The fighters are said to be "hiding in fewer than 10 houses" in the seafront district of Al-Giza al-Bahriya. The pro-unity government force announced its full control of Sirte on Monday, after the last IS-controlled area fell to the UN-backed fighters. However, a spokesman has told the BBC they are not declaring victory yet. The operation's Ahmed Hadia told the BBC: "They've now taken control of the last area, but that does not mean military operations have ended." Mr Hadia said the forces, which have been supported by US air raids, would now focus on "combing the city" to find any remaining IS jihadists. Sirte was IS's stronghold following its capture in June 2015, and had repeatedly portrayed it in propaganda as its main base outside of Syria and Iraq. But the group was forced back into just one small neighbourhood in late October by pro-government forces following a seven-month battle for control. According to the Facebook page of the force backing the Government of National Accord (GNA), IS had been using women and children as human shields during the battle. Pictures of their apparent captives emerging from the area, covered in dust, have been shown on Libyan television. "Today they [forces loosely allied to GNA] helped many women and over 20 children, mostly infants and toddlers, who came out terrified and in dire need of medical and post-traumatic assistance," the Facebook page said. It has been a long and deadly battle for the forces who fought to oust so-called Islamic State from Sirte. The end of the battle there will be welcomed by thousands who had to flee their homes, and by the international community. Although this does not spell the end of the radical group's presence in the country, it does significantly weaken it. It is likely that its members will increasingly resort to staging more deadly, isolated attacks. It still has cells operating under its banner in different parts of Libya. In 2015, when IS was driven out from the first Libyan city it ever controlled - Derna - it reverted back to control under a mix of local Islamist militias with links to al-Qaeda. Libya's complex network of local armed groups, and its continued dysfunctional politics, still provide ripe territory in which extremist groups can thrive. In the months ahead, Libya's vast array of politicians and rival administrations will need to start finding tangible solutions to the ongoing civil conflict, which led to Sirte's dramatic fall into IS hands in the first place.

Summary: Libyan forces are hunting down the last Islamic State (IS) jihadists in the city of Sirte, after ousting them from their former bastion.


The seeds were collected last year during an expedition to a remote location in mountains near Tokyo. Experts suggest that the remaining wild population of Betula chichibuensis is too small to sustain itself unaided. The young trees will be shared with other arboretums in an effort to help conserve the threatened species. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) forecasts a bleak outlook for the tree species in the wild. In its Red List of Threatened Species, it observes: "The small population and restricted distribution... make it susceptible to natural disaster or disease. "The species is also self-incompatible, requiring two individuals to be close enough to cross-pollinate one another, making seed production uncertain in small subpopulations." It adds that there was also evidence of deforestation and habitat degradation in the area where the remaining trees are found, "presenting a threat to the survival of this species". Growing hope During 2014, a team led by researchers from the University of Oxford Botanic Gardens, in conjunction with the University of Tokyo, embarked on an expedition to collect seed samples from the threatened birch trees. Part of the team was Dan Luscombe, a dendrologist from the Forestry Commission's Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest. He told BBC News: "I guess we got little lucky in terms of being there at the right time. "It is found in a very, very remote location and it is not an easy place to get to. It has got very, very low viability so we were very lucky that we were able to collect a lot of seeds... as birch seeds shatter and shed everywhere, so once it has done that you will never find it." Mr Luscombe estimated that the team were able to collect about 1,000 seeds, from which the team at Bedgebury Pinetum were able to produce about 100 seedlings. "Ideally, we always grow trees that have been sourced from the wild so we are conserving the gene (resource)," he explained. "At the end of the day, we have got these really rare trees and their habitats are highly threatened. If you want to put them back or want to put them somewhere else then you need to know how to grow them." The long-term aim of the project is also to plant Japanese birch saplings in arboretums all around the country, as well as working closely with their Japanese colleague to protect the survival of the threatened species in the wild. "We will share the love so then other arboretums can try growing this species in different climates and soils etc," Mr Luscombe added. He also explained that planting samples of the trees in various parts around the UK would reduce the risk of the species being lost to storm damage or disease. There are also plans to plant a grove of the trees, known as a seed orchard, to provide an ongoing supply of seeds.

Summary: UK scientists have successfully germinated seeds from the critically endangered Japanese Birch, a species that has just 21 known trees remaining.


Victory ended the hosts' own poor run of four consecutive losses and moves them up to sixth in the table. Ben Foden and Tom Wood's tries gave Saints a deserved 14-0 half-time lead. Sale's rugby league convert Denny Solomona marked his Premiership debut with a superb, acrobatic finish before Luther Burrell's late Northampton try. Victory came at the end of a tough week on and off the field for Saints, who avoided any sanctions when a lengthy review into wing George North's latest head injury was published on Wednesday. They were thrashed 60-13 by Leinster in the Champions Cup last Saturday but Foden's early try quickly lifted the mood for Jim Mallinder's side. Stephen Myler was clinical with his boot, converting all three Saints tries and adding a precise, second-half penalty. Sale, who have not won in the league since October, improved in the second half after Mike Phillips was sent to the sin-bin and Solomona's brilliant try got them on the scoreboard, diving over the Saints defence when just inches from the touchline. For the hosts, Louis Picamoles was outstanding, while the impressive Nic Groom had two tries correctly ruled out; one was for a narrowly forward pass and another for letting the ball slip fractionally out of his grasp on the try line. Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder: "We started well for a change and attacked with accuracy. "It's disappointing we didn't get a bonus point as we needed Nic Groom to score one of the two tries that were disallowed by the TMO. "We've got Gloucester next week and then Bristol at home. These are games we are capable of winning and if we do we can move up the table." Sale Sharks boss Steve Diamond: "We are not clicking at the moment as we are panicking under pressure and can't beat anyone at present. "We've got to keep plugging away but our recruitment is in place for next season when we will have four or five new players. "We need leaders and direction and hopefully the new recruits will provide this. With 20 minutes to go, I thought we had a real chance of getting a bonus point but we couldn't convert our chances." Northampton Saints: Foden, Pisi, Burrell, Hanrahan, Estelles, Myler, Groom, Waller, Haywood, Brookes, Lawes, Day, Wood (capt), Harrison, Picamoles. Replacements: Clare, Waller, Hill, Ratuniyarawa, Gibson, Kessell, Wilson, Tuitavake. Sale Sharks: Haley, Solomona, James, Leota, Charnley, MacGinty, Phillips, Harrison, Webber, Aulika, Evans, Ostrikov, Neild, Lund (capt), Ioane. Replacements: Briggs, Flynn, Longbottom, Mills, Beaumont, Seymour, Mitchell, Arscott.

Summary: Northampton Saints earned a much-needed Premiership win at Franklin's Gardens to inflict a seventh straight defeat in all competitions on struggling Sale.


Labour had the most councillors on the city council after last week's elections. BBC Scotland revealed that as well as the Conservatives the coalition will rely on the support of three Independents. Labour's Barney Crockett will be the new council leader. The SNP and Lib Dems will form the opposition on the council. A new Independent-Conservative administration will run Moray Council. The Independent councillor for Keith, Stewart Cree, has been chosen as council convener. Meanwhile, the leader of the SNP group on Aberdeenshire Council has fought off a challenge to her leadership. At the group's AGM on Tuesday, Joanna Strathdee was ousted as leader by Rob Merson. BBC Scotland understands that Mr Merson was in post for about an hour before resigning, to be replaced by the former leader. The SNP is the biggest party in Aberdeenshire and is continuing negotiations to form a coalition.

Summary: Labour and the Conservatives have joined forces to form an administration in Aberdeen.


The lender said that property prices grew by 3.6% in the three months to the end of July compared with the previous quarter. The monthly increase was 1.4% compared with June, making the average home worth Â£186,332. The figures are at odds with other surveys which suggest a slowdown. This is the first time since September 2007 that the annual change has gone above 10%, according to the Halifax. It accelerated from an 8.8% rise in June. "While supply remains low, housing demand continues to be supported by a continuing economic recovery, growth in employment, improving consumer confidence and low mortgage rates," said Stephen Noakes, mortgages director at the Halifax. The numbers, based on its own mortgage lending, counter the view put forward by rival lender Nationwide, which said prices had started to moderate. The Nationwide's estimate of the annual house price rise slowed from 11.8% in June to 10.6% in July. The year-on-year comparison is calculated slightly differently by the two lenders. The Halifax compares the previous three months with the same three months a year earlier to give a smoother comparison, rather than a direct comparison of the equivalent months as calculated by the Nationwide. The Land Registry has also suggested that seven out of 10 regions of England and Wales showed a monthly fall in prices, although these short-term price changes are often volatile. Howard Archer, chief UK and European economist for IHS Global Insight, said: "On balance, we take the view that house prices will keep on clearly rising over the coming months but there will be some moderation from the recent peak levels." Halifax is part of Lloyds Banking Group, which recently announced that it was moving to reduce its share of mortgages under the government's Help to Buy scheme. Borrowers are now able to raise a maximum of Â£150,000 through Help to Buy, down from Â£500,000. Under the scheme, buyers are required to provide a deposit of of 5% of the home's value, with another 20% backed by the government if the buyer fails to keep up with repayments. The Bank of England has also taken action to try to ensure mortgage lending does not reach unsustainable levels. Enter your details into the calculator to find out: Find out more about this calculator

Summary: UK house prices in July were up 10.2% from a year earlier - the biggest annual change since September 2007, according to the Halifax.


Jill Bennett had been acting head teacher at Priory Primary School in Dudley for a few days before it was put into special measures. In July 2012, inspectors saw a pupil assaulting a teaching assistant who tried to stop a fight. The watchdog's inspector Helen Morrison said it was "the worst school she had seen", said current head Ms Bennett. It was then rated inadequate in all four areas assessed by Ofsted. The watchdog said at the time there was: Earlier, the school released its latest inspection, which deems it good in all four areas assessed. Ms Bennett said her motivation to reverse the school's fortunes came because she attended it herself as a child, as did her sisters Glenda and Andrea, and Ms Bennett's own two children, Alex and Megan. She said: "The area has always been deprived, but I asked myself, 'why couldn't Priory children have good opportunities? "I told pupils, I was a good student myself, never an A* student, but I was always determined and that's what we would be."

Summary: A school an Ofsted inspector once dubbed "the worst she had seen" is now rated good.


Scientists have analysed a cell found in heart scar tissue which could cause increased risk of cardiac arrest. Myofibroblasts cells in patients might increase the likelihood of an electrical "short circuit". "Cells recruited to the heart to repair damaged tissue might also be the cause of post-attack arrhythmia," said Prof Chris George. The university's molecular cardiology team has led an international team of experts in the research funded by the British Heart Foundation which has also found myofibroblasts can cause irregular heart rhythms which can lead to sudden death in post-attack patients. In Wales, around 50,000 people alive today have survived a heart attack and the latest findings could lead to an improved diagnosis for victims and better treatments. "The number of myofibroblasts that infiltrate into damaged areas of the heart is quite amazing," said Prof George. "To be able to also show that there's a link between the number of these myofibroblasts and the onset of arrhythmia lays the foundations for developing new approaches to prevent post-heart attack rhythm problems in patients." Ruth Coombs, head of BHF Cymru, added: "By investing in research in Wales today, we're making tomorrow's tests and treatments for heart conditions possible."

Summary: Research at Swansea University could help predict further attacks and detect problems in heart attack patients.


First a book by Dan Brown, then a Hollywood film, it drew thousands from around the globe to this historic, crumbling building in Midlothian. Reporters like myself were often sent out to see what was happening and I spent a lot of time at the chapel. A decade later, I was keen to find whether it still held the same attraction. Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou and the trappings of Hollywood have long gone from this corner of Midlothian but have they left their mark? I picked a day to visit to try to find out. Not a weekend or a holiday. Just an ordinary day of the week - cold and windy. Back in the mid-2000s, the roof was covered to protect it from the elements and there was a small shop. I remember it was always cold inside the chapel, bitterly cold, even on a warm summer's day. Once inside, the carvings were breathtaking and awe inspiring. Now the roof is revealed after many years of being covered over for repairs. There is now a new visitor centre and a steady stream of tourists eager to see inside. Helen, the Countess of Rosslyn, remembers when Tinseltown came to stay - and never seemed to leave. "For that reason we are very grateful to the Da Vinci Code and Dan Brown," she said. "What I like to think is that this is another moment in the chapel's long history. "It was built in the 15th century and what happened at the beginning of the 19th century is very similar to what's happening now. "It had become rather derelict, badly needed attention and Sir Walter Scott wrote a book, The Lay of the Last Minstrel, which again took one of the chapel's legends as its main point and it had a very similar effect. "Suddenly people wanted to come to Rosslyn Chapel and that kick-started a whole conservation programme in the 19th century too. "So the history of the building goes in cycles like that and it's rather lovely that we are just witnessing this latest, very positive chapter." The tour guides talk of the deteriorating condition of the chapel, problems with the roof and then "a little miracle happened". That miracle was Dan Brown and then Tom Hanks. Visitor numbers rocketed from 34,000 in 2001 to 176,000 in 2006 - the year the film came out. Today numbers still stand at more than 150,000. And it's not just the Da Vinci Code effect: around 40% of visitors to the UK say they were influenced by what they saw on television or film. Tom Maxwell, of VisitScotland, said: "We've had so many amazing iconic scenes of Scotland on the silver screen over the years. "You've got the Forth Bridge included in "The 39 steps", the west sands of St Andrews featured in "Chariots of Fire". "Coming right up to the modern day you've got Glencoe which is featured in "Skyfall" the James Bond movie and also "Brave" where the main inspiration for the family castle is Dunnottar near Stonehaven." The power of the

Summary: Ten years ago the phenomenon that was The Da Vinci Code was attracting a growing number of visitors to Rosslyn Chapel.


The observatory claims radio interference from household appliances would pose "a significant risk" to the Lovell Telescope's operation. Developers deny their plans would cause an "unacceptable impairment" to the observatory, described by Cheshire East Council as "internationally important". A government inspector will now hold a series of hearings into the proposals. Cheshire East councillors rejected the plans for 119 homes in Goostrey last year, concluding the proposals would "result in impairment to the efficiency of the Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope". In representations to the council, Simon Garrington from Jodrell Bank said: "Radio interference has an impact on almost all the observations which are carried out. "Interference is correlated with human activity, whether due to intentional transmissions or unintentional leakage from a wide range of electrical and electronic devices. "The proposed development itself is likely to generate interference which exceeds the internationally agreed threshold for what constitutes 'detrimental interference' to radio astronomy observations." The proposed development site, off Main Road in Goostrey, is 1.95 miles (3.14km) from the observatory. Representing Cheshire East Council, Christopher Katkowski told the inquiry that the protection of Jodrell Bank was "a matter of global significance", because the Lovell Telescope's work is "internationally important". The inspector, Gareth Jones, admitted that he was "no expert" in radio astronomy, but he may be making a visit to the observatory to understand its work as part of the process. Gladman Developments launched an appeal after the council refused its application, claiming there was "no evidence" their plans would cause a significant increase in radio interference. The firm argues that the village of Goostrey already produces radio interference, so 119 extra homes would not make an unacceptable difference. Richard Kimblin QC added that the situation may have "some apparent complexities" but insisted the developer's case was quite simple: not enough homes are being built in the east of Cheshire. In a statement to Cheshire East Council, the company said it was "prepared to work with (Jodrell Bank) and consider any reasonable mitigation measures that they might suggest to alleviate their concerns." The government planning inspector will make recommendations to Communities Secretary Greg Clark, who will make a final adjudication.

Summary: A public inquiry into whether a planned new housing development would "impair" Jodrell Bank's telescope has begun.


On 5 April 2014 voters went to the polls in a carnival atmosphere, despite heavy rain. But more than two-thirds of cabinet posts are still unfilled. The decision by President Ghani to suspend all provincial governors and police chiefs has led to the further stagnation of government across the country. The reformist governor of Nangarhar province in the east has resigned from the post because he was left without the power he needed to do his job. Nangarhar is in a crucial location, both in terms of security as well as revenue-raising, as it is the gateway to Afghanistan from the Khyber Pass in the east. Its provincial capital, Jalalabad, has been facing increasing attacks from the Taliban and other insurgents in recent months. At a public meeting, a number of elders signed a letter urging the governor, Mullah Ata Ullah Ludin, not to stand down. One said that he was the only person taking on the "criminal mafia". Mr Ludin's departure leaves this important province leaderless. He finally insisted he had to step down because he could not make the decisions he wanted. His "acting" status meant he was prevented from appointing new teachers, and an order he gave to close a border weighing station was overturned. He had made the decision because trucks were constantly leaving far heavier than had been weighed - and must have paid a bribe for the difference. Apart from the lost revenues, the heavy trucks were damaging the region's roads. He said that if the situation of acting governors and police chiefs was not resolved soon, then the country would "slide towards instability; people will lose faith in the government and corruption will increase". It's the same story in the province of Herat, the gateway to Iran, at the western end of Afghanistan's most important trade route. Stagnation here following the suspension from office of most senior officials has provoked the former governor Ismail Khan to actively campaign against President Ghani's government. Khan was a prominent commander in the jihadi war against the Soviet Union in the 1980s. He and other ex-jihadi commanders say they are locked out of government, and are a formidable opposition to the technocratic moderniser who is now president. But President Ghani is also losing support among those who previously backed him. MPs like Helai Ershad say that far from establishing a reformist government, he has had to make alliances with men she described as "a bunch of mujahidin". She said that the problems began when the international community persuaded Ghani to share power with Abdullah Abdullah, the opponent he narrowly defeated in a contested election. Since both men have two deputies, there are six separate powerbases to satisfy in making appointments. "Two different mentalities, how can they work under the same umbrella?," she asked. Since there are no political parties in Afghanistan, a country where patronage is the main driver of power, the jockeying for position has gone on. Ms Ershad believes that only 10 of the more than 20 ministers still to be confirmed by parliament will be approved

Summary: Afghanistan still does not have a full government a year after the presidential election.


Firefighters took more than three hours to douse the blaze in Balaghat district on Wednesday evening. Senior local official Bharat Yadav said the exact cause of fire was not known, but suspected that "someone might have thrown a burning beedi (cigarette)". Accidental explosions are common at Indian fireworks factories. Mr Yadav told PTI news agency that the rescue operation was over, and nobody was trapped inside the factory. "Of the seven injured, five have been rushed to Nagpur [in Maharashtra] for treatment, while two are being treated at a hospital in the district," he said. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced a compensation of 200,000 rupees (Â£2,396; $3,104) to each the families of each victim. He said the government would also pay for the medical expenses of the injured.

Summary: At least 23 people have died and seven others were injured in a massive explosion at a fireworks factory in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.


The government in Havana says those to be freed include inmates due for conditional release next year, as well as a number of foreign prisoners. Those found guilty of crimes against state security will not be eligible, seemingly ruling out several high-profile political prisoners. The Pope will make a three-day visit to the island next week. According to Cuba's state-run newspaper Granma, prisoners were chosen for early release depending on the severity of their crimes, amount of time served, and good behaviour. Among those to be freed are a number of inmates over 60, prisoners under 20 years old with no prior criminal records and inmates with chronic health conditions. No prisoners with sentences for murder, other violent crimes or drug trafficking will be released, the paper said. Pope Francis is expected to meet with Fidel Castro if the former Cuban leader's health allows. The 78-year-old Argentine pontiff is credited with helping bring about last December's diplomatic thaw after the decades-old enmity between communist Cuba and the US. He was directly involved in organising a series of secret diplomatic meetings between the two sides. The Roman Catholic Church has maintained relations with Havana since the revolution and Pope Francis himself is no stranger to Cuba. He was there during Pope Benedict XVI's visit in 2012 and is the author of a book on Cuba.

Summary: Cuba has said it will release more than 3,500 prisoners in a goodwill gesture ahead of a visit by Pope Francis.


East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said it was called at 18:39 BST and two fire engines were sent to the scene to assist. The i360 pod was carrying a private party, including a heavily pregnant woman, who boarded the pod at about 17:00. It was lowered to the ground about two hours later. The BAi360 Twitter account said: "Our engineers are resolving the problem & expect it to be working normally soon." A local firm of building and quantity surveyors, MacConvilles, tweeted saying: "Our Director is enjoying the hospitality of the #i360. Technical hitch has halted ride but help is on its way!" Tim Jones, one of the party organisers, said: "We weren't very high up when we juddered to a halt and we were told by staff to move to one side of the pod to 'recalibrate the weight' - which made some people a bit nervous. "It was an interesting experience, and quite ironic as the party was organised by four local businesses who wanted to come together to celebrate the tower's opening." "Only two interactions were made over the two hours and they kept pretty quiet about the free bar and the emergency toilet until we were nearly on the ground," he added.

Summary: A "technical hitch" has been blamed for leaving 180 passengers stuck on British Airways's i360 attraction in Brighton.


Made during the reign of King David I of Scotland, the penny was unearthed by a metal detector in a field in the north of England. Experts think it could fetch between Â£8,000 and Â£12,000 when it goes up for auction on 22 September. The penny bears the head of King David I, who ruled Scotland from 1124 to 1153. It is thought to have been struck some time after the Scots invaded England in 1136 to intervene in a civil war over the English throne. The coin will be auctioned in London by international coin specialists Dix Noonan Webb, and the auctioneers have described it as very important. It is one of the first to be struck bearing the head of a Scottish monarch and represents a key moment in the development of independent Scotland. The 54-year-old metal detectorist who found it has asked not to be named. He discovered the coin in a field in County Durham, on the site of a long-lost medieval village after he was given permission to search the area two years ago. He also turned up pennies from the reigns of English kings Edward I and Edward III as well as Elizabethan coins, two modern gold rings and a large number of bullets. The coin was almost certainly dropped in the medieval village which, in the 12th Century, was in an area of Northumbria granted to David I under the Treaty of Durham in 1139. It may, therefore, have lain in the soil for almost 900 years. Hiram Brown, of the Edinburgh Coin Shop, told BBC Scotland: "This coin is unique because it has an Edinburgh side with David on it, and the other side is Carlisle. It was probably struck in Carlisle. "David and his son Prince Henry attacked Carlisle and took over silver mines in that area and struck coins. "They went on to strike coins in many places in Scotland."

Summary: One of the earliest coins ever minted in Scotland is going under the hammer.


Some machines were blown up using "powerful explosives", while others were dragged outside and attacked with high-powered saws to access the cash. The seven men were convicted of conspiracy to cause an explosion and burglary at Liverpool Crown Court. They are due to be sentenced on 19 April. The gang, mostly from Merseyside, was caught after a covert police operation. The court was told they carried out 13 raids between February 2015 and February 2016. The attacks happened in Sonnings Common and Woodstock, Oxfordshire; Alsager and Culcheth, Cheshire; Huyton, Merseyside; Hucclecote, Gloucestershire; Swindon, Wiltshire; Bury-St-Edmunds, Suffolk; as well as in Aberdeen, Carnoustie, and Perth. An investigation by TITAN, the Northwest Regional Organised Crime Unit, found the gang stole high-powered vehicles to carry out the raids which they concealed in a special trailer attached to a lorry. The men slept in hammocks inside the trailer which also had fuel containers to reduce the number of times they had to use petrol stations or motorway services, Merseyside Police said. Det Ch Supt Chris Green, head of TITAN, said: "These individuals believed they were untouchable and they used dangerous tactics in targeting ATM's, which clearly put members of the public at risk." Maria Corr, of the Crown Prosecution Service, added: "These men were ruthless, organised criminals who conspired to cause explosions and burgle banks up and down the country. "They thought nothing of using powerful explosives to blow up cash machines in residential areas, putting nearby residents in real danger."

Summary: A gang blew up cash machines at banks and supermarkets across England and Scotland stealing hundreds of thousands of pounds, a court has heard.


Donal Hassett, 57, was accused of acting as the property fixer using fake paperwork to rent four homes which were later turned into cannabis factories. He was convicted at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday of conspiring to produce cannabis. The prosecution described their drugs operation as an "organised, sophisticated drugs syndicate". Cannabis was produced between January 2015 and March 2016 in four properties across the West Country, the court heard. Hassett, of Southdown Road, Bath, was suspended from the Conservative Party when he was charged. He is currently an independent councillor. Conservative leader Tim Warren said in a statement on Wednesday that "the party, and he personally, felt very let down by Donal Hassett". A council spokesman said: "The council takes this matter extremely seriously. "We expect the highest standards from all our members and Cllr Hassett's behaviour falls far short of this." Hassett was remanded in custody until sentencing. Six others, five men and woman are due to be sentenced for their part in the drugs ring.

Summary: A Bath councillor has been found guilty of being involved in a cannabis drugs ring.


More than 600 of the 800 employees at Porton Down are at risk of having their jobs relocated to Harlow in Essex. The HPA proposed the move to a single site in 2010 but now the Department of Health wants at least another 12 months "to fully assess all the details". Dorothy Fogg, from Unite, said despite uncertainty staff felt more positive. The HPA has been responsible for responding to public health hazards such as swine flu since 2003. In a letter sent to staff, the HPA said the government had requested a "considerable amount of additional work be done" on the business case for relocating staff to Essex which will "add a further year before the case is ready for resubmission". Dr Christine McCarthy, the executive director of microbiology at the HPA at Porton Down, said employees had "anticipated a decision with a five year wait and now it looks like it will be six years". "This is a very large investment of public funds - especially in the current climate - and they [the government] want as much information as possible to inform the final decision and they want to make the right decision," she said. "But it's putting staff in a very difficult position - they have had two and a half years of uncertainty and this uncertainty is now going to be prolonged for yet another year." But Dorothy Fogg, from the Unite union, said staff were also feeling optimistic about the decision. "There's the uncertainty - they keep being told it will be sorted out year after year which causes frustration - but they're also feeling more positive," she said. "And people are quite hopeful that when they review the case that they will hopefully recognise that it is better to keep the work and the people on site at Porton." And MP John Glen said it was "very good encouraging news". "What we're talking about here is spending possibly Â£300m on a very, very sensitive facility to deal with the most tragic circumstances in terms of public health so I think it's important that they get it right," he said. "But what I think is interesting, in the letter that was sent to staff, is that Justin McCracken [chief executive of HPA] says that a decision in principle has not been made. "I think that's an admission that the case has not been made and that those who work at Porton should be very reassured."

Summary: Hundreds of staff at the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in Wiltshire are facing another year of uncertainty over the future of their jobs.


Mytravelpass, which is funded by the Welsh government, will entitle 110,000 passengers aged 16-18 to a third off bus fares anywhere in Wales. Transport Minister Edwina Hart said it would make it easier for young people to access jobs and training opportunities. The pass applies to local journeys and longer distance TrawsCymru routes. The scheme is part of a Labour-Liberal Democrat deal struck in September 2014 to pass the Welsh government's budget.

Summary: A £15m discounted bus travel scheme for young people has been launched.


The new measure comes into force on Friday as police launch their annual winter drink-drive campaign. Previously, police needed reasonable suspicion before asking a driver to take a breath test. The new legislation was passed through the Assembly in April, but this is the first time it has been used by police. The PSNI said there was no safe limit and that motorists should never drink and drive. Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said the new legislation gave police "another tool that will hopefully help us to prevent people taking life-threatening, unacceptable, simply stupid risks". "Previously, police officers needed a reasonable suspicion about the manner of someone's driving, have seen a moving traffic offence, or been called to a collision before requiring a preliminary breath test from a driver," he said. "The new legislation means we can now establish vehicle checkpoints solely for the purpose of carrying out random breath tests, something which we hope will act as an even more visible, physical deterrent." During last year's operation, almost 400 people were caught drink-driving by police. "Just one drink can impair ability to drive. Considering that in some instances, we have stopped drivers who were so drunk, they could barely stand when they got out of their vehicle, just beggars belief," said Ass Chief Const Todd. "At the other end of the spectrum, we detected some drivers who had gone out socialising and not intended to drive, but their circumstances changed and they decided to take a risk. A risk which inevitably results in a driving ban." Police said they would also be working with officers from the Irish police traffic department in border counties. "In addition to the checkpoints, any driver or motorcyclist we stop, whether for speeding, using a mobile phone, or committing any moving traffic offence can expect to be breathalysed," he added. "So too can anyone involved in a collision or who we suspect may have consumed alcohol or taken drugs."

Summary: Police are to conduct random breath tests at vehicle checkpoints as a result of new legislation in a bid to crack down on drink-driving.


In a series of tweets, Nicola Sturgeon said she would set out the way forward "in due course after talking to people across the SNP". And she insisted she would take decisions in the best interests of Scotland, and not just her party. She will face calls at Holyrood later to abandon her plans for a referendum. MSPs are expected to use a debate on the economy to argue that the continuing prospect of another vote on independence would cause damaging uncertainty for businesses. But Scottish government ministers, who did not discuss an independence referendum in their first cabinet meeting since the election, will argue that the main threat to the economy is Brexit. Ms Sturgeon has previously said she will "reflect carefully" on her plans after the SNP lost 21 seats in the general election, but had conceded that her call for a second vote on leaving the UK was a factor in the result. She had called in March for a referendum to be held either towards the end of next year or the spring of the following year, "when the terms of Brexit are known". On Wednesday morning, the first minister tweeted that much of the media speculation about the implications of the election result for her referendum plans was "nonsense". She added: "I'll set out way forward in due course after talking to people across @theSNP. "I'll take decisions in best interests, not just of @theSNP, but of Scotland...and not be dictated to by demands for quick headlines!" She went on to say that her government would focus on trying to influence Brexit talks - and repeated her claim that a "Tory led hard Brexit is simply not acceptable" in the wake of the election result. Will the SNP abandon independence? No. Will they abandon a referendum as the conduit through which independence is achieved? Absolutely not. So what are they doing? Well, they may need to change the nature of the language. I think they feel that they didn't get across sufficiently the point that the referendum they want on independence is at the end of the Brexit process. They kept saying: "When the prime minister says there shouldn't be a referendum now, we agree". So I think they will try and re-emphasise that. That will not be sufficient for their pro-Union opponents, who will say they don't care how it is rebranded or that it is being placed in contradistinction to Brexit - it is not wanted and it is not needed. Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, who saw the number of Scottish Tory MPs rise from one to 13, has claimed that the SNP's losses in the election meant that "Indyref2 is dead". In what will be the first formal chance for MSPs to debate the general election result, the Tories, Labour and the Liberal Democrats will call on the SNP to shelve plans for another referendum. The Holyrood debate on "opportunities for growth" follows publication of the State of the Economy report by the Scottish government's chief economist. The report confirmed growth overall in

Summary: Scotland's first minister has branded speculation about the impact of the general election on her plans for an independence referendum as "nonsense".


Poachers broke into a zoo in Paris and killed a rhino for its horn. The zoo's two other rhinos weren't hurt. ZSL Whipsnade is home to a herd of greater one-horned rhinos and white rhinos. They're kept in secure enclosures guarded by full time security teams who do regular patrols. They told us: "Our security teams at ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo are aware of this tragic incident, and will be increasing their on-site patrols." Rhino horn can be sold illegally in places like China and Vietnam for huge amounts of money. It's believed this is the first time poachers have targeted a rhino in a European zoo. Newsround spoke to several other zoos across the UK who told us they're also looking at increasing or reviewing their security measures. Read Newsround's guide to poaching here.

Summary: The UK's biggest zoo has told Newsround they are increasing security patrols for their animals, after an incident at a French zoo.


Prashad Sothilingam, 25, of Edghill Road, Mitcham, is accused of murdering 26-year-old Neel Croos in Holborn Way, Mitcham, on 23 November, police said. Mr Croos sustained a serious head injury in a fight involving a large number of men and later died. Two other men were also treated in hospital. Mr Sothilingam was the seventh man arrested over the death and appears at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Monday. He is also charged with the attempted murder of a 29-year-old man on the same day, and charged with violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon. Previously, police arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder. Five other men, aged between 21 and 40, were also held on suspicion of violent disorder. All six have been bailed until a date in early December.

Summary: A man has been charged with murder after a street brawl in south London.


Ministers have said it would be wrong to give a guarantee without a similar deal for Britons abroad, which they say they will seek in Brexit negotiations. But the Commons backed a Labour motion urging a rethink by 245 votes to two, as government MPs largely abstained. Leading Leave campaigner Boris Johnson was among several Tory rebels to vote against the government. The government had tried to avoid a Commons vote because defeat seemed likely - but Labour forced a division following its opposition day debate. The motion is not binding on the government but it acts as a signal of MPs' views on the subject. Mr Johnson supported Labour's call for ministers to "commit with urgency" to giving the estimated three million EU nationals in the UK the right to remain after the country has left the EU. He told MPs: "I would like to set on record that countless times the Vote Leave campaign gave exactly this reassurance to people from other EU countries that live and work here and it is very disappointing that this is being called into question. "It think it's absolutely right to issue the strongest possible reassurance to EU nationals in this country, not just for moral or humanitarian reasons, but very, very sound economic reasons too. "They are welcome, they are necessary, they are a vital part of our society and I will be passionately voting for this motion tonight." Home Secretary Theresa May, who backed staying in the EU, has been criticised - including by many Conservative MPs - for failing to guarantee EU citizens already in the UK the right to remain. She has said the issue will play a part in negotiations with the EU, as the UK maps out its withdrawal. Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham accused Mrs May of using EU citizens as "bargaining chips". He claimed Mrs May was trying to "woo" Conservative Party members in her bid to become the next leader and prime minister. Criticising her absence from the debate, Mr Burnham accused Mrs May of an "abdication of leadership". But immigration minister James Brokenshire - who faced criticism from MPs across the political spectrum over the government's stance - rejected the claim it was treating EU citizens as "bargaining chips". "In the approach the government takes and the agreements we make, we will never treat EU citizens as pawns in some kind of cynical game of negotiation chess." He said the government's aim was to secure a "fair deal" for EU nationals in the UK and Britons living abroad in other European countries. In a statement on Wednesday evening after the Commons vote, Mr Burnham said MPs' decision was "a victory for common sense and decency". "With this emphatic result, it is impossible to see how the government can now reverse what is the clear will of the House of Commons. "Theresa May should accept the decision of the House and confirm the legal status of EU nationals without delay," he added.

Summary: MPs have put pressure on the government to guarantee EU nationals living in the UK the right to stay after Brexit.


From Afghanistan to the Philippines and beyond, his memorable phrases, his putative skills in the ring and his stand on civil rights are being recounted as a story that transcended the US sports arena to the international political scene. Media have also gone to town with the publication of archive pictures and videos of his high-profile travels. "When Madras had Muhammad Ali in its corner" says a headline in the Hindu newspaper website, based in Chennai, formerly known as Madras. Crowds thronged Chennai's Nehru stadium to witness the legend in action in a match against Jimmy Ellis in January 1980. Uzbekistan's online news agency uz24 carries a photo of him visiting in June 1978 when the country was part of the Soviet Union. He had been invited by the Soviet government and then "decided to go to Uzbekistan to get to know the USSR's eastern cities as he was a Muslim", the report says. The article also reported his display of humour at Tashkent airport when he was met by Uzbek boxer Rufat Riskiyev, who was the middleweight winner of World Amateur Championship in 1974. When asked whether he knew Mr Riskiyev, Muhammad Ali replied: "No, I do not know amateurs". Chinese media highlight his civil rights activism and his refusal to be drafted for the Vietnam war. And the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post says Muhammad Ali met Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in 1979, reviving interest in boxing on the mainland. Photos showing him praying or holding the Koran have been shared extensively with Arabic hashtags such as #Muhammad_Ali_Clay and #Muhammad_Ali_Clay_passes_away, generating more than 120,000 tweets only a few hours after his death was announced. User @3mmaar1 says: "The universal love of this legendary champion comes from his humanitarian beliefs and his heroic stances". Iran's broadcast media and state news agency, IRNA, repeat reports that he had criticised Donald Trump's "policy towards Muslims" - referring to Mr Trump's call to ban Muslims from entering the US. State TV said Muhammad Ali "fought against racism for years". He had visited Iran and his death "is a tragedy for the UN," the report said. Egyptian state TV said says simply that Muhammad Ali was "the most famous boxer in the world". Iraq's private Al-Mada News website describes him as "the spiritual leader of millions of black Americans and a symbol for hope, dignity and challenge," while pan Arab TV channels Al-Arabiya and Al-Jazeera retell his history as "a champion" of people and in the ring. Russia's official Rossiya 1 channel notes that the boxer was "not only legendary but also a controversial figure" and "one of the most unconventional characters in the whole of the 20th Century". His death is the lead story on most Russian broadcast sources on Saturday, and it is also trending on Twitter in Russia, with media outlets, prominent figures as well as ordinary users re-posting news reports about Ali's death with captions like "legendary boxer", "king of the boxing ring", "the greatest boxer of all time". Nikolai Valuev, a former professional boxer and two-time WBA heavyweight champion,

Summary: There is no holding back on descriptions of uniqueness in tributes to Muhammad Ali in global media.


Labour's Carwyn Jones said his government would fight Wales' corner, while Conservative Andrew RT Davies promised a "brighter future". Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood pledged to share her vision across Wales in 2016, while the Lib Dem's Kirsty Williams said her party was "up for the fight". UKIP is also expected to win its very first seats in the assembly in May. Giving his New Year's message, the Welsh Labour leader highlighted the organ donation laws as a defining moment in 2015. "For me, one of our greatest achievements of the year was Wales becoming the first country in the UK to introduce a new system for organ donation," said Mr Jones. He said his government continued to invest "record amounts" in the Welsh NHS, while delivering improvements in education, and economic growth that "continues to outperform the UK as a whole". He also wished the Wales football team well ahead of the Euro 2016 finals in France. But with a fight on his hand to win outright in May's elections, the Labour leader added: "We'll never take our foot off the pedal, we'll always fight Wales' corner, striving for the best. The people of Wales deserve nothing less." In his address, the Welsh Tory leader said 2016 gave Wales the chance for a "fresh start". "After 17 years with Welsh Labour at the helm, Wales finds itself at a crossroads and there are big decisions ahead," said Mr Davies. He said voters had a straight choice between "the change Wales needs for a brighter future, or sticking with Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party". Leanne Wood takes her party into the Welsh general election as leader for the first time, stating she will be travelling the "length and breadth of our country and making the case for Plaid Cymru and sharing my vision for Wales". "On that election day, the path Wales chooses will be in your hands. Forward with Plaid or more of the same, from the same old politicians." Liberal Democrat leader Ms Williams said Wales was "crying out for fresh ideas and a government that puts people first". "In 2016 our mission will be to show people that we will help them reach their aspirations, that we have a record of delivery for our communities and that our values are needed in the assembly now more than ever," she said. But while all four party leaders push their own messages home, they will also be keeping one eye on the challenge from UKIP, and what it may mean come 5 May. Opinion polls have suggested UKIP could win several seats in the Senedd. Their Welsh leader Nathan Gill told his party conference in the autumn that he was "extremely hopeful" of winning seven or eight assembly seats. "I have long predicted Wales will be one of the strongest regions for UKIP in the United Kingdom," he said. "Next May will see that come to fruition."

Summary: The assembly's four party leaders have delivered New Year messages with an eye on the 2016 elections.


Now, as the winter bites, those same unionists are themselves facing charges of trying to "wipe their hands of any involvement". This time the accusers are the beleaguered Alliance party, whose offices and councillors have come under attack over their decision to vote in favour of flying a Union flag on designated days only over Belfast City Hall. The two main unionist parties have condemned the carnage in Carrickfergus and the attack on the family home of two Alliance councillors in North Down as "legally and morally wrong". But Alliance politicians continue to question these statements, pointing to the decision by both DUP and UUP councillors to distribute 40,000 Alliance-style yellow leaflets as a blatant attempt to ramp up tensions over the Union flag issue. The unionists respond by arguing that Alliance and the two main nationalist parties are themselves to blame. The unionists argue that the flag has flown for decades above Belfast City Hall and the other parties should have left it alone. According to the East Antrim DUP MP Sammy Wilson, Alliance was dangerously naÃ¯ve in not realising that its vote would "open a Pandora's box". Both Alliance and Sinn Fein claimed the flag dispute was stoked up as part of a campaign to oust the Alliance MP Naomi Long from her East Belfast seat. Unionists denied this, insisting their defence of the Union flag was a matter of principle. Whatever the truth, there's no doubt that with the involvement of loyalist elements, and others using social media, the protests have taken on a life of their own, spreading well beyond central Belfast. Now unionists at Stormont are calling for the Union flag to be flown 365 days a year over Parliament Buildings - a proposal that seems destined to divide the cross-party commission that manages the Assembly building. The image of an MLA's constituency offices and politicians' homes coming under attack would be shocking at any time. It's even more embarrassing on the eve of a visit by the outgoing US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Like her husband Bill, Mrs Clinton has frequently pointed to Northern Ireland as an example to other trouble spots around the world, evidence there can be a peaceful negotiated way forward. But the violence this week shows how easy it is to stoke latent tensions, and this time the Stormont politicians can't entirely blame a small unrepresentative minority. In contrast to the activities of dissident republicans, this is a dispute in which, one way or another, the main Stormont parties are deeply embroiled.

Summary: Over the summer the UK government, in the shape of the former Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson, was accused by unionists of acting like Pontius Pilate, washing his hands of decisions on parades.


Wales kick-off their Six Nations campaign against Ireland on 7 February and Henry believes they have previously relied too heavily on strength. Despite lauding Wales for their "fabulous" World Cup performance, the 69-year old believes Warren Gatland's side are capable of more. "There are guys trying to use their brawn rather than brain," Henry said. Henry, who won the World Cup in 2011 as coach of the All Blacks, had a spell in charge of Wales between 1998-2002. In an interview with BBC Wales' Scrum V Radio, Henry also had plenty of positive things to say about Wales, stating that both George North and Dan Biggar are world class performers. "The Welsh have got very good forwards and a very good defensive system," Henry added. "They've obviously got a good coach and the way the play for each other and what they did in the World Cup was fabulous. "George North is as good a winger as anyone in the world, Dan Biggar is a fabulous 10, one of the players of the World Cup." However, despite individual talent, Henry feels Wales are struggling in attack. "But the attack game, how do they score tries? Well, they've got the players," he said. "But as a 15 they aren't putting it together as an attacking unit and that's the challenge moving forward. Media playback is not supported on this device "The Welsh defence is very good, they have world class goal kickers, but the attack has always been a bit questionable." Henry feels the World Cup group clash against Australia provided the perfect example of Welsh shortcomings. "I don't want to be critical, but in the Australia game they [Australia] were down to 13 players," he said. "Wales attacked for a long time, had numbers, but didn't use them. "So you wonder about the intelligence of the attacking game on the field. "So I guess that is the next step forward."

Summary: Former head coach Graham Henry believes Wales can improve their attacking play by showing more intelligence.


The Tunisian interior ministry said the three, aged between 18 and 27, were members of a "terrorist cell", and that they were detained overnight. Tunisian-born Amri, 24, was shot dead by police near the Italian city of Milan in the early hours of Friday. Monday's lorry attack on the market left 12 people dead and 49 injured. The interior ministry statement said Amri's nephew - the son of his sister - had confessed that he had communicated with his uncle via the encrypted chat application Telegram to evade security surveillance. It said the three-member cell had been active in the towns of Fouchana, outside Tunis, and Oueslatia near Amri's hometown of Kairouan, about 150km (95 miles) south of the capital. The statement added that Amri had sent money to his nephew to travel to Germany and join a jihadist group, and encouraged him to pledge allegiance to the so-called Islamic State (IS) group. Meanwhile, intelligence services in Spain are investigating a possible internet communication between Amri and a Spanish resident on 19 December, Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido told radio station COPE. Tunisia has been under pressure to reform its security sector since it suffered from a spate of deadly attacks by IS militants in 2015. With the help of countries including Germany and the UK, counter-terrorism operations and border security management have significantly improved, and the country has not witnessed a major terrorist attack this year. But its nationals have been involved in some of the deadliest attacks to hit Europe this year. The attacks in Nice, and more recently in Berlin, were carried out by Tunisians who had moved to Europe long before IS existed, and neither appeared to have any Islamist ties before they left their homeland. The latest arrests show that even if its nationals get radicalised abroad, that too can contribute to others joining their ranks from here. This is still a country that is contributing the largest number of militants in the region, and authorities here have not figured out how to put a stop to it. Today, it is also facing the prospect of thousands trying to come back here as IS loses ground in some of its biggest strongholds in the region. People worry that the state is ill-prepared to deal with that influx, and there is concern over the threat that this looming reality poses domestically. On Friday, IS released a video showing Amri pledging allegiance to its leader Abu-Bakr al-Baghdadi. Amri was shot dead after opening fire on police officers during a routine police check in the Milan suburb of Sesto San Giovanni, after a three-day Europe-wide manhunt. In the summer of 2015, a United Nations report said an estimated 5,500 Tunisians - mostly young people between the ages of 18 and 35 - were fighting in the ranks of terrorist organisations in Libya, Iraq, Syria and, to a lesser extent, Mali. In November this year, the ministry of the interior in Tunis said about 800 fighters had returned to the country.

Summary: Tunisian security forces have arrested the nephew of the Berlin market attacker Anis Amri and two other suspects, officials say.


The 29-year-old Saracens winger was omitted from the 32-man England squad that will tour Australia next month. Ashton helped his club win the European Champions Cup and reach the Premiership final, but Jones feels Harlequins' Marland Yarde is a "better fit". "There are parts of Ashton's game we're not happy with," he told BBC 5 live. "We've spoken to him about that and if he can fix that then he can get in the squad." When asked whether Ashton, who has won 39 England caps, needs to improve defensively, Jones said their conversations were "private". Ashton missed this year's Six Nations campaign after being given a 10-week ban for making contact with the eyes of Ulster's Luke Marshall during a European Champions Cup game. He has scored 10 tries since his return, but the England boss suggested 24-year old Yarde, who crossed seven times this season, could have matched that feat given the opportunity. "Marland's got a good, strong all-round game, great coachability. I think his best rugby is ahead of him," added the Australian. "Ashton's done very well to score a lot of tries in a very strong team. You've always got to look at it in the context of what side they're playing for and the opportunities they have. "He has done some good work. It's all relative to the strength of the team you're playing in and there are other areas of the game apart from scoring tries." New Zealand-born centre Ben Te'o, who will join Worcester from Leinster before the England party leaves for Australia, is one of four uncapped players named in the squad. The 29-year-old switched codes in 2014, having represented Samoa in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup and won a National Rugby League title with South Sydney Rabbitohs. Jones, who said Manu Tuilagi is expected to undergo scans on a hamstring injury on Monday, is pleased to have Te'o as an option. "Ben's a very talented player," said the 56-year-old. "He can play through the line, he's had a great season for Leinster. He's a big guy and he hits hard. "Since I've taken the English job and known he wanted to play for England and qualifies for England, I've watched him carefully. "I've kept in contact with him and he presents a great option for us at 12." Props Ellis Genge, of Bristol, and Harlequins' Kyle Sinckler have been included in Jones' squad, along with Northampton back row Teimana Harrison. Jones says both of the uncapped props have a "competitive edge". He added: "Both aren't ready to scrummage at Test level but both have got potential, so we need to bring them through. "Genge is a boy that's not afraid of anything and that's what we need to beat Australia. He's aggressive and he can run with the ball and he's got that bit of an edge about him." The former Australia and Japan head coach continued: "Harrison has been absolutely outstanding for the Saints. "The robustness of his play, his physicality and his ball carries, his low tackling and his coachability make

Summary: Chris Ashton needs to "fix" parts of his game before he can expect to be selected for England again, says head coach Eddie Jones.


Oil prices jumped 5% at the news, a market overreaction to be sure, but nevertheless a welcome development for producer states. They need to see a turnaround in their government revenues which have been depressed for the last 18 months. But the kingdom's shift in policy indicates that not all is well financially. Indeed the Saudi attempt to maintain market share through maximising output and artificially keeping oil prices low appears to have backfired. Unable to absorb low prices for an extended period, the kingdom has lost some $180bn (Â£140bn) of currency reserves, as it has had to dig deep into its pockets to cover enormous government spending deficits. In fairness, Saudi Arabia's leadership, under the guidance of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been remarkably open about the extent of the problems. In an interview with Bloomberg magazine in April, the grim reality was laid bare by Prince Mohammed's senior financial adviser: the state was wasting up to $100bn a year in inefficient spending, backhanders and opaque business deals, he said, and would have gone broke "by early 2017" unless something radical was done to change course. 72% of revenues come from oil $98bn the budget deficit in 2015 80% increase in petrol prices last year in the country $2.5tn size of state-owned oil giant Aramco $2tn potential value of the sovereign wealth fund the Saudis are creating And so for the nation to remain solvent there was always going to have to be some financial pain - pain which would filter into the real economy and down to the vast body of Saudi nationals employed in government sectors. Government spending would need to be scaled down, and subsidies on everyday goods and services such as power, water and fuel would need to be lifted. Last but not least expenditure on salaries would need to be reduced, which means either people lost their jobs, or they lost their perks. Given that Saudi society builds and cements social relationships around the provision of government jobs, firing people is extremely difficult without causing offence. This meant that public salaries had to be cut, and in June the Saudi government set a target to reduce salary expenditure by 24bn riyals ($6.4bn; Â£4.9bn) a year by 2020. It is no surprise then that on Monday evening a series of royal decrees cut salaries by as much as 20%, shrunk holiday pay and leave allowances and cut bonuses. These cuts all fall broadly within the vision set out by Prince Mohammed earlier in the year. Vision 2030 is the grand plan for restructuring the Saudi economy, diversifying away from hydrocarbon exports by encouraging Saudis to join the private sector, and privatising sections of Aramco, the oil producing behemoth that still drives Saudi income and domestic revenue. But for all its lofty goals, it is unlikely that the vision can ever be fully implemented, and it is sensible to assume that Vision 2030 was never designed to be the panacea for Saudi Arabia's myriad financial woes. Even some leading Saudis have been open about the vision's

Summary: It has been a dramatic week for the Saudi economy: the country has slashed public spending, and rowed back from its 18-month policy of pumping out oil at near maximum levels by reducing daily production by 350,000 barrels.


Six of the nine people confirmed to have the infection in the past month are linked to a person who contracted it at the Green Gathering festival in Chepstow, Monmouthshire. Since the start of July, measles cases have been confirmed in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Powys. People have been advised to get the MMR vaccine. All cases have links to festivals in England and Wales and Public Health Wales has warned people they should not attend big events without checking they and their children have had the vaccination. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause complications and can even prove fatal. Measles - what to look for:

Summary: An outbreak of measles has been confirmed in Carmarthenshire, Public Health Wales has said.


David Wagner's Terriers dominated possession, but were unable to break down a determined Burton defence. Marvin Sordell forced a good save from home keeper Danny Ward after the break. And Town defender Dean Whitehead was sent off for a second yellow card before Australia international Irvine converted Sordell's cross to win it. The defeat means Huddersfield are now nine points adrift of Brighton in second, after the south-coast club defeated Blackburn, while Burton moved up to 19th, four points clear of the relegation places. Wagner made five changes after a 4-0 defeat by Bristol City and the home side had 73% of possession in the opening 45 minutes, but although Burton goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin had to push away an angled shot by Jack Payne, they carved out few clear-cut chances. Ward had to be alert at the other end to deny Sordell after the forward cut inside, prompting Huddersfield to send on Nahki Wells and Elias Kachunga to boost their attack. It was Michael Hefele, however, who came closest to a goal when his header was cleared off the line before Whitehead was dismissed after a clash with Tom Flanagan. Irvine then compounded their frustration as he followed his first goal for Australia against the United Arab Emirates in midweek with a crucial winner for Burton. Huddersfield manager David Wagner: "It's disappointing, not just because of the result but because of our performance, especially with the ball and in the final third. "We showed a lack of quality and we have made too many wrong decisions. "Against a difficult opponent an early goal would have helped. In the end wegave them a few counter-attacks and they have scored. The players tried everything." Burton manager Nigel Clough: "There's a lot of euphoria in the dressing room. I don't think anyone gave us a chance. "It's a big win but by no means a defining win which means we will stay up. "It's a great start to the week when we said anything we got from these next three games would be a bonus." Match ends, Huddersfield Town 0, Burton Albion 1. Second Half ends, Huddersfield Town 0, Burton Albion 1. Goal! Huddersfield Town 0, Burton Albion 1. Jackson Irvine (Burton Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marvin Sordell following a fast break. John Mousinho (Burton Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Rajiv van La Parra (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by John Mousinho (Burton Albion). Foul by Nahki Wells (Huddersfield Town). John Mousinho (Burton Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt missed. Luke Murphy (Burton Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Lucas Akins following a corner. Corner, Burton Albion. Conceded by Christopher Schindler. Attempt blocked. Marvin Sordell (Burton Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Luke Varney. Chris Löwe (Huddersfield Town) is shown the yellow card. Elias Kachunga (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick

Summary: Substitute Jackson Irvine scored an injury-time goal as Burton boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation with victory at third-placed Huddersfield.


Media playback is unsupported on your device 19 August 2014 Last updated at 11:03 BST Flight engineers Oleg Artemyev and Aleksandr Skvortsov launched a small satellite named Chasqui I. It is a joint project between the Russian Federal Space Agency and the Peruvian government. The two cosmonauts, which is the Russian term for astronauts, are also carrying out maintenance on the ISS during the spacewalk.

Summary: Two Russian cosmonauts have set off on a spacewalk from the International Space Station (ISS) to launch a nano-satellite.


Peter Higgs, from the UK, and Francois Englert from Belgium, share the prize. In the 1960s, they were among several physicists who proposed a mechanism to explain why the most basic building blocks of the Universe have mass. The mechanism predicts a particle - the Higgs boson - which was finally discovered in 2012 at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at Cern, in Switzerland. Profile: Peter Higgs "This year's prize is about something small that makes all the difference," said Staffan Normark, permanent secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Prof Higgs is renowned for shying away from the limelight, and he could not be located for interview in the immediate aftermath of the announcement. "He's gone on holiday without a phone," his Edinburgh University physics colleague Alan Walker told the BBC, adding that Higgs had also been unwell. "He is taking a break from all of this, taking some time to relax, because he knows when he comes back he'll have to face up to a media storm." But the university released a prepared statement from Higgs, 84, who is an emeritus professor of theoretical physics: "I am overwhelmed to receive this award and thank the Royal Swedish Academy," he said. "I would also like to congratulate all those who have contributed to the discovery of this new particle and to thank my family, friends and colleagues for their support. "I hope this recognition of fundamental science will help raise awareness of the value of blue-sky research." Francois Englert, 80, said he was "very happy" to win the award, speaking at the ceremony via phone link. "At first I thought I didn't have [the prize] because I didn't see the announcement," he told the committee, after their news conference was delayed by more than an hour. Higgs was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, but it was in Edinburgh in 1964 that he had his big idea - an explanation of why the matter in the Universe has substance, or mass. His theory involved a missing particle in the Standard Model of physics, which has come to be known as the Higgs boson. Within weeks, Francois Englert had independently published his own, similar theory, alongside his now deceased colleague Robert Brout. Three other physicists - Gerald Guralnik, Tom Kibble and Carl Hagen - also made key contributions to the theory, and spoke at the announcement of the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012. Hagen has long argued for the name of the particle to be changed, protesting at the "rock star" status in which Higgs is held. And Higgs, too, has expressed his discomfort with the attention he has received, preferring to call the particle "the scalar boson". In a statement on Tuesday, Kibble, of Imperial College London, said he was "glad" the Nobel prize had gone to the work of Higgs and Englert. "My two collaborators, Gerald Guralnik and Carl Hagen, and I contributed to that discovery, but our paper was unquestionably the last of the three to be published. "It is therefore no surprise that the Swedish Academy

Summary: Two scientists have won the Nobel prize in physics for their work on the theory of the Higgs boson.


The former West Indies seamer was injured while playing football during the warm-up in a County Championship match against Yorkshire in April. Edwards, 34, is on crutches following an operation. "His injury is pretty bad and I think that it would be best to get him right for next season," Hampshire coach Dale Benkenstein told BBC Radio Solent. Fellow ex-Windies pace bowler Tino Best has joined the county on a short-term deal in Edwards' absence. Benkenstein admitted the chance of seeing the Barbados duo, both signed as non-overseas players under the Kolpak ruling, sharing the new ball for Hampshire would have to wait. "You never know, maybe next year," he added. "Fidel is very fit and some people heal quicker than others. "But, as a fast bowler and with the force he puts through his body, an injury like that might be asking a bit too much from him."

Summary: Hampshire fast bowler Fidel Edwards is set to miss the rest of the season after surgery on a broken ankle.


The Dons can move level with Celtic at the top of the Premiership with victory at Firhill, albeit having played two more matches. "The players are eager to get back to winning ways," McInnes said. "It's important to keep the games we lose to a minimum and try to make sure we bounce back with three points." McInnes stressed that his side will face a stern test against Thistle, and warned the condition of the pitch could also make life difficult. "They're a good team. They're a team that I admire greatly, how they go and try and win games. I think they're who will still have top six aspirations. "They are a side who are capable of getting results against anybody so we've got our work cut out. Equally they've got their work cut out against us, and we need to go down there and show what we are capable of. Media playback is not supported on this device "It'll be a tough game for us. The pitch might be difficult. It might not be pretty on the eye at times for both teams but we have to try and find a way to win." McInnes, who confirmed that winger Jonny Hayes will miss up to a month's action with a hamstring injury, expressed his "surprise" that no retrospective action has been taken over the penalty awarded to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in Monday's loss in the Highlands. The Dons boss was furious after the Dons' 3-1 defeat, saying Ross Draper had "conned" referee Willie Collum to set up the spot-kick converted by Greg Tansey. "There was anger and frustration at the time but it's done and dusted and we move on," said McInnes. "There's no real merit in us getting involved in that. "While there is anger from everybody at the club, you just hope that things get dealt with properly." Media playback is not supported on this device The penalty was given when Draper and Aberdeen defender Ash Taylor both had their feet up high when challenging for the ball. And the Caley Thistle midfielder was adamant that there had been sufficient contact for him to go down. Draper was quoted saying: "Just say what you believe. I thought it was a penalty. That's me being honest. If he [McInnes] thinks it's a dive then say so." Asked to respond to Draper's remarks, McInnes replied: "I said what I had to say afterwards and that was clear. I think the incident is clear as well."

Summary: Derek McInnes wants to see his side bounce back from defeat at Inverness and keep their title hopes alive with victory at Partick Thistle on Friday.


The biscuits were taken from Burton's Food Ltd on Ty Coch Way in Cwmbran, Torfaen, on 17 June. The man, from Liverpool, has been charged with theft and allowing himself to be carried in a motor vehicle which had been taken without the owner's consent. He appeared at Newport Magistrates' Court on Thursday. The empty trailer was found in Warrington and vehicles used in the theft have since been seized by police.

Summary: A 24-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the theft of a trailer containing £20,000 worth of biscuits.


The early election comes after Park Geun-hye became the first South Korean president to be removed from power by impeachment. She is going on trial for charges including bribery, coercion and abuse of power. The BBC takes a look at the five main candidates, their policies and their chances of victory. Moon Jae-in, 64, is the frontrunner and seen as the most likely successor to Park Geun-hye. Latest opinion polls predict him getting just over 40% of the vote. Formerly head of the liberal opposition Democratic Party, Mr Moon ran in 2012 for the presidency but at that time lost to Ms Park. He is now the nominee for the relatively new Democratic Party of Korea. If elected, Mr Moon has promised to draft an additional budget of more than 10tn won ($8.8bn; Â£6.9bn) to boost the economy. Like most of his fellow contestants he stands for a policy on North Korea that focuses on more negotiations rather than aggression. Both he and Ahn Cheol-soo, another candidate, have urged US President Donald Trump to cool his position against Pyongyang and spoken out against any first strike by the United States. He has suggested that a new approach might be required in handling North Korea with the South taking the lead in negotiations, and has voiced concern about Thaad, the massive US missile defence system being installed in the South. The MP for the city of Busan was former President Roh Moo-hyun's chief of staff - and was nicknamed "Shadow of Roh". Most recently though, he has come under fire over allegations that the government of then-President Roh consulted North Korea before abstaining from a United Nations vote on a human rights resolution against the North in 2007. Mr Moon has denied the allegations. In the 1970s, as a student activist, he led protests against President Park Chung-hee - Park Geun-hye's father - for which he was imprisoned. A former medical doctor turned software tycoon Ahn Cheol-so, 55, was long seen as the only serious contender to the frontrunner, constantly polling in second place. Latest opinion polls though see him tied at just under 20% with conservative Hong Joon-pyo. Mr Ahn also ran for the job in 2012 but dropped out to endorse Mr Moon and consolidate votes against Park Geun-hye - who went on to win. He is a member of the National Assembly and co-founded the opposition People's Party but resigned from the chairmanship in June over the party's alleged involvement in a kickback scandal. As a potential candidate for the 2017 presidential election, he has also been compared to Bernie Sanders for his recommended reforms to education, welfare and economics. He has said he would strengthen laws to punish white collar criminals, limit pardons for corporate criminals guilty of corruption and bring about more regulations in order to curb the influence of the powerful chaebols (family-run conglomerates). Mr Ahn said he would seek to restart six-party talks aimed at denuclearising the Korean peninsula. Hong Joon-pyo, 62, is the head of the Liberty Korea Party, one of the two factions to

Summary: South Koreans will head to the polls on 9 May to choose their next president.


The Gunners, who had lost back-to-back league games to rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, went ahead through Jordan Nobbs' fine long-range strike. Midfielder Dominique Janssen's header doubled Arsenal's lead after the break. Emma Follis curled in to give newly promoted Reading hope in the closing stages, but the Royals missed chances and remain winless in the top flight. Spain's Natalia had put the ball in the net for Arsenal with the score at 1-0, but was deemed to have been offside. Reading - who lost their opening game of the season 3-1 at Arsenal in March - rallied in the latter stages and Follis almost equalised in stoppage time but saw her volley go wide. Chelsea Ladies maintain 100% winning start Birmingham Ladies earn first points of the season Arsenal defender Casey Stoney: "If we had gone away with a draw we would've had to seriously look at ourselves. "Three points tonight was massive for us to just get a little bit of confidence back and a bit of rhythm back - and also some points, most importantly. "It should have been more comfortable, given the first half, but also in the second half we had a couple of one-on-ones with the goalkeeper and we haven't taken them. "But credit to Reading, they never give up, they always fight. They're doing really well considering they're a newly promoted team. They're very difficult to play against." Reading forward Lauren Bruton: "In the last 20 minutes we actually did really well and it's a shame that we didn't start that way. "It was a tough game and it's just a shame that we had all the pressure in the last 20 minutes, but it wasn't meant to be. "We were hoping to go in 0-0 at half-time and unfortunately they scored. But we were happy with 1-0 at half-time and we knew we could push them in the second half. It was just a shame that we let in that second goal but we finished so well."

Summary: Arsenal Ladies beat Reading Women for the second time in four league games to go third in Women's Super League One.


Following a delayed start 34 overs were bowled, in which Gloucestershire moved on from 31-0 overnight to 120-1. After a long delay, the two teams came back out under the lights at 21:00 BST, but the visitors remained untroubled. After 21 from Chris Dent, Bancroft got to 69 with Will Tavare still there on 43 as the visitors closed on 150-1. Having begun the day with fears of following on, on his 50th first-class appearance, Tavare's unbroken stand of 88 with Australian Bancroft, who passed his previous season's best of 53, leaves Gloucestershire just 59 runs short of that initial target. But against a Sussex side who are unbeaten in seven matches with Gloucestershire, there is little hope of the visitors improving on their record of just two wins from 18 visits to Hove.

Summary: Cameron Bancroft made only his second County Championship half-century of the season as Gloucestershire reached 150-1 against Sussex at rain-hit Hove.


Tymal Mills went for £1.4m to Royal Challengers Bangalore, while fellow England bowler Chris Woakes was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for £504,140. England one-day captain Eoin Morgan has gone to Kings XI Punjab for £240,066. International team-mates Jason Roy and Chris Jordan were sold to Gujarat Lions and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively. Batsman Roy, 26, fetched £120,000, while 28-year-old fast bowler Jordan cost £60,000. Stokes, 25, had a base price of £240,000 (20 million rupees) but was the subject of bids from Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad before Pune emerged successful. His fee overtakes that of former England duo Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, who were sold for $1.55m (£1.1m) each in 2009. Stokes, Roy, 24-year-old Mills and Woakes, 27, will be playing in the eight-team Twenty20 competition - which takes place between 5 April and 21 May - for the first time. "It's a life-changing amount of money," said Stokes. "Seven times my base amount - that's mental but pretty cool to think about. "It was hard to follow on Twitter. I wasn't sure how much a Crore [Indian unit of measurement] was - people were retweeting stuff, and it was complete carnage. "I'm just seriously excited about getting going." Jos Buttler was retained by Mumbai Indians and Sam Billings was kept on by Delhi Daredevils during the first round of 2017 IPL auction held in Bangalore, but batsmen Alex Hales and Jonny Bairstow went unsold. "Great day for English cricket and a few lads in particular. Congrats boys," said Buttler. Left-arm pace bowler Mills will be available for the whole tournament as he is limited to playing T20 cricket because of back pain. "When it finished I did not know how much it was worth," he said. "When I worked it out I could not believe it - it did not seem real. "It's an amount of money that can change your life. It will for me." England's other players may not be available for the 10th edition of the competition because of international commitments as England host Ireland in one-day matches on 5 and 7 May. They then host South Africa in a three-match ODI series, with the games scheduled to take place on 24, 27 and 29 May, before the ICC Champions Trophy starts in England on 1 June. Pune owner Sanjiv Goenka said Stokes was a "complete player". We've been lacking this one genre of player," he said. "We have many heroes but this is the one hero that we were lacking. "We knew he was going to be expensive. We do believe he is going to be there for the first 14 games." Stokes helped England reach the final of the World Twenty20 in 2016, but they were beaten by the West Indies after the all-rounder was hit for four consecutive sixes in the final over by Carlos Brathwaite. The Durham player was also part of England's winter tour of India and were beaten 4-0 in the Tests series, 2-1 in the ODIs and 2-1 in the T20 series. He has

Summary: England all-rounder Ben Stokes became the Indian Premier League's most expensive foreign player when Rising Pune Supergiants bought him for £1.7m.


The steps to Petit Port Bay were shut in May after damage caused by heavy rainfall during storms. An inspection by engineering consultants Frederick Sherrell Ltd will start on Monday and is due to end on 27 March. The department said if no further work was needed the steps should be re-opened for the Easter holiday. Four parking spaces will be suspended in the Petit Port car park for the duration of the works. The bay was previously closed between 2001 and 2005, after a series of landslides made the area too dangerous to access. It was only reopened after new concrete steps, handrails and fencing to contain rockfalls were installed.

Summary: Steps at a bay in Guernsey could be opened by Easter, according to the environment department.


Fe lwyddodd Josh Griffiths i groesi'r llinell mewn 2 awr 14 munud 49 eiliad. Dyma'r tro cyntaf iddo redeg marathon ac mae'r canlyniad yn golygu y bydd yn ennill ei le ym mhencampwriaeth y byd. Dywedodd fod ei amser yn annisgwyl: "Wnaeth e erioed groesi fy meddwl i y bydden ni yn rhedeg ym mhencampwriaeth y byd yn yr haf. "Dw i wrth fy modd." Ychwanegodd nad oedd yn siŵr o'r hyn roedd wedi cyflawni tan iddo groesi'r llinell. Mae rhedwr arall o'r un clwb, Matthew Rees, wedi cael ei ganmol am helpu cystadleuydd arall i gwblhau'r marathon. Fe afaelodd Mr Rees yn David Wyeth o Fanceinion ac ei helpu i orffen y ras. "Roedd y ddau ohonom ni eisiau gorffen y ras. Ac mi oedd hi'n bosib i'r ddau ohonom ni orffen mewn llai na tair awr os oedden ni yn gallu croesi'r llinell. "Felly nes i roi ei fraich e o gwmpas fy mraich i ac fe wnaethon ni gerdded at y llinell. "Roedd y dorf yn anhygoel."

Summary: Cymro o glwb athletau Swansea Harriers yw'r Prydeiniwr cyntaf i gwblhau Marathon Llundain eleni.


Media playback is not supported on this device Chris Kane struck six minutes from the end in Perth to claim a hard-fought 1-0 Scottish Premiership victory against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. It was only their second success in the last 12 league matches but was enough to move them on to 39 points - level with fourth-placed Ross County. "Overall we are having not too bad a season," said Wright. "I mentioned to the players that we are now just two points worse off than we were this time last season. "Hopefully we build on this now as I think we deserved the win." Saints, who have nine games to play, were made to wait for their win with David Wotherspoon having a penalty saved by Owain Fon Williams shortly before Kane's winner. "I thought we looked more likely to score but we have missed a few penalties and I feared the worst when that happened," Wright said. "But fair play to David as he didn't let that get to him and he had an excellent game and contributed in the build-up to the goal." Caley Thistle manager John Hughes reckons his team were responsible for their own downfall in a game they finished with just 10 men. Captain Gary Warren was sent off in the second half for two yellow cards, the second of which was for conceding the spot-kick. "I said to them at half-time, 'only one team can beat you here and that's yourself' and that's what happened," said Hughes. "There's no way we can feel sorry for ourselves. If we had kept 11 players on the park we might have got something. "I was a little bit disappointed that even with 10 men we couldn't see the match out and get a draw. "St Johnstone have thrown the kitchen sink at us and we nearly got the draw even if we lacked a bit of penetration up top. "We were trying to hang on a bit after Gary was sent off and he was just caught out a couple of times. "I really feel for the boys as they put their bodies on the line but it didn't work out after putting in so much effort. "Especially for the goalkeeper as Owain made a great save and I thought at that point it might be our night but it wasn't to be." The Highlanders remain ninth, five points clear of the relegation zone and three points off the top six. "It is very tight in the league at the moment and it is going to be nip and tuck right until the split," added Hughes. "We do still want to get into the top six and while we have had a hard programme there are no excuses. "There is still a lot to play for this season and I am hoping to have more numbers to pick from in the weeks ahead."

Summary: Tommy Wright insists St Johnstone are on course to equal last season's points tally of 57 despite a recent poor run.


The demonstrators seem oblivious to the searing heat, despite the fact they are dressed in heavy black jackets - a uniform given to them by their union leaders. The atmosphere is almost festive at times - a traditional workers' song blares from speakers, and a few dozen members of the crowd start singing and dancing. Protests such as these with workers demanding a higher minimum wage are now a regular occurrence in big cities in Indonesia, taking place on an almost weekly basis. As the economy has grown, workers, , worried they are getting left behind, want a bigger piece of the pie. Said Iqbal, the head of Indonesia's confederation of trade unions and the man behind many of the protests, has become a hero of sorts for Indonesia's workers. Labelled aggressive and uncompromising by industry bosses, he has helped to secure a 40% jump in the minimum wage in some parts of Indonesia - mainly through a combination of organising massive protests and threatening to shut down factories. But despite this, he wants to keep on fighting. "What I don't understand is how an Indonesian worker can work for decades and still be poor, while the rich keep getting richer," he says. "We won't stop protesting until there's justice and prosperity for everybody." But Indonesian bosses say union leaders like Mr Iqbal are being unrealistic. They complain the economy has started to slow down, Indonesia's reputation has been damaged abroad because of worker protests, and higher wages would see them losing out to other manufacturing rivals. "The problem is we are competing not just against ourselves - Indonesian companies - we are competing with Vietnam, China, and the new emerging markets like Cambodia - and soon even Burma will open up and compete with us," Mr Harijanto, the chairman of the Footwear Association in the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce, tells me. He says the government's decision to increase the minimum wage by 40% this year, could set a dangerous precedent and mean workers expect significant wage increases every year. 2011: 1.27 million Indonesian rupiah 2012: 1.68 million Indonesian rupiah 2013: 2.2 million Indonesian rupiah Source: KADIN, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce According to him, the inconsistency in government policy and the higher costs could see some companies go out of business. "Everybody loses in this situation - the employers, the businesses, the government and the workers," he says. "If we shut down, then no-one has jobs. But we can't keep operating with these higher salaries because we are uncompetitive in comparison to other nations." Mr Harijanto says 900,000 jobs will be lost in labour-intensive industries within the next year if the salary raises continue at the pace they have been going, and warns millions more could be affected in years to come. The minimum wage in Indonesia varies from province to province, and depends on the standard of living in each area. For example, in Jakarta, the minimum wage is now 2.2 million Indonesian rupiah a month ($226; Â£150) but in West Java it is only 1.25 million rupiah, up from 850,000

Summary: Hundreds of factory workers have gathered in front of the Indonesian Supreme Court building in central Jakarta, their arms raised in anger.


The talks will focus on the practical measures needed to reopen embassies in Havana and Washington. Although relations have improved in recent months a US trade embargo remains in place. Last month President Barack Obama said Cuba would be removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism. Havana had said it needed to be taken off the list before talks to reopen embassies could begin. In a statement the State Department said it will host a Cuban delegation on 21 May. "A US Embassy in Havana will allow the United States to more effectively promote our interests and values, and increase engagement with the Cuban people." In April, President Barack Obama met Cuban President Raul Castro, the first sit-down talks between the nations' leaders since 1956.

Summary: The US State Department has said that US and Cuban negotiators will meet next Thursday to discuss re-establishing embassies in each other's capitals.


The 24-year-old sustained the injury to his right knee during last week's EFL Cup fourth-round win over Tottenham. It is not the same knee in which he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in October 2015 that sidelined him for seven months. "To say we are gutted would be an understatement," said Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. "He is such a great boy and has worked so hard that he deserves better luck than this. "It is typical of Danny's personality, on and off the pitch, that he picked up this injury to his knee when courageously trying to win the ball back for his team by making a tackle. "But it is this same personality that means he will come back as good and as strong from this latest setback as he has done in the past. "He is mentally strong, physically strong and will have the very best treatment and rehab possible to make sure when he returns he is ready to play for us at the level we know he is capable of." England international Ings will have surgery in London on Tuesday. He joined Liverpool from Burnley in June 2015 for a fee that was later set at £8m by a tribunal. However, injuries have limited him to just 11 appearances for the Reds since then, in which he has scored four times. He made his one and only England appearance as a substitute in the 3-0 Euro 2016 qualifier in Lithuania in October 2015, shortly before he suffered his anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Summary: Liverpool striker Danny Ings will be out for up to nine months with a knee injury that requires surgery.


In an answer to Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, Education Minister Anne Milton said the total 2016-17 budget for 16- to 19-year-olds in England was £5.9bn. But the Sixth Form College Association said its analysis of the detail showed only about £5.7bn had been spent. The government says it has tackled unfair funding in post-16 education. But the Sixth Form College Association says standalone sixth forms still lose out compared with sixth forms that are part of schools. And leaders of both schools and colleges say they have had to cut courses and reduce student support in response to growing funding pressures. The researchers say the shortfall amounts to a loss of £164 per student over the course of the year. The association says a survey of its members in standalone sixth-form colleges in October suggested two-thirds had dropped subject courses as a result of funding cuts and increased costs. While the Association of School and College Leaders, which represents secondary school head teachers, reports similar difficulties in school sixth forms. Sixth Form Colleges Association chief executive Bill Watkin said the quality of the education was suffering. "We urge the Department for Education to ensure that this £200m under-spend finds its way to colleges and schools in time for the beginning of the academic year in September," he said. "Ours is the last budget in the Department for Education that should be under-spent." And Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and Colleges, said schools were being hit across the board by rising costs "but the situation in post-16 education is even more serious because these pressures come on top of funding cutbacks in the last Parliament". Ms Lucas, vice-chairwoman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Sixth Form Colleges, said she found it "hard to understand why £200m of the sixth-form education budget has not reached the education front line". "The government needs to clarify where this money has gone and ensure that it is redirected to school sixth forms and colleges as soon as possible," she said.

Summary: The government has under-spent its sixth-form education budget by £200m this year, analysis of figures from a written ministerial answer suggests.


James, 19, is the younger sister of double Olympic silver medallist Becky and double world para-cycling tandem pilot champion Rachel. She competes in the women's Under-23 race on Saturday. James believes she can improve on her 15th place in 2016 event, saying "My big aim is to get top 10." The 68th Cyclo-Cross World Championships are being held in Belvaux. "I got some really good training in over the winter and I feel in top form," James told BBC Wales Sport. Race preparations have been affected by a cold snap, which has left the course covered in snow and ice. "There have been so many people crashing (in training)," James said. "There are sheets of ice on some of the corners. "It's definitely going to level the playing field a little bit. "People can't just use their strength to ride away from everyone else." James watched her sister Rachel win silver in the National Track Championships sprint on Friday evening. Find out how to get into cycling with our special guide.

Summary: Teenage cyclo-cross rider Ffion James hopes to impress at the World Championships in Luxembourg on Saturday.