Celebrities eager to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the festival walked the red carpet for the opening ceremony. They included Bella Hadid, Kirsten Dunst, Uma Thurman and Julianne Moore. Drama Ismael's Ghosts, starring Marion Cotillard, was the first film to have its premiere at the Palais, the heart of the action during the 11-day event. Jessica Chastain, on the jury deciding the key award winners, hugged Thelma and Louise actress Susan Sarandon on the red carpet, while British Oscar nominee Naomie Harris was there for the first main event of a packed festival. If you're not one of the thousands of industry professionals, budding actors or media in town for the festival, here's what you might have missed from its opening scenes. Among the stars who turned heads and set the paparazzi bulbs flashing included Julianne Moore and Susan Sarandon, Bella Hadid (and her plunging neckline) and Elle Fanning. It's fair to say Will Smith is pretty chuffed at being on the Cannes jury alongside the likes of Paolo Sorrentino - even though he said seeing three films a day was something he'd not done since he was a teenager. He almost bounced into the jury press conference, giving a whoop before seeing his name badge set on the desk and announcing he would be "playing the part of Will Smith today", then jokingly called security on a photographer getting a little too close. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air star joked he would wear 32 outfits during the festival, after he was told previous juror Kirsten Dunst had worn 28 during her stint. But he conceded that it was too hot in the resort to be sexy and that being comfortable was key. "I started off wanting to be sexy - really south of France Cannes sexy, but that really went out of the window today," he said. There was no word on his thoughts on jury president Pedro Almodovar's maroon tracksuit and shades that he wore for the press conference. Being chosen as the opening film of Cannes may be a coup for the crew and cast - but that doesn't save it from being critically mauled. Ismael's Ghosts, directed by Arnaud Desplechin, is about a woman returning to her film director husband after being missing for 20 years, but finding him with a new lover. It was described as "time-wasting" and "self indulgent" by The Guardian. While The Hollywood Reporter is a little kinder, it says the film "won't be an easy sell". But it clearly left a nasty taste in Variety's critic Peter Debruge's mouth, as he wrote: "If Ismael's Ghosts were a meal, it would be a massive slab of off-tasting meat alternative, wrapped in fake bacon, cooked in margarine, then covered in dairy-free imitation cheese." The reviews for Loveless, which was also screened on Wednesday, were much better. Matt Anderson of BBC Culture described it as "brilliant - but heavy and relentlessly grim". He said: "After his last film, Leviathan, the director Andrei Zvyagintsev came in for a lot of criticism in Russia for the dark

Summary: It may have only been the first day of the Cannes Film Festival, but it was packed with glamour as stars descended on the sunshine-soaked resort.


Spray-painted yellow bikes stuck on walls compete with thousands of banners and flags. It is mass mobilisation with road closure signs in place for race days and temporary camp sites and car parks being prepared. Even one of my favourite pubs, The Waggon and Horses at Langsett in South Yorkshire, has temporarily changed its name to The Pedalers in honour of riders in Europe's biggest sporting event flashing by. The cafe across the road has come out in spots - its walls now painted like a giant King of the Mountains shirt. In all the razzmatazz one little sign might be missed as the peloton heads out of the West Yorkshire "Last of the Summer Wine" Pennine market town of Holmfirth and starts the long climb up the moorland road to the summit at Holme Moss on its way to Sheffield. It is a round granite millstone propped up at the side of the road. Pass it and you are in the boundaries of the Peak District National Park which spans the rugged spectacular moorlands bordering West and South Yorkshire. It is certainly no coincidence that the Tour organisers chose a county with three national parks to stage the opening two days of the 2014 competition - the "Grand Depart". By the time the riders have reached the top of Holme Moss they will already have gone right through one of the county's other National Parks, the Yorkshire Dales, and come within spitting distanced of the third - the North York Moors. These huge areas of natural beauty became parks over 60 years ago in order to give them legal protection from encroaching modernisation and urbanisation. The windfall in the 21st Century is they are now at the heart of a tourism industry that draws in 30 million visitors a year, film and TV production companies and now major money-spinning events like the Tour de France. But who oversees the running of the national parks and are they up to the job? Well there has just been a pretty broad hint that the government believes the growing economic role of the parks is far beyond the system devised in the 1950s where each park is run by an authority made up of appointed members with most seats on it reserved for local councillors. The messenger was Her Majesty the Queen. In her annual address on the opening of Parliament her speech contained just one line that could see the biggest change to governance in the six decades of the parks. She said her government would introduce legislation to enable ballot boxes to be used in the parks for the first time with the suggestion that members should be directly elected. It is likely to be fiercely debated with many of those on the authorities at the moment saying they are already elected as local councillors. Others point out that being elected for one body does not mean they can be held accountable for the decisions they make about another one. Suddenly the quiet and tranquillity of the parks could be disturbed... and

Summary: As I drove around Yorkshire this week there was no mistaking the route of the Tour de France through Yorkshire.


Exxon Mobil was down 2% and Chevron fell 2.27% as US crude dropped by more than $1 a barrel to $46.54. Oil traders decided a sharp drop in US crude stockpiles in the past week - which had eased concerns of oversupply and sent the oil price up on Thursday - would be short-lived. "One week's worth of data does not make a trend," said IG analyst Bernard Aw. Bank stocks posted modest gains, although Wells Fargo was down 2% after it was fined $185m for illegally opening accounts to boost sales targets. In late trading in New York, the Dow was down 1.6%, S&P 1.8%, and Nasdaq 2%.

Summary: US stocks edged lower on Wall Street as a 2% drop in oil prices weighed on energy firms.


Warnock, 68, has signed a one-year extension to remain with the Championship club. Dalman said Warnock had the full support of club owner Vincent Tan and the manager would be backed in a push for promotion to the Premier League. "We want to him to have a go. We want to have a go," Dalman said. "We had very extensive discussions over what his needs are. "We've agreed on all of them and I think he needs to get off the block pretty quickly in getting his team together for next season. "We always want promotion - every season we say that. "The real wonderful situation for us here, and I don't think people appreciate, is that Neil has his own agenda on getting promotion. "That plays into our hands very well. We have somebody who has ambitions beyond being a manager and that's fantastic news for us. Cardiff were in the Championship relegation zone when Warnock took over, but have moved up to 12th after three successive wins. The former Leeds, QPR and Crystal Palace boss had been seeking assurances over the club's transfer policy before committing to a new deal. Dalman said the club's Malaysian-based owner Tan did not need any convincing about retaining Warnock for for the 2017-18 season. "He watches every game, he doesn't need any convincing," Dalman told BBC Wales Sport. "We all make decisions on a rational basis. You look at the results, you look at the atmosphere, look at the togetherness and you look at the attendances. "Neil addressed all those things all in one go so Vincent would never have doubts about supporting someone like Neil. "Because he's incentivised by his own motives all we have to do is give him the platform and the environment to achieve that." Dalman said Warnock has brought "togetherness" to the Championship club since replacing Paul Trollope in October 2016. "We love Neil to bits, both on a personal and professional basis. He's good for us and long may it last," Dalman said. "He's won the management over, certainly the owner and the board. He communicates extremely well with the fans and most importantly with the players. "Getting Neil on board there was no hesitation and renewing his contract was the same."

Summary: Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman says manager Neil Warnock will receive the backing he needs to mount a promotion bid in 2017-18.


Fire crews were called to L & M Spray in Gladstone Street at 10:20 BST. Leicestershire Police closed the street alongside Crafton Street, Humberstone Road, Clyde Street, Wharf Street South and St Matthews Way due to smoke billowing across the city. St Matthews Way has been reopened but two fire engines remain at the scene. A Leicestershire Fire and Rescue spokesman said the cause of the fire is unknown at the moment. He added an inspector has deemed the factory building "unsafe" and that it may have to be demolished. Witnesses have told the BBC the road closures have caused chaos for buses and vehicles travelling around the city. The BBC has attempted to contact L & M Spray but has not received a response.

Summary: A large fire at a spray paint factory has closed a number of roads in Leicester city centre.


The 31-year-old failed a drugs test following their 36-8 defeat by Wakefield Trinity on 14 July. The Super League club said they had received notification from UK Anti-Doping and the Rugby Football League. A Widnes statement said: "The club fully respects this suspension and are currently reviewing this matter." Chase won the Man of Steel award in 2011 - a year in which he would later go on to represent England and earn eight caps. He joined Widnes from the Tigers in May, initially on loan, before the deal was made permanent in July. BBC Sport's rugby league correspondent Dave Woods Rangi Chase has been the ultimate enigma since he arrived at Castleford eight years ago. Unbelievably skilful, he has produced some of Super League's most breathtaking moments. But equally breathtaking has been his often off-field stupidity. His has been a career full of official warnings, last chances and shown doors by a collection of clubs that have lost patience with his extra-curricular activities. He's come and gone at Cas, Salford, Leigh, Cas again and now, presumably, Widnes. If this latest drug test failure is upheld, there will finally be no way back in rugby league for his mercurial, magical but misguided talents. Precedent has been set. Gareth Hock, then at Wigan, was banned for two years when he was found guilty of cocaine misuse ahead of a game. If the same holds for Chase, that would take him to 33. Age alone would probably be against him. But reputation will hold even greater sway. A premature end to his career, if that's what this is, will surprise no-one but it will sadden many that such skills, such sublime ability that he possesses couldn't have been harnessed for the even greater pleasure of all those who have marvelled at the very best of Rangi down the years.

Summary: Widnes Vikings half-back Rangi Chase has been suspended from all training and playing activity after testing positive for cocaine.


Callum Gathercole, 20, from Surrey began the 3,000-mile (4,828km) Atlantic Challenge race in the Canary Islands on 20 December. He arrived in Antigua's English Harbour in the Caribbean early on Wednesday. Mr Gathercole, who is studying aerospace engineering at the University of Bristol, set a time of 58 days, 15 hours and 15 minutes. His achievement as the youngest solo trans-oceanic rower has been confirmed by the Ocean Rowing Society, the official adjudicator of ocean rowing records for Guinness World Records. Mr Gathercole experienced "some difficult days rowing in tough conditions" as he battled tropical storms, 40ft (12m) waves and sleep deprivation. "It was a brilliant challenge that I thoroughly enjoyed taking on," he said. His challenge has raised more than Â£85,000 so far for the Princess Alice Hospice in Esher, Surrey, in memory of his father. He has also represented Great Britain in the European and World Internationals in 2012 and 2013. The previous youngest solo ocean rower was 22-year-old Katie Spotz from the USA who rowed the Atlantic east-to-west between 3 January and 14 March 2010. The previous youngest male solo ocean rower was the UK's Tommy Tippetts, 22, who rowed the same route as Ms Spotz between 21 January and 12 April 2012. Mr Gathercole's success comes nine days after that of two other University of Bristol students - Freddie Wright and Jack Galsworthy - both 21, who have become the youngest pair to row the Atlantic. The men were at sea for 47 days, 14 hours and 46 minutes before crossing the finishing line in their 6.9m boat 'Blue Steel'. Mr Wright described the race as "an awesome experience" and something "we would definitely do again".

Summary: A British student has become the youngest person to row solo across an ocean.


Hooker Tom Holmes returns for Tigers, who secured a top-eight place by beating Catalans in their last game. Warrington half-back Kurt Gidley returns in the only change to their squad from the win over Salford. Wolves, who have won four of their last five games at home, have already guaranteed a top-four finish when the Super 8s begin. Castleford (from): Chase, Cook, Crooks, Dorn, Gale, Hampshire, O Holmes, T Holmes, Maher, Mariano, McShane, Millington, Milner, Minikin, Moors, Patrick, Solomona, Springer, Tickle. Warrington (from): Atkins, Bailey, Clark, Currie, Dwyer, Evans, Gidley, Hill, Hughes, G King, T King, Lineham,, Penny, Ratchford, Russell, Sandow, Sims, Westerman, Westwood. Referee: Chris Kendall.

Summary: Nathan Massey requires surgery to fix a long-term scaphoid problem and is unavailable for Castleford.


Syria's 1-0 victory on Thursday shocked fans in the Chinese city of Xi'an who took to the streets. China has said it wants to become a "world football superpower". But the loss means the team could now miss out on a place in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. China is ranked 78th in the world whereas Syria is 114th, just ahead of North Korea. The Chinese team faces Uzbekistan on 11 October which will decide if they qualify. Tencent's sports website said large group of fans gathered on the streets outside the Zhuque stadium, demanding the resignation of Cai Zhenhua, president of the Chinese Football Association after the game. "Resign, resign, resign!", they are heard shouting in a video posted to Twitter. Online, fans were equally critical of the Chinese team's performance. "The Syrian football team has proved that we aren't strong and victorious," said one user on micro-blogging site Weibo. "I'm going to hide my face now," said another. "My blood pressure literally rose when I was watching the game," a user said. "Syria, a war-torn country who can't even afford to buy their own shoes or shirts, whose manager earns a monthly salary of 2000 yuan, defeated China whose players earn millions," one person said. Syria, who play their home matches in Oman due to the war, has seen almost five years of armed conflict. Earlier this year, China laid out an ambitious plan to become a "world football superpower" by 2050. The country's President Xi Jinping, a football enthusiast, previously said he wanted China to win the World Cup in 15 years. The country also wants 50 million children and adults playing the game by 2020. "The president of the country is pushing for football," Sven-Goran Eriksson, who coaches the Chinese Super League, told the BBC earlier this year. "He wants China as a national team to be big, to be better in football."

Summary: Angry Chinese fans have called for the resignation of the president of China's football association, after the country lost to Syria in a World Cup qualifier.


The emergency services were called to Boclair Academy in Bearsden on Friday morning after a "strange smell" was detected in the building. East Dunbartonshire Council said all pupils were safe and had been taken to nearby Killermont Primary School. Boclair Academy was later declared safe after a leak from emergency lighting was identified as the source. After the evacuation, arrangements had been made for pupils to sit their National 5 Modern Studies exam at Bearsden Academy. However, the council later said the exam would take place as originally planned at Boclair Academy. The school is expected to open again as usual on Monday.

Summary: Exams are set to go ahead as planned at a secondary school which was evacuated due to a chemical leak.


Swimming is England's most popular mass-participation sport, ahead of athletics or cycling, but a 2016 survey found a drop in adult swimming numbers. The strategy - titled 'Toward a Nation Swimming' - aims for a "significant increase" in participation. This includes encouraging young people to try other types of aquatic sport. The strategy document cites six areas of focus: It details how Swim England will support its 200,000 members and the thousands of young people who take part in weekly swimming lessons, as well as the workforce that teaches and coaches them. Young people will be encouraged to try diving, water polo and synchronised swimming, and swimmers supported to reach their potential. Find out how to get into swimming with our fully inclusive guide. Jane Nickerson, who was confirmed last week as Swim England's chief executive, said: "Our vision is a nation swimming and our strategy sets out how we will bring together organisations from across the swimming, health and physical activity sectors to work towards this. "Leadership and support for our partners are key parts of our strategy and, as such, we have changed from a local delivery organisation to one that is more strategically-focused. 'Toward a Nation Swimming' is the first strategy that focuses solely on swimming in England. Click on the following links to find out more about swimming in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

Summary: The Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) has been rebranded Swim England as part of a four-year strategy to strengthen the sport and boost participation.


South Yorkshire Police officers were called to High Melton College at about 14:45 GMT on Tuesday where workmen had found what appeared to be a body. Dark and cold conditions prevented officers from accessing the body so the scene was guarded overnight. Detectives are working with Yorkshire Water, underwater search teams and crime scene officers to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. More stories from Sheffield and South Yorkshire High Melton is a campus of Doncaster College.

Summary: A body has been found in a sewage tank at a Doncaster college.


The musician was sued by Daniel Ramos after the photographer said West attacked him outside an LA airport. Gloria Allred, the lawyer representing Ramos, says the case has now been resolved a week before the trial was due to start. She has released a photo of the pair shaking hands and smiling. The lawsuit said that West attacked Ramos in 2013 after the paparazzo asked the rapper why he wouldn't talk to photographers. "Celebrities are not above the law, and they have no right to physically attack someone simply because they were asked a question," Allred wrote in a statement. Shawn Holley, West's lawyer, has not made a comment about the settlement. In a statement, Allred says the other details relating to the legal agreement will not be made public, but the apology was an important part of the deal. West, 37, pleaded no contest last year to misdemeanour battery over the attack. Misdemeanour generally means a less serious crime, while battery refers to any kind of unlawful physical contact. He remains on probation. Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube

Summary: Kanye West has settled a lawsuit with a paparazzo with a handshake and an apology, the photographer's lawyer says.


Dave Duncan, of Otley, West Yorkshire, set up a crowdfunding campaign to help Lukasz Urban's relatives. Mr Urban was found dead after his lorry was crashed into the Breitscheidplatz market in December, killing 12 people. Mr Duncan said he felt compelled to help his "fellow trucker". Attacker Anis Amri left at least 48 injured when he ploughed into crowds at the German market. Mr Urban, a Polish national, had been stabbed and shot. The driver had arrived in Berlin ahead of schedule to deliver steel beams and was asked to return the next day to unload his trailer. Mr Duncan said: "If they had unloaded their freight none of this would have happened and Lukasz would have been able to go home and spend Christmas with his family." He said it was that thought that made him want to do something to help "the innocent people left devastated by this". "It could have been any one of us there that day," he added. Since setting up the online fund, Mr Duncan has met Mr Urban's widow and son. He said: "They were extremely grateful and shocked by the support, and that a stranger would help them this way when nobody else would." Mr Urban's family invited Mr Duncan to attend the driver's funeral in Banie, near the Polish border with Germany. He said it was "a beautiful ceremony in a beautiful place", adding: "Although I felt detached by the language barriers, it was very moving, especially the amount of people who came to pay their respects." The Polish ambassador, Arkady Rzegocki, honoured Mr Duncan on Monday for his actions. He said the lorry driver's "gesture and presence at the funeral of the late Mr Urban, have been greatly appreciated in Poland". Mr Duncan added: "The Polish truckers' own tributes are what being a truck driver is all about. "We have to watch out for one another, as in most cases nobody else does." Mr Rzegocki said he wanted to "personally thank Mr Duncan for his selfless initiative". "His compassion moved many both in the UK and back in Poland. It is an inspiring example of British-Polish solidarity which never fails in times of crisis," he added. The ceremony took place in London at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland.

Summary: A trucker who raised nearly £200,000 for relatives of the driver killed in the Berlin Christmas market attack has been thanked by the Polish ambassador at a ceremony in London.


Media playback is not supported on this device England took the lead through Harry Kane's early close-range strike, but Samuel Umtiti and Djibril Sidibe gave France a 2-1 lead. Kane equalised from the penalty spot after Raphael Varane was sent off, but Dembele's low finish in the 78th minute earned victory. Who stood out in the thriller at Stade de France? Burnley's keeper had no luck. Made two fine saves from Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembele that ended in goals for Samuel Umtiti and Djibril Sidibe. Jones at times looked the most assured of England's back three, which shouldn't be taken as a huge compliment. However, he didn't disgrace himself. Poor night but it should be remembered he has been short of match action. Struggled with France's vibrant attack. Not the assured and calm performer we have seen for Chelsea. Lost Olivier Giroud in the lead-up to France's first goal. Very decent night for the Tottenham player. Looked solid and assured and showed a good temperament on his England debut. Once again proved more than an able deputy for Danny Rose. Put Harry Kane's first goal on a plate and also brought a fine save from France keeper Hugo Lloris. More effective than against Scotland and won the penalty with a typical surge into the area. Tough night but lacked support and found it hard to shackle the rampaging Paul Pogba. Great invention to play a key part in Kane's opening goal but so frustrating at other times with a lack of end product. Very poor. Wandered ineffectively around midfield in the first half and lost the ball far too often. Quite simply a natural goalscorer and proved again he is England's main marksman on the pitch. Should keep the captaincy permanently now. Jack Butland (for Heaton, 45 minutes) 7: Excellent. Made fine saves and had no chance with the goal he conceded. Enhanced his reputation. Kyle Walker (for Bertrand, 45 minutes) 6: Surprisingly sent on ahead of Aaron Cresswell to operate on the left flank. A right-back - no more no less. Adam Lallana (for Trippier, 76 minutes) No rating. Aaron Cresswell (for Jones, 80 minutes) No rating. Made a good, low save from Ryan Bertrand's strike, but was beaten twice by Tottenham team-mate Harry Kane. Supported the forward players time and time again with intelligent overlapping runs and got on the scoresheet by slotting home shortly before half-time. Real Madrid's three-time Champions League winner brought down Dele Alli for a penalty early in the second half and was shown a straight red card. Stabbed home France's goal from a set-piece, but lucky not to concede a penalty when challenging Raheem Sterling inside the box. The Monaco player, heavily linked with Chelsea, broke forward in the early stages, but lasted only 21 minutes as he came off injured after colliding with the advertising boards. Wonderful. The 20-year-old showcased his marvellous talent with nimble footwork, sending John Stones to the deck with a stunning turn in the lead-up to the second goal and netting a clinical winner late on. Imposing. Kept the

Summary: Ousmane Dembele scored a late winner as 10-man France came from behind to beat England 3-2 in a friendly in Paris.


John Baird's cool finish from a tight angle proved to be the difference. That lead was nearly added to when Will Vaulks hit the crossbar from 20 yards, then Morton's Declan McManus did the same from 30 yards. The game ended on a low note with Falkirk's on-loan Norwich midfielder Conor McGrandles suffering a serious leg injury. Apart from Ton midfielder Joe McKee almost scoring directly from a corner and Vaulks' looping effort at the other end, the opening exchanges at Cappielow matched the dull weather. But the uncovered, wet Bairns fans had something to cheer about when Baird used all his know-how to net his 17th goal of the season in front of the away end. The ball had been booted high into the air in Morton's box and Baird outmuscled home defender Conor Pepper as it dropped, before staying calm to place it beyond goalkeeper Derek Gaston. Vaulks' technique was ideal as he watched a side-footed curler kiss the the top of the woodwork soon after. Morton's McKee directed a header wide when well placed and on-loan Fleetwood Town striker McManus - a revelation for Ton last season - went closer with a dipping free-kick just prior to half-time. Bobby Barr rifled in a low left-footed shot just wide of the far post and McManus tested Danny Rogers again as Morton pushed for the equaliser. But clear contender for man-of-the-match Baird came closest to hitting the back of the net in the second 45 minutes, forcing Gaston to make a brilliant clawed save from his half-volley. McGrandles - in his second spell at Falkirk - came off the worst in a crunching tackle with McKee near the end, for which the Morton player was booked. It meant eight minutes of added time but the visitors held on to secure their first victory since 2 January.

Summary: Falkirk beat Morton to land their first win in six games, moving two points behind Hibernian in the Championship.


Christopher Colegate, 69, was found in the road at the junction of Heath Avenue and Darby's Lane in Poole, at about 19:30 GMT on Friday 13 December. He suffered significant injuries and later died at Poole Hospital. Despite numerous appeals and rewards of £11,000 being offered, the driver of the car has never been found. Dorset Police have renewed their appeal for witnesses. Officers believe a light-coloured VW Golf Mark 4, made between 1998 and 2005, was involved in the collision. Mr Colegate, from Poole, walked with a "distinctive stoop" and used two walking sticks. Inspector Matt Butler, of the Dorset Police traffic unit, said: "We still do not know exactly what happened to Mr Colegate. "We know that a number of cars were in the area at the time of the collision. "Some we have traced but we have not been able to identify a Golf driver that travelled along Heath Avenue toward Wimborne Road at around the time of the incident." Dorset Police and Crimestoppers are still offering a £10,000 reward, while Oakdale Conservative Club, which Mr Colegate regularly attended, has offered an extra £1,000.

Summary: A hit-and-run driver who fled a collision in which a man was killed in Dorset is still being hunted a year on.


Simons blamed construction costs and archaeology requirements for its decision to ask West Dorset District Council to find alternative developers. West Dorset District Council had agreed funding of up to Â£4m towards the scheme which includes Marks & Spencer and Waitrose stores. The council said it was "disappointed" by the decision. The company cited the requirements of English Heritage, including undertaking a full archaeological survey, as making the project financially unviable. In a letter to the council, Simons' chief executive Tom Robinson said the viability of the second phase of the project had been "marginal for a number of years". An online petition set up by residents' group Defend our Rich Cultural Heritage backing calls for archaeological investigations of the site, which lies within the walls of the old Roman town, has received almost 4,000 signatures. Anthony Alford, leader of West Dorset District Council, said: "We remain ambitious for this key town centre site. "Our vision is to keep Dorchester a thriving shopping destination and keep retailers in our county town." New council buildings, a library and an adult learning centre have already been built in Charles Street in the first phase of its regeneration.

Summary: The developer of a new retail area in Dorchester town centre has pulled out of the scheme.


They agreed to take control of the two-time European Cup winners after reaching terms to buy the late Nigel Doughty's controlling stake. "It's an honour and privilege to assume control of this great club," said the Kuwaiti-based family, who plan to hold a news conference on Saturday. From 1865 to 1982, Nottingham Forest were run as a members club, and were the last Football League club to switch to becoming a limited company. "You can be assured of our best efforts in bringing the Reds back to the top." Doughty put Forest up for sale in October but died four months later. The Al-Hasawi's interest in the club first emerged at the end of May. Fawaz Al-Hasawi had been chairman of Al-Quadisya Sports Club in his native country, but his decision to step down was a precursor to interest in investment within English football. "We know there are challenging times ahead of us to bring the club back to its glory days and we look forward with excitement towards a new successful future," added the Al-Hasawi statement. "Over the next few weeks we will be working closely with our players, on-field and off-field team members in preparation for the forthcoming season." Doughty, a genuine Forest supporter, helped rebuild the club financially, although recovering past glories has proved difficult. The former European Cup winners were relegated to League One in 2005. They returned to the Championship after a three-year absence but, after two failed play-off campaigns, they finished 19th last season.

Summary: The Al-Hasawi family have completed their takeover of Championship side Nottingham Forest.


Mr Hichilema was due to stand trial, but instead walked free from Lusaka's high court after 100 days in custody. Sources say the charges against Mr Hichilema and five aides were dropped after a deal was negotiated by the Commonwealth. He narrowly lost the election to President Edgar Lungu last year. Mr Hichilema, the leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), alleges the vote was fixed, and does not recognise Mr Lungu as president. Mr Lungu, meanwhile, faces accusations of growing authoritarianism. Mr Hichilema was arrested in April, accused of endangering the president's life after his motorcade allegedly refused to give way to the one transporting Mr Lungu. He and his aides "strongly" denied the charge, which carries a sentence of at least 15 years. Those found guilty can also be sentenced to death. But all charges have now been dropped, apparently after a visit by Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland, who was in Zambia last week and met Mr Lungu and Mr Hichilema. She later hinted Mr Hichilema could be released in the public interest. A source had earlier told the BBC he was "definitely being released today... unless there's a last minute development".

Summary: Zambia's opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, who has been held in prison since April on treason charges, has been released.


Billy Monger, from Charlwood in Surrey, hit the back of a stationary car at Donington Park on 16 April. The teen was trapped for 90 minutes, lost both of his lower legs and has spent nearly a month in hospital. Monger, who turned 18 on Friday, said: "I'll be back racing as soon as I can." He added: "All the support just makes me more determined." His story has touched motor sport fans the world over who have raised in excess of £800,000 for his future. The appeal exceeded its original £260,000 target after just six hours, raising £47,000 in one hour, Just Giving said. Former Formula 1 world champions Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button are among those who have given their backing. Monger said he was "lost for words" by the worldwide appeal. His father Rob said: "If he wants to get back in the car, that's fine by me. I'm not sure about his mum, but there we go." His mother Amanda said the crash was "all your nightmares rolled into one" but the hospital staff had helped them through it. Billy's sister Bonnie, 16, was among those at the scene of the accident and spoke to him to keep him calm while he was tended to by paramedics. She said: "The first week was hard when he was in intensive care, but as soon as he woke up he was in such good spirits and that's lifted up everyone around him." Kirsty Measures, a staff nurse who treated the young racer, said: "When Billy first came in he was quite unwell... he struggled to get to grips with what happened to him. But he has overcome it." The family are due to return to their home in Charlwood on Saturday after Billy's discharge from hospital.

Summary: A teenage Formula 4 driver who had to have both legs amputated after a high speed crash has vowed to get back behind the wheel again.


Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said US warplanes and drones were now arriving at Turkish airbases. "We will soon launch a comprehensive battle against Islamic State all together," he said. Last month Turkey launched its first strikes on the militants since the group began its advance through Iraq and Syria in 2013. It had previously been reluctant to take military action, but that position changed after a number of attacks within Turkey that were blamed on IS. Syria said on Wednesday that any military action not co-ordinated with Damascus would breach its sovereignty. Turkey agreed to let the US military use the Incirlik airbase, in the south-west of the country, in July. "As part of our agreement with the US we have made progress regarding the opening up of our bases, particularly Incirlik," Mr Cavusoglu told reporters as he met US Secretary of State John Kerry in Malaysia on Wednesday. "We're seeing that manned and unmanned American planes are arriving and soon we will launch a comprehensive battle against Islamic State all together." 'More effective strikes' - Selin Girit, BBC News, Istanbul Coalition planes currently take off from bases in the Gulf to hit IS targets in Syria. The use of Turkish bases, especially Incirlik, will potentially make the strikes much more effective. Because of Turkey's proximity, coalition warplanes will be able to reach targets in Syria in less than an hour and spend up to six hours in Syrian airspace. One Turkish official said the operations could start any moment now. That might please many in Turkey, and outside, who have been calling for a tougher stance against IS. But there is serious opposition to any Turkish boots on the ground in Syria and concern about the proposed "safe zone" there. Many suggest that as Turkey only has an interim government - since the June general election - it should not take such serious decisions as engaging in a "comprehensive battle". The US military is familiar with the southern Turkish base, and its recent history is tied closely with recent US military operations. Tensions increased after a series of attacks on the Turkish side of the Syrian border. A Turkish soldier was killed in an exchange of fire with IS fighters near the Syrian border in July. Just days earlier a suicide bombing blamed on IS killed 32 people in the predominantly Kurdish town of Suruc. Turkish police have arrested hundreds of people in raids against IS and Kurdish militants across the country in recent weeks. The country has also carried out a series of air strikes, saying they were targeting militants from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq as well as Islamic State militants. But observers say PKK fighters have been on the receiving end of far more attacks than IS. Turkish officials deny that the campaign against the Islamic State group is a cover to prevent Kurdish gains. The government has previously faced criticism at home and abroad for not doing enough against IS, despite being part of the international coalition fighting it.

Summary: Turkey has said it plans to escalate its attacks on Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria.


The figure is down from 10 flags awarded last year. Beaches with a Blue Flag demonstrate their commitment to protecting the coastal environment, water quality, safety, and access for all. Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful have presented beach and marina operators with 14 national and 10 internationally-recognised awards. Two marinas have also been awarded blue flags - at Ballyronan, County Londonderry, and Ballycastle, County Antrim. Tony Wilcox, chairman of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, said: "Having Northern Ireland's world class beaches managed to such high standards is helping improve the quality of our lives as well as attracting visitors". Forty-seven countries participate in awarding Blue Flags to more than 4,000 beaches and marinas worldwide. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs monitors identified bathing waters on 20 occasions during the annual bathing season, which runs from the 1 June until 15 September. In 2016, Portstewart Strand in County Londonderry was awarded the accolade of Best Blue Flag Beach in the UK. County Down: Cranfield West, Murlough, Tyrella County Antrim: Portrush West Strand, Portrush East Strand County Londonderry: Portstewart, Benone, Downhill Twelve beaches were given the Seaside Award - the national standard for beaches across the UK. This award guarantees a clean, safe, attractive and well-managed coastal environment with varied levels of facilities provided depending on the location of the beach. Two Northern Ireland beaches have received the Green Coast Award, which recognises an agreement with the local community to protect and promote a natural beach environment, rather than developing visitor infrastructure.

Summary: Eight Northern Ireland beaches will proudly display international Blue Flags this summer.


Summary: President Barack Obama has arrived in Cuba for a historic visit to the island and talks with its communist leader.


Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg isn't quite Prost-Senna, Piquet-Mansell or Villeneuve-Pironi, but they are definitely not the easiest pair of drivers in F1 to handle. All credit to the Mercedes management. Because of their very open style, they have been able to manage their egos. So far. Hamilton is the biggest star in F1. Rosberg is a very talented racer, who you feel after performances like we saw in Mexico is on the cusp of great things. Take Hamilton out of the team and we could well be hailing him a two-time world champion. Quite apart from the battles on track, there is a lot going on between these two guys at the moment, and it's fascinating to watch. Media playback is not supported on this device Hamilton is far from averse to making little digs at Rosberg. There was the comment after winning the US Grand Prix, when he said he was "your worst nightmare" as a team-mate. Then the remark after Mexico when he said Rosberg had "driven really well today, no mistakes, no gust of wind" - a reference to the reason Rosberg gave for his decisive error during the race in Austin. There is a real subtlety to those remarks, much more Prost than Muhammad Ali, and that makes you realise there is a much greater awareness there than Hamilton sometimes lets on. Hamilton's argument with his team in Mexico over whether he should make a second stop for tyres was evidence of the mind of a serial winner. He has not won three world titles and 43 races by always being in the best car, even if that is exactly what he has right now. Media playback is not supported on this device He has an instinctive understanding and spatial awareness of what is going on in a race. He had seen Rosberg pit. He was feeling good on his tyres. He knew from the strategy the team went into the race with that they were planning to do a one-stop race. And then they told him they were on Plan B. He was thinking: "Hang on a minute. Why are we on Plan B? I can go Plan A. I have track position now. If I stay here I could have a better chance of winning." So he questioned it, and left the team hanging in the pit lane for a whole lap. It took the firm action of Lewis's engineer to sort that out - and full credit to Peter Bonnington for that, because it cannot be an easy situation to deal with. From the outside, we can easily read into it that Mercedes wanted to take the risk out of the race, neutralise it between the two drivers and keep it all fair and square. If they had allowed Hamilton to go on and make only one stop, and he had gone on to win the race, then the very real risk was that all relationships would have broken down within the team. Since then, Hamilton has thrown out some crumbs about the team

Summary: Throughout the history of Formula 1 there have been many examples of very public and acrimonious fall-outs between team-mates.


In a strong field, Muir clocked 4:11.48 to finish behind world record holder Genzebe Dibaba, Commonwealth champion Faith Kipyegon, European champion Sifan Hassan and Ethiopia's Dawit Seyaum. "I'm really pleased. That was such a tough field," said the Scot, 22. "I think any other year I probably would have medalled." Muir added: "I expected it to be hard - it's a championship final. "There are so many girls in there, you don't know who is going to do what but I was prepared for a fast race or a slow race and I just worked on staying out of trouble. "This is the first time I've done three rounds, so to have got three and done them well, my preparation for [the Rio Olympics] next year is good." Muir - who was three seconds behind Ethiopian winner Dibaba - said she was pleased to have posted a good time in Beijing after missing out on the 800m final at last year's World Indoor Championships and not picking up a medal at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. "I left last year so frustrated as I knew I could run so much better but it's great to have come here and have done well in the final," she added.

Summary: Britain's Laura Muir said she was delighted with her fifth place in the 1500m final at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing.


Following the veteran entertainer's death last week, they have shared some of their best photos. The friends met at university in Brighton and started "doing a Brucie" when posing for photos on nights out. Their homage to the great man went global when they travelled to the Roskilde music festival in Denmark after graduating in 2007. "That trip was where the whole idea of taking these photos in various locations around the world came from," says Joseph Bradfield, 31. "We did it a lot through our university days when we were out drinking, but that trip around Europe after graduating, we pretty much took one everywhere we went. "It became a bit of a thing whenever there was a photo op. It would be, 'Look at the camera, smile, now pull a Bruce.' It just snowballed." Perhaps the best "thinker" tribute was staged when one of the group, Jeremy Dresner, got married in Canada. The friends often attract confused looks when striking the pose in countries where Sir Bruce wasn't a big star, Joseph says. "You do it in the UK and people kind of know what you're doing. They still don't really know why you're doing it but there's at least that glimmer of recognition. "But whenever we've done it overseas there's always puzzlement on the locals' faces." Joseph says the friends - about 10 in all - admired Sir Bruce's approach to his career as well as being fans of his TV shows. "There's that quote where he said, 'I don't see myself as a singer or a dancer or an actor. I'm an entertainer,'" Joseph explains. "That really resonated with us, that approach to life, that you don't have to be the best at any one particular discipline but it's all about the impact you have on other people and entertaining other people." The friends decided to gather the photos after the news of Sir Bruce's death broke. "It's been quite an operation of digging through Facebook photos to find everything," Joseph says. "The second the news happened last week my phone lit up with the Whatsapp group we're all part of saying, we really have to do something with this trove of photos." Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summary: Among Sir Bruce Forsyth's biggest fans are a group of friends who worshipped him so much that they have recreated his famous "thinker" pose wherever they have been around the world for the past decade.


The claim: The pound is up and the FTSE 100 share index is at the same level as it was in March. Reality Check verdict: Nigel Farage is right about the levels compared with March, but looking a few months further back and considering options markets may give a more useful view of concerns on the currency markets about the risks of a Brexit. Mr Farage said: "Sterling is up since March. Since Brexit became a possibility, sterling is up and FTSE is exactly the same level it was in March. Let's have a look at the value of the pound against the euro first. It was below the level it is now towards the end of March. But was March a good month to compare it with? The Bank of England's quarterly inflation report in May blamed half of the fall in the value of the pound since November on uncertainty about the referendum. It's now fallen by about 11% since November. There have also been signs on the options markets that traders have concerns about a depreciation in the pound. Bank of England governor Mark Carney told a parliamentary committee in March that there had been big increases in traders buying options as protection against falls in the pound in the coming months. The FTSE 100, meanwhile, is also trading at levels it saw in March, although it is less clear how closely tied the index is to the state of the UK economy - many of its biggest components are multi-national companies, more affected by commodity prices than whether the UK stays in the EU. There are various forecasts for what would happen to the pound if the UK left the EU. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research predicted that by 2030 one pound would be worth about one euro, which would be a depreciation of more than 20%, but that comes with the usual caveats about the uncertainties surrounding forecasts and economic modelling. Read more: The facts behind claims in the EU debate

Summary: UKIP leader Nigel Farage was asked on the Andrew Marr show about Friday's falls on the markets and whether it was to do with fears about the UK leaving the European Union.


Fifth seed Nadal beat fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-3 7-5. Switzerland's Federer, who won his 18th Grand Slam title with a five-set victory over Nadal in January, beat American Steve Johnson 7-6 7-6. Novak Djokovic beat Juan Martin del Potro, while Angelique Kerber, who is set to become world number one, is out. The German, who is guaranteed a return to the top of the rankings on Monday following Serena Williams' withdrawal from Indian Wells and the Miami Open, lost 3-6 3-6 to Russian Elena Vesnina. Serb second seed Djokovic was hugely impressive as he won the deciding set 6-1 against Argentine Del Potro and he will play Australian 15th seed Nick Kyrgios, who earlier beat 18th seed Alexander Zverev of Germany 6-3 6-4. "That's why I came here, to play against guys like Rafa," said Federer, 35, before a 36th meeting with Nadal, 30. "I'd better be excited now otherwise I came for the wrong reasons. "I try to see it really as another opportunity to build upon something for the rest of the season. "So regardless of Australia, winning or losing, I'm going to try to go out there and play free again. I think it's really important." In earlier matches, unseeded American Donald Young beat French 14th seed Lucas Pouille 6-4 1-6 6-3 in the men's draw, while Japan's fourth seed Kei Nishikori swept past Frenchman Gilles Muller 6-2 6-2. American 17th seed Jack Sock edged a third set tie-break to beat Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 3-6 6-3 7-6. In the women's draw, American 12th seed Venus Williams beat Peng Shuai of China 3-6 6-1 6-3, and Czech third seed Karolina Pliskova led Timea Bacsinszky 5-1 when the Swiss retired.

Summary: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have set up a fourth-round tie at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells - a re-run of this year's Australian Open final.


Rescuers were continuing to clear fallen rock to get to the area where the two missing miners were thought to have been working, officials said. They were trapped 150m (490 feet) underground by a cave-in on Friday. Chilean President Sebastian Pinera has offered his help, three days after the dramatic rescue of 33 miners in Chile. Deputy Mining Minister Jorge Espinosa said the searchers had hopes of finding the two missing men alive. "We hope to find the two other miners alive because they were in a spot that probably was not affected" by the cave-in, he told Associated Press news agency. Mr Espinosa identified the two workers who had been confirmed dead as Walter Vera and Paul Aguirre. He said the two missing men were Pedro Mendoza and Angel Vera, Walter's brother. President Rafael Correa promised to do "everything possible" to save them. "God willing, we will find them alive." The collapse at the Casa Negro gold, silver and copper mine, near the town of Portovelo, is thought to have been caused by a water leak which eroded structural supports.

Summary: Rescuers have found the bodies of two of four miners trapped underground in a gold mine in southern Ecuador.


The letters threatened legal action, but the law firms were false. In some cases Wonga added fees for these letters to customers' accounts. The City watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), said 45,000 customers would be compensated. Wonga has apologised and said the tactic ended nearly four years ago. The City regulator has told the BBC it has sent a file to the police. The company is the UK's largest payday lender, making nearly four million loans to one million customers in 2012, latest figures show. An investigation found that Wonga sent letters to customers from fake law firms called "Chainey, D'Amato & Shannon" and "Barker and Lowe Legal Recoveries". The plan was to make customers in arrears believe that their outstanding debt had been passed to a law firm, with legal action threatened if the debt was not paid. The company was using this tactic to maximise collections by piling the pressure on customers, the regulator said. "Wonga's misconduct was very serious because it had the effect of exacerbating an already difficult situation for customers in arrears," said Clive Adamson, director of supervision at the FCA. "The FCA expects firms to pay particular attention to fair treatment of those who have difficulty in meeting their loan repayments." The situation occurred between October 2008 and November 2010, and involved Wonga and other companies within its group. As this happened before the FCA took over the regulation of payday lenders, it is unable to fine Wonga. It also said there would be no criminal investigation as it wanted to set up a compensation scheme as quickly as possible and a criminal probe would take time. Affected customers will receive about £50 each. Instead, Wonga will start contacting customers in July to offer compensation, with money likely to be paid by the end of the month. This will either be paid in cash or customers will have their outstanding debt reduced. "We would like to apologise unreservedly to anyone affected by the historical debt collection activity and for any distress caused as a result," said Tim Weller, interim chief executive of Wonga. "The practice was unacceptable and we voluntarily ceased it nearly four years ago." Anyone who might have changed address in the intervening period should contact Wonga. Labour MP and campaigner against payday loans Stella Creasy has questioned the lack of criminal investigation. "Why in those instances where customers of Wonga charged debt collection fees for these letters is that not police matter?," she asked on social media site Twitter. Richard Lloyd, executive director of consumer group Which?, said: "It is right the FCA is taking a tougher line on irresponsible lending and it does not get much more irresponsible than this. "It is a shocking new low for the payday industry that is already dogged by bad practice and Wonga deserves to have the book thrown at it." The investigation was started by the FCA's predecessor, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). Wonga said it stopped the tactic voluntarily then offered information to the OFT. In addition, in April this year, Wonga

Summary: Payday lender Wonga must pay £2.6m in compensation after sending letters from non-existent law firms to customers in arrears.


Both locals and immigrants joined the protest with placards saying "Africa Unite" and "Welcome foreigners". An anti-xenophobic protest also took place in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth. South Africa's army was deployed to flashpoints earlier this week to prevent further violence. At least seven people have been killed, 5,000 left homeless and many foreign-owned shops looted since the attacks started about three weeks ago. "We will defeat xenophobia like we defeated apartheid," the premier of South Africa's Gauteng province, David Makhura, told the crowd in Johannesburg. Gauteng is the economic heartland of South Africa and includes Johannesburg. Many unemployed South Africans accuse foreigners of taking their jobs. South Africa has an official unemployment rate of around 25%. The BBC's Pumza Fihlani, who was at the scene, said the crowd marched through Johannesburg's Hillbrow suburb, which some describe as Lagos because of its huge Nigerian population. Protesters sang a sorrowful song, Senzenina, or "What have we done?" It was popular at funerals of anti-apartheid activists during white-minority rule. "Mandela must be turning in his grave. This is not the South Africa he fought for," Johannesburg resident Vusi Hlongwane told the BBC. South Africa's freedom was won through such solidarity. "Africa for all" was the message shared by the tens of thousands who marched through the streets of Johannesburg. A sea of people from different parts of the continent carried banners in support of the day's event. They are hoping the same spirit that led this country to freedom will help bring unity here. The events of the past few weeks have brought shame to many South Africans and the country. But many speakers sought to remind South Africans that in the days of apartheid it was the rest of Africa that became a home for this country's leaders, reminding them that its liberation was won with the support of the entire continent. "They were welcomed with open arms and never treated how some of you are treating them now," one leader said. As they danced and sang together, calling for an end to the violence that has brought fear to some communities here, a group shouted: "This is for Mandela!" Another chanted "Mayibuye iAfrika" - an old slogan calling for the revival of Africa. For those hours, it seemed that Africa stood united. In Port Elizabeth, a silent march was held, with some protesters waving a Zimbabwean flag and and carrying placards which said: "Diversity is our strength". South Africa has faced a backlash across Africa over the attacks. Official data suggests there are about about two million foreign nationals in South Africa, about 4% of the total population. But some estimates put the number of immigrants at five million. Most of them are Africans and Asians who came to South Africa when apartheid ended in 1994, with the election of Nelson Mandela as South Africa's first black leader.

Summary: About 30,000 people have taken part in a march through South Africa's main city, Johannesburg, to demand an end to a recent wave of xenophobic attacks.


China's leader attended a state banquet at Buckingham Palace along with his wife, Peng Liyuan, on his four-day visit of the UK. There was chanting by pro and anti-China supporters and, during a press photo call for the Amnesty protesters, huge Chinese flags interrupted their line of vision and drumming from the groups in support of the leader intensified. People handed out bright red 'I love China' t-shirts and the crowds coming out in favour of President Xi dwarfed those who rallied against the communist ruler. Among Amnesty International protesters was Dr Shao Ting, a research scholar who was involved with the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest. Dr Shao, who now lives in London, says he was protesting because if the British government follows the Chinese model, it will "push the issue of human rights away". Amnesty, pro-Tibet and Falun Gong protesters watched on as the Mall was flanked by hordes of people clad in bright red shouting "Xi Jinping, Xi Jinping" as the politician was driven past in a gilded carriage. Amnesty protesters say they wanted to raise cases such as that of Cao Shunli, a human rights activist who died in police detention having been denied medical attention. Her family were reportedly denied access to her body. One pro-China group were visiting from Swansea University. They did not wish to be named, but one man says they were out supporting President Xi "because it (China) is our country - and we are so proud". "His visit will strengthen the link between the two countries and benefit both sides in terms of the economy." he said.

Summary: Protesters gathered at London's St James' Park as President of China Xi Jinping took part in a procession down The Mall.


The four boys and one girl were reported missing on Monday afternoon. The last confirmed sighting had been at Clonfeckle Tower. The scouts, all aged 13, had been due to walk to Craigshields, north of Ae Forest. They were reported to be equipped with adequate outdoor clothing and torches. They were found and brought to safety by police officers.

Summary: Five scouts have been found safe and well after an overnight search in a forest in south-west Scotland.


Robert Lainsbury, 22, originally from Kidderminster, Worcestershire and Dwayne Edgar, 29 from Llanedeyrn, Cardiff, appeared before Cardiff Crown Court on Monday. They are charged with the murder of Lynford Brewster, who died from stab wounds in the Llanedeyrn area of Cardiff in June. The pair will next appear in court on 28 October.

Summary: Two men have pleaded not guilty to the murder of a 29-year-old man in Cardiff.


Nearly every bollard in Callander has been given a woolly makeover to mark the town's Winter Fest. The most popular covers have been knitted in the style of Olaf the snowman, from Disney movie favourite Frozen. They were created by women from the town's Meet and Make and Creative in Callander groups. Among them was 52-year-old Deborah O'Hara. She said the women, known as "yarn-bombers", had first knitted bollard covers as part of the town's Summer Fest and they had proven extremely popular. "People just love them. Visitors to the town have been stopping to get photographs of them," she said. "I have been watching them from the shop where I work. It's very funny to see people's faces. "There has of course been the odd joke and innuendo about them, but mostly people just love them." Visitors will be able to admire the covers from Thursday until Tuesday next week.

Summary: The appearance of woolly bollards in a Trossachs town has proved a major hit with visitors.


Katie Perrior, who served as director of communications for 10 months, said she and others were not able to "speak freely" and her advice was not heeded. She accused the PM's chiefs of staff Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy of treating ministers with a lack of respect. The PM is being urged to make changes after losing her majority. The BBC understands Mrs May has been warned she faces a leadership challenge on Monday unless she sacks her two closest advisers. Mrs May, who is seeking to form a government with the support of the DUP, has said she will look at "personnel issues" amid anger in Tory circles about the role of Mr Timothy and Ms Hill in the drafting of the party's manifesto and the overall conduct of the election campaign. Ms Perrior said Mrs May was a "good person" who would take personal responsibility for the campaign but suggested the set-up in No 10 was not working. "Being in the Home Office for such a long time with her top team, she became accustomed to that being it and of course running the Home Office is very different from running the country," she told BBC Radio 4's Today. "She needed to broaden her circle of advisers and have a few grey hairs in there who had been around the block a bit in politics who could say 'don't do that and don't make enemies when you don't need to'." She suggested that Mr Timothy and Ms Hill - the PM's "gatekeepers" who worked for her in the Home Office - were too protective of the prime minister and had a negative influence on how No 10 functioned, often "bellowing" at other staff. "We would be able to speak freely if they weren't around and if they were, you don't speak," she said. "Sometimes we would sit there and hear Fiona come up with things which, quite frankly, were crazy and say nothing." Asked if the two aides treated cabinet ministers badly, as has been reported in the newspapers, she replied "There was not enough respect shown to people who had spent 20 years in office. I felt sending people rude text messages was unacceptable. "What the PM needs when you are going through a tough time like negotiating Brexit is diplomats, not street fighters. They only know one way to operate and that is to have enemies. I am sure I am one of these this morning." Ms Perrior, a PR specialist who previously worked on Boris Johnson's 2008 mayoral campaign, said she had expressed her concerns before leaving in April about how things were done and "that did not go down very well, as you can imagine". Although she had never intended to stay in the role for more than two years, she said she concluded that remaining was "pointless" as former journalist Ms Hill had made it "pretty clear" she wanted to be communications director during the campaign. "If you feel you are actually not being listened to then there is not point you being there... in

Summary: The atmosphere in Downing Street under Theresa May is "pretty toxic" and its operation "dysfunctional", a former aide of the prime minister has said.


Several court rulings have underlined local councils' need to consider all options, such as placing with birth relatives, before seeking adoption. Unreleased figures, cited by the Independent newspaper, show a 50% drop in adoptions between 2013 and 2014. Adoption UK said the fall could mean children remaining in abusive and neglectful families for too long. Its chief executive, Hugh Thornbery, said: "We're very concerned that there has been such a marked drop-off in the number of children being considered for adoption. "That leads us to believe that children aren't being considered for adoption who should be." He added that approved adopter families were also waiting longer to be matched with children because of the reduced flow of children coming through the system. It comes after the previous coalition government attempted to speed up the adoption process, criticising local authorities for dragging their heels on adoptions. In November 2013, Sir James Munby, who is president of the family division of the High Court, ruled the education secretary's six-month target for adoptions should not be allowed to break up families unnecessarily. He said grandparents and other family members should be considered before children were placed for adoption. According to the Independent, the rate of adoptions fell from 1,550 in the summer of 2013 to 780 in the summer of 2014. The Department for Education would not confirm the figures and said it would be publishing statistics for this period in due course. John Simmonds, director of policy, research and development for British Association for Adoption and Fostering, told the BBC research made clear that children needed loving stable families from the start. "Their development is centred on that family for life. If that can't happen for birth parents and birth families, then adoption is a good way to solve that," he said. But Mr Simmonds added that judgements in the Supreme Court and the Appeal Court were reminding lower courts and local authorities that "the forceful termination of a legal relationship between a child and their parents is a very significant act". "For children who are abused or neglected, if you are absolutely clear that there's no other way of dealing with them than adoption, then there has to be very strong evidence that the local authority has explored all other options." He suggested that there may be "a degree of hesitancy" in placing children for adoption because of these rulings. He said the option of "special guardianship" arrangements with a child's grandparents or other relatives was being used more as a way of finding a suitable half-way house that did not sever totally the child's ties with the family or leave the child in an abusive or neglectful situation. A Department for Education spokeswoman said there had been a drop in the number of children with an adoption decision. "We believe this is a result of the way local authorities have interpreted some court judgements. The Adoption Leadership Board has published a 'mythbuster' guide to clarify what these judgments mean and to allow clear and confident adoption decisions to be made. "We are

Summary: There has been a marked drop in the number of children being put up for adoption, leading charities have said.


The ADB said that poor air quality had reached such a serious level that it was "jeopardising health and sustainable growth". The loan is intended to cut the region's coal use, among other pollution issues. China is the world's biggest polluter. The loan will target Beijing city and surrounding areas including Hebie and Tianjin. The region is home to more than 100 million people and accounts for 10% of China's gross domestic product, the ADB said. "Poor air quality has reached such a serious level that it is jeopardising health and sustainable growth in the capital region," said ADB's urban development specialist Satoshi Ishii. "[Our] assistance will help reduce emissions and strengthen the environment regulatory framework and capacity of environmental monitoring and enforcement. "Better air quality will benefit the economy and people's health, both in the region and beyond," he added. The money from the ADB follows the latest World Climate Summit which is concluding in Paris this week. The bank said in a statement the loan was expected to be accompanied by co-financing from Germany's KfW Development Bank of €150m ($164m; £108.2m). The agreement follows Beijing's first "red alert" warning over pollution levels earlier this week. It was issued late on Monday and lasted until Thursday, and was the first time that China had declared a red alert under the system, which was adopted a little over two years ago. Schools in Beijing were closed, outdoor construction was halted, limits were placed on car use and some factories were ordered to stop operations. Emissions from coal-powered industries, cars and heating systems, together with dust from construction sites all help create the dangerous smog. When the red alert was declared, the US Embassy's air pollution monitor in Beijing said the intensity of the tiny particles known as PM 2.5 were at 291 micrograms per cubic metre. A reading of 25 micrograms per cubic metre is recommended by The World Health Organization as the maximum safe level. Despite large investments in renewable sources, China still depends on coal for more than 60% of its power.

Summary: China is to receive a $300m (£198m) loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help it combat dangerous pollution levels in Beijing city and its surrounding area.


The £433m motor racing track and leisure project aimed to create up to 6,000 jobs in a deprived area. But Economy Secretary Ken Skates said job claims were "overstated" and there was too much financial risk. The developers "strongly disagreed" with the decision and the rationale behind it. Ministers said a £100m automotive business park would be built instead. First Minister Carwyn Jones said backing the scheme would mean schools and homes would not be built. The project, first unveiled in 2011, has been dogged by controversy. Its backers - the Heads of the Valleys Development Company (HoVDC) - had wanted the Welsh Government to underwrite 80% of the cost, revised down to about 50% when ministers asked for a rethink. Alongside the circuit itself, which would have hosted the British leg of the MotoGP for at least five years, there were also plans to bring BMX and mountain biking, indoor skiing and concerts. The issue of the guarantee meant the Welsh Government would have received £99m over 33 years in exchange for underwriting the project once it was open for business. But in the event of it failing, the public purse would have to pay back £210m over time, while backers Aviva would keep the circuit and the infrastructure. But Mr Skates said on Tuesday the cost of the underwriting was still too high and would have had an impact on ministers' other spending plans. He said after discussions with Treasury officials and the Office for National Statistics, it appeared there was a "very significant risk" that the full £373m debt of the project would be classified against Welsh Government capital spending. Mr Skates added that the true figure on employment was about 100 direct jobs, with 500 indirect jobs and about 500 construction jobs while the track was being built. Later, during First Minister's Questions, Mr Jones said providing the funding guarantees would have meant his government "would lose £373m of capital funding, £173m would have to be found this financial year". He told AMs: "That is schools not being built. Hospitals not being modernised. Houses not being built." Blaenau Gwent council leader Nigel Daniels said he was disappointed with the decision but understood the complex issues involved. He welcomed the £100m investment in a new automotive technology park. But Mr Daniels said he would be "seeking urgent meetings with Welsh Government and other parties to explore other options that can be brought forward to mitigate the impact of this decision given the level of expectation which has grown in the community over the last few years". UKIP assembly group leader Neil Hamilton said it was a "bean-counters convention". "What we need to do here is change the accounting convention rather than to destroy the hopes of those who relying on regenerating the whole of south east Wales," he said. Plaid Cymru finance spokesman Adam Price said it was a "shocking indictment" of ministers that they had "taken seven years and over £9m of public money" to turn down "the single biggest private investment proposal in the history of Wales".

Summary: A plea by developers of the Circuit of Wales in Ebbw Vale for £210m in taxpayer-funded guarantees has been rejected by the Welsh Government.


She is one of around 80,000 children and young people who suffer from severe depression in the UK. Recently, she posted on Facebook about her mental health struggles and was met with a very positive response. This gave her the confidence to contact us and share her experiences, while receiving treatment at Cygnet Hospital Harrogate. More than anything, she wants to inspire others to be open about their mental health. This is her story. "Since as long as I can remember I have felt unhappy, unmotivated overall unsuccessful, with dark thoughts lingering in my mind. "People say we cannot see mental health, but I don't agree. The photos above show how gradually mental health has physically affected me. (From left to right) "It can be seen in the hair that I couldn't be bothered to brush anymore, in the lack of make-up, because - what was the point? "And it can be seen in the smile, that is in all four photos, but which gradually becomes more and more of a cry for help. "How can it be possible for a person like me to be so unhappy with their life? I owned two beautiful horses which have played a significant role in helping me cope with my depression and anxiety, among other issues. "My parents have been more than generous and support me in every possible way. "Yet I felt incomplete, I felt as if it is almost impossible some mornings to leave my bed because at the end of the day - what was the point? Nothing had a purpose. "I've had people yell at me and say, 'Just get up', and, 'Stop being lazy', but the truth is, for anyone else that has experienced anything similar, it is not that easy. And the days I do manage to move from my bed, I feel like I deserve a gold medal. "When I was at my lowest, not only did I feel sad, I began struggling in simple situations. "It began with speaking in public at a young age. I would avoid school until eventually it wasn't necessary for me to go at all. "On other occasions, I would find myself in situations in Tesco where someone's laughter was enough to cause me great distress because I began to feel strangers were laughing at me. "If I caught a glimpse of someone staring at me it was because I must be overweight. So I found myself focusing on girl body builders and models, on how good they looked. "Seeing myself in the mirror made me feel really down because I did not match up to this image - which girls these days strive to achieve. "This became another daily stress which has led me to lose weight over the past few months. "It then started to affect things I enjoyed. I was unable to ride my horse without feeling we weren't good enough - that I was a poor rider and that I'd let my horse down. I would put immense pressure on myself before a riding show, the kind

Summary: Celine is a 19-year-old law student at the University of Hull who has suffered with depression and anxiety for much of her life.


18 June 2016 Last updated at 13:53 BST The capsule, carrying Tim Peake, Tim Kopra, and Yuri Malenchenko, touched down in Kazakhstan at 10.15 on Saturday morning. Tim described the journey back to Earth as "the best ride I've been on ever".

Summary: After six months on the International Space Station, Tim Peake returned to Earth with a bump in the Soyuz capsule.


It meant that Mr Bayrou's centrist party, MoDem, surrendered all three of its cabinet posts within 24 hours. President Macron came to power with a promise to fight political sleaze. MoDem, allied to Mr Macron's La République en Marche (LREM) party, is facing an inquiry into claims that it used EU funds to pay party workers. Defence Minister and ex-MEP Sylvie Goulard was the first MoDem minister to hand in her resignation on Tuesday. After Mr Bayrou said he was standing down early on Wednesday, it became clear that Marielle de Sarnez, European affairs minister, was also leaving the government to take over as head of MoDem in the National Assembly. The resignations were not confined to Mr Bayrou's party. Mr Macron's close ally Richard Ferrand stepped down on Monday, amid unrelated allegations he had used insider information to secure a lucrative property deal for his wife while he was head of a mutual health insurance fund. Mr Ferrand and Ms Goulard have both denied any wrongdoing. However, the allegations have cast a shadow over the new government. It was François Bayrou who outlined details of a bill to clean up politics. Three of the figures brought in to replace the four who resigned were women from civil society rather than politics: The relationship between the outspoken Francois Bayrou and Mr Macron's government has been tense for weeks. The French papers were full of anonymous sources from the president's party denouncing Mr Bayrou as having an "outsized ego" who "stops [them] from governing". "We can't keep moving forward," one said, "when we're always going back every five minutes to check whether Bayrou has made a mess again." Mr Bayrou's departure shows how difficult it can be to prevent scandal, even in those with a well-known political past. With so many new faces entering parliament this month after a rapid selection process, there's a risk those problems could multiply. The president's party has a clear majority in parliament, even without the support of MoDem. But having vowed to bridge the left-right divide in French politics, Mr Macron may instead be facing a growing chasm with his centrist allies. The bill to clean up politics included stopping politicians hiring members of their own family, a ban of up to 10 years for MPs and senators convicted of corruption or fraud, and reform of party financing. Mr Macron will no doubt be hoping it quells concerns over his fledgling administration, which faces one of its first hurdles on Thursday when it presents controversial new anti-terrorism legislation. Documents leaked to French newspaper Le Monde have already raised fears amongst civil liberties campaigners it may make France's emergency measures, which give authorities extra powers including the ability to carry out searches at any time, permanent. Interior Minister Gérard Collomb told French newspaper Le Figaro [in French] the legislation would involve four flagship methods: creating protection areas around potential targets, closing places of worship which incite terrorism, replacing house arrest with personalised measures, and placing a judge in overall charge of searches and the resulting documents.

Summary: France's Justice Minister, François Bayrou, resigned on Wednesday hours before President Emmanuel Macron announced his new government line-up.


Theresa Villiers said there was a "thorough consideration" of some key elements of the Stormont House Agreement on Wednesday. This included reform of the public sector to release resources for frontline public services. The talks are to resume on Thursday. "The Northern Ireland parties carried out a thorough consideration of some key elements of the Stormont House Agreement designed to make devolution work better," Ms Villiers said. "We also continued our detailed discussion of finance and welfare issues, including reform of the public sector to release resources for frontline public services. "The differences between the parties are still very significant on these issues, but I do sense a willingness to make progress. "Tomorrow, we focus on the impact of paramilitary activity and legacy issues such as the new Stormont House Agreement institutions to help address the concerns of victims and survivors." Meanwhile, Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan has addressed the Irish parliament about the political situation in Northern Ireland. He said that "contrary to some recent reports, the institutions for dealing with the past set out in the Stormont House Agreement would not convey an amnesty" for those who had committed a crime. "The new Historical Investigations Unit provides for police investigation and, where there is an evidential basis, the prospect of justice," he added. "The Independent Commission for Information Retrieval, to be established by the two governments, is intended to allow individuals to seek information about Troubles related deaths where there is no realistic prospect of prosecution; information provided to the commission for this purpose would not be admissible in court. "However, the Stormont House Agreement makes it clear that no individual who provides information to this body will be immune from prosecution for any crime committed should the required evidential test be satisfied by other means and this will be reflected in the agreement establishing the body." The round-table talks between Northern Ireland's political parties are aimed at finding a resolution to the crisis at Stormont. The political row was triggered by a police assessment that IRA members were involved in the murder of former IRA man Kevin McGuigan Sr last month. Police said the IRA still existed, but added that it was not engaged in terrorism. Analysis Mark Devenport BBC Northern Ireland political editor There are different things that may bring this talks process to a conclusion. One is that the financial clock continues to tick away under the Stormont Executive. Another is that Peter Robinson stood down for a six-week period and, if there isn't some sort of revolving mechanism dreamt up by the DUP, that should be running out, I think it is 22 October. So that might put a little bit of a back-stop to the talks. Certainly, he wouldn't, I would have thought, want to come back into the job without having seen something from this panel which gives him cause for satisfaction. Three Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) ministers subsequently resigned from Northern Ireland's ruling executive, and Peter Robinson, the party's leader, stepped aside as first minister. The DUP and the Ulster Unionists agreed

Summary: The Northern Ireland Secretary has said she senses a willingness among the political parties to make progress despite significant differences on finance and welfare reform issues.


Paul Flynn said the watchdog set up after the expenses scandal had failed to restore public confidence. But the Newport West MP said his views were being used as a "stunt" in the ongoing row within Labour. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) said it was currently consulting on the rules. Labour distanced the party from Mr Flynn's comments, emphasising they were not Labour policy. In a blog post, the shadow Welsh secretary described Ipsa as a "bureaucratic ornament" which he said had taken "minute control of claims large and small". He said it had failed to restore faith in the expenses system, which was time-consuming and robbed MPs and their staff of their "most precious possession - time". He wrote: "Our reputation has sunk from rock bottom to subterranean. Financial scandals have continued in both Houses with toe-curling regularity. "The public are still convinced that MPs use the system for own ends." Mr Flynn suggested a new system could be based on an allowance calculated on average expenses, based on MPs' distance from Westminster, and could be paid automatically. He claimed MPs would accept such a change, even if it meant they were worse off, because they would be liberated from the "tentacles of tedious bureaucracy". Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Wales programme, Mr Flynn suggested that he originally outlined his views in a document written nine months ago "as a backbencher". He told the programme: "Jeremy Corbyn knows nothing at all about it and this is now being used as a stunt by people in this mad battle we have in our own party where we are tearing ourselves apart. "This is nothing to do with expenses, except that Ipsa is being looked at at the moment and we've been asked for ideas. I've put forward ideas that I published nine months ago." Delyn Labour MP David Hanson said Mr Flynn's suggestions were "wrong". "The public expect us to have accountability and transparency on the money that we spend on behalf of them to provide constituency staff, constituency offices and the services that we provide," he said. "I have no problem whatsoever as a member of parliament with my staff in completing Ipsa's requirements and filling in forms to account for that money." A spokesman for the Labour party said: "The public rightly demands the trust of their politicians and Labour therefore remains committed to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority which Labour established to ensure MPs do not set their own pay and conditions." An Ipsa spokesman said: "Ipsa is currently consulting on rules for MPs six years after they were introduced and is seeking views from members of parliament and members of the public."

Summary: MPs should be given an allowance instead of having to claim for expenses, Labour's shadow Commons leader has said.


On 9 April, a Kashmiri man called Farooq Ahmed Dar was trussed to the spare tyre at the front of a jeep and driven on a five-hour journey through several villages at the head of an army convoy. He had just voted in a by-election for the national parliament when he was picked up by an army patrol. He was allegedly beaten before he was lashed to the vehicle with a sign saying "This is the fate that will befall stone throwers" pinned to his chest. Kashmir is disputed between India and Pakistan and Indian-administered Kashmir has seen a fresh upsurge of violence in the past few months, with stone-throwing civilians pitted against military personnel. The young army officer responsible, Major Leetul Gogoi, said Mr Dar was seized because he was directing a stone-throwing mob that was besieging a polling station - something denied by both Mr Dar and witnesses in the village. Major Gogoi says he decided to tie Mr Dar to the jeep in a "fraction of a moment" and subsequently claimed it saved 12 lives. Despite the length of Mr Dar's ordeal, he argues it created "a window to move out of the area safely". The incident was filmed and shared on social media, causing uproar in the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley. The use of Mr Dar as a human shield was criticised around the world. Amnesty International described it as "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment amounting to torture". The Indian government announced there would be an inquiry into the incident but on 22 May, before the inquiry had been completed, the army awarded Major Gogoi a commendation medal for, it said, his "sustained efforts during counter-insurgency operations". This incident shows just how difficult India is finding it to keep a lid on unrest in Kashmir. Indian army sources have told the BBC that morale among soldiers stationed in the valley is very low. Many any soldiers are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with their role in Kashmir, saying they fear they are effectively becoming an army of occupation. Meanwhile, opposition to Indian rule in Kashmir appears to be deepening. That is reflected in the fact that Mr Dar was just one of 7% of eligible voters who actually voted in the by-election - the lowest turnout for decades. "We are fighting a legacy of political betrayal, infiltration, rigging in local elections, cynical politics, bad governance, vested interests, religion and regional divides," one senior army officer in Kashmir told my colleague, Soutik Biswas, a few weeks ago. The officer acknowledged how difficult it is to operate in an environment where many people want the army to withdraw and said that, despite efforts to reach out to Kashmiris, the army remains unpopular. This weekend the chief of the Indian army, General Bipin Rawat, was clear why he wanted to honour Major Gogoi. He told the Press Trust of India (PTI) that the medal was given as a way of boosting the morale of young officers. Gen Rawat served for many years in Kashmir and, like many Indians, believes much of the opposition to

Summary: If you want to know why India has courted international controversy by awarding a medal to an army officer who tied a civilian to the front of a jeep, you need to understand what is really happening in Indian-administered Kashmir.


Currently, they can start school at the beginning of the term in which they have their fourth birthday. But Powys council's cabinet approved the plans on Tuesday, which will see children start school in the September. The change will be introduced from September 2017 and will save £1.2m a year. The council also voted to increase the hours of free pre-school provision from 10 hours per week to 12.5 hours. Councillor Arwel Jones, cabinet member for schools, said: "There's no secret that we are proposing this revised policy to help in our bid to meet the £27m budget savings target over the next three financial years." He added: "Today's decision will bring us in line with the majority of other councils in England and Wales where children start school in the September after their fourth birthday."

Summary: Children in Powys will only be able to start primary school after turning four years old, it has been decided.


Science and research should be a priority in the talks between the UK and the EU, says the Russell Group of research intensive universities. Any barriers "would be bad for the UK and bad for Europe", said the group's acting director, Tim Bradshaw. His comments come as the EU prepares to authorise the start of the talks. The EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, is due later on Monday to seek a formal mandate from the European Council in Brussels to begin negotiations. Mr Barnier expects the talks to begin immediately after June's general election. The Russell Group says there will be "no winners" if Brexit results in barriers between researchers and has pledged to work with "all sides to secure a positive outcome". Dr Bradshaw said there had been "huge breakthroughs in medicine, engineering, and any number of fields" as a result of joint working, which he promised would continue after Brexit. "We want to maintain the closest possible relationships with colleagues across the EU, and research must be a priority during talks," he added. He called for the rights of EU students and staff at UK universities to be guaranteed after Brexit. "We value our EU colleagues very highly and need urgent assurances, that after Brexit, they will retain the same rights to stay and work in the UK that they have now. "Nearly half of all UK academic articles result from international collaboration and EU member states are some of our biggest partners. "These relationships improve the quality of UK research and underpin the strength of our science base." UK universities are among the biggest beneficiaries of the EU's huge Horizon 2020 research fund. Non-EU countries can also draw on the fund if they contribute to it - but a major condition of countries being able to participate is allowing freedom of movement for researchers, a potential stumbling block in the talks. The Conservative party manifesto, promises to "collaborate in science and innovation" with EU member states. The manifesto also pledges to secure the entitlements of EU nationals in Britain and British nationals in the EU. "There may be specific European programmes in which we might want to participate and if so, it will be reasonable that we make a contribution," the document adds. Labour's manifesto promises that the party in government would "ensure that the UK maintains our leading research role by seeking to stay part of Horizon 2020 and its successor programmes and by welcoming research staff to the UK". The party also says it will seek to maintain membership, or equivalent, with European organisations that offer benefits to the UK such as Euratom and the European Medicines Agency. The Liberal Democrat manifesto warns that "the Leave vote has already started to affect existing and proposed research programmes". "We will campaign against any reduction in investment in UK universities and for their right to apply for EU funds on equal terms." Manifestos have not yet been published for the SNP, UKIP or the Green Party.

Summary: Barriers to research collaboration in Europe as a result of Brexit would harm scientific progress, says a group of leading UK universities.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the accord between his government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland as "historic". The rebels in Nagaland state have been demanding an independent homeland for two million Naga tribespeople. The group, in India's north-east, have been fighting for more than 60 years. "I have the deepest admiration for the great Naga people for their extraordinary support to the peace efforts," Mr Modi said, after the agreement was signed at his office in Delhi on Monday. "Our oldest insurgency is getting resolved, it is a signal to other smaller groups to give up weapons," he added. The prime minister earlier said that developing India's north-east was a priority for his government. Talks between India's government and the rebels had been taking place since 1997. Correspondents say many hope the deal will pave the way for similar agreements with other rebel groups in the region. The agreement was signed by its leader Thuingaleng Muivah, who once led rebel raids from neighbouring Myanmar in what is often described as India's first ethnic rebellion. The terms of the peace agreement were not immediately known. The Naga mainly live in Nagaland and also in the states of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Summary: India's government has signed a peace deal with a leading Naga separatist group, bringing to an end one of the country's oldest insurgencies.


Barnet took the lead in the eighth minute when Luke Gambin crashed a left-footed effort against the bar and Curtis Weston was quickest to react, rolling a shot into the net from eight yards. Cheltenham had a penalty appeal for handball turned down four minutes later when Jack Barthram's cross from the right was charged down. Danny Wright hit the left post in the 37th minute with Jamie Stephens beaten and almost immediately Barnet broke and hit the post themselves through Akinde, who powered past Dan Parslow. But Cheltenham levelled in the 44th minute when Wright reached Jack Munns' free-kick and headed into the top right corner for his sixth goal of the season. Barnet regained the lead seven minutes into the second half when Akinde finished off a swift break, latching onto Gambin's pass. Griffiths saved Alex Nicholls' free-kick low to his left and Akinde hit the post again with a header in the 68th minute. Report supplied by the Press Association Match ends, Cheltenham Town 1, Barnet 2. Second Half ends, Cheltenham Town 1, Barnet 2. Kyle Storer (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Jack Taylor (Barnet). Corner, Cheltenham Town. Conceded by Curtis Weston. Dan Holman (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by John Akinde (Barnet). Harry Pell (Cheltenham Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Barnet) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Harry Pell (Cheltenham Town). Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Barnet) is shown the yellow card. Foul by Kyle Storer (Cheltenham Town). Mauro Vilhete (Barnet) wins a free kick on the right wing. Jack Barthram (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by John Akinde (Barnet). Substitution, Barnet. Alie Sesay replaces Luke Gambin. Aaron Downes (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by John Akinde (Barnet). Corner, Cheltenham Town. Conceded by Elliot Johnson. Harry Pell (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Curtis Weston (Barnet). Foul by Harry Pell (Cheltenham Town). Bira Dembélé (Barnet) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt missed. Sam Muggleton (Barnet) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Substitution, Barnet. Sam Muggleton replaces Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro. Billy Waters (Cheltenham Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Billy Waters (Cheltenham Town). Jack Taylor (Barnet) wins a free kick on the right wing. Substitution, Cheltenham Town. Amari Morgan-Smith replaces Daniel Wright. Substitution, Barnet. Jamal Campbell-Ryce replaces Alex Nicholls. Foul by Kyle Storer (Cheltenham Town). Alex Nicholls (Barnet) wins a free kick on the right wing. John Akinde (Barnet) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Jordan Cranston (Cheltenham Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Jordan Cranston (Cheltenham Town). Luke Gambin (Barnet) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Dan Holman (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro (Barnet). Attempt missed. Billy Waters (Cheltenham

Summary: John Akinde's 17th goal of the season secured a win for Barnet at struggling Cheltenham Town.