Surfing began somewhere in the distant past of Polynesian culture and by the mid eighteenth century, Captain James Cook sailed to Hawaii and saw locals climbing onto wooden boards and speeding along the waves. Eventually, a craze for wave riding spread and now it's thought at least 36 million people worldwide identify themselves as surfers. They all, however, face an inescapable truth: perfect, surfable waves don't always show up where and when they're wanted. "Most of our good surfing waves around the world are adjacent to big expanses of ocean," says Dr Mark Davidson of Plymouth University, an oceanographer with a special interest in waves and surfing. The best surfing waves start life in stormy seas far from shore. Winds whip the surface into peaks which race away from the storm centre and over time transform into swell that rolls along under its own steam. Like fine wines, the best waves take time to mature. These water-borne pulses of energy continue their long journey towards land, sorting themselves out as they go, becoming less choppy and more refined - and bigger. That's why world-class surf rolls to shore in spots like Hawaii, Bali and Portugal. Elsewhere, where there isn't a wide ocean delivering well-matured swell, people are attempting to improve the waves. The aim of artificial surfing reefs is to enhance smaller waves into a surfable break. "There's no magic here, you don't create waves," says Dr Davidson. "The idea is that you can focus waves, a bit like light travelling through a lens," he says. A reef - natural or otherwise - acts as a magnet for swell, concentrating the waves' energy and making a bigger, more powerful break. That's the theory, anyway. One of the newest artificial surfing reefs was installed on England's south coast, at Boscombe close to Bournemouth. Here in the English Channel, where long-distance swell is distinctly lacking, waves are driven by local winds which produce choppier, smaller surf. In a bid to improve the quality and consistency of Boscombe's waves, Bournemouth Borough Council paid Â£3.2 million to install an artificial surf reef. The football pitch-sized reef consists of sand-filled geotextile bags that were designed to raise the seabed and magnify existing waves. But when the reef opened in 2009, it was a crashing disappointment for local surfers. "It didn't produce the right shape of wave," says Mark Davidson. He was brought in to assess the reef's performance, which he did by surfing it with a GPS unit fitted inside his wetsuit. "That allowed me very accurately to evaluate my ride length, the peel angle of the waves and how fast the wave was breaking," he says. Dr Davidson concluded that the reef was no good for surfing. It kicked up steep, dumpy waves that collapsed over his head rather than breaking gradually, peeling from one side to the other. Boscombe's surf reef is not the first to fall short. According to Davidson, of the 12 artificial surf reefs built worldwide, none have worked. "As yet we still don't have a successful example in generating a quality

Summary: For centuries, people have been lured in by the thundering power of surf.


John Jones, 50, from Rhos, Neath Port Talbot, was given 16 pints at Morriston Hospital, Swansea, after losing a leg in a forklift accident in 1990. But one of the donors had hepatitis C, and Mr Jones died in 2012. Recording a narrative verdict, assistant coroner Paul Bennett said infection and cirrhosis killed Mr Jones. Dr Stephen Field, medical director of the Welsh Blood Service, offered "sincere condolences" to Mr Jones' family. He said when Mr Jones received his transfusions there was no test available for hepatitis C. Testing was introduced throughout the UK a year after his operation. He added: "Securing the safety of the blood supply is the number one priority of the Welsh Blood Service."

Summary: A father-of-three died more than 20 years after receiving infected blood, an inquest hears.


Media playback is not supported on this device British Cycling have produced this guide that will help you choose the right bike. Inspired to get back on your bike? Take a look at this handy guide to find ways to get into cycling.

Summary: Not having the right bike can be very uncomfortable - and potentially damaging, so finding the correct bike fit is very important, especially if you cycle regularly.


These are the words of judge Karin Jung, who gave two 1860 Munich fans the choice to buy Bayern merchandise for a fan they attacked - or spend 15 months in jail. The defendants, who refused to name a third person involved when they ripped the jacket, shirt and straw hat off the Bayern fan last year, opted for the pride-swallowing trip to the rival club store. "I thought about what would be really painful to them, and doing something like this really bothers this type of people," Jung - who got the victim's consent for the quirky sentence - told Bild newspaper. This was no cheap shopping trip though as according to their lawyer, the accused parted with around £350 each in compensation as well as handing over a Bayern hat, scarf and jersey in court.

Summary: "I wanted to show that football is football and not a battlefield."


Alibaba was taken off the list four years ago, but US authorities say the firm's online platform Taobao is used to sell "high levels" of fake goods. The company has rejected the allegations, insisting it polices its market place better than in the past. The firm also suggested the "current political climate" in the US might be why they are back on the list. US President-elect Donald Trump had, during his campaign, repeatedly accused Chinese firms of stealing intellectual property. Alibaba Group President Michael Evans said he was "disappointed" by the decision and questioned whether it was "based on actual facts or was influenced by the current political climate." The Chinese online retailer and its market place Taobao have long been accused of being a platform for counterfeit goods. Taobao said earlier this year it had tightened controls on its sale of luxury goods, requiring sellers to show proof of authenticity. In May though, Alibaba was suspended from the International Anti Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC) watchdog over piracy concerns. Some members, including Gucci America and Michael Kors, had threatened they would leave the IACC in protest at Alibaba's membership. Alibaba - by far China's biggest online retailer - floated on the New York Stock Exchange in September 2014 and broke records by raising $25bn.

Summary: Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is back on the US's "notorious markets" list over counterfeit goods sales.


Patients who suffered persecutory delusions were encouraged to step into a computer-generated Underground train carriage and a lift. The simulations allowed the study's 30 patients to learn social situations they feared were actually safe. The research at Oxford University, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, was funded by the Medical Research Council. Members of one group of patients were told to use their normal defensive behaviour, such as avoiding eye contact. The rest of the patients were encouraged to lower their defences and try to learn they were safe by approaching computer characters (avatars) and standing toe-to-toe or staring at them. This group, who fully tested out their fears, showed the biggest reduction in their paranoid delusions. More than half of them no longer had severe paranoia at the end of the testing day. The first group, who used their defences, also saw some reduction in the level of severe paranoia. The study was led by Prof Daniel Freeman, a clinical psychologist at Oxford University's Department of Psychiatry. He told me: "At the heart of paranoia is the unfounded belief that people are under threat. "With virtual reality we can help the person to re-learn that they are safe, and when they do that, the paranoia melts away." The Oxford team estimate that around 1-2% of the population have severe paranoia at some point in their lives, typically associated with a mental health disorder such as schizophrenia. Patients have such a strong sense of mistrust that they avoid contact with people and may rarely leave home. The study was small and the patients had just one half-hour session of virtual reality with no long-term follow-up. However, Prof Freeman said the results were "exceptionally good". He added: "I think this a glimpse into the future of mental healthcare. There is a revolution underway in virtual reality with many headsets becoming available. "As these become more affordable we will see them used not just in clinical settings, but in people's homes." Toby Brabham, aged 45, was diagnosed with schizophrenia more than 20 years ago, and has experienced severe paranoia. He told me: "I used to experience persecutory voices - they would be having a go at me. I would avoid going out and when I did it was with my head down so I avoided eye contact. It was very isolating." Toby is now being successfully treated, and agreed to test out the virtual reality system for the BBC. Afterwards he said: "If I go on a Tube train or lift now I will certainly remember the virtual reality experience and I think it will be helpful in reducing any feelings of anxiety that I may have." Dr Kathryn Adcock, head of neurosciences and mental health at the Medical Research Council, said: "Virtual reality is proving extremely effective in the assessment and treatment of mental health problems. "This study shows the potential of its application to a major psychiatric problem." Brian Dow, at the charity Rethink Mental Illness, said: "It's exciting to see cutting-edge technology used innovatively to treat what can be an

Summary: Virtual reality has been used to help treat severe paranoia.


Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras came to power on a wave of public anger over austerity measures, and he is urging the Greek people to vote against austerity once more in a snap referendum on the country's debt crisis to be held on Sunday. Meanwhile tens of thousands of people took part in anti-austerity demonstrations across the UK in June despite the government's insistence that austerity measures are vital to cutting the deficit. Many countries decided to cut spending and put up taxes to deal with the fallout from the 2008 financial crisis. Were they right? Has austerity worked? Four experts offer their assessment. Former BBC economics editor Stephanie Flanders is now chief market strategist for JP Morgan Asset Management. "In 2009 we suddenly found ourselves in a much steeper recession than people thought, and the impact was suddenly very clear on the public finances. It pushed up budget deficits all over the world - particularly in the UK - by tens of billions. "No one was making any money or paying any tax, meanwhile the unemployment numbers were going up quite quickly and that was pushing up costs. There was a moment leading up to the G20 summit in London in 2009 where leaders said 'we've got to have a global co-ordinated stimulus'. "They were all on one side saying, 'we've got to not worry too much about borrowing going up, because governments are the only ones who can afford to do this at a time when households and companies are also cutting back'. "[As a result] you saw the start of a recovery in most countries, and at the same time these horrendous borrowing numbers were coming in which we hadn't ever seen in peace time. And there were mutterings: 'Hang on, we're going to face an awful lot of pain to get that down, shouldn't we start doing that now?'. "So they faced that dilemma: 'we've saved the economy, how quickly do we start to raise taxes again and cut spending to get our public finances in order and how quickly can we afford to do that without hurting this still fragile recovery?' "If you think the economy is going to carry on growing, then you want to take a bit of that growth and start to put it back into the government coffers. "You want to have taxes going up, certainly some plans to rein in spending, but of course the contrary argument is you can't assume that growth, because some of it is coming from what you're doing to prop up the economy. "Unless you know that there's going to be other demand out there to make up the gap, you might face the economy slipping back into recession and then the borrowing is going be even worse. "If the international lenders start to worry about whether you're going to pay it back, they start to charge you more interest, and if they charge you more interest, then your interest rates of course go up, and that pushes up your borrowing as well - you might be

Summary: At the heart of the current Greek debt crisis is an old debate - is it better to cut spending and raise taxes in an economic downturn, or spend your way out of it?


Keith Barrow quit as leader of the Conservative-run Shropshire Council and as a councillor when an allegation was made in November. He later admitted to failing to comply with the council's code of conduct by not declaring a conflict of interest. However, West Mercia Police said a "thorough and detailed investigation" found no case to answer. Updates on this story and more from Shropshire Det Insp Mark Glazzard said: "Following receipt of a complaint in November 2015, a thorough and detailed investigation was conducted...into an alleged offence under the Localism Act 2011. "This investigation has concluded, and no further action will be taken into this matter." Previously, West Mercia Police said it had received a complaint regarding "misconduct in public office involving a man from Shropshire". The BBC understands the complaint relates to Mr Barrow. The former council leader stood down after failing to declare a relationship with the director of an accountancy firm appointed to work with the authority's private company, IP&E. He apologised and also resigned as director of IP&E, following the findings of an internal investigation. Shropshire Council did not wish to comment.

Summary: A complaint against a former council leader has been disregarded by police.


The direct funding scheme for school sport, announced last year, is going to be extended for a further five years. Each year primary schools will continue to receive £8,000, plus £5 per pupil. As well as promoting good health, Mr Cameron says, school sport has an important role in building "confidence and a sense of achievement". The funding - the Primary PE and Sport Premium - provides money directly to primary school head teachers, carrying on the sporting legacy of the Olympics. There have also been repeated warnings about childhood obesity and lack of exercise. The funding is meant to improve sports lessons, such as paying for specialist coaching, equipment or to help after-school clubs. It was announced last year as a two-year initiative to run until 2015-16, but Mr Cameron has said he wants to keep this funding for another five years - beyond the general election. "Sport is so important because it encourages children to be active, lead a healthy lifestyle, make friends and, of course, have fun," Mr Cameron said. "But quality school sport has benefits that spread right across the curriculum and beyond - it develops confidence and a sense of achievement, it teaches young people how to rise to a challenge, and nurtures the character and skills that will help them get on and succeed in life." Sports presenter Clare Balding said that sport could also help academic results in school. "As well as increasing fitness, it has been shown to help concentration as well as being a key factor in appreciating team work and a healthy lifestyle," she said. Olympic champion Mo Farah said sports could make an important difference to young lives. "The help I got at school was a key part of how I got to where I am today and so it can make a big difference," he said. The funding announcement was also welcomed by representatives of football, rugby, tennis and cricket. Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said annual funding of about £9,000 per school would not "add up to a great deal" for schools without a dedicated PE teacher. She said primary schools had suffered from the withdrawal of the £160m per year which had been provided through the School Sports Partnerships. There have been repeated calls to improve school sport, with Ofsted warning last year that there was too little strenuous exercise in PE lessons. The cross-party Education Select Committee also reported that many schools lacked the facilities needed for youngsters to get involved in sport. A Labour spokesman criticised the government's record on school sport: "David Cameron has jeopardised our Olympic legacy by removing the requirement that primary children do two hours of sport per week."

Summary: Primary schools in England are going to share an extra £150m per year sports funding until 2020, Prime Minister David Cameron has announced.


They were among a 30-strong crew on a Greenpeace ship that was protesting against oil drilling in the Arctic. The group was arrested last month after two of the protesters tried to board an oil platform owned by the Russian state-controlled firm Gazprom. Greenpeace has called the charges "irrational, absurd and an outrage". The 14 activists were taken from jail to the Murmansk office of the Investigative Committee, the Russian equivalent of the FBI, the BBC's Daniel Sandford reports from Moscow. There they were formally charged with "piracy of an organised group", an offence that carries a 15-year prison sentence. Those charged include Kieron Bryan, a freelance video producer from London; Anthony Perrett from Newport in Wales; Alexandra Harris, originally from Devon, and Philip Ball from Chipping Norton. Greenpeace said more activists are expected to be formally charged on Thursday. The group's international executive director, Kumi Naidoo, said the charges were "extreme and disproportionate". "A charge of piracy is being laid against men and women whose only crime is to be possessed of a conscience. This is an outrage and represents nothing less than an assault on the very principle of peaceful protest," Reuters news agency quoted Mr Naidoo as saying. Mr Naidoo said the way Russian officials had treated the protesters represented "the most serious threat to Greenpeace's peaceful environmental activism" since the bombing of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior in New Zealand in 1985, when the group was campaigning against French nuclear testing in the Pacific. Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously said the activists were "not pirates", but may have broken international law. The Investigative Committee said earlier this week that peaceful aims would not justify what it has described as an "attack" that posed a threat to the rig and its personnel. Last month the Greenpeace ship approached the Prirazlomnaya platform, Russia's first offshore oil rig which is scheduled to start operating by the end of the year. Two activists tried to climb up onto the platform and tie themselves onto it, in an attempt to draw attention to the issue of the expansion of oil and gas exploration in the Arctic Ocean. They were detained after a short skirmish in inflatable dinghies in which armed Russian FSB officers in balaclavas fired warning shots into the water. Greenpeace has released cameraphone images it says show the moment Russian security forces boarded the Arctic Sunrise ship. The ship, with its crew comprising 18 nationalities, was then towed to Murmansk. Mr Bryan's parents, Andy and Ann, from Devon, said they were very worried. "Our son is a very kind, caring individual and environmental issues have always been very close to his heart," they said. Andy Bryan had spoken of his shock at the actions the Russians had taken against what he said was a peaceful organisation.

Summary: Fourteen Greenpeace activists, including at least four from the UK, have been charged with piracy by the Russian authorities.


The experiment will begin when the first round takes place on Saturday 24 September. It is an initiative being introduced by the Scottish FA after recent talks with the International Football Association Board. Previously, teams could only use three of seven substitutes in Scotland's premier cup competition. The fourth replacement will only be available if a tie is level after 90 minutes and goes to extra time. There are no plans for the format to be introduced by the Scottish Professional Football League, but it could be used in next season's League Cup in Scotland. The SFA announced the extra substitute plan as Hibernian captain David Gray made the first-round draw at Edinburgh College. One preliminary-round tie remains to be played without the availability of an extra substitute after Scottish Junior Cup winners Beith Juniors and West Superleague champions Auchinleck Talbot drew 2-2 at Bellsdale Park on Saturday. Talbot host their West Superleague rivals this coming Saturday with Highland League outfit Strathspey Thistle now preparing for a journey south to face the victors. East Superleague champions Bonnyrigg Rose and North Superleague champions Banks O'Dee both face a trip to the Highlands to face Turriff United and Keith respectively. East of Scotland champions Leith Athletic host Cumbernauld Colts, who finished fourth in last season's Lowland League. Beith Juniors or Auchinleck Talbot v Strathspey Thistle BSC Glasgow v Rothes Civil Service Strollers v Hawick Royal Albert Clachnacuddin v University of Stirling Dalbeattie Star v Wick Academy Deveronvale v Gretna 2008 East Kilbride v Vale of Leithen Edinburgh University v Whitehill Welfare Forres Mechanics v Lossiemouth Fort William v Brora Rangers Gala Fairydean Rovers v Fraserburgh Girvan v Huntly Inverurie Loco Works v Buckie Thistle Keith v Bank's O'Dee Leith Athletic v Cumbernauld Colts Nairn County v Preston Athletic Selkirk v Linlithgow Rose Turriff United v Bonnyrigg Rose Ties will be played on Saturday 24 September.

Summary: A fourth substitute will be available in extra time for the first time in this season's Scottish Cup.


Harrison played the 1962 Rickenbacker 425 guitar on British TV shows like Ready Steady Go! in 1963, prior to the band's US invasion in 1964. The Beatle, who died in 2001, also used the instrument during the recording of I Want to Hold Your Hand and This Boy. He bought the guitar during a visit to the US. Its pre-sale estimate was up to $600,000 (£356,000) said auction house Julien's. It topped the previous sale of a VOX guitar played by both Harrison and Lennon in May last year which fetched £269,000) but fell far short of the record $965,000 (£591,000) set by a Bob Dylan guitar in December. The auction also included a handwritten placard with doodles signed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono from their 1969 anti-war protest in Montreal, which fetched $187,000 (£111,000). A Hofner bass guitar rented by Sir Paul McCartney in the mid-1960s sold for $125,000 (£74,000). A white jumpsuit worn by Elvis Presley during a 1971 concert fetched $197,000 (£117,000).

Summary: An electric guitar played by The Beatles' George Harrison has sold for $657,000 (£390,000) at an auction in New York.


Residents living near Queens Park in Bolton reported hearing a repetitive "loud tapping" in the early hours this week leaving council officials baffled. One resident even recorded the sound, the Bolton News reported. Police officers called to investigate "suspicious banging" eventually traced the noise to construction work on a nearby railway line. Complaints began on Monday 28 November with the sound being heard for up to four hours a night. Bolton Council, which runs the park, said it had "no idea" where the noise was coming from. "We don't do anything in the park at night," said a spokesman. Greater Manchester Police said they were called at 04:08 BST on Tuesday by a resident on Mayor Street who reported "suspicious banging" in the park. "The noise was traced to industrial work being carried out on the railway tracks. "The incident has now been closed." The Bolton to Lostock railway line runs just south of Queens Park.

Summary: A mystery surrounding a "banging noise" heard coming from a Greater Manchester park at night has been solved.


The woman, 20, of Brecon, Powys, admitted neglect of the 15-month old while she went out at Christmas. Neighbours raised the alarm when they heard cries, Merthyr Crown Court heard. Judge John Curran said: "You may have gone back to the house on occasions but the fact is you neglected her for a very long time." The court heard how the woman left the girl in the cot and would go home every day to give the baby breakfast cereal and a microwave meal before going back to a friend's flat to continue partying. Prosecutor Michael Hammett said that police officers alerted by neighbours found the house to be cold and dark, and with all its rooms in a mess. "The house was in a state of disarray with rubbish, dirty clothes, empty wine bottles, beer cans and dirty nappies strewn over the floors," he said. "One of the officers went into the bedroom and found the little girl subdued in her crib. "There was no heating on in the house and she was partly covered by a blanket." Mr Hammett said the officers took the girl to the nearby police station to be cleaned up and fed. "When they gave her food and drink she grabbed them as if she had been starved," she said. The mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told police she had been back to the house on four occasions to feed the child but then left her home alone again. When police entered the mother's home in Brecon, Powys, the girl had been on her own for more than 24 hours, the court heard. She was examined by a doctor and found to have severe nappy rash which was bleeding. The single mother admitted neglect and wept as she was jailed for 15 months. Geraint Jones, defending, said: "The mum hopes to rebuild her relationship with her little girl very slowly when she leaves prison." Passing sentence, Judge John Curran said: "You may have gone back to the house on occasions but the fact is you neglected her for a very long time. "Your daughter was left in the dark and cold, she was hungry and thirsty and had not been changed for days." Andrew Flanagan, chief executive of the NSPCC, said: "It's extremely depressing that a mother could leave a baby alone, in a cold house, with no food or water for such long periods. "But sadly child neglect is an all too common occurrence with around 21,000 children currently on a the child protection register in Britain for this very reason." He said thankfully the neighbours raised the alarm, which showed the need for vigilance. "The message to anyone worried about a child is clear: don't wait until you're certain - call the NSPCC or social services without delay," he added. Des Mannion, NSPCC National Head of Service for Wales, added: "Last year 1265 children in Wales were subject to a child protection plan because they were at risk of harm from neglect and it has been the top reason why children

Summary: A mother has been jailed for 15 months for leaving her baby daughter at home alone every day for a week while she went out drinking.


The case - which has seen the faces of the judges involved splashed across newspaper front pages - began its proceedings through the Supreme Court on Monday. There, the UK government will appeal against the ruling of the High Court, which said MPs should be able to vote on the starting-whistle to leave the European Union. They will be joined by a number of other parties which are intervening, including the Scottish and Welsh governments. In a nutshell, it is over whether ministers can use executive powers to start the process of leaving the EU without consulting MPs. Ministers hold what are known as royal prerogative powers which allow them to take decisions without Parliament's approval. The case brought by claimants - the investment manager Gina Miller and hairdresser Dier Dos Santos - was that the government cannot use these powers to override rights enshrined in acts of Parliament. High Court judges agreed, but the UK government rejects this argument and has appealed to the Supreme Court. The BBC legal correspondent Clive Coleman explains the case in more detail here. The Welsh Government has been allowed to intervene in the case, arguing that triggering Article 50 would "significantly change" how devolution works. Permission to intervene means ministers will have their case heard in front of Supreme Court judges. Counsel General Mick Antoniw argues that triggering Article 50 changes the powers of the assembly and the Welsh Government, and that this cannot be done without a vote in Parliament. The Welsh Government claims a large number of its functions come from EU law and will "be lost upon the UK's withdrawal from the EU Treaties". Separately, the counsel general's case sets out that triggering Article 50 will effectively circumvent the Sewel Convention, a set of rules that mean any attempt to change a law in a devolved area of policy needs the consent of AMs. Mr Antoniw does not ask state that the assembly has a legally enforceable right to veto any Westminster legislation authorising Article 50 to be triggered, but said instead that using executive powers to start the process would "short-circuit" the convention. The UK government's skeleton argument has rejected the counsel general's view, saying the additional issues raised "do not provide any tenable basis" on which to uphold the High Court decision. UK ministers argue that the Sewel Convention is a "political" convention that covers the legislative functions of the Westminster Parliament, and not a "legal principle" that can be tried in a court of law. They argue that the issue is irrelevant anyway, because the matter of whether consent is needed for legislation concerning EU withdrawal does not tell you anything about the legality of the government using executive powers to trigger Article 50. The conduct of foreign relations "is a matter expressly reserved" in the devolution legislation to the UK government, the document argues. The UK government says devolved legislatures "have no competence over it" and that "prerogative power to withdraw from treaties is deliberately unaffected". Welsh devolution legislation assumes that the UK is a member of the

Summary: It is difficult to think of a court case in recent years as politically charged and controversial as the legal row over whether MPs should vote to trigger Article 50 - the process to start Brexit.


About 250 people have been allowed to travel from the south for three days of meetings at Mount Kumgang resort. Another group attended reunions earlier this week. For most of those attending it is the first time that they have had any contact in over 60 years. Millions of people ended up separated from loved ones by the physical division of the Korean peninsula. The reunions taking place this week are only the second round in the past five years. One of those travelling to the resort was the mother of a man who South Korea said was abducted by the North in 1972. The South Koreans were chosen using a computerised lottery system from among thousands who applied. Often accompanied by family members, they travelled in a convoy of buses from South Korea to meet their relatives. Given their age and the infrequent nature of these reunions, they are unlikely to ever see each other again.

Summary: A group of mainly elderly South Koreans have met relatives in the North, in the second of two organised reunions for family members separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.


Dylann Roof, 21, appeared in court in Charleston to face nine murder charges. He showed no emotion as relatives of the victims addressed him directly. "I forgive you" said one victim's daughter, fighting back tears. Police are treating the killings at the African-American church on Wednesday night as a hate crime. And the Justice Department says it is investigating whether it might have been an act of domestic terrorism. It said in a statement, the shooting was "designed to strike fear and terror into this community", and the department was considering all possibilities. At a Charleston sports arena, thousands gathered on Friday evening to remember the victims with prayers and songs. Also on Friday, the Roof family released a statement through their lawyer. "Words cannot express our shock, grief and disbelief as to what happened that night. We are devastated and saddened by what occurred," the family wrote. "We have all been touched by the moving words from the victims' families offering God's forgiveness and love in the face of such horrible suffering." In court in Charleston on Friday afternoon, Mr Roof spoke to confirm his name, age and address and said he was unemployed. Then relatives were invited by the judge to come forward and speak. A woman who identified herself as the daughter of Ethel Lance said: "You took something very precious from me. I will never talk to her ever again. "I will never be able to hold her again, but I forgive you. And [may God] have mercy on your soul." Anthony Thompson, a relative of Myra Thompson, told Mr Roof to repent and to turn to Jesus Christ. "I forgive you and my family forgives you," he said. Also speaking in court was Felecia Sanders, who survived the attack on Wednesday night by playing dead. Her son, Tywanza, was fatally wounded. "We welcomed you Wednesday night in our Bible study with open arms. You have killed some of the most beautifulest people that I know. Every fibre in my body hurts ... and I'll never be the same," she said to Mr Roof, who appeared via a video feed. The victims of the Charleston shooting Meanwhile, one of Mr Roof's friends, Christon Scriven, told the BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan that Mr Roof had considered a university as a potential target. Mr Scriven said Mr Roof "wanted to shoot that school up, UCA University of Charleston. It's 3 miles up the street from that church". But Mr Scriven, who is black, did not think Mr Roof would actually follow through. "So how do you take it serious?" he said. "How many friends do you have in your lifetime that's killed somebody?" Court documents have revealed new details about the shooting. Mr Roof entered the church just after 20:00 local time (01:00 BST) on Wednesday night and remained with the worshippers for nearly an hour before launching his attack. All of the victims were hit multiple times, the documents said. Before leaving, Mr Roof stood over one person who was not shot and "uttered a racially inflammatory statement". That person

Summary: Relatives of some of the nine churchgoers shot dead in South Carolina have addressed the suspected gunman in court and said they forgive him.


The US tennis player's announcement that she is 20 weeks pregnant means she won her record-breaking 23rd and most recent Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open while eight weeks into her pregnancy, at the age of 35. On social media, the revelation has prompted both men and women to claim she is the GOAT - greatest of all time - and worthy of immense admiration. Women queued up to express their comparatively shameful attempts at exercise. "Sometimes I get a little winded when I try to just talk and walk at the same time," one tweet gasped. Pregnancy alters woman's brain 'for at least two years' The plain fact is that doing anything much during the early stages of pregnancy can be a challenge. Getting out of bed? Possibly. Making it to work? Maybe. Eating breakfast? Forget it. And that's because the female body is undergoing a massive physiological transformation. Even before any kind of bump is visible, hormones are surging and raging, causing dramatic changes in the way the body functions. During the early weeks, most women experience fatigue at some point caused by rising levels of hormones progesterone and oestrogen. The advice is usually to rest - but clearly not in Serena's case. Many women also suffer from nausea or morning sickness, which doesn't conveniently end at midday, and a small number of women are affected very severely, needing hospital treatment. Vomiting or retching is a daily hazard for the majority, sometimes before a test has even confirmed the pregnancy. But even if Serena was lucky enough to sail through the first few weeks unscathed by nausea, she would still have had other physical changes to contend with. These include the breasts becoming tender and swollen very early on, a need to go to the loo more often and sudden aversions to food and odours. During pregnancy, the amount of blood in the body increases, causing the kidneys to process extra fluid that ends up in the bladder. Pregnancy hormones can also cause constipation and heartburn as the body gears up to cater for a growing foetus. And research shows that from the fifth week of pregnancy, Serena would have experienced substantial changes to the cardiovascular system, which delivers blood supply to the foetus. Exercise is a good thing and is not dangerous for your baby, the NHS Choices website says, and it encourages women to keep active for as long as it's comfortable to do so. Serena's fitness levels and training regime may well have helped her through those early stages. However, a woman's brain undergoes a bit of rewiring too. A recent study found that pregnancy reduces grey matter in some parts of the brain, helping women bond with their baby and prepare for the demands of motherhood. In fact, the researchers said the scale of the brain changes during pregnancy were akin to those seen during adolescence. And that could explain why so many women experience mood swings during the early stages. So Serena could have been forgiven for being more than a little distracted

Summary: As one male tweeter put it: "Serena Williams won a grand slam while she was pregnant so every man should probably shut up about everything forever."


Former Priory Federation chief executive Richard Gilliland, 64, was accused of misusing school credit cards to buy personal items and suppressing the results of a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check on his son. The group's ex-finance director Stephen Davies, 58, faced three fraud charges. The pair were found not guilty in a trial at Lincolnshire Crown Court. The Priory Federation runs four schools in Lincoln and Grantham. The trial previously heard Mr Gilliland bought items on school credit cards, including videos and condoms. He said he was always owed money by the federation and used its credit cards to make his own purchases as "an off-setting exercise". Mr Gilliland was also accused of suppressing the results of a CRB check so his son Kia Richardson - who had served a jail term for outraging public decency - could work at an equestrian centre run by the Priory. He told the court colleagues were fully aware of his son's "troubled past". Speaking after the trial, Mr Gilliland said: "It has been very hard to deal with, very emotional, but I am pleased with the result." Mr Davies described the trial as "interesting", adding he was confident of the result as he had "done nothing wrong".

Summary: Two former senior members of staff at a Lincolnshire schools academy group have been cleared of fraud charges.


It comes after shopkeepers claimed their trade was being affected by the abuse of regulations. They have blamed the removal of the police traffic warden service more than two years ago. A council report on the possibility of introducing its own wardens will be considered next month. Councillors were told this week that the impact of the removal of the old service had not been as big as was generally perceived. It was claimed parking habits had "not actually changed significantly". However, a petition from regeneration group Future Hawick said there had been a "marked increase in the abuse of parking regulations". Now letters will be sent out reminding people in the area of the parking regulations and notices put up in Hawick Town Hall encouraging staff and visitors to use off-street parking. Councillor Alec Nicol said a full report on the issue of on-street parking would be considered next month. "There are some things that could be done immediately which may alleviate some of the issues in the short term," he added.

Summary: Letters are to be sent to businesses and residents on Hawick High Street reminding them of the 30-minute parking limit in the area.


The 24-year-old, who's doing a PhD in astronomy and space at the University of Birmingham, is down to the last 600 of 200,000 applicants for the Mars One mission. If she gets through, she'll spend the next 10 years training for the project. The mission aims to send teams of four to the red planet every two years from 2025, until 40 people are living there. The Dutch project is privately funded and needs to raise around Â£4bn to send up the first group. So far it's raised around Â£500,000 (so it's 1/8000th of the way there). It's one of several projects aiming to put the first humans on Mars, but this one plans to let a reality TV show decide who goes and broadcast life on Mars. Maggie, who lives in Coventry, is one of several Britons shortlisted for the mission and we had a lot of questions for her. "If we were to come back it would cost a lot more money. "You'd have to transport a lot more fuel and there's nowhere to launch rockets from on Mars. "There are also health risks with coming back to earth because the long term effects of the low gravity on Mars will affect our bone density and muscles. "Astronauts who go to the International Space Station are pretty much disabled when they come back, they have to learn to walk again. "It might be that our bones are so brittle, that just the impact of landing on earth would crush our bodies." "It's true I'll never be able to see my family and friends ever again in person, but I'll be able to see their pictures, I'll still have access to the internet. "I can write emails home and talk as humans do all over the world. "That'll be good enough for me because the people I'd go to Mars with I'd have spent 10 years with. "That's pretty much half my life so far so they'll pretty much be my new family and friends." "At first they thought I was crazy and didn't really believe it was true. "Now they're a little bit scared. Everyone keeps telling me "don't go getting selected". "My mum still doesn't think it's real, she keeps joking with me saying: "When are you going to move out? When you go can I have all your money?" "If I really did go I think my mum would be quite upset. "She's only got one daughter, but I did go away to university for a whole year and it wasn't that bad because I called home every day." "I do feel a little bit guilty because if I get selected I'll have the choice of whether to leave everything behind or not. "That is kind of scary for me just having the choice. "In some ways I think at least I've tried to go to Mars and if they don't select me at least I don't have to make the choice." "That would be horrible. "I won't be able to contact home or have any communications with

Summary: Next week, Maggie Lieu will find out if she'll have to give up EVERYTHING for a one-way trip to Mars.


The Spaniard pounced to drive low into the corner from Zlatan Ibrahimovic's pull-back as United set up a home tie with West Ham. Paul Pogba had hit a post moments earlier as the game came alive in the second period, following a first half in which neither of the bitter rivals managed a shot on target. City boss Pep Guardiola made nine changes to his side, who are now six games without a win in all competitions - his worst run as a manager. Their best chance arrived early on when Kelechi Iheanacho headed over from six yards, while second-half substitutes Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero made little impact. Victory was United's second in five matches, and only Jose Mourinho's fourth win in 18 meetings with Guardiola. Former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager Mourinho said on Wednesday his life in Manchester is "a bit of a disaster". His words and United's poor form created a sense that defeat at Old Trafford would prompt tough headlines, and Mourinho admitted recent displays influenced his choice to make only four changes and retain key names. United, far from at their best, scored during their only spell of quality in the opening 10 minutes of the second half as Ibrahimovic - anonymous in the opening period - profited from Nicolas Otamendi's missed header to square for Mata. There remain areas of concern for United. Luke Shaw was constantly outwitted by Jesus Navas and again there was no place in the 18-man squad for £26m summer signing Henrik Mkhitaryan. But while Guardiola said the competition was his "lowest priority" before kick-off, Mourinho perhaps took the chance to shift United's momentum. Guardiola said City must be "more clinical" after they ended the night without working David de Gea once - the first time they have not had a shot on target in a game since 2012. City, who are top of the Premier League, had an early penalty appeal turned down when Michael Carrick tangled with Aleix Garcia. The wholesale changes made for the tie may blur detailed analysis of just what is amiss in recent weeks, but a switch to a 4-4-2 formation after two league games where a back three was used perhaps shows Guardiola has not yet settled on the way forward at City. He could also face more time without captain Vincent Kompany, who, making only his second start of the season, asked to be replaced at half-time because he was tired. Kompany suffered a groin strain in September but has been dogged by thigh and calf issues, prompting his playing time to fall from around over 2,700 minutes in 2013-14 to 1,700 last season. There were some positives for Guardiola as 19-year-old full-back Pablo Maffeo made made some key interventions but if City fail to win on Saturday they would be seven matches without a win, a dire run not endured since 2004. Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on responding to Sunday's 4-0 league defeat at Chelsea: "We were on a good run of results but it was a big defeat - numbers

Summary: Juan Mata struck to win a tight Manchester derby as United knocked out EFL Cup holders City to reach the quarter-finals.


Media playback is unsupported on your device 15 March 2015 Last updated at 10:37 GMT Georgina Harwood took to the sky above Cape Town, watched by her family and friends. She did the skydive to raised money for charity. "It was definitely a very special, exhilarating experience", she said. It's not the first time Georgina has jumped out of a plane. She did her first skydive in 2007 when she was aged 92. Now she's planning on going diving with sharks as her next adventure.

Summary: A daredevil gran has celebrated her 100th birthday by going skydiving in South Africa.


The 29-year-old's feat - a rare "hat-trick" for any goalkeeper - was key in the Terrors' 3-1 away win at East End Park on Saturday. "I think judging the run-ups is a massive thing these days," said United's summer signing from Rangers. "You can kind of sound out players the way they're going with their run-up." Grimsby Town's Walter Scott saved three penalties in one match in 1909, while Manchester United's Gary Bailey did likewise in 1980 and Huddersfield Town's Matt Glennon in 2007. But a spokesman for the Guinness Book of Records suggests that Bell's chances of being featured because all three saves took place in one half is likely to be thwarted as it only recognises achievements in a country's top league. Bell insisted that, while he has enjoyed the personal publicity, his priority was three points as United chase Scottish Championship leaders Hibernian. "It was an incredible game," he told BBC Scotland. "You don't expect to face three penalties, especially in one half. "It's nice getting positive media attention, but it was a vital three points for us. We've been up and down this season, so we're hoping that can kick-start our season." The score was 0-0 when Bell palmed away Gavin Reilly's first attempt and he then managed to block less convincing efforts from Nicky Clark and Paul McMullan to cancel out Simon Murray's opening goal. "The first penalty I managed to get a good hand to," he recalled. "I was actually going to my left-hand side and Gavin Reilly put it down the middle and I managed to put it away. "In the build up to the second penalty, I actually got injured making a one-on-one save on Gavin Reilly, so I managed to dust myself down and saved Nicky Clark's penalty and then the third one just put the icing on the cake. "I think, with the third penalty, the run up was always going to go one side, so you do your homework on those kinds of things." Bell, who has one Scotland cap, was a team-mate of Clark's until the summer, when they were both released by Rangers after their title win and promotion. "He was a bit gobsmacked and texted me later on that night just saying 'well done'," said Bell when asked about Clark's response to his save. "Obviously he was gutted with the result for Dunfermline, but he was delighted for me saving three penalties in one game. "I knew Nicky's favoured side, but then it's a game of poker because he knows that I know his side, so I had to go with the way he normally goes and he did go that way and thankfully I went early enough because he put enough power on it to get it in the corner." Despite the victory, Ray McKinnon's side remain in fourth place, seven points adrift of Hibs. "I was just delighted with the way the game went and that we managed to get the three points, which was vitally important for us," added Bell. "We've brought 10 new players

Summary: Studying his opponents' penalty style and run-ups helped Dundee United's Cammy Bell save three spot-kicks in one half against Dunfermline Athletic.


At Â£233bn the new stealth fighter is the most expensive weapons order ever placed, due to fly with the RAF and on the new British Navy carriers. British test pilots have already been putting it through its paces, but the hotly awaited first appearance in UK skies was cancelled after an engine fire grounded the whole fleet. A life size model is on display - and people queued around the block to gaze into the cockpit. So imagine my amazement when at the back of one of the trade halls I found the stand of the Martin-Baker company - and the seat of an F35, which they were happy for visitors to try out for size. This is the real thing, not a mock-up, as fitted to the amazing planes now flying in the States, if not here. Martin-Baker are a company based in Buckinghamshire. They are famous around the world, but still family owned, and test their products in nearby Oxfordshire. They started making aeroplanes after the war until Captain Valentine Baker was killed in a flying accident. His partner Sir James Martin dedicated the company to finding a way of enabling pilots to escape an aircraft safely in an emergency. Since then they've saved an amazing 7,500 lives as airmen were able to escape their doomed planes. It's always a last resort - but one-in-10 of the seats they have made has been used for a successful ejection. The latest design is fully microprocessor controlled. It is not straightforward firing out of a jet which could be flying at high speed thousands of feet up or stationary on the ground when disaster strikes. The new seat incorporates side air bags to protect the pilot's head as he flies through the canopy. Martin-Baker seats are acknowledged throughout aviation as top quality, at the cutting edge, yet the company is still run by the two engineer sons of the founder. It's an example of all the small firms in the UK working on what amounts to nearly 15% of the total value of the F35. In fact everything the pilot touches is Made in Britain. And it's a win for the Chancellor - with as much money projected to come back in tax revenue from manufacturers as the MoD has spent on its share of the order. So I can say I've sat in the seat of a world beater. OK the rest of the plane was missing, but knowing the history of that seat made it a huge thrill nonetheless.

Summary: A major disappointment for the crowds flocking to Hampshire for the Farnborough Airshow was the non-appearance of the new American-built F35 fighter plane.


Ms Coyle said it would be "daft" for the show to be a "perfect replica" of the real world. But she added it was "important to ask whether the BBC can do more in its popular output to provide an authentic portrayal of life in modern Britain". The population of EastEnders was also younger than in real life, she said. Ms Coyle is in the running to be head of the BBC Trust after Lord Patten stepped down due to ill health. The BBC's audience council in England compared the population of Walthamstow in east London with Walford, the fictional home of EastEnders. The figures suggested there were nearly twice as many white people living in Walford - E20 - as in real life E17, while the population of EastEnders tends to be younger than their real-life counterparts and more likely to have been born in the UK. It is not the first time that Black, Asian and minority ethnic representation (BAME) in EastEnders has been called into question. The soap's former boss, John Yorke, said EastEnders "may be significantly white compared with the real East End" back in May 2011. At the time, he added that it was "considerably more multicultural than it was even five years ago and is easily the most multicultural show on telly now". The BBC responded to Ms Coyle's comments by saying: "We agree with the trust that EastEnders has one of the most diverse casts on British television and that it would be daft to suggest that the programme needs to be a perfect replica of a particular postcode. "As announced by [director general] Tony Hall last week, the BBC has plans to lead the industry on diversity, both on and off screen." Ms Coyle also asked for improvements in BBC One's output across the board. Speaking at the London School of Economics, she said that according to BBC research, BBC One, the home of EastEnders, "plays it too safe in parts of its peak-time schedule". "BBC One is greatly appreciated. But it can sometimes feel too predictable. Its viewers expect still more from it," she added. The BBC said that the channel reaches 76% of the population, or 44 million people each week. "These audiences are clearly finding a huge amount that informs, educates and entertains them," it said. "We continually strive to deliver new and original programmes and it has been our consistent ability to do this over the years which has made BBC One Britain's most-watched and loved channel." The BBC Trust will set out in more detail what it would like the corporation to do next month. Ms Coyle also said it was a priority for the BBC to increase the number of women on air. Her comments follow the BBC's announcement last week to have greater BAME representation on and off air. The BBC will put Â£2.1m into a fund intended to help BAME talent, on and off screen, to develop new programmes. BBC targets call for about one in six people (15%) on-air to be from BAME backgrounds within

Summary: BBC soap EastEnders is "almost twice" as white as the real east London, Diane Coyle, the acting head of the BBC Trust, said in a speech in on Monday.


"I've been sitting on these banks for the last 25 years and this is the most bodies I've ever seen," says 53-year-old Krishna Ghimire, one of the temple's many priests. Pashputinath, which spans the banks of the Bagmati River, is the most revered Hindu temple in Nepal. This is where the dead are cremated - on ghats (cremation grounds) that jut out over the muddy water. Earthquake victims arrive here a dozen each hour. On Sunday, there were nearly 200 cremations. More than 100 are expected on Tuesday. "Yesterday was so depressing," says the priest. "Nearly 20 bodies arrived in the same vehicle and there was no space along the banks of the river to keep them, so we had to stack them up, one on top of each other until the bodies that were already burning had finished," he says. "We even had to store some in the nearby forest." The Nepalese government has been providing free firewood to families to help speed up the cremation process. "It is part of our larger strategy to avoid the possible outbreak of disease which might be caused by bodies lying around," says Lakshmi Dahal, the spokesman for the Ministry of Home Affairs that has been co-ordinating the relief mission. As the sun begins to heat up the day, large crowds filter through the ancient buildings that make up the temple complex. People are coming here not just to cremate their dead, but to give thanks to Lord Shiva (a Hindu god) for having survived. The temple itself has survived. Long cracks now snake their way down a few of its walls, but it was spared serious damage. Tekra Limbu wishes the same was true for Kathmandu's other monuments. He is here to cremate six members of his family, including his daughter and brother, who were on a family outing to the famous Dharahara Tower when it came crashing down on Saturday. "They had just reached the top when the earthquake hit," he says as he and his relatives follow their procession of bodies. "Four of them had just flown in from Singapore where they were working as policemen," he says. Mr Limbu was trying to call his family all Saturday. "Finally, when the security forces starting digging through the rubble that night, they found my brother's mobile phone which was still ringing," he says. "They told me to come here and identify the bodies." That night, he drove the 200km (125 miles) from his home in eastern Nepal to the capital, Kathmandu. He is stoic about his loss. "I'm sad, but in a disaster like this, what can you do?" he says as he walks, grim-faced, towards the line of pyres being readied for his family. A few metres along the river bank, agonising cries of pain overwhelm the quiet chants of priests and chimes of temple bells. Shyam Kumari Bhandari is here to cremate her elder sister who died when her family's seven-storey guesthouse was violently shaken by the quake. "She was on the top floor and we think she died of

Summary: At Kathmandu's Pashputinath temple, the morning air is heavy with birdsong and the smoke from funeral pyres.


The $620m (Â£395m) he made before tax means he has topped Forbes' list of the biggest earners in music in 2014. Not only that, but he has now also got the Forbes record for the highest earnings in a single year by any musician. The majority of his cash has come not from record sales but from Apple's purchase of Beats, the company he founded, for $3bn (Â£1.9bn). Best known for their headphone range, Beats also makes technology used in car audio systems and has a music streaming service known as Beats Music. Priced about $300 (Â£191) in the US, Dr Dre, if he were so inclined, could buy more than two million sets of his Studio headphones with his earnings. Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube

Summary: Dr Dre has taken home an enormous amount of money this year.


The 28-year-old joined the U's from Rotherham United in February of 2016 after an initial six-week loan spell. Maguire, who has played for Scotland twice, scored 17 goals in 54 appearances for Oxford last season. "He had many offers to consider so we are delighted he has chosen us," boss Lee Clark told the club website. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Bury have signed Scotland international striker Chris Maguire from fellow League One side Oxford United on a two-year contract.


Peter Allott, the 36-year-old deputy head at St Benedict's, has been charged with possessing, showing and making category A indecent images of children. He is also accused of two counts of possession of extreme pornography, the National Crime Agency said. He appeared before Ealing magistrates earlier and was remanded in custody. Mr Allott is next due to appear in court on 23 December at a venue to be confirmed. St Benedict's is a co-educational school for junior and senior school pupils. Last year 1,092 pupils were registered at the school. In 2010 Lord Carlile conducted a separate and unrelated inquiry into the "terrible legacy" of 21 cases of historical sex abuse at the school since 1970. The Independent Schools Inspectorate said in 2014 St Benedict's had a proactive approach to safeguarding which had improved since a previous inspection in 2012.

Summary: The deputy head of a fee-paying Catholic school in Ealing has been accused of possessing the most extreme category of indecent child images.


The error was made by RingGo payment system, which is managed by City of Edinburgh Council's contractor NSL. Motorists who tried to use RingGo on Tuesday will have their tickets cancelled. The council said it clearly stated on its website and parking machines that 27 December was a paid parking day. The council said about 300 motorists had been affected by the blunder. A council spokeswoman said: "Details relating to parking restrictions during the festive period are advertised very clearly through our website and social media and are provided on ticket machines throughout the city. "We are aware, however, that there was an error for a time with the RingGo payment service managed by our contracted partner NSL. "We are liaising with NSL to ensure that RingGo users who were issued with a parking ticket, due to the system failure on Tuesday, have their tickets cancelled." An NSL spokesman said: "NSL has confirmed that parking restrictions and charges in the city of Edinburgh do apply on Tuesday 27 December and Monday 2 January as stated on all Pay and Display machines and on the City Of Edinburgh Council's website. "Full enforcement procedures apply on both dates in order to maintain safe and fair access for anyone visiting the shops and facilities in and around the city centre. "The company has confirmed that it has been made aware of an incorrect instruction on the RingGo app and RingGo website and has asked for the instructions to be amended as a matter of urgency."

Summary: Hundreds of drivers have been issued parking tickets after an app wrongly told them they could park for free in Edinburgh on the day after Boxing Day.


The organisations behind the complaint say it is the biggest constitutional complaint in German history. They say the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta) deal violates democratic principles and will give too much power to multinational companies. But the German economy minister says a ruling in favour of the petitioners would be "a catastrophe". The Constitutional Court in the south-western city of Karlsruhe is due to rule on the emergency appeal on Thursday. The deal has already been agreed after years of negotiations - but if this petition is successful, correspondents say, it is extremely unlikely to be signed as scheduled at the end of October. Protests in Germany against transatlantic TTIP and Ceta trade deals EU Commission refuses to revise Canada Ceta trade deal Belgian province may sink EU-Canada trade deal Three activist groups gathered more than 125,000 signatures which they passed to the court in 70 boxes of documents in August. They are Compact, Foodwatch and More Democracy. Their legal objection to the deal is that parts of it can come into force even before national parliaments have ratified it, thus breaching the German constitution. "Not a single parliament elected by me - neither the Bundestag nor the European Parliament - was given a mandate to negotiate for Ceta," says Roman Huber of More Democracy. Its most visible opponent on Tuesday was German Economy Minister and Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel. He has already battled to win his Social Democratic Party (SPD) round to the deal. He told the court that a successful challenge to Ceta would undermine Germany's credibility, reported Die Welt news website. "I do not want to imagine what that could mean for Europe," he told the court. Activists fear that the deals could water down European standards in the key areas of workers' rights, public health and the environment. They say it will open up new areas for privatisation and give corporations new powers to make profits. They say it would give corporations the ability to sue governments through a special corporate court if they try to implement policies or regulations that could reduce the profits a company is expecting to make - for example, by increasing the minimum wage. Opponents also point to the complexity of the deal - suggesting that many deputies won't have read the 1,500-page document in full. Some argue that Ceta will allow many of the provisions in TTIP - the controversial Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership deal between the US and Europe - in through the back door. In August, Mr Gabriel was among leading European politicians who acknowledged that opposition meant the TTIP deal was effectively dead in the water. The court in Karlsruhe is due to rule on Thursday. If it rejects the complaints, European ministers are scheduled to approve the deal on 18 October, paving the way for it to be signed at a summit with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on 27 October. But if it fails the whole process could be upended, Mr Gabriel and Ceta opponents such as the Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern agree. Some, such

Summary: Germany's highest court is hearing a challenge to a planned EU-Canada free trade deal from some 125,000 citizens.


Shirley Taylor said the bees took residence in her Nissan car parked outside her front door in Watt Street, on Sunday. Chairman of the Beverley Beekeepers' Association, Chris Coulson, has been trying to lure the swarm out of the vehicle since. He said it was not clear what had attracted the bees to the vehicle and it could take a while to clear them. Mrs Taylor said the bees had arrived on Sunday when she received a message from a neighbour warning her to be careful of her car when she got home. "I just went indoors and closed all the windows and the neighbours did as well," she said. "It has been a bit of a hair-raising experience. "There were thousands all over the place and I have been stung and my daughter and granddaughter also got stung. "It is like Nightmare on Watt Street." Mrs Taylor said: "I did ask 'why pick on my car?' but my husband, who is a bit of a joker, said it was because of all the Bee Gees CDs in the car." Mr Coulson said bees usually swarm when their hives get too large and a colony breaks away to form a new one. However, he said he had never seen such a large swarm descend on a car before. "These cars have all kind of recesses and the bees seem to have gone into every one they could find. "We are trying to make them fly. In the box on top of the car we have young bees, some eggs and things like that and the bees in the car will hopefully try to cover those to make sure they don't die." He said he hoped they could remove the bees and find them a "more acceptable" new home.

Summary: A swarm of up to 20,000 bees has taken over a car in Hull.


And what a missed opportunity. This is a fairytale accomplishment, a final happy ending after decades of trying to write their own chapter into rugby league's history book. But it is also a sad tale of rugby league manufacturing its own bad timing. Classy Cas - a phrase first coined in the 1960s because of their playing style - have had great teams in the past and great players. But they have never won the league. Four or five years ago they seemed to be a club heading towards oblivion, stopping off at various financial crisis points along the way. Enter Steve Gill as chief executive and Daryl Powell was appointed as head coach of Castleford in May 2013, and the sat-nav was reset for success. This year they will win the league - for the very first time - by a mile and with a smile. They will do it by playing the kind of rugby that entertains. A matchday 'down the lane' as the old timers still call the rebranded Mend-a-Hose Jungle, is one of rugby league's most pleasurable experiences. It is a carnival on and off the field. Yet chances are that few outside Castleford will truly recognise their achievement. The regular season has now finished - the Tigers finished 10 points clear at the top. They have beaten every one of their opponents in Super League, in most cases twice. They have often destroyed their opposition, finishing the year with a points difference of +391. To put that into context, runners-up Leeds had a points difference of only +76. They are scoring more than 13 points a game more than their closest rivals. And yet, they have not been given any silverware yet. The bizarre situation is that Cas will only be mathematically crowned League Leaders a couple of weeks into what is, effectively, a new competition. The game goes into the Super 8s after next week's break for the Challenge Cup semi-finals. It is a difficult task trying to explain to the non-rugby league fan that this is when the 12-team Super League and Championship clubs are split. The top eight in Super League play off over seven weeks, but only the top four at the end of that mini league have a chance of reaching the Grand Final. The bottom four in Super League find themselves up against the top four from the Championship in a prolonged relegation/promotion play-off. This will culminate in a one-off Million Pound Game play-off between the fourth and fifth-placed teams from that mini series to determine who is in which league next year. But to add to that confusion, in amongst all those games and all the hype of the race for the Grand Final, the League Leaders Shield will be handed out. And no-one outside Castleford will really give a damn about it by then. It is a travesty that such a big deal will be missed by the sporting world at large. Cas deserve much greater recognition. Of course, they will get that recognition if they win the Grand

Summary: Castleford will be handed rugby league's League Leaders Shield in just a few weeks' time - what a story!


The 38-year-old, who lifted the One-Day Cup at Lord's last weekend, is retiring at the end of the season. Notts says the decision will allow the club to look to the future. "Chris and I have had a chat. We agree that this a great fit for everyone as we prepare for a T20 campaign", said head coach Peter Moores. Moores' son, 20-year-old Tom, will keep wicket for Notts as they begin their Twenty20 campaign against Yorkshire at Headingley. "The thinking is that it allows us to plan ahead for the future, with Chris due to retire in September, yet it enables Chris to pass on his vast experience and knowledge to our players," Peter Moores added. "He's excited about taking on this new role. It's a good opportunity for him to develop his coaching skills and allows Chris to rest and recharge his batteries after a very busy period. "He'll be fresh and ready to captain the side when the County Championship matches restart in August."

Summary: Notts Outlaws wicketkeeper Chris Read will be part of the club's coaching staff rather than play in this season's T20 Blast, which begins on Friday.


An incident happened at Premier Stores on Union Street in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Police Scotland said both men had also been charged in relation to an alleged assault and robbery of a 35-year-old man on Justice Street. They were expected to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court later.

Summary: Two men, both aged 22, have been charged in connection with an alleged attempted robbery at a convenience store in Aberdeen.


The bill, which will give the Senedd new powers, has been revised from its original draft amid worries it may reduce assembly powers. But Mr Jones has expressed "considerable concern" that four months after the law's publication a number of issues have not been resolved. The Wales Office said discussions would continue with the Welsh Government. The Wales Bill has already been debated in the House of Commons and is now being considered by the House of Lords as part of the process of the law entering the statute book. It will establish a new system for how the assembly makes laws, defining what is held back to Westminster in a list of reservations. Ministers had revised the bill from a previous draft following criticism that it would reduce the assembly's powers, but AMs have warned that even the revised version threatens a roll-back in capabilities. The committee stage of the proposed law's passage through the House of Lords is due to start on 31 October. Ahead of the debate, the Lords Constitution Committee suggested the Wales Bill could create a "recipe for confusion" and could lead to more Welsh bills ending up in the courts. AMs could refuse their permission for the Wales Bill to become law by voting against a legislative consent motion (LCM). The convention is not legally binding. In a letter to Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns, Mr Jones wrote that "the UK government has publicly acknowledged" the bill can only proceed to royal assent if the assembly has resolved to give its legislative consent to the UK Parliament. He said: "I will be looking to you to use your influence within the UK government to secure the necessary amendments so that the Welsh Government can commend the bill to the assembly. "We are certainly not yet in that position, but I stand ready to discuss further with you as necessary." Mr Jones said the issues included addressing those around a Welsh legal jurisdiction, and the number and breadth of reservations. In particular, Mr Jones called for reservations on teachers' pay along with alcohol licensing, sale and supply to be removed from the bill. "The judgement on whether to recommend that the assembly should give its legislative consent will inevitably be heavily influenced by the way the UK government deals with these matters at committee and report stages in the Lords," he said. The Lords Constitution Committee said changes are needed to make sure the assembly's powers are not "inadvertently reduced". Lord Lang, the chairman of the committee, said: "The list of reservations is so extensive, and the legal tests that govern the assembly's powers so complex and vague, that it could be a recipe for confusion and legal uncertainty. "The outcome is likely to be increased litigation as the courts are asked to decide exactly where the boundaries of the assembly's authority lies." A Wales Office spokesman said: "The Wales Bill provides a historic opportunity for the Welsh assembly to secure more powers and create a stronger, clearer fairer devolution settlement for Wales. "Discussions will continue with the

Summary: The Welsh Government is not yet ready to commend the Wales Bill to AMs, First Minister Carwyn Jones has said.


Thanet Council began work two weeks ago at All Saints Church in Birchington but some stones have been left broken. One resident, Janice Taylor, said it looked as if "hooligans and demolished the place". Thanet Council admitted the work could be "upsetting" but said it was in line with national guidelines. These are determined by the Ministry of Justice and its Burial and Cemeteries Advisory Group. The work also has the approval of the vicar of Birchington, the Rev Done Witts, the authority said. Ms Taylor said she was appalled by how the work had been left. "It looks like an act of vandalism has occurred. "It doesn't look as if the council has come in here to do work, it looks as if hooligans have come in and demolished the place." Mr Witts said: "It's just that it looks untidy in the meantime until the council sorts it out." The council said there were more than 100,000 memorials across cemeteries in Thanet, many of which were more than 100 years old. It said the testing was being done to ensure the gravestones did not pose a danger to the public. "The council appreciates the sensitivity of this work with every effort made to advise those affected," it said in a statement. "It has produced a question and answer leaflet to guide plot owners through what could be a potentially upsetting time." It also said a team at Thanet Crematorium were available to advise on "all aspects of the Memorial Stability Programme".

Summary: A Kent council has been accused of leaving gravestones and memorials looking as if they have been vandalised after carrying out safety checks.


The 37-year-old and two girls aged 13 were found at a property in Grove Road, Chadwell Heath at 13:10 BST on Tuesday. Shighi Kotuvala and sisters Niya and Neha Rethishkumar had not been seen since Sunday. Their father, Pullarkattil Rethish Kumar, 44, who was missing from the address, was found hanging at Woodford Reservoir in Walthamstow. Formal identification is yet to take place. Post-mortem examinations are due to take place later, but Scotland Yard said the three female bodies had no signs of visible injuries. The family's neighbour, Zoya Habibani, 24, described the family as "really friendly" and garage owner Bobby Singh, 41, said they were "very reserved" and "polite". He said: "I hope someone finds out the answers. I hope they rest in peace as well." The Metropolitan Police said it was initially called to the property on Monday night after concerns were raised about the family's welfare. There was no response or signs of a disturbance at the house so the officers left. They returned on Tuesday and broke into the property and found the bodies of the woman and the two girls. Det Supt Kenny McDonald said: "At this stage in our ongoing investigation we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths. "We are making extensive enquiries to trace next of kin, who we believe to be outside of the UK." The Met said as part of its "routine" it had referred its response to the Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Summary: A mother and her twin daughters have been found dead at a house in east London, police have said.


NASUWT NI president Susan Parlour made the comments during a speech to members at the union's annual conference. She also said the Education and Training Inspectorate, which carries out school inspections, was "not fit for purpose". The NASUWT is one of the largest teaching unions in Northern Ireland. Its members are currently engaged in rolling strike action over pay and workload, along with members of the INTO union. National officer Justin McCamphill also spoke at the union's annual conference in Belfast, warning of further strike action if devolution was not restored. Teachers were prepared to fight for adequate budgets for schools and against the erosion of teachers pay, he said. In October 2016, all teaching unions in Northern Ireland rejected an offer that saw pay frozen in 2015-16 and a rise of 1% for 2016-17. Ms Parlour was heavily critical of what she called "political myopia and a penny-pinching approach to education". "The so-called fresh start agreement, rather than living up to the positive promise of its name, has brought stagnation and rot to classrooms," she said. She also claimed that front-line services, including those for children with special educational needs, had suffered due to budget reductions. "This clearly suggests that we have politicians here in NI who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing," she said. "While these cuts were being imposed mercilessly on our schools, let's not forget that our government saw fit to send millions of pounds up in smoke in the flawed RHI scheme." In January, former Education Minister Peter Weir said that schools needed an extra Â£240m over the next three years just to maintain current spending levels. He also warned that schools faced making "redundancies and savings". "Efficiencies in and of themselves will not be enough to avoid the sort of pain that will be there if there is no new money at all," he warned. Subsequently, 15 primary school principals from County Down wrote a joint letter to parents warning their schools were facing "financial disaster".

Summary: Further cuts to the education budget will make Northern Ireland's education system "unsustainable," a teachers' union leader has said.


South Yorkshire Police inspector Stephen Ellis told how a crush started outside the stadium on 15 April 1989. He told the jury he feared someone would be killed before a gate was opened relieving the throng outside. Ninety-six fans died following the crush at the FA Cup semi-final game. Insp Ellis, who was in charge of officers meeting Liverpool fans as they arrived in Sheffield, told the inquests that at 14:30 that day it was "just a normal football match". He told the jury he had escorted a group of around 400 Liverpool supporters from Wadsley Bridge train station into Leppings Lane in time for the 15:00 kick off. But by 14:40, he noticed things had changed and it was "mayhem", the inquests at Warrington, Cheshire heard. He said: "They were running towards me, away from the turnstiles, pushing their way through, shouting, screaming "get the match delayed" that sort of comment." A group of officers on horseback tried to block access to the turnstiles, the jury heard, which was effective for a short while. At 14:46 a police Land Rover arrived in Leppings Lane, he said. Mr Ellis said he climbed on to the roof of the vehicle and shouted through a loudspeaker at fans to stop pushing. "People [were] getting crushed against the turnstiles and down Leppings Lane as far as I could see, which was maybe 400m before the road bent out of sight. Profiles of all those who died 'It was wall to wall supporters coming towards me, coming towards people in the turnstile area that were getting crushed. He said the horses were having difficulty as they had no space either. Mr Ellis told the inquests he saw a man "trying to protect his daughter". "He had got his feet up against the the wall four feet off the ground. He was pushing back with his shoulders and pushing back with his legs. "He stood up with his arms by his side, unable to move, pinned up against the wall near the turnstiles." He also saw a young fan dive under a police horse, he told the jury. "He cleared something like three metres without touching the ground and landed on his hands on the other side and then climbed up and started pushing to try and get into the turnstiles." The jury heard he was worried somebody was going to get killed or seriously injured and that even if more officers or horses had been deployed they would not have helped the situation. "It was too late; there were too many people there to have controlled by that time and still they were coming down Leppings Lane and Catchbar Lane." He told the inquests at sometime after 15:00 the crowd cleared after Gate C was opened. He told the jury: "I didn't even know this gate existed, let alone had been opened. "I didn't know where they had gone." Mr Ellis said he continued to watch for a "couple of minutes" and fans were still "diving over the turnstiles". "There was no reason for them to

Summary: Liverpool supporters at Hillsborough were "gripped by mania" and "frantic" to get into the ground as kick off approached on the day of the disaster, the jury at the new inquests has heard.


The programme, coming a decade after the original Planet Earth was broadcast, has been, by all accounts, a truly extraordinary series. Ratings show the series has been watched by all age groups, with surprisingly large numbers of young people tuning in to watch the programme live every week. The series has become Internet Movie Database's highest-rated television programme of all time. Here are just a few of the things we've learned from Planet Earth II. 1. Flamingos don't get sunburned In the Mountains episode, we saw flamingos become trapped in ice overnight, only to be freed when the sun finally came up. Later, we saw them gather together in a group to go on parade in a peculiar courtship ritual - providing BBC One with some excellent new idents in the process. 2. Sloths like to swim (especially if there is a pretty sloth waiting at the other side of the lake) Sadly the female sloth being pursued in the Islands episode already had a baby and therefore wouldn't be mating again for another six months - but full marks for effort to this enthusiastic chap. 3. Sir David Attenborough can present from a hot air balloon at the age of 90 The prospect of going to a freezing cold climate, climbing into a hot air balloon and trying not to shiver too much as a camera is pointed at you would be daunting for most of us. But not, apparently, for Sir David, who is still able to do this with ease despite being in his 10th decade. 4. Watching iguanas being pursued by snakes is more exciting than any James Bond car chase we've ever seen Watching animals chase other animals in this series can be a confusing experience - do you root for the animal being pursued, because you don't want them to die, or the predator giving chase, because you don't want them to starve? Either way - there's no denying such encounters are extremely exhilarating (and traumatising). 5. Men are more attractive when they tidy up a bit The Wilson's bird-of-paradise in the Jungles episode set an example to us all. The brightly-coloured bird tidied up all the leaves from one patch of the forest floor so his bright feathers would stand out more and attract a mate. Far be it from us to suggest that humans could learn from this, of course. 6. Baloo and The Jungle Book were fairly accurate depictions of bear scratching behaviour You're a bear. You've got an itchy back. What do you do? Make extremely creative use of the trees around you, of course - proving in the process that The Jungle Book was more than just a children's film, it was a documentary. 7. A giraffe can win in a battle with a lion Because prey is so thin on the ground, desert lions hunt whichever animals they come across. As giraffes are relatively common here they are an important prey species. But one particular giraffe in the Deserts episode gave a lioness a run for her money, not quite

Summary: About 10 million of us have been tuning in to BBC One's Planet Earth II every Sunday for the past six weeks.


The directive, which came into force last weekend, was widely condemned and ridiculed across the country. Affecting women in eastern Libya, it prohibited those under the age of 60 from travelling abroad without a male guardian. The authorities had said the ban was for security, not religious, reasons. A military official claimed it was because some women travelling abroad were in contact with foreign intelligence. The authorities presented no evidence to back up this claim. The freezing of the travel ban was announced by the director of East Libya's civil society commission, Abir Mneina, who had held talks with the military chief of staff of Libya's eastern region, Abdelrazzak al-Naduri, on Tuesday. She told the BBC that officials had been asked to cancel the ban but agreed only to freeze it temporarily and carry out a review. "He [Mr al-Naduri] said... there are security implications that need to be considered. We said fine, if there are specific security issues then we understand and support that because we are in a state of war and this is an important matter for us all," said Ms Mneina "So that's why we finally agreed that the directive will be reviewed to ensure that there are no violations against rights and freedomsâ€¦ Our main aim is to get the order cancelled completely. "I think we are headed on the path of it getting cancelled. We said that if it is not cancelled we are already preparing a legal statement that will be taken to court." A source in the office of Eastern Libya's chief of staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed to the BBC that the order had been frozen. He said the ban was being reviewed because "it may have generalised the matter too much". Libya has been in chaos since Nato-backed forces overthrew Col Muammar Gaddafi in October 2011. Eastern Libya is governed by an administration based in al-Beyda that is not recognised by the international community. It is is under the control of commander Khalifa Hafter who is leading the battle against Islamist militias. Libya's internationally recognised government is based in the capital, Tripoli. The travel restrictions highlighted the growing political divide in Libya, with each side enforcing its own rules in the area it controls.

Summary: The authorities in eastern Libya have ordered a temporary freeze on a controversial travel ban on Libyan women under the age of 60.


Former US Open champion McDowell, 37, has fallen to number 83 in the world and was not one of Clarke's three wildcard selections for Hazeltine. "G-Mac is a good friend and I was speaking to him frequently during the qualifying process," said Clarke, 48. "It was very difficult, but he is just not firing on all cylinders right now." McDowell has played in the last four Ryder Cups - holing the winning putt in 2010 at Celtic Manor - and Clarke said it would be strange not having his compatriot around Europe's Ryder Cup team later this month. But he has been impressed by the reaction of the Portrush-raised player to his disappointment of missing out on the team for the first time in a decade. Media playback is not supported on this device "The messages he has sent show the class of the man," said Clarke. "He has been wishing us all the best and volunteering to help in any way he can." The European captain also says he is not worried that six of his team have not played in the Ryder Cup before. Danny Willett, Thomas Pieters, Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Andy Sullivan, Matt Fitzpatrick and Chris Wood will make their debuts in Minnesota from 30 September to 2 October. "The Ryder Cup will be different to anything they have played in before, but they aren't rookies anymore really," added the former Open champion. "They play all over the world and I have confidence that the guys will go over there and perform. "The Americans are desperate to win the cup back but I believe in our team."

Summary: European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke admits it was difficult to leave his close friend Graeme McDowell out of the team to face the United States.


And now an eight-year-old Swansea schoolboy is to quiz him about how it felt via Twitter. Rhys Maguire-Stokes was among 25 pupils from Blaenymaes primary at a live link-up with the International Space Station on Tuesday. It was one of 10 UK schools - and the only one from Wales - at the event in Liverpool. While there was not time for Rhys to ask his question live, it has been tweeted to the astronaut to answer. Class teacher Amy Smith said Rhys was chosen to be the school representative to ask Maj Tim as he floated 264 miles above Earth: "How did it feel to walk in space?" "It's a shame there wasn't time for him to ask his question live but we've tweeted Major Peake and will wait for his answer," she said. "The kids have had a fabulous day and as soon as they saw Major Peake on the screen, their faces just lit up." Mrs Smith entered the school into a competition run by the Times Education Supplement's website to be one of those gathering at the World Museum, as part of the "Cosmic Classroom" event. The feed was then relayed to other schools around the country; in all 10,000 children were taking part. As well as answering pupils' questions, Maj Peake also demonstrated a number of scientific activities in space, which the children could copy in their classrooms. "He was absolutely brilliant and did lots of tricks for them, showing how he floated and doing tricks with water to make it go into bubbles," said Mrs Smith, who took pupils from years 4 and 5. "The children were very excited and have been since the moment they were told they were going. "I think it's fantastic for him to take time out of his mission in space to talk to the children and he has really inspired them. A few of them are now saying they want to go into space too and be able to float." The children have been studying space as a topic since Christmas and will be holding a class assembly and creating a class book to mark their time with Maj Tim. The European Space Agency astronaut launched to the orbiting platform on 15 December and is due to stay aboard until June. The International Space Station is currently above the south Atlantic He described his first walk in space as "exhilarating".

Summary: Major Tim Peake made history when he became the first British person to walk in space.


Fly-half Sam Davies is released with Rhodri Jones, Rory Thornton, Olly Cracknell. Nicky Smith and James King. They will return to the Wales camp on Sunday to prepare for the Six Nations game with Ireland on 10 March. The other Welsh regions play on Saturday and will not receive players from Rob Howley's squad, with Wales playing just six days later.

Summary: Ospreys will be boosted by six Wales squad members for their Pro12 match with Edinburgh on Friday, 3 March.


Age: 44 Nominated for: Blue Jasmine The character: Jasmine is a wealthy New York socialite who suffers a humiliating fall from grace after her husband is arrested for financial fraud. Oscar record: The Australian actress has picked up five previous Academy Award nominations, including two nods for the role of Elizabeth I, whom she portrayed in 1998's Elizabeth and its 2007 sequel The Golden Age. She won the best supporting actress Oscar in 2005 for playing Hollywood star Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator. The critics said: "Blanchett, who has played Blanche in Streetcar on stage, is the film's glory. She is miraculous at finding the bruised heart of this bullying elitist. This is Blanchett triumphant, and not to be missed." Peter Travers, Rolling Stone Age: 49 Nominated for: Gravity The character: Dr Ryan Stone, an astronaut coping with the loss of her four-year-old daughter, is left adrift in space after a devastating accident. Oscar record: Bullock's one previous nomination converted to an Oscar statuette for her leading role in The Blind Side in 2010. The critics said: "Bullock inhabits the role with grave dignity and hints at Stone's past scars with sensitivity and tact, and she holds the screen effortlessly once Gravity becomes a veritable one-woman show." Justin Chang, Variety Age: 79 Nominated for: Philomena The character: Philomena Lee is an Irish Catholic woman who was sent to a convent when she became pregnant as a teenager in the 1950s, and saw her child given up for adoption. A meeting with a journalist in later life prompts a search to find the son she lost. Philomena Lee is still alive today. Oscar record: Dame Judi has previously landed a total of six Academy Awards nominations. She won for her second nomination, playing Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love. Famously, she appeared on screen for only eight minutes. The critics said: "Ms. Dench's Philomena Lee glows with the radiance of someone serene in her faith despite inhumane treatment by the church. That she makes you believe her character has the capacity to forgive, provides the movie with a solid moral centre." Stephen Holden, New York Times Age: 39 Nominated for: American Hustle The character: Sydney Prosser is a confidence trickster who is forced to take part in an FBI sting operation to root out corrupt politicians. Oscar record: Has already picked up four nominations all in the best supporting actress category, most recently for 2012's The Master - but has yet to collect a golden statuette. The critics said: "Sydney Prosser is played with a gleam of pure self-harming passion by Amy Adams." Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian Age: 64 Nominated for: August: Osage County The character: Violet Weston, a family matriarch suffering from cancer with a penchant for taking prescription drugs and doling out searing insults to her loved ones. Oscar record: Streep has collected a total of 17 nominations from previous years, with three wins. One for best supporting actress in Kramer vs Kramer (1980) and two for best actress: Sophie's Choice (1983) and, almost 30 years later, as Margaret Thatcher

Summary: A look at the best actress winner and her fellow nominees at the 86th Academy Awards.


The first Grand Slam of the 2016 season runs from January 18-31 and the baby is due in mid-February. Asked if he would withdraw from the final in such a scenario, the 28-year-old Scot said: "I'm going to fly home. "I'd be way more disappointed winning the Australian Open and not being at the birth of the child." Murray, a double Grand Slam winner, said the current plan is to compete in the Australian Open and then take February off to spend time with Kim and the baby. He was speaking while competing in the Hopman Cup event in Perth, where he partnered Heather Watson to a 2-1 win for Great Britain against France on Monday. Murray put Great Britain ahead when he defeated Kenny de Schepper 6-2 6-2 in the men's singles. Watson lost to Caroline Garcia 6-3 5-7 6-3 in the women's singles to level the tie. Murray and Watson then beat De Schepper and Garcia 6-2 5-7 10-6 in a mixed doubles match decided on a champions tie-break.

Summary: British number one Andy Murray says he would leave the Australian Open early if his wife, Kim, goes into early labour with their first child.