The Imperial College London team hope to overcome the dangerous and common problem of leaving bits of the tumour in a patient, which can then regrow. Early results, in the journal Science Translational Medicine, showed the "iKnife" could accurately identify cancerous tissue on the spot. It is now being tested in clinical trials to see if it saves lives. To avoid leaving cancerous tissue behind, surgeons also remove surrounding tissue. They can even send samples off for testing while the patient is still in theatre, but this takes time. Yet one in five patients who have a breast lump removed still need a second operation to clear their tumour. For lung cancer the figure is about one in 10. The team at Imperial College London modified a surgical knife that uses heat to cut through tissue. It is already used in hospitals around the world, but the surgeons can now analyse the smoke given off when the hot blade burns through tissue. The smoke is sucked into a hi-tech "nose" called a mass spectrometer. It detects the subtle differences between the smoke of cancerous and healthy tissue. This information is available to the surgeon within seconds. Tests on 91 patients showed that the knife could accurately tell what type of tissue it was cutting and if it was cancerous. Dr Zoltan Takats, who invented the system at Imperial, said: "These results provide compelling evidence that the iKnife can be applied in a wide range of cancer surgery procedures. "It provides a result almost instantly, allowing surgeons to carry out procedures with a level of accuracy that hasn't been possible before. "We believe it has the potential to reduce tumour recurrence rates and enable more patients to survive." Trials are now taking place at three hospitals in London - St Mary's, Hammersmith and Charing Cross. Prof Jeremy Nicholson, head of the department of surgery and cancer at Imperial College London, said: "This is part of what we call precision medicine, we're trying to change the world by very aggressively translating scientific discovery in to the NHS." Surgeon Dr Emma King, of Cancer Research UK, said: "The iKnife is an exciting development to guide cancer surgeons during operations. "If its usefulness is supported in further clinical trials, it could potentially reduce the time spent in theatre for many patients."

Summary: An "intelligent" knife that can sniff out tumours to improve cancer surgery has been developed by scientists.


Northumbria University told Newcastle Crown Court it was "deeply, genuinely sorry" as it was fined £400,000. Sports science students Alex Rossetta and Luke Parkin were each given the equivalent of 300 cups of coffee. They were admitted to intensive care for dialysis after the calculation error led to violent side-effects. Prosecutor Adam Farrer told the court the overdose "could easily have been fatal". Peter Smith, defending, said the university wished to "emphasise that they take the welfare of their students and staff seriously". The students had volunteered to take part in a test in March 2015 aimed at measuring the effect of caffeine on exercise. They were given 30g of caffeine instead of 0.3g, Mr Farrer said. Death had previously been reported after consumption of just 18g, he told the court. The university had switched from using caffeine tablets to powder, he said. "The staff were not experienced or competent enough and they had never done it on their own before," he said. "The university took no steps to make sure the staff knew how to do it." The calculation had been done on a mobile phone, with the decimal point in the wrong place, and there was no risk assessment. Both men have made a full physical recovery, though Mr Rossetta had reported short-term memory loss, the court heard. The university admitted the health and safety breach at a hearing last month.

Summary: A university has been fined after two students suffered "life-threatening" effects when they were given 100 times too much caffeine in an experiment.


Jose Salvador Alvarenga thanked the president of the Marshall Islands, where he was found late last month, before boarding a flight to Hawaii. He says he left Mexico for a trip in a fibre-glass boat in December 2012 with a friend who died on board. He apparently survived the 8,000 km (5,000-mile) ordeal by catching fish, birds and turtles with his bare hands. For fluids, he claimed to have drunk urine, rainwater and the blood of birds. He was rescued on 30 January by people living on the island of Ebon Atoll. "Thank you for everything the people of the Marshall Islands have done for me during my stay," Mr Alvarenga, 37, said through an interpreter before leaving for Hawaii. He will make his way from there to El Salvador to be reunited with his relatives. President Christopher Loeak presented him with a woven garland, the AFP news agency reports. The fisherman had been due to leave last Friday, but doctors said he needed more rest. The family of his younger friend say they want to speak to Mr Alvarenga to find out more about how their son died, and what happened to his body. Known as Ezequiel, he is believed to have starved after being unable to eat raw birds and fish. Three Mexican fishermen were rescued off the Marshall Islands in August 2006 after what they said was about nine months drifting across the Pacific Ocean. They survived on rain water, seabirds and fish. Castaways from Kiribati, to the south, frequently find land in the Marshall Islands after ordeals of weeks or months at sea in small boats.

Summary: A castaway from El Salvador who claims he spent more than a year adrift in the Pacific has begun his journey home.


Charting the Fife town's medieval history, they are to be housed in the existing Carnegie library and a disused bank. Fife Council has pledged £6.8m and the project has a first round pass for £2.8m from the Heritage Lottery Fund. A first round pass means it meets the HLF's criteria for funding before detailed plans have been submitted. The project now has up to two years to submit fully developed proposals to compete for a firm award. The buildings would be redeveloped and a new extension added to create a huge development including a museum, art gallery, archive, library and local history services. Colin McLean, head of the HLF in Scotland, said: "Museums, galleries and libraries are extremely valuable community assets. "They make a great contribution to people's education, self-identity and enjoyment. "They keep our history safe for future generations and they impact on the local economy, often as the cornerstone of an area's tourism industry. "We are delighted to be able to give Dunfermline our support at this stage." Jim Tolson, MSP for Dunfermline and West Fife, said he was "overjoyed" with the backing. "HLF's support for this project is crucial to the long-awaited addition of a museum and art gallery in Dunfermline which will benefit both local people and visitors for generations to come," he added. Brian Goodall, chairman of Fife Council's housing and communities committee, said: "The Heritage Lottery Fund's decision to support the development of Dunfermline's new flagship museum is a tremendous vote of confidence in the city. We are delighted with the news. "Fife Council has itself made a major commitment of £6.8m to delivering this project as part of the council's drive to improve leisure and cultural opportunities for all."

Summary: A new museum and art gallery are set to be built in Fife under multi-million pound plans for Dunfermline.


Lee Johnson, 45, had been a voluntary patient with depression at Maelor Hospital when he hanged himself in February 2016. The witnesses were asked to spell out changes in their working practices following his death. A narrative verdict was recorded and the health board said it fully accepted the coroner's findings. Sgt Johnson, of Pantymwyn, near Mold, served with the West Mercia force and was based in Oswestry. The two day inquest in Ruthin previously heard he had been under investigation for alleged misconduct by the police watchdog, although coroner John Gittins said it was "not of any great consequence". He had told his wife Barbara Johnson that he felt safe in the Heddfan unit and was described as a "model patient" and eager to engage with anything that would help him get better. But he spoke of suicide when under the influence of alcohol. Sgt Johnson was known to have taken alcohol on two occasions while in the unit, and was suspected of drinking on several other occasions. Mr Gittins said the unit had "entirely failed to address the risk" Sgt Johnson posed to himself, especially after consuming alcohol, and that the policy on patients taking alcohol needed to be far more robust. "As an outsider it is hard to understand how a person can be intoxicated in Heddfan," he said. Earlier, Dr Stuart Porter, interim clinical director with Betsi Cadwaladr health board, outlined improvements introduced in an action plan, including more one-to-one sessions, better documentation and liaison with family members. Asked whether the risk to Sgt Johnson had been underestimated in the light of previous incidents when he had been drinking, Dr Porter said: "Potentially yes, but predicting a risk is difficult." Recording his narrative conclusion, Mr Gittins said he felt existing policies were good and would work in practice. Speaking after the hearing, Mrs Johnson, herself a police officer with North Wales Police, said her husband had been desperate to get help. She said she was encouraged by the health board's review but said she felt "they have not recognised the failings in his care that I believe contributed to his death". "I appreciated the coroner seeking reassurance from those staff that the lessons have, in fact, been learned," she said. Dr Porter extended the health board's "sincerest condolences to the family" and said they "fully accepted" the coroner's findings.

Summary: A coroner recalled six witnesses at the inquest of a police sergeant who died while in a psychiatric unit in Wrexham.


The British Infrastructure Group (BIG) report says a lack of runway capacity at Heathrow is causing "substantial damage to the industry as a whole". Both Heathrow and Gatwick are bidding for an extra runway to be built. A Department for Transport spokesman said it was important to consider all the evidence before making a decision. Last month, the then transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said a decision on expansion had been put back until "at least October" following the result of the EU referendum. However, BIG - a Commons group led by the Conservative MP Grant Shapps - says a decision should be made immediately, adding that it would show new Prime Minister Theresa May's "mettle". It says it has gathered evidence from local and national authorities as well as academics about future airport capacity. The report's recommendations state: "The problem of capacity at the current hub, Heathrow, is causing substantial damage to the industry as a whole. "It erodes confidence in the government's stated ambition of growing the economy and our international trade." Last July, the independent Airport Commission recommended Heathrow be expanded with a third runway - a 3,500m strip north of the two existing ones - at an estimated cost of Â£18.6bn. But in December the government delayed its decision, saying further work on noise, pollution and compensation needed to be carried out. Then, last month, Gatwick said the UK's Brexit vote showed it was "clearer than ever that only Gatwick can deliver the new runway Britain needs". The group of MPs also called for the expansion of regional airports "for the good of UK plc". "Only their expansion can address the coming 'capacity crunch' and deliver sustained growth, underlining the concepts of the Northern Powerhouse and the Midlands Engine and sharing the proceeds of growth across Britain," the report says. BIG also calls for infrastructure at regional airports to be "joined up" and for airport passenger duty to be made "progressively lower".

Summary: The government must make an "urgent and immediate decision" on airport expansion in south-east England, a group of cross-party MPs have said.


Mr Ahmadinejad, a hardliner who served two terms between 2005 and 2013, filed paperwork for the 19 May poll at the interior ministry in Tehran. Last year, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned him that such a move was "not in his interest and that of the country". But Mr Ahmadinejad told reporters on Tuesday that had been "just advice". Associated Press journalists who witnessed Mr Ahmadinejad register on Tuesday said election officials were "stunned" when he submitted the paperwork. President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate who negotiated a nuclear deal with world powers in 2015, is yet to register but is widely expected to seek a second term. More than 120 people, including six women, submitted their names on the first day of registration on Monday, according to local media. Once the process ends on Saturday, the prospective candidates will be screened for their political and Islamic qualifications by the Guardian Council. The clerical body will announce a final list of vetted candidates on 27 April. Speaking after submitting his paperwork Mr Ahmadinejad said he was only helping his former vice-president, Hamid Baghaei, who registered alongside him. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's decision to register is the biggest surprise so far in the presidential election. Ayatollah Khamenei had indicated he did not want Mr Ahmadinejad to stand and it is unusual for anyone in the political establishment to go against the supreme leader's wishes. Those who do tend to pay for it. Hardliners have made it clear they are angry and disappointed. Some have called Mr Ahmadinejad's move "unacceptable" and said it will spell the end of his political career. All potential candidates have to be vetted by the Guardian Council and many observers believe Mr Ahmadinejad will not pass this hurdle. But if he does, his entry into the race is likely to take some of the shine off the hardliners' preferred candidate, Ebrahim Raisi. It will also be damaging to President Rouhani - especially with poorer voters who have yet to feel the effects of promised economic improvements following the nuclear deal, and could be swayed by Mr Ahmadinejad's populist rhetoric and promises to bring back subsidies to help people cope with inflation. "I registered merely to support Baghaei and I will act according to the [supreme] leader's advice," he said. "I'll be serving Mr Baghaei with all my power." He added: "Some people say that the [supreme leader's] advice was meant to completely forbid [me from running], but what the leader said was just advice... I am still committed to my moral promise." Ayatollah Khamenei, who holds ultimate power over Iran's civil and religious affairs, said he had told him not to stand because it would "create bipolar opposites and divisions in the country which I believe is harmful". The disputed re-election of Mr Ahmadinejad in 2009 triggered the biggest protests in Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Millions of people demanded a re-run, but the supreme leader insisted the result was valid and ordered a major crackdown on dissent that saw dozens of opposition supporters killed and thousands detained. Analysts said Mr

Summary: Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has registered as a candidate in Iran's presidential election, despite being told not to by the Supreme Leader.


The 20-year-old was granted a work permit by the Home Office after a hearing in London on Tuesday. "I'm feeling very happy, it's a very important step in my career," Coutinho told Liverpool's official website. "Liverpool is a great club with great players. We've always heard about Liverpool's history in Brazil. I know they believe in me and my football." Southampton were also interested in Coutinho, who becomes Liverpool's second signing of the transfer window following the capture of striker Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea at the beginning of the month. Playmaker Coutinho, who has one cap for Brazil, is a product of Vasco da Gama's youth system. He was bought by Inter in 2008, at the age of 16, for €4m, although the Serie A side immediately loaned him back to Vasco, because foreigners are prohibited from playing professional football in Italy until they are 18. However, he struggled to make an impact when he returned to Italy and spent half a season on loan at Spanish side Espanyol in January 2012 before attracting strong interest from Liverpool. "We're always delighted when we get the players we go after," said Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre. "It has been a successful transfer window for us, coming off the back of acquiring Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea and now Philippe from Inter Milan. "I think that bodes well for us for the rest of the season and the future."

Summary: Liverpool have completed the £8.5m signing of Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho from Inter Milan.


Wales were thrashed 40-7 by the Chiefs on Tuesday and scored just one try as the Super Rugby side ran in six. Gatland's men, beaten 39-21 by the All Blacks in the first Test, have scored four tries in their last three games. "We've spoken about chances that we create and being more clinical," he said. Wales have lost 27 consecutive games against New Zealand, with their last win coming in 1953. They are looking for a first win over the All Blacks on their own soil and play Steve Hansen's side at the Westpac Stadium on Saturday, before ending their tour against the Kiwis in Dunedin. Wales wasted a handful of try-scoring chances in Hamilton on Tuesday, while the two-time Super Rugby champions were supremely clinical. "The disappointment for us was, was there a little bit of white-line fever? There possibly was on a couple of occasions," said Gatland. "You've just to keep being tough on the players and say at this level if you create chances you've got to finish them off and be hard on the players about that. "Sometimes you don't get many chances to score at this level. "Every opportunity the Chiefs created they came away with points. We hammered away in their 22 and created some chances and we've come away with nothing, and that's where we've got to improve." Gatland admits defence is an issue too, with Wales having conceded 16 tries in their last three matches - a run which started with the 27-13 defeat by England in May. "For us, the big thing coming down to New Zealand is getting off our line defensively and looking to be more proactive in dominating those collisions defensively." he said. "At the moment we are coming off second best and that's what we have to better at. "If you win those collisions, you slow the ball down and you stop teams playing a bit more on the front foot. "We've got to get that right, hopefully over the next few days."

Summary: Wales coach Warren Gatland says his side must be better in attack in Saturday's game against world champions New Zealand in Wellington.


Title-chasing Argyle had stuttered of late with only one win in six games and failed to get a shot on target until their 69th-minute opener when Graham Carey floated a free-kick to the far post from the right-hand edge of the box and Sonny Bradley headed home at the far post. The points were sealed shortly afterwards when Krystian Pearce was booked for a foul on Carey 25 yards from goal and the Plymouth man's free-kick was unstoppable into the top-left corner. Somehow Mansfield had failed to score in a one-sided first half. Inside the first three minutes Ben Whiteman curled wide of the far post and Alex MacDonald forced Luke McCormick to save at his near post after Argyle were caught out by a quickly-taken free-kick. Matt Green was just unable to lift the ball high enough to beat the keeper after reaching Gary Sawyer's short back header after nine minutes. MacDonald wasted two more chances, firing over after great work by Matt Green and tamely volleying at the keeper while Rhys Bennett headed a corner straight at McCormick. Argyle's lone first-half chance came when Carey curled a 20-yard free-kick just wide after 18 minutes. Match report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Mansfield Town 0, Plymouth Argyle 2. Second Half ends, Mansfield Town 0, Plymouth Argyle 2. Attempt missed. Danny Rose (Mansfield Town) header from the left side of the six yard box is just a bit too high following a corner. Corner, Mansfield Town. Conceded by Yann Songo'o. Attempt missed. Danny Rose (Mansfield Town) header from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top right corner following a corner. Corner, Mansfield Town. Conceded by Ryan Donaldson. Attempt blocked. Shaquile Coulthirst (Mansfield Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Foul by Malvind Benning (Mansfield Town). Jake Jervis (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick on the right wing. Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Gary Miller replaces David Fox. Substitution, Mansfield Town. Alfie Potter replaces Alexander MacDonald. Attempt saved. Shaquile Coulthirst (Mansfield Town) with an attempt from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Attempt missed. Danny Rose (Mansfield Town) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left following a set piece situation. Hayden White (Mansfield Town) wins a free kick on the right wing. Ryan Donaldson (Plymouth Argyle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Ryan Donaldson (Plymouth Argyle). Attempt blocked. Malvind Benning (Mansfield Town) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Foul by Shaquile Coulthirst (Mansfield Town). Ryan Donaldson (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Substitution, Mansfield Town. Danny Rose replaces Matt Green. Substitution, Mansfield Town. Shaquile Coulthirst replaces Lee Collins. Goal! Mansfield Town 0, Plymouth Argyle 2. Graham Carey (Plymouth Argyle) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the top left corner. Krystian Pearce (Mansfield Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by

Summary: Two goals in five second-half minutes saw Plymouth earn victory after being given a searching examination by play-off chasing Mansfield.


Dr McBride will combine the temporary role with his current position as chief medical officer. Among Dr McBride's responsibilities as chief executive will be to improve unscheduled care services and elective care, He will also lead the development of a new 10-year strategy for the trust. Announcing the appointment of Dr McBride last month, Health Minister Jim Wells said he was a natural leader and gifted strategist. "He has been at the forefront of medicine in Northern Ireland for two decades both as an accomplished physician and a highly respected government advisor," he said. "He possesses all the skills and the wealth of experience required to lead Northern Ireland's largest provider of health and social care services." The previous chief executive of the trust, Colm Donaghy, resigned in March of this year to become chief executive of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. In July, Bill Maher, the chief executive of the West/North West Hospitals Group in the Republic of Ireland, was offered the top job in the Belfast Trust but turned it down.

Summary: Dr Michael McBride is beginning work as the new chief executive of Belfast Health Trust on Monday.


The framework agreement, struck after intensive talks, aims to prevent Tehran making a nuclear weapon in exchange for phased sanction relief. Iran and the six world powers involved must now finalise the deal. Iranians have been celebrating in the streets but Israel says the deal threatens its survival. "This will be a long-term deal, that addresses each path to a potential Iranian nuclear bomb," the US President said in a statement after the deal was announced. "If Iran cheats, the world will know it," he said, adding that the agreement was based not on trust but on "unprecedented verification". He said that if the deal is finalised, "we will be able to resolve one of the greatest threats to our security, and to do so peacefully". According to "parameters" of the agreement published by the US state department, Iran must reduce the number of its centrifuges that can be used to enrich uranium into a bomb by more than two-thirds. It also has to redesign a power plant so it cannot produce weapons-grade plutonium, be subject to regular inspections, and agree not to enrich uranium over 3.67% - far less than is required to make a nuclear bomb - for at least 15 years. "There's new state of the art technology that will be used," US Secretary of State John Kerry told the BBC. "We will have tracking of their uranium from the cradle to the grave." There's been celebration through the night across Iran and a hero's welcome for Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. But the deal he's brought home has been dismissed by hardliners who say Iran surrendered too much in exchange for too little. John Kerry also faces a mix of support and scepticism in the US Congress. The loudest condemnation has come from Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu, who insists this deal doesn't block but helps Iran build a nuclear bomb. As hard as it was to reach this preliminary agreement, it will be even harder to draft a final deal by the end of June. But, if negotiators do it, it will be a victory for diplomacy which, they believe will make the world a much safer place. A deal that buys time The framework agreement was announced by the European Union and Iran after eight days of intense negotiations in the Swiss city of Lausanne. Western powers have long distrusted Iran's assertions that its nuclear programme is peaceful. The talks at Lausanne's Beau-Rivage Palace hotel between Iran and the so-called P5+1 - the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany - continued beyond the original, self-imposed deadline of 31 March. The Iranian foreign minister, Javid Zarif, called it a "win-win outcome", but warned: "We have taken a major step, but are still some way away from where we want to be." The parties have set a deadline of 30 June to reach a comprehensive pact, but these negotiations are expected to be tougher than those that led to the framework agreement. Even so, there was jubilation overnight on the streets of Tehran. If the deal is implemented

Summary: President Obama has hailed a deal restricting Iran's nuclear programme as a "historic understanding" which, if implemented, will make world safer.


Twenty-two people were killed in the explosion, including an eight-year-old girl. A further 59 people, including 12 under the age of 16, were injured and taken to hospital. Nick Haywood, 46, from Nottingham was waiting for his 16-year-old daughter Caitlin and her friend, also 16, when the explosion happened. He said: "You could feel it, you could feel the noise. It was incredibly loud. My first thought was to find my daughter. "People were already starting to filter out. You could tell something was wrong, no-one was laughing or chatting. Some people were running, a bit of mild panic. "I was trying to get hold of them on the phone but the network was down so I made my way into the arena. Seeing her on the stairs was a huge relief. "It was like she was almost born again. It was the best moment of my life all over again." Caitlin had planned and saved up for the trip for months. She said: "We were so excited when the day came and we were listening to her music on the train. We were so excited, but it turned out to be be a bad experience. "When people said [the noise] was a balloon or a speaker, in the back of my head I knew it was a bomb and we needed to get out. "I thought the next minute people with guns were going to start coming in." She said she and her friend were near the front of the stage when the blast took place and she said people were getting crushed as they panicked and ran for the exit. "As soon as Ariana Grande left [the stage] the lights went out and the bomb went off. That made me think that this person planned it so well." Stephanie Hill and her daughter Kennedy were at the concert. She said the police and emergency services entered the building soon after the blast, but she still didn't feel safe. "The police were all there, there were armed police with... their guns, there were ambulances. "They were there so quickly it was unbelievable. But we didn't know, even then we didn't know what was going on. "We were thinking 'oh my God, we're going to get shot'. "So we ran, we ran and we hid under a bridge for about forty minutes." Kennedy said at first the arena was "scarily still for five or six seconds... then everybody just ran." The Manchester community that rushed to help Leah Cassidy, 16, from Radcliffe was at the concert with her friend. "As the concert finished and we were nearing the tunnel to leave the auditorium, there was a huge bang that shook the whole ground. The whole auditorium went deadly quiet for five seconds and then the screaming began. "The bomb went off near our tunnel. Because everyone started pushing back from the tunnel we were going to, my friend and I held hands and started to run to the opposite direction. "As we were running, I saw smoke everywhere and shoes on the

Summary: Witnesses have described the chaos and horror after a fatal explosion at the concert by US pop star Ariana Grande at Manchester Arena.


A 27-year-old man and a woman, 32, were detained after the 60-year-old victim's body was found at the Forest Gate house, early on Christmas Day. Four people escaped from the house on Field Road before firefighters arrived just before 04:45 GMT. A post-mortem test showed the victim had died from burns and the inhalation of fumes, the Met Police said. Fire crews found his body on the ground-floor of the two-storey house. Police believe "the fire was started deliberately" and say they believe they know who the victim was, but formal identification has not yet been made. Twenty one firefighters and four engines tackled the blaze, which was brought under control after about two-and-a-half hours. Det Ch Insp Steve McCabe said: "I need to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in Field Road and the surrounding area in the early hours of Christmas Day."

Summary: Two people are being held on suspicion of murder after a man was found dead following a house fire in London.


Rurik Jutting was held after police found the victims in an apartment in the Wan Chai area. They were called there at 03:42 on Saturday (19:42 GMT). One woman, aged between 25 and 30, was found with stab wounds, and the body of a second woman was found inside a suitcase on the balcony. Local reports said the women were believed to be sex workers. Hong Kong Police said they had detained the man and retrieved a knife from the apartment in the J Residence block ,which is situated in an affluent area and is reportedly popular with professional people working in the financial sector. Assistant district commander Wan Siu-hung told reporters that the woman whose body was in the suitcase had been dead "for quite some time" and had neck injuries. Speaking about the other dead woman - who had stab wounds to her neck and buttocks - he said: "We believe the death was caused by a sharp object which cut the throat of the deceased. "When police found her she was lying in the living room - the room was messy." The two women are believed to be of Asian or South East Asian origin. The South China Morning Post reported that police had found a small amount of cocaine in the apartment and that they were examining the arrested man's mobile phone. The suspect was a former employee of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, local reports also suggested. A resident of the 40-storey block, who said his fellow occupants were mainly expats, told the newspaper: "It was a shock because you would never expect something like this to happen in Hong Kong." A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office said: "We can confirm that a British national has been arrested in Hong Kong. "We are in touch with the local police and stand ready to provide consular assistance." Post-mortem examinations are being conducted to determine the causes of the women's deaths. Historically Hong Kong has enjoyed a relatively low crime rate. According to the Hong Kong Police website, there have been 14 homicides between January and July, down from 56 over the same time period in 2013.

Summary: A 29-year-old British man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the deaths of two women in Hong Kong.


Separation talks could be completed within the two year deadline set out in Article 50, but a future relationship would take longer to negotiate, Sir Simon Fraser told BBC Newsnight. Sir Simon said "transitional arrangements" would be necessary. Prime Minister Theresa May will invoke Article 50 on Wednesday. "It's certain that we won't have resolved everything in the period before the expiry of the Article 50 process," Sir Simon Fraser told BBC Newsnight. "The EU side want to start with negotiating the terms of the separation... And the British side, on top of that, wants to move rapidly to discuss the future relationship - both political and economic - between Britain and the EU. And that is a very complex second set of negotiations." Because of the difficulty of defining the future relationship, Sir Simon, who held senior posts in Brussels and Whitehall before becoming the head of the diplomatic service, believes talks will soon shift to the nature of 'transitional arrangements'. This means vital questions about how the UK does business with the EU could be left unresolved far beyond 2019. Many Brexit supporters had hoped informal negotiations with the EU could start before the Article 50 clock begins ticking this week. Negotiations are limited to two years. But Sir Simon said the European Commission has thwarted such plans: "There has been a very disciplined position across the EU, and I don't think that there has been a lot of informal behind the scenes discussion of the agenda or of the key issues yet." Sir Simon is also sceptical that the UK will be able to play off different countries among the EU's 27 countries. "The UK has got to negotiate with the EU as a whole through the EU's appointed negotiator, which will be essentially led by the Commission." He added: "I think it would be a mistake to try divide and rule because I don't think that that will work." While Article 50 allows up to two years to reach an agreement, the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has said he wants the outline of a deal to be ready by autumn 2018, in the hope that it can then go before the European Parliament for ratification and member states for agreement well before the deadline is up. But many diplomats, Sir Simon Fraser among them, believe that there will be no serious political discussions before this autumn, following the German elections. While Brexit dominates national debate in the UK, it is a secondary issue for many European governments. This could lead to delays in negotiations with many governments not taking positions until they have to. Combined with the complexity of the Brexit discussions, many diplomats believe that the UK could find itself close to a "cliff edge" without final agreement. Sir Simon said while it was in the interest of both sides to avoid such a scenario, there was a "risk of political ill will and turbulence - both political and economic" if a deal is not reached within the Article 50 timeframe. It is for this reason

Summary: The future relationship between the UK and the EU will not be negotiated within two years, says the former head of the Foreign Office.


Xi Jinping will be the first Chinese president to attend the annual meeting of world and business leaders in the Swiss Alps in its 47-year history. Mr Xi will speak in defence of free trade in his speech at the conference's opening ceremony on Tuesday. Theresa May, the UK prime minister, is expected to meet with the Chinese leader in Davos on Tuesday. She will travel to the Swiss ski resort after delivering a speech giving more detail about her Brexit plans in London earlier that day. And on Friday, Philip Hammond, the UK chancellor, will further outline his vision of the UK's economic relationship with the European Union after Brexit. Meanwhile, Mr Trump, who has spoken out against international trade deals, takes office on Friday. Davos: Are the global elite in retreat? Vaswani: Why is Xi Jinping going to Davos? Davos coverage in full Although the president-elect will not go to Davos, one of his top advisers - hedge fund boss Anthony Scaramucci - will speak about the new US leader's plans on Tuesday. Mr Trump, whose "America first" pledge helped him win the White House, has also threatened to hike tariffs on goods imported from China. Mr Xi is taking China's biggest delegation to the elite gathering in Davos, and his appearance is seen as an attempt to present the country as a world leader. His entourage includes some of China's most successful business people, such as Jack Ma, the founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba, and property magnate Wang Jianlin, who runs the conglomerate Dalian Wanda. China's vice foreign minister Li Baodong has said Mr Xi will detail the country's views on how to "steer economic globalisation towards greater inclusiveness". Despite the apparent hostility between the US and China, Mr Xi has spoken of a smooth communication channel with Mr Trump's team, and reports suggest the Chinese president would be willing to meet members of the US president-elect's team whilst in Davos. Mr Xi's attendance has been welcomed by WEF founder Klaus Schwab, who said he expects him to "show how China will assume in global affairs a responsive and responsible leadership role". Responsive and responsible leadership is the theme for this year's gathering, which comes after a year of dramatic events including the UK's Brexit vote and the election of Donald Trump. Mr Schwab has called on attendees to help "overcome the present mood of divisiveness and negativism". "The world is fundamentally transforming technologically, economically, socially and politically. "There are no simple, ready-made solutions. What we urgently need are pragmatic and future-oriented actions, even in the form of small steps, to provide positive narratives," he said ahead of the conference. The World Economic Forum's global risks report, published ahead of the meeting, said "rising income and wealth disparity" and "increasing polarisation of societies" were two of the biggest risks expected to impact the world over the next decade. The report, which is based on the views of 750 experts, found climate change and the potential for extreme weather events, cyber dependency leaving firms and governments more vulnerable to cyber-attacks

Summary: China, Donald Trump and Brexit are set to dominate this year's World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos.


Media playback is not supported on this device Calvin Wellington, Elliot Jenkins, Zak Williams, Josh Ralph, Caleb Aekins and Daniel Brown are the newcomers. Wales start against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby on Saturday, 28 October. Further group games follow against Fiji on Sunday, 5 November, in Townsville and Ireland in Perth on Sunday, 12 November. The squad features 12 players from Super League clubs, nine players from Championship clubs, 13 players from League 1 clubs and four players from NRL and Australian clubs. "The train-on squad is a mixture of those who have achieved with us and newcomers who have come to our attention," said Kear. "We want to be able to pick the best squad for the World Cup. "Ben Flower, Ollie Olds and Rhys Evans are all currently injured. We're giving them every opportunity to recover, go through their rehab and put their hands up for selection." WALES: Larne Patrick (Castleford Tigers), Zak Williams (Coventry Bears), Courtney Davies, Steve Parry, Lewis Reece (all Gloucestershire All Golds), Danny Ansell (Hunslet), Sam Hopkins (Leigh Centurions), Michael Channing, Ben Evans, Dalton Grant, Elliot Kear, Rhys Williams (all London Broncos), Josh Ralph (Newcastle Knights), Matty Barron (Newcastle Thunder), Joe Burke (Oldham), Caleb Aekins, Daniel Brown (both Penrith Panthers), Ant Walker (Rochdale Hornets), Craig Kopczak (Salford Red Devils), Matty Fozard (Sheffield Eagles), Morgan Evans, Connor Farrer, Andrew Gay, Christiaan Roets (all South Wales Ironmen), Regan Grace, Elliot Jenkins, Morgan Knowles, Ben Morris, Calvin Wellington (all St Helens), Rhodri Lloyd (Swinton Lions), Jake Emmitt, Dan Fleming (both Toronto Wolfpack), Rhys Evans (Warrington Wolves), Ollie Olds (West Brisbane Panthers), Gil Dudson, Lloyd White (both Widnes Vikings), Ben Flower (Wigan Warriors), Phil Joseph (Workington Town). Wales World Cup group matches: Papua New Guinea v Wales - Saturday, 28 October, Port Moresby Fiji v Wales - Sunday, 7 November, Townsville Ireland v Wales - Sunday 12 November, Perth.

Summary: Wales coach John Kear has named six uncapped players in his 32-man training squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.


Farmers in the north-eastern Liaoning province, made use of different colours and varieties of rice saplings in order to mimic the 3D effect. The fields are housed as part of a theme park in Shenyang city, which also caters to weddings and camping trips for tourists. The Xibo farmers, an ethnic Chinese group, have an annual tradition of creating patterns on their rice paddy fields. Creating art on their rice fields also serves as a way of praying for blessings. Last year, they produced 13 images featuring different themes of places, animals, and people. Even the legendary Chinese deity Nezha was represented in rice paddy form. The murals set a 2012 world record for the "largest rice paddy work ever made". Officials are also hoping that this year's special 3D rice art will attract more tourists to Shenyang city. "Stunning work," remarked a Facebook user. "Crop circles are so last century." "It's Art Attack! In China," said another.

Summary: 3D imagery has now reached China's rice paddy fields.


The poet, from Bellaghy, County Londonderry, died at a Dublin hospital on 30 August 2013, at the age of 74. The inscription on his headstone is a line from Heaney's poem The Gravel Walks, which he used in his 1995 Nobel prize acceptance speech. It reads: "Walk on air against your better judgement." Heaney's memorial is located in a corner of the graveyard adjoining St Mary's parish church in Bellaghy, close to that of his parents and other members of the family. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature "for works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth, which exalt everyday miracles and the living past". Heaney previously explained why he chose the quotation to include in his Nobel acceptance lecture, as the Irish News reports. "A person from Northern Ireland is naturally cautious," he said. You grew up vigilant because it's a divided society. My poetry on the whole was earth hugging, but then I began to look up rather than keep down. "I think it had to do with a sense that the marvellous was as permissible as the matter-of-fact in poetry." The former professor of poetry at Oxford University said The Gravel Walks focused on heavy work as well as the "paradoxical sense of lightness" when lifting heavy things. It also alludes to a popular traditional Irish reel of the same name. "I like the in-betweenness of up and down, of being on the earth and of the heavens," he added. "I think that's where poetry should dwell, between the dream world and the given world, because you don't just want photography, and you don't want fantasy either." The Gravel Walks, features in Heaney's collection, The Spirit Level, which also includes a poem dedicated to his brother, Hugh, entitled Keeping Going. Hugh told the BBC he regularly visited the grave and encountered people from across the world who travelled to pay their respects to the poet. "Seamus wrote a lovely poem about myself which I'm very proud of and is very moving," he said. "I suffer from epilepsy and Seamus wrote a poem for me in The Spirit Level called Keeping Going, I was at the launch of the book when he said this is a poem for Hugh. "That was lovely and I'm very proud." Hugh said that what was heartwarming about his brother was that despite his outstanding literary career and stratospheric success "his feet never left the ground".

Summary: A headstone for Seamus Heaney's grave, inscribed with a quotation from one of his poems, has been unveiled ahead of the second anniversary of his death.


City led 2-0 at half-time but lost 3-2 after Kieran Lee's 96th-minute winner. Both teams had a player sent off, with Gary O'Neil dismissed seconds after Lee Tomlin's penalty bounced clear off the post when Johnson's side were 2-1 up. "There was a turning point in the game. You couldn't make it up, it's like a bad dream," he told BBC Radio Bristol. "What we have showed is that we can go to a real intense environment and really silence everyone, especially for 45 minutes. "Whether you win or lose, you always learn from it. It's taught me, I know who can't quite handle the pressure and that's interesting." City have 10 points after their first seven Championship games of 2016-17, having won their first two matches.

Summary: Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson says their loss at Sheffield Wednesday showed him which of his players "can't quite handle the pressure."


That is, the credo pushed by successive presidents that the United States is a beacon of democracy, an exemplar of human rights, an indispensable country imbued with special values and beliefs that grants it the moral authority and national self-belief to influence and admonish other countries, friend and foe alike. Donald Trump, rather than being heralded as the leader of free world, has been pilloried. By protesters who took to the streets - and snow - from Australia to Antarctica as part of more than 600 protests worldwide on the first weekend of his presidency. By satirists who came up with the "Netherlands Second" viral video - and all its other cheeky iterations - in response to Trump's "America First" doctrine. By models at Milan Fashion Week who paraded on the catwalk wearing the now iconic pink pussy hats that first appeared on the Washington Mall at the massive women's march. By graphic designers who have created a gallery of scolding magazine covers, including, most shockingly, Der Spiegel's depiction of the US president holding aloft the severed head of the Statue of Liberty. When Jimmy Kimmel joked during his Oscars opening monologue that Donald Trump had made 225 countries hate America, he was exaggerating. As with all well-aimed satire, however, it contained more than a kernel of truth. It is a measure of Trump's unpopularity that George W Bush, the last US president to attract such international ire, is being rehabilitated in the global mind as a cool-headed statesman and staunch defender of American press freedom. Last year, at the height of the presidential campaign, a Pew Research Center poll suggested that 85% of Europeans have "no confidence" in Donald Trump to do the right thing as president. A poll conducted by Gallup International Association suggested that, were the US election to be held in 45 foreign countries, Hillary Clinton would have won a landslide victory in every single one, with the sole exception of Russia. The French President Francois Hollande even said the brash billionaire made people "want to retch". Though international leaders are now more respectful, few could be described as being genuinely admiring. It will take more than his speech before the joint session of Congress, in which Trump sought to stabilise his presidency, to assuage global concerns. During his inaugural address, Donald Trump paid lip service to the notion of American exceptionalism, though he did not use the phrase. "We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example," he declared. "We will shine for everyone to follow." But rather than painting a picture of sunny American uplands, his inaugural address sketched out something darker and more dystopian: a country marred by poverty-stricken and crime-ridden inner cities and "rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape". The speech will be remembered not for his brief invocation of American exceptionalism, but rather his depiction of "American carnage" and his pledge to put "America First." It was bunker America rather than beacon America. In his speech to the joint

Summary: When a German Chancellor feels the need to explain the refugee convention to an American president, the speaker of British House of Commons says the leader of its closest ally is not welcome to address parliament, China positions itself as the grown-up in the room by chiding him for his blunt Twitter diplomacy and the botched travel ban is denounced not just by US adversaries, such as Iran, but allies, such as France and Canada, is it not time to sound the death-knell of American exceptionalism?


Craig Melville is said to have sent a number of messages to an unnamed woman a day after the Paris terror attacks. He has already been suspended from his role as an aide to SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie. Dundee City Council confirmed that its chief executive had received Mr Melville's letter of resignation. In a statement issued to the Courier, Mr Melville said: "The pressures of the recent deeply distressing allegations are having an adverse effect on the health of my family and I. "Therefore I do not feel that I am currently able to fulfil my duties as councillor for the aforementioned ward and to continue as convener of the environment committee to the best of my abilities." In one message, Mr Melville, who was the city's environment convener, is reported to have referred to the SNP's international development minister, Humza Yousaf. A Dundee City Council spokesman said: "We can confirm that a letter of resignation from Mr Melville has been received by the chief executive. "A by-election will be called for the Maryfield ward and arrangements will be made in due course."

Summary: A Dundee councillor currently under investigation for allegedly sending anti-Islamic texts to a Muslim colleague has resigned.


Chris Martin headed the hosts into the lead from Cyrus Christie's cross after Tom Ince had earlier seen a deflected effort hit the Town post. The Terriers had chances to get back in the game but Jamie Paterson dragged a shot just off target from 15 yards. Ince's shot struck the crossbar before sub Johnny Russell wrapped up the victory with a smart curling finish. It was just a third win in 11 matches for the Rams but victory maintains their hopes of pushing for an automatic promotion place. Darren Wassall's men are seven points behind second-placed Middlesbrough having played a game more. Huddersfield were competitive throughout but defeat means they drop to 18th in the table, seven points clear of the relegation zone. The Rams travel to QPR on Tuesday while Huddersfield host Reading, looking for their first win in four matches. Derby head coach Darren Wassall: "We believe in Chris Martin but what we did do at Brentford [on 20 February] was have a long chat before the game and say we wanted him firing on all cylinders because he's a great asset to the club. Media playback is not supported on this device "He hadn't scored in open play since October so we decided to leave him out for the Brentford game and he agreed with that decision. Since then, I think it was a weight off his shoulders and his attitude was great. "He came on at Brentford and scored a wonder goal and he's not looked back since. That's all we've done, we told him we really rate him as a player and he's responded which is full credit to him." Huddersfield head coach David Wagner: "Derby had to produce one of their best performances today to be able to beat us and so we can leave the stadium with our head up. "I think there were only some small key points that decided this game and those were in Derby's direction which is why we lost. "It's important that you trust and believe in yourself and sometimes you get what you deserve and sometimes not. Today I think we didn't get what we probably deserved, which was a draw or maybe more.

Summary: Derby County remain in fifth place in the Championship after a win over Huddersfield.


It excludes the so-called Islamic State (IS) group, the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, and, according to its terms, other UN-designated "terrorist" organisations, while including all warring parties that agree to it. The Syrian government says it will observe the cessation of hostilities, but insists that it will continue to fight IS, al-Nusra and "other terrorist groups linked to them". The Higher Negotiation Committee, which represents most of the main rebel factions, has given "preliminary approval" to the agreement, and is expected to announce its final position soon. Syria's Kurdish groups say they will still fight Islamic State, al-Nusra and the Ahrar al-Sham Islamist group, without clarifying their stance on the ceasefire agreement. Islamic State and al-Nusra control large tracts of land across Syria, where fighting will continue. The city of Raqqa, Deir al-Zour province and parts of neighbouring Hassakeh province, which both border Iraq, are under IS control, and it has a presence north and east of Aleppo, in particular in Al-Bab, Manbij, and Jarablus. In May 2015 it captured the city of Palmyra and extended its control into eastern Homs province, and has a limited presence in the rural areas of eastern Hama. The group is also present in the strategically important Qalamoun mountains north-east of Damascus, where it has clashed with al-Nusra. Al-Nusra Front is present in Aleppo and areas to the south and north-west of the city. It also controls parts of Qalamoun region and Hama province. Unlike IS, al-Nusra is willing to conclude tactical alliances and go into coalition with other groups, such as with the Islamist Jaish al-Fatah in Idlib Province. A question mark remains over the status of these allied groups under the ceasefire terms. No. Russia, Iran and the Syrian government regard Ahrar al-Sham and Jaish al-Islam as terrorist groups. Ahrar al-Sham is likely to be excluded from the ceasefire, given its alliance with al-Nusra in Aleppo and Idlib. But Jaish al-Islam, which controls large areas of the Damascus countryside, has closer ties to the broader Syrian opposition, and any attack on its positions might therefore endanger the ceasefire. The Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and Women Protection Units (YPJ) are simultaneously fighting various Islamist groups as part of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) campaign. They are fighting IS in Hassakeh province, and al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham around Aleppo. The ceasefire will not have a direct impact on these theatres. BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.

Summary: The partial ceasefire for Syria brokered by the United States and Russia is scheduled to come into effect on 27 February.


Middlesbrough Council has secured a £3.7m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to restore the Town Hall in Corporation Road. The council is putting £4m into the scheme which will turn the premises into a visitor "heritage" attraction. Ivor Crowther, head of HLF North East, said it was a "stunning reminder" of the town's proud industrial heritage. Parts of the Grade II listed building will be opened to the public, including the Victorian courtroom, cells and fire station. The plans also include the development of a new cafe, bar, and a new community space. Work is expected to get under way in January and the Town Hall is scheduled to be closed for nearly two years, the council said. Middlesbrough's deputy mayor Dave Budd said: "The Town Hall is the jewel in Middlesbrough's crown and this project will restore it to its full majestic glory."

Summary: Plans for a £7.7m revamp of a 120-year-old council building have been given the go ahead.


The Reds impressed in last weekend's 2-0 win over Ballinamallard, leaving then eight points behind leaders Crusaders. "We were fantastic against the Mallards and we have to continue that when we play Portadown," said Lyttle. "We'll never give up on going for the title - our squad is in good shape and we'll just keep going for it." He added: "We are not worried about Crusaders, our focus is only on what we do. "We have brought in quality players and we have quality players coming back from injury so the squad if getting a bit bigger now. "Our aim on Saturday is simple - three points and a clean sheet." The Ports have bolstered their attack by signing striker Mikey Withers from Lisburn Distillery on an 18-month deal. Crusaders visit Coleraine while third-placed Linfield, who have brought in forward Michael McLellan from H&W Welders, welcome Carrick Rangers to Windsor Park. Ballymena United will be without the suspended Tony Kane for the Ferney Park clash against a Ballinamallard side sitting just one point above the bottom. The Mallards are under pressure from inform Warrenpoint Town, who remain the basement team but are eyeing safety after an unbeaten run of six league games. However, Warrenpoint's game at Dungannon has been called off because of snow while Glenavon's contest with Glentoran has also falling victim to the winter weather.

Summary: Cliftonville manager Gerard Lyttle hopes to maintain their Premiership title push with victory over Portadown at Solitude on Saturday.


He made the comments during a "candid exchange" with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Hangzhou before the G20 summit, the White House said. In July, an international tribunal ruled against Chinese claims to rights in the South China Sea. China dismissed the ruling and said it would not be bound by it. The ruling was made by an arbitration tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which both China and the country that brought the case - the Philippines - have signed. The White House said Mr Obama emphasised "the importance for China, as a signatory to UNCLOS, to abide by its obligations under that treaty, which the United States views as critical to maintaining the rules-based international order". Chinese media reports on the meeting between Mr Obama and Mr Xi made no mention of any discussion about the South China Sea. China claims almost all of the South China Sea, including reefs and islands also claimed by other nations, and has caused dismay in the region by building artificial islands and restricting access. Earlier on Saturday, the US and China - together responsible for 40% of the world's carbon emissions - both formally joined the Paris global climate agreement. "History will judge today's effort as pivotal," Mr Obama said. Last December, countries agreed to cut emissions in an attempt to keep the global average rise in temperatures below 2C.

Summary: US President Barack Obama has urged China to abide by its obligations under an international treaty in its activities in the South China Sea.


Its youth wing was responsible for attacking and killing opposition supporters, the rights group said. The CNDD-FDD party has not has yet commented on the allegation. Burundi is recovering from a brutal civil war that ended with President Pierre Nkurunziza's election in 2005. Speculation is rife that he intends to run for a third term in the June 2015 election, despite opposition claims that this would be in violation of the constitution which imposes a two-term limit. The CNDD-FDD's youth wing, Imbonerakure, has "strong links to the security services and are responsible for perpetrating human rights abuses with impunity", Amnesty said in a report. At least one opposition member was shot and killed by two soldiers on the orders of a local official and an Imbonerakure member, Amnesty said. "Another opposition member had his teeth knocked out during a beating," the report said.

Summary: Burundi's ruling party is waging a "relentless campaign of intimidation" against its critics ahead of presidential elections next year, Amnesty International says.


The BBC's Tom Espiner looks at seven unusual ways of getting at least some of the 20 minutes of brisk activity a day being recommended. Sir Stanley Matthews was still playing professional football at 50, but for people of a similar age who might like to ease back into the game, walking football could be just the ticket, according to Surrey Football Association. Walking Football has helped players start kicking a ball again and getting active who have suffered from hip replacements, chronic arthritis - and even heart bypass surgery, says Surrey FA Football Development Officer Chris Cole. Andy Cox plays Walking Football every week in Croydon. "I never envisaged at the age of 65 I'd start playing football again. I'm fitter now than I was 30 years ago," he says. Luton Council and leisure trust Active Luton are two organisations keen to promote the beautiful game at a sedate pace - Active Luton has recently been given Â£40,000 from Sport England for walking football. Active Luton chief executive Helen Barnet says: "The skills and enthusiasm on show compares to anything you would see on Match of the Day. It is simple to do and play and above all everyone that takes part is always smiling." The Walking Football United website's interactive map shows where you can go to find out more. People may think of hula-hooping as primarily being a US 1950s craze, but, hula-hoop based classes are available around the country, with some groups offering circus skills as well. Ellouise Hempstead, of Etrois Dance and Fitness in Newcastle, says: "Hooping can be a solo activity in your living room, or a social one if you join a hoop class. Either way, it's great to lose body fat, gain muscle tone, boost your energy, improve balance and co-ordination, reduce stress and most importantly have fun." Kurling is inspired by the original game of curling, and involves pushing a kurling stone on casters (called "bearings") towards a target. The beauty of new age kurling is that you don't need an ice rink to do it, according to Ann McCallum, secretary for the Dover club which practises the sport. "All you need is just a target, some chairs to sit on, some sticks, and then you're away," she says. The Great Britain Kurling Association has more information. "Double Dutch" is the name given to jumping two ropes swung by two people, and can be fiercely competitive. However, people can skip at their own pace singly, and even Double Dutch skipping occasionally lets people have a rest, as they hop in and out of the ropes, according to the British Rope Skipping Association. For those people who think that sailing is "like standing under a cold shower tearing up Â£5 notes" - as former PM Edward Heath reportedly said of ocean racing - the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) begs to differ. Dinghy sailing, where people sail boats designed for one, two, or more people, is open to all, RYA says. "It is one of most accessible sports for disabled people and is also one

Summary: Scientists say a lack of exercise could be killing twice as many people as obesity and are urging people to get more active.


No-one has applied for the job of lollipop man or woman at Broughton Moor Primary School in Allerdale, Cumbria, despite repeated advertisements since January 2011. Cumbria County Council has proposed scrapping the post and reallocating the money to the town's general budget. Traffic calming measures had been installed on the road, it said.

Summary: A school crossing patrol could be permanently scrapped after a four-year search for someone to staff it failed.


Pakistan accused India of unprovoked firing in which four civilians died and five others were injured. India said one woman was killed and three other civilians wounded in firing by Pakistani soldiers. Pakistan's army also said it shot down an Indian spy drone in Kashmir. Pakistan summoned the Indian ambassador on Thursday to hear a "strong protest over airspace violation", the AFP news agency quoting a statement issued by the Pakistani foreign ministry said. The incidents come days after Mr Modi accepted an invitation from Mr Sharif to attend a regional summit in Islamabad next year, signalling a new thaw in a strained relationship. This will be Mr Modi's first visit to Pakistan after he took power last year. India and Pakistan have often accused each other of unprovoked firing along the disputed border. A ceasefire agreed in 2003 remains in place, but the neighbours often accuse each other of violating it. Pakistan's military said four civilians, including a 18-year-old girl, had died and five others were wounded when Indian troops fired across the de facto border in Sialkot region on Wednesday morning. Across the border, Indian border guards said one woman had been killed and three other civilians injured when Pakistani soldiers fired shells which exploded near a border village in Pargwal area on Wednesday. "It was a blatant, unprovoked cease-fire violation by Pakistan," D Parekh of India's Border Security Force told the Associated Press news agency. Meanwhile, India's army and air force have denied that any of their drones had been shot down or crashed in Pakistan, reports said. "An Indian spy drone was shot down by Pakistani troops which intruded into Pakistan along [the de facto border that divides the region] near Bhimber today. The spy drone is used for aerial photography," a statement from the Pakistani military said on Wednesday. But a spokesperson of the Indian army denied the report. "Some reports of a drone crash in PoK [Pakistan-controlled Kashmir] are being referred to. No drone or UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] crash of the Indian Army has taken place," the spokesperson told the Press Trust of India news agency. An air force spokesperson also denied that any of their drones had been brought down. Kashmir, claimed by both countries in its entirety, has been a flashpoint for more than 60 years.

Summary: At least five civilians were killed as India and Pakistan exchanged fire in the disputed Kashmir region, days after a meeting between leaders of the two countries in Russia.


The six "astronauts" wearing bright blue jump-suits and even surgical masks, were paraded before banks of television cameras and hordes of journalists at a news conference before entering their mock spaceship. Amongst the long rows of VIPs at the news conference were senior officials from the United States, China and the European Union. If, as some experts believe, the main aim of the Mars 500 experiment is to publicise the concept of human flight to the red planet, then it has surely succeeded beyond all expectations. "I am very happy to be part of this project," said Diego Urbina, the Colombian-Italian and most extrovert member of the crew. "It will raise awareness of space flight so hopefully a few years from now there will be a real flight to Mars." He confessed that Elton John had been his inspiration. "I don't know if you know that song Rocket Man," he asked. "I want a future like thatâ€¦ where people will be going frequently into space and will be working there and it will be very usual." In front of the world's media, all the team spoke confidently about the chances of the experiment being successful - in other words that noone would crack under the stress of such lengthy confinement in such claustrophobic and bizarre conditions and demand to be let out. "The target is for all six of us to be here for 520 days," said the French crew-member Romain Charles who took a guitar with him into the cluster of brown and silver-coloured metal tubes which will be home until November 2011. After the news conference, the six crew disappeared, re-emerging an hour later by the entrance hatch to the mock spaceship, where they put on another high-spirited performance for the media. Finally, blowing kisses and waving to wives, girlfriends and relatives, they walked up the steps and through the entrance hatch. A solemn-faced official slowly closed and sealed it behind them. So now reality bites for the six-member volunteer crew. What will they be thinking as they sit inside their tin cans in north-west Moscow where outside the warm sun shines and the flowers blossom? There is no thrill of a blast-off and flight through space. There are no windows from which to watch the Earth gradually shrink away. And no anticipation of reaching a new world more than fifty million kilometres away. Instead, silent inertia, stale air and tinned food. And everywhere cameras watching their every move, looking out for signs of mental collapse. They have just one thing to cling on to, that they are playing their part in the history of space exploration. That their success in this experiment will mean a human flight to Mars is a step closer. And space experts already believe the first flight could be just 25 years away or even less if there is the political and economic will from countries with advanced space programmes.

Summary: There was all the pageantry of a real space launch.


Margaret Hughes, 91, died and 400 homes were overrun by water when the River Elwy burst its banks in St Asaph, Denbighshire in November 2012. Work to protect the city from future flooding starts on 10 October. A drop-in session on Wednesday outlines plans which include removing the Spring Gardens Bridge and replacing it with a higher and wider structure. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) hopes this will improve flow capacity downstream and reduce flood water levels in the city. The first phase will cost around £3m and is being funded by the Welsh Government with work scheduled to finish in May 2017. The second phase - set to start in January 2017 - will see flood defences raised and improved in the city and at other locations. Planning permission and funding for the second phase are yet to be finalised. NRW's Tim Jones said: "Building a flood risk scheme of this scale involves a vast amount of preparatory work - from modelling the flood risk, finding options for a scheme, deciding on a preferred option, working on detailed design and securing all permissions and funding. "This takes time but we are delighted to be in a position to start building now. "While we can't always prevent flooding from happening, we believe we have a robust scheme for St Asaph that will significantly reduce the risk and provide effective, long-term peace of mind for people in the city." NRW estimates the entire scheme will be completed within 12 to 18 months. Until then, short-term measures to reduce flood risk will continue on the River Elwy. Councillor Denise Hodgkinson said: "It's very welcome. People who were flooded still can't sleep at night when it rains. " Unfortunately it's taken a long time to raise the funds and put the right permissions and plans in place. Hopefully they will get it right first time."

Summary: A £7.5m scheme to protect an area devastated by floods almost four years ago is set to get underway.


The campaign was started by pop culture website Junkee, which called it a show of support for Indigenous Australians. It has been inspired by American football player Colin Kaepernick. The player has been refusing to stand for the US anthem before games as a protest against racial inequality. Paul Gorrie, an Indigenous Australian activist involved in the Junkee campaign, said Kaepernick's protest made him think "why shouldn't we do that here?" He said the Australian anthem, Advance Australia Fair, "was written in 1878 when land was still being stolen and black people were still being massacred". It and the recent deaths of Indigenous Australians in police custody were "the impacts of our colonial history and the racism that continues to this day", he said. "This is a call to action for ALL players to show solidarity by not singing and taking a kneel during the national anthem this weekend at the NRL and AFL grand finals." Anthony Mundine, a former rugby league star turned boxer, has since shared the video on Facebook, writing that he has been "saying this for years". "All players Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal should boycott the anthem and start changing Australia's ignorant mentality," he wrote. Australian sport, in particular Aussie Rules football, has been marred by racism against indigenous players. Adam Goodes, an Indigenous Australian who played for the Swans and has since retired, was repeatedly booed on the field and last year a rival fan was removed for allegedly telling him to "get back to the zoo". Australia has also seen heated discussion on whether it should recognise indigenous people in its constitution, repeal clauses that prevent people of a certain race from voting and allow laws to be made based on race. The campaign has generated a mixed response. Lance "Buddy" Franklin, one of the AFL's most high profile Aboriginal players, said there was "no chance" he would join an anthem boycott. "First I've heard of it," Franklin said at the AFL grand final parade in Melbourne on Friday. "Personally I think it's pretty stupid really. It's the Australian national anthem, it's a part of our sport, our history." Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has described the campaign as "divisive". "This is a weekend where everyone comes together," he told 3AW Radio. "The two big codes, the NRL and AFL, work hard to be inclusive and embrace modern Australia and all of its diversity. "Sport is a really wonderful inclusive institution in Australia. It divides us in the sense that we support different teams, but only in a pretty good-natured way, but above all it pulls us together. That's why we should all sing." Former rugby league player Joe Williams has been one of the loudest voices backing the campaign. Williams, who is Aboriginal, has attracted controversy before for remaining seated during the anthem, during an Australia Day ceremony recognising his community work. "Why should we sing something that doesn't represent us?" he told the BBC. "Would Malcolm Turnbull feel comfortable if he was made to sing God Save the Queen?" He dismissed suggestions that the country's biggest

Summary: Australian sports stars are being urged not to stand for the national anthem during this weekend's major rugby league and Aussie Rules finals, as a protest against racism.


The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) had been facing cuts of £42m, around a third of its budget. But Jane Hutt told AMs £31m of them will be cancelled. HEFCW will now have to find £11m worth of savings. She also set out plans to use £2.5m from reserves to help soften the blow of cuts to three rural councils. Ms Hutt said she would allow HEFCW - which funds Welsh universities - to keep £21.1m which was due to be diverted to tuition fee subsidies, and would give it an extra £10m to support part-time courses and research. In statement, HEFCW responded: "A cut of 32% to HEFCW's budget would have had a real impact on universities' ability to meet Welsh government priorities. "We are delighted that the contribution of Welsh universities to the economy and society of Wales has been acknowledged." Universities Wales chair Prof Colin Riordan praised ministers for the "understanding" he said they had shown for universities' concerns after the draft budget was published in December. "Whilst the funding outlook for 2016/17 remains unprecedentedly tough, we are now more confident that Welsh universities will be able to manage in the short term until future challenges can be faced," he said. The assembly voted on Tuesday to approve the 2016/17 budget, which includes an extra £278m for the NHS. With Labour in favour and the Tories and Plaid Cymru voting against, the Liberal Democrats abstained, allowing the budget to pass. There was an outcry from opposition parties when plans to cut council budgets by an average of 2% were announced in December, with rural authorities facing the biggest cuts. The Liberal Democrats claimed credit for securing some recompense for the three biggest losers. Ms Hutt told AMs: "Where we've considered that evidence is compelling we have made some adjustments to our spending plans to support our priorities. "We are confident that our plans are the right plans to invest in the future of Wales - a clear way forward supporting jobs growth and the services that mean the most to the people of Wales." The budget is the result of a two-year deal between Labour and the Liberal Democrats after extra money was allocated to pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. Conservative Shadow Finance Minister Nick Ramsay accused ministers of announcing "piecemeal rises" to health and education spending. "This budget is more an attempt to make up for past underfunding than a genuine investment in our vital services," he said. Plaid Cymru criticised ministers for being "committed to spending their entire borrowing capacity" on a planned M4 relief road around Newport. Finance spokesman Alun Ffred Jones said: "We will not support a budget, or a government, which we see as failing to meet the needs of all the regions of our country." Liberal Democrat Peter Black claimed the budget had been "significantly improved" by his party. Examples included "extra money for poorer pupils, the money which we've brought into cheaper transport for 16-18-year-olds, the extra apprenticeships and the additional capital funding we've had delivered around Wales", he said.

Summary: Most of the cuts that were planned for higher education have been reversed, the finance minister has announced, as the Welsh budget was passed.


But such habits can build into controlling behaviours, which leave you in fear every time you open your wallet. Financial abuse, as it is called, can involve your partner spending your jointly-earned money, taking out loans in your name, making you pay the utility bills, or scrutinising every penny you spend. Worse, it can be the fore-runner of even more serious emotional, or physical, abuse. While the vast majority of victims are women, men too can be vulnerable, particularly if they have disabilities. New laws are on their way to try to stop coercive behaviour, including in financial matters, but no one yet knows how effective they will be. So how bad can financial abuse get, and can you detect it at an early stage? Many people have to budget carefully, but Jane (not her real name and age) became the victim of obsessive financial control. She says her former husband - and his mother too - would inspect the fridge to find out whether the milk had been bought in Waitrose, rather than Lidl. "I would find myself in the shop, thinking this liquid hand soap is 70p in Sainsbury's, but I can get some for 40p in Superdrug - but Superdrug is down the road. The logical thing was to buy the one in Sainsbury's, but I knew my husband and mother-in-law would pull me up." All financial decisions - from holidays to furniture - were taken by her husband. "He chose my car. On one occasion, as we were driving away from my parents' house, he shouted out of the window: 'She got to choose the colour.' It was very derogatory." When her husband began to withdraw large sums of money from their joint account to spend on motor bikes, she tried to warn the bank. Eventually her husband used up all their savings, and was declared bankrupt. Jane inherited the debts, and over Â£4,000 of arrears on the mortgage. She now lives with her five year-old daughter in her parents' house. Due to her poor credit rating, she will not be able to get a mortgage - or rent a private flat - for at least six years. A recent report for the TUC and the charity Women's Aid - called Unequal Trapped and Controlled - found that financial abuse was often the first sign of further emotional or domestic abuse. The authors of that report, Marilyn Howard and Amy Skipp, say the ten most frequent signs to look out for are a partner who: Under the Serious Crime Act - which has received royal assent, and which will be implemented later this year - coercive and controlling behaviour between partners will become illegal for the first time. Section 76 of the Act allows for a maximum prison sentence of five years, where someone's behaviour causes alarm or serious distress to their partner. This can include financial abuse. As a result, the Police will be given training in how to spot instances of coercive control. Polly Neate, the chief executive of Women's Aid, believes the law will encourage

Summary: It can start innocently enough: Perhaps your partner asks to see a receipt for the supermarket shop, or explains that he or she opened your bank statement by mistake.


Danielle Marr, who is in her final year at The Waid Academy in Anstruther, Fife, has joined the RNLI crew in the town as a volunteer on local lifeboats. In addition to her studies, Miss Marr will have to carry a pager and respond to emergency calls throughout the day. She is following in the footsteps of her older brother Anthony. She said: "I am delighted to join the crew here at Anstruther. "I've grown up watching my brother volunteer and the difference the RNLI make in our community and I want to be a part in that. "I've been on a few exercises on both the D-class and all-weather lifeboat and have really enjoyed the experience and look forward to continuing my learning." The teenager is not the first pupil at The Waid Academy to be granted permission to leave class and rescue those in difficulties at sea. Station coxswain Michael Bruce joined the RNLI more than 24 years ago when he was at school, and he said he is "delighted" to welcome Miss Marr to the station. He added: "Having just completed her first exercise afloat since being enrolled, Danielle's enthusiasm to learn and become a competent member of the crew was clear to see. "My team are looking forward to training with Danielle and preparing her for the challenges that will undoubtedly lie ahead. "On behalf of the RNLI I would like to thank the Waid Academy for their supportive approach to pupils volunteering in the community and the benefits that come from doing so."

Summary: A 17-year-old schoolgirl has been granted permission to leave class to save lives at sea after becoming an RNLI volunteer.


The vast majority of the club's reputed 659 million supporters will never step inside the famed Old Trafford stadium. That's because most of them (85%) live in developing economies around the world, with more than half in Asia, the club says. So how do you make sure these potentially lucrative supporters stay loyal and have a rewarding and engaging fan experience? That's the question the club hopes to answer through its recently-announced tie-up with Indian "digital transformation partner", HCL Technologies. "What our fans have been interested in hasn't changed significantly over 100 years," says Man Utd's group managing director, Richard Arnold. "It's about quality of execution - the right content to the right fans at the right time, in the right language, in the right technology format, through the right medium." What that means in practice, however, is a little vague at this stage. Man Utd already "engages digitally" with 100 million fans, Mr Arnold says. 659m global fanbase 100m fans interacting digitally 66m Facebook likes 6m Twitter followers Â£2bn club value It has nearly six million Twitter followers and more than 66 million "likes" on its Facebook page, plus more than 100,000 users of its app, not to mention an undisclosed number of viewers of its digital cable channel, MUTV. So how do you extend that engagement to the rest of the fanbase? Krishnan Chatterjee, head of marketing at HCL's digital business division, says that what you don't do is try to build a one-size-fits-all app for such a diverse audience. "How many apps could we build? It could be as low as four or five, or as many as 100 - it's hard to say," he tells the BBC. And social media content has to be tailored to suit the cultural differences - not to mention the available internet speeds - of fans in different countries, he adds. The key, says Mr Chatterjee, is keeping fans engaged between matches, given that 95% of them will never enter the stadium. This could mean enabling team sponsors to run competitions and offer prizes, as well as offering the usual game and player stats, and "build your own team" functionality. In another example, he says all the data being collected from the players - their fitness levels and running speed - could be incorporated into apps for wearable devices, allowing fans to test their own fitness against that of their favourite players. "But if I could imagine how a fan will be interacting with the club in five years time then I've already failed," Mr Chatterjee concludes. "We're on an exciting journey, so let's get a lot of ideas on the table and do things no other club has ever done." The interaction doesn't always have to be very hi-tech, however. Mr Arnold says that simply giving fans the ability to wish players happy birthday on social media "turned out to be one of the most engaging pieces of content you can do". HCL will be setting up a "United Xperience Lab" at the Man Utd's Old Trafford stadium, where it will "explore

Summary: Football, for most Manchester United fans, is a virtual experience.


VW was the seventh most criticised firm in a top 10 dominated by energy and chemical companies, according to consultancy Sigwatch. Shell was the most criticised by campaigners, followed by Monsanto, which makes genetically modified food. Sigwatch monitored more than 7,500 non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The campaigners ranged from Greenpeace to Occupy to the consumer advocates Which? and groups focused on very specific issues such as airports expansion. Singled out for most praise were NestlÃ©, Marks & Spencer and McDonald's. But it was the increased criticism of VW which was one of the most striking findings, according to Sigwatch. "Volkswagen didn't even figure as an NGO target in 2014. By 2015 they were the top seven most hated company in the world as far as NGOs went," Sigwatch managing director Robert Blood told the BBC. "It's entirely because of 'Dieselgate'," he said, as pressure groups relaunched campaigns against greenhouse gas emissions with a new focus on VW. VW was found in September to have fitted millions of US cars with defeat devices which disguised emission levels in diesel cars. Half of the top-10 most criticised companies on Sigwatch's list were energy firms, because of "the elephant in the room - climate change," Mr Blood said. Top was Shell, but TransCanada, ExxonMobil, EDF and BP also featured. Shell said it would continue to engage with NGOs to ensure a "high-energy, low carbon, responsible energy future for our planet". The "most sensitive" companies to NGO concerns were food companies and retailers. That included M&S, which was praised for its environmental and animal welfare work, Mr Blood said. "It knows what its customers want and its customers are Greenpeace supporters," he said.

Summary: German carmaker Volkswagen was one of the "most disliked" companies for pressure groups last year following its emissions scandal, a survey has found.


The line, from Edinburgh to Tweedbank, opened last year at a cost of Â£350m and carried almost 700,000 people in its first six months. That was 22% more than forecast for the route, which serves towns including Galashiels, Stow and Gorebridge. The line's success is the focus of a conference being held in Newtongrange. Allison Cosgrove, from campaign group Railfuture Scotland, organised this weekend's event. She said: "The Borders reopening has exceeded all expectations, so naturally there's interest from other parts of the country from people wanting to share that success. "The whole area is beginning to benefit from this project, with a hugely positive impact on local tourism. "We'll be telling the story from the point of view of campaigners and politicians, as well as looking at the practical challenges of rebuilding the railway." The Borders was without any connection to the rail network from 1969 until last year after the Waverly Route was axed in cuts recommended by Dr Richard Beeching in his British Railways reports in the 1960s. A plan to reopen the line was passed in the Scottish Parliament in 2006 with work starting in November 2012 and the first passengers travelling last September. The conference is being held at the National Mining Museum Scotland in Newtongrange, Midlothian, on Saturday. Ms Cosgrove added: "It's appropriate that we've chosen a venue on the reopened line. "It's one of a collection of small towns in a forgotten area of Scotland which have been regenerated and reinvigorated. "Railways are now being talked about in Scotland, thanks to the success of the longest rail reopening for a hundred years."

Summary: Small towns on the Borders railway route have been "regenerated and reinvigorated" by the opening of the line, campaigners have said.


The whirlwind, which Australians refer to as a "willy willy", made a surprise appearance at the Earthcore festival in Pyalong, north of Melbourne. Olivier Bonenfant, who shot the footage, told the BBC that partygoers immediately started running towards the column of dust and debris. He uploaded the footage to YouTube, dubbing the incident a "doofnado". "Doof" is an Australian term for a dance party held in the bush. "It looked pretty fun … if I wasn't filming I would have run into the Doofnado too," the 32-year-old Canadian said.

Summary: Revellers at an Australian dance music festival were filmed charging into a powerful dust whirlwind on Saturday.


Sir Michael Wilshaw said it was critical to have a national system that identified, trained and nurtured teachers with leadership potential. He has given a paper to Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, setting out his thoughts on how to ensure schools have strong leaders for the future. He also said school leaders' pay should be publicised to attract top graduates. Giving evidence to the Commons Education Select Committee, Sir Michael said more must be done to bring on the talent of the future. "Have we got a national system to identify good people early in their careers?" he asked. "We need to make sure we have a national system which identifies good people with potential leadership capabilities and to identify them and move them into leadership positions as soon as possible. "It's urgent, it's absolutely urgent." Good teachers could take on senior positions within a few years, school leaders could earn more than Â£100,000 a year, and the leaders of multi-academy trusts could be "very wealthy individuals", Sir Michael told the committee. "We should publicise that if you're good and you want to make teaching your career, leadership your career, you can do very well financially," he told the MPs. Sir Michael also warned improvements to England's education system would be undermined if more action were not taken to tackle teacher shortages. He said more needed to be done to boost the status of teaching and attract more good candidates. Sir Michael's words come against a backdrop of warnings about teacher shortages, notably from head teacher unions and the National Audit Office. The government has said overall teacher numbers have risen and has blamed unions for "talking down" the profession. But Sir Michael said: "I think what we've got to do as a country is to make sure we get more people applying for teaching and training - and we're not doing that successfully. "All the great improvements that we've seen over the last few years could be undermined unless we tackle this very serious issue." The status of teaching was very high in some other parts of the world and it needed to be the same in this country, the Ofsted boss said. He said it was the job of everyone working in education to help to boost the image of the profession. "We have to make sure that teaching is seen as a really great job," he said. "We need to say how good the job is. "So much of what we hear is negative - the workload, it's a difficult job, badly behaved children et cetera. "We've got to start saying that this is one of the most noble jobs in the world, and we don't hear enough about that."

Summary: The need to recruit good future leaders for England's schools is urgent, the head of Ofsted has said.


Huge plumes of smoke billowed from the site at Belraugh Road, Garvagh, on Tuesday afternoon. The blaze was reported to the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) shortly after 14:00 BST. Six fire engines from Coleraine, Dungiven, Maghera, Ballymoney and Limavady attended the scene. The NIFRS said its fire emergency support service vehicle was also deployed, along with a command support unit from Kilrea and water tanker from Pomeroy. Earlier on Tuesday evening, Alan O'Neill from the NIFRS said the fire had been brought under control. "When we arrived there was quite a significant amount of vehicles involved and we increased our fire appliances to six at the scene. "We have been there from shortly after twenty past two and we expect to be there for the next couple of hours."

Summary: Up to 600 vehicles have been damaged during a large fire at a car dismantlers' yard in County Londonderry, firefighters have said.


The video shows two masked men firing a volley of shots into the air as two children stand nearby. It was posted on a YouTube channel called IRSP (Irish Republican Socialist Party) Media Belfast. The channel indicates that the video was filmed at the funeral of Barry McMullan on Monday. The published description of the video reads: "Irish Republican Socialist Movement lay Comrade Barry McMullan to rest with full honors (sic). Belfast, June 26th 2017." Det Ch Insp Gary Reid said: "Police are aware of the footage showing shots apparently being fired by masked men in west Belfast in recent days. "An investigation is underway."

Summary: Police have launched an investigation after video emerged of shots apparently being fired at a republican funeral in west Belfast.


Chris Gard and Connie Yates had been expecting their 10-month-old's life support to be turned off on Friday. Great Ormond Street Hospital has since disclosed it is putting plans in place for Charlie's care to allow his family to spend more time with him. On Tuesday, Charlie's parents lost their final legal appeal to take him to the US for experimental treatment. Judges at the European Court of Human Rights concluded that further treatment would "continue to cause Charlie significant harm", in line with advice from specialists at Great Ormond Street. He has a rare genetic disease as well as brain damage and is believed to be one of 16 children in the world to have the condition; mitochondrial depletion syndrome. Doctors have said he cannot see, hear, move, cry or swallow. Charlie has been receiving specialist treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital since October 2016. His parents said they had been denied their final wish to be able to take their son home to die and felt "let down" following the lengthy legal battle. Alongside a video posted on YouTube on Thursday, Charlie's parents wrote: "We are utterly heartbroken spending our last precious hours with our baby boy. "We're not allowed to choose if our son lives and we're not allowed to choose when or where Charlie dies. "We, and most importantly Charlie, have been massively let down throughout this whole process." A spokesperson for Great Ormond Street Hospital said earlier: "As with all of our patients we are not able to, and nor will we, discuss these specific details of care. "This is a very distressing situation for Charlie's parents and all the staff involved and our focus remains with them." Charlie's parents raised Â£1.3m on a crowdfunding site to pay for the experimental treatment in the US. Ms Yates previously indicated the money would go towards a charity for mitochondrial depletion syndrome if Charlie did "not get his chance".

Summary: Charlie Gard's parents have been told they will be able to spend more time with their terminally ill baby.


Goodes, an Indigenous Australian, is regularly jeered and racially abused by spectators. The #IstandwithAdam campaign was trending on Saturday, with actors like Cate Blanchett offering their support. Some fans have defended the booing, claiming it is not racist, but simply a response to Goodes' performance. Ms Blanchett and other high-profile figures, like actor Hugo Weaving and opposition leader Bill Shorten, have spoken out in support of the 35-year-old footballer. They sent videos to Fairfax Media backing the #IstandwithAdam campaign. During games Goodes has faced derogatory slurs and even been told to "get back to the zoo". Other Twitter users said the success of a native Australian should be celebrated rather than derided. The Sydney Swans star has described the abuse as "shattering" and is taking time off from the sport. Australian Rules football, or Aussie Rules, is played on an oval pitch, between two teams of 18 players. The Australian Football League (AFL) Players' Association and team skippers released a statement on Friday expressing their distaste for the constant booing, especially during last Sunday's clash at Perth's Subiaco Oval. "Enjoy the game, celebrate the success but don't boo, jeer or taunt players because of who they are or what they stand for," it said. Goodes is a vocal advocate for indigenous issues and wants to see Aboriginal people recognised by the Australian constitution. Others, including cricketing legend Shane Warne, have defended fans' right to boo athletes. "For me, I don't think that the stuff that they're doing to Adam Goodes is racist," he told Triple M radio station. "It's their prerogative. Australia can have an opinion." Separately, one of Australia's wealthiest and most influential businessmen, Crown chairman James Packer, said on Friday he was "ashamed" of the whole affair. "He's a great Australian. He won Australian of the Year, I think he's an amazing role model," local media quoted Mr Packer as saying.

Summary: Social media users have been rallying around Aussie Rules footballer Adam Goodes, after he became embroiled in a racism row with fans.


30 November 2016 Last updated at 08:06 GMT One that has been making news because it's been hard to get hold of is the new 'Hatchimal'. It's a furry toy which hatches out of a plastic egg just like a real bird. But is it any good? We asked some Newsrounders to review it. Check out the video to hear their verdict!

Summary: Every year Christmas comes around and with it a whole bunch of new toys.