Pregabalin, also known by the brand name Lyrica, is an anti-epileptic drug also used to relieve chronic pain. Last year, pregabalin was prescribed more in Northern Ireland than anywhere else in the UK. The drug has been linked to the deaths of two teenagers earlier this year. It was one of a cocktail of drugs used by Aaron Strong, 19, and Aaron Fox, 16. 'With Lyrica, I see people running about like zombies' An ex-drug user, who lost his teenage friend to suicide after a battle with drugs, has told BBC News NI that abuse of Lyrica is "wrecking lives". The Belfast teenager, who spoke anonymously, said he first took the drug when he was 16 and that it is freely available in his community. Read more on his story here. It is illegal to have class C drugs without a prescription and illegal to supply or sell them to others. The Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs made the recommendation in a letter to ministers, including the then home secretary Theresa May, in January. The letter cited warnings from the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) who highlighted "significant misuse and abuse" of the drug. Pregabalin is known as "bud" or "Budweisers" by recreational users because it is makes them feel the same high as if they were drunk. Life on Lyrica: Geoff Savage, drug counsellor I am a prescribed user of Lyrica. There's a stigma around drugs prescribed by professionals. That they're safe and not harmful. Prescribed drugs can sometimes be more serious if they're not taken properly. Being someone who takes it, I know the dangers with it. I once overdosed by accident. I was out of my head. Read more of Geoff's story here. Joe Brogan, the HSCB's head of pharmacy, said the problem "appears to be a growing issue". In 2012, Mr Brogan wrote to GPs and pharmacists telling them to be aware of the "potential misuse of the drug". It is understood that some doctors have written to patients who have been prescribed Lyrica to say they may need to review the dosage. "We've been raising it with general practitioners and prescribers in primary care to be mindful of repeat prescriptions of the drug," said Mr Brogan. "It can be a challenge for prescribers to understand if the patient is getting sufficient treatment as it's often used for a chronic pain issue." Pregabalin can be ordered online. It is understood it has been coming into Northern Ireland in fairly constant levels for a number of years, along with other prescription drugs including diazepam and temazepam. Packages of the drug ordered by customers in Northern Ireland are intercepted by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the UK Border Agency at airports in England every week. Analysis: Vincent Kearney, BBC News NI home affairs correspondent The organised crime branch of the PSNI is notified about every seizure of the drug and decides what action, if any, is to be taken. If the quantity of drugs intercepted is considered insignificant the police may decide not to take investigative

Summary: A prescription drug being abused by teenagers in NI should be made a class C drug, health officials have said.


The 34-year-old joins the county as cover for fellow West Indies paceman Fidel Edwards, who broke an ankle while playing football last week. Best has played 25 Tests and 26 one-day internationals for his country, and taken 316 wickets in 115 first-class wickets at an average of 28. Like Edwards, he is a Kolpak signing, with South African Ryan McLaren Hampshire's designated overseas player. "Tino trained with us in Barbados during pre-season and looked good," Hampshire director of cricket Giles White said. "It's come about at short notice, initially on a short-term contract. He seems excited about the opportunity and very motivated to do well." Best will play for Hampshire in a three-day second XI match against Somerset at the Ageas Bowl starting on Monday with a view to joining the first-team squad for the County Championship game that begins against Middlesex on Sunday. As well as Edwards, who will undergo surgery on Tuesday, Hampshire are currently without the services of bowlers Reece Topley, Gareth Berg and Ryan Stevenson through injury. Ireland seamer Craig Young has also joined the county on a short-term loan deal. "We'll support Fidel through his recovery and look forward to having him back in a Hampshire shirt as soon as possible," White added. "He's a class act and the team will miss him."

Summary: Fast bowler Tino Best has joined Hampshire on a short-term deal.


The Geminid shooting stars are due to peak overnight on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 December. But it's going to be a bit trickier to see them this year because it's happening at the same time as a supermoon - the third one this year. The light from the closer full moon will make it harder for stargazers. Meteors are small space rocks ranging from the size of a grain of sand to a pea that enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up, producing a bright streak of light. Most meteors break off from comets, which are dirty "snowballs" mainly made of ice, but the Geminids are different. The object they come from, the 3200 Phaethon, is more like an asteroid. As it orbits, the heat of the Sun causes surface material to crumble, before it tumbles off into space, leaving a trail of rocky debris behind it. The Earth passes through this trail each year as it orbits around the Sun, and we see them glow as the rock burns up in the Earth's atmosphere. You don't need any special equipment to view the meteor shower. Find a clear space away from street lights or the light coming from your house. Give your eyes enough time to adjust to the dark, and look up. Hopefully, with clear skies, you will be able to spot them as they blaze across the night sky.

Summary: One of the most dazzling meteor showers of the year is lighting up the sky this week.


Mr Kerry, 71, was cycling in France when he hit kerb and broke his leg. He arrived back in the US late on Monday and will be treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. It remains unclear how his injury will affect his work as the top diplomat for the US. He is due to have surgery later on Tuesday. On the flight back Mr Kerry tweeted with #Onward, "Headed back to Boston. Look fwd to getting leg set & getting back to @StateDept! Meantime, work goes on." Mr Kerry had been holding talks over the future of Iran's nuclear program in Geneva, Switzerland, one day before his accident. Experts see any potential agreement as a key diplomatic achievement for the Obama administration. The deadline to build on the already achieved "framework agreement" is the 30 June. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters on Monday the deadline would not change. "To be very clear, the secretary is absolutely committed to moving forward with the negotiations, to proceeding with them on the exact same timetable as before his accident," Ms Harf said. Mr Kerry was unable to attend recent scheduled meetings in Madrid and Paris in person. Mr Kerry remotely participated in Monday's Paris conference, which has convened the nations who oppose IS. "I would love to see anyone at the hospital try to stop @JohnKerry from negotiating and working while recovering from breaking his leg," tweeted Jen Psaki, a former State Department spokeswoman. Medical experts have told US media that it often takes six months to recover from a fractured femur. Since the accident, Mr Kerry has spoken to President Barack Obama and to Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, according to the State Department.

Summary: Negotiations with Iran about its nuclear programme will continue despite US Secretary of State John Kerry's recent injury, US officials say.


The man said he shot at their car after they refused to stop when he challenged them on Saturday. They were not hurt. He said that earlier he had heard the pair say "did you get anything"? Police in Florida have used the incident as an opportunity to issue guidelines for teenagers and parents on safely playing the game. Police say they received a call from the parents of one of the teenagers when it was noticed later that bullets had caused a flat tyre, News4jax reported. The parent said the teenagers did not realise they were being shot at, and thought that the man was only trying to scare them. The guidelines issues by the Flagler County Sheriff's Office include best practice tips for Pokemon Go players. They advise players to: The sheriff's office also advises parents of Pokemon Go players to: According to data from SimilarWeb, people are now spending more time playing Pokemon Go than they are on Snapchat, Instagram and WhatsApp. The game has also been installed on more Android smartphones in the US than the dating app Tinder.

Summary: Two teenagers playing Pokemon Go late at night in their car in Florida were shot at by a householder who mistook them for burglars, police say.


The 68-year-old was discovered in Fairisle Place in the Moray town at about 00:30 on Sunday. He was taken to Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin but died later that day. Police said inquiries were ongoing to establish how he sustained his injuries and the death was being treated as "unexplained". Det Ch Insp Kevin Walker, who is leading the inquiry, said: "Our thoughts are obviously with this man's family at this sad time. "Our inquiries are continuing to establish the exact circumstances leading up to his death and at this stage his injuries are still being treated as unexplained. "Several members of the public have already assisted with our investigation and I would like to thank them for their help. "I would still encourage anyone who saw a man fitting his description, however, to please contact police if you think you have information which could help." The man, who had white hair with a greying beard, was wearing a checked shirt, blue jeans and a dark-coloured hooded top.

Summary: An elderly man found with serious head injuries in a street in Lossiemouth has died in hospital.


The tech giant sold 45.51 million iPhones in the three months to 24 September, beating an average estimate of 44.8 million. The company also forecast higher-than-expected holiday season revenue of between $76bn and $78bn. But revenue in the fourth quarter fell 9% to $46.85bn. That meant annual revenue fell for the first time since 2001, highlighting a slowdown in the smartphone market as well as intensifying competition, particularly from Chinese rivals. Analysis: Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC Technology correspondent It was no surprise that Apple saw its first fall in annual revenues for 15 years. It became apparent earlier in the year that sales of the iPhone - surely the most profitable product in history - had plateaued and they continued to disappoint this quarter. It was hard to spot any product or market delivering outstanding results - the fact that Apple still hasn't released any figures for its Watch tells its own story - and the 30% fall in China sales looked particularly worrying. But somehow Apple's Chief Executive Tim Cook still managed to paint a rosy picture. He pointed to the 24% rise in income from services like Apple Music and Apple Pay. He told us that he was thrilled with the response of customers to the iPhone 7 - and that round the world, including in China, demand was outstripping supply. And crucially he looked forward to a return to growth in the next quarter, with Apple forecasting a record-breaking holiday season. Investors have been looking for reasons to buy back into Apple and that prediction may help continue the recent upward path of the shares. But the technology crowd is still waiting for some radical new innovation, to prove the company founded by Steve Jobs hasn't lost its creative spark. Tim Cook wouldn't be drawn when quizzed about moves into TV or building a car or a connected speaker like the Amazon Echo. He did say "we have the strongest product pipeline we've ever had". But that is a line we have been hearing for some time. Apple executives said demand for the new iPhone 7 was strong, despite fiscal fourth-quarter revenue falls in China and the Americas, its two most important markets. Revenue from Greater China, once seen as Apple's next growth hope, fell 30% in the quarter, after dropping 33% in the previous quarter. In the same period last year, revenue from Greater China doubled. Apple's shares were down 3% at about $114.80 in after-hours trading. "Apple didn't have a great [fourth quarter] as iPhones, Macs, China, the US and what appears to be Watch were down," said Patrick Moorhead, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy. Net income fell to $9.01bn in the fourth quarter, down from $11bn in the same quarter last year. For the year, net income fell to $45.7bn from $53.4bn. Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri said it was "impossible to know" if there was any effect yet from rival Samsung halting production of Galaxy Note 7 phones earlier this month.

Summary: Apple has reported its third quarter in a row of falling iPhone sales and revenue, but sales beat analyst expectations.


The ban is being imposed at the Kumbh Mela, a pilgrimage that has attracted nearly three million people since July. Authorities say that selfies will be banned on the days that people ritually bathe in the sacred Godavari river. Organisers say they conducted a study that showed people took too long taking selfies. This slows down the flow of people, leading to pushing and panic. Signs saying "no selfie zone" can be seen around the two festival sites in the state of Maharashtra. The festival takes place every three years. It began in mid-July and runs until late September. The decision was taken after over 100 volunteers conducted a study on behalf of the Kumbhathon group which works with the authorities to help monitor the festival. "Since 13 July, our volunteers on the field have been collecting data which showed that people stop to take selfies. They also climb to dangerous spots to take selfies," Kumbhathon CEO Sandip Shinde told the Indian Express. Local official Dr Pravin Gedam told the paper that selfies would only be banned during the "days of the holy dip as we don't want to take away from the festive mood on other days".

Summary: A "no selfie zone" will be implemented at a major Hindu festival in India due to fears they could cause stampedes.


The Broncos needed to better Salford's result at Batley to keep their hopes of a Super League return alive, but the Red Devils won 42-14 to finish fifth. Rhys Williams scored three of London's nine tries against Featherstone, who lost all seven games in the Qualifiers. Both clubs will play in the Championship again in 2017.

Summary: London Broncos thrashed Featherstone in their final Qualifiers match but Salford's victory meant they missed out on a place in the Million Pound Game.


However, only a fraction of those affected may receive compensation. Legal filings indicated that 250,000 people had lost some Â£130m in benefits. The Court of Appeal suggested the Department for Work and Pensions would owe a mere 1% of that amount, Â£1.3m, to just 2,500 people. The complex judgment on Friday was originally prompted by a challenge from Cait Reilly, a geology graduate from Birmingham. She had argued that requiring her to work at Poundland for no pay constituted a breach of her human rights. The government - to counter such claims - had retrospectively altered the law to validate the docking of benefits. Today, the Court of Appeal ruled that even under that new revised law, the docking of benefits could be incompatible with the European Convention of Human Rights. The Court's ruling represented a defeat for the government. Padraig Hughes, of Public Interest Lawyers, the group that brought Ms Reilly's case, said: "It is yet a further example of the reckless approach this Government continues to take towards the constitution and the rule of law." The Court of Appeal judges did nevertheless acknowledge that government ministers can change laws to affect cases retrospectively. And the judges decided that the only rights infringed upon where those of people that had already claimed the benefits docking was unfair. This narrowing of the claimants explains why only a tiny fraction of people will be eligible for a payout. "We are considering the judgment", a DWP spokesman said. "It is only right that jobseekers do all they can to find work while claiming benefits." It is not clear yet whether either side will make a further appeal.

Summary: The government has lost the latest round of an extended legal battle involving the docking of benefits for jobseekers who refused to participate in unpaid back-to-work schemes.


One device was listed with a previous sale price of £2,378, but was "reduced" to £1.58. The computer firm briefly took its UK store offline on Saturday to resolve the error, and said it would not honour the sales that had been made. "We apologise sincerely to impacted customers for any inconvenience caused," the firm said in a statement. Over the weekend, a handful of people posted on social media that they had taken advantage of the mistake and ordered laptops. But according to consumer rights group Citizens Advice, retailers can often cancel online orders if they have made a "genuine and honest mistake on their part that you should have noticed". HP said buyers would be refunded. "We can confirm that due to a processing error, select products were wrongly priced on our UK website over the weekend," HP said. "This has now been corrected with related orders cancelled."

Summary: HP has apologised after an error on its website let shoppers buy expensive laptop computers for less than £2.


Activists in Brighton voted in favour of a motion tabled by the Unite union to make their support for strikes conditional on UN backing. The vote is not binding on MPs but Jeremy Corbyn has said the party must heed the opinion of members. It follows calls from a senior Labour figure for a free vote in Parliament. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell told a meeting hosted by The Guardian at the Labour conference that Syria and the renewal of Trident were issues on which he did not expect consensus within the party and he believed a vote on military action in Syria should be made "on the basis of conscience". The government was defeated in 2013 in a parliamentary vote on military action in Syria, but ministers have since said the case for UK intervention in the country should be made again. In 2014 MPs voted in favour of RAF air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq. Labour's new leader Jeremy Corbyn has called for a UN security council resolution and a fresh diplomatic push to end the violence in Syria. The Labour conference will also consider an emergency motion, tabled by the union Unite, opposing the extension of the RAF's campaign against IS into Syria without "clear and unambiguous" authorisation from the UN. But Mr McDonnell told a meeting on the fringe of the conference that many MPs did not back the leader's stance and said it may be necessary for them to "agree that we can't agree" - though he said that efforts to reach a consensus within the party were still ongoing. Mr McDonnell said: "When you are sending people to potential loss of life, I think it is a conscience decision. It is a moral decision. "On Syria, my view is it should be a free vote on the basis of conscience." Prime Minister David Cameron has indicated he would like to extend the RAF airstrikes against the Islamic State group into Syria and could gain parliamentary backing from rebel Labour MPs, even if the party's leadership refuses to offer its support. Mr Corbyn set out his views on Syria during his conference speech on Tuesday, saying that "the answer to this complex and tragic conflict can't simply be found in a few more bombs". He added: "I believe the UN can yet bring about a process that leads to an end to the violence in Syria." Meanwhile, the defeated Labour leadership contender Andy Burnham is to offer a tougher line on EU immigration during his speech on the final day of the conference. Mr Burnham is to say that rules around the free movement of people in the EU are "widening inequality" and measures are needed to prevent the undercutting of wages by migrant workers. In a speech aimed in part to win back voters from UKIP, the shadow home secretary will say the EU must provide a "floor beneath all workers" and protect the "going rate" on pay. Mr Burnham, who was appointed shadow home secretary after he was heavily defeated by Mr Corbyn in

Summary: Labour members have voted to oppose airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria, without a mandate from the United Nations.


Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) said rock was dug away from cliffs near Bearreraig Bay in an apparent organised search for valuable specimens. The agency said Skye was known as Scotland's "Dinosaur Isle" because of its important fossil records. SNH has appealed for witnesses to contact the police. Skye is a key dinosaur fossil site in Scotland. Bearreraig Bay, north of Portree, is within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). A crowbar is suspected to have been used to prise away some of the rock. Dinosaur footprints may also have been removed from Valtos on Skye, SNH said. Evidence gathered at Valtos has been used by palaeontologists to explain what has been called the Dino Stampede in Australia, an incident where a group of dinosaurs were pursued by a predator. SNH said the Bearreraig Bay dig had been done without the landowner's permission or the consent of SNH, which manages the SSSI. Dr Colin MacFadyen, SNH's geologist, also said the actions went against guidelines in the Scottish Fossil Code. The codes does allow for the use of mechanical diggers, rock saws and even explosives for extracting fossils, but only when it was to the benefit of palaeontological research. Dr MacFadyen said: "Fossil collecting is important for scientific and educational purposes, and is a popular hobby. "It is better for fossils that fall from cliffs to be found, collected and enjoyed rather than be eroded and washed away by the tide. "However, speeding up the process by large scale rock removal as in this alarming case is irresponsible and illegal, and also potentially dangerous to people as the cliff faces are undermined and destabilised." Dr MacFadyen said permission to remove material from the SSSI would have been needed from SNH, but it had not been sought. He said fossil-rich rock had been damaged at the Bearreraig Bay site. Dr Neil Clark, of University of Glasgow's Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, has described Skye as one of the world's most important palaeontology sites. Its standing is underlined by the number of finds from the Middle Jurassic, about 170 million years ago. Dr Clark told the BBC News Scotland website: "This is quite a shock. It is not something I have heard of happening before. "Without knowing exactly where the damage is I can't say what they were after. It may have been plesiosaur." He added: "Whatever has been taken is now lost to science." Finds on Skye have included the earliest turtles known to have lived in water. The 164-million-year-old reptile fossils were found embedded in a block of rock at the bay of Cladach a'Ghlinne, on the Strathaird peninsula. The new species formed a missing link between ancient terrestrial turtles and their modern, aquatic descendants. The discovery of Eileanchelys waldmani, which translates as "the turtle from the island", was reported in the Royal Society journals in 2008.

Summary: Tonnes of rock has been disturbed at a Jurassic site on Skye in what has been described as one of Scotland's most reckless acts of fossil collecting.


Police said the suspect was 26 years old and born in the United Arab Emirates. They said he acted alone and he was overpowered by passersby. Mayor Olaf Scholz said the attack was motivated by "hate" but did not say it was a terror attack. There are unconfirmed reports that the man shouted "Allahu akhbar", Arabic for "God is great" while attacking people. Police said they were still seeking to confirm his current nationality. Mr Sholz said he was a failed asylum seeker. The man attacked customers in the supermarket at random, ran outside and was chased by customers and by people outside the shop. They brought him to the ground before he was detained by plain-clothes police officers. Mobile phone footage on German media that is purportedly of the attack's aftermath shows several people chasing a man and throwing chairs at him. A 50-year-old woman and four men aged between 19 and 64 were stabbed, while a 35-year-old man was injured while helping overcome the suspect. The attack happened in the Barmbek region in the north of the city in a branch of Edeka, Germany's largest supermarket chain. Police say the man's weapon may have looked like a machete but they are, for now, assuming it was a kitchen knife. One eyewitness made a gesture about 50cm (20 in) long when asked on German TV how big the knife was. Asked whether this was a terror attack, a police official told the BBC: "We are at an early stage of the investigation... At the moment we can't rule anything out. We are investigating all avenues." Speculation in German media said the attack may have been part of a robbery attempt but police said that that motive could not be confirmed. One eyewitness, who ran from the scene into a nearby shop as the situation unfolded, told German broadcaster NTV that it seemed "hectic and confused, not like a properly planned attack".

Summary: A 50-year-old German man has been killed and six people injured in a knife attack in a Hamburg supermarket.


The claim: "We are giving £20bn a year or £350m a week to Brussels." Reality Check verdict: We are not giving £20bn a year or £350m a week to Brussels - Britain pays £276m a week to the EU budget because of the rebate. He has gone with that figure despite a letter from the head of the UK statistics watchdog Sir Andrew Dilnot on Thursday, which described it as "potentially misleading". The figure used is roughly the UK's gross contribution to the EU - the amount that would be contributed to the EU Budget were it not for the rebate. We say "roughly the UK's gross contribution" because the annual figure that Boris Johnson used was £20bn, somewhat higher than the £18.8bn figure for 2014 - the most recent figure available - while the £350m a week figure is a bit below the actual figure of £361m. The important point is that it's not the sum we send to Brussels because the rebate is deducted before any money is paid. In 2014, the UK's contribution to the EU budget - the amount we paid to Brussels - was actually £276m a week. If Britain were to give up the rebate, then the UK would have to pay the gross contribution, and it should be noted that the rebate is not a permanent feature of Britain's membership of the EU. But we do not pay the gross contribution at the moment, the rebate is safe until 2020, and Britain has a veto over the process that would remove or reduce it. Sir Andrew Dilnot is particularly concerned about suggestions from Vote Leave that a sum of money equivalent to the gross contribution could be spent on other priorities such as the NHS, when some of it is not spent at all (the rebate) and some of it is currently used to support UK farmers, for example. READ MORE: The facts behind claims in the EU debate

Summary: Mayor of London Boris Johnson used the figure in The Sun this morning that the UK gives £350m a week to Brussels.


Abel Hernandez was the hero for the hosts, scoring twice on his first start since injuring his groin against Southampton on 6 November. That match against the Saints was the final league victory under Silva's predecessor Mike Phelan, who was dismissed on 3 January with the team bottom of the league. Hull have now won twice in three games under former Olympiakos and Sporting Lisbon boss Silva, having beaten Swansea in the FA Cup third round a week ago. Tyrone Mings' own goal added gloss to the scoreline for Hull, who took a long time to grow into the match after falling behind to Junior Stanislas' third-minute penalty, awarded for Harry Maguire's challenge on Ryan Fraser and the 10th the Tigers have conceded in 21 games this season. Bournemouth have now shipped three goals in eight of their last 10 games in all competitions, and drop to 11th place after their 10th defeat of the campaign. It has been a bleak winter for Hull so far and the loss of £10m striker Hernandez to injury certainly contributed to their plight. The Tigers went nine games without a win during his absence, dropping them to the bottom of the table by Christmas and culminating in the departure of Phelan early in the new year. His return has coincided with the appointment of Silva, and it has quickly become apparent that the influence of both could prove vital in turning Hull's season around. The 26-year-old's goal against Swansea in the cup was a timely reminder of the ability that brought him 20 goals in Hull's promotion campaign last season, and his first against Bournemouth bore all the predatory instincts that the hosts have been missing these past few weeks. Huge credit must go to Andrew Robertson for the quality of his cross from the left wing, which presented Hernandez with a headed chance from around a yard out that he simply could not miss. The second was more of a self-made effort, the Uruguay international picking the ball up on the right, advancing into the area and selling a couple of cute stepovers to Mings before curling a precise finish into the left-hand corner. Media playback is not supported on this device It was a huge result for Hull but also a significant one for the visitors, who have now conceded 24 goals in their last 10 league and cup games. Their mid-table position - and nine-point gap to the drop zone - means Bournemouth have some wiggle room as they bid to shore up at the back. But they cannot continue to leak goals at the present rate and not expect to find themselves flirting with danger at the end of the season. Hull's third goal here was certainly unfortunate - Mings diverting in Tom Huddlestone's hopeful shot from the edge of the area - but nevertheless continues a sequence of results that is clearly worrying boss Eddie Howe, who conceded that there was a "pattern emerging". Hull head coach Marco Silva: "I'm happy because what I saw was a team with big

Summary: New boss Marco Silva guided Hull City to victory in his first Premier League match as the Tigers moved off the foot of the table with an impressive performance against Bournemouth.


Kaikai, 20, is back with Town for a second spell from Premier League Crystal Palace and has scored six goals in his last five appearances to lift the club two points clear of trouble. "He's very important for us," Ogogo, 26, told BBC Radio Shropshire. "He's got the quality and can score goals out of nothing." Kaikai, who scored on his only appearances to date for Palace in their League Cup tie against Newcastle in September 2014, first moved to Greenhous Meadow last September and scored five times in 17 games before returning to Selhurst Park at the start of January. Since coming back to Shropshire the goals have flowed, leading Shrewsbury boss Micky Mellon to question why he has not been part of the England Under-21 squad. Ogogo, who is wearing the armband in the absence of suspended Nat Knight-Percival, thinks Kaikai has improved since he was last at the club. "He's always played well but he's now adding goals to his game," said Ogogo. Kaikai's 11th strike of the season put Town ahead league leaders against Wigan last Saturday before the title challengers hit back in style to win 5-1. But Ogogo is staying confident over their survival chances despite having to play four sides currently in the top six in their next five games. "One defeat in 10 games isn't bad - we've been on a good run so we need to dust ourselves down and go again," said Ogogo. "We've got a tough run-in bit we can't look at other teams."

Summary: Stand-in captain Abu Ogogo says in-form striker Sullay Kaikai will play a key role in Shrewsbury Town's bid to avoid relegation from League One.


The first half was a tame affair with little for the 1,842 fans to get excited about. Queen's looked the most threatening but could not find an opening. And Cairney found the only goal of the game, picking up the ball on the edge of the box and rifling a low shot into the back of the net. The first real piece of action was for the visitors and their front man Stephen Dobbie. He won the ball from Peter Murphy, but he dragged his shot wide of the target. Minutes later Mark Millar tried his luck for Queens, but his shot was saved by the legs of Greg Fleming in the Ayr goal. The next clear cut chance came just before the half time whistle. Jordan Marshall slipped away from his marker, he whipped in a great ball from the left, but Dobbie couldn't get his head to it. The breakthrough came in the second half with Cairney's goal, and Ayr could have doubled their lead through Gary Harkins. The striker had time, but failed to get the shot on target and launched the ball over the bar. Ayr United move up to sixth spot in the Championship, with Queens now down to third after their second defeat in a row. Match ends, Ayr United 1, Queen of the South 0. Second Half ends, Ayr United 1, Queen of the South 0. Corner, Queen of the South. Conceded by Conrad Balatoni. Attempt missed. Lee Robinson (Queen of the South) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Foul by Gary Harkins (Ayr United). Jordan Marshall (Queen of the South) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Brian Gilmour (Ayr United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Stephen Dobbie (Queen of the South). Foul by Kevin Nisbet (Ayr United). Andy Dowie (Queen of the South) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Corner, Queen of the South. Conceded by Nicky Devlin. Attempt missed. Kevin Nisbet (Ayr United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Jordan Marshall (Queen of the South) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Brian Gilmour (Ayr United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Jordan Marshall (Queen of the South). Attempt missed. Stephen Dobbie (Queen of the South) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Conrad Balatoni (Ayr United) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Andy Dowie (Queen of the South). Andy Dowie (Queen of the South) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Kevin Nisbet (Ayr United). Corner, Ayr United. Conceded by Kyle Jacobs. Substitution, Ayr United. Jamie Adams replaces Paul Cairney. Attempt missed. Gary Harkins (Ayr United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high. Foul by Gary Harkins (Ayr United). Andy Dowie (Queen of the South) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Substitution, Queen of the South. Steven Rigg replaces

Summary: A second half strike by Paul Cairney was enough to give Ayr United all three points against Queen of the South at Somerset Park.


The car mounted a pavement within the grounds of Maidstone Hospital, in Barming, at about 14:40 BST on Tuesday, police said. The woman, in her 90s, was taken to a hospital in London, where she was later pronounced dead. Police have appealed for witnesses to the crash, which happened near the hospital's birthing centre.

Summary: A woman in her 90s who was in a wheelchair when she was hit by a car outside a hospital has died.


Two army generals, a ruling coalition MP and an opposition MP had been arrested over the alleged plot, the officials added. A "small group" conspired for four months, the officials said. Chad, a staunch ally of France, has a long history of coups and revolts. Mr Deby himself seized power in a coup in 1990. The BBC's Nathalie Magnien in N'Djamena says it is business as usual in the capital and no-one seems particularly concerned about the news. There is no visible sign of increased security in the city or patrols on the streets, she says. "Between four and eight people were killed in fighting at a military barracks in the east of N'Djamena," said a police source who requested anonymity, Reuters news agency reports. By Celeste HicksFormer BBC Chad correspondent Chadians are used to news of suspected coups - power has never changed hands peacefully and President Idriss Deby Itno is constantly aware that a soldier or even someone in his own family could overthrow him. It is not yet clear who was behind this "attempt at destabilisation". Government sources say the main figure arrested is Saleh Makki, a hitherto relatively unknown member of the political opposition with no association with rebels in the past. Some are speculating that there may be a connection to Chad's recent military interventions abroad and President Deby recently accused Libya of supporting militias against him. Recent threats from the former Chadian rebel group UFR do not carry much weight as they are a spent force. What is known is that it is very difficult for the opposition to win an election - weak and divided they boycotted the 2011 presidential vote which Mr Deby won with 83%. Mr Deby changed the constitution to abolish presidential term limits in 2005. Police sources told the AFP news agency a shoot-out took place on the outskirts of N'Djamena, with three members of the security forces being among the dead. "A small group of ill-intentioned individuals attempted to carry out a destabilisation plot against the institutions of the republic," a government statement said. It said that the country's security forces "neutralised" them, without specifying how many people were involved in the alleged action. Prosecutor Mahamat Saleh Youssouf named the generals who had been arrested as Weiddig Assi Assoue and Ngomine Beadmadji David. Ruling coalition MP Mahamat Malloum and opposition MP Saleh Makki had also been arrested, he said. Mr Makki's coalition Co-ordination of Political Parties for the Defence of the Constitution (CPDC), told the BBC it was confused by his arrest. Mr Makki was arrested by police between 21:00 and 22:00 local time on Wednesday evening, his wife told the CPDC. Our reporter says it is not clear what charges they will face. Since its independence from France in 1960, Chad's history has been marked by instability and violence stemming mostly from tension between the mainly Arab-Muslim north and the predominantly Christian and animist south. Mr Deby has survived two attacks on the capital - in 2006 and 2008 - from rebels in eastern Chad. These rebels were supported

Summary: At least four people were killed in Chad's capital, N'Djamena, as government forces foiled a "destabilisation plot" against President Idriss Deby, officials said.


The latest round of bloody protests over Oromo rights had a tragically surreal beginning. A bus filled with a wedding party taking the bride to the groom's home was stopped at a routine checkpoint on 12 February near the southern Ethiopian town of Shashamane. Local police told revellers to turn off the nationalistic Oromo music playing. They refused and the bus drove off. The situation then rapidly escalated and reports indicate at least one person died and three others were injured after police fired shots. The exact details of the incident are hard to verify, but what is clear is that days of protest followed, including armed local militia clashing with federal police, leaving seven policemen dead, the government says. Oromia at a glance: Why Ethiopia is making a historic ‘master plan’ U-turn Since last November, Ethiopia has seen a third phase of the recent unrest in the Oromia region which has been unprecedented in its longevity and geographical spread. The region is the largest in Ethiopia and the Oromos, who make up a third of the population, are the biggest of the country's more than 80 ethnic groups. Initially the protests were in reaction to a plan to expand the administrative border of the capital, Addis Ababa, which is encircled by Oromia. But even after the region's governing party, the Oromo People's Democratic Organisation, which is part of Ethiopia's governing coalition, shelved the plan in January, protests have continued. "There is a strong sense of victimhood, extending back 150 years," says Daniel Berhane, a prominent Addis Ababa-based political blogger, covering Ethiopia for the website Horn Affairs. "People remember the history. The scars are still alive, such as how the Oromo language was suppressed until 20 years ago." Despite there being an ethnic basis to these protests, observers say that the deeper issues behind them, frustrations over land ownership, corruption, political and economic marginalisation, are familiar to many disenchanted Ethiopians. The numbers killed since November following clashes between protesters and security forces given by international rights organisations, activists and observers range from 80 to 250. The government has dismissed various death tolls as exaggerations, and said that a recent report on the situation by the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) was an "absolute lie". Ethiopian citizens had a right to question the plan to expand Addis Ababa, but the protests were hijacked by people looking to incite violence, according to government spokesman Getachew Reda. He says the security forces have faced "organised armed gangs burning down buildings belonging to private citizens, along with government installations". A security analyst who closely watches Ethiopia says "there could be radical elements and factions taking advantage, but you cannot define a movement by isolated events". Despite violent incidents, the protests have been described as "largely peaceful" by HRW and observers in Ethiopia. "There is a perception of lack of competence in governance on the ground," Mr Daniel says. "There were easy remedies to appease initial protests, it was not hard science, but the right actions were not taken." In its defence, the government says it

Summary: As protests in Ethiopia over the rights of the country's Oromo people continue, Addis Ababa-based journalist James Jeffrey considers if they are threatening the country's unity.


The government last year pledged £1.4bn for child mental health by 2020, but a report says millions of pounds is being used to offset NHS cuts elsewhere. Specialist teams are also turning away up to a quarter of youngsters, it said. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the government was "determined to address" mental health problems. The previous coalition government promised in 2015 an extra £250m a year during this parliament to improve mental health services for children in England. However, Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb - who was a health minister at the time - has now overseen a report by an independent commission that says much of the money has failed to reach the areas where it is most needed. The report - by the Education Policy Institute Independent Commission on Children and Young People's Mental Health - says only £75m made it to the clinical commissioning groups who pay for services last year. The commission says young people are still struggling to access help - partly because of difficulties in recruiting staff, including mental health nurses and psychiatrists. According to the report, specialist services are turning away 23% of children and young people referred to them, often because there are "high thresholds" for accessing services. The authors warned that "something has to go drastically wrong before some services will intervene". The report challenged Theresa May to develop a "prime minister's challenge on children's mental health", similar to former PM David Cameron's "dementia challenge", which led to increases in investment and awareness. Mr Lamb, chairman of the commission, said: "The prime minister, in her very first speech, rightly highlighted the inadequacies of the country's mental health provision as a 'burning injustice'. "Today we call on the government to meet this commitment - and take urgent action to ensure children and young people with mental health problems receive the care they need." Bev Humphrey, chairwoman of the Mental Health Network - which represents mental health and learning disability service providers in England - said the government had failed "to come close to fulfilling its existing promises on mental health funding". "This situation means underfunded NHS and social services are struggling to help the growing number of children experiencing serious mental health problems. "With many services almost at breaking point the commission is right - it really is time to deliver." Mr Hunt said mental health services for children remained a priority and further plans to improve care would be announced "soon". "We are already investing £1.4bn to help make sure children get the right care and every area in the country has put together plans on how they will spend the money to transform children's mental health services. "We are also strengthening the links between schools and mental health services, and driving forward innovation to improve prevention and early support."

Summary: Money earmarked to boost mental health provision for children in England is failing to make it to front-line services, a new report suggests.


Prof Trevor Purt was suspended from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) after it was put into special measures. BCUHB ran the much-criticised Tawel Fan ward at Glan Clwyd Hospital, Denbighshire, which closed in 2013. A health and care union boss said the move would "do nothing" to address "deep-seated" problems at the board. Jon Restell, chief executive of the Managers in Partnership (MiP) union, said: "This will only create more instability, which is not in the patients' interests." A report found there was "institutional abuse" at the Tawel Fan mental health unit, where patients were allegedly treated like animals in a zoo. Deputy chief executive of the Welsh NHS Simon Dean was appointed as interim head of the board on Tuesday.

Summary: The suspension of the chief executive of a troubled health board is "short-sighted", a union boss has said.


Cardiff hit the woodwork twice as Joe Ralls smashed the post with a long-range first-half strike and Anthony Pilkington hit the bar with a volley. Johnnie Jackson wasted a good opening as the Charlton captain headed over Johann Berg Gudmundsson's cross. And Charlton's Simon Makienok missed two late chances as Cardiff hung on. The Bluebirds were reduced to 10 men for the final minute of injury time after midfielder Sammy Ameobi was dismissed for a second yellow card. The point moves Charlton off the bottom table but they are now six points from safety after MK Dons and Bristol City both won. It was a battle of the sides with controversial owners and in a week where Vincent Tan vowed to halve Cardiff's £140m debt, Charlton fans handed out 2,000 Pinocchio masks and stickers before kick-off in the latest protest at Addicks owner Roland Duchatelet. And their mood would not have been helped if Anthony Pilkington's header had not been deflected over with barely a minute on the clock. Ameobi and a Peter Whittingham free-kick went close for Cardiff before midfielder Ralls' 25-yard shot cannoned back off the post. Charlton's Reza Ghoochannejhad tested Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall before an unmarked Jackson headed Gudmundsson's corner into the ground and over. Pilkington twice worried the Charton defence either side of the interval before the Cardiff striker hit the crossbar when his clever flick from Scott Malone's cross had home keeper Stephen Henderson beaten. But Charlton, with the second worst defensive record in the league, held firm and the hosts could have won their first home game since early November in added time. Zakarya Bergdich forced Marshall into a smart save before Cardiff defender Bruno Ecuele Manga cleared Makienok's effort off the line as the Welsh side drew their 13th match this season, the joint highest in the whole league. Charlton head coach Jose Riga: Media playback is not supported on this device "Cardiff deserved to win the game, but for me the most important was to see a reaction from my players. The way we played pleased me a lot. "Now we must make sure we keep this up in the next game. With these efforts we will get what we deserve. I'm realistic. Results have not been the best, but what can we do? "If you think and act like a team you can do a lot things. I believe in work, commitment and I always stay optimistic. It's a step forward." Cardiff City manager Russell Slade said: "We opened up in an effort to try and win three points rather than take just one. We had something like 22 shots and if there's any criticism we've probably only had three or four on target and that is what cost us dearly. "We felt it was two points dropped massively. We were in some good situations and it was the final shot or pass that let us down. We didn't have the final ruthless streak which was going to bring us home the three points. "The Ameobi red card was a little bit

Summary: Cardiff City missed a chance to close the gap on the Championship play-off places as Charlton Athletic battled off the bottom in a pulsating draw.


One private hospital told the BBC that 90 people are on a waiting list after it ran out of supplies last week. Hundreds of thousands of people have signed a national petition for the jab to be offered to all children It follows a case in England where a mother shared pictures of her daughter dying in hospital from the illness. Under national guidelines, the vaccine is only available to babies. All babies in the UK are offered a potentially life-saving vaccine against meningitis B as part of a national immunisation programme. However, there have been calls for the age limit to be extended to children and teenagers.

Summary: Private hospitals in Northern Ireland are reporting an increase in the number of inquiries from the public about getting the Meningitis B vaccine.


Mr Gulen, who is in self-imposed exile in the US, is accused of establishing and running an "armed terrorist group". He was once an ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but has now been accused of plotting to overthrow the Turkish government - a claim the cleric strongly denies. The US is thought to be unlikely to act on any extradition request. The move comes amid a national crackdown on perceived supporters of the cleric. Over 20 journalists working for media outlets thought to be sympathetic to the Gulen movement were arrested last weekend. Eight of them were freed on Friday on the orders of a court in Istanbul. Those released include Ekrem Dumanli, editor-in-chief of Zaman newspaper. Four others, including a TV station boss, remain in custody. According to the BBC's Mark Lowen in Istanbul, it was expected that the authorities would go after Mr Gulen after having targeted those linked to him. While the US and Turkey have an extradition agreement, the warrant is considered to be largely symbolic - and unlikely to be acted upon. The relationship between Washington and Ankara has grown fractious, though they remain allies. Mr Erdogan has faced criticism from international leaders and his opponents, who accuse him of authoritarianism and undermining free press. Many abroad believe that the charges against Mr Gulen are politically motivated. The wealthy cleric, who operates an international network of schools and businesses, has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999. According to media reports, the prosecutor filing the arrest warrant accused Mr Gulen of leading an armed terrorist group - a charge that carries up to 15 years in prison.

Summary: A Turkish court has issued an arrest warrant for the influential cleric Fethullah Gulen.


The company, founded by billionaire Newcastle United boss Mike Ashley, has seen its shares rise 86% since the start of the year. The FTSE 100 is updated every three months, reflecting changes in the market value of companies. The reshuffle takes effect from 23 September. Greek coke bottler Coca Cola Hellenic is also set to join the top flight of London-listed companies after it switched its primary listing from Athens to London earlier this year. But outsourcing firm Serco has been dropped after its shares fell 8.5% since the end of June. It is facing an investigation into its practices, and the potential suspension of future government contracts, saw its share price plunge earlier in the summer, before recovering slightly. Sports Direct, said in a trading update on Wednesday that sales had risen by 18.2% in the 13 weeks to the end of July, compared to the same period last year.

Summary: Retailer Sports Direct will enter the FTSE 100 as part of the latest reshuffle of the 100 biggest companies on the London Stock Exchange.


The survey, carried out days after Scotland voted "No", found 3% wanted to Wales to be independent. But there was support for the idea of more powers being devolved to the Welsh Assembly, with 49% in favour. ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1,006 people in Wales over the telephone. The survey found 12% wanted to see the assembly abolished. The poll also found growing support for UKIP in Wales ahead of next year's general election. Nigel Farage's party is on 14%, up seven points from the last BBC Wales poll in March. Labour are down four points to 38%, with the Conservatives on 23% (down one), Plaid Cymru on 13% (down one) and the Liberal Democrats on 7% (down two). Prof Roger Scully of the Wales Governance Centre at Cardiff University said: "Support for independence is the lowest I've seen anywhere. "There has been a clear move towards supporting more powers, and some of the people who may have said 'independence' have gone in that direction. "We're getting close to a majority saying they want things to go further. There are also pretty low levels of support for abolition of the assembly - the extreme positions are losing out." An analysis of the voting intention figures by Prof Scully suggests that, on a uniform swing, Labour would gain two seats in the capital - Cardiff North and Cardiff Central - at next May's general election. The Conservatives would lose Cardiff North but gain Brecon and Radnor; Plaid Cymru would retain their three seats but the Liberal Democrats would be reduced to a solitary Welsh seat at Westminster - Ceredigion. UKIP's level of support is too low to win their own seat, but high enough to have an impact on some marginal constituencies. "UKIP's support is clearly going up," said Prof Scully. "They are starting to reach the sort of level where they could make a serious difference in marginal seats." He said most evidence suggests they are taking more support from the Conservatives than anywhere else, which could be of importance in Tory-held marginal seats like the Vale of Glamorgan and Aberconwy. ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1,006 Welsh adults aged 18 or over by telephone on 19-22nd September 2014. Interviews were conducted across Wales and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. There is more on this story on Week In Week Out on BBC One Wales at 22:35 on Wednesday 24 September.

Summary: Support for Welsh independence has fallen to its lowest recorded level in the wake of the Scottish referendum, according to a poll for BBC Wales.


Watson's deal expires at the end of the season, but he says he has a "sense of unfinished business" at the club. "I want to stay," the 25-year old told BBC Scotland ahead of Edinburgh's derby against Glasgow Warriors on Monday. "At this point in time, I'm doing well for Edinburgh, and the best place for me to keep getting capped is playing in Scotland." Edinburgh have finished no higher than eighth in the past five Pro12 seasons, and Watson, who played every minute of Scotland's three autumn internationals, wants to follow back-row colleague Magnus Bradbury in pledging his future to the capital side. "Even though this is my sixth season, it's quite frustrating, because we win really tough games, and once we put together a season, this squad can achieve big things, and I don't want to miss that," he said. "Definitely, there is a sense of unfinished business. I believe in the next two years we can achieve a lot if we hold on to all of our players."

Summary: Scotland flanker Hamish Watson says he "wants to stay" at Edinburgh beyond the end of his contract.


About 80 items, including artwork, letters and clothing from collections around the world will go on display in Winchester in the summer. Exhibits will include the author's silk pelisse coat, her purse and sewing box. A portrait, not been seen in public for more than 40 years, is also included. It is one of five to be brought together for the show. The exhibition takes place at The Gallery in Winchester Discovery Centre - a few miles from Austen's birthplace of Steventon - from 13 May to 24 July. Co-curator Louise West said: "The bringing together for the first time of five portraits of Jane Austen will, we hope, provoke reaction and excite argument about the mysterious Miss Austen. "This is a new way of exploring Austen's identity and we are thrilled to be sharing this opportunity with the public."

Summary: An exhibition marking the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen's death will feature writings from her teenage years and the original ending she wrote for her novel Persuasion.


Connors, 21, began his career with Fulham and joined the Daggers in 2011 on a two-year scholarship. "He is versatile, can play in two or three positions and he knows Scott Doe and Luke Howell from their time at Dagenham," said boss Luke Garrard. "Jack's signing was important for us in terms of quality and squad depth."

Summary: Boreham Wood have signed defender Jack Connors on loan from League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge until the end of the season.


Henrikh Mkhitaryan's sublime solo goal proved the difference as second-placed Dortmund moved within five points. The Armenia captain ran at the away defence from deep before firing into the bottom corner from 20 yards. Pep Guardiola's side can restore their eight-point lead with a win at relegation battlers Augsburg on Sunday. Bayer Leverkusen moved into third when they fought back from behind to win 2-1 at Darmstadt, while Hertha Berlin dropped to fourth after losing 2-0 at Stuttgart. Second-bottom Hoffenheim, with new 28-year-old manager Julian Nagelsmann taking charge for the first time, drew 1-1 at relegation rivals Werder Bremen.

Summary: Borussia Dortmund narrowed the gap on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich with a hard-fought win against bottom side Hannover.


The pool will have a see-through bottom so that people using it can peer down to the ground as they swim. It will be 35 metres up in the air and will link two blocks of flats near Battersea, in London. Nicknamed "Sky Pool", it has been described as a world first. These pictures are artists impressions of what the pool bridge will look like when it's completed in the summer of 2019.

Summary: Plans to build a 25 metre swimming pool, that will join two 10 storey tower blocks, have been announced.


The chancellor claimed Britain was "walking tall again" after five years of austerity. He also cut 1p from beer duty, 2% from cider and whisky and froze fuel and wine duty. Cigarettes will go up by 16p a pack as earlier planned. Labour leader Ed Miliband said Mr Osborne had "failed working families". "This a Budget that people won't believe from a government that is not on their side," Mr Miliband told MPs. The Lib Dems - who will set out their own tax and spending plans on Thursday - claimed credit for coalition plans to raise the personal income tax allowance to £10,800 next year, more than previously expected. Users of the BBC News app tap here for the Budget Calculator. Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable told BBC News: "Where we differ from the Conservatives... is that we don't believe you can deal with this deficit problem simply by cutting public spending. "Many of our public services are already under a lot of pressure so we will be arguing for a different mix." In his final set-piece pitch to voters before May's election, Mr Osborne announced that if the Conservatives win power the first £1,000 of savings interest would be tax free - meaning 95% of savers would pay no tax. He also said savings put aside for a deposit by first-time buyers would be topped up by the government - to the tune of £50 for every £200 saved - in a move that will come into force this Autumn. The new Help to Buy ISA accounts will be made available through banks and building societies. Other measures include: Mr Osborne hailed slightly better than expected growth figures, which suggest the economy will expand by 2.5% this year, rather than 2.4% and described his economic package as a "Budget for Britain - a comeback country". He said the government had met its 2010 target to end this Parliament with Britain's national debt falling as a share of GDP, meaning the "the hard work and sacrifice of the British people has paid off". Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here Setting out his plans in the Commons, Mr Osborne said: "We took difficult decisions in the teeth of opposition and it worked. Britain is walking tall again. "Five years ago, our economy had suffered a collapse greater than almost any country. "Today, I can confirm: in the last year we have grown faster than any other major advanced economy in the world." He said he would use a boost in the public finances caused by lower inflation and welfare payments to pay off some of the national debt and end the squeeze on public spending a year earlier than planned. In 2019/20 spending will grow in line with the growth of the economy - bringing state spending as a share of national income to the same level as in 2000, the chancellor told MPs. The BBC's Robert Peston said this was a move aimed at neutralising Labour's claim that the

Summary: George Osborne has announced tax cuts for first-time buyers, workers and savers in his final Budget before May's general election.


A security source told the BBC that at least 35 soldiers and allied Sunni tribesmen were killed in a series of suicide car bomb attacks. A senior IS leader was also said to have been killed east of the city. Government forces have encircled Ramadi and are preparing for a final assault on the city, which IS overran in May. Last week, troops retook the key western district of Tamim, which is only separated from the city centre by a tributary of the Euphrates, and the headquarters of the Iraqi military's Anbar Operations Command. On Monday, a senior source in the Anbar Operations Command said IS militants launched a wave of attacks across Ramadi as they tried to regain areas recently recaptured by government forces. Five suicide bombers drove cars packed with explosives at government positions, including those in the northern district of Albu Farraj, killing more than 20 soldiers and tribesmen, the source added. At least 15 militants were subsequently killed in a gun battle, before Iraqi and US-led air strikes forced the rest of the attackers to retreat. A sixth suicide car bomb attack, in south-western Ramadi, killed another 15 soldiers and tribesmen, the source said. Iraqi media also reported that an IS leader in charge of setting up car bombs had been killed along with four of his aides in a military operation in the Jazirat al-Khalidiya area, 12 miles (20km) east of Ramadi. Security sources identified the militant as Ibrahim al-Halabi, a Syrian national. The US military believes there are between 600 and 1,000 IS militants in Ramadi. It says they have developed a strong defensive system in and around the city, including using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to create minefields.

Summary: Islamic State militants have reportedly launched several counter-attacks in the Iraqi city of Ramadi, which government forces are trying to recapture.


About 80,000 lightning strikes were recorded, some damaging power generation facilities, while winds toppled over 22 transmission towers. Power was restored to Adelaide area by 03:00 local time (17:30 GMT) but tens of thousands of homes remain cut off. On Thursday, authorities advised people to leave work early as winds were expected to intensify again. How 'unprecedented' storm played out The state premier said "twin tornadoes" had hit northern areas in "an extreme weather event" on Wednesday. Jay Weatherill compared the storm to Hurricane Sandy which hit New York in 2012. He said officials in charges of the power grid had told him "any system would not be able to cope with a weather system of this kind". "We had winds which were so strong that when they hit power lines they created such energy they were tearing the towers out of the ground." While South Australia's wild weather was widely forecast, no-one could really predict the impact it would have on everyday life. In Adelaide, commuters were left feeling their way in the dark as the lights went off on their way home. Gridlock followed, as trains and trams came to a standstill. At the airport, some passengers had to depend on handwritten boarding passes, after power for the printers failed. Some describe the whole experience as "apocalyptic", while one woman, who was on the operating table in the local hospital and about to undergo surgery, said it was simply "funny". What has been predictable is that an extreme weather event has very quickly turned into an Australian political storm, with the state's dependency on renewable energy now being debated with the full force and bluster of a tornado. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said the storm was a once-in-50-years event. It is forecasting further heavy rainfall throughout Thursday and into Friday. Further gales of up to 140km/h (87mph) are expected, and flood warnings remain in place. On Thursday, South Australia's State Emergency Service has warned residents to prepare for more high winds and rain, cautioning there was "a potentially very dangerous" weather system gathering, with winds of up to 125km/h (78mph) predicted. "As the winds increase, rainfall intensity is also expected to increase," said Chief Officer Chris Beattie. "High tides this afternoon and evening will result in significant storm surges" he added, recommending that workers go home early. Influential South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon has called for a independent inquiry. "This is a disgrace. How did this happen? How is an entire state blacked out?" he said. The Australian Energy Market Operator, which controls the nation's electricity network, said it was still working to understand the cause of the fault. It urged Australians to "take care during this outage and to follow the safety advice and guidelines issued by the South Australian government and emergency services".

Summary: South Australia is enduring a second day of severe weather, after the entire state was left without power overnight.


The 19-year-old netted on her debut for Arsenal Ladies in 2013 and scored 22 goals in her first full season with the north London club. Humphrey is the Belles sixth signing following their promotion to Women's Super League One. "I want to get some more experience and help the team do as well as we can," she told the club website.

Summary: Doncaster Rovers Belles have signed Arsenal Ladies' teenage midfielder Carla Humphrey on loan.


The huge red crane crashed into a part of the Grand Mosque as it was filled with worshippers, less than two weeks before the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Officials say strong winds and heavy rains caused the crane to fall. Correspondents say there have previously been concerns about safety on Saudi construction sites. The Grand Mosque, known as the Masjid al-Haram, is the largest mosque in the world and surrounds Islam's holiest place, the Kaaba. At least 230 people were injured in the incident. It is unclear how many people were hurt by the collapse or the stampede that followed it. Those killed are reported to include Indonesian, Indian, Iranian and Egyptian citizens. The incident happened at 17:23 local time (14:23 GMT) on Friday. Videos posted online showed the moment the structure collapsed, with a loud crash followed by panic and shouting. Bodies and blood could be seen on the floor of the mosque. The head of Saudi Arabia's civil defence agency, Lt Sulayman Bin-Abdullah al-Amr, said an investigation was being carried out to assess the damage, and the "extent of the safety of these sites". Essam al-Ghalib, a Jeddah-based journalist, said the crane fell through the outer ring of the Grand Mosque and punctured through the roof sending down tonnes of cement and debris onto people either praying or walking through. Up to two million people are expected to arrive in Mecca for the Hajj from all over the world later this month. Saudi officials say the crane disaster will not prevent the Hajj going ahead. Irfan Al-Alawi, from the Islamic Heritage Research Foundation, told the BBC that the Grand Mosque is currently surrounded by 15 large cranes amid major redevelopment work. "The entire area is like a salvage yard," Mr Al-Alawi said. "Saudi Arabia has to re-think its health and safety strategy," he said, "as there were 800,000 people in the mosque area at the time of the accident." The original parts of the Grand Mosque date back 1,400 years. Consisting of a large square surrounded by covered prayer areas, the building has since been extensively modernised, notably from the mid-20th Century. Saudi authorities began a major expansion of the site last year to increase the area of the mosque by 400,000 square metres (4.3 million square feet), to allow it to accommodate up to 2.2 million people at once.

Summary: Saudi Arabia has begun an investigation into why a crane collapsed in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, killing at least 107 people.


Officials laid wreaths at a memorial to victims of the Ustashe puppet regime, which incarcerated Jews, Serbs and others in brutal conditions. However, the service at Jasenovac was boycotted by Jewish and Serb groups. They say the new Croat government has not acted against renewed use of Ustashe salutes by nationalists. In January, ultra-nationalists shouted pro-Nazi slogans at a rally attended by thousands of people, including Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Ivan Tepes. Similar slogans were also chanted during a football match between Israel and Croatia in March, attended by Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic. Croatia's Jewish community held a separate Holocaust commemoration a week ago. Mr Oreskovic and President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic both voiced regret over the boycott. Earlier this month they explicitly condemned the Ustashe regime's crimes for the first time during a visit by Nicholas Dean, the US State Department's special envoy for Holocaust issues. Three-quarters of about 40,000 Croatian Jews were killed by the Ustashe and Jews now make up less than 1% of the population.

Summary: Croatia has held a memorial service for tens of thousands of people murdered by Nazi Germany's allies at the Jasenovac death camp.


It was originally designed and built for billionaire adventurer Steve Fossett, who wanted to make the world's first solo dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. But after he died in a plane crash, former property investor Chris Welsh, who is based in California, bought the submarine and is now taking on the lonely challenge himself. Chris said: "I've been working day and night for two years pursuing this. I'm really excited to get out there and do it - I can't wait. "The rewards of this is breaking ground in so many ways - in raw human exploration, on bringing back science, and in getting a better understanding of our world." The experimental sub was created and built by British engineer Graham Hawkes. Fitted with wings and a tail fin, its design is based on that of a plane. Chris Welsh hopes to "fly" down to the bottom of the trench, and break the record for the first lone dive there, later this year. After this, he and the Virgin team also plan to plunge down four other trenches around the world, with the hope of reaching the deepest point in five oceans.

Summary: The Deep Flight Challenger submersible has been backed by Richard Branson's Virgin empire, and is currently undergoing its first water trials.


In a letter urging congregations to vote on 7 May, the House of Bishops does not endorse a political party but encourages debate on issues such as nuclear defence and the economy. It speaks of Britain's "almost moribund political culture". Conservative MP Conor Burns said the letter was "naive", but David Cameron said he welcomed the move. The 52-page letter - an unprecedented intervention by the House of Bishops - says "it is the duty of every Christian adult to vote, even though it may have to be a vote for something less than a vision that inspires us". The Bishop of Norwich, the Right Reverend Graham James, said there was "disengagement with the contemporary political culture" and rejected the pleas of some, such as comedian and actor Russell Brand, for people not to vote. He told reporters: "We as bishops are not as sexy as Russell Brand but we say 'do vote, do engage and do use the hard-won political freedoms that you possess'." The letter says the country needs "a new approach to political life that will change the political weather as decisively as did the administrations of 1945 and 1979". "The ideals that the Big Society stood for should not be consigned to the political dustbin," the letter adds. The Big Society was among the Conservatives' flagship 2010 election policies and encouraged greater personal responsibility and community activism in shaping society and running public services. But by January 2013 charities expressed "huge frustration" at a lack of progress with the idea, which they said appeared to be "going nowhere". The document covers various issues including: The bishops are well aware that their pre-election letter will be seen by some as a left-wing document - although they have been at pains to stress that their intention is not to back one party over another, nor to create a wish-list of policies - although they do ask voters to back the "living wage". They say that the two UK administrations that offered genuinely new visions - Clement Attlee's Labour party in 1945 and Margaret Thatcher's Conservatives in 1979 - changed the way people in Britain looked at society, politics and the role of government and human relationships - but that today, neither vision addresses contemporary needs, at a time of increasing public alienation from mainstream politics. In recent weeks, the Archbishops of York and Canterbury have asked questions about the increasing divides between North and South, or richest and poorest in the UK. So this latest intervention, questioning what kind of society an increasingly diverse Britain wants to be, and what kind of power it wishes to wield on the world stage, is a sign of a Church more willing to use its position to speak truth unto power, even if it is not always welcomed. Conservative MP Nadine Dorries said she believed the letter had "glaring inaccuracies" regarding the economy and the Church should be more concerned with issues people wanted to hear its views on, such as abortion. She said the bishops had a "very definite left-wing leaning to

Summary: Politicians need to deliver a "fresh moral vision" ahead of the general election, the Church of England says.


The 28-mile road - previously predicted to cost £347m - was given the green light by Scottish ministers in 2009, but was delayed by legal action. Protesters lost their appeal to the Supreme Court earlier this month. Transport Minister Keith Brown said the "unwanted delays" had resulted in a "substantial increase" in the overall cost of the project. William Walton from the protest group RoadSense, which spearheaded the legal challenge against the construction of the bypass, told BBC Scotland he believed the total cost could be even higher. It is anticipated that construction will get under way in 2014, with completion by spring 2018. In answer to a parliamentary question lodged by Aberdeen Central SNP MSP Kevin Stewart, Mr Brown said the scheme had been costed at £347m in 2008 - an estimate based on 2003 prices. He said that the figure had now risen to £653m as a result of "scope changes, the inclusion of standard risk costs and rebasing to 2012 prices". Mr Brown said inflation had been responsible for a £230m increase in the cost. A scheme to make the A90 a dual carriageway between Balmedie and Tipperty in Aberdeenshire is also expected to cost £92m, giving a total of £745m for the combined project. Mr Stewart criticised the added costs caused by the legal challenges. He said: "Not only has an essential piece of infrastructure been delayed unnecessarily, but inflation has driven up costs. "Now that the legal challenges have been exhausted, we can now move towards construction as quickly as possible." Aberdeen City Council leader Barney Crockett said: "We realised that the cost of the AWPR (Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route) would be roughly what it now is and we have made adequate provision for that. "The economic performance of the area will be underpinned by the AWPR." Tom Smith, chairman of Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future (Acsef) business development agency, said: "The delays caused by the legal challenges were always going to impact on the costs outlined in 2003. "However, the economic and other benefits of the road are so significant that the cost will still represent a major return on investment for the public purse and people of the north east. "The final mechanics of how they will be paid are still being worked out and there will be delicate negotiations between the Scottish government and our local authorities. "But with the Scottish government paying 80% of the route and the total cost of the fast-link, the north east is getting a great deal in terms of investment in our woefully under-invested roads infrastructure."

Summary: The cost of the Aberdeen bypass has risen to an estimated £653m, it has been revealed.


The Innovation Factory has been built on the site of the former Mackies engineering works on Springfield Road. About half the money for the £9m project came from the EU, with the rest split between the city council and Invest NI. The building will be managed by Oxford Innovation, who run a network of similar centres across the UK. It has 111 business units and is targeting firms specialising in technology and product development. About a dozen tenants have already been signed up. Economy Minister Simon Hamilton said the scheme is "an impressive space for entrepreneurs and growing businesses". Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir said it was "great to see the former Mackies site reborn as a hub of innovation".

Summary: A building that will provide workspace for about 100 start-up businesses in west Belfast has officially opened.


Premiership Aberdeen 4-0 Ross County Celtic 2-0 Motherwell Heart of Midlothian 2-0 Dundee Partick Thistle 2-2 Hamilton Academical St Johnstone 0-1 Kilmarnock Championship Dumbarton 0-3 Ayr United Falkirk 2-1 Dunfermline Athletic Queen of the South 0-5 Greenock Morton Raith Rovers 0-0 Hibernian St Mirren 0-2 Dundee United Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0-1 Rangers

Summary: Match reports from Saturday's Scottish Premiership and Championship games.


Elstree 1976 was directed by Jon Spira, from Thrupp, Oxfordshire, and completed after a Kickstarter campaign raised more than Â£40,000. He said a follow-up, Elstree 1979, would focus on the stunt team from Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back. Filming is due to start this summer with the filmmakers hoping to release the documentary next year. It is being produced by the Works Film Group. However, it has not yet been decided whether there will be a second Kickstarter campaign. Mr Spira said: "Where '76 dealt with the supporting artists of A New Hope, this film will look at the stunt team from Empire Strikes Back. "Wider than that, we will tell the story of that generation of British stunt performers. We can't wait to start shooting it." The first film featured Star Wars legends such as Dave Prowse, who played Darth Vader, and Jeremy Bulloch, who played Boba Fett, alongside little known extras. Elstree 1979 will look at the work of stuntmen Colin Skeaping and Vic Armstrong, and recreate the scene in which Luke Skywalker is blown through a window during the film's climactic duel. About 1,000 people backed Elstree 1976 on Kickstarter.

Summary: A sequel to a crowdfunded film about the lives of supporting artists in Star Wars has been announced.


With the PM away on his EU renegotiation tour, the shadow first secretary of state clashed with the chancellor for the first time, quoting Tory MPs unhappy at his progress. Mr Osborne questioned the wisdom of quoting backbenchers in a dig at the unrest in Labour ranks. He also pledged £50m in flood relief. Mr Cameron is attempting to secure reforms to the UK's relationship with the EU before holding an in-out referendum by the end of 2017. Ms Eagle, who was greeted with loud cheers as she stood up at the despatch box, said Mr Cameron had been "jetting all over the place" on his "seemingly endless European tour", adding to laughter from Labour ranks: "Can I ask the chancellor: How's it all going?" "The good news is we have a leader who is respected abroad," replied Mr Osborne, saying the PM was "fighting for a better deal for Britain, something that would never have happened had there been a Labour government". George Osborne, the bookies' favourite to replace David Cameron as Conservative leader, was then asked whether he really aspired to be "the first post-EU prime minister" by Ms Eagle, who quoted some Eurosceptic Conservative MPs as being "pretty unimpressed by how it's going". She then imitated Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's PMQs approach of reading out questions from emails he has received. In this case it was "Donald from Brussels" - a reference to EU Council president Donald Tusk, who warned of the "destabilising" effect of uncertainty over the UK's future in Europe in a letter to fellow EU leaders this week. Mr Osborne said the UK had received the "lion's share" of EU investment since announcing its EU referendum plans. George Osborne went on to say "someone called Tony" has been writing today, referred her to comments from former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, who said in an interview published today that the current state of the party was a complete "tragedy". Ms Eagle, who is shadow business secretary, was ready with an alternative Blair quote: "Just mouth the words five more Tory years and you feel your senses and reasons repulsed by what they've done to our country." David Cameron is visiting Romania and Poland, so the chancellor - who is PMQs deputy by virtue of also having the First Secretary of State title - stepped up for his second appearance at the despatch box. Meanwhile Ms Eagle, who is shadow business secretary, was also given the shadow First Secretary of State title in Jeremy Corbyn's first shadow cabinet. This means she gets the job of deputising for her leader on such occasions, and this was her first opportunity since getting the role. Mr Osborne was given a promotion at the end of the session by Tory backbencher Peter Bone, who called him the "acting prime minister". Ms Eagle dedicated her opening questions to the flooding that has hit North West England, asking the chancellor to guarantee that money would be "no object" in the relief effort. In his response, Mr Osborne pledged £50m fund for families and

Summary: Labour's Angela Eagle poked fun at David Cameron's EU reforms as she traded jokes with George Osborne at Prime Minister's Questions.


Jedburgh became the latest town to receive the provision last week. Councillor Stewart Bell said by the end of the latest rollout, 94% of homes in the region should have access. He added that a range of groups were working on ways to deliver superfast services to those not covered by that programme. There have been concerns in the past that the region was missing out despite major investment in broadband. Mr Bell said there were technical reasons why some sites would not see their services improve. "Over very long distances the speeds run down a bit and therefore there are some premises that are very distant from cabinets that won't see a significant improvement in services," he said. "The target for this superfast scheme which will be fully operational between 2017 and 2018 is to get 94% of premises in the Borders connected. "The remaining 6% is something that is being considered by Digital Scotland and Community Broadband Scotland in co-operation with local authorities to see if we can come up with customised local solutions."

Summary: A Borders councillor has said work is being done to deliver superfast broadband to homes in the region currently missing out on the service.


The Met, the largest force, topped the list, spending £5.2m from 2011-16, the data showed. One critic said it did not stop the "cycle of crime", however, the National Police Chiefs' Council said it was "a cost effective tactic". A Home Office spokesman said it was "an operational matter for police". Informants can get anything from a few pounds for basic information, up to several thousand pounds for helping break up organised crime. Payments are typically used to solve - or prevent - crimes including murder, terrorism and serious sexual offences, and can also be made to recover valuable stolen items. Ronnie Howard, a former undercover police officer, said he made regular payments to informants, and in one case paid out £15,000 over 12 months in order to recover £3m worth of cannabis. He said informants were usually recruited after being arrested and offered either money or a possible sentencing deal in court in return for information supplied. Figures obtained by 5 live Breakfast, under a freedom of information request revealed 41 forces in England and Wales collectively paid £19.59m to informants between 2011 and 2016. The Police Service of Northern Ireland spent almost £2m during the same period while Police Scotland, who only released figures for 2013-16, revealed it had spent £565,248. There are no statistics available to show how many convictions have come as a result of paying informants - or covert human intelligence sources as they are officially known - but the National Police Chiefs' Council defended the practice. Deputy Chief Constable Roger Bannister said: "The intelligence provided helps to prevent and solve the most serious of crimes and is vital in bringing offenders to justice through the courts. "This is a well-established and highly regulated, worthwhile, and cost effective tactic, with the money paid to informants being very closely scrutinised." But, Neil Wood, who worked as an undercover police officer and ran many informants, said the tactic has its limitations. "It can be effective for certain crimes but for others - such as the war on drugs - using informants merely ensures that the cycle of violence and brutality continues," he said. "Nobody wants to inform on the drug lords because of fears of violent reprisals, so it's only the low-lying fruit that gets caught out - and the trade continues regardless. "Nobody can call that effective. Overall it does little to bring down the level of overall crime." Of those which responded, 39 forces in England and Wales provided annual breakdowns, which suggested payments had fallen from £4.1m in 2011/12 to just over £3.1m last year. North Wales Police paid out the smallest amount, handing over just under £40,000 over five years. South Yorkshire Police and Cleveland Police did not provide figures. Police forces are audited on their use of informants and are inspected annually by the Office of Surveillance Commissioners to ensure they are not breaking the law. A Home Office spokesman said decisions on the operational deployment of resources "are matters for chief constables", adding: "There is no question that the police still have the

Summary: Police forces across the UK paid out at least £22m to informants over the last five years, according to figures obtained by BBC Radio 5 live.


However, Better Together leader Alistair Darling said "there is no way back" from independence and his campaign would target undecided voters. The latest opinion polls have suggested the vote is too close to call. Both men were speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr show. Mr Salmond said: "We're not aiming to win by one vote. We're aiming to achieve a substantial majority if we can." He added: "We tend to take the attitude that there isn't so much as a 'No' voter in Scotland, there are only deferred 'Yeses', and that's been one of the successes of our campaign." Asked if he would seek another referendum if there was a "No" vote on Thursday, the SNP leader said: "If you remember that previous constitutional referendum in Scotland - there was one in 1979 and then the next one was 1997. "That's what I mean by a political generation. "In my opinion, and it is just my opinion, this is a once in a generation opportunity for Scotland." Mr Darling commented: "I said a year ago that this race would narrow as we got towards the wire and that is precisely what has happened. "It's not surprising. It's the biggest single decision we will ever take. "If we vote to leave the UK on Thursday then there's no going back. It's not like an election where you can change your mind if things don't work out. "If things go wrong this time, we've already voted - we're leaving. "There is no way back, which is why in the next five days we will be targeting the 500,000 or so voters who have still got to make their minds up, because the decision is that critical." He argued there was uncertainty over whether firms would move their headquarters out of Scotland and over how the NHS and pensions would be funded if the country became independent. And he argued that "about a million jobs here in Scotland depend on us being part of the UK". Mr Salmond told the Andrew Marr programme that if "Yes" won there would "cease to be a 'Yes' campaign and a 'No' campaign - there will be a Team Scotland". He said he wanted "as many voices as possible" and welcomed an indication from Secretary of State for Scotland Alistair Carmichael last month that he would join such a negotiating team. Mr Salmond said his negotiating team had "recruited specialism in a variety of fields". The first minister renewed his claim that the Bank of England would be "a shared central bank" after independence. "There will be a sustainability agreement between the governments in terms of borrowing levels and debt levels," he said. "We set that out in our proposals." The UK government has said it would not agree to a currency union with an independent Scotland, but Mr Salmond argued American economist Joseph Stiglitz had said "a shared currency is a very, very viable and common sense thing to do". Meanwhile, Mr Darling again said the pro-Union parties would deliver more powers for the Scottish Parliament if there

Summary: Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said the independence referendum was "a once in a generation opportunity" and he was aiming for "a substantial majority".


Seven people were charged with stealing and conspiracy to steal a baby from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital earlier in February. Suwaiba Mumuni, whose baby is among the five missing, told the BBC she believes her child is still alive. The hospital, the second largest in Ghana, has denied the allegations. The BBC's Sammy Darko in the capital, Accra, says the case of the missing babies has caused outrage in Ghana. Youths stormed the hospital in Kumasi, 270km (167 miles) north-west of Accra, on Thursday, temporarily closing the maternity wards, he says. Ms Mumuni said after she gave birth on 5 February, she was told that her baby was stillborn and it was taken away by attendants. When her relatives arrived later in the day to collect the body for burial, it could not be found, she said. "The only news I am expecting to hear is that my baby has been found," Ms Mumuni told the BBC. "They told me my baby is dead, but they have not been able to produce the body... I am confident my baby is alive." The bodies of another four babies allegedly delivered stillborn that day are also missing. "The ministry will leave no stone unturned until the truth is established," Health Minister Sherry Ayittey said in a statement. Ms Ayittey said the hospital had 14 working days to find the bodies of the babies "for burial by the families". Staff at the hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they often felt overwhelmed and there were inadequate resources to deal with demand. Our reporter says the seven people charged on Thursday over Ms Mumuni's missing baby were given bail.

Summary: Ghana's health minister has given a hospital in the city of Kumasi 14 days to produce the bodies of five babies that were allegedly stillborn.


The site owned by Global Energy Group joins Wick Harbour in Caithness in securing work on the Â£2.6bn Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd (Bowl) project. Siemens, one of the companies involved in Bowl, will use the yard for assembling turbines from spring 2018. Once assembled the turbines would be towed out to the wind farm site. The project, which also involves energy giant SSE, is to be created about eight miles off Wick. Global said Nigg's involvement would help to secure work for more than 100 people. The Scottish government, Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) and Scottish Renewables have welcomed the announcement. Business, Innovation and Energy Minister, Paul Wheelhouse, said: "Offshore renewables represent a huge opportunity for Scotland; an opportunity to build up new industries and to deliver on Scotland's ambitious renewable energy and carbon reduction targets for 2020 and beyond. "I am delighted that this multi-million pound contract between Global Energy Group and Siemens will enable Nigg Energy Park to develop into a genuine multi-energy site, securing around 100 direct and indirect jobs and associated supply chain opportunities. "This contract arising from installation of the Beatrice Offshore Wind farm will provide a very welcome boost to the local economy in Ross-shire and the wider Highland Council area." Regional director for the Highlands and Islands, Fraser Grieve, said: "Today's announcement of Nigg's involvement in the Beatrice Offshore wind project shows the positive economic impact that this major development will have on the region over the coming years. "Nigg, and the wider Cromarty Firth, has much to offer and this agreement is not only a boost for the Global Energy Group but will benefit the supply chain through the area." Lindsay Roberts, senior policy manager at renewable energy industry group Scottish Renewables, said: "The contract signed today will help breathe new life into this Highland port. "Scotland's offshore wind industry has huge potential for both our economy and our environment, and it's great to see Nigg reaping the benefits. "As other wind farms with planning consent in the Scottish North Sea begin to develop, agreements like this will play a key role in securing benefits not just for communities on the east coast, but for the whole of Scotland."

Summary: The Nigg Energy Park on the Cromarty Firth is to be used during construction of an 84-turbine offshore wind farm.


Their evidence, obtained from the cockpit voice recorder and other information outlines in more detail how co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, 28, brought down the Airbus. So how did this final half hour unfold? Germanwings flight 4U 9525 took off from Barcelona Airport in Spain heading for Duesseldorf, Germany, with 150 people on board, at 09:00 GMT on 24 March. The Airbus 320 began travelling over the sea towards France, taking about half an hour to climb to 38,000ft (11,600m). It should have been a two-hour flight and, in the first 20 minutes, the pilots could be heard discussing the stop-over at Barcelona with a flight attendant. At 09:30 the plane made its final contact with air traffic control - a routine message about permission to continue on its route. Everything seemed to be going as planned. Shortly afterwards, the captain told the co-pilot he was leaving the cockpit and asked him to take over radio communications. The cockpit door is heard opening and closing on the recording. Seconds later, shortly before 09:31, the selected altitude was changed from 38,000 ft to 100 ft and the plane began its descent. At 09:33, the plane's speed increased. Air traffic control contacted the co-pilot - and continued to do so over the coming minutes - but received no answer. A buzzer requesting access to the cockpit sounded at 09:34. Knocking and muffled voices asking for the door to be opened can be heard until the end of the recording. At 09:39, "noises similar to violent blows on the cockpit door were recorded on five occasions" over the course of a minute. The flight crew of another plane also tried to make contact with the cockpit by radio around this time. In the next minute - 93 seconds before impact - "low amplitude inputs" on the co-pilot's flight controls were recorded. But the level of movement was too low to disengage the autopilot, so the input made no change to the flight path. The "Terrain, Terrain, Pull Up, Pull up" warning was triggered at 09:40: 41 and it continues until the end of the recording at 09:41:06. French prosecutor Brice Robin gave details of events on board the Airbus when he briefed journalists after the cockpit voice recorder was analysed in the days after the crash. During the first 20 minutes of the flight, he said, the co-pilot's responses were courteous but he became "curt" when the captain began the mid-flight briefing on the planned landing. It was shortly after this that the captain left the cockpit, probably to go to the toilet, and within seconds Lubitz had altered the flight monitoring system to send the aircraft into descent. "This action on the altitude controls can only be deliberate," said Mr Robin. In the 10 minutes it took for the plane to plummet through the sky, Lubitz did not say a word and his breathing remained normal - despite repeated attempts by crew members and air traffic control to get him to respond. The Airbus descended at a rate of about 3-4,000ft per minute. The last radar

Summary: French accident investigators released their final report into Germanwings Flight 4U 9525, which crashed in the Alps in March 2015, about a year later.