Nick Palmer, who lost the Nottingham seat in 2010 to Conservative Anna Soubry, said he wanted "more assurances" before he would support it. Ms Soubry said she was "astonished" to hear he did not endorse the "fantastic opportunity" for the local area. They were speaking at a live debate on the BBC's Politics Show on Sunday, which included the Greens and Lib Dems. Mr Palmer, who served as the constituency's MP from 1997 until 2010, said: "The reason I would be prepared to vote against it, if we don't get the assurances we need [is], we've just seen what happens with the tram project, which all three of us supported, it has caused two years of chaos." Ms Soubry said the benefits of HS2 must not be underestimated. "I'm absolutely astonished to hear the Labour candidate not being in favour of Toton Sidings, getting the East Midlands hub. This is a fantastic opportunity." The HS2 route will link London with Birmingham, where it will split to head north to Leeds and Manchester. The planned station will be to the east of Toton Sidings with high-speed trains able to get to and from London in 51 minutes. In one of the tightest marginals in the East Midlands, transport is pushing other issues into the slow lane. The Labour-run city council announced phase two of the Nottingham tram back in 2011 but it has been beset by delays and is now running well behind schedule. It's also become a key concern for many voters. Broxtowe is a classic Labour-Conservative battleground. The Tory defence minister Anna Soubry had a majority of just 389 at the last election and Labour's Nick Palmer is again contesting the seat. Stan Heptinstall, Liberal Democrat candidate, said: "I'm totally in favour of it [HS2] because it's the way to go. "You go to Germany, you look at their infrastructure, you've got these fantastic roads, these fantastic railway systems, the ICE trains, it's a pleasure." David Kirwan, Green candidate, said: "It's the wrong type of investment and it's interesting to hear that Nick has come out today to say he is opposed to it. "It's the latest in a string of Labour policies that Nick is opposed to. He is not standing as an independent MP he is standing as a Labour MP." Other candidates also standing in Broxtowe: Ray Barry (Justice for Men and Boys) and Frank Dunne (UKIP).

Summary: Broxtowe's Labour candidate has said he is prepared to vote against his party on the HS2 rail project if elected.


The H5N8 strain found in a wild duck at an estuary near the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (WWT) Llanelli Wetland Centre is the same which hit a turkey farm in Lincolnshire last week. The centre said it had closed "as a precautionary measure". Rural Affairs Secretary Lesley Griffiths said the risk to humans was "very low" and poultry was safe to eat. The Welsh Government said it was the first time the H5N8 strain had been found in a wild bird in the UK. It was described as "extremely concerning" by the Welsh Conservatives which called on the government to ensure safety measures were in place. Restrictions were imposed across Britain to keep birds indoors after the disease came to light across Europe, the Middle East and north Africa. On Tuesday, the measures were tightened to ban any indoor gatherings of birds at events such as livestock fairs, auctions and bird shows. Ms Griffiths said: "This finding is not unexpected and follows calls for bird keepers to be more vigilant for signs of the disease. It is likely that more cases will be confirmed. "There have been no reports of human infection from the H5N8 strain and the risk to human health is very low. "The Food Standards Agency has also confirmed it is safe to eat poultry meat, such as turkey, goose and chicken." In a statement on Thursday confirming its temporary closure, WWT Llanelli Wetland Centre said: "This is a concern for local birds - not humans. "This is not a strain of bird flu that has ever transferred to people. "The finding is not unexpected as the disease has already been found across Europe. "Like other organisations across the country, we have been keeping a close eye out for any signs of the disease in birds this winter. "We will remain closed while we increase surveillance among wild birds on our reserve and our collection of zoo birds, and put in place any measures necessary to help protect them." Welsh Conservative spokesman for rural affairs, Paul Davies AM, said: "If it is allowed to spread then it could have a devastating impact on poultry farming across Wales. "The Welsh Government must ensure that all farms provide details of their flocks to the poultry register and are appraised of all relevant safety measures in the event of an outbreak." Chief Veterinary Officer Christianne Glossop urged people to report any sightings of dead waterfowl, or groups of at least five dead wild birds of other species in the same location, to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

Summary: The first finding of an infectious strain of avian flu in a UK wild bird has been confirmed in Carmarthenshire.


The Dame Janet Smith review identified a total of 72 victims, including eight who were raped. Her report said BBC staff had known of the complaints about Savile but did not inform senior management. BBC Trust chairman Rona Fairhead said the corporation had failed the victims. Dame Janet's review found many, but not all, of the most serious incidents of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault were carried out by Savile at his own premises and not at the BBC. But she said Savile would also "gratify himself sexually" on BBC premises whenever the opportunity arose, and that she had heard of incidents which had taken place at the corporation's Glasgow studios as well as in cities including London, Manchester and Leeds. Dame Janet said Savile, who had a cottage in Glen Coe before he died at the age of 84 in 2011, and another former BBC presenter, Stuart Hall, were "serial sexual predators" and the BBC missed five opportunities to stop their misconduct. She detailed an incident involving a 12-year-old girl, who travelled from Scotland to visit her aunt in London in December 1973. According to the report, the girl persuaded her aunt to take her to see a recording of Top of the Pops, which Savile was presenting while dressed in a Womble outfit. It said she became separated from her aunt inside the studio, and after the show finished she and a 10-year-old boy were asked by a man whether they would like to meet Savile. They were taken to his dressing room, where they were offered fizzy drinks and biscuits by the man, before Savile came in, still wearing his Womble suit but without the head. After chatting with the two children, the girl watched as Savile raped the boy, who was saying "don't, don't". Savile then told the children "It's OK. It's our special secret", before sexually assaulting the girl. The report said the girl later walked to the tube station, and told her aunt that she had seen Slade and had had pop and biscuits with Savile himself. It added: "She did not tell anyone what had happened. She thought it was her fault and that she might go to hell for what she had done. "Of course, she was a child in a vulnerable situation and what happened to her was not in any way her fault." In April 2014, the victim saw a newspaper advertisement placed by a firm of solicitors asking for anyone who had been attacked by Savile to come forward. She contacted them, and it emerged that the boy who was raped while she watched had also contacted the legal firm. In his lifetime, millions knew Jimmy Savile as an eccentric TV personality. He was one of Britain's biggest stars, a larger-than-life character who was known for tea time TV favourites such as Top of the Pops and Jim'll Fix It, as well as stints on BBC Radio 1. He was also, to some, Saint Jimmy, a diligent fundraiser who raised Â£40m for charity. But, a year after his death in

Summary: Jimmy Savile abused some of his victims at the BBC's studios in Glasgow and also sexually assaulted a Scottish girl who had travelled to London to watch Top of the Pops, a report has found.


The billionaire who has cast himself as the law and order candidate seemed ready to commit the democratic felony of refusing to accept defeat at the polls. The property tycoon, who has regularly used legal action, and the threat of it, to build his business empire, appeared to cling to the hope that he could litigate his way to the White House - if, as seems increasingly likely, voters hand the keys to Hillary Clinton. In a stab at damage limitation, he has since modified his position. Trump now says he will accept a "clear result," but reserves the right to mount a legal challenge in the event of a "questionable result". But his original remarks, watched by millions of shell-shocked voters, are hard to walk back. He cannot evoke that old locker room maxim - what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Unsubstantiated claims that this election is rigged has now become the core message of his stump speech, and it seems targeted at 9 November rather than 8 November - a pre-emptive attempt to rationalise defeat the morning after rather than to mobilise supporters on polling day. Not only does this approach seem irresponsible but also counter-productive, for it runs the risk of depressing Republican turnout. Why vote, his more conspiratorial-minded supporters might think, if the fix is already in? Threats of legal challenges may well be Trumpian bluster. His promise to sue the New York Times for publishing accusations from women that he allegedly molested them have so far come to nought. As for saying during the debate he would hold the electorate in "suspense", it sounded like a fading reality TV star clamorous for viewers, fearful his show was about to be cancelled because of sliding ratings. Grace in defeat is not just a feature of the American system, but one of its more elegant pillars. John McCain's concession speech in 2008 is widely regarded as the noblest of his career. John Kerry accepted the outcome in 2004, despite claims of voter irregularities in the decisive battleground state of Ohio. In 1960, when only 113,000 votes out of the 68 million cast separated the candidates, Richard Nixon conceded, even though he would have been forgiven for mounting a more forceful legal challenge, given the allegations of voter fraud in Texas and Illinois. There, Chicago's mayor Richard Daley was alleged to have conjured up enough phantom votes to make sure Illinois remained in John F Kennedy's column. GOP officials carried out investigations and mounted legal challenges in a number of battleground states, but Nixon was publicly acquiescent. The then vice-president told friends he did not want to come across as a sore loser, nor spark a constitutional crisis. In the aftermath of the Las Vegas debate, Trump surrogates cited the more recent example of the contested 2000 election, when Al Gore dramatically withdrew his concession on election night while in his limousine on the way to deliver a speech accepting defeat. But Gore wasn't challenging the results of the election. Rather, he was calling for a recount of the

Summary: Sounding more like the potentate of some palm-dotted tropical island than a presidential candidate, Donald Trump twice declined to say during the final televised debate whether he would accept the results of the 2016 election.


The incident happened at about 03:00 on Saturday in Doon Way, Kirkintilloch. It is understood that a 20-year-old man was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary for treatment. Alloway Drive, which is near the scene of the assault, was closed between Doon Road and Burns Drive while investigations were carried out. It has since reopened.

Summary: Police are investigating after a man was assaulted in a street in East Dunbartonshire.


The metal sculpture will show two fists overlapped in the style of the song's "horse-riding" dance move. It will be erected outside the COEX shopping centre, where part of the video was filmed. Gangnam Style was released by South Korean singer Psy in 2012 and remains the most-watched YouTube video ever. It has been viewed more than 2.4 billion times. Gangnam tourism director Park Hee-Soo said he hoped the statue would "become a landmark for our district". "Tourists can take pictures under the statue and the song will play automatically when you stand there," he added.

Summary: A statue dedicated to the South Korean music hit Gangnam Style is to be unveiled in the Seoul district made famous by the song.


The 27-year-old, who helped Roma finish second in Serie A last season, had been linked with a move to Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester United. Bayern were looking for a defender after Spain international Javi Martinez was ruled out until the New Year with ruptured cruciate knee ligaments. Roma have replaced Benatia with Olympiakos defender Kostas Manolas.

Summary: German champions Bayern Munich have signed Morocco defender Mehdi Benatia from Roma for an undisclosed fee.


Media playback is not supported on this device Houghton, 27, has played a pivotal role in Hull's success in 2016 as Lee Radford's side chase a domestic treble. He has made 1,130 tackles in 2016, more than any other player in Super League. "I've tasted success winning the Challenge Cup and I want to do that over and over again," Houghton told the club website.

Summary: Hull FC hooker and vice-captain Danny Houghton has signed a new deal with the Challenge Cup winners and will stay with the club until 2020.


A high ladder, or "aerial", used to fight tower block fires was dispatched immediately to the site in North Kensington as recently as 2001. On 14 June, London Fire Brigade took 24 minutes to send a 30m (100ft) ladder. The brigade said its policy has changed since the Grenfell Tower blaze. The Grenfell Tower fire began on the fourth floor of the block and the first fire crews were dispatched at 00:55 BST. Within a few hours, nearly all of the 67m (220ft) high block was ablaze. It is thought 255 people survived the fire, and 80 people are currently missing or confirmed dead. A BBC Newsnight investigation revealed a 30m aerial, which could have enabled firefighters to reach the 10th floor of tower, was not dispatched until 01:19 BST, 24 minutes after the first crews were sent out. The aerial did not arrive until 01:32 BST, by which time the fire had raced up the building's cladding. London Fire Brigade's standard procedure at the time was to send four fire engines - and no aerial platforms - to tower block fires as part of their "pre-determined attendance" procedure. But the BBC understands previously it immediately sent an aerial to fires at Grenfell Tower as standard procedure. It is unclear when this policy changed. The London Fire Brigade's safety plan in 2004-5 reduced the number of aerial appliances from 16 to 11. An Audit Commission report in 2004 said the move was expected to save Â£1.75m. Paul Embery of the Fire Brigades Union said he believes the automatic deployment of the equipment could have made a difference in tackling the fire. "The presence of an aerial appliance very early on, being able to intervene and act as a water tower and direct large amounts of water on to the flames, could have potentially prevented the spread of that fire. "We don't know for sure but it's a question that needs to be asked as part of the inquiry. "The question needs to be asked in terms of the aerial appliances in London. Was it deemed they shouldn't be sent automatically as a way of saving money?" Last week London Fire Brigade announced that an aerial platform will automatically be sent to tower fires in the future. It said fires in high rise buildings did not routinely need an aerial appliance. "It is important to understand that fires in high rise buildings are nearly always dealt with internally, not usually needing an aerial appliance." "We do have aerial appliances on the attendance for specific locations and these exceptions exist if a building has been found to have particular features that mean an aerial appliance would help on-arrival firefighting tactics."

Summary: High ladders which could have potentially "prevented the spread" of the Grenfell Tower fire were previously sent to the building automatically, the BBC has learned.


Highways England has said its preferred route for a new Lower Thames Crossing is a tunnel connecting Gravesend, in Kent, to Tilbury, Essex. However, Tory MP for Gravesham, Adam Holloway, said the government should instead build a new tunnel between Dartford and Thurrock. He claimed there would be "carnage" if the M25 at Dartford was "not fixed". "This is quite simply the worst stretch of road in the UK, and it has a huge impact on local residents," Mr Holloway told MPs during a parliamentary debate on Monday. "There are entirely viable schemes, including a seven-mile tunnel under Dartford and Thurrock," he said. More news from Kent The Conservative MP for Dartford, Gareth Johnson, suggested Mr Holloway was in favour of "funnelling more traffic" towards the existing Dartford Crossing and in to the Dartford area. He said: "Isn't it the situation that we should have more resilience, as we have across the rest of the Thames, so you have crossings at various different locations? "The solution surely is to take traffic away and put the crossing east of Gravesend." But Mr Holloway said the "Â£5bn opportunity to fix the M25 is about to be wasted," adding that it will soon be "too late to stop a plan that's going to result in another 30 years of misery on the M25". He added: "Have a conversation about something to the east of Gravesend, or wherever it is, but let's not confuse two things. "The problem is a disaster at Dartford and it is going to be a complete scandal." Concluding the debate, transport minister John Hayes said more than 47,000 people had taken part in a consultation on the preferred option for the crossing and the government was currently analysing the results.

Summary: A proposed new road tunnel beneath the River Thames would lead to 30 years of "misery" on the M25, an MP has warned.


Championship rugby awaits for one of the Premiership's founding members when the game turned professional in 1996, with an uncertain future ahead for players, coaches and staff. Worcester and Newcastle have bounced back from the second tier with immediate effect in recent seasons, while others such as Harlequins and Northampton have returned to win titles. But clubs such as Bristol and London Welsh have found life below the Premiership harder to adapt to than expected. What path will London Irish's future take? BBC Sport speaks to players, supporters, coaches and rugby writers to find the formula behind bouncing back from relegation. Media playback is not supported on this device As recently as 2009, Irish were contesting a Premiership final at Twickenham and reached the last four of the European Cup a year earlier. But the last three seasons have produced finishes in the bottom three, a change of ownership and changes in playing and coaching personnel. "Although former director of rugby Brian Smith didn't enjoy the same success at the club in his second spell as he did in his first, the Australian had extensive experience of the English game," said BBC 5 live rugby reporter Chris Jones. "He was able to comfortably avoid relegation before his abrupt departure at the start of 2015. "Tom Coventry arrived last summer as head coach with a justifiably big reputation considering his achievements at Waikato Chiefs. "But my understanding is that transferring coaching techniques from a Super Rugby side to a Premiership outfit wasn't a smooth process, especially given the fact Irish pretty quickly found themselves in a relegation battle. "Coventry and his coaching team needed time to adapt to the unique nature of English rugby. The other directors of rugby involved in the basement battle - Dean Richards and Dean Ryan - are steeped in experience on this front." Steve Jones, treasurer of the London Irish supporters' club, believes other clubs have shown Irish the way to cope with life in the Championship. "The key is that the core of the team is kept together and our investment in the academy remains to produce young talent," he said. "There are a lot of good players in the system that could really benefit from a year in the Championship playing regular rugby. The under-18 team that won the Academy League this season is testament to that. "But the Championship is a hard league and Irish will find it very tough. A mixture of seasoned pros and academy graduates will be needed." Aside from what happens on the pitch for Irish is the debate over where it happens. Their 16-year association with Reading's Madejski Stadium could be in its final throes despite a contract that allows them to ground-share in Berkshire until the 2025-26 season. Chief executive Bob Casey has guaranteed the Exiles will play their home games at the venue next season despite several years of dwindling attendances, but beyond is an uncertain scenario. There are rumours that Brentford's Griffin Park and their planned new stadium at nearby Lionel Road have become favourable alternatives for

Summary: After just four Premiership wins all season, London Irish have been relegated from English rugby's top flight for the first time since 1994.


Princess Road and Princess Parkway in Manchester will be lowered from 40mph to 30mph for an 18-month trial after a proposal was approved by councillors. There have been two deaths and 84 crashes over the past three years. A friend of Ian O'Mara, who died when he was hit by a coach on a pelican crossing in 2015, helped set up a petition to change the speed limit. A coach driver who hit the dog walker in Princess Road was given a suspended sentence after admitting causing death by careless driving. The change to the speed limit was passed by Manchester City Council on Wednesday, although a date for when it comes into force is yet to be confirmed. Princess Parkway merges into Princess Road and stretches 3.7 miles (6km). Campaigner Sam MacWilliam, from Chorlton, said: "The road is very important for people coming into the city, but they need to understand that they are coming off the motorway and into an area where people live. "There are schools and churches here."

Summary: The speed limit on a major route into a city has been reduced following a campaign launched after a man's death.


The 19-year-old defender, who has made four appearances for the Tractor Boys this season, will remain at Portman Road until the summer of 2019. The deal includes an option for the academy graduate to extend his stay by a further year, until 2020. "I'm enjoying my football and I want to keep on improving my game," he told the club website.

Summary: Ipswich Town youngster Josh Emmanuel has signed a new contract with the Championship club.


Their 340-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is twice the length of a normal stay. Their extended tour is part of an effort to study the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the body. But scientists will gain further insights by comparing Scott Kelly with his Earthbound identical twin, Mark. A Soyuz capsule carrying Kelly, Kornienko and Russian crew member Sergey Volkov parachuted down on to a steppe in Kazakhstan at 10:26 local time (04:26 GMT). The mission is a record for the ISS and will give Cmdr Kelly a tally of 520 cumulative days in space, over four flights. In pictures: Scott Kelly's year in space Tim Peake's space plant experiment Cmdr Kelly has also returned rocket (salad) seeds that were taken up to the orbiting outpost by UK astronaut Tim Peake in December. They will be distributed to schools to allow pupils to compare their growth with rocket plants that have stayed on Earth. The idea behind the twin study is to help minimise extraneous factors as scientists research how genetically identical individuals respond to different conditions over a year. The harsh space environment takes its toll in the form of muscle atrophy, sleep problems, bone loss, vision impairment and radiation exposure. But some of the most pronounced effects are on the mind. Before landing, Cmdr Kelly told reporters during a live link-up: "Physically I feel pretty good... but the hardest part is being isolated in the physical sense from people on the ground who are important to you. There's a loss of connection." From Kazakhstan, Cmdr Kelly will be flown to Houston in the US, where researchers at the US space agency (Nasa) will begin a series of scientific checks. Mark Kelly, who was an astronaut, now retired, has been undergoing tests of his own on Earth during his brother's sojourn on the ISS. Comparisons between the twins should allow scientists to deepen their understanding of the subtle physical and psychological shifts that occur during long stays on orbit. Nasa says the research should inform its stated aim of one day sending humans to Mars. After returning from an extended stay in the weightless environment of space, many astronauts have difficulty walking unaided. Shortly after landing, Kelly, Kornienko and Volkov will enter a medical tent to participate in a series of "field tests" that will assess their balance, co-ordination and ability to walk. Returning ISS crews have immediate access to medical assistance, but future crews to Mars will have little time to recover once they land on the Red Planet's surface. Scientists want to devise ways to prevent injury and improve their recovery time. "We go through about an hour of field tests of various kinds - one is even like an obstacle course, where you run around, stand up from a sitting position and jump," Cmdr Kelly said. Despite the length of their flight, Kelly and Kornienko are still some way shy of the record for the longest single spaceflight, which is held by the Russian Valery Polyakov, who spent 437 consecutive days aboard the Mir space

Summary: US astronaut Scott Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko have touched down on Earth after almost a year in space.


There were 33 deaths from fires in buildings and vehicles in Scotland in 2013-14 compared with 46 the previous year - a decrease of 28%. Almost nine in 10 of those died in house fires, the majority of which were accidental. Smoking materials and matches accounted for more than half (58%) of fatal accidental house fires. Alcohol and/or drugs were a factor in a quarter. Almost half of all fatalities in the home happened where there was a smoke alarm present which either did not operate or failed to raise the alarm. The rate of fatalities in the over-60s age group was more than double the national average of 6.2 per million. The statistical bulletin said: "The provisional figure for the total fatal casualties from primary fires in 2013-14 is the lowest for more than 20 years. "Whilst the number of fire deaths is prone to fluctuation, the latest figure continues the long-term downward trend in fire fatalities." A total of 1,311 people were injured in fires over the same period, according to the figures. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) attended 27,979 fires during the year, an increase of 5% on the previous year but the second lowest annual total in the last decade. House fires fell by 9% to 5,330, continuing a 10-year downward trend. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service chief officer Alasdair Hay said: "I know from first-hand experience how hard-working and dedicated our staff throughout the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are. "The fact that the number of house fires across Scotland has continued to fall since last year is also a reflection of the public's commitment to join Scotland's fight against fire and take part in protecting their communities." He added: "Last year local firefighters continued to conduct free home fire safety visits around the country, completing 71,357 visits. "The SFRS has a clear message - working smoke alarms saves lives. These figures show that message is getting heard and people are safer from fire in their homes." Community safety minister Paul Wheelhouse said: "It is encouraging that fire deaths are now at their lowest since current records began, as are fires in homes, taking them to the lowest in a generation. "While the significant reduction in the number of people hurt or killed in fires is to be welcomed, every death is a tragedy and there are 33 families across Scotland who are without a loved one as a result of fires last year. "It's crucial that we remember the relatively small numbers of cases mean there can be quite extreme fluctuations, although there is no doubt that these figures are testament to the hard work of the fire and rescue services in Scotland, and their continued focus on prevention. "It is crucial that people across Scotland listen and follow their valuable advice."

Summary: The number of people killed in fires has fallen to its lowest for more than 20 years, provisional figures show.


Fifa's ethics committee is looking into the "disloyal payment", made nine years after Platini carried out consultation work for Fifa president Sepp Blatter. Platini, a Fifa vice-president, and Blatter are serving 90-day bans while corruption claims are investigated. In September, criminal proceedings against Blatter began in Switzerland. BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent Richard Conway says a written contract did exist for Platini's work for Fifa between 1998 and 2002, according to sources. A total of SFr 1.05m (£710,000) is believed to have been paid to the Frenchman. It is an additional SFr 2m (£1.35m) that was paid in February 2011 that is under scrutiny - and for which no written contract is said to exist. Both Platini and Blatter are believed to have told investigators the additional payment was an oral agreement for SFr 0.5m to be paid for each of the four years (January 1999 to June 2002) the Uefa president was employed by Fifa. In a statement this month, Platini said "the remuneration was agreed at the time". It is understood the men claimed an agreement to delay payment was reached at the time due to Fifa's then financial position. Under Swiss law, an employee cannot seek to have a contract paid up after five years have elapsed irrespective of whether it was written or oral. Both men have denied any wrongdoing, have appealed against their bans and believe they will be exonerated. Uefa, which meets in Nyon on Thursday to discuss the issue, has said it has "full confidence" in its president and "stands fully behind him". However, one Uefa executive committee member, Allan Hansen, has been quoted by Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet as saying "we can no longer support him" - if no contract exists. Meanwhile, Fifa has banned Thai football chief and former executive member Worawi Makudi for 90 days for an ethics breach and indicated he could face further punishment.

Summary: Uefa chief Michel Platini produced no documentary evidence for the 2m Swiss francs (£1.35m) payment made to him by Fifa, the BBC has learned.


The Brexit negotiations with the EU were due to start on 19 June but Moody's said the fact that the Conservatives had lost their majority would delay the start of the talks. It will "complicate and probably delay Brexit negotiations", it warned. Moody's said the election result could put pressure on the public finances. The "inconclusive" outcome of the general election may mean the government placed less priority on cutting the budget deficit, the agency said. This would be negative for the UK's credit rating and make it more expensive for the country to borrow money. As a result, Moody's said it expected fiscal risks to increase because in its view the budget deficit will increase both this year and next. "The election outcome, with significant gains for the Labour Party, which had campaigned for increased public spending, will likely be seen as a 'vote against austerity', it added. "The public debt ratio will rise further and for longer than we had expected, placing the UK among the few highly rated European sovereigns whose public debt is still rising." However, Moody's said the election result suggested an "electoral shift" away from the "hard Brexit" that Prime Minister Theresa May had ostensibly sought. As a result, Moody's said the government may now consider "softer" Brexit options, which would be positive for the country's credit rating. Earlier, Brexit Secretary David Davis told Sky News that negotiations on leaving the EU would begin next week. but not necessarily on 19 June. "My permanent secretary is actually in Brussels today talking to them about the details," he said. "It may not be on the Monday because we also have got the Queen's Speech that week and I will have to speak in that, and so on." Meanwhile, S&P Global Ratings released a note saying the outcome of the snap election and the hung parliament should have no immediate impact on the UK's rating. "Our ratings on the UK already take into account a less predictable policy framework following the vote to leave the EU in June 2016," it said. It also said it believed the lack of an overall majority for any one part was likely to delay Brexit negotiations. "We do not exclude the possibility of another snap election." Separately, S&P economist Jean-Michel Six said: "In terms of the [UK's] outlook for growth, it's clear that things are not going in the right direction." "This latest bit of instability can only weaken the business environment and consumer confidence," he said. S&P said the UK's outlook remained negative. Moody's rates the UK as Aa1 negative - one notch above the other two big agencies, S&P and Fitch.

Summary: The UK general election result could delay Brexit talks and be negative for the economy, credit ratings agencies Moody's and S&P have warned.


The Japanese engineer created many popular drum machines, including the iconic TR-808. Its sound is a staple of hip-hop and electronic music, used by everyone from Kanye West to Marvin Gaye. Kakehashi received a technical Grammy in 2013 for contributions to electronic music technology. Dave Smith - Kakehashi's co-winner - told the BBC he "was just an amazing man, a good friend, a very good competitor of course and just innovative continually all that time". Before leading Roland for 40 years, Mr Kakehashi founded Ace Tone in the 1960s. The firm made amplifiers and primitive drum machines, laying the groundwork for the engineer's future success. The sound of the TR-808 proved a game-changer in the 1980s and 90s. It appears on Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing", and in the opening bars of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody". Rapper Kanye West's 2008 album 808s & Heartbreak showcases the machine throughout. Musicians have shared their tributes to Mr Kakehashi online, calling his impact immeasurable. Marc Almond of synthpop duo Soft Cell called him "a man who changed music". Martyn Ware, who played keyboards for The Human League, told the BBC: "Roland was central to everything that we did for the whole of the first two albums - they featured on every track." "We were loyal to them like people would be loyal to a football team." In 2015 the TR-808 was the subject of a documentary featuring Pharrell Williams, Fatboy Slim, and Phil Collins - among many others. In a farewell to Mr Kakehashi, his colleague for almost four decades, Roland developer Tommy Snyder wrote: "He was a super funny, wonderful and gifted human being, and his contributions to the musical instrument world, and music, touched millions of people worldwide. RIP dear Taro."

Summary: The music world is mourning the loss of Roland founder and electronic instrument pioneer Ikutaro Kakehashi, who has died aged 87.


That is the big question hanging over the WTO as trade ministers from its member countries gather in Nairobi. They are heading to the Kenyan capital for the WTO's tenth ministerial conference. The organisation is increasingly at risk of being side-lined as groups of countries do trade and investment deals outside it. The WTO was established in 1995 to be the main forum for trade rules and for negotiating the removal of barriers to international commerce. It is conducting a wide-ranging set of negotiations intended to take this process further. It is called the Doha Round, and it was launched in the Qatari capital 14 years ago. It is still limping along despite the original target for completing the talks being the beginning of 2005. So far all it really has to show is an agreement on improving customs procedures, known as the Trade Facilitation Agreement. The wider negotiations - to reduce tariffs (taxes on imports), farm subsidies and remove many other trade barriers - have failed to produce results. Many countries have turned their attention to negotiating in smaller groups. The prime examples are the United States' negotiations with Pacific nations and with the European Union. It's very unlikely that the Nairobi conference will pronounce it dead. Some countries, including India, Indonesia and Venezuela want a formal reaffirmation of the declaration issued back in Doha. Others, notably the US and European Union do not. They think it has become clear that this huge exercise - known in WTO-speak as a "single undertaking" - will fail to deliver results. So it is certainly possible that the Nairobi Conference will mark an important moment in the failure of the Doha Round. However, there are areas where there could be some agreement. One is the final agreement among a group of countries on tariff-free trade in a range of technology goods. This would extend an existing deal to a number of additional goods including new-generation semi-conductors, GPS navigation systems, some medical devices and touch screens. There is also the possibility of a deal to improve export opportunities for the poorest nations, the least developed countries. This is about extending the scope for them to sell their goods without quota restrictions or tariffs. There are signs that the WTO's members do seem to be willing to agree in these areas, but even so there is no guarantee they will. It is possible that there will be no formal ministerial declaration at the end. That would be the first such failure since the Seattle Conference in 1999, which ended with acrimonious disagreement between governments and was accompanied by often violent protests in the city's streets. The WTO and its conference have in the past been a major focus for protests from groups which argue that globalisation has been a business-driven process undermining national sovereignty, environmental protection and labour standards. More recently some of the trade negotiations outside the WTO have become more of a focus for some of these concerns. Those other talks have, after all, made more progress. And there is a real possibility that

Summary: Does the World Trade Organization matter anymore?


In an interview with Empire, the actor and former California governor claimed that low ratings were due to President Trump's credit as executive producer. He said he would like to work "on a show that doesn't have this baggage". However, Mr Trump tweeted that Schwarzenegger "isn't voluntarily leaving". He said the actor was "fired by his bad (pathetic) ratings", adding that it was a "sad end to [a] great show" - referencing his own previous tenure as its presenter. As the row escalated, Schwarzenegger replied: "You should think about hiring a new joke writer and a fact checker." The president - who left the show to run for the White House - has previously ridiculed his TV boardroom successor. In Friday's interview, Mr Schwarzenegger claimed an anti-Trump social media campaign had impacted the ratings of the show, on which he debuted in January. "When people found out that Trump was still involved as executive producer and was still receiving money from the show, then half the people [started] boycotting it," said the former Mr Universe. "It's not about the show... because everyone I ran into came up to me and said, 'I love the show... but I turned it off because as soon as I read Trump's name I'm outta there!' "It's a very divisive period now and I think this show got caught up in all that division," he said, adding that he would decline if asked to host again." Mr Schwarzenegger has often clashed on Twitter with Mr Trump. Last month at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC, Mr Trump mockingly asked people to "pray for Arnold... for those ratings". He said the show had been swamped "in comparison to the ratings machine, DJT", using his own initials. The show, whose 15th season ended last month, averaged fewer than five million viewers per episode. New York real estate businessman Mr Trump became a household name as the show's host for 14 seasons. Some 20 million Americans were regular watchers in its first year before the viewing figures tapered to six million for Mr Trump's last episode.

Summary: Arnold Schwarzenegger has quit The New Celebrity Apprentice, saying it has become tainted by Donald Trump's involvement.


Beggars Group and Merlin both indicated their approval of Apple's new offer. On Monday, Apple reversed its decision not to pay artists for songs streamed during a free trial period offered to users, following criticism from singer Taylor Swift. Beggars Group said it was "happy to endorse" the new deal with Apple. The company manages some of the best-known indie labels, with artists such as Adele, Radiohead and Basement Jaxx on its XL Recordings label. In a statement, chairman Martin Mills said: "We are happy to endorse the deal with Apple Music as it now stands, and look forward to being a big part of a very exciting future." Digital rights group Merlin looks after more than 20,000 independent record labels. In a letter published by Billboard, Merlin chief executive Charles Caldas said: "Apple has made a decision to pay for all usage of Apple Music under the free trials on a per-play basis, as well as to modify a number of other terms that members had been communicating directly with Apple about. "With these changes, we are happy to support the deal." Mr Caldas stressed that it was for individual labels in the group to decide if they wanted to join the service. Apple is preparing to launch Apple Music on 30 June. It had originally planned not to pay artists for songs streamed during a three-month free trial offered to users, but changed its decision after Taylor Swift wrote an open letter criticising the company. Google has responded by offering subscription-free access to its music-streaming service, Google Play Music, in the United States.

Summary: Apple has reached an agreement with two leading indie music groups, paving the way for thousands of labels to join its new streaming service.


The 23-year-old from Birmingham won 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-2 in the third round of qualifying at Flushing Meadows. James Ward and Elena Baltacha had earlier fallen at the final hurdle with agonising defeats. It was always in me but it was just putting it all together and I'm pretty proud of that Defending champion Andy Murray, 30th seed Laura Robson and world number 77 Heather Watson qualified directly. Evans has been in the best form of his career in 2013, helping Britain to a remarkable Davis Cup win over Russia, and reaching the third round at Queen's Club and two Challenger finals in North America over the summer. And he capped that run by qualifying for a Grand Slam for the first time under the floodlights of Court Eight at Flushing Meadows at just after 8pm local time on Friday. "I'm pretty proud of my efforts, not just here but I've been [in North America] now nearly six weeks, so to lose first round then final, final and to qualify is pretty good," he said. "I'd never been in the last round of qualifying before but I knew I was better than the guy - it was just getting it out there. I should have really won the first set but I'm pretty happy with how I came back and in the end it was pretty straightforward. "It was always in me but it was just putting it all together and I'm pretty proud of that. I need to just carry on and hopefully I'll get a decent draw in the main draw and try to win a few matches." Evans surged into an early 4-1 lead against Menendez-Maceiras, ranked five places lower at 184, but was broken from 40-0 and went on to drop the opening set in a tie-break. The Briton had been the better player for much of the set, however, and continued in that vein as he broke to love in game three of the second and closed out the set with cross-court forehand winner. It a came down to a decider and it was one-way traffic as Evans powered on, building a 5-1 lead and closing out the win on his third match point, with Davis Cup team-mates Colin Fleming and Jamie Murray among the vocal courtside supporters. Evans will play Japan's 11th seed Kei Nishikori in the first round next week. Ward, the British number two, had earlier led by a break in the final set but lost 6-3 3-6 6-4 to India's Somdev Devvarman. The 26-year-old was visibly upset as he made his way off Court Seven after seeing a great chance to qualify at the US Open for the first time slip by. Ward, ranked 175th, looked to have turned things around after battling back from a set and a break down, reeling off six straight games to lead 2-0 in the decider. Devvarman, 28, remained a tough opponent to break down, however, and the world number 113's steadier game ultimately won the day as he broke back in game six and clinched victory

Summary: Dan Evans gave Britain a fourth player in the main draw of the US Open with a superb qualifying win over Spain's Adrian Menendez-Maceiras.


The woman, who has severe learning difficulties, was held by Keith Baker and his wife Caroline at their County Armagh home. She was found in a squalid room in the so-called house of horrors in 2012. When she was rescued, she was severely malnourished and had lost almost all her teeth. Police believe the woman was trafficked into Northern Ireland by Baker in 2004. It is understood her husband reported her missing to police in Suffolk where they had been living. A senior police officer said the repeated attacks on the vulnerable woman was the "most depraved and awful crime" he had ever come across. The woman's torment was reported to police in 2012 by Mandy Highfield, mother of four of Baker's eight children. Speaking exclusively to the BBC, Ms Highfield said she had to coax the Bakers' victim to leave when the police and social workers came to rescue her because the woman was too frightened to go. Ms Highfield had lived with Baker, effectively as a second wife, and was the mother of four of his eight children: Caroline Baker was the mother of the other four. Ms Highfield said Baker exerted complete control over everyone in his household. "If we'd go out, he'd be as nice as pie and then, when we were on our own, he'd hit me because I'd been talking to people," she said. "I wasn't allowed to talk to anybody or have friends or even talk to my family." A tiny room in the house had been turned into a prison cell for the vulnerable woman, she said. "Keith took the handle off the door. There was no light bulb in the light, no carpet on the floor, no curtains up against the window. It was like a little prison." Talking about the sex abuse, she said: "How could they treat somebody like that - with a disability like she had?" "It wasn't fair and I just couldn't handle it so I went to the police and told them. Then the police came down and they took me out of the house and talked to me. "I told them everything. Then the social worker and the police went upstairs and saw the other woman in the bedroom. "They took her out, but she didn't want to go because she was scared. "I said to her: 'You've got to go; you can't live like this anymore.' Then she left with the police and the social worker." Det Ch Sup George Clarke, head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Public Protection Unit, said his officers were shocked by what they uncovered at the Bakers' home. "It became very clear to the detectives that it wasn't just a case of physical abuse but that there was a very depraved sexual element to this," he said. "This woman was raped repeatedly by Baker who was aided and abetted by his wife. "It would also appear that these assaults were on occasions recorded and we can only assume that was for the sexual gratification of Baker." He said it

Summary: A woman kept prisoner in a Northern Ireland house and repeatedly raped and assaulted for eight years was too afraid to leave when police came to rescue her.


It comes after local media reported he had served time for molesting two girls under 10 in the late 1990s. The man and his wife took home only one baby from Thailand after the surrogate had twins, leaving behind son Gammy. The case has made international headlines, causing uproar in Australia. State authorities told the BBC they were now conducting a "full investigation" to assess the father's "suitability" to have a young child in his custody. A spokesman for Western Australia's department for child protection and family support told the BBC: "Last night we were made aware of certain information by the police regarding allegations of the father's criminal background." Asked if convicted sex offenders have been allowed to keep their children, the spokesman said they assess cases based on "individual circumstances". Besides Down's syndrome, the six-month-old baby has a congenital heart condition and a lung infection. Surrogate mother Pattharamon Chanbua has been looking after Gammy as well as two children of her own. She claims his parents abandoned Gammy and had asked her to have an abortion when she was told of the child's condition four months after becoming pregnant. Ms Chanbua, 21, has said the father met the twins, but only took care of the girl and refused to carry or look at Gammy even though the babies were side by side. The parents have told local media in Australia that they did not know of his existence, and claimed that the allegations made by Ms Chanbua are lies. But one local newspaper quoted a family friend saying the parents did know about the boy being born, apparently contradicting their version of events. "Gammy was very sick when he was born and the biological parents were told he would not survive and he had a day, at best, to live and to say goodbye," the friend said. She suggested Ms Chanbua, 21, had broken the surrogacy agreement by giving birth in a smaller hospital instead of an international one, which meant that the biological parents had no legal rights to the babies. The couple had been locked in a legal battle with Ms Chanbua to take home their daughter and she had insisted on keeping Gammy to give him a Thai funeral, the friend alleged. Both the Australian government and Thai health authorities are now looking into the case and the larger issue of commercial surrogacy in Thailand, which is mostly unregulated. An online fundraising campaign so far has raised tens of thousands of pounds to help Ms Chanbua with Gammy's medical expenses.

Summary: Child protection services in Australia are investigating a man accused of abandoning a baby with Down's syndrome to a surrogate mother in Thailand over allegations of child sex offences.


The revelations by the 70-year-old American came in a newly unsealed 40-page transcript from a US court hearing in November 2013. As part of a deal, he waived his indictment and pleaded guilty to 10 charges, including conspiracy to commit racketeering, wire fraud, money laundering, income tax evasion and failure to report foreign bank accounts. Below are the key statements from the transcript made by Blazer. "Personally I have rectal cancer. I am being treated. I have gone through 20 weeks of chemotherapy, and I am looking pretty good for that. I am now in the process of radiation, and the prognoses [sic] is good." "At the same time I have a variety of other less significant ailments dealing with diabetes II and coronary artery disease but holding up reasonably well." "From 1997 through 2013, I served as a Fifa executive committee member. One of my responsibilities in that role was participating in the selection of the host countries for the World Cup." "I also served as General Secretary of Concacaf [the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football] from 1990 through December of 2011, and was responsible for, among other things, participating in the negotiations for sponsorship and media rights." "During my association with Fifa and Concacaf, among other things, I and others agreed that I or a co-conspirator would commit at least two acts of racketeering activity." "Among other things, I agreed with other persons in or around 1992 to facilitate the acceptance of a bribe in conjunction with the selection of the host nation for the 1998 World Cup." "Beginning in or about 1993 and continuing through the early 2000s, I and others agreed to accept bribes and kickbacks in conjunction with the broadcast and other rights to the 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2003 Gold Cups [regional Concacaf tournaments]." "Beginning in or around 2004 and continuing through 2011, I and others on the Fifa executive committee agreed to accept bribes in conjunction with the selection of South Africa as the host nation for the 2010 World Cup." "Among other things, my actions described above had common participants and results." "Between April of 2004 and May 2011, I and others who were fiduciaries to both Fifa and Concacaf, in contravention of our duties, I and others, while acting in our official capacities, agreed to participate in a scheme to defraud Fifa and Concacaf of the right to honest services by taking undisclosed bribes." "I and others agreed to use email, telephone, and a wire transfer into and out of the United States in furtherance of the scheme. Funds procured through these improper payments passed through JFK Airport in the form of a check." "Between December 2008 and May 2011, I and others agreed to and transmitted funds by wire transfer and checks from places within the United States to places in the Caribbean, and from places in the Caribbean to places in the United States." "I agreed to and took these actions to, among other things, promote and conceal my receipt of bribes and kickbacks. I knew

Summary: Former top Fifa executive Chuck Blazer has admitted he and other officials from world football's governing body conspired to take bribes in relation to the 1998 and 2010 World Cups and other major tournaments.


Peter Osbourne of no fixed address was charged with four counts of making hoax calls, Gloucestershire Police said. It relates to calls made on Wednesday about Wiltshire Police Headquarters, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Weymouth sea front in Dorset and Bath bus station. Mr Osbourne, 56, is due to appear before magistrates in Bath later. Avon and Somerset Police were also involved in the cross border operation.

Summary: A man has been accused of making a series of hoax bomb threats.


The Open Society Justice Initiative and Kenya's Muslims for Human Rights said the police often tortured detainees. Their report said arbitrary arrests and disappearances were also widespread, especially in Mombasa, a city with a large Muslim population. Officials have not responded, but they have denied similar claims in the past. The US and UK governments support Kenya's anti-terror police with training and equipment. In prison with al-Shabab The report said such assistance should be suspended to any unit where there was credible evidence that the police had committed human rights violations. The BBC's Africa security correspondent Moses Rono says that would be a difficult decision to take as Kenya's counter-terrorism efforts are key to stemming spreading Islamist militancy in East Africa. The September attack on the Westgate shopping centre in Kenya's, capital, Nairobi, in which 67 were killed has added pressure on the authorities to act or be seen to be trying to stop terror attacks, he says. The Somali Islamist group al-Shabab said it was behind the four-day siege. In the report titled We're Tired of Taking You to the Court researchers spoke to more than 40 people over the last year. They found that the Anti-Terror Police Unit (APTU) tortured detainees to get them to admit links to terrorism, and arbitrary detentions and disappearances were widespread. The report called for official investigations to be carried out into the disappearances and killings of at least 20 individuals suspected of terrorism-related activities. These included the recent assassinations in Mombasa of two Muslim clerics alleged to have links to al-Shabab. Kenya's security forces have previously denied allegations that they were behind the killings. According to the report one officer told a detainee at a police station: "We're tired of taking you to the court. Next time we'll finish you off in the field." The report quoted a lawyer telling a court hearing: "My clients have complained to me that investigators used a pair of pliers to squeeze their private parts." Such tactics violate human rights and are counterproductive to counter-terrorism efforts, the report said. The investigation focused primarily on abuses committed in Mombasa in 2012 and 2013, but the report says "the ATPU's broader pattern of rights violations extends back years earlier". It pointed to illegal renditions to Somalia and Ethiopia in 2007 and at least nine suspects who were rendered to Uganda in 2010 following the World Cup bombings in Kampala. An anti-terror police officer told the BBC that counter-terrorism was a difficult business and it was not easy to find evidence to link suspects to terrorism. He said witnesses were often unwilling to testify, some suspects were killed in shootouts, and others fled the country to avoid prosecution.

Summary: Kenyan counter-terrorism officers have been accused of carrying out extra-judicial killings and other abuses in a report by US and Kenyan rights groups.


The same stream of commuters rushing through the barriers; the same frustrations at delays on the tube. But this morning a small group of people quietly gathered at the 7/7 memorial plaque. A station announcement told people there would be a minute's silence. At exactly 08:50 BST, the moment the blasts went off, commuters across the concourse stopped where they were, and there was a hush. Tube workers stood together, heads bowed. Survivors comforted each other and shared a moment of quiet reflection on what they had experienced exactly a decade ago. Twenty-six people were killed on a Piccadilly Line train after it left the station, the worst toll of the attacks. This wasn't the official national silence - that would come later at 11:30. But at the affected stations - King's Cross, Russell Square, Edgware Road and Aldgate - there was an added poignancy for those about to board trains. Among those at King's Cross was city worker Emly Skiba, on her way to Canary Wharf, who found herself moved to tears at the tribute. "I hadn't planned to be here, I just happened to be passing. But it suddenly struck - so many people died," she said. As people began to disperse, a young woman emerged from the crowd and laid a handful of handpicked flowers, before moving silently on. Brightly coloured flowers were heaped high at the spot in Tavistock Square where the final bomb exploded on a packed number 30 bus, almost exactly an hour later. At 09.47 BST, the time of the blast, a tight huddle of people gathered on the pavement, spilling out into the road. Doctors from the nearby British Medical Association - who were the first on the scene that day - returned to remember the 14 people they were not able to save. The parents of one of the victims, Anthony Fatayi-Williams, whispered a prayer. Across the road, a bus driver pulled up and quietly watched from his cab. On the Tube, the mood among passengers was solemn but defiant. Jan Nova, an Estonian fashion designer living in London, was reading coverage of the 7/7 anniversary in the Metro on his Circle Line commute to work. "Of course sometimes when you get the Tube, you think about it," he said. "But none of us can know when and where something might happen, and so you have to carry on." Other Londoners showed their solidarity this morning by taking part in the "walk together" initiative, getting off their Tube or bus a stop early and walking in memory of 7/7. It was an echo of that day, when thousands stranded by the crippled transport network walked home. Among this morning's trekkers was 35-year-old Lins Drabwell, who chose to walk the whole 8.4 miles (13.5km) from her home in Bromley to her office in London Bridge. She said doing the "walk together" on the 10th anniversary was "an easy decision". "I remember 7/7 so clearly. Our office was near Edgware Road. We could see the station from our office window, and the emergency services going

Summary: At first glance it was a rush hour like any other at King's Cross station.


9th century - Founding of Kievan Rus, the first major East Slavic state. The traditional account, a matter of debate among historians, attributes its founding to the semi-legendary Viking (or Varangian) leader Oleg, ruler of Novgorod, who went on to seize Kiev, which owing to its strategic location on the Dnieper River, became the capital of Kievan Rus. 10th century - Rurik dynasty established and the rule of Prince Vladimir the Great (Prince Volodymyr in Ukrainian) heralds start of a golden age. In 988 Vladimir accepts Orthodox Christianity and begins conversion of Kievan Rus to the Byzantine rite, thus setting the course for Christianity in the east. 11th century - Kievan Rus reaches its peak under Yaroslav the Wise (grand prince 1019-1054), with Kiev becoming eastern Europe's chief political and cultural centre. 1237-40 - Mongols invade the Rus principalities, destroying numerous cities and ending Kiev's power. Tatars (as the Mongol invaders became known) establish the empire of the Golden Horde in southern Russia and the Khan of the Golden Horde becomes overlord of all the Russian princes. 14th century - Ascendancy of grand princes of Moscow (or Muscovy) under the Mongols. Ivan I is granted the title of Grand Prince after helping to defeat an anti-Tatar uprising in the principality of Tver, Moscow's great rival. 15th century - The Muscovite princes pursue a policy of "gathering the Russian lands", a drive to annex all East Slavic lands. Ivan III (the Great) subdues most of the Great Russian lands by conquest or by the voluntary allegiance of princes. The Battle of the Ugra in 1480 marks the end of Tatar dominance. 1547-84 - Grand Prince Ivan IV (the Terrible) is first ruler to be proclaimed Tsar in 1547. Seeking to impose military discipline and a centralised administration, he institutes a reign of terror against the hereditary nobility. 1581 - Cossacks begin conquering Siberia for Russia. 1613 - National Council elects Michael Romanov as tsar, ending a long period of instability and foreign intervention. Romanov dynasty rules Russia until 1917 revolution. 1689-1725 - Peter the Great introduces far-reaching reforms, including a regular conscript army and navy, subordinating the Orthodox Church to himself and reorganising government structures along European lines. 1721 - Russia acquires territory of modern Estonia and Latvia after decades of war with Sweden, establishing naval presence in Baltic Sea and 'window on Europe'. 1772-1814 - Russia conquers Crimea, Ukraine, Georgia, and what later became Belarus, Moldova, as well as parts of Poland. 1798-1815 - Russia takes part in the European coalitions against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France, defeating Napoleon's invasion in 1812 and contributing to his overthrow. Army officers return home bringing liberal ideas from Europe, spurring efforts to rein in Romanov autocracy. 1825 - Abortive attempt by liberal army officers to establish constitutional government crushed in Decembrist Revolt. 1834-59 - Russia faces determined resistance to their bid to annex North Caucasus. 1853-57 - Russia suffers setback in attempt to seize territory from declining Ottoman Empire through its defeat in Crimean War. 1861 - Emancipation Edict ends serfdom but keeps peasants tied to

Summary: A chronology of key events:


Thirty days ago, the nominated adviser for the holding company, Rangers International Football Club (RIFC), resigned. Trading on the stock exchange was suspended. The company was given 30 days to find a new one. To recap further, a nominated adviser, or nomad, is required by the London Stock Exchange to carry out first-line regulation of a company that's listed on the Alternative Investments Market (AIM) - the junior trading platform for shares in smaller, younger companies and higher risk investors. The nomad has to make sure that the company's governance is in line with stock market rules. The nomad's reputation depends on it. So if the regulated company's governance is a burach, there's blood all over the boardroom walls, complaints are piling in, the auditor quits, accountants warn that there's significant risk that the company may not be able to continue as a going concern, and it's doubtful that the football team can win promotion to a higher-earning league... and so it goes on... then any sane nomad would be wise to take his camel and stay well clear. And that's precisely what's happened. We're told by the new bosses at Ibrox that the first test by a prospective (unnamed) nomad was passed. That was the "fit and proper" test for the directors who took over the club two days after the last nomad quit. And that test was also applied to Dave King, whose South African convictions for tax criminality on a grand scale have cast rather a large shadow over his plans to become the Ibrox chairman. He's staying off the board until approved by the football authorities and the stock exchange - except it looks like the stock exchange test won't be a problem any more. So what are the implications of delisting. Quite a few Rangers fans own small shareholdings following the stock market float in December 2012. It's now much more difficult to sell those shares, though if you can find a buyer, there's nothing to stop you selling. Registering the sale should still be possible. A stock market is the place where buyers and sellers can meet up and do their deals. If there's not much liquidity - that is, it's hard to find a buyer - then the value of the asset goes down. That helps explain why we're hearing that legal action is being contemplated by those who invested in RIFC, and feel let down. They could have expected the AIM listing provided assurance that the company would be competently run. There's now evidence that it wasn't. And the value of shares has fallen from 93p to 17p, then rebounding to 35p when trading was suspended. To help shareholders, the directors of RIFC are putting in place a temporary solution. They've found a broker who can match-make for buyers and sellers. That system is used by Millwall FC shareholders. The next bit of the plan is to join another market. In a previous incarnation (cue familiar protests from those who don't believe in corporate reincarnation as the same football club), Rangers Football Club shares

Summary: It will come as no surprise to followers of events at Ibrox that it's back to code SNAFU - that is, the situation is normal, in that it's all, er, fouled up.


A signalling system at Diss has been damaged, resulting in Greater Anglia services between Norwich and London being cancelled. Services from Norwich to Cambridge and Norwich to Sheringham have also been suspended or delayed. The rail company is advising passengers of alternative travel options and of its delay repay policy. Greater Anglia said disruption on the Norwich to London Liverpool Street line is expected until 21:00 BST. It said services are unable to depart from Norwich towards Diss and Ipswich and from Diss towards Norwich whilst Network Rail engineers examine the line. There are currently no replacement bus services available to run between Norwich and Diss, it said. Greater Anglia has apologised for any inconvenience caused. All lines were blocks on the Norwich to Cambridge line after lightning struck between Attleborough and Ely. Disruption is expected until the end of the day. Greater Anglia said Network Rail staff are on site and are repairing the signalling system however there is currently no estimate for the line re-opening East Midlands trains services between Norwich and Liverpool Lime St are also affected.

Summary: Lightning strikes on rail routes through East Anglia have sparked travel chaos.


He also resigned from the 2014 World Cup organising committee. Mr Teixeira, who led the federation for 23 years, had come under pressure over corruption allegations, which he has denied. He has been investigated on suspicion of crimes including tax evasion but has never been convicted of any offence. Former Sao Paulo Governor Jose Maria Marin, 79, will be replacing Mr Teixeira in both posts. Mr Marin read out the letter in which Mr Teixeira announced his "permanent resignation". Mounting speculation Mr Teixeira said he was leaving with a sense of "mission accomplished". "Football in our country is associated with two things: talent and disorganisation," he wrote. He said he had done what was within his reach, sacrificing his health. Last week, Mr Teixeira announced he was taking leave of absence for medical reasons. However, he did not specify the nature of his health problems. Mr Marin said nothing would immediately change at the football federation or at the World Cup organising committee under his command. Pressure started growing on Mr Teixeira to resign after new corruption allegations surfaced earlier this month. But state federations voted unanimously to confirm him in the posts. In 2001, the Brazilian Congress investigated Mr Teixeira on suspicion of 13 crimes, including tax evasion, money laundering and misleading lawmakers, but no charges were brought. He has also been investigated for allegedly taking kickbacks from a marketing firm that worked closely with Fifa in the 1990s. And the English Football Association accused him of improper conduct during bidding for the 2018 World Cup. He has denied all the allegations and has never been convicted.

Summary: The head of Brazil's football federation, Ricardo Teixeira, has stepped down from his post, days after taking sick leave.


The former presidential candidate is the former CEO of technology company Hewlett-Packard. Mrs Fiorina dropped out of the presidential race after a poor showing at the New Hampshire primary. She has been an active supporter for Mr Cruz, a senator from Texas, on the campaign trail. The early announcement is unusual because vice-presidential picks are not normally decided until after a candidate secures the nomination. "Over and over again, Carly has shattered glass ceilings," Mr Cruz said. He doesn't have the Republican nomination. He doesn't even have the lead for the nomination. In fact, he has no clear path to the nomination. But it looks like Ted Cruz will have a running mate. Naming Carly Fiorina as his vice-presidential pick at this point provides Mr Cruz with several benefits. First, he can generate some positive press and at least partially move on from the drubbing he received at the hands of Donald Trump in Tuesday's mid-Atlantic primaries. Second, he positions his campaign to make a strong play for that grand prize on the horizon, the California primary on 7 June - a battleground that could decide whether Mr Trump secures the Republican nomination without a convention fight. While Mrs Fiorina's 2010 general-election bid for a Senate seat there was spectacularly unsuccessful, she did win her party's nomination and is a known quantity among the state's conservative voters. Mr Cruz has his back to the wall. He needs a win in Indiana, and he really needs a strong performance in California. Mrs Fiorina on the ticket could help - and at this point, anything that might work is worth a shot. Mrs Fiorina could help Mr Cruz in his battle against front-runner Donald Trump, who has made disparaging comments about women - including her. "Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president?" he said. Mrs Fiorina responded: "I think women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr Trump said." Mr Cruz alluded to this exchange in introducing Mrs Fiorina in Indiana, saying she handled it with "grace and class". While at Hewlett-Packard, Mrs Fiorina laid off 30,000 people and was fired by the company's board, though she has argued that her leadership "saved" the company. She also had a failed bid for a California Senate seat. Donald Trump's son Eric Trump called the move desperate. While addressing the crowd, Mrs Fiorina broke into song. She sang about Mr Cruz's daughters and their times together on the Cruz campaign bus. "Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are two sides of the same coin," she said, and Mr Cruz's presidential bid is not over yet, despite what "the media says".

Summary: Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz has announced Carly Fiorina as his running mate, calling her a "consistent, courageous fighter".


Councillors have voted to shut Plas Madoc - despite opposition from 2,000 people - as part of a bid to cut spending by Â£45m over five years. Protesters meeting on Thursday evening said they had not been given enough time to draw up alternative options. The closure decision will still need approval from full council next week. Committee members of the the Save Plas Madoc Leisure Centre Campaign urged people at the meeting to lobby their local councillors to voice concerns ahead of next week's vote. The council has said the community could run the centre, but supporters said that even extending the deadline to the end of June for interested parties to come forward with propositions is too little notice. The meeting at the Air Products Social Club, Acrefair, heard the campaign is consulting a barrister about the possibility of a judicial review of the council's decision. A council report outlined opposition to the closure saying the leisure centre is regarded as a "valued resource that contributes towards health and wellbeing and a focal point for the local, deprived, community". However, the report said the council faced big budget cuts and a Â£2m bill in maintenance costs at its leisure facilities, including Wrexham's town centre Waterworld swimming baths and gym. Among those trying to save Plas Madoc include former Wales footballer Robbie Savage, who played five-a-side at the centre as a boy.

Summary: About 150 people attended a meeting aimed at saving a leisure centre earmarked for closure in one of Wrexham's most deprived areas.


Media playback is not supported on this device He stood down from his role earlier this year because of ill health but was to officially remain in post until February 2017. Mr Murphy played football and hurling for clubs in Down and was a county selector in the early 1990s. A lengthy career in administration included being a former member of the GAA Central Council and vice-president of the GAA. Mr Murphy served as vice-president and president of the Ulster Council before being appointed provincial secretary, a position he held for 16 years. "Danny was an outstanding leader who provided unstinting dedication to the GAA in Ulster for over 35 years," said Ulster GAA President Michael Hasson. "It was very fitting that Danny's leadership was honoured earlier this year by the First Minister, Arlene Foster, and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, at Stormont in recognition of his efforts in promoting reconciliation, tolerance and respect across all communities.'' Mr Murphy's funeral mass will take place on Saturday, 10 December in St Mary's Church, Burren.

Summary: Ulster Council secretary Danny Murphy has died at the age of 67.


Farah added the 5,000m to his 10,000m title at the World Championships - a feat he also achieved at the London Olympics in 2012 and the 2013 Worlds. Foster said: "Mo is the greatest sportsman that Britain has ever had." Farah, 32, responded: "We have had so many legends and to be in the same category as them is amazing." Farah has now gone ahead of Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele who is the only other person to claim an Olympic and world 'double-double' in the distance events. Farah now has five World Championship golds, two Olympic golds and five European golds, and is unbeaten on the track outdoors in a major championships since finishing second in the 10,000m at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu. Foster, working as a BBC commentator at the championships, explained why he put the British runner on such a pedestal. "He's Great Britain's most prolific winner of global golds and he's put former British athletes like Sebastian Coe and Daley Thompson behind him," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "Former rower Sir Steve Redgrave [who won five Olympic golds] was part of a team. Mo is on his own and it's lonely out there. He's ruthless and we've not seen that. We should be enjoying the moment. We'll never see his like again." Farah named Redgrave, ex-footballer David Beckham and former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as his three greatest British sportsmen. "We have had so many legends and to be in the same category as them is amazing," he said. Multiple Olympic and world sprint champion Usain Bolt - who has won gold in the 100m and 200m in Beijing, as well as anchoring Jamaica to the 4x100m relay title - is a friend of Farah and added his praise. "When it comes to Mo I'm never worried," the 29-year-old told BBC Radio 5 live. "When you are used to winning and dominating it comes easy. "He knows what it takes to win and I had no doubt Mo would win."

Summary: Olympic medallist Brendan Foster has described Mo Farah as Britain's "greatest sportsman" after claiming the first distance 'triple-double'.


Georgina Callander was the first victim to be named following the explosion on Monday night. The teenager, who was pictured with Grande in 2015, sent a Twitter message to the star before the event, which read: "SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU TOMORROW". Miss Callander, thought to be 18 and from Chorley, Lancashire, was described as "beautiful" by friends. They said on social media she was one of the first people taken to hospital after the attack. Miss Callander had already met Grande and previously posted a photograph of herself with the 23-year-old singer, taken in 2015, on her Instagram account. She was in the second year of a health and social care course at Runshaw College in Leyland. In a statement, the school said: "Our deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers go out to all of Georgina's family, friends, and all of those affected by this loss. "We are offering all available support possible at this tragic time, including counselling with our dedicated student support team." A fundraising page has been set up to help her family with funeral and memorial costs. Bolton Wanderers Football Club paid tribute to the former Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy pupil, who had played for their under-11 girls' team in 2010. Club chaplain Phil Mason said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with her friends and family during this awful time of loss." He added that there will also be a minute's silence before the first team ladies' friendly against Wigan Athletic on Wednesday evening at Macron Stadium, where the team will wear black armbands.

Summary: A devoted Ariana Grande fan died in the suicide bomb attack at the US singer's concert at Manchester Arena.


Chris Clements' opener was cancelled out by Isaac Vassell before, with the game into five added minutes, referee Mark Haywood pointed to the spot after Danny Collins handled in the box. But after his dramatic return to the side following Dean Henderson's recall to Manchester United, Grimsby's long-serving keeper kept out Danny Hylton's spot-kick to preserve a share of the spoils. After a tight, goalless first half, Luton re-started brightly, with Brandon Comley having to hack clear a low cross from on the line. But just as the visitors were starting to step up a gear, Grimsby broke the deadlock when Ben Davies - after seeing an effort charged down - kept the move alive with a fine, hanging cross to the far post, where Clements powered his header home from close range. However, the Hatters hit back when Pelly Ruddock nipped in at the corner and crossed into the area, where Vassell headed home despite McKeown's best efforts. They looked to have sealed the victory when they were awarded their 95th-minute penalty, but McKeown was to prove Grimsby's saviour. Report supplied by the Press Association Match ends, Grimsby Town 1, Luton Town 1. Second Half ends, Grimsby Town 1, Luton Town 1. Brandon Comley (Grimsby Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. (Grimsby Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Danny Hylton (Luton Town). Penalty conceded by Brandon Comley (Grimsby Town) with a hand ball in the penalty area. Penalty saved! Danny Hylton (Luton Town) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the top centre of the goal. Foul by Ben Davies (Grimsby Town). Jack Senior (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing. Sam Jones (Grimsby Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Jack Marriott (Luton Town). Shaun Pearson (Grimsby Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Danny Hylton (Luton Town). Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Danny Andrew. Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Danny Collins. Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Ben Davies. Substitution, Luton Town. Jack Marriott replaces Isaac Vassell. Attempt saved. Jordan Cook (Luton Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Foul by Sam Jones (Grimsby Town). Alan Sheehan (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Substitution, Grimsby Town. Scott Vernon replaces Callum Dyson. Substitution, Grimsby Town. Akwasi Asante replaces Adi Yussuf. Substitution, Grimsby Town. Sam Jones replaces Chris Clements. Attempt missed. Jordan Cook (Luton Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Foul by Adi Yussuf (Grimsby Town). Scott Cuthbert (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Adi Yussuf (Grimsby Town). Alan Sheehan (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Adi Yussuf (Grimsby Town). Alan Sheehan (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Ben Davies (Grimsby Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Pelly Ruddock (Luton Town). Goal! Grimsby

Summary: James McKeown saved a stoppage-time penalty to earn Grimsby a point against Luton.


Phil Flanagan was ordered to pay nearly £50,000 damages to Tom Elliott following comments he made in a tweet. Mr Flanagan said he was unaware his tweet was libellous. Lawyers for AIG argued that he is ineligible for cover because he knew the comments were defamatory. They also contended that Mr Flanagan is excluded as the social media post had nothing to do with constituency or parliamentary business. But the Sinn Féin representative for Fermanagh and South Tyrone said he was unaware the tweet was libellous - originally believing he was merely posing a question after listening to a "one-sided" radio discussion on Northern Ireland's troubled past. The judge in the libel case said that Mr Flanagan's tweet was grossly defamatory. Following the two-day insurance hearing at the High Court in Belfast, the judge said he pledged to deliver his verdict as soon as possible. A High Court judge has put a stay on any payout until Mr Flanagan resolved his legal action with the insurers.

Summary: Judgement has been reserved in a Sinn Féin MLA's legal battle with an insurance firm over its refusal to to provide cover for a libel award against him.


AM Simon Thomas said it would use Wales' share of proceeds from UK ministers' apprenticeship levy, around £150m a year, to fund the plan. He said it would boost young people's prospects and plug "skill gaps". On Tuesday, Welsh Labour ministers outlined plans to spend an additional £5m on apprenticeships in 2016-2017. Mr Thomas launched the proposals with Plaid leader Leanne Wood at a gas training academy in Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent. Although aimed at young people, Plaid Cymru said it would put no age restrictions on its proposed scheme.

Summary: Plaid Cymru would create 50,000 apprenticeships if it wins power in May's assembly election, the party has announced.


The baby, who is being cared for at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, has been named Charlotte after the police woman who accompanied her to the hospital. Baby Charlotte weighs 2.6kg (5.7lbs) and all routine newborn checks have been carried out. She was discovered by a passer-by in Hailesland Park at 12:55 on Thursday. Lawrence Liddell, 59, from Hailesland Park, told BBC Scotland how he was still in shock after finding baby Charlotte. He said: "My friend and I saw a baby lying on the bench all wrapped up, waiting to be found, it looked like, because her blanket had been folded into a hood and tied with a bow. "It was a total shock and it all feels surreal even now. "We took her to the concierge, which was the nearest warm place, and called the police. "From what I could see the baby was well, she was lovingly wrapped and I just hope the mother is ok. "We looked around for the mum but we could not find her." Call for 'baby boxes' for abandoned newborns NHS Lothian also said tests have been carried out on baby Charlotte to rule out infection including Group B Strep. As a precaution Charlotte is being treated with antibiotics. Maria Wilson, NHS Lothian's chief midwife, said: "Baby Charlotte has had a good night and is doing well. "Our staff are continuing to care for her and we hope the mum and baby can be reunited. "I don't want the mum to feel afraid of contacting us because we treat everything confidentially. "I think the things we would want to check are that she is not bleeding or she's not got any infection or any problems post the birth of her baby that she needs assistance with." Baby Charlotte was thought to be no more than a day old when she was found. Police are now checking CCTV footage from the area where Charlotte was found.

Summary: A newborn baby girl who was found abandoned on a street bench in Edinburgh is "doing well", the hospital has confirmed.


French authorities say the migrants must move to cleaner and safer shipping containers on another part of the site. But many fear this will mean they will have to stay in France, and give up their hopes of travelling to Britain. Overnight, riot police fired tear gas at migrants who were throwing stones at the demolition squads. Here's some advice if anything in the news upsets you. The authorities believe some 1,000 migrants will be affected by the removal plan while aid agencies say the number of people living there is much higher. A lot of migrants and refugees have been leaving their homes in places like Syria, Afghanistan and Africa, where there is fighting, over the last year. Many travel great distances in search of a better life in Europe and some have ended up living in the makeshift camp in Calais hoping to make their way to the UK. Workers in high-visibility jackets could be seen tearing down structures and dumping material in a skip as police stood by on Monday. About 100 huts were taken down. Earlier, Good Chance, a theatre group which works in the camp, said police were preventing protestors from entering the camp. French officials say public areas in the camp, such as places of worship and schools, will not be affected and describe the clearance as a "humanitarian operation". Conditions in the southern sector are filthy but many residents have told the BBC that they do not want to leave.

Summary: Demolition teams have moved in to the port of Calais in France on Tuesday to break down more shelters in the migrant camp known as the "Jungle".


The lender, which recently announced a pre-tax loss of Â£37.3m in 2014, said the new ads would steer clear of the young and vulnerable. But it admitted there would be no watershed for TV adverts, which will run during ad breaks of popular soaps. The payday lender's website has also been overhauled. Applicants applying for short-term loans on the site would see clearer affordability warnings, details of costs if repayments were missed, more prominent links to debt charities, and a new logo, the company said. Wonga's adverts featuring puppets were cut in July last year, with the company saying it did not want to be associated with "anything which inadvertently attracts children". It is returning with new TV and digital adverts, starting on Tuesday, featuring farmers to dental nurses, who it believes are among a broader group of target customers. The average customer for a Wonga loan at present is male and aged between 20 and 35. "It is clear that the puppets were inappropriate," said Tara Kneafsey, UK chief executive of Wonga. Wonga has had to apologise and compensate customers for the use of letters from fake legal firms, as well as write off unsuitable loans. Ms Kneafsey said the new adverts did not contain a further apology, as they aimed to show how the company had moved on. The lender estimates there are 13 million people in the UK who are struggling with money and are turned down by mainstream lenders. This also includes people who are new to the credit market, such as those moving into the country. It said adverts would not be shown on children's TV, or channels or programmes with a large audience among younger people. Billboards within 50m of a school or college would also not be used for poster adverts. Wonga also sponsors Newcastle United football club, but has agreed to remove its logo from all children's replica shirts from the 2016-17 season. The company, along with other payday lenders, now faces new rules from the regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which ruled that customers must face stricter affordability checks. The regulator's main weapon is a cap on the cost of payday loans of 0.8% of the amount borrowed per day, which came into force in January. As a result, Wonga's payday loan APR has dropped from 5,853% to 1,509%. This has already cut the size of the payday lending industry in the UK. Wonga is among those that has seen a big drop in customers and expects to continue making a loss in 2015. It said it had now introduced a series of safety net measures for customers, including a three-day grace period for late repayments before a default fee was charged, a money-back guarantee for customers who change their minds on loan applications within 24 hours, and a worst-case scenario box on the cost of a loan. It admitted it had "lost its way" under the previous management regime and had considered dropping the Wonga brand. While the Wonga name will be retained for the payday loan, other longer-term, larger loans

Summary: Short-term lender Wonga has swapped its controversial puppets for "hard-working dinner ladies and mums" as it bids to reinvent itself with new adverts.


Orient owed money to four creditors on the petition, having resolved unpaid taxes with HM Revenue & Customs. Owner Francesco Becchetti was given until Monday to pay off debts or sell the relegated League Two club following a previous High Court hearing in March. Those creditors on the petition have been paid, although it is understood other creditors remain. There is no indication as to how many other creditors there are, but they did not support the winding-up petition. Outside the High Court on Monday, Orient fans could be heard protesting against Becchetti, who took over the club from Barry Hearn shortly after they lost the League One play-off final to Rotherham United at Wembley in 2014. Following the dismissal of the petition, Matt Roper from the Leyton Orient Fans' Trust (LOFT) urged Italian Becchetti to sell the club "urgently to any new responsible owner". He told BBC Sport: "We're using a word survive [after the petition was dismissed] but it's almost a word you can't use. Our survival is almost week-to-week at the moment. "Our future is being played out in the High Court, we have a very thin squad, there's no guarantees we can actually put a team out next year. So survival, yes, but in the very thinnest sense of the word." Omer Riza, the club's 11th manager under Becchetti, is only contracted until 30 June and the club have lost most of last season's squad, leaving uncertainty surrounding the club on the pitch as well. Adam Michaelson, legal advisor to LOFT, said: "We're not in a position to say what is going on. The communication we've had is absolutely zero. "All we know is what we can see, which is nine junior professionals, no seniors, no access to a training ground, no shirts, no training tops, and they're due back in pre-season in the first week of July." Orient were relegated to non-league this season, their second relegation in the three years under Becchetti, ending their 112-year stay in the Football League. After the club's staff were not paid in March, Hearn resigned from his position as honorary president and the English Football League said it was "exceptionally concerned" by the club's situation. At the previous court hearing that month, chief executive Alessandro Angelieri gave the court a statement saying Becchetti, who in January said he would be willing to consider selling the club, would invest £1m to pay off remaining debts in eight to 10 weeks. Orient announced in April that they had paid all salaries and cleared their debts with HRMC.

Summary: A winding-up petition against Leyton Orient has been dismissed at a High Court hearing in London.


The Republic of Ireland striker, frozen out by Ronny Deila in Glasgow following off-field misdemeanors, has scored two goals in two appearances already for the side chasing Rangers for the one automatic promotion place from the Scottish Championship. Michael O'Halloran, Rangers' deadline-day acquisition from St Johnstone, will have to go some to match the influence Stokes can have on the Edinburgh side. However, Billy King, the winger on loan from Hearts, made his mark with a debut goal for the Ibrox side. Third-top Falkirk opened their cheque book to emphasise their desire to clinch a play-off place at the very least. They took skilful forward Myles Hippolyte from Championship rivals Livingston and Nathan Austin from East Fife, although the latter is one for future campaigns after being immediately loaned back to the League Two club. Livingston themselves used some of the money from the Hippolyte deal to buy midfielder Josh Mullin from Albion Rovers, manager David Hopkin having already added some notable names with top-flight experience - including Mark Fotheringham, Charlie Telfer and Sam Stanton - in their bid to avoid the drop. New St Mirren manager Alex Rae is also banking on experience as the Paisley side look to move away from the bottom and has recruited four players who have played in the top flight. One-time Aberdeen striker Declan McManus looks like he will be a quality addition on his return to Greenock Morton on loan from Fleetwood Town. Meanwhile, Raith Rovers are looking to harness the youthful talents of Aidan Connolly, the midfielder released by Dundee United, and forward Harry Panayiotou on loan from Leicester City. Dumbarton will provide a platform for intriguing winger Kler Heh, a 19-year-old who was brought up in a refugee camp in Thailand. In: Liam Caddis, midfielder (St Johnstone); Scott Gallagher, goalkeeper (Hearts); Mitch Megginson, forward (Raith Rovers); Ryan Finnie, defender (Annan Athletic). Loan: Scott McKenna, defender (Aberdeen). Out: Michael Doyle, defender (St Johnstone); Andy McNeil, goalkeeper (Greenock Morton). Loan: Mark Williams, defender (Arbroath). In: Christian Nade, forward (Hamilton Academical). Loan: Tom Walsh, midfielder (Rangers); Kler Heh, midfielder (Sheffield United). Out: Willie Gibson, midfielder (Stranraer); Steven Craig, forward (Forfar Athletic); Gordon Smith, forward. Loan ended: Scott Brown, midfielder (St Johnstone). Loan: Ryan Clark, midfielder (Arthurlie). In: Myles Hippolyte, forward (Livingston, undisclosed); Nathan Austin, forward (East Fife, undisclosed); Deniz Dogan Mehmet, goalkeeper (Kayserispor); Kevin McCann, defender (Warriors). Loan: Conor McGrandles, midfielder (Norwich City). Out: Ryan Blair, midfielder (Swansea City, undisclosed); Kieran Duffie, defender; Alex Cooper, midfielder (St Mirren); Thomas Grant, midfielder. Loan ended: Ryan Sinnamon, defender (Rangers). Loan: Nathan Austin, forward (East Fife); Graham Bowman, goalkeeper (Stenhousemuir); Scott Shepherd, forward (Brechin City); Alex Tokarczyk, goalkeeper (Montrose). In: Andy McNeil, goalkeeper (Alloa Athletic).Loan: Declan McManus, forward (Fleetwood Town) Out: Grant Adam, goalkeeper (Cowdenbeath). Loan: Thomas Orr, forward (East Stirlingshire); Dylan Stevenson, midfielder (Berwick Rangers). In: Kevin Thomson, midfielder (Dundee); Otso Virtanen, goalkeeper (Mariehamn); Chris Dagnall, forward (Karela Blasters); Josh Peters, forward (Strathspey Thistle). Loan: Anthony Stokes, forward (Celtic); Niklas Gunnarsson, defender (Valerenga). Out: Dominique Malonga, forward (Pro Vercelli 1892, undisclosed); Adam Eckersley, defender; Antonio Reguero, goalkeeper.

Summary: Rangers and Falkirk splashed the cash, but it was promotion rivals Hibernian who stole the headlines during January with the capture of Anthony Stokes on loan from Celtic.


A 70-year-old man infected with the mosquito-borne virus died in February, Puerto Rico's health secretary said. The US territory has recorded more than 600 Zika cases, with 73 of those involving pregnant women. Zika has been linked to severe birth defects, especially in Latin America, such as babies being born with under-developed brains. Health secretary Ana Rius said all 14 pregnant women infected with Zika who have given birth have healthy babies. Seventeen people on the island have been in hospital, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said. Five are thought to have developed a temporary paralysis condition known as Guillain-Barre because of Zika, although that link is unproven. Zika outbreak: What you need to know Would it be wrong to eradicate mosquitoes? "The patient died of complications related to severe thrombocytopenia," the CDC said. "Although Zika virus-associated deaths are rare, the first identified death in Puerto Rico highlights the possibility of severe cases, as well as the need for continued outreach to raise health care providers' awareness of complications that might lead to severe disease or death."

Summary: The first known death in the US to the Zika virus has been recorded in Puerto Rico, say health officials.