Ms Dati gave a furious television interview denying any wrongdoing. According to France's Le Point, the purchases included Hermes scarves. The claims date to 2007-2010, during which time she was was justice minister under ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy. Ms Dati, now an MEP for Mr Sarkozy's UMP party and mayor of Paris's 7th arrondissement, said it was normal practice to buy presents for foreign delegates. A letter from the Cour des Comptes, which audits state accounts, lists €9,850 of unsuccessful claims - including hundreds of euros for pastries, as well as almost €1,500 on luxury gifts and more than €1,600 on clothes and accessories. Another €180,000 spent on communications strategy was also rejected. Ms Dati said the auditors had ruled against the justice ministry administration and not against her. The auditors rejected the claims due to a lack of supporting documents and justification. "The ministry of justice has never financed my personal costs or bought me any item of clothing," Ms Dati told AFP earlier this week. "The state auditor has never accused me of anything, either personally or professionally." Speaking to the French TV channel iTele on Thursday, she attacked media coverage of the auditors' decision and said there was a political plot against her. She said she had suffered racist attacks - being dismissed as an "Arab" - as well as sexism within her party, and that she had complained to Mr Sarkozy. Ms Dati was the first Muslim woman to serve as a government minister in France. She has long complained of sexism and elitism in French politics. She resigned as justice minister in 2009 amid criticism of her management style and gossip about her clothes and love life. Correspondents say the UMP is keen to move on from a series of financial scandals, including an ongoing investigation into party funding, ahead of Mr Sarkozy's expected bid for the presidency in 2017.

Summary: France's former Justice Minister Rachida Dati has hit out at "political plotters" in her own UMP party after it emerged auditors had rejected expenses claims of nearly €190,000 (£137,000) for items including luxury clothing.


Now it is being talked about a lot again, because there is a battle taking place over a city called Mosul. Mosul is currently under the control of a group that calls itself Islamic State (IS), but Iraqi soldiers want to take it back off them. IS have extreme religious beliefs and use brutal violence against anyone who doesn't agree with their views. They're trying to take control of areas of the Middle East, forcing people to live by very strict rules. An army of around 50,000 troops is involved in the operation to take Mosul from the IS soldiers in the city. The people battling against IS are made up of many different groups who all want to remove them from power. However, even though they are fighting together, some of the people in this group have different beliefs and disagree about how Iraq should be ruled. But they have joined together to fight IS. Some countries around the world are also helping them. The US government has said there could be as many as 5,000 IS soldiers in Mosul. It is likely to take a long time for Iraq to win the city back from IS. But why is this fight significant? And where did all this conflict in Iraq come from? Newsround explains where this situation started, who is involved, and what it means for the people who live in the country. The problems in Iraq have gone on for a long time. Back in 2003, British and US troops went to war in Iraq to remove the leader of the country, Saddam Hussein, from power. Leaders of these countries said at the time that this needed to happen because he was a dangerous man who treated the people in his country very badly. They also said they believed he was hiding extremely dangerous weapons. Saddam Hussein was captured in 2003 and killed three years later. The decision to go to war in Iraq was a controversial one. None of the dangerous weapons that the US and UK leaders said they believed Saddam Hussein had were ever found. This led to an investigation, which you can read about here. Removing Iraq's leader from power was supposed to be quite a simple mission, but it turned into a long war that lasted eight years. This was because after Saddam Hussein was no longer in charge, there were many people fighting for power in the country. In 2009, British forces stopped fighting there and the US followed by the end of 2011. More than 4,500 US troops died in the Iraq war and 179 UK soldiers lost their lives. Everybody hoped that Iraq would be able to recover on its own after the conflict. However, this didn't happen. Most people in Iraq are Muslim, but they belong to different types of the religion. Some are Shia Muslims and some are Sunni Muslims. These two groups disagree about how the country should be run. The government in Iraq is Shia, while IS soldiers claim to be Sunni Muslims - although other Sunni

Summary: Iraq is a country in the Middle East that has been in the news for many years because of fighting there.


Bentaleb played only 13 times for Spurs last season because of injuries. The 21-year-old midfielder has not trained with the Tottenham first-team since July after being told he was not in manager Mauricio Pochettino's plans. "He is 100% fit but we must give him time to integrate into the team," Schalke director Christian Heidel said. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Algeria international Nabil Bentaleb has joined German side Schalke 04 on a season-long loan from English Premier League side Tottenham.


The officer, 52, was seriously injured when a booby-trap device exploded under his van on Friday, 4 March. Christopher Alphonsos Robinson, of Aspen Park in Dunmurry, County Antrim, appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court. The 45-year-old was also charged with possessing an improvised explosive device with intent to endanger life. There was an increased police presence in court for the hearing. A detective constable said he could connect Mr Robinson to the charges. When asked by the clerk if he understood the charges, Mr Robinson did not reply, but let out a loud sigh. A defence solicitor told the court that Mr Robinson was not applying for bail, but said during 16 police interviews, "no evidence was actually put" to the defendant to link him to the attack. Mr Robinson was remanded in custody to appear again on 1 April via video-link. A dissident republican group known as the New IRA has said it carried out the attack.

Summary: A man has appeared in court charged with the attempted murder of a prison officer in a bomb attack in Belfast last week.


King Bhumibol Adulyadej has had a lengthy spell in hospital in Bangkok and has not been seen in public for months. The king is widely revered and seen as an arbiter in the country's divided political arena. Thailand is preparing to celebrate 70 years of his reign on Thursday. The monarch was treated for narrowing of the arteries with "satisfactory results", the palace said in a statement. Doctors performed a procedure known as balloon surgery to widen the arteries on Tuesday after tests had shown insufficient blood in the heart muscles, the statement said. In the past month, the king has also been treated for a build up of fluid surrounding the brain and a swollen lung. An X-ray on Saturday showed less fluid around the brain, the statement said. The monarch's health is closely watched in Thailand as he is seen as a unifying symbol and pillar of stability in a society that has suffered increased political divisions and violence.

Summary: Thailand's 88-year-old king, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has undergone heart surgery, the Thai Royal Household Bureau said.


Travellers to Paris and Brussels were deterred after major terror attacks in November 2015 and March 2016 and numbers fell by 4% to 10 million. Eurostar, whose main shareholder is the French national rail operator, SNCF, made a profit of 31m euros in 2015. It said 2016 had been "a difficult year". Revenues were down 3% at Â£794m. But the company said there had been a pick-up in business at the end of last year which had continued into 2017. Last year, Eurostar said it would cut some of its services from December as it introduced longer trains. The new e320 trains introduced earlier in 2016 have around 20% more seats than the previous model, and are used for most services between London and Paris.

Summary: The channel tunnel train service Eurostar said it made an operating loss of 28m euros (Â£25m, $30m) in 2016 following a drop in passenger numbers.


More than 10,000 pupils were absent from high schools for more than 25 days in 2015-16, the equivalent of five weeks off. Meanwhile nearly 15,000 of students in Wales had no days off at all last year - the highest recorded. Overall absence levels in secondary schools were down to their lowest level since 2006-07. But the number of secondary and middle school pupils going on unauthorised holidays during term-time has increased. In Wales families are allowed up to 10 days of term-time holiday at the head's discretion. Last year 3.6% of all absences were because of holidays that had not been agreed by schools - an increase from 3.0% in 2014-15. Education secretary Kirsty Williams said the falling absence rates were a "testament to the dedication" of teachers, parents and councils. She said: "I am really pleased to see levels of overall absenteeism in secondary schools continue to fall and now stand at their lowest level for 10 years. "This is testament to the commitment and dedication of parents, teachers, and local authorities across Wales who are helping our young people understand that if they are going to fulfil their potential, regular school attendance is vital." Sickness remains the main reason 11 to 16-year-olds take time off school, accounting for 60.7% of all absences. Meanwhile the proportion of absence due to family holidays agreed by the school fell from 5.9% in 2011-12 to 1.8% in 2015-16. Earlier this year then education minister Huw Lewis wrote to councils to say it was wrong to tell head teachers to ban all term-time leave. His intervention followed a petition by parents last year against fines for taking holidays in term-time. South East Wales had the highest number of 11-16-year-olds missing school classes last year, while North Wales had the lowest. Newport recorded the highest absence rate with children missing 6.8% half school days, while Gwynedd and the Vale of Glamorgan had the lowest rate at 5.0%. Flintshire had the lowest rate of unauthorised absence at 0.4%, with Newport recording the highest at 2.1%. The Wales-wide unauthorised absence rate has remained static at 1.3% for the last few years. Figures show Wrexham, Flintshire, Powys, Pembrokeshire, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil and Monmouthshire all saw slight increases in the unauthorised absences last year, The figures also show pupils eligible for free school meals were more likely to miss classes, while girls were more likely to miss school than boys.

Summary: The number of children missing school in Wales has fallen to an all time low, government statistics have shown.


Barry Imray, 35, of no fixed address, is jointly accused of killing Lee Irving, who was found dead near a footpath in Newcastle last year. James Wheatley, 29, from Studdon Walk, also denies Mr Irving's murder. Mr Wheatley's mother, Julie Mills, 51, and his girlfriend, Nicole Lawrence, 22, are accused of "causing or allowing" Mr Irving's death. All four deny the charges against them. Mr Imray told Newcastle Crown Court he had seen Mr Irving with facial injuries a week before his death. When asked by his defence counsel how he felt on finding the 24-year-old apparently lifeless a week later at the house they shared in Kenton Bar, he said he had been "scared". Jamie Hill QC asked Mr Imray if he had "done anything" to Mr Irving, such as hitting him or kicking him, to which he said no. It is alleged Mr Irving, who had learning difficulties, had been sedated by the defendants, rather than taken for medical treatment. The court heard how he had been found about half a mile from the house with 27 rib fractures and a broken nose and jaw. The trial continues.

Summary: A man accused of murder has told a court he is "easily led".


Tencent confirmed that up to six former employees were under investigation in an ongoing anti-graft probe. China's biggest social network said an "internal investigation" brought to light bribery allegations. Several executives have been implicated in China's corruption crackdown. The government has been on a drive to reform the economy, the world's second largest, by clamping down on corruption in major institutions and businesses for the past two years. Tencent has not identified the former employees, but said that "the police have been notified" and they were awaiting further information. Alibaba confirmed to the Reuters news agency that Mr Lui was detained but the case was "related to his time at Tencent and has nothing to do with Alibaba". Mr Liu left Tencent for competitor Alibaba in 2013 to become the president of its digital entertainment unit. Tencent is behind China's popular messaging app, WeChat. It also owns China's largest music streaming service by subscribers and its online gaming business has been compared to that of Nintendo's and Sony's gaming units. Alibaba also has a large stake in Weibo, a social media site similar to Twitter as well as Chinese online video providers similar to YouTube. China's anti-corruption crackdown has targeted both government officials as well as company executives with many being taken into custody. Among recent high-profile cases in the past year were China's ex-security chief Zhou Yongkang and the former China head of pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline Mark Reilly.

Summary: Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has said its senior executive Patrick Liu is in police custody over corruption allegations related to his previous job with internet company Tencent.


The leaders, who have won 26 of their 27 top-flight games, are 27 points clear of second-placed Aberdeen and require seven points to win the title. Responding to criticism of Scottish football, Rodgers said: "It's ignorance really. "The footballing world is more than the (English) Premier League." Celtic's 4-0 victory at Inverness CT in midweek left them three games away from a sixth consecutive league title. "With all due respect, it's a lack of knowledge of football," Rodgers said of criticism of Scotland's top flight. "We all love to see the Premier League and I was part of it but football is global and Celtic is one of the biggest clubs in the world. "But if your eyes are only on one league then of course you tend to ignore what's around that. "It (Scottish Premiership) is not as prestigious as some of the other leagues and that's purely on the basis of finance. Financially, Scottish football doesn't have the same rewards or the same propaganda that surrounds some of the other leagues, but it's still a very very competitive league." Media playback is not supported on this device Celtic midfielder Nir Bitton echoed his manager's view and said the Premiership was a "competitive league". "For us it is not as easy as it looks on the table. It's a very competitive league," said the Israel international. Bitton, who featured in the win in the Highlands, believes critics of the Scottish Premiership are wide of the mark. "I think every game is difficult and the other team are going to defend and try to get something out of the game," he said. "A lot of people look at the table and think Celtic are far better team [than others] in the Scottish league and they have no competition. It's far from being true. "I think you can see that players who have played in the Premier League like Joey Barton or Niko Kranjcar that came to Scotland and thought it was going to be easy. "But no, it's not easy. It's a very competitive league, it's a very difficult league, it's very tough. Some places you go to play like Inverness on Wednesday night, believe me it's not easy."

Summary: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has defended the standard of Scottish football as his unbeaten side close in on the Premiership title.


Labour's Clive Lewis, who is standing in Norwich South, made the comment in an interview with the New Statesman. He had been asked if he was taking victory in the marginal seat for granted. He said he was "sincerely sorry" if anyone had been offended by the comment. Mr Lewis, who worked for BBC Look East as a reporter, had told the magazine: "I mean, in the multiverse there's still three universes in a hundred where there's a Green MP in Norwich, so anything could happen. "I could be caught with my pants down behind a goat with Ed Miliband at the other end - well, hopefully that won't happen." In 2010, Labour's Charles Clarke lost the seat to the Liberal Democrats' Simon Wright who had a majority of 310 votes. Regarding his New Statesman interview, Mr Lewis said: "On occasion we all have the ability to get carried away with language and colourful metaphors. "If anyone was genuinely offended then I'm sincerely sorry for that." Mr Lewis is standing against independent Cengiz Ceker, UKIP's Stephen Emmens, Lesley Grahame from the Green Party, David Peel of Class War, Conservative Lisa Townsend and Liberal Democrat Simon Wright.

Summary: An election candidate has apologised for joking that he "could be caught with my pants down behind a goat with Ed Miliband at the other end".


The collision took place on Repington Road, near its junction with Bagot Grove, in the Sneyd Green area of the city at about 17:00 BST on 14 April. The boy, who was from the area, died in Birmingham Children's Hospital on Tuesday. Staffordshire Police confirmed it was investigating the incident and appealed for any witnesses to come forward. More on this and other stories from Stoke and Staffordshire

Summary: A seven-year-old boy has died in hospital five days after he was hit by a car in Stoke-on-Trent.


A letter has been signed by more than 150 groups before a European Parliament vote on ways to limit their sale. Many tech gadgets such as smartphones use conflict materials, so-called because they are mined in warlike conditions and traded by armed groups. The letter says the law must cover more manufacturers and types of materials, and make firms police supply chains. European politicians will vote on proposals drawn up by the European Commission on 19 May. Signed by Amnesty International. Friends of the Earth, Global Witness, Christian Aid, the Ethical Consumer Research Association and many others, the open letter says the trade in conflict minerals fuels wars and human rights abuses around the world. It says the vote this week is a "landmark opportunity" for Europe to take action to stem the trade and curtail the conflict it engenders. However, it says the current proposals are "weak" and do not go far enough. The big problem with the scheme proposed by Brussels is that it applies on a voluntary basis to most companies, the groups argue. As a result, they say, few firms would be motivated to clean up their supply chains and report on their actions. In addition, the letter says, the scheme only covers four minerals - tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold - in their raw form, and does nothing to address products entering Europe which have been made using conflict minerals. Many smartphones, tablets and other devices made in China are manufactured using these substances. The letter says the scheme does not cover minerals and materials such as diamonds, jade and chromite, which are also known to be sources of conflict. It urges MEPs to reject the plans in favour of a stronger scheme involving a mandatory system to ensure firms vet their supply chain. "Those bearing the cost of our weak efforts to regulate this trade will be some of the poorest and most vulnerable citizens of the world," said the letter. "Now is the time for change." Romanian MEP Iuliu Winkler - the European Parliament's lead negotiator on the plans - has previously said he "largely supported" the plans, adding that the priority should be ensuring that the right incentives are in place to encourage participation. However, Green and left-wing MEPs have criticised the opt-in nature of the scheme.

Summary: Europe's proposed laws on "conflict minerals" will fail to slow trade in the raw materials, claim rights groups.


Investigations by The Daily Telegraph newspaper have revealed several cases of alleged fraud in football. Coleman says he has never taken or been offered a 'bung' and believes the sport's governing bodies should operate a zero tolerance policy on corruption. "If anyone is caught then they should be removed from the game permanently and that's it, good night," he said. He continued: "It's sad, but I have zero respect for anyone caught. "If you earn £50,000 a year, that's a good salary to the man in the street. If you're earning £50,000 a week then why are you after more? It's just greed. "Unfortunately we are all tarnished with the same brush. We are all involved in an industry where there is corruption from the very top. "But what are we going to do about it if someone is caught? Will it just be a rap of the knuckles or will they be banished? "If there is evidence against someone and they are found guilty then get rid of them from the game and they should never be allowed back." Barnsley suspended assistant manager Tommy Wright after he was named in a Daily Telegraph investigation in which he was filmed apparently being given an envelope of money in return for allegedly helping Barnsley to sign players from a fake Far East Firm. Sam Allardyce lasted only 67 days as England manager before leaving in disgrace after the same newspaper said he advised undercover reporters posing as businessmen how to "get around" transfer rules. Coleman says he has sympathy for Allardyce. "I'm really disappointed for Sam. I was with him last week at a coaches' conference in Paris and I know he will be absolutely devastated," Coleman added. "I've known Sam for a long time and I know how much he wanted the job and how proud he was to get it. So I'm gutted for him that he has lost it through events off the pitch rather than on it. "He has made a mistake and admitted that. It's a shame that someone of his experience let their guard down for five minutes and lost their job over it." However, Coleman made clear he has no desires to succeed Allardyce, answering unequivocally when asked if he would be interested in the position. "My answer would a big fat no," he said.

Summary: Wales manager Chris Coleman says anyone found guilty of corruption in football should be banned for life.


The 56-year-old met chairman Steve Parish on Thursday as tension between the pair came to a head. The former Stoke boss, who won the Premier League's manager of the year award last season, had been frustrated by the failure to land a number of summer transfer targets. Media playback is not supported on this device Assistant manager Keith Millen will be in charge against Arsenal on Saturday. On Friday, Palace issued a statement, saying: "The club would like to thank Tony for his efforts with the club last season and wish him all the best for the future." Bookmakers' odds had tumbled on Thursday as speculation over the Welshman's job intensified. Media playback is not supported on this device Malky Mackay and David Moyes were suggested as potential candidates to replace Pulis by former Palace defender Matt Lawrence, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live. The remainder of Pulis's coaching staff - including Gerry Francis and Dave Kemp - have been asked by Parish to stay on for the trip to Arsenal before leaving the club. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said: "He has done a remarkable job last season, made a miracle. I was at a managers' meeting on Monday, he was there and nothing indicated he wouldn't be here tomorrow." Pulis wanted to assume greater control of all football matters at Selhurst Park, especially transfers, after missing out on a number of key targets. He and Parish also disagreed about their vision for the club. Parish and sporting director Iain Moody are in charge of delivering the potential signings earmarked by Pulis. Moody arrived in November from Cardiff City, where he had held a similar role before being dismissed by the owner Vincent Tan. Media playback is not supported on this device Palace signed Liverpool full-back Martin Kelly on Thursday, while striker Fraizer Campbell arrived from Cardiff for £900,000 and former Fulham centre-back Brede Hangeland have joined on a free. Just hours before Pulis left, Kelly told the club's official website: "I'm looking forward to playing under Tony and playing regular football again." Hangeland also picked out Pulis as one of his reasons for moving to Selhurst Park, saying: "All the things I've heard about this club - the manager, players, staff - it's all been good." Pulis left Stoke last year after seven years at the Britannia Stadium, having guided the Potteries outfit to the Premier League and kept them there, extending his record of never being relegated. Palace were bottom of the table when he was named as Ian Holloway's replacement in November 2013. Pulis managed to halt the decline, and a run of five successive victories from 29 March, starting with a 1-0 win over Chelsea, steered the Eagles to safety. They famously came back from three goals down in the final 11 minutes against Liverpool to all but deny the Reds the title at the end of last season. Their eventual 11th-placed finish was the club's highest since 1992. Former Palace chairman Simon Jordan told Talksport that managers "have to do as they're told". "Football managers are incredibly

Summary: Manager Tony Pulis has left Crystal Palace by mutual consent less than 48 hours before the start of the season.


The £5m signing from Lorient sustained the grade-three tear on international duty with Gabon. Bluebirds boss Russell Slade is seeking clarification on how last season's player of the year suffered the blow during training between games. "It is very difficult with Gabon to request what they have done and find out what they have done," said Slade. "Training regimes are different. We could help them if we could get information on how they prepare and how they train as well. "It's very important and we don't seem to get any dialogue from them. "Obviously the medical department and myself would like to know because it s out of our control what they are doing in the meantime." Cardiff hope Ecuele Manga's fellow centre-back Ben Turner will be able to return from ankle surgery in an under-21 game on 13 November. Meanwhile, Bluebirds captain and goalkeeper David Marshall is expected to return for Saturday's Championship clash at Preston after serving a two-match ban after a red card at Rotherham. Simon Moore has been deputising. "When you break it down, Preston seem to be finding life a little bit tougher at home. Hopefully that continues for at least one more week," said Slade. "Simon [Grayson] is a good manager, who has had several promotions to the Championship with various teams, so he knows his way around. "He will set his team up to be very difficult. It has not quite happened for them at home yet but I am sure they will be more than capable of climbing the table in the coming weeks."

Summary: Cardiff City defender Bruno Ecuele Manga faces at least two months out with a groin injury.


Media playback is not supported on this device Rodney Brown nodded in from a Brad Lyons cross to put the Bannsiders ahead but the Blues hit back with Aaron Burns heading home the equaliser. Matthew Clarke's side-foot finish moved Linfield in front before Coleraine defender David Ogilby was sent-off for two yellows on 67 minutes. Jamie Mulgrew poked in Linfield's third as they maintained their 100% record. Coleraine made the early running and were rewarded on 23 minutes when Brown scored against his former club with a downward header into the bottom corner. Blues forward Guy Bates had almost sent a clearance into his own net and headed wide of the Coleraine goal before he set up Linfield's two first-half goals. His dinked cross picked out the unmarked Burns as the midfielder netted his fifth goal of the campaign while Clarke rifled home from a tight angle at the back post. Lyons saw his goalbound shot deflected over by Sean Ward before Clarke's goal while Brown went close twice before the break. A dull second half came to life when Ogilby was controversially dismissed after the defender appeared to make minimal contact with Andrew Waterworth. Linfield capitalised with the extra man two minutes later - substitute Mulgrew jinked into the box before prodding the ball beyond keeper Michael Doherty. "We knew it was going to difficult and this was about the result, not the performance," said Linfield boss Warren Feeney. "We started slowly but showed tremendous character to come from behind to win."

Summary: Linfield remain top of the Irish Premiership after overcoming 10-man Coleraine at the Showgrounds.


Labour's Barry Sheerman said the change "shrinks childhood" by making people adults at 16. He spoke as MPs debated extending the franchise during the EU referendum, a move they then rejected in a vote. Shadow Europe minister Pat McFadden said he respected Mr Sheerman but could see no link between extending voting rights and sexual abuse. Huddersfield MP Mr Sheerman said: "Up and down this country we've had vulnerability to sexual predators and ghastly things happening right through to 18 and this move to have adults at 16 will make a lot of young men and women more vulnerable to sexual predation than that happens at the moment." After Mr McFadden rejected this argument, Mr Sheerman added "what those of us - the small minority of us on these benches I have to say - worry about is" that if people are treated as an adult at 16 "that shrinks childhood". Labour and the SNP support allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in UK elections, but the government is against the policy. Setting out his party's position, Mr McFadden said that aside from the wider debate about the voting age, there was a "very strong reason" to lower it for the EU referendum because young people's future was "directly at stake". If the UK votes to leave the EU, their ability to live and study in Europe would be affected, he said. But Conservative Cabinet Office Minister John Penrose said this was not the time to consider such a change, saying the issue should be "soberly and properly debated" on another occasion. The change was rejected in a Commons vote by 310 to 265. The bill, which will put into law the in/out referendum promised by 2017, is currently making its way through Parliament. Also during the committee stage debate, an SNP motion to allow EU nationals resident in the UK to vote in the referendum was rejected by 514 votes to 71.

Summary: Allowing 16-year-olds to vote will make them more vulnerable to sexual abuse, an MP has said.


It said the "irresponsible" advert for meal delivery service Diet Chef implied happiness and self-confidence could only be achieved through weight loss. The advert featured a woman, Cheryl, before and after using the service. Diet Chef said the advert showed her sense of achievement after taking control of her lifestyle. It said the actor who played both versions of Cheryl had a Body Mass Index of 27.4 when she played the earlier version, which was in the overweight category. In the advert, the later Cheryl tells her former self: "I know how you feel; you can look that good again, you know," and "I bought a bikini last week, for the first time since this picture." The former Cheryl says: "You look amazing. I never dreamed I could be that slim again." The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received complaints from 26 viewers objecting that the advert was irresponsible for exploiting women's body insecurities by implying that they needed to be slim to be happy. Complainants also said it implied that overweight women did not take care of themselves or how they looked. The former Cheryl was shown wearing a baggy shirt and had messy hair, while the current, happier Cheryl had a more polished appearance. Diet Chef said the ad showed the frustration of the former Cheryl, who did not feel able to make a change in her lifestyle or to maintain a controlled diet and so was surprised that she had done so, and the sense of achievement of the later Cheryl. It also said the advert's approach was typical of the "before and after" genre commonly used to advertise weight loss products. The ASA said the advert did not give the impression that former Cheryl had neglected her personal appearance and said viewers would be unlikely to find this part of the advert offensive. But it said the character's unhappy demeanour while talking about wearing a bikini appeared disproportionate to concerns about her weight, especially as she did not appear to be particularly overweight. The ASA said the advert "implied that weight loss was the only solution to her problems". It went on: "It therefore implied that those with insecurities about their bodies, and particularly their weight, could only achieve happiness and self-confidence through weight loss. "We therefore concluded that the ad presented a socially irresponsible approach to body image and breached the code." It ruled that the advert must not appear again in its current form and told Diet Chef "to ensure that their products were advertised in a socially responsible way".

Summary: A television advert in which a tearful woman meets a slimmer and happier version of herself has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority.


It was the 1990s and Mr Rouhani was a post-graduate student at Glasgow Caledonian University. He once joked that he should divorce his wife so he'd stand a better chance of getting university accommodation as a single person, rather than requiring family rooms. At that time, he was also the deputy speaker of the Iranian parliament. But those who knew him say he readily accepted the more lowly status of a student. "He was on first (name) terms with fellow students," says Prof Hassan Amin, who has now retired from his post teaching law at Glasgow Caledonian University. "Many times he ate in the students' canteen and sometimes I would take him to the staff restaurant," he says. "People would come and sit down and I would introduce himâ€¦ and he would happily engage in a conversation with them." The thesis Mr Rouhani wrote for his PhD is called "The flexibility of Shariah (Islamic Law) with reference to the Iranian experience." He did the research in Iran while continuing his political duties in Tehran. But he commuted regularly to Glasgow to meet his academic supervisors and discuss the progress he was making. Dr Mahdi Zahraa, who was one of Mr Rouhani's supervisors, remembers him as "a quiet-spoken, very gentle man", with whom he enjoyed "intelligent and challenging" conversations. His spoken English was good. "We had very different views on some matters, on others we found that we held similar opinions," he said. "From our discussions, I ascertained that he had a modern and reformist approach to Shariah law." His thesis can still be brought out and read at the university library. "There has been quite a bit of press interest (in the thesis), interest from the public in general and quite a bit of interest from the Iranian community," says the library director, Robert Ruthven. "The thesis seems to show he has quite a flexible and perhaps modernising outlook." In the first line of the abstract, Dr Rouhani writes: "This thesis verifies that no laws in Islam are immutable." And he goes on to state: "The primary source of the Islamic law (the Quran) is in itself flexible on the basis of the analysis that the Quranic legislation leaves room for flexibility in the evaluation of its injunctions." Experts say this is not something new in recent Iranian thinking, but it does put him in the modernist or pragmatist camp. And while he's not regarded as a reformist, his victory in the election in June has raised expectations amongst the reformist groups which rallied around him that he will bring change to Iran. Since the election, Mr Rouhani has spoken of bringing moderation back to Iranian politics and being more transparent about Iran's nuclear programme, so what he called "cruel" sanctions imposed on Iran by the international community, can be lifted. And it seems his decision to study in Britain back in the 1990s, did to some extent reflect his more liberal outlook. "He chose Great Britain because he has respect for the legal system here, for the judiciary and also for

Summary: The cleric, Hassan Rouhani, who is being sworn-in as President of Iran this weekend, used to stroll the streets of the Scottish city, Glasgow, dressed in a smart business suit, his turban removed.


The 33ft (10m) deep crater appeared eight days ago in Fontmell Close, and nearly 7,000 tonnes of concrete has been pumped into it. Hertfordshire County Council has said tests are under way to see if there are any more cavities. It is unable to say if there has been further movement without looking at the results of that monitoring work. Dozens of residents have been unable to move back into their homes. Some are angry that a smaller hole reported previously had not been filled in. "The neighbour whose house it was outside was concerned and was chasing for some action and not getting an awful lot," said David Walker, who lives on the street. Council spokesman Rob Smith said: "Safety is our priority and we think we are a long way towards achieving that. We need to know what's going on in the surrounding ground. "We've already started doing non-intrusive radar-type surveys of the road to see if there's anything else that might possibly happen."

Summary: Engineers working at the St Albans sinkhole have revealed the ground is still moving and cracks are appearing.


The Walkabout Creek Hotel, in the small town of McKinlay in the state of Queensland, was made a popular tourist attraction by the film. But owner Paul Collins says he is looking for a change after 23 years. In the movie, the Walkabout Creek Hotel is the favourite watering hole for knife-wielding hero Mick "Crocodile" Dundee played by Paul Hogan. The hotel - built in 1900 - was originally known as the Federal Hotel but later changed its name to that used in the film. "I've been running it for 23 years, it's time for a change and a break," Mr Collins told AFP news agency. "It's a different pub, it's in a remote location. It's not everyone's cup of tea," he added. "But there has been some pretty strong interest to date. It's a good pub." The pub is packed with memorabilia and photographs from the hit film. It is a popular stopping-off point for tourists who travel between Brisbane and Darwin.

Summary: The Australian outback pub made famous by the 1980s film Crocodile Dundee is up for sale.


The 23-year-old, who was out of contract, is manager Paul Cox's ninth signing of the summer. Hughes was a target for Cox in January, when he was at Cambridge United, but Barrow were unable to sign him either on loan or permanently. He moved to Scotland in February and played 11 games for Inverness, nine of them in the Scottish Premiership. But he only started five games and leaves Caley Thistle after the exit of manager John Hughes, who has been succeeded by Richie Foran, making the step up from club captain. Hughes scored Cambridge United's opening goal when they beat Gateshead 2-1 to win the Conference play-off final at Wembley in 2014 and was part of the U's side that also won the FA Trophy that year.

Summary: National League club Barrow have signed midfielder Liam Hughes from Scottish outfit Inverness Caledonian Thistle.


Mandy and Pete Garland, from Weston-super-Mare, said their home address, phone numbers and flight dates were shared by Thomson in an email. Thomson apologised for the error. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said it had investigated and was taking no further action. Mr and Mrs Garland were among 458 customers whose booking details were shared on 15 August. The couple booked a two-week trip to the Dominican Republic in January but later received a balance reminder email with a spreadsheet attached which included details of almost 500 customers from "Scotland to Cornwall", Mr Garland said. "My biggest worry was how many people on that list are going to be prepared to show those details? "Anybody with a little bit of brains would be able to look at the list and go 'there's a pretty good chance that house is going to be empty for at least a week'. "So my biggest concern was the security of the house." A Thomson spokesman said the email was "identified very quickly and recalled". The couple said they had received "no apology and no money back". They said rescheduling their holiday "was not an option" as their jobs did not give them that flexibility.

Summary: A couple whose personal details were revealed in a data breach by holiday company Thomson have cancelled their Caribbean trip over fears they could be burgled while away.


Maughold Lighthouse, the closest point on the island to England, is situated about 31 miles (50km) from Cumbria. It was designed and built by David A Stevenson, of the Stevenson engineers, at an estimated cost of £11,000. The ceremony will be held on Sunday and attended by the island's Lieutenant Governor, Adam Wood. A Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) spokesman said: "On 15 April, Maughold lighthouse will have provided a guiding beam of light to the mariner for 100 years. "Battling against the odds, the Stevenson family constructed wonders of engineering that have withstood the test of time - an amazing historical achievement." David Stevenson was a Scottish lighthouse designer who designed over 30 lighthouses in Scotland. The Stevensons also included the writer Robert Louis Stevenson, who was said to have gained inspiration for his books Kidnapped and Treasure Island from family visits to remote lighthouses in the British Isles. The Northern Lighthouse Board was established in 1786 and is responsible for about 200 lighthouses. In 1854 the organisation took responsibility for six Isle of Man lighthouses - Point of Ayre, Maughold Head, Douglas Head, Langness, Calf of Man and Chicken Rock. Maughold was the last lighthouse to have been built on the island. Work began in 1911 and finished in April 1914. It consists of a 23m (77ft) tower, which is situated on a slope of headland at Maughold Head. "The building of the light at Maughold Head was not an easy task," said Lorna Hunter from the NLB. "The tower is positioned half way down a cliff and can only be reached by a flight of 128 steps." The keeper's houses, now privately owned, are situated at the top of the cliff. The coastal residence, which consists of four bedrooms and two bathrooms, was sold in 2012 for about £600,000. The area between the lighthouse and Port-Vullen is a government-protected breeding ground for more than 35 bird species, including puffins and guillemots. The original Frensel lens at Maughold was named after its French inventor, Augustin Fresnel. It is made from a series of perfectly polished crystal glass lenses set into a brass structure. The automated light, now monitored around the clock from a remote centre, is visited and maintained locally on a regular basis. However, once a year, all the lighthouses on the island are visited by the vessel, NLV Pharos, when specialised technicians undertake a full service of the equipment.

Summary: A ceremony has been held in the Isle of Man to mark the centenary of a "wonder of British engineering".


A sobbing Minami Minegishi apologised to her fans and said she did not want to leave the band AKB48, in the video seen by millions on YouTube. The production company behind AKB48 said Minegishi, 20, had failed to abide by its cardinal rule - no dating. But fans have defended her, saying she is entitled to a normal life. Head shaving is a traditional form of showing contrition in Japan. Minegishi's apology came hours after a tabloid newspaper published photographs of her leaving the apartment of her boyfriend, Alan Shirahama, a dancer in a boy band. In the video posted on AKB48's official website, she said she had made the decision to shave off her long hair to show contrition for her "thoughtless and immature" actions. "I don't believe just doing this means I can be forgiven for what I did, but the first thing I thought was that I don't want to quit AKB48," she said. At times sobbing and bowing her head during the nearly four-minute-long video, she also said: "If it is possible, I wish from the bottom of my heart to stay in the band. Everything I did is entirely my fault. I am so sorry." Minegishi was one of the original members of AKB48 when it was launched by producer Yasushi Akimoto in 2005. The band is made up of some 90 girls - whose ages range from mid teens to early 20s - who, in teams, appear daily in their own theatre and regularly on television, in adverts, and in magazines. They portray an image of cuteness known as "kawaii", and have become a huge phenomenon both in Japan and increasingly in other Asian countries, correspondents say. The condition for being part of such a successful act is that the girls must not date boys, so as not to shatter their fans' illusions. AKB48's management office said Minegishi had been demoted to a trainee team as punishment "for causing a nuisance to the fans". But author and critic Hiroki Azuma said it was "disgusting" that the star felt she should resort to a traditional act of contrition when the only rules she had broken were those of her band's. Some fans and commentators say Minegishi went too far with her public apology, and that it was unnecessary. "What's the point of this public execution show? It's like something from the war or a totalitarian state," one fan said on Twitter.

Summary: A Japanese pop star has shaved her head and offered a filmed apology after breaking her management firm's rules by spending a night with her boyfriend.


Until now the product - which suggests "answers before you ask" - had been limited to devices running Google's own Android operating system. Unlike the original version, Google Now only works within the firm's Search app on Apple's iOS platform - potentially limiting its appeal. One analyst suggested the launch indicated that the firm's priority was securing the widest audience possible. "Google is going to put its technologies onto other platforms whenever it can draw people into its services," said Brain Blau, consumer technology research director at the consultants Gartner. "They do want to entice people to buy Android devices, but they know not everybody's going to, and they still want to deliver their services - especially for people who are already using their products on iOS." iOS powered 29% of smartphones sold in Great Britain between December and February, according to fresh data from market research firm Kantar Worldpanel. It said Android accounted for a further 58% of the market. Google Now works by offering "cards" filled with information designed to be useful to a smart device user without them needing to type in a search request. It works by accessing the machine's location data, and analysing the contents of the person's Gmail and Google Calendar records as well as their past Google searches. Examples of the results given include: Those worried about privacy issues can restrict which information is stored and used. The cards are accessed by swiping up the bottom section of the Google Search app's screen, and the user can then scroll through a selection of the various categories generated. The facility could potentially draw users away from using Apple's own personalised search tool, Siri, which relies on users instigating a request. However, the fact that it involves more screen presses to access Google's information could discourage some from using it. "The big difference is that Google Now isn't limited to the search product when used on Android - it's connected to the OS [operating system]," said Mr Blau, referring to the fact that the Android version can be activated by a single button press and be set to bring up high-priority card alerts when the app is not open. "So there's a big user interface difference and they may have different usage patterns and interaction paradigms because of that." A comparison chart posted online by Google also shows that the iOS version of Google Now only offers 21 of the 29 types of cards available on Android. Missing categories include Nearby Events which brings up concerts and other shows; Research Topic which offers web page suggestions based on earlier searches; and Fandango which reminds a user when they need to leave home to arrive at a cinema in time for a pre-booked show and then brings up their electronic ticket when they arrive. Several tech sites, including Cnet and The Next Web, have reported that the search firm might next bring the Google Now service to its Chrome browser and possibly its search webpage based on analysis of changes to the firm's code. More will be revealed

Summary: The Google Now service is being extended to Apple's iPhones and iPads.


Welsh Government statistics showed that 60.2% of Year 11 pupils achieved five A* to C GCSE or equivalent passes including Maths and first language English or Welsh. This compared to 57.9% of pupils achieving this threshold in 2014-15. The Welsh Government said learners continued to improve with attainment again at record levels. Education Secretary Kirsty Williams said government grants for the most deprived pupils had helped narrow the gap in performance between poorer pupils and their peers. But changes to the way the data is measured means comparisons with previous years are more difficult. Independent schools are no longer included in the figures in this latest annual report taken from exam bodies. The attainment gap between pupils who are eligible for school meals - and those who are not - has narrowed for the second year in a row and now stands at 31.2%. Ms Williams said the "commendable set of results" recognised the efforts of pupils, teachers and parents in Wales. She said the pupil deprivation grant - introduced in 2012 and now an extra Â£1,150 for schools for each pupil from a disadvantaged background - was "making a real difference to the lives of these children". Ms Williams added: "We are starting to break the link between poverty and attainment that has dogged our education system. "While this is good news, there is still a lot more that we need to do. That is why I recently announced my intention to double the Early Years Pupil Deprivation Grant, concentrating extra resources on our youngest pupils." Rob Williams, director of policy with the head teachers' union, NAHT Cymru, said it was important to keep focusing on the youngest children. "When school leaders, teachers and support staff are equipped with adequate resources to work proactively with pupils and their families, it is clear what can be achieved," he said. "It is also clear that a consistent policy, left in place for long enough for schools to make it work, reaps rewards."

Summary: Welsh pupils' exam performance continued to improve this year, official data has suggested.


Cumbernauld couple Jim and Ann McQuire and Billy and Lisa Graham from Bankfoot were among 38 people killed by a gunman with links to Islamic State extremists. Deputy First Minister John Swinney was at RAF Brize Norton for the repatriation. The UK government said 30 Britons were killed at the Sousse beach last Friday. Eight bodies were repatriated on Wednesday, with nine to follow on Thursday, including the four Scots. The Tunisian government said it had arrested 12 suspects in connection with the attack by gunman Seifeddine Rezgui, who was killed following the shooting last Friday. A national minute's silence is to be held at 12:00 on Friday, one week on from the incident, and there will be a gathering at Abronhill Church, where Mr McQuire, 67, and his wife, 64, were members. Minister Rev Joyce Keyes said they had been "overwhelmed by expressions of support". She asked for privacy at the event dedicated to the McQuires, who had only booked their holiday a fortnight before the shooting. She said: "We have been overwhelmed by expressions of support from those who loved this exceptional couple, and many more messages from those who simply shared in our grief. "Ann and Jim were a kind and gentle couple who will be sorely missed by our congregation; for their willingness to share their musical talents, for their contributions to the Boys Brigade; and for the fellowship we shared." North Lanarkshire Council has been flying flags at half-mast, and has opened several books of condolence for the victims. Perth and Kinross Council has instituted similar moves in tribute to Billy and Lisa Graham, who were in Tunisia celebrating Mrs Graham's 50th birthday, and a candlelit vigil is to be held in Bankfoot. Mr Graham worked as a turnstile operator at St Johnstone football club in Perth, and the team are to take to the field in their Europa League match wearing black armbands as a mark of respect. Club chairman Steve Brown said the 51-year-old was "a great ambassador for the club", while the couple's MSP John Swinney said there were "no words that can explain the awfulness of this act". The repatriations of all the British victims is likely to take several days. Post-mortem examinations will be carried out before the bodies are released to their families. The UK government has ruled out an inquiry into the attack, but said Scotland Yard would assist the Tunisian investigation.

Summary: The four Scottish victims of the Sousse massacre in Tunisia are among nine bodies returned to the UK on an RAF flight.


John Boreland, a leading member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), a paramilitary group, was shot dead outside his home on Sunday night. Police have called for calm and say they will increase patrols in the area. Tensions among loyalist paramilitaries and criminality are among a number of lines of inquiry, police said. But their early assessment is that this was not a sectarian murder. The 46-year-old father-of-three was shot outside his flat in Sunningdale Gardens as he returned home just before 21:50 BST. "He had just got out of his car when he was shot at close range a number of times," said the detective leading the investigation, Det Ch Insp Justyn Galloway. "His injuries were such that he died at the scene." Police believe a shotgun was used. "John Boreland was known to police," said Mr Galloway. "He had survived a previous attempt on his life in 2014 and had been warned by police about his safety within the past few months." The victim was being mourned by his two sons and his daughter, his fiancÃ©e, his sister and his mother and father, said Mr Galloway. "I have visited the family today and I am sure you will understand that they are completely devastated," he added. He appealed to the public for help in compiling information about the last 24 hours of Mr Boreland's life. He also asked for anyone who witnessed vehicles leaving the scene of the shooting - including a motorbike, a silver Renault Megan car and a black Peugeot 307 car - to contact police. North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds said the murder had "sent shockwaves throughout North Belfast and have cast a dark shadow over the local area". Mr Dodds, who led a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) delegation who met police to discuss the attack, welcomed the announcement that more police will be deployed in the area. "We are committed to ensuring they have every resource necessary at their disposal during the investigation," said the DUP MP. "We reiterate our calls to those who may have any information surrounding the events of last night to bring it forward to the PSNI as a matter of urgency."

Summary: A prominent loyalist who was murdered in north Belfast had been warned by police about his safety within the past few months, officers have confirmed.


North Korea's state news agency said Mr Newman was expelled on "humanitarian grounds" after confessing to "crimes" in the 1950-53 war and "apologising". He had been held since October on charges of "hostile acts" against the North, while visiting as a tourist. Although Mr Newman, 85, did serve during the Korean War, his family says he is the victim of mistaken identity. The US welcomed Pyongyang's decision. "We are pleased that Mr Merrill Newman has been allowed to depart the DPRK (North Korea) and re-join his family. We welcome the DPRK's decision to release him," said state department spokeswoman Marie Harf. "I'm delighted to be home," Mr Newman said in San Francisco. "It's been a great homecoming. I'm tired, but ready to be with my family." He thanked the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang and US embassy in Beijing for helping to secure his release. Mr Newman - a pensioner from Palo Alto, California - had been held in North Korea since being taken off a plane as he prepared to leave the country on 26 October, following a 10-day tourist visit. In a video released by North Korean authorities last week, Mr Newman was shown reading his alleged apology, dated 9 November. It claims he was an "adviser of the Kuwol Unit of the UN Korea 6th Partisan Regiment part of the Intelligence Bureau of the Far East Command" - an apparent reference to one of the special operations units acting against the North. Mr Newman allegedly confessed to trying to contact surviving soldiers during his trip as a tourist. The statement added: "Please forgive me." But Mr Newman's family said there must have been "some dreadful misunderstanding". Another veteran, also named Merrill Newman, was awarded a Silver Star medal for his efforts during the Korean War. The North Korean authorities have previously been accused of coercing confessions from detainees. US Vice-President Joe Biden, while welcoming North Korea's release of Mr Newman as "a positive thing", renewed calls for Pyongyang to free another American, Kenneth Bae, held since November 2012 and sentenced in May to 15 years' hard labour. Pyongyang said Mr Bae - described as both a tour operator and Christian missionary - had used his tourism business to plot sedition.

Summary: US veteran of the Korean War Merrill Newman has arrived in San Francisco after being released by North Korea.


One victim, from Londonderry, told the BBC that blackmailers had demanded Â£10,000 not to reveal an intimate video on Facebook. He described two months of "hell" after being tricked into making the recording by a woman he met online. Det Ch Insp James Mullan praised the man for coming forward to warn others. "We get about two or three reports a week across Northern Ireland of predominantly male people within the community who become victims of this type of incident," he said. "I want to give people the confidence to come forward to the police and report it," he said. "While we find it very difficult to get the people responsible, it's really important that, not just the police service, but other agencies are there to support these people." Most of the scams originate in countries such as Philippines and Morocco, Mr Mullan added. Christopher (not his real name) told the Mark Patterson Show how he received a friend request from a "very attractive young lady" on Facebook. "Over a period of a few days we were chatting. She was a lot younger than I was. I'm in my 40s, she was, maybe, in her 20s. "I was going through a bitter divorce at the time and you know... I was enjoying the attention, looking for a new relationship," he said. "Over a period of time, it progressed to another level where she asked me did I want a video chat and the conversation became quite sexual. "She got me on my phone through messenger and asked: 'Do you want to see me naked?' "I put on video call, and all of a sudden I see a bedroom, and a girl naked, touching herself, caressing herself - she asked me to do the same thing. "Then all of a sudden she left the camera and came back and she seemed to push some sort of a button, and all of a sudden it was a video of me doing what I shouldn't. "She says: 'You've just broken the law, if you don't send Â£10,000 it (the video) will be posted to various friends.'" One of the names that appeared on Christopher's device was the name of his daughter. "I went into total panic, total panic and talk about cold sweats," he said. The blackmailer managed to post the video onto Christopher's Facebook timeline, but he was able to swiftly remove it. Christopher was given 24 hours to send his blackmailer the money. During this time, he described how feelings of shame, disgust and most of all fear, nearly drove him over the edge. In the end, Christopher reported the person to Facebook, and said the company was very supportive. He also spoke to the Samaritans before confiding in two close friends, who accompanied him to the local police station. "That constable was absolutely brilliant, she saw the stress I was under, she said 'you've broken no law'," he said. He explained that the police wanted to trace the IP address of the computer being used by the blackmailer. "The case is now

Summary: The police have been investigating 160 cases of internet sex blackmail in Northern Ireland over the past year, a senior PSNI officer has said.


News presenter Huw Edwards had been expected to front the show after Dimbleby said 2015's results coverage was his final time at the helm. It will be the tenth occasion that Dimbleby has hosted proceedings, have first fronted the broadcast in 1979 when Margaret Thatcher became prime minister. The programme will start on the night of 8 June and continue until morning. Edwards will take over as lead presenter on the morning of 9 June and will also present the evening bulletin that day. BBC director of news James Harding had said ahead of the 2015 general election that it would be Dimbleby's last time as lead anchor, with Edwards set to front the show from then on. He said: "This snap election surprised the country and election night is bound to be one of the most closely followed in recent times. "BBC's results night will once again offer people the most reliable breaking news, impartial analysis, with a host of trusted experts and above all our unrivalled presenting team." Dimbleby, 78, who also hosts debate show Question Time, will be joined in the studio by Mishal Husain, Emily Maitlis and Jeremy Vine. BBC experts including political editor Laura Kuenssberg and economics editor Kamal Ahmed will be giving their views on the proceedings as results come in. The programme will be broadcast simultaneously on BBC One, the BBC News Channel and BBC World News.

Summary: David Dimbleby is to host the BBC's 2017 general election programme.


Wages were due to be paid on 28 October but owner Diego Lemos said last week that "unexpected cash flow problems" had prevented that happening. "All wages have now been paid and once again I apologise to every member of staff for the delay in payment," Lemos told the club website. Shrimps' Tom Barkhuizen, meanwhile, has mutually agreed to cancel his deal. The 23-year-old forward joined in 2015 from Blackpool and Morecambe have stated they retain the right to compensation for the player. Shrimps boss Jim Bentley had told BBC Radio Lancashire one option they had considered was selling a player to raise funds, while the Professional Footballers' Association had been deal with the wages situation. Brazilian businessman Lemos bought the Shrimps on 1 September, taking over from Peter McGuigan.

Summary: League Two side Morecambe have confirmed that all players and staff have been paid after a delay.


Gay sex is illegal in Uganda. The embassy said in a Facebook post that it "deplored" the decision to ban the film. It then published the full list of objections from the media council which also include using "lurid language", and "smoking especially by women". The Uganda Media Council described the film as women forming a "Dinner Club which is in reality a sort of brothel", and said the film included scenes of "gay men sauntering away drunk". It said "while glorifying homosexuality two women say marriage (presumably to men) is hard work! This is against Ugandan values." The council also objected to one man calling another a "hot chick". In the comments under the embassy's Facebook post many people back the media council's stand. One person said: "People from [the] West should know that Uganda has a culture and it's very right to prohibit what they see [as] evil or will torment our culture." But the embassy gets some support, with another person writing: "This is just unfortunate. The author at the media council does not represent the views of the majority of Ugandans. In fact he has greatly embarrassed many of us." The film was released in 2010 and was due to be shown in a European film festival in Uganda. But the Embassy of the Netherlands said it will no longer taking part in the festival.

Summary: Uganda's censorship board has banned a Dutch film, The Dinner Club, after accusing it of "glorifying homosexuality" the Embassy of The Netherlands in Kampala has said.


The move is in line with recommendations from a review of management and practices at the firm, which is facing a number of scandals. The review was sparked by a former employee's claims the company ignored her complaints about sexual harassment. Uber's board voted unanimously in favour of the recommendations on Sunday. Some of Mr Kalanick's responsibilities could be shifted to other executives. In the email to staff, Mr Kalanick said the decision to take leave, which also comes after the sudden death of his mother in a boating accident, is part of an effort to create "Uber 2.0". "For Uber 2.0 to succeed there is nothing more important than dedicating my time to building out the leadership team," Mr Kalanick wrote. "But if we are going to work on Uber 2.0, I also need to work on Travis 2.0 to become the leader that this company needs and that you deserve." Mr Kalanick's email did not say how long he would be away from the firm. Analysis: Dave Lee, BBC North America Technology Reporter When that blog post by ex-employee Susan Fowler dropped on a quiet Sunday afternoon, I doubt anybody at the company thought it would lead to this. I certainly didn't. That moment marked the beginning of the crisis at Silicon Valley's most talked about start-up. In the middle of it all, Travis Kalanick, a man who, rightly or wrongly, now symbolises what people feel is the very worst of tech "bro" culture. A man flush with money and an unrelenting ambition that slowed for no-one. Until now. Uber's problems were enough, most argued, for Mr Kalanick to make this decision. But coupled with the tragic death of his mother, the 40-year-old is quite understandably not in a position to give the company the attention it so desperately needs. Since I started reporting this story I've been told how this problem is not limited to Uber. It's across the tech industry far and wide. With that in mind, it will perhaps be encouraging to the rank-and-file at every tech firm that this fiasco began with one act: a woman brave enough to speak out. Uber, a ride hailing company based in San Francisco, has been rocked by a series of controversies in recent months, including an investigation of its business practices and a lawsuit from Google's parent company, Alphabet, over alleged theft of trade secrets related to driverless cars. It also encountered pushback when it changed its policies around collecting user data. Its corporate culture has been criticised for being aggressive, and this was inflamed earlier this year when Mr Kalanick was caught on video berating an Uber driver who voiced concerns about fares. He said in response to the video: "I must fundamentally change as a leader and grow up." Uber: Travis Kalanick's rollercoaster reign His leave follows the departure of other high-ranked executives. Uber last week also said it had fired more than 20 staff and taken actions against others following a separate review of more than 200 human resources complaints that included harassment and bullying. The

Summary: Uber boss Travis Kalanick plans to take time away from the company, and could return in a diminished role.


The "unique window" has been installed in the church at the Royal Citadel to mark the 300th anniversary of the Royal Artillery. A Merlin helicopter, soldiers and amphibious vehicles all feature in the scene. The windows have been installed at The Royal Chapel of St Katherine Upon The Hoe within the Royal Citadel. Karl Freeman MBE, the Vicar for 29 Commando Regiment, said: "It is quite unusual to see helicopters in church glass. Basically, there's an integration of faith into regimental life, which is my job." Lieutenant Colonel Jon Cresswell, who is Commanding Officer of the regiment, said "We wanted to leave our mark here, and I think we've very much done that."

Summary: A military scene has been included as part of a stained glass window at a church in Plymouth.


The 40-year-old, capped 42 times by Finland, joined the Latics at the beginning of 2015-16 and has gone to play 32 games and keep 15 clean sheets. Wigan are currently second in the table and on an 18-match unbeaten run. "If my experience can help what we want to achieve then that is fantastic," said the veteran keeper. "I've really enjoyed my season here so far, the team is playing well, the club have been very good to me and it's been great to play for the manager [Gary Caldwell] with the way he does things." Latics manager Gary Caldwell added: "Jussi has been absolutely tremendous since breaking into the team. "I've said on several occasions when asked about him that there's nothing I can teach him about goalkeeping, or how to recover and train."

Summary: Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen has signed an extended deal at the League One club that will expire in the summer of 2017.


The city council declared the whole of Glasgow an air quality management area in 2012 after targets were exceeded. The authority said tests had shown 95% of areas were now meeting air quality targets but some still faced challenges posed by traffic emissions. The improvement is being attributed to more low-emission buses, a cycle-hire scheme and a city car club. Councillor Alistair Watson, the council's executive member for sustainability and transport, said: "While we have made very good progress, we recognise that there is more to be done. "We will continue to work together with our partners to reduce air pollution levels and improve the health of our citizens." Councillor Watson said there had been a number of initiatives over the last three years to improve air quality in the city. These included a bus quality partnership with now sees only lower emission vehicles on particular public transport routes; the introduction of a car club, and schemes to encourage more sustainable transport such as the city's first all-electric bus service and the cycle hire scheme.

Summary: Glasgow is revoking a city-wide air quality management plan after a major improvement in pollution levels.


In the past five years, 17,982 complaints have been lodged with the county's borough and district councils. Of those, 3,454 relate to dogs barking, the BBC Radio Suffolk Freedom of Information request found. Seven thousand complaints were made about loud music and parties, while church bells have led to 10 complaints to councils. Other complaints were made about bird scarers in fields, machinery and vehicle noise, and people shouting or talking loudly. 17,982 Total number of complaints 3,454 about barking dogs 336 about bird scarers 16 about fireworks 10 about church bells Ipswich Borough Council received the highest number of complaints over the five years, with 4,568. Waveney District Council received 3,672 complaints, while Suffolk Coastal District Council had a total of just over 3,000. Mark Johnson, senior public health officer at St Edmundsbury Borough Council, said the best thing for people to do was to speak with the person making the noise. "It's the most common sense approach because sometimes they don't even realise they're causing a nuisance to their neighbours," he said. As for dogs, Candice Rose, owner of Canine Creche in Martlesham, said they could be taught not to bark. "The key thing is reward and distraction," she said. "We distract them and then reward the good behaviour. "There are solutions, it could be a behavioural issue, in which case that can be adjusted, but if it's just through boredom - there really is no excuse in this day and age."

Summary: Barking dogs account for about a fifth of all noise complaints in Suffolk, it has emerged.


Doctors had said Ontlametse Phalatse would not make it past the age of 14. President Jacob Zuma was among those who conveyed their condolences to the family of "the special child of South Africa". She was known as the "First Lady" by her friends and family. Local broadcaster Enca called her the country's "champion of positivity". Africa Live: More updates on this and other stories In a tribute her family wrote: "We will miss you sorely, Tsontso, our first lady. May you find eternal peace among the angels. Rest in Peace". She called herself the first lady because she was the first black woman in South Africa to be diagnosed with progeria. Ontlametse loved life, lived it to the full, and never wished that she was born in any other way. This is what South Africans will remember her for. She rose to prominence a few years ago when a documentary was made of her life. Ms Phalatse used her new-found fame to motivate people to get on with their lives. In the process, she touched the hearts of many South Africans. The country got to share in some of her special moments and milestones - her 16th birthday, a school graduation ball and more recently her 18th birthday party spent with President Jacob Zuma. Ontlametse died surrounded by her family, who described her as having a "courageous spirit". Her legacy at 18 is not taking life's precious moments for granted. President Zuma led a minute's silence for Ms Phalatse on his 75th birthday and said he had planned to give her a car. "A brave young fighter has fallen. May her spirit inspire all others living with disabilities or facing any difficulty, to soldier on as she did and live life to the fullest. We are really proud of her," he said in a statement. Sources: Medical News Today, US National Library of Medicine, Mayo Clinic

Summary: A woman who captured the hearts of many South Africans for her brave battle against premature aging disorder progeria has died aged 18.


It has caused big problems for people living in parts of northern England and Scotland. Heavy rain and high-speed winds have resulted in water flooding roads and houses. Hundreds of people have been forced to leave their homes as rivers burst their banks and flood waters rose quickly. Around one month's worth of rainfall fell in just 24 hours. There are more than 50 flood warnings in place across the UK and the Met Office has advised people not to travel. Dozens of trains have been cancelled, and roads have been closed in Scotland, England and Wales.

Summary: Schools and hospital services have been closed in parts of northern England, as emergency services continue to battle against the effects of Storm Desmond.


The hosts have not beaten the Pars at home since 2009 but looked like changing that in the first half when Brian Gilmour, Conrad Balatoni and Allan Forrest all forced visiting goalkeeper Sean Murdoch into good saves. Dunfermline threatened more after the break, particularly when substitute Farid El Alagui's scissor-kick tested Greg Fleming. Gaps opened up towards the end as play moved from end to end but neither side could capitalise. It means there was no home win against Dunfermline at the 10th attempt, in front of a 2883 crowd who had paid only five pounds to get in on the day former chairman Donald Cameron was remembered by a minute's silence. But there had been plenty of chances for the Honest Men to take the lead in the opening 45 minutes. Gilmour's volley from 25 yards brought out the best in Murdoch as the ex-Hibernian man tipped the effort over the bar, before clutching Balatoni's header from the ensuing corner kick. The Pars' 'keeper earned his corn again as he kept out Forrest's header at the back post. Dunfermline lost Nicky Clark and John Herron in the first half but El Alagui's introduction speared their attack in the second half and in addition to his acrobatic effort he almost assisted a Joe Cardle strike but it was ruled out because of a push by the French-born Moroccan. It was interesting to watch the effective role Ayr United midfielder Jamie Adams played in the match. The 29-year-old former Kilmarnock, Queen of the South and Dundee man has had an injury-blighted career, even spending some of last season at South of Scotland outfit Wigtown and Bladnoch to build fitness. Several fans at Somerset Park label him 'the disrupter' due to his ability to "run about the pitch and break up play all over the place". That quality was certainly evident today and the Stranraer-born player nearly scored as well. Ayr United manager Ian McCall: "It's our home game so you're never happy, but I thought it was a really good game for a 0-0. "I thought we shaded it and worked their goalie more than ours was - but overall a fair result. We're getting performances and getting points." Dunfermline manager Allan Johnston: "I thought both clubs gave all they had and I felt we shaded it with the chances and possession we had. "We had good control of the game but we've got to turn that into goals. The most pleasing thing for me was the clean sheet. "John Herron's ankle is quite swollen and Nicky Clark was feeling his groin since Thursday and it was just starting to get a bit tight." Match ends, Ayr United 0, Dunfermline Athletic 0. Second Half ends, Ayr United 0, Dunfermline Athletic 0. Foul by Paul Cairney (Ayr United). Michael Paton (Dunfermline Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt missed. Paul Cairney (Ayr United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Attempt blocked. Craig McGuffie (Ayr United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Substitution, Ayr

Summary: Ayr United and Dunfermline Athletic had to settle for a point apiece in front of a healthy crowd at Somerset Park.


But he thought it would be fun to see some old friends and he could take his five-year-old son, Gavin, along too. His fiancee Jen Regan persuaded him they'd probably want to have a beer and Gavin shouldn't miss pre-school. He agreed. That was the last piece of luck that day. When the first bomb went off, Mr Fucarile and his friends all rushed into the street. The second blast was about 4ft (1.2m) away from them. He found himself on his back, one leg on fire. He tried to get his trousers off, but got third-degree burns on his hands from touching his belt buckle. His right leg had been blown off. People started to help. They told him not to try to sit up. He knew that wasn't good. He'd once helped a guy in a car crash and remembered telling him not to move because he looked so bad. First one ambulance and then another went by. They were too full. Eventually a policeman took him to hospital. He kept thinking about his son. He had to stay alive for Gavin. The twin swing doors to the hospital opened: he was wheeled through and then he blacked out. He was in a coma for days. Someone phoned Ms Regan. The person told her to get the hospital quickly. At first she thought it was one of his friends playing a sick joke, but then she realised this was serious. She went with his brother, a policeman. He'd get her in past any security. When a doctor phoned to say Mr Fucarile had lost his leg, she threw the phone and punched the truck. She said the man in the hospital bed looked nothing like him. They are a pretty amazing couple. Together since school, childhood sweethearts. He was a roofer, she's a nurse, both Boston Irish-Italian. A long line of family in the police, military and the fire brigade. He's a regular guy, a charmer, a joker and a tease. She's tough and lovely, and says she is coping because you have to when you have family. But her smile is thin and she's rather closer to the edge than you feel happy about. They're the sort of people who tell you they're average Americans, but they're going through something extraordinary and terrible and somehow holding it together. They name-check all the people who helped them, whom they've become close to, whose acts reassure them strength and goodness can be shaped from formless horror. An online fundraising effort has garnered more than $190,000 (Â£114,000). Ms Regan says the bombers failed; the terrorists lost because of that, because Boston is strong, as the slogan goes. "You think that you can break everyone and they didn't succeed, you know? They really didn't." A lot of what they say could sound bitter in cold print - but it is not said with bitterness but resignation. They are clearly mourning a life they once had that will never return. They hope for what Ms Regan calls "a new normal" that is merely bad,

Summary: Marc Fucarile didn't really want to go watch the Boston Marathon last year - he'd never been before and isn't keen on crowds.


Gordon Coventry, 52, must spend a minimum of 20 years in jail for killing Mr Adie in Tweed Avenue, Kirkcaldy, on Saturday 28 May 2016. Mr Adie was found unconscious in the street and he died later the same day in the Victoria Hospital. Coventry was convicted at the High Court in Dunfermline on Monday. Det Ch Insp Raymond Brown said: "The investigation into Darren's murder was complex and Gordon Coventry's efforts to evade justice caused the family unnecessary additional suffering. "However, due to the diligence, skill and professionalism of the officers involved in the inquiry, coupled with the support and assistance from the local community, we were able to identify him as being responsible through protracted and detailed investigations. "My thoughts today are with Darren's family and friends who had to endure the most tragic of circumstances. "I would like to thank them for their support during the investigation and although nothing can ever undo the wicked actions of Coventry, I hope this verdict brings them some sense of comfort."

Summary: A man has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering father-of-two Darren Adie by repeatedly stabbing him on the body in Fife.


The team tracked the health of nearly 800 villagers from the Chianti region of Italy to see if their local tipple had any discernable impact. They found no proof that the wine ingredient resveratrol stops heart disease or prolongs life. Experts say more research is needed to get a definitive answer. The British Heart Foundation is carrying out its own resveratrol study. Many studies have sought to explain why there is a low incidence of heart disease in France, despite many of its inhabitants eating a high-fat diet. Some put it down to moderate drinking of red wine. Studies have shown that consumption of red wine, dark chocolate and berries reduces inflammation, leading researchers to speculate that their common ingredient, resveratrol, explains why. But Prof Richard Semba, of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and colleagues found no evidence for this. They chose two small towns in Tuscany as their test ground, and 783 elderly people who were living there agreed to take part in their investigation. The volunteers gave details about their daily diets as well as urine samples for measurement of their resveratrol intake. During the nine years of the study, 268 of the men and women died, 174 developed heart disease and 34 got cancer. But urinary resveratrol was not linked with death risk, heart disease risk or cancer risk. Nor was it associated with any markers of inflammation in the blood, the researchers report in JAMA Internal Medicine. Prof Semba said: "The thinking was that certain foods are good for you because they contain resveratrol. We didn't find that at all. "The story of resveratrol turns out to be another case where you get a lot of hype about health benefits that doesn't stand the test of time." He says any benefits of drinking wine or eating dark chocolate or berries, if they are there, must come from other shared ingredients. And it's not clear how much you might need to eat or drink. "These are complex foods, and all we really know from our study is that the benefits are probably not due to resveratrol." Maureen Talbot, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "The results of this study, while interesting, will not change the dietary advice we provide. People should continue to eat plenty of fruit, veg and wholegrains. "We recognise the need to learn more about the action of resveratrol though, so are funding research into its reported disease-combating properties and how it affects the heart and circulatory system. "This research is vital as it could form the basis of future medicines."

Summary: Red wine may not be as good for you as hoped, say scientists who have studied the drink's ingredient that is purported to confer good health.


It has also been struggling with a stubbornly strong Australian dollar. A rate cut usually weakens a currency. The rate cut is the second since October and came after the Reserve Bank of Australia's monthly policy meeting. Australia's cost of borrowing is now at the same level it was during the global financial crisis of 2009. The Australian dollar was little changed on the news, while the main Sydney stock exchange was down slightly. Analysts said that as the mining boom starts to run out of steam, the other sectors of the economy will have to take over and drive growth. "The urgency to actually find a replacement for mining investment has become quite acute," said Brian Redican of Macquarie Bank. Mr Redican said more action will be required from the Reserve Bank of Australia. "In 2013 there will be further aggressive rate cuts, although there is nothing in this statement that suggests that the Reserve Bank is thinking along those lines." Demand for Australian commodities has meant that its economy has remained buoyant during the recent global slowdown whilst Europe and the US have slowed down. However, that demand mainly from China is beginning to taper off as the slowdown starts to hurt Asia as well. Prices for Australia's commodities have fallen as a result and the value of its exports has been reduced. The strength of the Australian dollar is also causing problems for the economy hurting sectors such as tourism and manufacturing. In a statement on Tuesday, central bank governor, Glen Stevens, said the dollar remains "higher than might have been expected" given lower export prices and a weaker global outlook. The Australian dollar is above parity with the US dollar. Businesses have been suffering as a result with the unemployment rate at a two-and-a-half year high.

Summary: Australia's central bank has cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 3%, as it looks to counter a slowdown in its mining sector.


Bodies of the victims arrived at the stadium in a procession through Chapeco after arriving from Colombia. Seventy-one people died in Monday's crash outside Medellin where the team was due to play. Six survived. The cause of the crash is unclear. But a recording suggests the plane was out of fuel moments before the crash. Brazilian President Michel Temer attended the ceremony at the stadium. He watched silently but did not address the crowd. A black sash was hung on the stadium's outer wall. Giant screens transmitted the speeches to those watching outside in the pouring rain. Inside, young supporters carried the team's flag out on to the pitch, alongside the national flags of Brazil and Colombia. The mayor of Chapeco, Luciano Buligon, started his speech by comparing the rain to God's tears. He was dressed in a shirt of Colombian side Atletico Nacional, the team Chapecoense had been travelling to play, and who held a memorial for the victims in their own stadium on Wednesday. The victims' families circled the pitch. Posters of the deceased players were held in the air, and an announcer repeated each one's name over the loudspeaker. "The feeling is horrible, to watch and know, that my son is going to enter here in a coffin," said Ilaide Padilha, the mother of goalkeeper Marcos Danilo Padilha, before the event. Mrs Padilha told the Brazilian press earlier in the week that she felt like she had lost one son but gained thousands, owing to the outpouring of support across the nation. Mourning has been centred around the Conda Arena since the plane crash, with fans of the Chapecoense club clinging to the stadium as to the memories of the football team. The pain climaxed at the open-air wake. The coffins of 50 victims were brought into the stadium that had been a second home to many of them. Tens of thousands came to bid farewell, despite the heavy rain that poured over Chapeco during the service, with gloomy grey skies taking over after a week of bright sunny days. The caskets were draped in Chapecoense flags, as were many of the fans. The grief of the families was heartbreaking. A little girl gently caressed her father's picture, clinging to the frame. On the stands, the man next to me wept like a child, wiping his tears with a Chapecoense scarf. He told me he and his nine-year-old son had attend all of the team's matches this year except one. It's a common story here in Chapeco. The team was a son of the city, and the city joins the families in mourning. The victims of the crash include 64 Brazilians, five Bolivians, a Venezuelan and a Paraguayan. Nineteen of the dead were players with Chapecoense. Many more were support staff and journalists covering the team. A minute's silence will be held before every football match this weekend. Football's world governing body Fifa, whose head Gianni Infantino attended the service in Chapeco, requested that all players wear black armbands in remembrance. The team has been described as having "a

Summary: Thousands of fans have gathered at Brazil's Chapecoense stadium to pay tribute to those killed when the football team's plane crashed.


A Walmart truck crashed in to the back of Morgan's limo in June 2014, with prosecutors alleging the driver had not slept for more than 24 hours. Comedian James McNair, known as Jimmy Mack, was killed in the crash. Morgan's lawyer, Benedict Morelli, said Walmart "took full responsibility for the accident". All sides had worked hard to reach the undisclosed agreement, he added. Morgan said Walmart "did right by me and my family, and for my associates and their families". "I am grateful that the case was resolved amicably.'' A representative for supermarket giant Walmart also called it an "amicable settlement". Morgan, 46, was left in a critical condition following the crash, suffering a traumatic head injury, a broken leg, nose and ribs. In March, his lawyer said the star had not yet been able to get back to work but was "working very hard to get better, physically, emotionally and mentally." The comedian, who rose to fame on Saturday Night Live, will give his first interview since the crash to NBC's Today on Monday, 1 June. Morgan will be interviewed by Matt Lauer live in the Rockefeller Center - which was the setting for 30 Rock - and will be joined by his lawyer Benedict Morelli. Walmart had previously reached an agreement with the family of James McNair, 62, who grew up with Morgan in New York. Their driver, Kevin Roper of Jonesboro, Georgia, has pleaded not guilty to death by auto and assault and is currently on bail.

Summary: Comic and 30 Rock star Tracy Morgan has settled his legal case against Walmart over a crash which left him seriously injured, and killed his friend.


Isabel Gentry, 16, was taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary after falling ill on 18 May and discharged four hours later. Her mother Claire Booty said an initial assessment was "cursory and brief" and she "could hardly walk" when sent home. In a review after the teenager's death, the NHS Foundation Trust said her treatment was "appropriate". Isabel, who was known as Izzy, had been revising for exams when she started to feel unwell on 18 May. She was taken to hospital, by ambulance, at 01:00 GMT but was sent home at 05:00. Ms Booty told the inquest, the hospital had said her daughter had a "viral infection of the stomach". Avon Coroner's Court heard the teenager "could hardly walk to the car" when they left the hospital after the initial assessment. Ms Booty said: "Izzy said 'Mum, I can't believe they're sending me home, I feel so ill'. She was not given a chance." The court heard there had been a possible case of meningitis at her school, St Brendan's Sixth Form College in Bristol, a couple of weeks earlier and all students had been given leaflets explaining the symptoms. Her mother said Izzy had the very symptoms described in the leaflet. Paramedic Gary White, who was called out on 18 May, said he had been told the patient might have meningitis but said he "couldn't detect any major symptoms such as a rash or photophobia". Ms Booty said her daughter "kept asking for the lights to be turned down" in the hospital treatment room. She also said doctors "seemed to be distracted by another patient who was causing disruption at the emergency department". The inquest heard that Izzy deteriorated over the day and another ambulance was called which took her back to the hospital at 17:30. The consultant who treated Izzy diagnosed meningitis and told Ms Booty her daughter was "very seriously ill". Ms Booty told the court the doctor "couldn't believe she'd been sent home initially". The next day an MRI scan detected Izzy's brain was swelling and she died, on 20 May, 48 hours after being initially discharged from Bristol Royal Infirmary. The inquest is expected to last five days and will hear from paramedics, nurses and doctors from University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.

Summary: A girl who died of meningitis "was not given a chance" by the hospital which sent her home 48 hours before her death, an inquest has heard.


There may be 101 pages of amendments down so far, but the government is in no mood to take any of them on board; on the contrary, their aim is to repel boarders, to the point where they would even resist the one amendment being mooted by the Brexiteer camp, which would aim to forbid ministers from accepting any extra time to extend the two year negotiating window specified by the EU's Lisbon Treaty. Ministers do believe that the EU's Michel Barnier's strategy is to enmesh the UK in a long-term negotiating limbo, perhaps including a post-Brexit transitional deal, but they don't want their hands tied. Many of the amendments, thus far, look like the product of an amendment generating bot, standard stuff about laying reports and regular debates. But ministers are wary of some of the substantive ones setting conditions - and in particular of the emotive issue of EU nationals resident in Britain, a matter now featuring regularly in most MPs' constituency surgeries. There is strong pressure for some kind of unilateral move for the UK to guarantee their right to remain - but, the government retorts, if that was passed, its backers would be to blame if one or two European states didn't reciprocate and allow UK nationals to stay within their borders. In the debate, Labour's frontbench Brexit spokesman, Sir Keir Starmer, looked and sounded like a lawyer delivering a plea in mitigation on behalf of a convicted prisoner. Early in his speech, he appealed to the Commons for a courteous hearing - something his opposite number, David Davis, would never have got away with. It just about worked, because the House genuinely wanted to hear what he had to say, but he does suffer from the lawyer-turned politician's tendency to address MPs as if they were the Court of Appeal. But leaving aside the style points, forging a line on Brexit which can stitch together the strongly pro-Brexit and strongly pro-Remain elements of Labour's heartland, let alone unify the deeply divided Parliamentary Labour Party, may prove an impossible challenge. Whether it's in the leadership ratings in Conservative Home, where he has now edged ahead of the prime minister herself, or in the growls of approval from his colleagues in the regular statements in the chamber, the Brexit Secretary, David Davis, increasingly commands the status of second minister in this government. This is not a wholly comfortable place to be - flying perilously near to the Sun - but as someone reconciled, not that long ago, to seeing out their parliamentary career on the backbenches, I suspect Mr Davis can bear it. The Lib Dems have sought to position themselves as the last champions of the Remain cause (although two of their MPs, Norman Lamb and Greg Mulholland have promised to abstain on the Article 50 Bill). But they can't claim to be the arch-opponents of Brexit and fail to maintain a presence for the big debates on it - and their leader, Tim Farron, had a chastening time at PMQs when this was pointed out. In truth,

Summary: I've got five take-outs from the Article 50 bill so far.