortalised in a comic book created by three Northern Ireland museums. Helen McComb discovered her great-uncle Tommy Chambers' diary after it had lain undiscovered in an attic for decades. The events of his time as a soldier now feature in the educational comic book For Valour. The problem of vandalism is to the fore in the Coleraine Times. Translink has issued a "perpetrators will be prosecuted" warning due to the activities of a group of teenagers at the town's railways station. Last month the decision was taken to close the station at 19:00 GMT due to their activities. "They are now coming in earlier than 19:00," Translink's David Simpson tells the paper, adding that there can be as many as 40 youths involved and that they age in range from 12 to 20. "What they are doing when they get chased out of Coleraine is going to Ballymoney to try and vandalise it." Meanwhile, the paper says that a spate of vandalism at nearby Portstewart's Diversity Park is "hurting the most vulnerable". Much of the park's apparatus is adapted for children with disabilities. In the latest incident an attempt was made to set fire to one piece of equipment. The Irish Coastguard helicopter crash tragedy in which four crew members are assumed to have lost their lives features in the Down Recorder. Members of the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team, who worked closely with the helicopter crew on rescues and training exercises, say they are devastated by what happened. "We had a very close and strong working relationship

Summary: Lethal substances, pop sensations, sledgehammer-wielding vandals and online scams feature in Northern Ireland's local papers this week.


He was friends with a leader of the 1916 Easter Rising, the Irish rebellion against British rule, but died fighting for Britain in Passchendaele. Monday marks 100 years since his death. He brought his words to war in a way that has not only endured a century since his death, but has inspired others to artistic creativity. "Shortly after he died, Michael Head, who was a young musician, set four of his poems to music," said John Graham, chair of the Inniskillings Museum Trustees. "Ivor Gurney, another war poet and musician, set one of them to music and down through the years, he has inspired poetry in others, not least of which is Seamus Heaney." Heaney wrote In Memoriam Francis Ledwidge. Ledwidge himself was known as the poet of the blackbirds, because of his love of nature. He was born in Slane in County Meath, the eighth of nine children. The family was poverty-stricken and their situation only became worse when Ledwidge's father died prematurely. But their mother worked hard to keep her children in school, believing in the value of an education. Eventually, the children went out to work, but the artistic flame burned bright in young Francis. He wrote poems from the age of seven and became a published poet in his early teens. He had the support and backing of Lord Dunsany, a well-known society and literary figure in Dublin. With his support, the young man found himself living an almost double life. "It's a story which has caught the imagination on so many levels," John said. "The poor boy who could write poetry was picked up by the local lord and mentored, and introduced to the very smartest of Dublin society. "He would be off cycling around Meath, working on the roads, then in the evening he would be in Slane Castle, reciting his poetry at very elegant soirÃ©es." Lord Dunsany rated Ledwidge's work so highly he helped prepare and publish all three of the young poet's collections. The first was published the year before he was killed, the last compiled after his death in Passchendaele on service with 5th Battalion, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. "He probably is one of our most famous soldiers," said Natasha Martin from the Inniskillings Museum in Enniskillen. "For somebody who was not a commissioned officer, to have a name like Francis Ledwidge with the regiment of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers is a fantastic honour." Inspired by Lord Dunsany's past as an Inniskilling, Ledwidge enlisted after war broke out in 1914. He served in Gallipoli, the Balkans and in France on the Western Front. During the Balkan campaign in 1915, he was invalided home with a back injury. While he was still recovering, the Easter Rising took place. Ledwidge was good friends with Thomas McDonagh, one of the leaders of the rebellion and a fellow poet. When McDonagh was executed for his part, Ledwidge wrote what has become arguably his most famous poem, Lament for Thomas McDonagh. Despite his background as an ardent patriot and nationalist, Ledwidge returned to the front when his

Summary: Francis Ledwidge was an unusual war poet - a British soldier, an Irish nationalist and a man of peasant background.