Organisers campaigning to save Lewisham Hospital say the plans are "crazy and ill thought out". Under proposals, its A&E will close and the maternity unit be downgraded after neighbouring South London Healthcare NHS Trust ran up debts of Â£150m. The government said "doing nothing is not an option" and is to make a decision on 1 February. Campaigners are angry Lewisham Hospital, which is not part of the South London Healthcare NHS Trust, is being targeted in a re-organisation of services across the area following the trusts's financial problems. Under the plans, the trust's Queen Elizabeth Hospital site in Woolwich would come together with Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust to create a new organisation. Lewisham's A&E unit would then be downgraded to an urgent care centre, meaning emergency cases would be seen at nearby hospitals. The maternity unit at Lewisham could also be slimmed down, meaning complex cases would be dealt with elsewhere. South London Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs three hospitals, was placed in administration last year when it started losing about Â£1.3m a week. The problems it faces are not unique. Last year it was reported 20 trusts had declared themselves financially unsustainable in their current form. Matthew Kershaw, a special administrator, said in a report to the government that the trust should be broken up, with other organisations taking over the management and delivery of services. If implemented fully, Mr Kershaw said his recommendations would result in a radical overhaul of services in south London, and help deliver "safe, high-quality, affordable and sustainable services." Mr Kershaw also recommended the Department of Health (DoH) write off any debts to ensure new organisations were not "saddled with the issues of the past". "I have said consistently that the status quo is not an option, and I believe these final, refined recommendations are the right ones, although I appreciate that some people will find them difficult to accept," his report said. In November thousands of people marched in protest at the plans and BBC London reporter Matt Morris said at least 15,000 attended Saturday's event. The Save Lewisham Hospital group said 25,000 took part. Dr Louise Irvine, a local GP and chairman of the Save Lewisham Hospital campaign, said: "This decision is crazy and ill thought out. "It is a big mistake and carries huge clinical risks of things going wrong for patients but also political risk. "If Jeremy Hunt can close a good local hospital here, he can do it anywhere in the country - nowhere is safe." A DoH spokesman said: "Where trusts face long-standing problems we have been clear that doing nothing is not an option." The march went past Lewisham Hospital and ended with a festival in nearby Mountsfield Park.

Summary: At least 15,000 people have marched in protest against proposals to close services at a hospital in south London.


The 18-year-old victim was attacked in a wooded area off Parkway between 06:00 and 07:00 BST on Saturday, Surrey Police said. Avan Mogridge, 31, of Church Street, Stamford, has been charged with two counts of rape, sexual assault, threats to kill and actual bodily harm. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear in court on Monday.

Summary: A man has been charged with raping and threatening to kill a woman in Guildford.


The United Nations' refugee agency, the UNHCR, put a number on it last week - they are only 6% of the total fleeing the conflict. Another four million are languishing in neighbouring countries such as Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. And then there is a third figure which dwarfs even that - 7.6 million are displaced inside Syria itself and their plight remains very much out of sight. The aid community has an acronym for these internal refugees - they are called IDPs or Internally Displaced Persons. Syria now has more of them than any other country in the world. Last week, the UN produced a map of Syria with several arrows criss-crossing it (p.7). Those arrows represent the flows of Syrians fleeing violence across different parts of the country in the last six months. After the takeover of Idlib by rebel forces in March, for example, 230,000 people ended up heading into the surrounding countryside or neighbouring provinces. Many will have been forced to move multiple times because the battle lines have kept changing - pushing people one way and then another. The family of three-year-old Alan Kurdi, for example, had tried moving around Syria before they finally decided to leave. They had moved from the Syrian capital, Damascus, to Aleppo and then to Kobane. "Generally, people try to find solutions within their own countries first," says Erin Mooney who is an expert in displacement and who has worked in Syria. "Often they want to stay close to their homes to keep an eye on their property, perhaps hoping they'll one day move back. Now, though, the conflict is into its fifth year and people are becoming much more desperate." But not everyone will have the option of moving across a border into a foreign country. Some will have lost their documents, so foreign travel is inevitably hard. Others have become besieged in areas which once were deceptively safe. Very often IDPs are simply poorer than the refugees we have seen reaching the EU's borders. "The journey to Europe is very cumbersome, and it's not cheap so you have to have a certain level of resources to do it," says Carsten Hansen, Middle East director for the Norwegian Refugee Council. The conditions facing the displaced inside Syria are hard to illustrate through news agency pictures because these areas are too dangerous for journalists to access. Even more worrying is the fact that aid agencies and NGOs cannot reach them either, putting them literally beyond help. Oxford University's Professor Paul Collier, an expert on migration, says it is important that these IDPs are not forgotten just because they have not created a problem for European countries. "They are obviously more vulnerable because they are still exposed to the violence," he points out. "Often they can't get out. Refugees are at least relatively safe - unless they are lured onto boats by criminals." The refugees who flee to safety abroad also have extra legal protection because of the UN's 1951 Refugee Convention which sets out their basic rights. Those left inside Syria, on the

Summary: Perhaps the most sobering thing about the pictures of Syrian refugees arriving in Europe is the fact they are just the tip of the iceberg.


Writer Sudhiti Naskar ensconced herself in this community to find out more about the daily lives of women and she discovered that many women did not report rape or acts of sexual violence. Here she explains why, even though West Bengal has the third highest rate of crimes against women in India, these women chose to remain silent. I heard a story in the village, about a teenage girl who was raped here four years ago. She was attacked when she went to defecate in the open, a way of life for most of these villagers. Her parents did not press any charges even though they knew who did it. In fact many villagers told me he had been accused of another rape in the village. "The girl needs to be married off in a few years," one of her relatives said. Finding a suitable groom would be hard if her rape was made public, virginity being an essential criteria for marriage in such rural societies. The girl and her parents - who don't want to be identified - have found solace in anonymity and the sympathy they get from their relations and friends. Even with all that support, they have not been able to confront the rapist. Apparently, bringing the culprit to justice would mean going public. It isn't worth the pain for them. The girl who now studies in a college wants to move on and heal while keeping quiet. Bandana Bagdi, a landless farmer's wife, says she was accosted in the same village. "I could have been raped, but I ran away," she says, in her ramshackle hut by a pond. When, along with her husband and brothers, she went to confront the culprit she was turned away by the villagers. "They said I was a bad woman after a good man," she says. Traditional rural societies, such as here, are swift to put the blame on the victim. In remote Kelai village, Golechera Bewa, 60, feels helpless. Her youngest daughter Ajida Khatun, 19, was coming home at dusk past a deserted stretch when a man tried to drag her in a corner. Ajida ran to save herself. Going to the police would be "too much [of a] trouble" for an "illiterate, poor old woman", she said. The village council was an option, but going there would give the girl a "bad name". Ms Bewa says: "Honour is the only thing that we have. Without that we can't live in these villages." Some of her hesitation comes from the fact that the perpetrator is well-off, making her feel powerless. With men going to the Middle East for manual labour, there has been an influx of money and that has changed power dynamics in the area. The "new money" has caused arrogance, says Rajib Lochan Roy, a lawyer in the area who has represented several rape victims. "There's a tendency to justify the bad behaviour through money and power," he says. He says it is like the old times, when "the feudal lords would assert their will on the women

Summary: Murshidabad in rural West Bengal is in many ways a typical rural Indian district: a dusty, remote place dotted with villages that have little access to healthcare or infrastructure.


Media playback is unsupported on your device 1 July 2015 Last updated at 11:08 BST BBC West has discovered that four out of 10 patients are waiting more than 18 weeks, the government's national target, for treatment at the Bristol Heart Institute. The BBC's Matthew Hill spoke to patient Balbir Kaur Nirwan, who had to wait six months before being treated, consultant Alan Bryan and Dr Kevin Fox, from the British Cardiovascular Society.

Summary: People with heart problems in the West Country could be at risk because of longer waiting times, the BBC understands.


Flynn, who was appointed after Newport sacked boss Graham Westley, has won both his games in charge. And the morning after Tuesday's victory at Morecambe, the Welshman received a congratulatory text message from former Arsenal striker Henry, with whom he has been qualifying as a coach. "It was surreal," said Flynn. "He's one of my heroes in the game. He's just pure class and he's like that off the pitch as well. "I asked him to put his boots back on but he wasn't so forthcoming! "For a football fan, which I am, it was unbelievable, and something which made me smile on Wednesday morning when I had my little boy waking me up at 6.30 in the morning, after getting back from the game at 4am." Newport moved off the foot of the League Two table and are now seven points from safety after beating Morecambe. County were bottom and 11 points adrift when they sacked Westley but have won their two games under Flynn. The 36-year-old former Newport midfielder has been studying for his coaching badges with the Football Association of Wales, under the tutelage of Wales assistant manager Osian Roberts. Former Barcelona and France forward Henry has been on the same course, and watched Wales' rugby team train earlier this month. Now a television pundit as well as Belgium's assistant manager, Henry has told Flynn he can call him for advice whenever he needs it. "It's just nice to see that support," added Flynn, whose Newport side host Blackpool on Saturday. "Learning from people like that - Patrick Vieira, David Ginola, Sol Campbell - it's a great mix of people. "It's all put together by Osian and Lennie Lawrence, and it's attracting the right calibre of manager. Picking their brains and seeing how they work is invaluable."

Summary: Newport County caretaker manager Mike Flynn has revealed how Thierry Henry has lent his support to the Exiles' bid for League Two survival.


With those words, marking the killing of PC Keith Palmer, deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle reminded us that Parliament isn't just about the politicians. For many MPs, caught in the Commons chamber as Wednesday's attack began, their first thoughts were for their staff in other parts of the parliamentary estate. The police put the Palace of Westminster in lockdown as firearms officers began a sweep of the area. Plaid Cymru MP's assistant Rhian Medi Roberts told was separated from her two-year-old son Owain for "a good couple of hours" during the lockdown. Owain was kept with other children in the parliamentary nursery - in a corridor away from windows - while Ms Roberts was told to stay in the Plaid Cymru office in the Norman Shaw buildings. "I rushed over to the nursery as soon as we were 'freed'," said Rhian. "But I knew him to be safe, and would be happy with his friends and carers, who were fantastic. "Also, I knew from the constant email updates from the nursery that they fed the children a lovely dinner, which they would enjoy." Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns had been in a meeting with the prime minister only moments before the attack. He was told to stay in his ministerial office and not to move. Labour MP Mark Tami was locked in the Commons chamber. He said the scariest moment had been when a police marksman jumped through the door to the Members' Lobby as part of the sweep of the estate. Liberal Democrat Lord Roberts of Llandudno said he was "old enough [81] to have had a good cry" about the attack. He was among peers allowed to visit the Commons canteen before the lockdown was over. Others were evacuated to Westminster Abbey, where they were briefed by police. Wales Office Minister Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth tweeted: "Senseless atrocity. Unspeakable and condemned by all faiths." On Thursday, the mood in Parliament is sombre but defiant. Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mark Williams said: "It's an incredibly sombre, quieter and reflective place. I've just come back from the chamber where we had our daily prayers, and prayers that perhaps normally aren't exactly packed, the place was packed. "And the mood of the house, is heartfelt sadness and extending our condolences to PC Palmer who was defending this place and defending democracy - and paid a tragic price."

Summary: "We're in a village and our village policeman has been murdered."


The Rt Rev James Jones, who chaired the Hillsborough Independent Panel, said he felt "great pride" in being recognised in the Queen's New Year Honours list. Author Phil Scraton, who led the panel's research team, turned down an OBE in protest at those he said had not helped the 1989 disaster's survivors. Meanwhile, Merseyside Police's only Sikh officer has been appointed MBE. And Liverpool comedy legend Ken Dodd, 89, has been awarded a knighthood for services to entertainment and charity. Bishop Jones, now assistant bishop in the Diocese of York, said his pride was "mixed with sadness" because of "that enduring sadness of the families who have continued to feel the loss of their loved ones at Hillsborough". He continued: "I got to know the families very well during the Hillsborough Independent Panel process. And over the years I've come to understand something of their pain. "I think the families have shown extraordinary forbearance over the years as they have struggled to get people just to listen to them. "So, in receiving this honour, I also salute their forbearance." He said the panel's work was the "climax of my ministry as the Bishop of Liverpool". It was the panel's report that led to the quashing of the original inquests and the setting up of new inquests which ultimately led to the unlawful killing verdict for 96 football fans who perished in the tragedy. Merseyside Police's Det Insp Sarbjit Kaur was awarded her honour for work in exposing honour-based violence and forced marriages. The 43-year-old said she was "extremely humbled". "I believe everyone has the right to live their life free from abuse and have the freedom to choose whomever they want to marry," she said. The force's Chief Constable Andy Cooke praised Det Insp Kaur's work and said she was "an amazing role model". He added he hoped she would "encourage women from a similar background to join the police service and protect those most vulnerable in our communities".

Summary: The former Bishop of Liverpool has been made a Knight Commander for his services to the Hillsborough Inquiry.


The move comes after the BBC revealed that a number of women felt physically and mentally scarred after having the implants. Mesh or tape implants are used to treat organ prolapse or urinary incontinence. These conditions can be common after childbirth. The board's letter, leaked to the BBC, advised GPs to refer the women back to the health trust that performed the surgery with a letter stating that the referral is "because of problems associated with mesh surgery". The letter goes on to state that each trust should have arrangements in place for these women to be seen by a consultant. A spokesperson for the local action group, which now has over 250 members, welcomed the move but told the BBC that it was sad that some women had to go public with their personal stories in order for some health professionals to take them seriously. In July, a group of women from across the UK affected by vaginal mesh implants, including many from Northern Ireland, met with MPs at Westminster as part of a campaign to ban the procedure.

Summary: The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) has written to GPs advising what action they should take if any of their patients experience problems after vaginal mesh surgery.


The official is said to have acted as a CIA contact at the US embassy, reports say, in a scandal that has infuriated German politicians. A German intelligence official was arrested last week on suspicion of spying. An inquiry has also begun into a German defence ministry worker, reports said. "The representative of the US intelligence services at the embassy of the United States of America has been told to leave Germany," government spokesman Steffen Seibert said. Analysis by Rajini Vaidyanathan, BBC News, Washington Earlier this week the White House described the partnership between the US and Germany as one built on respect. But no-one likes to be spied on, especially when it's your friend doing the spying. This latest episode is yet another reminder of how American surveillance programmes are causing friction with allies. It's angered many in Germany, where the issue of snooping is historically a very sensitive one, and many are asking: "What? Again?" It wasn't too long ago, after all, that we heard the National Security Agency was spying on Chancellor Merkel's mobile phone. After a review into the surveillance programmes, President Obama promised the US wouldn't spy on its friends overseas. But despite requests to be included, Germany isn't part of a non-spying pact the US has with Britain, New Zealand, Australia and Canada. The White House will want to do all it can to repair any trust issues over this latest incident, so they can work together in other areas - for example, it needs German support for tougher sanctions against Russia over Ukraine. Analysis by Stephen Evans, BBC News, Berlin The request by the German government follows increasing frustration that it has failed to get US assurances that spying would cease on German citizens from Chancellor Merkel down. She was shocked to learn that her mobile phone conversations were secretly being monitored while President Obama was greeting her as a friend on his visit to Berlin. Chancellor Merkel has tried to maintain a balance between condemning America's actions but also maintaining cordial relations. Each revelation has made that balance harder to achieve. This matters because America needs German help on a range of issues from trying to get the world economy out of its difficulties, to finding united Western action on Russia, to dealing with the revelations emanating from Edward Snowden who is currently in Moscow but whom some German lawmakers want to invite to Berlin. The chairman of the Bundestag (parliament) committee overseeing the secret service said the action had been taken because of America's spying on German politicians and its failure to co-operate and provide adequate responses. The US has not denied allegations that a German intelligence agency employee arrested last week was passing secret documents to the US National Security Agency (NSA). However, the latest reports that an employee within the defence ministry was also spying for the US were considered more serious. Although no arrest was made, searches were carried out on Wednesday at the ministry and elsewhere. The US and Germany have been close allies for decades but relations were

Summary: The German government has ordered the expulsion of a CIA official in Berlin in response to two cases of alleged spying by the US.


The incident at Alliance Parade was reported shortly before 04:00 BST on Saturday. Police said it is "believed that someone broke into the house and deliberately set it on fire". They said there was no-one in the house at the time.

Summary: A house in north Belfast has been gutted in an arson attack.


Quantum Pharma Plc said NuPharm would cease trading at Deeside Industrial Park by the end of December due to "significant cash losses". The firm took over NuPharm in July last year. It said despite continued investment, NuPharm was "not capable of becoming an earnings enhancing business", and closure was the only option. In a statement, it said: "Other alternatives were examined but were not considered viable. "The board believes that the best available course of action is to commence a closure of the business in an orderly fashion." NuPharm makes products for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

Summary: A pharmaceutical company in Flintshire is to close following with the loss of 66 jobs.


The Commons privileges committee said Colin Myler and Tom Crone had misled the Culture, Media and Sport Committee by "answering questions falsely". It recommended that the Commons should "formally admonish" the pair. Both men have rejected the findings and denied giving misleading evidence. It is believed to be the first time in decades that anyone has been found in contempt of Parliament and a senior MP has said legal action against the pair should be considered. Mr Myler and Mr Crone had appeared before the culture committee in 2009 and 2011, to answer questions about the extent of phone hacking at the newspaper. The paper had initially claimed that the illegal practice was limited to a single reporter and a private investigator with whom he worked. But evidence emerged that hacking was more widespread and the paper was forced to close in 2011 because of the scandal. The privileges committee found that Mr Myler misled the culture committee by denying that he was aware of phone hacking or other wrongdoing by staff, apart from royal correspondent Clive Goodman who had been jailed in 2007 for hacking-related offences. It said Mr Crone misled the committee on the same issue and also with regard to the "significance of confidentiality" in a settlement reached between the paper and Professional Footballers' Association boss Gordon Taylor. Mr Myler, the former editor, said the findings were "profoundly disappointing". "Had the appropriate standard of proof been properly applied, the privileges committee could not have reached a finding of contempt against me, given that the report identifies evidence which plainly contradicts their conclusions," he said. Former legal manager Mr Crone said he did not accept the findings made against him and stood by his evidence on both issues for which he was criticised. "In particular, I accepted clearly and unequivocally at the outset of my evidence... that the problem of phone hacking... went beyond" just Clive Goodman, he said. "That is a matter of record which is beyond challenge." The privileges committee did not uphold similar allegations of misleading MPs against Les Hinton, the former executive chairman of News International, which owned the NotW. It also found that the parent firm did not commit contempt as a company. Mr Hinton said: "After more than four years, the committee of privileges has thrown out the charges that I was guilty of contempt of Parliament and a cover-up of phone hacking. "Its findings are too little and too late, coming so long after I was vilified by MPs." Acting chairman of the culture committee Damian Collins told the BBC the case "poses the question now about what action Parliament should take". "I think we should look now at what sanctions should be applied to people who are guilty of contempt of Parliament and deliberately misleading Parliament. Should there be a sentence, should there be a court process following the work of the privileges committee?" he said. "It is the first time in decades that people have been found guilty of contempt of Parliament and misleading Parliament. The house has to look at

Summary: The former editor and legal manager of defunct newspaper the News of the World (NotW) have been found in contempt of Parliament over evidence they gave to MPs about phone hacking.


Its survey of 1,600 cities in 91 countries revealed that nearly 90% of people in urban centres breathe air that fails to meet levels deemed safe. The WHO says that about half of the world's urban population is exposed to pollution at least 2.5 times higher than it recommends. Air quality was poorest in Asia, followed by South America and Africa. "Too many urban centres today are so enveloped in dirty air that their skylines are invisible," said Dr Flavia Bustreo, the WHO's assistant director-general for family, children and women's health. "Not surprisingly, this air is dangerous to breathe." Health risks The WHO currently sets safe levels of air quality based on the concentration of polluting particles called particulate matter (PM) found in the air. It recommends that levels of fine particles called PM2.5 should not be more than 10 micrograms per cubic metre on average over a year, and slightly larger pollutants, called PM10, should not reach more than 20 micrograms per cubic metre on average. But the Urban Air Quality database showed that many areas were breaching these levels. Some cities in Asia showed extremely high levels of pollution. Peshawar in Pakistan registered a PM10 level of 540 micrograms per cubic metre over a period of two months in 2010, while Delhi in India had an average PM2.5 of 153 micrograms per cubic metre in the same year. Cities in South America, including Rio De Janeiro in Brazil, also fared badly. But the WHO says it is still lacking data, especially from cities in Africa, where poor air quality is a growing concern. The most recent figures suggest that seven million people around the world died as a result of air pollution in 2012. It is estimated that 3.7 million of these deaths were from outdoor air pollution. The WHO calls its the world's single largest environmental health risk, and links poor air quality to heart disease, respiratory problems and cancer. "We cannot buy clean air in a bottle, but cities can adopt measures that will clean the air and save the lives of their people," said Dr Carlos Dora from the WHO. Follow Rebecca on Twitter

Summary: The World Health Organization says air pollution in many of the world's cities is breaching its guidelines.


Dublin side Bohemians visit Brandywell Stadium on Friday night in the first home game since Dundalk supporters were attacked earlier this month. Fans, residents and club officials marched from Lecky Road to Brandywell. Club director Denis Bradley said it was a symbolic gesture to prevent further trouble and 500 people took part. "This is a battle we will win, this is a battle we have to win, maybe not immediately but we are very resolved," he said. Derry City's FAI Cup semi-final defeat by Dundalk FC was marred by trouble outside the ground. A teenager suffered head injuries and a Dundalk supporters' bus was vandalised. Police said they have been liaising closely with the local community and the club in preparation for Friday night's match. Ch Insp Alan Hutton said: "There will be an appropriate policing operation to ensure the safety of all supporters attending, as well as minimising any impact on local communities. "I would encourage all supporters to come and enjoy the game and respect the local community. "I would also like to acknowledge the excellent work carried out by the local community and Derry City football club in preparation for tonight's match." Derry City added that the trouble by a "group of youths" was not typical. "There is a group of youngsters, we don't know where they are from or who they are, who appear to be using these occasions to misbehave," Mr Bradley said. "Derry City are saying tonight: "Not in our name" and the local residents are joining us to say: "Not in our area" are you doing these things."

Summary: Derry City Football Club has held what it describes as "a public act of defiance" to show disapproval at attacks on visiting fans this season.


Only time will tell whether he gets his wish. No-one should get too carried away, though. Britain has had only a handful of non-white cabinet ministers. Indeed, Mr Cameron's new cabinet, following his election victory in May, has just two minority-ethnic cabinet ministers. It is all a far cry from 1987, when four new black and minority-ethnic MPs - all Labour - entered the House, a symbolic and powerful moment for many observers. Paul Boateng had the most successful ministerial career, eventually making it into the cabinet as chief secretary to the Treasury. Much of the commentary focused on his being the first black cabinet minister and some speculated that he might rise to the very top. It was not to be. He now sits in the Lords. Keith Vaz rose to become the first Asian minister in the Commons in 1999. Mr Vaz's newsworthy quotes keep him in the public eye as the long-serving chairman of the home affairs select committee. Diane Abbott has a big political and media profile but has stayed on the back benches, as did Bernie Grant, before his premature death. The Tories at that time had no real equivalent representation in terms of black and minority-ethnic MPs. There was a lingering suspicion that the majority of voters from these communities didn't like the Conservatives. There was a damaging public row when a black candidate, John Taylor, was selected to fight Cheltenham in 1992. There was opposition from the local association and the campaign itself was marred by racist jibes. Taylor lost. It was the Blair-Brown years that changed the landscape at ministerial level. The Tottenham MP, David Lammy, was one early star. He rose quickly and, having been elected at just 27, he was immediately weighed down by the "Britain's next black prime minister" label. He didn't last but he has reinvented himself as a vocal backbencher and is in the mix to be Labour's choice for London mayor. Baroness Scotland, the first ethnic minority attorney general, was another prominent appointment. Then there was Shahid Malik, who became Britain's first Muslim minister in 2007. When David Cameron came to power in 2010, he brought in Baroness Sayeeda Warsi. She was the first Muslim woman cabinet minister. Her star burned brightly for a short time but she is no longer in government. Instead, she has carved a role as a critical voice, particularly on relations with the Muslim community. Another casualty was Shailesh Vara, who lost his post as a government whip. He is currently parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Ministry of Justice. and remains influential in Tory attempts to appeal to the British Asian community. The Liberal Democrats, now a crushed force in Westminster, did not have a single non-white MP in the 2010-15 Parliament. The twists and turns of political life make predictions difficult. The Business Secretary Sajid Javid is seen by some as a future leader. His ethnicity - the son of an immigrant from Pakistan - is of less interest than his political views, perhaps another sign of a gradual shift in

Summary: David Cameron said in a speech last November that he wanted to see an ethnic minority prime minister to prove "Britons of all backgrounds can achieve".


The hosts go into the final day on 199-6 in their second innings, a lead of 278 runs. John Anderson top-scored with 59 while Ed Joyce (37), William Porterfield (29) and Gary Wilson (25) also contributed on a day when 45 overs were lost. Tanveer Ahmed and Tanwir Afzal each picked up two wickets for the tourists. The Irish play positively, scoring at a rate of around four an over in an attempt to force a result despite the best efforts of the Belfast weather. Joyce scored a fluent 37 from 55 balls in an opening stand of 53 with skipper Porterfield and was unluckily dismissed when he hit his wicket. Anderson and Porterfield added a further 48 before the captain was bowled. Niall O'Brien (15) and Paul Stirling (six) both went cheaply, but Anderson's fourth half-century for Ireland ensured they were always on top. The Merrion man top-scored before mistiming an attempted hook shot. Gary Wilson scored a breezy 25 and was trapped lbw two balls before the umpires decided that the light was too poor to continue. Porterfield indicated that Ireland would bat on Friday, probably hoping to set Hong Kong a target of around 330. Play on the final day will start 30 minutes early at 10:30 BST, with a potential 104 overs. Meanwhile, Ireland have brought North Down leg-spinner Jacob Mulder into their squad for two T20 games against Hong Kong at Bready next week. He replaces Barry McCarthy, who is required by Warwickshire for their County Championship clash with Yorkshire at Headingley.

Summary: Ireland remain in control against Hong Kong in the Intercontinental Cup game but they were frustrated by rain and bad light at Stormont on Thursday.


Philip Blackwood was jailed last March for using an image of Buddha to promote his bar. Those being released include 52 people jailed for political offences. It comes just over a week before the new parliament meets for the first time since last year's election victory by the opposition pro-democracy NLD party. Sentences for nearly 80 prisoners on death row have also been commuted to life in prison. Mr Blackwood's sister, Angela Blackwood, said the family had been told that he would be released in the next few days "or it could be up to a week". It was not immediately clear if two Burmese men jailed with him were also being released. Mr Blackwood had posted a picture on social media of Buddha wearing headphones to promote a cheap drinks event at the Yangon bar he managed. Following complaints from monks, he was sentenced to two and a half years with hard labour for offending the Buddhist religion. The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Myanmar says that despite the latest releases, the country's outdated legal system - administered by often vindictive local officials - is still jailing people for political activities, usually unauthorised protests. On Friday, an ethnic Kachin activist named Patrick Khun Jarli was jailed for six months for posting a picture online that mocked the military. Amnesty International said the sentence was "a stark reminder of how prevalent repression still is" in Myanmar, and said nearly 100 other prisoners of conscience remained behind bars. Presidential spokesman Zaw Htay said on Facebook that a total of 102 prisoners were being released. One official said 21 of them were being released from the notorious Insein prison, which has long been used for political detainees, in Yangon, also known as Rangoon. Its most famous inmate was Aung San Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy leader whose party won the historic elections in November, ending decades of military or military-backed rule. Myanmar's former military government had been accused of wrongfully imprisoning about 2,000 political opponents, dissidents and journalists over the years. But since 2010, as it began edging towards democracy, it has freed hundreds of detainees.

Summary: A New Zealand man serving a two-year sentence for insulting Buddhism is among more than 100 prisoners to be released from jail in Myanmar.


The discount fashion chain said it had come to its attention that the footwear "does not meet the Primark usual high standards for chemical compliance". The products in question are men's flip-flops in blue, black and khaki. The company said customers will be offered a full refund and do not have to produce proof of purchase. Primark, which is owned by Associated British Foods, said the footwear was sold in stores between 4 January and 2 June this year as part of its Cedar Wood State range. "We have found levels of a restricted substance in the product in excess of the 1.0 mg/kg requirement," it said on the website. A Primark spokesperson confirmed that the chemical in question was chrysene, used in dark coloured dyes, but said it was present at levels that would pose a minimal health and safety risk to customers. The fault was discovered by Primark following up an inquiry by a third party, the company said. "We take the safety of our customers, and the quality of our products very seriously," the spokesperson said. The company has suspended all new orders from the factory that manufactures the flip-flops while the matter is investigated.

Summary: Primark has recalled thousands of men's flip-flops over fears they may contain dangerous levels of a cancer-causing chemical.


Unite was responding to Plaid Cymru's economy spokesman Adam Price, who urged steel workers to reject a move from final salary pensions. Balloting is expected to begin at the end of January. Tata said pension reform is essential to a deal that would see Â£1bn invested at Port Talbot over 10 years. The company made a commitment to secure jobs and production at Port Talbot and its other steelworks in December. But Plaid AM Mr Price said Tata was being "opportunistic", adding workers should ask it to rethink the offer. The financial climate around the steel industry has changed over the last 12 months. World steel prices have risen from $385 per tonne of hot rolled coil a year ago, when Tata announced more than 1,000 UK job losses, to $536 per tonne by August just after the company put the sale of its Welsh operations on hold. China had been accused of selling surplus steel to Europe at below cost price, driving down its market value. But last summer, the European Union continued imposing tariffs on foreign imports - with up to 22% levied on cold rolled steel, which is used in cars and washing machines. And the turnaround plan put in place at the biggest plant, Port Talbot, saw the reported losses of Â£1m a day at the site reduced. Mark Turner, a Unite union official at Port Talbot, said: "When politicians start making comments on either side, they need to understand what they're doing and the influence they have on people. "There are personal decisions to make but also the future of the steel industry, there are a lot of things people have to take into consideration. "We'd like politicians to keep their opinions to themselves for the time being." Meanwhile, Aberavon MP Stephen Kinnock criticised Mr Price, saying he was "astonished" at his intervention, given the delicacy of the situation. "This is a very personal decision that the steelworkers have to make, based on a range of factors," said the Labour MP. "There have been some very impressive proposals from Tata Steel in terms of securing long term future of the works. "But on the other hand there are some difficult proposals for the workers to swallow in terms of the pension scheme and the workforce should be allowed to get all the information they need and to vote according what they think is the best thing to do. "It is not right that any politician should be coming in and meddling in what is a very personal decision."

Summary: One of the biggest unions at Tata says politicians should not interfere in the workers' ballot over whether to accept a less generous pension scheme.


The authority's planning committee earlier this month backed a ??35m proposal for the street's eastern side. Campaigners condemned the decision, which will mean the demolition of the 103-year-old Futurist Cinema building. The council said it was not possible to save the building or its facade due to its "poor structural condition" after many years of deterioration. Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said the cinema was "close to my heart, as I know it is to many others" but two surveyors' reports had concluded "that there was simply no way it could be salvaged". "There comes a point when you have to accept the inevitable and move forward and the government's decision allows us to do that," he added. The national Cinema Theatre Association (CTA) earlier this week said the Futurist Cinema had "been allowed to rot away" for more than 35 years since its closure. Steve Parry, managing director of Neptune Developments - the company behind the Lime Street plans - said the local Save the Futurist campaign group had "accepted that there is very little that can be saved". "It's been frustrating to have London-based interest groups trying to derail the project," Mr Parry said, adding that his company had "demonstrated our commitment to conservation" with plans for an entertainment hub at the former ABC cinema. He described the decision that the Communities and Local Government Secretary would not hold an inquiry was "a great result" as regeneration plans would have otherwise been "jeopardised" and "development stalled for up to two years". A council spokesman said Lime Street's regeneration would include "radically redesigned buildings" and incorporate a hotel, shops, restaurants and student accommodation. Mr Anderson added the plans would "bring Lime Street up to a much higher standard than it has been for decades".

Summary: The government will not hold an inquiry into regeneration plans for Lime Street, Liverpool City Council said.


Viktoria Tautz, 34, was looking after Joshua Paul at his home in Haringey, north London, on 29 August 2014 when he suddenly collapsed. Joshua was taken to hospital but died on 1 September, the Old Bailey heard. Ms Tautz, of Holly Park Road, Barnet, denies one charge of manslaughter and insists she never got angry with him. The court heard Joshua, who was born about 10 weeks early, had a large head for his age and was being monitored. Asked what she knew about his condition, Ms Tautz said she was aware his head was "big" and "sensitive" on the top. After starting work for his family in June, she said she was getting on well with the parents. On Joshua, she said: "He was good baby." Bernard Richmond QC, defending, asked how she coped on days when she found him in an unhappy mood. Ms Tautz said: "There was not much needed. I lifted him a bit. I played with him. He calmed easily." The barrister asked if she ever got "angry" or "frustrated" with the baby. She replied: "No, never." On the day of Joshua's death, Ms Tautz said he was lying on his back making "baby noises" so she talked to him in English, thinking he was not tired enough to sleep. When he began "crying very intensively" she decided to pick him up to "make him calm down", she said. "When I picked him up his face was red. I recognised his face seemed swollen," she told the court. Joshua did not appear to be breathing and she "got scared" - taking him to the bathroom to try and induce vomiting, the jury heard. "Everything happened very fast", she said. "I was absolutely scared. I didn't know what happened to him." Ms Tautz was arrested on 5 September and in police interviews said she had not had any accidents and denied shaking him. Jurors were told Joshua died "because of a head injury that caused bleeding in his brain, eyes and other spinal injuries". The trial continues.

Summary: A nanny accused of leaving a 10-month-old boy fatally injured in a fit of anger has denied to a court that she lost her temper with him.


On Wednesday, a leaked document revealed a private-public sector consortium was the last remaining bidder for a Â£690m contract. Campaigners handed over their petition at a clinical commissioning group (CCG) meeting on Thursday. Commissioners said their focus was on improving outcomes for patients. Speaking at a protest outside the NHS meeting in Hednesford, Gail Gregory, from the Cancer Not For Profit campaign group said the Staffordshire service should be run by the NHS. "A private company is out to make a profit. That's what you want a private company to do. I'm not a profit opportunity, I'm a patient," she said. Outsourcing contracts to cover both cancer and end of life care in Staffordshire were announced last year. Together, they are expected to be worth Â£1.2bn and cover a 10-year period. The contracts will cover the areas controlled by Stafford and Surrounds, Cannock Chase, Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire CCGs. The cancer contract is expected to be awarded in December and, according to a leaked document seen by the BBC, discussions between the CCGs and the consortium are expected to take place over the next few weeks, before a formal proposal is submitted. The group includes University Hospitals North Midlands, the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals Trust and private firm Interserve. The CCGs said they brought together a wide range of expertise.

Summary: More than 63,000 people have signed a petition against what they say is the privatisation of cancer care in Staffordshire.


McIlorum, 28, went off on a stretcher after a tackle on Broncos half-back Anthony Milford and went to hospital. The Leeds-born England international has played 220 games for the Warriors. "Micky could be out for six months," Wigan coach Shaun Wane told BBC Radio 5 live sports extra. "He's playing rugby league and these things happen."

Summary: Wigan hooker Michael McIlorum is facing a six-month lay-off after sustaining a suspected broken ankle in Saturday's World Club Series defeat by Brisbane.


The crash, involving silver Skoda Octavia taxi, happened on Lake Road at 00:30 BST. Police said the pedestrian, a 20-year-old woman from Fareham, died at the scene. A 37-year-old man, from Portsmouth, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by driving without due care and attention. He has been released from custody but remains under investigation, Hampshire police said. Anyone who witnessed the crash or saw the woman or the taxi beforehand has been urged to contact police.

Summary: A woman died when she was struck by a taxi in Portsmouth.


Based on the age of the surrounding rocks, this is the earliest known member of the clade that produced today's birds: Ornithuromorpha. It pushes back the branching-out of this evolutionary group by at least five million years. The little bird appears to have been a wader, capable of nimble flight. The discovery is reported in the journal Nature Communications. Birds began to evolve from the dinosaurs some 150 million years ago at the tail end of the Jurassic period. This is the age of the famous but hotly contested "first bird" Archaeopteryx - now considered by many to be a feathered dinosaur. Some 20 million years later, when the newfound species was wading and flitting through what would become north-eastern China, palaeontologists believe there was quite a variety of bird life. About half of those species were Enantiornithes, a group of early birds with teeth and clawed wings that eventually all died out. The other half, including the new find, were Ornithuromorpha - a group that eventually gave rise to modern birds and looked much more like them. The branching event behind that forked diversity is what the new discovery pushes back in time; previously the earliest known Ornithuromorph was 125 million years old. The pair of skeletons that define the new species, christened Archaeornithura meemannae, were dug up from the Sichakou basin in Hebei province. "The new fossil represents the oldest record of Ornithuropmorpha," said first author Wang Min, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. "It pushes back the origination date... by at least five million years." The specimens were well preserved, revealing a number of details about A. meemannae. The bird stood about 15cm tall and its legs, even on the upper regions, had no feathers, which suggests a wading lifestyle. The size and shape of its bones also suggest good manoeuvrability in the air.

Summary: Scientists in China have described a new species of early bird, from two fossils with intact plumage dating to 130 million years ago.


El Nacional in the Dominican Republic has now apologised for accidentally publishing a still of Alec Baldwin, captioned as the US president, next to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. The image accompanied an article about Israeli settlements. The paper has said sorry to readers and "anyone affected". The picture was sent to the newspaper along with information about Saturday Night Live, the long-running US satirical programme. No-one spotted the mistake, says El Nacional. Saturday Night Live is not Mr Trump's favourite TV programme. He says Baldwin's frequent impressions of him "stink". "Not funny, cast is terrible, always a complete hit job. Really bad television!" he once tweeted.

Summary: Actor Alec Baldwin's impression on Saturday Night Live of Donald Trump tricked a national newspaper into thinking he was the real thing.


The South Africa-born 21-year-old right-hander will now remain at Lord's until the end of the 2017 season. Eskinazi was a regular for Middlesex's Second XI this year and made his first-class debut in last month's victory over Yorkshire at Lord's. "Stephen thoroughly deserves a new contract," managing director of cricket Angus Fraser said. "Once again he was our top run-scorer in the second eleven and was rewarded for this with a first-class debut. "He looked comfortable against high quality bowling, which is a good sign for the future."

Summary: Middlesex wicketkeeper-batsman Stephen Eskinazi has signed a new two-year contract with the club.


Mewn llythyr i'r arolygwyr, mae Cymdeithas yr Iaith hefyd yn honni y byddai diffyg rhaglenni gwreiddiol i Gymru ar y sianel, fod y brandio yn Saesneg yn unig, ac y bydd y rhaglenni yn cael eu creu yn Lerpwl. Made TV yw'r cwmni sydd yn gyfrifol am sianel Made in North Wales, fydd yn dechrau darlledu ddiwedd y mis. Dywedodd y cwmni y byddai'r sianel yn darparu rhaglenni yn unol â'r drwydded gafodd ei rhoi gan Ofcom yn 2013, ac y bydden nhw'n ceisio darparu rhagor o gynnwys unigryw a Chymraeg pe bai modd. Mewn llythyr i Ofcom dywedodd Aled Powell, is-gadeirydd Grŵp Digidol Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg bod gan y mudiad "bryder y bydd cyn lleied o oriau darlledu Cymraeg ar sianel deledu leol Made in North Wales". "Nid yw'n dderbyniol bod Ofcom wedi cytuno i drwyddedu'r cwmni er gwaetha'r ffaith mai dim ond 30 munud o'r rhaglenni a gynhyrchir gan y cwmni fydd yn Gymraeg bob wythnos," meddai. Ychwanegodd bod "holl bresenoldeb y gwasanaeth newydd ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol, ar-lein, a'i brandio yn uniaith Saesneg, ac mae hynny'n destun pryder mawr i ni". "Mae'r ddarpariaeth hon yn sarhaus i'r Gymraeg a'r gymuned leol y dylai'r sianel ei gwasanaethu, gan sefydlu sianel deledu Saesneg arall yn yr ardal ar ben y cannoedd sydd eisoes ar gael. Erfyniwn arnoch i ail-edrych ar y sefyllfa hon." Roedd pryderon hefyd na fyddai Bay TV yn cadw at ymrwymiad gafodd ei wneud gan ymgeisydd gwreiddiol y drwydded - Bay TV Clwyd - i ddefnyddio a manteisio ar adnoddau a sgiliau myfyrwyr o Brifysgol Glyndŵr. "Mae'r problemau hyn yn rhan o batrwm o ymddygiad gan Ofcom, sy'n ffafrio anghenion busnesau mawrion yn hytrach na'r gymuned leol a'r Gymraeg," ychwanegodd. Mewn ymateb dywedodd Made TV y byddai'r sianel yn darparu wyth awr o raglenni lleol gwreiddiol bob wythnos, yn ogystal â rhaglen hanner awr yn y Gymraeg, yn unol â'r drwydded gafodd ei rhoi. "Byddwn ni'n ceisio gwneud yn well na'r addewidion hyn ac yn edrych ymlaen at lansio'r sianel ar 26 Ebrill," meddai'r cwmni mewn datganiad. Ychwanegodd Made TV eu bod wedi cyflogi staff yn Yr Wyddgrug fydd yn creu cynnwys o fanno, ac nad oedd hi'n wir i ddweud y byddai'r sianel yn cael ei chynhyrchu o Lerpwl, na chwaith eu bod nhw'n torri unrhyw addewidion o ran y berthynas â Phrifysgol Glyndŵr Dywedodd y cwmni hefyd nad oedd yr ymrwymiad i raglenni yn y Gymraeg yn rhan o'r cais gwreiddiol, a'i fod wedi cael ychwanegu'n hwyrach. "Mae Made in North Wales yn gweithio gyda busnesau lleol i ddarparu lle swyddfa yn yr ardal, a bydd y cynnyrch gwreiddiol ar-leoliad i gyd yn cael ei ffilmio yn ardal gogledd Cymru."

Summary: Mae ymgyrchwyr iaith wedi beirniadu Ofcom am roi trwydded i sianel deledu yng ngogledd Cymru er mai dim ond hanner awr o gynnwys Cymraeg sydd yn cael ei ddarlledu ganddyn nhw bob wythnos.


Overall staffing in NHS Scotland is at a record high, but auditors said the government must plan ahead better to "urgently address workforce issues". It said there were signs NHS services were "under increasing stress". The Scottish government said it was committed to having the right mix of skills and staff in the right places. But opposition parties said the "damning" report was confirmation of a "deepening workforce crisis" in the health service. The new report, the first part of a two-stage audit of workforce planning in Scotland's NHS, examined clinical staffing in hospitals and other secondary care settings. It found that health boards "consistently underestimate" the number of staff they need, while the Scottish government had "not yet adequately estimated what impact increasing and changing demand for NHS services could have on the workforce or skills required to meet this need". The report comes after medical leaders urged decision-makers to be "courageous" over NHS reform in future budgets, amid warnings from unions that "the NHS in Scotland isn't getting the resources it needs". The report, by Auditor General Caroline Gardner, said it was vital that the government and NHS bosses plan more effectively for the future. It highlighted that spending on NHS staff had increased by 11% between 2011-12 and 2016-17, with the overall staff hitting a record high of 139,341 whole-time equivalent workers. However, in reaching these staffing levels almost all NHS boards overspent against their pay budgets, and agency staffing costs have more than doubled over six years to more than Â£171m. And the report warned that the government and NHS boards "have not planned their NHS workforce effectively for the long term". It said the health service faces "urgent" staffing challenges, including: The Scottish government is setting up a National Workforce Planning group to improve joint working. However, Ms Gardner's report said responsibility for workforce planning was "confused" - it is currently split between the government, health boards and regional workforce groups - and was at risk of fragmenting further with the integration of health and social care services. Ms Gardner said: "Thousands of people work hard in Scotland's NHS to deliver vital public services every day, but there are signs that the health service is under stress and that staff face increasing workload pressures. "The Scottish government and NHS boards recognise the challenges, but urgently need to improve their understanding of future demand, staff projections and associated costs, and set out in detail how they plan to create a workforce that can meet the long-term health needs of the population." The report was welcomed by staff groups and unions. Theresa Fyffe, director of the Royal College of Nursing Scotland, said the report should highlight "the urgency with which workforce planning now needs to be addressed". She said: "Audit Scotland has hit the nail on the head. For too long plans have been restricted by what is affordable and achievable with the staff available, rather than focusing on strategic, long-term planning to meet demand. The result is that Scotland has too few nursing staff in post and too

Summary: Scotland's government and health boards have failed to plan effectively for long-term staffing challenges, Audit Scotland has said.


Bill Walker was found guilty of attacking three former wives and a step-daughter between 1967 and 1995. The 71-year-old, from Alloa, had denied 23 charges of assault and one breach of the peace, but was found guilty of all charges at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. Sheriff Kathrine Mackie said the former independent MSP for Dunfermline was in "extreme denial". She said he had shown a pattern of abusive behaviour in intimate relationships over a 28-year period. She said Walker had shown no acknowledgement of his "unacceptable behaviour", and that she was unable to detect any remorse. Sheriff Mackie said: "I formed the impression that in the few incidents where you acknowledged the use of physical force, you believed you were entitled to or justified in its use, and certainly have made no apology for it. "Your denial appears to me to be absolute. There is no acknowledgement of any unacceptable behaviour, there is no indication of any motivation to change. "The conclusion that there's a significant scope to work with you to address your entrenched attitudes, value and beliefs surrounding domestic abuse is flawed." The sheriff said it was clear from their evidence that Walker's former wives believed his behaviour remained "vivid and distressing". She said: "Having regard to the gravity of these offences as a result of the cumulative effect of them, your extreme denial and complete absence of any remorse, and the assessment of risk, I have come to the conclusion that a custodial sentence is the only appropriate disposal. "In my opinion, the repeated abuse and violent behaviour towards your three former wives and stepdaughter over a period of 28 years outweighs other factors." Speaking outside court, Walker's solicitor Russel McPhate said his client would appeal against his conviction. He said: "Mr Walker is disappointed at the outcome. He is still maintaining his innocence and an appeal has been marked." Walker resigned as an MSP earlier this month, blaming a "media onslaught". More than half of Scotland's 129 MSPs had backed a motion calling for him to stand down. Walker was found guilty of assault at addresses in Edinburgh, Stirling, Midlothian and Alloa, and one charge of breaching the peace. Sheriff Mackie, who heard the case without a jury, found Walker guilty of assaulting his first wife Maureen Traquair on three separate occasions in the 1960s and 1980s. On one occasion, Walker punched her in the face in the run-up to their wedding day in January 1967, giving her a black eye. Walker was further found to have assaulted his second wife Anne Gruber 15 times at various addresses in Edinburgh and Midlothian between 1978 and 1984. He was also convicted of committing a breach of the peace by brandishing an air rifle at her house. The former politician was convicted of four assaults on his third wife Diana Walker, three of which involved slapping or punching her on the face. The attacks happened between June 1988 and January 1995. Walker was also found guilty of assaulting Mrs Gruber's daughter Anne Louise Paterson by repeatedly striking her on the head

Summary: A former MSP has been jailed for 12 months after being convicted of a series of domestic abuse offences.


Italy, stuck in recession, hopes the fair will be a big money-spinner. Ten million tickets have been sold already for the six-month event. But shortly after the opening, protesters in Milan clashed with police, who responded with tear gas. Representatives of 145 countries are in the city for the fair, which boasts 54 national pavilions at a sprawling site. The food theme focuses on nutrition and combating hunger globally. But it is also a showcase for Italian cuisine. The exhibition has already been marred by scandal after several officials in the organising body were arrested for corruption. And violence broke out on Friday as dozens of people protesting against the Expo torched cars and broke shops windows. Some groups have criticised the fair, calling it a symbol of big business interests, and held protests. There was an anti-globalisation march by students in Milan on Thursday. Pope Francis, who spoke via a televised link-up to the opening ceremony, said he wanted every person who visited the Expo to think of the "faces of millions of people who are hungry today". Meanwhile Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said: "Today it is as though Italy is embracing the world." Italy hopes the fair, covering a one million sq m (10.7m sq ft) site, will attract some 20 million visitors and generate revenues of about $10bn (Â£5.6bn; â‚¬8.9bn).

Summary: A major global commercial fair - Milan Expo 2015 - has opened in northern Italy with food as the theme.


"For about 10 minutes I didn't process what it was, and just started playing with it," says the 15-year-old from Maryland in the US. "Then I finally realised - this fell out of my head. This is in an insect, this is a head louse." The discovery prompted a ritual familiar to millions of parents around the world - John's mother and father bought an over-the-counter chemical treatment, and "bug bombed" his head. "But it didn't work," says John's mum Jerri. While exact statistics are hard to come by, getting head lice is a rite of passage for most schoolchildren. In the US alone, as many as 12 million kids per year get an infestation, according to the federal public health body, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meanwhile, a 2011 survey found that one third of under-16s in the UK had caught head lice in the previous 12 months. The problem for families trying to get rid of head lice is that over the past few decades the insects have built up a resistance to many of the available pesticide treatments. So simply spraying or shampooing your child's hair with one of these products can often not work against these toughened "super lice". Thankfully for stressed-out mums and dads - and itchy children - in recent years a new industry has built up on both sides of the Atlantic as a response: professional head lice removal companies. One such business is Lice Happens, based in Annapolis, Maryland, an hour's drive east of US capital Washington DC. The firm, who came to the rescue of John and his mum, runs a 24-hour emergency "lice line". Once a time has been arranged, Lice Happens will visit a family's home. Wearing special headsets fitted with magnifying glasses, staff are armed with professional grade "nit combs", and use a pesticide-free and non-toxic spray to loosen and comb out both lice and their eggs (nits). An average session costs from $300 (£244), and all family members are screened. "It only takes one appointment," says Lice Happens' owner Nancy Fields, who set up the business in 2008. "And while we work we educate, because there is so much misinformation out there. We make sure people understand fact from fiction, and give them hands-on training. "We show parents how to accurately screen their children, and if they find they have to deal with lice again, we remind them of their training, and guide them so they don't have to throw more money at it. "Instead of looking at it as an expense, it's a one-time investment." Ms Fields decided to set up Lice Happens after helping her sister battle an infestation. "My sister was doing everything she could, but it didn't work," she says. "She was also having to take unpaid leave from a new job to look after her children because the school wouldn't admit them while they were infected. "It got me thinking that there has to be a better process, and that inspired me to think about starting a service to help people like

Summary: Teenager John was doing his homework when a bug fell onto his school book.


The up and down motion can fracture the ice, potentially aiding its break-up and melting, the researchers told Nature magazine. They say storm swells may have a much bigger influence on the extent of polar sea ice than previously recognised. The New Zealand-led team ran its experiments off Antarctica. They placed sensors at various distances from the edge of the pack ice, and then recorded what happened when bad weather whipped up the ocean surface. For smaller waves, less than 3m in height, the bobbing induced in the floes quickly decayed. But for waves over 3m, the disturbance sent propagating through the pack ice was sustained for up to 350km. "At the ice edge, it's quite noisy," explained study lead author Alison Kohout, from New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in Christchurch. "You have lots of waves coming from all directions with a full spectrum of frequencies. But as the waves move into the ice, this all gets cleaned up to produce one beautiful, smooth wave of constant frequency," she told BBC News. "The ice floes bend with the waves, and over time you can imagine that this creates fatigue and eventually the ice will fracture. Interestingly, the fractures tend to be perpendicular to the direction of the waves, and to be of even widths." Computer modellers have been trying to simulate the recent trends in polar sea ice - without a great deal of success. They have failed to capture both the very rapid decline in summer ice cover in the Arctic and the small, but nonetheless significant, growth in winter ice in the Antarctic. Dr Kohout and colleagues say their experiments offer some clues - certainly in the south. When they compared observed Antarctic marine-ice edge positions from 1997 to 2009 with likely wave heights generated by the weather during that period, they found a strong link. For example, where storminess was increased, in regions like the Amundsen-Bellingshausen Sea, ice extent was curtailed. In contrast, where wave heights were smaller, such as in the Western Ross Sea, marine ice was seen to expand. One very noticeable aspect of the recent growth in Antarctic winter sea ice has been its high regional variability. The team says that if models take more account of wave heights then they may better capture some of this behaviour. The group did try to look for a similar relationship in storminess and ice extent in the Arctic but found there to be insufficient data to draw any firm conclusions. The geography at the poles is quite different. The Arctic is in large part an ocean enclosed by land, whereas the Antarctic is a land mass totally surrounded by ocean. Many of the ice behaviours and responses are different as a result. "I think what's interesting for us in the Arctic is that the 'fetch' is increasing - the distance from the shores to the ice edge is increasing," commented Prof Julienne Stroeve from University College London and the US National Snow and Ice Data Center. "That would allow the wind to work more

Summary: Large ocean waves can travel through sea ice for hundreds of kilometres before their oscillations are finally dampened, scientists have shown.


President Cecile Richards told members of Congress on Tuesday she was "proud" that Planned Parenthood donates foetal tissue for research. The anti-abortion group behind the videos has alleged that the healthcare provider profits from the practice. The allegations have set off an effort to pull the group's federal funding. Ms Richards said foetal tissue donation is legal and noted its small role in what Planned Parenthood does. Planned Parenthood has said it charges small fees - between $30 (Â£20) and $100 - to cover processing costs, but does not make a profit from foetal donations. "These outrageous accusations based on videos are offensive and untrue," Ms Richards said. "But facts have never gotten in the way of campaigns to keep women from getting healthcare." Planned Parenthood is a non-profit group that provides reproductive health services to mostly lower-income Americans. Some of its locations perform abortions. Federal funds make up about 40% of its annual budget, but federal law prohibits the funding of abortions except in rare cases. Conservative Republicans in Congress have threatened to shut down the government in hopes of ending federal support for Planned Parenthood. However, Republican congressional leaders have opposed a shutdown and President Obama has vowed to veto any attempt to defund Planned Parenthood. During a hearing on Tuesday, Republican lawmakers scrutinised the organisation's finances and chided Ms Richards for her salary, travel budgets and the organisation's rate of health screenings. Representative Elijah Cummings, a Democrat, said he was in full support of keeping the organisation funded. "For many poor women, Planned Parenthood may be one of their only services of medical care in underserved or rural communities," he said. "Big question for my Republican colleagues: Do you really want to do this? Align yourself with radical extremists who manipulate the facts?" Some lawmakers told Ms Richards that Planned Parenthood's funding should be re-directed toward other US health clinics that would supposedly provide more services. "The taxpayers... have a right to know how this money is being spent," said Representative Cynthia Lummis, a Republican from Wyoming. "They have a right to know if if taxpayer dollars are being used to free up services you provide that are abhorrent services in the view of many taxpayers when there are alternatives in this country." Republicans argued during the hearing that those other health centres across the US would be able to handle the influx of patients should Planned Parenthood lose its funding. Representative Brendan Boyle, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, said he disagreed and that unintended pregnancy and abortion rates would actually go up if Planned Parenthood ceased to exist. Citing a Congressional Budget Office study, he said that 390,000 women in the US would lose access to health care without Planned Parenthood. Both anti-abortion activists and Planned Parenthood supporters could be seen on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, with many wearing pink T-shirts to show their support for Ms Richards' organisation.

Summary: The head of Planned Parenthood has defended her organisation before Congress, calling a series of secretly recorded videos a "smear campaign".


The cardboard boxes also include a mattress and can be used for babies to sleep in as an alternative to a crib. The Scottish government hopes the boxes will help ensure every baby is given the best possible start in life. Baby boxes are already given out by some health authorities in other parts of the UK. But the Scotland-wide rollout, which follows successful pilot projects in Orkney and Clackmannanshire, is the first time they will be available to all expecting mothers in one part of the country. The Scottish government has given assurances that all of its baby boxes meet the highest UK safety standards for sleeping, with safe sleep guidance provided in a leaflet inside the box and safety guidelines also printed on the lid. It follows concerns raised earlier this month by cot death charity The Lullaby Trust, whose chief executive Francine Bates said she was unhappy with some boxes being marketed as products which will reduce infant mortality and SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Lynsay Allan, executive director of the Scottish Cot Death Trust, said: "I am encouraged by the fact that Scotland's baby box scheme is prompting parents to think about their sleeping practices. "While the proven safest place for a baby to sleep is in a cot, crib or Moses basket, I also recognise that the box can be used as a safe sleep space for newborn babies, particularly where families may have no alternative and where they might otherwise unsafely share their bed or sleep on a sofa or chair with their baby." Expectant mothers due to give birth on or after 15 August have been able to register to receive their baby box at midwife appointments since June. The boxes will be sent to the mother's home address or another preferred location from today. From January of next year, the baby boxes will be delivered at least four weeks before the baby's due date. Colleen Groves, a mum-to-be who will be receiving one, told BBC Scotland: "I really like the idea of it being a safe sleeping space. "I would probably use it more during the day, rather than at night-time. I would use it as a sort of living space for putting down for naps during the day. "I think it is really nice that every baby is being given the same start and being given the same things. "It's up to the parents whether they take the box or not because you do register for it. It's up to each individual to decide whether they want to make use of it or not." Early Years Minister Mark McDonald said the Scottish government would continue to monitor feedback as the baby boxes reach more families, and would work with parents and healthcare professionals to keep the contents under review. And he said the boxes, which have largely been based on a similar scheme in Finland, were just one of a range of measures the government was using to help babies and parents thrive in the crucial early months. Scotland's chief medical officer, Dr

Summary: Baby boxes containing essential items such as clothes, books and blankets are to be delivered to new mothers across Scotland for the first time.


McGuigan was previously owner but sold his shares to Lemos in September. Since then, there have been financial issues including wages being paid late and the club are also operating under a transfer embargo. Co-chairman Ali Abdulrahman Al Hashemi and director Nigel Adams have left because of the current situation. In an interview with BBC Radio Lancashire, McGuigan also revealed that: "The board are aware of it all now and are absolutely staggered about what has happened," said McGuigan. "That is a private matter we can't go public on - what we can go public on is he hasn't put a penny into the club. "There is no hope, in my opinion, of any money coming in and we've got to manage it ourselves." Asked if he looked in the mirror about what he has done, McGuigan responded: "Yes, probably about 30 times a day. When it comes out as to what happened, nobody could've done it any differently - let me reassure you of that." BBC Radio Lancashire have made numerous attempts to contact Lemos since early November, but have not received a response.

Summary: Morecambe are "staggered" by the actions of Brazilian businessman Diego Lemos since he took over the League Two club, says chairman Peter McGuigan.


They will perform in Glasgow during the five-day "pop-up festival", as part of BBC Music Day. More than 60 performers will take part in the free event, which will feature both established and upcoming artists. The festival, which aims to bring people together across generations and communities through their love of music. will run from 4-8 June. Artists including Stevie McCrorie, James Bay, Jamie Cullum and Twin Atlantic will also take part, with all BBC Radio Scotland music shows involved. Sharon Mair, project executive of BBC Music at the Quay, said: "We know that our audiences loved the BBC at the Quay site last year during the Commonwealth Games and we are bringing this five day festival back to celebrate BBC Music Day. "Glasgow is the UNESCO city of Music and what a brilliant way for us to showcase the city and the fantastic musical talent that will be at the event."

Summary: Lulu, Deacon Blue and KT Tunstall have joined the line-up of artists taking part in BBC Music at the Quay.


The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which happened at 01:35 BST on High Road, at the junction with Seven Sisters, in Tottenham. His next of kin have been told, the Met said. A 36-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of failing to stop at the scene and causing death by dangerous driving. He is in custody for questioning. Road closures are in place and parts of the pavement between the High Road and Stonebridge Estate are also closed.

Summary: A 70-year-old man has died in an apparent hit-and-run in north London.


The victim, in her 20s, was left "fighting for her life" after the assault in Victoria Park, Leicester, at about 23:40 BST on Monday. She was dragged into bushes and found near recycling bins about an hour later, Leicestershire Police said. The suspect was arrested on Tuesday night and detectives have renewed their appeal for information. Live updates and more stories from the East Midlands Police said the woman had been walking alone along a well-lit section of the park before she was attacked about the head and upper body. Large parts of the public space were cordoned off on Tuesday as forensic officers combed the scene for evidence. Det Ch Insp Rob Widdowson said: "This was a really brutal attack, the victim has been left with horrendous injuries and is fighting for her life. "We still need to trace anyone who may have been in the area of Victoria Park [late on Monday night or early on Tuesday morning] and who may have seen something which can help us with our enquiries. "You may not think what you saw is significant, but we still want to speak to you." Det Supt Neil Castle added: "Whilst crossing the park she was attacked and subsequently dragged into some bushes, where she was seriously assaulted. She sustained horrific injuries."

Summary: A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder over a "horrific" attack on a woman in a park.


Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton appears to be ahead of the game in the popularity contest, with dozens of pop stars, rappers and actors hopping aboard the #teamhillary bandwagon. And she's not the only presidential hopeful to court, or be courted, by famous people... Her rival Bernie Sanders is also notching up the stars, as is Republican frontrunner Donald Trump - a man better known for his celebrity status than his political acumen. But their approach to endorsements, and how they are announced, seems to be continually evolving... Hillary Clinton has won serious backing from the mainstream musical establishment, with a large number of pop stars and singers pinning their hopes on her becoming the first woman president of the United States of America. Pop singers Katy Perry and Demi Lovato have both turned out to serenade the former first lady and performed at her many fundraisers. "She's my firework!" Perry told a crowd of supporters in Des Moines, Iowa, in October, dressed in a white strapless gown with Clinton campaign logo attached. Beyonce has also been spotted at a Clinton fundraiser in recent months. Britney Spears appears to be undecided, after editing a post of her and Clinton meeting in Las Vegas this week to remove the #ImWithHer hashtag widely used by Clinton supporters. Sir Elton John has confirmed he'll be headlining a New York fundraiser with Perry after Super Tuesday next month - but it won't be his first appearance, after he gave a musical performance to try to boost her dwindling campaign against Barack Obama in 2008, raising a mammoth $2.5m. Bernie Sanders seems to be doing marginally better among the indie and punk crowd. Last month, the Vermont senator joined indie rock group Vampire Weekend on stage at a rally ahead of the Iowa caucuses ,where he was seen bopping his head and singing along to Woody Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land. The song was reportedly covered by Sanders in a 1987 folk album. Though Canadian, rock and roll musician Neil Young has also admitted to "Feeling the Bern" for Sanders. Red Hot Chili Peppers also hosted a fundraising concert in his honour this month. It was widely reported in August that Clinton was seeking selfie advice from the "queen of selfies", Kim Kardashian. (It wouldn't be a celebrity story without mentioning the K-word.) And her dream seemed to come true because a short while later Kardashian posted a selfie with Clinton on her Instagram account, in which they were photobombed by the one and only Kanye West. "I really loved hearing her speak & hearing her goals for our country!" Kardashian wrote in her Instagram post. West has announced his own plans to run for president in 2020, so perhaps he's hoping Hillary will put in a good word? And it seems the whole Kardashian/Jenner family is getting behind Hillary. Kim's sister, Kendall, this week posted a selfie of herself posing in a Hillary Clinton t-shirt designed by Marc Jacobs. Phil Robertson, the star of American reality TV series Duck Dynasty, is one of the few celebrities

Summary: More and more high-profile celebrities have been speaking out in support of who they think should become the next president of the United States.


Jane Hutt's comments came after a lengthy row over Scottish tax and funding arrangements was settled. She called for an independent review of Wales' funding arrangements amid the promise of power to vary income tax. Welsh ministers fear the UK Treasury could cut the block grant before Welsh taxes are sufficient to cover the gap. Control of two other taxes - stamp duty land tax and landfill tax - passes to Wales in 2018. Ms Hutt said: "Crucial talks lie ahead for us as we seek to establish a fair fiscal framework for Wales which takes into account the properties of our tax bases, our devolved responsibilities and assigns the appropriate risk to the Welsh Government." She said some of the methods suggested by the UK government for adjusting the block grant in Scotland were contrary to the principle of "no detriment", outlined by the Smith Commission on devolution in Scotland. "Those methods, if applied to the devolved taxes in Wales, would have significant implications for our future investment in public services in Wales," said Ms Hutt. "The Welsh government would not be able to accept those terms and this was not the basis upon which the Assembly agreed the devolution of stamp duty land tax and landfill tax to Wales." An independent body is to review the fiscal framework in Scotland, and Ms Hutt called for a similar arrangement for Wales. A report from the Wales Governance Centre on Wednesday urged ministers to avoid a repeat of the year-long row over plans to devolve income tax powers to Scotland.

Summary: Crucial talks lie ahead to weigh up how the Welsh budget is fairly funded between Whitehall cash and devolved taxes, the finance minister has said.


The events began a weekend of commemoration leading up to the anniversary on 31 May and 1 June. More than 6,000 Britons and 2,500 Germans died in the 36-hour Battle of Jutland, involving about 250 ships. Princess Anne joined First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for a service at a war graves cemetery in Rosyth. HMS Kent has weighed anchor at South Queensferry before heading to Orkney for further commemorations. Jutland, fought in the North Sea off the coast of Denmark, was the only major naval battle of the 1914-18 war. It brought together the two most powerful naval forces of the time and it became the largest sea battle in naval warfare history in terms of the numbers of battleships engaged. The events on Saturday were designed to mark the "contribution and sacrifices" made by those who served during the battle. The commemorations began with a wreath-laying service and then an act of remembrance at Rosyth Parish Church in the town where the battlecruiser force was based in 1916. A minute's silence took place following the ringing of a bell made from the hull of HMS Tiger, a battlecruiser which suffered light damage during the Jutland campaign. Ms Sturgeon said: "The sacrifices made by those who fought in this battle, the largest naval encounter of the First World War, and by other seafarers throughout the conflict must never be forgotten." A service of remembrance was held in South Queensferry Commonwealth War Graves Commission's cemetery, where 40 casualties from the battle are commemorated or buried. Descendents of those involved in the battle, local school pupils and children visiting from Wilhelmshaven in Germany were part of the event. Singer Barbara Dickson, whose uncle was killed in the Battle of the Somme, sang Scottish lament Flowers of the Forest as Princess Anne laid a wreath to remember lives lost. Elizabeth Dickson, whose father survived but her uncle, aged 16, was killed in the battle, said: "It's very important to commemorate because, always, the tradition of commemoration and the rituals of commemoration are important because they're healing." Admiral Lord West, a commander during the Falklands War who went on to be head of the Royal Navy for four years, said: "We forget sometimes, these sailors didn't die in an instant. There were ones trapped below decks, terrible burns. War is horrible - it was a horrible death on both sides, and we must remember that." In the final event of the day, hundreds of people lined the streets around Hawes Pier in South Queensferry. The band of HM Royal Marines (Scotland) performed the Beating Retreat and Ceremonial Sunset, while HMS Kent weighed anchor and fired a gun, before sailing alongside the MV Fingal, a strikingly coloured Dazzle Ship painted by artist Ciara Phillips. A commemorative plaque unveiled by Princess Anne will later take permanent place at South Queensferry's shore.

Summary: Hundreds of people have gathered to mark the centenary of the largest naval battle of World War One in Rosyth and South Queensferry.


It might sound like the start of a joke, but Welsh triathlete Non Stanford, who hopes to win a medal at the Rio Olympics, believes her support team are vital. "Any medal is not an individual victory, it is definitely a team medal," said Stanford, 27, from Leeds. Among them is a dietician, physiologist, doctor, running partner, coaches, and logistical support. The former world triathlon champion said: "I cannot stress how important my support team are. You are the person who has to go out and deliver the performance, but there is a whole team behind you that make it happen, from coaching and cooking to being there and being great friends. "The hard work of a lot of people is transferred into my performance on the day." Stanford, who was born in Bridgend, lived in Swansea and went to university in Birmingham. She was World Triathlon champion in 2013, is now based in Leeds as part of British Triathlon squad, including the Brownlee brothers. She said: "I am very fortunate that all the people I work with are not just staff, they are very good friends and the atmosphere is great." But who are the 20 people working behind the scenes to get Stanford to the start line? The logistics - getting her there on the day Behind the scenes Stanford needs to be entered into races, have accommodation and transport booked, and have everything put in place to ensure she is safe at competitions. Performance director of British Triathlon Brendan Purcell looks after everything related to competitions. "A lot of things go on behind the scenes that we don't know about which he takes care of," said Stanford. "He was involved in organising, planning and putting in place important aspects of our build up and time in Rio; he has to do a lot of the things we don't even know about." The logistics of getting Stanford and her kit there on the day falls to Laura Macey. "We call Laura the 'Loracle' because she absolutely does everything for us," said Stanford. "From booking all our flights and accommodation, to organising our camps, getting our kit to where it needs to be, to knowing about our races. "She is the busiest lady I know." Running, swimming and cycling - working on technique Stanford's team of coaches work on different areas of the triathlon. Giving Stanford tips on the running track is Malcolm Brown, who has been involved with the Brownlee brothers from an early age. "Malcolm is the calming voice in the setup," said Stanford. "He knows what to say, and if he says something that is what goes. He is great to have around. His expertise in running is evident. Jack Maitland focuses on the swimming programme, while head coach Ben Bright takes more of an overview. "Ben oversees all my training," said Stanford. "He makes sure it is all fitting together. His opinion is very important to me. He is someone I feel very fortunate to have on my coaching team. He has helped me to come that

Summary: How many people does it take to make a triathlete?


First Great Western cancelled a number of Saturday morning trains including several to London Paddington. South West Trains said engineers had worked through the night to avoid further delays after Friday's problems. Lightning strikes and signalling failures had led to a series of cancellations. First Great Western cancelled 10 services scheduled for Saturday morning because of "poor weather conditions earlier". It also warned customers further disruption was expected on its services between Paddington and Bristol until 13:30 BST, although all lines have now reopened. There were delays but no cancellations to afternoon services because of damage to signalling equipment because of the weather. The company said alterations to its long-distance services should be expected as many of its trains were "not in the correct position". However, it has pledged to honour tickets held over from cancelled services on Friday for use on Saturday. On Friday, rail passengers took to social media to complain. Barry Kirby tweeted: "Paddington is an absolute mess, no real help, limited assistance and a lack of reliable information @fgw - why is it all so fragile?" Paul Swaddle tweeted: "@FGW commuters understand that there can be problems but utter lack of communication at #paddington is totally unacceptable." Trains running between London Paddington and Reading, Swindon, Bristol and south Wales were affected by a lightning strike at Twyford, Berkshire, at about 16:00 BST. A strike in the Surbiton area of south-west London caused problems on services running from London Waterloo to Surrey and Exeter. BBC weather forecaster Darren Bett said a lot of rain fell in a short space of time on Friday with storms across south-east England causing travel disruption. The storms later faded away from southern England, south Wales and the south Midlands. On Saturday, there would be sunny spells in England and Wales while rising temperatures could trigger a few showers, he said. Areas east of London could see thundery downpours later in the day.

Summary: Rail passengers in parts of southern England and Wales are facing further travel problems after stormy weather caused "major disruption" on Friday.


UK owners can get affected diesel vehicles repaired, but in the US they can also claim up to $10,000 (£7,400). The Transport Select Committee also said the government had been too slow to investigate whether VW should be prosecuted in the UK for the scandal. The government insisted it was pushing the firm "to ensure they take action". Louise Ellman, the Labour MP who chairs the committee, said VW had "acted cynically" to cheat emissions tests. "Volkswagen's evidence to us was just not credible but the government has lacked the will to hold VW accountable for its actions," she said. Analysis: Richard Westcott, BBC transport correspondent Along with all the detail about VW, this report also highlights an issue raised recently by the BBC. It talks about the "recent revelations" that carmakers misled regulators or exploited loopholes in the regulations on a "substantial scale". Basically, the rules allow manufacturers to downgrade or switch off emissions cleaning systems at certain times to protect the engine. Testing figures suggest some are doing it when the outside temperature falls below about 17C, which is most of the year in Britain. They justify it by saying cold weather can damage components, but the suspicion is it gives them more miles to the gallon. It means the car is potentially more polluting than it needs to be, and we're talking millions of vehicles here. "There is a real danger that VW will be able to get away with cheating emissions tests in Europe if regulators do not act." The German giant will offer to repair or buy back the affected diesel vehicles in the US and pay owners between $5,000 and $10,000 in compensation. But in the UK, owners affected have only been offered the option of a repair. The select committee called on regulators to ensure owners were not left out of pocket by VW's technical solution, which it said was developed as cheaply as possible. Ms Ellman said: "Vehicle owners have been refused goodwill payments. That is despite VW inflicting a great deal of uncertainty on its own customers, along with the prospect of declining residual values and the inconvenience of having to undergo repairs." A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesman said it had taken VW's "unacceptable actions extremely seriously", adding: "We continue to push VW to ensure they take action." Volkswagen said it had contacted all 200,000 UK owners affected by the issue and advised them to take their cars to their closest dealer. "Close to 50,000 vehicles in the UK have now received the technical measure, a number which will continue to increase as further vehicles' technical measures are developed, rigorously tested and then approved by the relevant transport authorities," a VW spokesman said. The MPs also said that the DfT failed to seek stricter emissions limits in new tests that will include real-world driving. "We are concerned that manufacturers have far too great a say over how type approval reforms are implemented," Ms Ellman added. The DfT spokesman said the Real Driving Emissions test being introduced next year was "robust and will

Summary: Volkswagen's failure to compensate UK owners of cars affected by the emissions scandal is "deeply unfair", MPs have said.


They include forcing transparency standards on UK overseas territories and a register of offshore trusts. The party has called for a public inquiry into alleged abuses uncovered in leaked documents from a Panama law firm - and vowed not to accept donations linked to tax avoidance. The government has set up a task force to look into the Panama Papers. And the prime minister has taken the unprecedented step of publishing details of his tax and income over the past six years following Labour claims he had misled the public over whether he had benefitted from an offshore fund. David Cameron will also host an international anti-corruption summit in London next month - and the government is to publish a register of beneficial ownership, revealing who ultimately gains from shadowy shell companies used to avoid tax. But Labour argue Mr Cameron should publish his full tax returns and say the government's £10m task force must be "fully independent and in public". Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: "After a week of half-truths and spin from this government in the wake of the revelations in the Panama Papers leak, it's time to clean out the tax havens with real government action. "It should be a matter of shame to the British government that more than half the companies recently named in the Panama Papers were registered in UK-governed tax havens. "Not only has this government impeded international efforts to crack down on tax avoidance and to tackle tax havens but senior figures are personally implicated in these immoral schemes." Other measures in Labour's "tax transparency" plan include: Labour also questioned a letter Mr Cameron wrote to EU officials in 2013, which called for offshore trusts to be excluded from a crackdown on tax avoidance. The government said Mr Cameron had felt forcing trusts to reveal who gained financially from them would "distract" from action in more pressing areas. But Mr McDonnell said: "It is deeply concerning that our prime minister has still failed to clarify whether or not he or his family were benefiting directly or indirectly in 2013 when he was lobbying to prevent EU measures to better regulate trusts as a way to clamp down on tax avoidance." The shadow chancellor also promised that Labour would reject any donations linked to tax avoidance. Political donations made by individuals are not tax-deductible in the UK - but money left in wills to major parties is not subject to inheritance tax. Labour accepted a £1.65m donation in shares in 2013, from home shopping magnate John Mills, which he said at the time was a more "tax efficient" way of donating to the party than giving cash. Quizzed about the Mills donation on BBC Radio 5 live's Pienaar's Politics, Mr McDonnell said: "Every penny that comes in to us will open and transparent. "We will not be touching money that is used by any way in measures to avoid tax or evade tax, we will not allow that to happen and we're not allowing that to happen." Mr McDonnell and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn have

Summary: Labour has set out a series of measures it claims will "stop the super-rich hiding their wealth" in tax havens.


Victory was Sutton's 20th in 25 games since their last league defeat on 7 November and came one week after their vital win over second-placed Ebbsfleet. Dan Fitchett put the hosts ahead against Chelmsford and Ross Stearn added a second before half-time. They return to the fifth tier for the first time since relegation in 2000.

Summary: Sutton United clinched promotion to the National League as they secured the National League South title with a 2-0 home win over Chelmsford City.


He beat off competition from David's Bowie's final album Blackstar, Laura Mvula, Michael Kiwanuka, The 1975 and Radiohead. "I'm just so thankful. I've been trying to do this music stuff and work it out for so long... I was like 'let's do it for ourselves'" he said. Read more by TAPPING HERE.

Summary: Grime artist Skepta has won this year's Hyundai Mercury Prize for his debut album Konnichiwa.


Delhi's 2010 Commonwealth chief Suresh Kalmadi said it would be inappropriate for him to be honorary life president of India's Olympic body. The sports minister had described the appointment as "totally unacceptable". Mr Kalmadi is awaiting trial on charges of cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy. He denies the charges and has pleaded not guilty. The Congress party politician was sacked from his Commonwealth role in 2011 and spent 10 months in jail before being freed on bail. "I thank the Indian Olympic Association for conferring the honour of life president on me," Mr Kalmadi said in a letter to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President N Ramachandran. "However, I do not feel that it would be appropriate for me to accept this honour at this time. I am confident that my name will be cleared and I will defer acceptance of the honour till such time." The sports ministry had threatened to cut off ties with the IOA, if it did not reverse the offer of honorary life roles to Mr Kalmadi and another politician facing corruption charges, Abhay Singh Chautala. Indian social media users ridiculed the offers. "Suresh Kalmadi & Abhay Chautala have been rewarded for India's terrific performance in the Olympics over the last several years," wrote one commentator, referring to his country's poor record in recent games. "Yes, Indian Olympic Association, let's motivate our athletes by making #SureshKalmadi their president," wrote another. Others suggested prominent people they felt would be similarly ill-suited to influential positions because of their backgrounds, with one such tweet suggesting former porn star Sunny Leone should head India's film censors.

Summary: A senior Indian politician charged with corruption has turned down an honorary Olympic role amid a storm of protests.