Researcher Chris Vickery claimed he found millions of text messages and images plus 1,700 "detailed child profiles" belonging to uKnowKids customers on search engine Shodan. But when he alerted the firm it replied that his access was "unauthorised". Mr Vickery says no password protection was in place. The BBC has been in contact with both Chris Vickery and uKnowKids chief executive Steve Woda. "It could have easily have been avoided - the fact they left it open is incredible. I don't know why you would leave all that data open to the entire world," Mr Vickery told the BBC. "They put up a database with no password required to access it." The company said its private database had been breached and added that it had patched the "vulnerability" within 90 minutes of Mr Vickery's notification. It added that while his actions were "helpful", it had yet to "fully identify" his credentials as a "white hat" - researchers who identify vulnerabilities and report them rather than use them to hack. "Twelve minutes after the final breach... and after taking screenshots of our intellectual property, business data, and customer data, Mr Vickery notified uKnow of his breach of our private systems," Steve Woda wrote in a blog post. "What we do know right now is that the alleged data breach affected about 0.5% of the kids that uKnowKids has helped parents protect online and on the mobile phone." Screenshots of the data seen by the BBC included a family picture of a woman in a car with three small children, lists of usernames and email addresses and folders with names like "childicloudimages" and "childfacebookaccounts". "The database also included uKnow's proprietary natural language processing engine technology and data including our proprietary algorithms that power uKnow's technology," Mr Woda added. "With respect to customer data, no financial information or unencrypted password credentials were vulnerable." The company also said it had asked Mr Vickery to delete all of the data he downloaded including the screenshots, and has now hired two security firms to help it secure its service. According to a blog post by Chris Vickery, Steve Woda expressed concerns via email that his actions could put the firm out of business. The services offered by uKnow include tracking children's social media accounts and text message activity and sending alerts to parents. Its prices range from $10 (Â£7) per month to $100 per year or $180 for a lifetime subscription. Mr Vickery said he has found "dozens" of similar security weaknesses belonging to other companies and the firm's response in this case was unusual. "When I found one of the databases of [software firm] MacKeeper, they turned around and said, 'OK, we want to hire you to give us tips about data breaches,'" he said. "That was an awesome response." Chris Vickery's blog post appeared on the MacKeeper website. Mr Woda said: "uKnowKids was originally created after one of our family children was victimised by an online predator, and so protecting kids is very, very personal to us. "You have my personal commitment that our uKnow team

Summary: Child tracker firm uKnowKids has accused a security researcher of hacking its database after he told them it was publicly accessible online.


Home Secretary Theresa May said the government would make the "minimum possible changes" to comply with a 2010 Supreme Court ruling. She said ministers were "appalled" by the ruling and the bar for appeals would be set as "high as possible". Sex offenders will only be able to appeal 15 years after leaving prison. The Supreme Court ruled that denying offenders the right of appeal was incompatible with their human rights. But shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the ruling did state that it should be "open to Parliament" to maintain the current position if it saw fit, so long as there was provision in law to review matters in future if it became appropriate to do so. She also said Labour was not convinced the new regime was tough enough to guarantee public safety. "Given the current evidence on repeat sex offending, it is hard to envisage any circumstances in which people will think it is justified to take someone who has been convicted of a serious sex offence off the register," Ms Cooper said. "Yet the home secretary's scheme makes it possible for the police to do exactly that with no appeal for victims or the public, and no consideration of Parliament's views on the wider risks and the importance of a strong precautionary approach." By Norman SmithChief political correspondent, BBC Radio 4 The ruling to allow sex offenders the right to have their names removed from the sex offenders register is one of those issues governments dread. It almost guarantees them sackloads of irate letters and coruscating tabloid headlines. And yet the inevitable row might not be as painful as ministers fear. Firstly, unlike the recent judgement on prisoners' votes, this was a decision made by Britain's Supreme Court, not the European Court of Human Rights. Secondly, it's not clear whether any change in the way the register is managed would require primary legislation, avoiding the possibility of a protracted Parliamentary tussle. And lastly the Scottish government has already implemented the change without suffering undue damage. Andrew Flanagan, chief executive of the NSPCC, said adults who sexually abused children should stay on the register for life, adding: "We can never be sure their behaviour will change." Only individuals sentenced to more than 30 months for a sex-related crime are required to register with police for life. It is estimated that about 24,000 sex offenders who were required to register for life, including paedophiles and rapists, could be affected by the ruling. Qualifying sex offenders are currently required to notify the police of their personal details, any change of address and when they travel abroad. There is no centrally held register of sex offenders in the UK, but the Home Office says the system of notifying the police is commonly known as the sex offenders register. Last year, two convicted sex offenders used human rights laws to challenge the system and won the right to appeal against their life-long registration. The two offenders were a teenager convicted of rape and a 59-year-old man guilty of indecent assault. The teenage boy,

Summary: Thousands of sex offenders in England and Wales are set to be given the right to appeal against having to register with the police for life.


On Thursday, former FBI director James Comey will testify before Congress, and on the same day the UK's general election takes place. The Dow Jones fell 47.81 points, or 0.23%, to 21,136.2, and the wider S&P 500 dropped 6.77 points to 2,429.3. The tech-heavy Nasdaq slipped 20.62 points or 0.33% to 6,275.06. Retail stocks performed especially poorly. Department store Macy's fell more than 8% after executives held an investor meeting and warned the firm's margins would be lower. Kohl's slid more than 5%, JC Penney shares fell more than 4%, and US retail giant Walmart dropped 1.2%. Even Amazon, the online shopping giant frequently blamed for problems at traditional retailers, closed lower. The firm, which has seen its stock soar in recent months, fell 0.8% after it announced it would offer heavily discounted Prime subscription service for those receiving US government aid as it aims to expand the number of people using the service.

Summary: Shares on Wall Street closed lower on Tuesday, as retail stocks weighed on markets and political events expected this week kept traders cautious.


Alan Mason, 45, of Endmoor, Kendal, knew he had the virus for five years when he started a sexual relationship with the woman, from Barrow. Carlisle Crown Court heard he only told her when she began to feel unwell after contracting the disease herself. He was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting causing the woman, 39, grievous bodily harm. After the hearing, Det Con Damian West, of Cumbria Police, said: "This is a unique case for Cumbria and the sentencing imposed highlights the disregard Mason had for his actions. "Even though the victim has to live with this virus, modern medication means there should be no impact on life expectancy. "However, the virus has a significant day to day impact on those who have to live with it."

Summary: A Cumbrian man who is HIV positive has been jailed for infecting his former partner with the virus.


As Mark Carney said, London is "effectively, the investment banker for Europe" and the City is the financial capital of the European Union. Nearly 80% of foreign exchange trading and 30% of all bank lending in the EU flows through the UK. How much that will change after Britain leaves the European Union is a matter of increasingly tense debate. In the UK, very senior figures within the financial services sector argue that it is "nonsensical" to argue that after Brexit, large amounts of euro-denominated trading should move on to the continent. They point out that significant amounts of dollar-trading are executed through London - and neither the EU nor the UK has a single-market agreement with the US. Many on the continent of Europe see it differently, saying that financial oversight will only be possible if euro-trading valued in trillions of pounds a year is put under the direct jurisdiction of European Union-based regulators. The biggest sector seen at risk is euro-denominated clearing, the billions of pounds worth of derivatives products traded every day to insure companies, for example, against interest rate changes, currency fluctuations and inflation risk. Michel Sapin, the French finance minister, told the BBC that it was a question of control. "I believe that there is an issue of sovereignty and security of European monetary markets and therefore the majority of the clearing houses cannot remain in London," he told me. "There will be movement, there will be a displacement and actually many of the financial institutions are already preparing themselves towards that." Many believe that if the trading moves, jobs will move as well. "I don't see how it could be a good thing for the City," Mr Sapin said. "The City will remain a large financial centre, will remain important for Europe as well as for the rest of the world. "But the security of the monetary system is something that's of vital importance for any given country or any given groupings of countries - such as the case of the eurozone countries." Hundreds of billions of pounds of trades will be at stake. At the moment, the two sides - the UK and the EU - appear a long way apart.

Summary: One of the most important sectors at the heart of the Brexit negotiations will be financial services.


Three West Mercia Police officers had now been interviewed under criminal caution, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said. Mr Atkinson died after contact with police in Meadow Close, Trench, Telford, on 15 August last year. West Mercia Police said it continued to co-operate with the IPCC. The three officers had been served with gross misconduct notices, the police watchdog said. IPCC Commissioner Derrick Campbell said: "At the conclusion of our independent investigation I will consider whether to refer our investigation report to the Crown Prosecution Service to make a decision on any potential charges against police officers. "A criminal investigation does not mean that criminal charges will necessarily follow." Mr Campbell said its independent report would consider whether any officers should, in the watchdog's view, face misconduct proceedings. Investigative inquiries had ended, but the IPCC investigation report could not be finalised "until the full pathology and toxicology reports are provided", the watchdog said. It said IPCC investigators had spoken to about 15 other police officers as witnesses, along with more than 15 members of the public and paramedics. Forensic experts had also been consulted. A Taser used during the incident had been analysed and investigators had "transcribed relevant police Airwave radio transmissions and examined police policies on the use of force". West Mercia Police Assistant Chief Constable Martin Evans said the force's "thoughts and sympathies" were with Mr Atkinson's family and friends and it continued to co-operate with the IPCC throughout its investigation. He said: "It would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this time while that investigation is ongoing." Mr Atkinson started his career at Ipswich Town before moving to Sheffield Wednesday, Real Sociedad, Villa and FenerbahÃ§e

Summary: A third police officer has been investigated over the death of ex-Aston Villa star Dalian Atkinson who was shot with a Taser, it has emerged.


Arlene Arkinson was 15 years old when she disappeared after attending a disco in Bundoran, County Donegal. The witness, Patricia Quinn, had to be excused after just 10 minutes in the witness box. It followed a series of angry responses to questions about lies she had admitted telling. Arlene was last seen being driven away by convicted child killer Robert Howard. Her body has never been found. Howard had been on bail, accused of rape, and was living at Patricia Quinn's home at the time of Arlene's disappearance. Mrs Quinn is the mother of Donna Quinn, a friend of Arlene. She told the inquest: "I'm under so much pressure the last 21 years. I've been hassled, battered and kicked. Why should I not be angry?" She added: "I'd love the cutty (Arlene) to be found, everyone needs a decent burial." The inquest was then adjourned for a time to allow Mrs Quinn to calm down. However, it was subsequently decided she should not give further evidence on Monday. It is expected she'll return to the witness box next week. Later, Mrs Quinn's son Mark gave evidence after his mother had left the court. He told the court he had been in Bundoran on the same night as Arlene's disappearance, but had been with a different group of people. He added that Robert Howard was his mother's boyfriend at the time and said, "I never liked the man, never liked him from day one. You just know with someone. Never liked him," he said. "I did say get rid of that boy. She said 'if you don't like it you know what you can do'." Mrs Quinn has insisted the relationship was platonic. Later, Mark Quinn agreed with a barrister for the PSNI that his mother was probably "infatuated" with Robert Howard. He also agreed it was nonsense to suggest that Howard was living at their home at the time of Arlene's disappearance simply because the police had put him there. Mrs Quinn has testified that Robert Howard was an informer. Mark Quinn told the court that Howard had been living between the Quinns' house and his own flat, and often stayed overnight with his mother.

Summary: A witness at the inquest into the missing schoolgirl Arlene Arkinson has reacted angrily to cross-examination by a barrister for the Arkinson family.


The duchess was offered a posy from 22-month-old Elizabeth Colquhoun, who then decided she wanted to keep the bouquet and refused to hand it over. Camilla was visiting Perth's state library on the final day of the royal tour of Australia and New Zealand. Elizabeth's mother Chantelle Colquhoun said her daughter was "strong willed". Originally from the Cornish town of Camborne, Mrs Colquhoun, 39, was in a fit of giggles at her daughter's antics and said she was "just the same way at home". The Duchess of Cornwall eventually managed to take the bouquet from Elizabeth and playfully held it just out of the grasp of the youngster until she grabbed it. The duchess was at a book reading session at the time. Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales was given a tour of a conservation centre. He met students at the Western Australia Seed Technology Centre in Perth after attending a service at St George's Cathedral in the city with the duchess. The royal couple have spent 12 days touring Australia and New Zealand. Prince Charles celebrated his 67th birthday on Saturday with an Australian beach barbecue at Cottlesloe beach in Perth where he was joined by 500 guests.

Summary: The Duchess of Cornwall found herself in a playful tug of war with a little girl determined to hang onto her bunch of flowers.


Established in honour of playwright Harold Pinter, it is given to a writer who casts an "unflinching, unswerving" gaze upon the world. Organisers English Pen praised Fenton as "one of the finest poets of his generation". He will receive his award at a ceremony on 6 October at the British Library. The prize will be jointly awarded to an international writer who has faced persecution. The second winner - who will be chosen jointly by Fenton and English Pen - will be announced at the October ceremony. 'Spoken truth to power' Fenton, who held the chair of Oxford Professor of Poetry from 1994-1999, has written several collections of poetry and opera librettos. As a former war correspondent, many of his poems deal with the experience of war and its impact. One of Fenton's most acclaimed works, The Memory of War (1982), is a collection of poems that drew on his time as a reporter in Vietnam and Cambodia in the 1970s. Antonia Fraser, Harold Pinter's widow, said Fenton was "a worthy winner" of the prize. "James Fenton is a writer who Harold Pinter much admired for all his work, but particularly for his ability to write brilliant political poetry, she said. "This is an art which was very important to Harold not only for the poetry but also as part of the essential process of speaking up fearlessly: Which is the basis on which the Pen Pinter Prize is founded." Maureen Freely, president of English Pen, added: "Throughout his long and distinguished career, James Fenton has spoken truth to power - forcefully, fearlessly, and beautifully." Fenton said he felt greatly honoured to be awarded the prize: "In particular, I am happy to be connected in this way with Harold Pinter, whose writings I have long admired." Previous winners of the Pinter Prize include Tom Stoppard, Carol Ann Duffy, Hanif Kureishi and last year's winner, Salman Rushdie.

Summary: British poet and journalist James Fenton has won the Pen Pinter Prize, which celebrates champions of free speech.


Bath led 38-10 at the interval, with Tom Dunn, Tom Homer, Robbie Fruean, Kahn Fotuali'i and Ford all going over. Samoan Fotuali'i crossed for his second try, as Rokoduguni and Chris Cook also scored at Ashton Gate for the visitors. Tom Varndell, Rhodri Williams and Jack Tovey went over for Bristol, but they remain third in the pool. Fly-half Ford, who has been strongly linked with a move to Premiership rivals Sale at the end of the season, contributed 20 points as Bath did the damage in the first half. Fotuali'i's double on return from an eye injury was another plus, with Todd Blackadder's team five points clear at the top of their European Challenge Cup group ahead of Cardiff Blues' trip to French Top 14 side Pau on Saturday. Bristol: Arscott; Wallace, Palamo, Pisi, Varndell; Searle, Williams; Traynor, Crumpton, Ford-Robinson, Phillips, Glynn, Lam, Robinson (capt), Eadie. Replacements: Jones, Bevington, Cortes, Nemsadze, Joyce, Cliff, Jarvis, Tovey. Bath: Homer; Rokoduguni, Joseph, Fruean, Watson; Ford (co-capt), Fotuali'i; Catt, Dunn, Lahiff, Ewels, Stooke, Mercer, Louw (co-capt), Grant. Replacements: Walker, Obano, Palma-Newport, Douglas, Mercer, Cook, Priestland, Tapuai. For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter.

Summary: England internationals George Ford and Semesa Rokoduguni were among the try-scorers as Bath thrashed local rivals Bristol to close in on qualification.


Owner Tom Forrest also featured the phrase "man + woman = marriage" on the site for Cromasaig B&B in Kinlochewe. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in Scotland had begun action to seek a court order. However, it said this had been halted after Mr Forrest agreed to remove the phrases voluntarily. The website said the guest house was "heterosexual friendly" and included a pictorial version of the statement "man + woman = marriage". The commission said it was concerned that these phrases were potentially discriminatory. It initially wrote to Mr Forrest asking for them to be removed after receiving complaints. When no action was taken, the commission sought a court order which would require the phrases to be removed. That legal action has been halted after the statements were deleted voluntarily. Lynn Welsh, of the EHRC, said: "I am pleased that the owners of Cromasaig B&B have agreed to remove these phrases. "Removing the phrases will have no negative impact on their business, and alleviates EHRC's concerns." EHRC added that while the case had been "concluded successfully", the case raised questions surrounding the "continued prevalence of homophobic discrimination" which exists in Scotland. Owner Mr Forrest sparked controversy in 2004 when he refused a gay couple a double room at the guest house. The couple, from London, were told they could only book a twin room because their relationship was "unnatural". As a result, the B&B had its recommended status removed by tourist authority VisitScotland.

Summary: A Highlands bed and breakfast which was described as "heterosexual friendly" on its website has removed phrases after being threatened with legal action.


Up to 1,500 staff could be axed by 2017 due to a funding gap of almost Â£70m. Mr Mallon said services would be closed and multimillion-pound projects reviewed in an attempt to stop the town "fraying at the edges". The government said Middlesbrough received more funding than the national average and it should cut wastage. Mr Mallon outlined the financial situation to councillors at a meeting on Wednesday and said he hoped action taken would "reduce substantially" the number of potential job cuts, but the loss of about 1,000 posts was "the best case scenario". He said it was a "real shame" staff would be made redundant but insisted the council was "duty bound" to cut spending. The council has just over 2,500 full-time staff, excluding those in schools. More than Â£32m of the required savings are necessary due to changes in government funding and the authority is facing an increased demand on care services, Mr Mallon said. "By 2018 or 2019, 75% of the council's budget will be spent on helping children and the elderly. "The temperature has been rising for a long time and it's still rising." Ahead of the meeting, Labour group leader Charlie Rooney said the town was being "devastated" by government cuts. Conservative group leader Chris Hobson called on the authority to "start doing things differently". "We've got to start running this council as a business," she said. "We've got to start bringing money in ourselves and thinking about how we can do that." Mr Mallon will announce a list of specific budget proposals next month.

Summary: The loss of 1,000 jobs at Middlesbrough Council over the next three years is the "best case scenario", mayor Ray Mallon has said.


The decision to call off the fixture was made following a morning pitch inspection and the game has been rescheduled for Tuesday, 15 December. Carrick's planned league game with Dungannon on that date will be moved. The other semi-final between Larne and Ballymena United goes ahead after the pitch passed a lunchtime inspection. Carrick have had three home Premiership games postponed in recent weeks - their league fixture against Dungannon Swifts has been called off twice. Gary Haveron's side were also forced to postpone their match against Cliftonville on Saturday because of a waterlogged pitch. Larne will be out to cause an upset against the Sky Blues at Inver Park. "We know we are nowhere near winning the league so it's important to compete for other silverware," said Ballymena manager Glenn Ferguson ahead of the trip to their County Antrim rivals. "We want to reach as many cup semi-finals and finals as we can." "We played Larne in pre-season so that gives us some idea what to expect. It will be a tough match as all the teams near the top of the Championship are capable of giving the senior teams a game," he added. The Sky Blues progressed to the last four by beating league champions and leaders Crusaders 2-0 at Seaview, courtesy of goals from David Cushley and Tony Kane. Their opponents lie third in Championship One after a 4-4 draw with Armagh City on Saturday. David McAlinden's side saw off Ards 2-1 to reach the semi-finals and will take heart from their League Cup performance against Portadown earlier in the season, taking the Premiership outfit to extra-time before losing 4-1. There will be coverage of Larne v Ballymena United on a Sportsound Special on BBC Radio Ulster medium wave and the BBC Sport website on Tuesday night from 19:30 GMT.

Summary: Tuesday night's Co Antrim Shield semi-final between Carrick Rangers and Linfield has been postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.


The entertainer's funeral will take place on Thursday 20 August at St Mary's Church in the suburb of Woolton. The Right Reverend Thomas Williams, Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool and former Parish Priest of St Anthony's, Scotland Road, will officiate. Black, who emerged from the city's music scene to find fame in the 1960s before becoming a TV host, died after having a stroke at the age of 72. After the funeral, her body will be laid to rest at a private ceremony in Allerton Cemetery, where her parents are buried. Her late husband and manager, Bobby Willis, was cremated in 1999. The late entertainer's representative said further details would be released "once all the preparations have been finalised". A statement said: "Once again the family have asked for their privacy to be continually respected at this difficult time." The Blind Date and Surprise Surprise host died of a stroke after falling over at her Spanish home earlier this month.

Summary: Cilla Black is to be buried in her home city of Liverpool next week.


A 250-year-old census came to light during cataloguing by the National Register of Archives for Scotland (NRAS). The census lists 90 people living on the remote archipelago on 15 June 1764 - 38 males and 52 females, including 19 families and nine individuals. Until now, the earliest record dated from 1822. The islands, which lie about 40 miles west of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides, were home to generations of people until the last were evacuated in 1930. The last surviving former resident of St Kilda, Rachel Johnson, died earlier this year at the age of 93. The census was discovered among the papers of Clan Maclachlan by researchers from NRAS - the branch of the National Records of Scotland which holds historical papers held in private hands in Scotland. It is not known exactly why the census was taken, or by whom, but NRAS experts said it was likely to have been part of a wider report on the Hebrides. As the later document from 1822 included ages, it has been possible to track five residents of St Kilda who appeared on both censuses. The 1764 census also includes the ancestors of the final five families to be evacuated from the island in 1930 - the MacQueens, Fergusons, Gillies, MacDonalds and MacKinnons. As well as the names of the 90 inhabitants, the document says that they each ate "36 wild fouls eggs and 18 fouls" (seabirds) a day - an overall daily consumption of 3,240 eggs and 1,620 birds. According to exports, birds and birds' eggs were the mainstay of the islanders' diet. As well as providing food, fulmar oil was used to light lamps, while seabirds' down was used for bedding and their fat for healing salves. Dr Alison Rosie, registrar of the National Register of Archives for Scotland, said: "This document sheds new light on the history of St Kilda and the families who lived there, and gives us an insight into their lives more than 250 years ago." Scotland's Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "Many people are fascinated by the history of St Kilda, and this census gives us a new insight into the history of the island and its people, which will now be available to researchers thanks to the work of National Records of Scotland. "Discoveries like these add great depth to our culture and heritage, helping us to understand more about our nation's story." Earlier this year, lost songs from the evacuated archipelago were discovered and brought to life on a new album featuring renowned composers including Sir James MacMillan.

Summary: Researchers have discovered the oldest known record of the population of St Kilda.


It warns about what it calls "medium-term" dangers in both emerging and developed economies, in its twice-yearly report. It expresses particular concerns about Europe, Japan and China. On a more positive note, the fund does say that short-term risks have abated since its previous assessment of global financial stability in April. Pressures on emerging markets have eased, the report says. Rising commodity prices (though they are still relatively low) have helped and so has the reduced uncertainty about China's prospects in the near term. The report says investors were taken by surprise by the result of the British referendum on the European Union, but the political shock was absorbed by markets. They passed what it calls "this severe stress test". But looking further ahead, the IMF sees growing risks. A key factor is bank profits. The good news is that banks are in some respects stronger than they were before the financial crisis. They have more capital, a kind of financial buffer that enables them to survive losses. Their liquidity has improved, which means they have more chance of coping if they suddenly have to find funds quickly. But they are struggling to make money. Weak profitability makes it harder for them to build up their capital (which they can do by holding on to some profit rather than giving it all to shareholders as dividends). It also makes it harder for them to expand lending to business and consumers, as is needed to support economic recovery. The problems partly reflect the very low interest rate environment that developed-country banks have to operate in. The struggle to make profits also reflects the persistent economic weakness in the developed world, which means weaker demand for credit. Some banks in the eurozone have a burden of problem loans, which are not being repaid and that they have still not dealt with. The report identifies Italian and Portuguese banks as facing serious challenges of profitability and capital levels. There is also a warning about Japanese banks and their expansion overseas, which the report says is the result of economic weakness and very low interest rates in their home market. That leaves them exposed to some risk in terms of access to the foreign currency funds they need to maintain that business. The report warns about pension funds and insurance companies, whose position is also undermined by persistent low interest rates. Outside the rich countries, China is seen as a potential trouble spot. The report says that rapid credit growth and the expansion of "shadow banking" (lending done by firms that are not banks) "pose mounting risks to stability". The rapidly growing financial system in China is becoming increasingly "interconnected", the report says. The extent to which firms in the sector are interconnected - that is, have transactions with one another - was identified as a key factor in the financial contagion that was a feature of the international financial crisis. The IMF's recommended medicine for these mounting risks is partly about generating a stronger economic recovery, including reforms to underpin growth. There are also calls

Summary: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that risks to financial stability are growing.


RBS, which has already closed dozens of branches in Scotland since 2015, said 176 full-time posts would be affected. It added that the move was in response to the growing popularity of mobile and online banking. The union Unite reacted angrily, claiming RBS was "turning its back on the communities that have been the foundation of their business for generations". In addition to the Scottish closures, RBS announced it would shut 128 NatWest branches. A total of about 770 staff across the UK will be affected but hundreds of workers will be redeployed, the bank said. RBS branches earmarked for closure: An RBS spokesman said many more customers now preferred using mobile and online services over traditional branch counters. He said: "We interact with our customers over 20 times more through digital channels than physical ones. "Half of our personal customers in Scotland are mobile banking users - grown from 500,000 to 900,000 since 2014. "As customers change the way they bank with us, we must change the way we serve them. "The role of the branch is fast moving to a centre for advice, away from basic transactions. "While the branch will still be a core part of our offering to customers, inevitably some branches will have to close." Reacting to the news, Unite regional officer Lyn Turner said: "RBS is turning its back on the communities that have been the foundation of their business for generations. "That's bad news for our members who now have to live with the threat of redundancy - and it's bad news for customers and businesses. "Banks have a duty to the wider community and that is especially the case for banks like RBS that have large taxpayer-owned shareholdings." The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said it was "frustrated to see RBS show so little loyalty to our high streets". Scottish policy convener Andy Willox added: "Branch closures put pressure on local economies and make it harder for local firms to access banking services. "While more people might be doing online banking, that's no good for cash-based businesses or for rural firms with poor broadband. "As the big banks shut down branches in chorus, it unfortunately seems like the banking industry is content to leave some customers behind." After the closures 151 RBS branches will remain. The bank remains majority-owned by taxpayers, following its multi-billion government bailout almost a decade ago.

Summary: RBS has announced that it is shutting 30 more Scottish branches.


About 20 buildings have collapsed, including a six-storey hotel in the city of Van, where dozens of aid workers and journalists were staying. The quake late on Wednesday was centred 16km (10 miles) south of Van. The same region was struck last month by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake which killed more than 600 people. That earthquake struck a little north of Van but the city became the headquarters of the relief effort and has been flooded by aid workers and journalists, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul. The city was only lightly damaged, but some of the weakened buildings are now thought to have been brought down. Television pictures from Van showed residents and rescuers trying to lift debris to free people trapped under ruined buildings. Rescue workers were using high-powered lights to work through the night. Parliamentary member Nazmi Gur said most of the buildings which collapsed were empty, but three had been occupied when the quake struck at 21:23 (19:23 GMT). He said emergency teams were focusing on rescuing some 50 people believed to still be trapped. Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay said the quake toppled a school and a number of mudbrick homes, as well as the hotel. He said rescue teams were being sent to the region from the capital, Ankara, and other areas. Some of the journalists trapped in the collapsed Bayram Hotel had sent text messages to colleagues asking to be rescued, Associated Press quoted a Turkish cameraman as saying. Alper Kucuk from the Turkish Red Crescent told the BBC that 11 people had been rescued from the rubble of the hotel. Mr Kucuk said the Red Crescent was sending two more planeloads of relief supplies to the area, including tents and blankets, as well as rescue personnel. He described it as the biggest aftershock to hit the area and said it had frightened a lot of people. Thousands of people were made homeless by the 23 October earthquake, with many still living in tents in the cold weather. Mr Gur said many people are now leaving Van in search of a safer place. Turkey is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because it sits on major geological fault lines. Two earthquakes in 1999 with a magnitude of more than 7 killed almost 20,000 people in densely populated parts of the north-west of the country.

Summary: A 5.6-magnitude earthquake has killed at least seven people in eastern Turkey, and trapped many more under collapsed buildings.


In the Daily Telegraph, Lord Hague said he was asked the question "for months... everywhere I went abroad" if "we would lose heart" about leaving. He said he explained to them that "this really is a democracy". Lord Hague also backed a "transitional" withdrawal from the EU saying it had "immense" attractions. Lord Hague - who campaigned to remain in the EU - stood down as foreign secretary in 2014, and left the House of Commons in 2015. He wrote in Tuesday's Telegraph: "The electorate voted to leave the EU, and therefore we leave. "What is more, the number of people who voted to do so was higher than the number of votes cast for any government in our history. "To me and many of my former colleagues in government who preferred to remain, the argument was over. "In the recent general election, both main parties were clear that they were committed to the referendum outcome. "Globally, the message has now got through." But Lord Hague added that "just as the message was accepted, the voters pulled off another surprise and refused to give a majority to the ministers negotiating the exit" [in the general election]. He said there was the clear potential for Brexit to become the "greatest economic, diplomatic and constitutional muddle in the modern history of the UK, with unknowable consequences for the country, the government and the Brexit project itself". And he said the Chancellor Philip Hammond deserved "great credit" for putting forward a possible solution. Lord Hague said: "He has evidently been trying to persuade his cabinet colleagues that we should be seeking to stay in the EU single market and customs union during a transition and 'implementation' phase lasting to 2022, followed by a free trade deal with our former partners after that. "This is seen by longstanding advocates of leaving as a 'soft' position or a climbdown. "But in reality it is a plan to rescue Brexit from an approaching disaster." Mr Hammond has said any transitional deal in the period after Brexit must end by June 2022, the time of the next general election. But the chancellor said there must be "business as usual, life as normal" for Britons as the UK left the EU. Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning

Summary: Business leaders and politicians asked former Foreign Secretary William Hague how the UK would "get round" the EU referendum result, he has revealed.


Felix has been the resident pet at Huddersfield railway station in West Yorkshire since 2011, when she was brought in to catch mice. She has now been given a high-vis vest and made Senior Pest Controller. A cat flap has also been built at the ticket barrier to allow her platform access. Felix's success has been covered by newspapers in Taiwan, the Netherlands and Hong Kong. The story saw a surge in popularity after the Huddersfield Examiner pounced on Felix's "purr-motion". At the time of writing, a page for Felix has amassed over 20,000 'likes' on Facebook. A First TransPennine Express spokesman said: "Felix came to the station when she was nine weeks old five years ago. "We haven't kept a mice tally, but we think she's caught three recently." The station said the cat was also a "natural" at chasing off pigeons on the station's platforms. Felix is not the first "station cat" to find global fame - Tama, a stray which was made a station master in western Japan, was credited with turning a loss-making railway company around thanks to the number of tourists it attracted. After Tama's death last June, thousands of people attended a Shinto-style funeral where the cat was elevated to the status of a goddess.

Summary: A newly promoted train station cat has become a media sensation after her career advancements were followed from around the globe.


Crashes similar to those suffered by Fernando Alonso in Australia on Sunday will be part of a risk assessment into the 'halo' device, planned for 2017. The Spaniard's McLaren came to rest upside down after his 180mph crash at the season-opening race in Melbourne. "We need to see if it could become more difficult to get out," he said. Even if the halo made it more difficult for a driver to get out of his car in such a situation, that would not be enough to prevent its introduction. The device is being investigated on a holistic basis and the FIA will weigh any potential extra problems with a driver's ability to remove himself from the cockpit against the increased safety. But only if the cons outweighed the pros would head protection be delayed. Alonso's team-mate Jenson Button said after the race that there was "no need for him to get out in that situation", adding: "It's better to have a halo system. They [safety workers] would tip the car over of course to get him out, so it takes a bit longer. But he was OK so it doesn't matter." Governing body the FIA is aiming to make a final decision on the adoption of the halo by the end of May, following the completion of the risk assessment. Its F1 director Charlie Whiting has told teams the device will be introduced if the process does not throw up any unanticipated risks and that he expects no opposition. Even if a team did object, the FIA could force it through on safety grounds. The FIA is still waiting for all the data to be recovered from the accident data recorders on Alonso's car before investigating exactly what happened. The 34-year-old double world champion sustained a peak force of 46G during the crash, which he described as the biggest of his career. It was triggered when Alonso's right front wheel caught the left-rear wheel of Esteban Gutierrez's Haas as he was trying to overtake on the approach to Turn Three. All cars are fitted with a high-speed camera pointing back towards the driver's head to analyse its trajectory during an accident. The device works at 400 frames per second - 16 times faster than a normal camera - and it will reveal whether there would have been any danger to the driver's head had a halo been fitted. This is considered highly unlikely, as the halo has been designed to be well out of reach of the helmet even in extreme scenarios. These cameras, along with in-ear accelerometers worn by the drivers and data from sensors on the chassis, mean the FIA can build up a detailed picture of the events of an accident. Alonso, who is one of the vast majority of drivers backing the introduction of extra head protection, said it was important to look into what would have happened in his accident and its aftermath had a halo been fitted. The risk assessment into the halo will focus on the potential negatives of the device, and whether they are

Summary: The ease with which drivers can get out of an upturned car will be investigated before finalising the introduction of head protection next year.


The NSA was allowed to collect this information without a warrant thanks to a US law passed in 2008. In a statement it said that an internal review had revealed several problems with the spying programme and its effect on US citizens' privacy. Surveillance experts said the NSA's decision was "very significant". The NSA is not allowed to conduct surveillance within the US but it managed to skirt this restriction thanks to one section of the 2008 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa). This let it grab the phone calls and messages of US citizens which mentioned or otherwise involved people outside the US it was keeping an eye on. The NSA had been widely criticised because using Fisa had meant it had scooped up lots of messages, texts and other material sent by Americans without having to apply for a warrant. In its statement, the NSA said technical limits, privacy problems and the difficulty of carrying out this type of surveillance had driven its decision. It also said it would delete the "vast majority" of data collected via this spying programme. The powers to spy outlined in Fisa were due to be scrutinised this year by the US Congress and are set to be renewed by the end of 2017. Many members of Congress have been critical of the spying effort and politicians were expected to significantly limit its scope during the renewal and review process. The Fisa spying programme has also been criticised by the US Federal Intelligence Surveillance Court, which oversees NSA requests for surveillance warrants. The NSA had defended the Fisa-allowed spying, saying that it had helped it gather "critical" intelligence. Julian Sanchez, a privacy and surveillance expert with the Cato Institute, said the broad reach of Fisa-sanctioned spying had made it a key target of civil liberties campaigners. "Usually you identify a specific individual to scrutinise their content; this was scrutinizing everyone's content to find mentions of an individual," Mr Sanchez told Reuters.

Summary: The US National Security Agency (NSA) is to end surveillance on messages sent by US citizens that mention foreign intelligence targets.


Four mountain rescue teams were called to separate incidents at the summits of Corn Du and Cribyn. One person is being treated at Swansea's Morriston Hospital for burns. The other is at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil. Some rescuers were training in the area when the incidents happened. An RAF Sea King from Chivenor was sent to aid two casualties on Cribyn and road ambulances and police were also sent to the scene. Brecon Mountain Rescue Team were ending their exercise due to the electric storm when they received a call-out. Its team doctor reached the first male casualty on Corn Ddu within 35 minutes. Spokesman Mark Jones said passing cadets who had been on the summit at the time of the strike had already started resuscitation when the rescue doctor took over. "I've been in Brecon Mountain Rescue for 30 years and I've never known anything like this," he said. "It is exceptionally unusual, and for multiple people to be hit in multiple strikes on different peaks - it is very, very rare." Three other mountain rescue teams - Central Beacons, Longtown and Western Beacons - were also called out. A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: "As a result of these incidents, two men have sadly died, one man is in a serious condition in hospital and another man is in hospital but did not sustain serious injuries. "Officers have informed the next of kin of the deceased men."

Summary: Two men are being treated in hospital after lightning strikes in the Brecon Beacons which killed two other men on Sunday.


Substances like Mamba and Spice can have serious side effects such as paranoia, psychosis and seizures, and have been linked to UK deaths. Previously known as legal highs, many of the drugs are untested so the risks of taking them is unknown. There have been a number of cases in towns such as Wrexham, with a lawyer saying there is a "big problem" there. Crimestoppers is now offering a reward for information on the supply of these drugs. It wants to hear from people who know of individuals who are manufacturing, importing or supplying these drugs to people in the area, including the homeless. "These substances are relatively new on the streets, so information is hard to come by as to who is producing and supplying them," said Gary Murray, the charity's north Wales regional manager. "We understand there is a stigma attached to 'grassing' on people, but these substances are dangerous, to the individuals taking them and to the community around them."

Summary: A charity has launched an appeal to help stop the supply of "dangerous drugs" in north Wales.


The double world champion has the full approval and support of McLaren and engine partner Honda, who are having a difficult season in Formula 1. Alonso, 35, will race for the Honda-powered Andretti team on 28 May, and the car will be branded a McLaren. McLaren are yet to decide who will replace him in Monaco that weekend, but Jenson Button is a possibility. The 2009 world champion has retired from F1 but is contracted to McLaren as an ambassador. It is not known whether the Briton would want to come back to drive an uncompetitive car. Alonso said he had long held an ambition to win the so-called 'triple crown' of Monaco, the Indy 500 and Le Mans. Only one man has won all three in his career - the late Graham Hill in the 1960s. Alonso, who won the Monaco Grand Prix in 2006 and 2007, said: "It's a tough challenge, but I'm up for it. "I don't know when I'm going to race at Le Mans, but one day I intend to. I'm only 35. I've got plenty of time for that." The Spaniard added he would definitely race for McLaren for the rest of the season, dismissing speculation he could quit part way through the year because of the Honda F1 engine's poor performance. "It's of course a regret that I won't be able to race at Monaco this year," he said. "But Monaco will be the only 2017 grand prix I'll be missing, and I'll be back in the cockpit for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal in early June. "I've never raced an IndyCar car before, and neither have I ever driven on a super-speedway, but I'm confident I'll get to grips with it fast. "I've watched a lot of IndyCar action on TV and online, and it's clear that great precision is required to race in close proximity with other cars on the far side of 220mph [354km/h]." Alonso acknowledged he would be on "a steep learning curve". But he added: "I'll be flying to Indianapolis from Barcelona immediately after the Spanish Grand Prix, practising our McLaren-Honda-Andretti car at Indy from 15 May onwards, hopefully clocking up a large number of miles every day, and I know how good the Andretti Autosport guys are. "I'll be proud to race with them, and I intend to mine their knowledge and expertise for as much information as I possibly can." McLaren have supported Alonso's wishes because they recognise the efforts he has been putting in - and the frustration he is feeling - after three uncompetitive seasons since joining the team in 2015. McLaren executive director Zak Brown said: "Could Fernando win this year's Indy 500? Well, I wouldn't be so silly as to make any such rash prediction, but I expect him to be in the mix. "Put it this way: the team he'll be racing for won the race last year, using the same Honda engine, and he's the best racing driver in the world. That's quite a compelling combination. "He'll have his work cut

Summary: McLaren driver Fernando Alonso will miss the Monaco Grand Prix in May so he can race in the Indianapolis 500.


Media playback is not supported on this device The 25-year-old scored 47 goals in 141 appearances for Barca and netted two goals in the World Cup in Brazil. He said: "I'm so happy to be joining a club which has a great manager, a fantastic squad of players and huge support around the world. "I'm looking forward to playing in the Premier League and Champions League." The Gunners also remain on course to sign French right-back Mathieu Debuchy, 28, from Newcastle United. Liverpool were keen on recruiting Sanchez as part of the deal that is likely to take striker Luis Suarez from Anfield to the Nou Camp, but that is now expected to be a straight cash transfer. Juventus had also shown a strong interest in Sanchez but the Italians are reportedly closing in on Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata instead. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: "As many people have seen during the World Cup this summer, Alexis is a fantastic footballer and we are delighted that he is joining us. "Alexis will add power, creativity and much quality to our squad and we are all looking forward to him joining up with us in a few weeks." Sanchez, who has made 71 appearances for Chile, scoring 24 goals, helped his country reach the World Cup last 16, where they lost on penalties to Brazil. He completed his medical in London on Thursday and will join up with his new team-mates at the end of July, after spending some time on holiday following the World Cup. In addition to pursuing Debuchy, Arsenal are still in the market for a holding midfielder and back-up goalkeeper. Their move for the defender is at an advanced stage but the clubs are yet to agree a fee, with Newcastle, who signed Debuchy from Lille for £5m in 2013, understood to be seeking in the region of £10m. Debuchy would replace Bacary Sagna, who left Arsenal to join Manchester City.

Summary: Chile international striker Alexis Sanchez has signed for Arsenal from Barcelona on a long-term contract for a fee in the region of £35m.


Media playback is not supported on this device Extending their run to 19 in Ireland next weekend would secure Eddie Jones' side back-to-back Grand Slams, another feat beyond their legendary predecessors. However, they will need to win a World Cup of their own to join the 2003 team in the pantheon of English sides. Next Saturday, the current team do have the chance to do something that eluded Woodward's side in 2001 when, having beaten Scotland by 40 points, they failed in their shot at a Grand Slam as they lost in Dublin. They are not yet the finished article - and have some way to go to match the achievement of the World Cup winners - but how do they compare man to man to the greats of 2003? Whereas Josh Lewsey could alternate between the two positions, Mike Brown is definitely a full-back, not a winger. He is the classic high-ball warrior, relishing the aerial battle that is such a big part of the modern game. Ireland's Rob Kearney, Wales' Dan Biggar and New Zealand's Ben Smith are among the best in the world at fielding the ping-pong kicking exchanges, but none are better than Brown. Lewsey is a better all-rounder however. He eclipses Brown in attack with his speed, and was rock-solid in defence. His rib-breaking hit on Australia's Mat Rogers the summer before the World Cup final left his opposite number unable to surf as lying on the board was too uncomfortable. Poor Jack Nowell. Any wing in the world would suffer by this comparison because Jason Robinson had unique attacking skills. He combined the best step I have ever seen with breathtaking acceleration that would leave defenders choking on dust. Nowell has boundless energy and always wants to get his hands on the ball and take on the opposition. Still only 23, that attitude has fuelled his improvement with every game. What a contrast. Jonathan Joseph and Mike Tindall are two totally different types of players, but each perfectly fitted their eras. Tindall was direct, confrontational and strong, but he also had an eye for the pass and the ability to deliver it. He was uncompromising in attack and defence, relishing the collision with or without the ball. Joseph's most eye-catching quality is his pace and ability to pick a defence-piercing line. We saw the perfect demonstration of that in his hat-trick performance against Scotland on Saturday. His defence is more subtle than Tindall's crash-bang style, but it is equally effective. While there were differences at outside centre, the two sides' inside centres bring similar assets to the table. Will Greenwood was both a playmaker and try-scorer for the 2003 side. He was deceptively quick, picking clever lines and gobbling up the yards with his long stride. He has a superb rugby brain, and made time and space for others as well as finding holes to exploit himself. Farrell has perhaps improved more than any other player under the guidance of England coach Eddie Jones. His running with ball in hand is now a real threat to

Summary: Victory against Scotland on Saturday was a world record-equalling 18th in a row for the current England team, who were already on a longer winning streak than Sir Clive Woodward's 2003 world champions - their best was 14.


The 26-year-old collided with Black Cats midfielder Wahbi Khazri. "It is dislocated so he is out for several weeks," said United boss Louis van Gaal after Saturday's game. Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, Ashley Young, Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones and Guillermo Varela are out - leaving Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Donald Love as the club's only fit full-backs. Love, 21, who was on loan at Wigan earlier this season, came off the bench during the Premier League game to make his first-team debut. Saturday was also the first time he had featured in United's first-team squad. Borthwick-Jackson, 19, made his first-team debut in November. "We don't have any more full-backs in this club," added Van Gaal. "I have to line up a 13-year-old guy or someone like that." Darmian joined United from Italian side Torino last summer and started at right-back against Sunderland.

Summary: Matteo Darmian added to Manchester United's full-back problems after dislocating his shoulder at Sunderland.


22 November 2015 Last updated at 05:46 GMT Zimasa Mabela broke new ground when she took charge of a de-mining ship based in Cape Town last month. The 38-year-old mother of two says she wants to be judged on her ability to command and not her gender. The BBC's Nomsa Maseko spent the day with her on her ship. Our 100 Women season showcases two weeks of inspirational stories about the BBC 100 Women and others who defy stereotypes around the world. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram using the hashtag #100Women.

Summary: The first African woman to command a navy vessel has recently been appointed in South Africa.


Staff will walk out from 00:01 BST on 12 August until 23.59 BST on 15 August, and for three days over the UK Bank Holiday weekend from 27 August. The union says the dispute is over unsocial hours and duty rosters for about 80 train managers. Eurostar said all passengers with reservations will be able to travel. A spokesman said: "On the days of the strike we have made some small changes to our timetable to ensure that all passengers booked to travel will be able to on those days. Passengers affected will be notified in advance." The company added it has been planning for possible strike action and is still in discussions with the RMT over the dispute. Eurostar runs trains between London and mainland Europe and the first planned walk out coincides with the Assumption Day bank holiday in France and Belgium on 15 August. The RMT says Eurostar has failed to honour an agreement from 2008 over conditions for their staff. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Our train manager members at Eurostar have a heavy commitment to shift work and unsocial hours and are sick and tired of the company's failure to honour agreements. "Our members have every right to have a fair work-life balance that fulfils the operational needs of the company while guaranteeing quality time off for friends and family. "It's now time for Eurostar to come to the negotiating table with a set of proposals that honours our agreements and guarantees our members a genuine work-life balance." The RMT announcement comes amid strikes by its members on Southern and Virgin Trains East Coast. Southern Rail staff are in the midst a five-day strike over the role of conductors, while the RMT announced on Tuesday that its members on the Virgin East Coast line voted to walk out in a dispute over staffing changes. The RMT says the action on Southern Railway workers will be suspended on Thursday and Friday if the company agrees to urgent talks without pre-conditions.

Summary: Eurostar rail workers are to take seven days of strike action this month in a dispute over their work-life balance, the RMT union says.


The party, founded in 2015, is contesting seven seats on 8 June and launched its manifesto on Friday. Leader Sophie Walker said it included plans for more parental leave and 40 hours free child care a week. The Lib Dems are also pledging an extra month of paternity leave on top of the current statutory two weeks. The party, which pushed for the introduction of shared parental leave when in coalition with the Conservatives, said it would outline how the measure would be funded when its manifesto is published. But former Lib Dem minister Jo Swinson said: "More needs to be done in order to encourage men to take leave when they become a dad, to bond with their child during the early weeks and months of their life." Since 2003, new fathers have been entitled to two weeks' paid leave if they meet certain criteria, such as having worked for their employer for a defined length of time. Statutory paternity pay is currently £140.98 a week or 90% of average weekly earnings, if that is lower. In April 2015, new rights came in to allow parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay, if it is agreed with the employer with eight weeks' notice. Ms Walker told BBC Radio 4's Women's Hour that the party's manifesto pledged a "fully equal" system of parental leave, for both parents, including adoptive parents and same sex couples. This would include three months off work on 90% of pay. She said that many men could not currently afford to take their full paternity leave entitlement. She put the cost of the policy at £6.5bn, based on average salaries, numbers of people with children and numbers of those in work and said it would be partly funded by taking £4bn from the government's infrastructure investment fund. Employers would also be asked to pay an insurance levy of 0.076% of salary costs. "We have to invest pound for pound in physical infrastructure and social infrastructure," she told the programme. "Physical infrastructure is one way of creating jobs and economic growth - but social infrastructure is really vital." She also elaborated on her plan for 40 hours a week free childcare for children aged between nine months and primary school age - at a cost of £33bn, which Ms Walker said should be funded by changes to pension tax relief, rises in alcohol and fuel duty and postponing cuts to corporation tax. She said the pledge would revolutionise lives and would help businesses. From September, three- and four-year-olds in England will be entitled to 30 free hours of care per week in term time - up from the current 15 hours, although there have been some concerns it will mean higher fees and extra charges. Other pledges include tackling violence against women with better funding for specialist services, improving funding for social care and introduce a right to paid leave for carers. Ms Walker said her party was inviting the biggest parties to steal its policies "because we want to get the

Summary: The Women's Equality Party says it would invest in "social infrastructure" with free childcare and "fully equal" parental leave.


The move comes after an increase in syringe finds. The Belfast Telegraph reported the "sharps disposal boxes" will be placed in public toilets in Belfast. The first box was installed in the Dublin Road at the end of 2014. Since then, five more have been put in public toilets. They are in Custom House Square, Winetavern Street, Lombard Street, the Ormeau Road and the Antrim Road. When all six are rolled out, 12 of the 14 public toilets in Belfast will have sharps disposal facilities. The needle bins are small silver plaques sited on the wall with the words "sharps disposal" on them. There is a hole in the middle to allow people to dispose of used needles in a secure container. The issue was raised at a meeting of the People and Communities Committee in April. The council minutes said the increase in boxes was down to an increase in sharps finds. It said that the BBC had reported that the Council's "Needle Exchange Programme" witnessed an increase in visits in four years, from 7,500 to just under 15,000. Following this increase in sharps finds, the council "liaised with their contracted service providers and other public bodies on an ongoing basis to take measures to counteract this behaviour". The council said that work is ongoing to install the remaining six boxes throughout 2017-2018.

Summary: Belfast City Council has said it plans to install six more needle bins to allow injecting drug users to safely dispose of used syringes.


The official status of the much-loved animal has been changed from "endangered" to "vulnerable" because of a population rebound in China. The change was announced as part of an update to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. But the update also brought bad news. The eastern gorilla, the world's largest primate, is now endangered. Efforts by China, which claims the giant panda as its national animal, have brought its numbers back from the brink. The latest estimates show a population of 1,864 adults. How did China save the panda? Eastern gorillas threatened with extinction There are no exact figures for the numbers of cubs, but estimates bring the total number of giant pandas to 2,060. "Evidence from a series of range-wide national surveys indicate that the previous population decline has been arrested, and the population has started to increase," said the IUCN's updated report. "The improved status confirms that the Chinese government's efforts to conserve this species are effective," it added. But the rebound could be short-lived, the IUCN warned. Climate change is predicted to wipe out more than one-third of the panda's bamboo habitat in the next 80 years. "And thus panda population is projected to decline, reversing the gains made during the last two decades," the report said. It added: "To protect this iconic species, it is critical that the effective forest protection measures are continued and that emerging threats are addressed." John Robinson, a primatologist and chief conservation officer at the Wildlife Conservation Society, told the AFP news agency: "When push comes to shove, the Chinese have done a really good job with pandas. "So few species are actually downlisted, it really is a reflection of the success of conservation," he told the AFP news agency." A surge of illegal hunting has taken the eastern gorilla in the other direction, reducing its numbers to just 5,000 across the globe. Four out of six of the Earth's great apes are now critically endangered - the eastern gorilla, western gorilla, Bornean orangutan and Sumatran orangutan. "Today is a sad day because the IUCN Red List shows we are wiping out some of our closest relatives," Inger Andersen, IUCN director general, told reporters. The number of eastern gorillas has declined more than 70% in the past two decades. The IUCN Red List includes 82,954 species, both plants and animals. Almost one third, 23,928, are listed as being threatened with extinction.

Summary: The giant panda is no longer an endangered species, following decades of work by conservationists to save it.


The Scottish writer posted a message on his official website saying his next novel The Quarry, due to be published later this year, would be his last. The 59-year-old's novels include The Wasp Factory, The Crow Road, Complicity and the Culture series. The statement said his health problems came to light when he saw his doctor, suffering from a sore back. He was diagnosed with jaundice, before further tests established the full extent of his illness. In the personal statement on his website, Banks said he had asked his partner Adele to marry him and was now on a short honeymoon. Banks' first novel The Wasp Factory was published in 1984 and introduced the Fife-born writer as a dark new force in British literature. Described in turn as "macabre... bizarre... and depraved," the book was included in a 1997 poll of the 20th Century's top 100 books, placed higher than Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Subsequent novels, including Espedair Street and The Crow Road, were adapted for radio and television and his 1993 book Complicity was made into a film in 2000, starring Trainspotting's Jonny Lee Miller. Considered one of Scotland's foremost writers, most of whose books are set in his home country, the writer ventures further afield in his parallel career as a writer of science fiction under the guise of Iain M Banks. Using his middle name of Menzies - on the advice of his publisher who said it looked "more American" for a US market - several of Banks' sci-fi works are set in the Culture universe, a semi-anarchist utopia. His most recent work in the so-called Culture series - The Hydrogen Sonata - was released last year. In its review - the Independent praised Banks' "taste for the absurd". Fellow Scottish author, Ian Rankin, said the news of Banks' terminal cancer was "just awful". He Tweeted: "Typical of Iain to propose marriage to his partner Adele with the words 'Will you do me the honour of becoming my widow?" Banks, who lives in North Queensferry, Fife, said he had cancelled all future public engagements. He said: "The bottom line now, I'm afraid, is that as a late-stage gall bladder cancer patient, I'm expected to live for 'several months' and it's extremely unlikely I'll live beyond a year. "So it looks like my latest novel, The Quarry, will be my last." He said the disease had spread to both lobes of his liver, and possibly his pancreas and lymph nodes. The author said there was little chance of surgeons being able to remove the tumours because of how far they had spread. He has asked his publishers to bring forward the publication of his new book to "give me a better chance of being around when it hits the shelves." Banks also praised NHS staff who have looked after him - and said he may undergo chemotherapy to extend his life when his jaundice clears up. He said: "We're all just sorry the outcome hasn't been more cheerful." Born in Fife, Banks studied

Summary: Author Iain Banks has revealed that he has late stage cancer and is unlikely to live for more than a year.


Plantasia is set to be shut as part of Â£81m in savings needed by the city council over the next three years. The site at Parc Tawe attracts about 80,000 visitors a year, and its greenhouses are home to several endangered species and tropical plants. A 'Friends of Plantasia' group says it wants to explore funding options to save the site. The hothouses are home to cotton top tamarin monkeys, parakeets, bearded dragons, chameleons and a Burmese python, in addition to its collection of tropical plants and trees - including passion fruit, banana, fig and sugar cane. "I feel very, very sad it's facing closure, Plantasia is such an iconic attraction," said Kate Cross, from the campaign group. "The staff have always gone out of their way to be fantastically knowledgeable, very friendly and very approachable. "We would like the City and people who have the expertise to get behind us and to offer us grants or funding - anything to preserve this attraction." The group will meet next week to see if there is an option to establish a trust, and seek expert advice on funding. Staff at the centre have already been served with 90-day redeployment notices, after Swansea council voted through the closure plans in February. A spokesman said: "We have a budget deficit of Â£81m over the next three years and have to make difficult decisions to protect as many vital services as possible." They said discussions with a number of interested parties and the private owners of Parc Tawe are on-going about the attraction's future. "If Plantasia is closed then the continued welfare of its animals and plants will be of paramount importance," he added.

Summary: An indoor 'rainforest' under threat of closure in Swansea could be run as a trust, say campaigners.


The sell-out Barbican show has nine nominations, including best actor for the Sherlock star. Musicals Kinky Boots and In The Heights also have nine nominations each. The winners, chosen by public vote, will be announced at an awards concert on 21 February 2016 at the Prince of Wales Theatre. Hamlet's nominations include supporting actor nods for Ciaran Hinds, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Sian Brooke and Anastasia Hille, while Lyndsey Turner is shortlisted for best director. The production made headlines this summer after it shifted the position of Hamlet's famous "to be or not to be" soliloquy. Cumberbatch had also made a plea to fans during early performances not to film his performance. The 39-year-old actor faces competition in the best actor category from James McAvoy (The Ruling Class), Bradley Cooper (The Elephant Man), Mark Rylance (Farinelli and the King) and Alex Hassell (Henry V). Nicole Kidman is nominated for best actress in a play for her part as a pioneering scientist in Photograph 51. She is up against Rosalie Craig (As You Like It), Denise Gough (People, Places, Things), Harriet Walter (Death Of A Salesman) and Lia Williams (Oresteia). Photograph 51 and Farinelli and the King are both nominated for best new play, along with Oppenheimer, People, Places and Things and Hangmen. The recently-opened Elf the Musical is up for best new musical category in competition with Kinky Boots, Bend It Like Beckham, Beautiful and In the Heights. THE 16TH ANNUAL WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS NOMINEES IN FULL: Best Actor in a Play: Best Actress in a Play: Best Actor in a Musical: Best Actress in a Musical: Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Best New Play: Best New Musical: Best Play Revival: Best Musical Revival: Best Direction: Best Choreography: Best Set Design: Best Lighting Design: Best Off-West End Production: Best Regional Production: Best West End Show:

Summary: The blockbuster production of Hamlet, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, is the most nominated play at the WhatsOnStage awards.


Downing Street has publicly rebuked the foreign secretary for accusing UK ally Saudi Arabia of engaging in "proxy wars" in the Middle East. Number 10 said his views did not represent "the government's position". Sir Malcolm Rifkind, a former Conservative foreign secretary, said "the jury is out" on Mr Johnson's future in the job. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Mr Johnson was not entitled to make public statements which are "completely at variance with what the government line is", and the prime minister was right to slap him down. Sir Malcolm said: "If he wants to be foreign secretary for the foreseeable future - and he could be a very good one, he's a highly intelligent guy... it's the question of his temperament". Mr Johnson is to deliver a keynote speech at a major regional conference in Bahrain on Friday before heading to Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Theresa May's official spokeswoman said the prime minister had "full confidence" in Mr Johnson but that his comments at a conference in Italy were his own personal view. She added that Mr Johnson will have the opportunity to set out official policy - of Britain's desire to strengthen its ties with Saudi Arabia and support for its controversial military involvement in Yemen - when he travels to the desert kingdom. Sir Malcolm said: "He's often been in this situation before, and he's got a remarkable use of language." However, if Mr Johnson persists in offering his personal view in public, Sir Malcolm said: "I think inevitably the prime minister would say - look is his role adding to the benefits for the United Kingdom". "He might end up being more comfortable in another senior cabinet position". Mr Johnson's comments were made at a conference last week but only emerged after the The Guardian newspaper published footage of the event. In it the foreign secretary said: "There are politicians who are twisting and abusing religion and different strains of the same religion in order to further their own political objectives. "That's one of the biggest political problems in the whole region. And the tragedy for me - and that's why you have these proxy wars being fought the whole time in that area - is that there is not strong enough leadership in the countries themselves." In defence of Mr Johnson, Tory colleague and housing minister Gavin Barwell said: "It's his job to set out the concerns that we have." He told the Daily Telegraph newspaper that Saudi Arabia was a "friend" but he added: "Many of our constituents have concerns and it's quite right that we should raise them." Meanwhile, Tory backbencher Sarah Wollaston tweeted: "Boris was speaking the truth on proxy wars and it's time for all parties in the region to end the sectarian bloodbath. "To proxy wars charge I'd add beheadings, judicial mutilations, torture, violation of women's human rights through male guardianship, unfair trials, gross restrictions on free speech, rights of assembly and association, bombing civilians in Yemen." Mr Johnson's speech at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Manama

Summary: Boris Johnson is to begin a tour of the Middle East amid a row over comments he made about Saudi Arabia.


The watchdog is working with social media and leafleting every household about signing up. It has backed Facebook's new "life event" feature enabling people to tell friends they have registered to vote. The ballot on 18 September will ask the "Yes/No" question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" More than 4.1m people had registered to vote by 10 March 2014, according to the Commission's most recent figures. Those eligible to vote in Scotland include British, Irish and all other EU citizens as well as Commonwealth citizens. For the first time in the UK, the minimum voting age in the referendum has been lowered to 16. On 18 September millions of voters in Scotland will be able to decide whether their country should become independent. But how do voters register and then cast their ballot? BBC Scotland reporter Andrew Black takes you through the steps in this interactive guide. The Electoral Commission says that people must register to vote by 2 September. Scottish Facebook users who visit the social network site over the next few weeks will see posts in their newsfeed about an interactive referendum guide from the commission. Facebook politics and government specialist Elizabeth Linder said: "Millions of people from all walks of life use Facebook in Scotland, and have turned to Facebook in recent weeks to share their views on the independence debate. "But participating in the debate online isn't enough to get your opinion counted on September 18. "If you're not registered, you can't vote. It's that simple. "We hope that by enabling millions of people in Scotland to see this guide in their Facebook newsfeed, more people will know how to cast their ballot and have their say." As well as targeting young voters, the Electoral Commission is targeting other groups who are less likely to be registered to vote, including students and the homeless. Alex Robertson, director of communication at the commission, said: "We're working hard to make sure we reach all potential voters with our information campaign but we don't want to take any chances. "We're asking people to help spread the word and make sure that no one misses out on having their say. "We've produced lots of resources that people can use to do this. "They are free to use and anyone can get them from www.aboutmyvote.co.uk or by calling our helpline on 0800 3 280 280."

Summary: The Electoral Commission is intensifying efforts to encourage people in Scotland to register to vote in next month's referendum.


He last played in September and was put on a training regime after being ruled unfit and overweight. "I have had a good, constructive talk with Tony and the senior management and we all agree this is the best way forward for me," said the 23-year-old. Baggies boss Tony Pulis has said that Berahino is "close" to a return. The former England Under-21 international's form has suffered since he reacted angrily to a bid from Tottenham being turned down on transfer deadline day in summer 2015. He scored seven times in 35 games last season, compared to 20 goals in 45 appearances in 2014-15, after threatening to not play for club chairman Jeremy Peace. "This last year has been the most difficult of my career and it has left me short of the form and fitness required for the Premier League," said Berahino. "I have never been a player who lacked confidence or a belief in himself but that has been where I have found myself and it has hit me hard. "It has left me feeling depressed and struggling for focus which has made it even more difficult to regain full fitness." In a statement, the club said it hopes the "change of environment" at the camp in the south of France will help Berahino return to full fitness. West Brom host Burnley in the Premier League on Monday with full commentary available on BBC Radio 5 live from 20:00 GMT.

Summary: West Brom striker Saido Berahino says he is in a positive frame of mind despite being sent back to a conditioning camp in France.


Neil Jackson, 35, of Penylan, Cardiff, posed as a landlord online and took £12,840 from nine people but failed to let the three-bedroom home out. He took deposits before repeatedly cancelling move-in dates claiming his son was battling cancer and had died. Jackson previously admitted fraud at Cardiff Crown Court. Andrew Kendall, prosecuting, said Jackson told his victims he needed £1,400 to secure the property and arrange a move-in date only to later claim he could not drop off the keys to Cardiff because his son was ill in Plymouth. "He'd say things like he blamed nurses for not stitching his son back properly and even told one victim his son had died," he said. Mr Kendall said the lies had a "great impact" on some victims, with one couple left homeless and another left living in a caravan. He also pressured one woman into borrowing money from friends and selling possessions so he could "reserve" the home for her. Mr Kendall said Jackson was eventually found out when some victims found news reports on him being jailed in 2012 for again using his two-year-old son to defraud £60,000. The former Tesco store manager tricked his workmates for three years, claiming he had cancer and his son had cerebral palsy. Staff donated money to pay for private treatment but he used it to fund holidays to Las Vegas and Hawaii. David Pinnell, defending, said Jackson was "genuinely remorseful" and had used the money to pay off debts to people who protected him in prison. Jailing him for two years, Recorder of Cardiff Eleri Rees, told him: "You have to understand given your track record for elaborate lies the court finds it hard to take what you're saying at face value. "Some of the victims were in precarious financial situations so the impact on them has been very serious. Others ended up living in a caravan."

Summary: A man who falsely claimed his son had died from cancer to scam would-be tenants out of thousands of pounds has been jailed for two years.


The 50-year-old, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victims, was found guilty of 75 charges. The offences took place on dates between October 1994 and July 2012, at the family's Dublin home. The judge said that the fact that the man had fought the case to conviction, added indignity to each of the victims. She noted that defence said the man's wife still stands by him. Victim impact statements from the three sisters were read out in court. The eldest of the three sisters, said that her mother, who gave evidence in support of her husband, "used to be a nice person but seems to be insane now". Her next youngest sister described having "nightmares about our father abusing me and my sisters" and that the family had difficulty in relating to each other now as they each "tried to deal with what went on in our own ways". The other daughter said that she had had substance abuse problems since she was a teenager as a result of the abuse. She said that she hoped her father would get the help he needs. The man has 57 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences. He has no previous convictions for sex crimes. The judge praised the victims as "persons of very great courage and determination".

Summary: A man has been jailed for 17 years for raping and sexually abusing his three daughters, over an 18-year period.


The judge, who chairs the inquiry, said in an article in the Observer it must strike a balance between the rights of accusers and the accused. But she also dismissed claims it would mainly focus on famous people. The inquiry is examining how public bodies handled their duty of care to protect children from abuse. In the article she said a number of commentators "have in past weeks spoken out, inaccurately, about the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which I chair and the way in which the inquiry will conduct its work. I'd like to correct those inaccuracies." It comes after the former conservative MP Harvey Proctor, who was cleared of being part of a Westminster paedophile ring, criticised Justice Goddard for suggesting the inquiry would consider the actions of the police from the standpoint of victims and survivors. Mr Proctor, 69, had his home raided and was questioned as part of Operation Midland but it was found there was insufficient evidence even to justify a prosecution being considered. He claimed it "irreparably ruined my life" and said that to review investigations from just the victims' standpoint lacked judicial balance. But Justice Goddard promised the inquiry will hear evidence from those affected by false allegations of abuse, recognising the damage that can be caused. "Those who have claimed recently that the inquiry will consider only the perspectives of victims and survivors, and exclude those of others affected by allegations of child sexual abuse, are wrong," she said. "As I announced last November, the inquiry intends to explore the balance that must be struck between encouraging the reporting of child sexual abuse and protecting the rights of the accused." Justice Goddard added that the inquiry had already announced 13 investigations to date, most of which "do not relate to individuals of public prominence". The inquiry is examining allegations of past and ongoing failures to protect children in schools, children's homes, secure accommodation and local authority care. It will also look at the responses of institutions, including the police, health service, the Crown Prosecution Service and religious bodies to allegations of child sexual abuse as well as investigating broader issues, such as the role of the internet in facilitating abuse. In the past three weeks preliminary hearings into four investigations have taken place including those looking into Lambeth Council, Rochdale Council and the Anglican Church.

Summary: The public inquiry into child sexual abuse will not ignore the damage done to prominent people who were falsely accused, Justice Lowell Goddard says.


Photographers and film-makers Kris Reid and Marty Bell, who grew up in the Highlands, and Sheffield-born Tom Welsh launched Tens in 2014. They initially raised money for the business through crowdfunding. The investment from Virgin Group founder, Sir Richard, will be used to promote sales of Tens overseas. At the moment, the UK is the largest market for the product. The three friends have not disclosed the value of Sir Richard's investment, but said it was "significant". Mr Bell, from Inverness, Mr Reid, who is also from Inverness and grew up in Beauly, and Mr Welsh met while studying at Napier University in Edinburgh. They came up with the idea to create their own sunglasses brand on a road trip in the Scottish Highlands.

Summary: A sunglasses brand founded by three friends in the Scottish Highlands and now based in Glasgow has secured investment from Sir Richard Branson.


City supporters' organisation the 1894 Group, which has criticised the club's ticket prices, said it was a "step in the right direction". But, in a statement, the group added: "It's vital we keep the pressure on the club and use our collective voices." Swansea are also among the Premier League teams to cap their prices. West Ham, meanwhile, will lower season-ticket prices for their move to the Olympic Stadium for 2016-17. Liverpool cancelled plans to introduce a £77 ticket next season after thousands of fans walked out of Anfield after 77 minutes of their game with Sunderland in February. In March, all Premier League clubs agreed to cap the price of tickets for away supporters at £30.

Summary: Manchester City will freeze season-ticket prices next season, matching the commitment made by Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.


The 32-year-old Pole, who has limited movement in his right arm, drove 115 laps in a 2012 car for the Renault team at a test in Valencia on Tuesday. "I'm proud with what I achieved but also it shows what I've lost," he said. "I don't know what the future will bring but I ran with good pace and consistently in difficult conditions." Kubica's F1 career was cut short following a crash in a rally car in February 2011 as he was preparing for his second season with Renault. He was severely injured when a crash barrier pierced the car, causing multiple arm and leg fractures and partially severing his right arm. Kubica, who won the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix for BMW Sauber and was considered one of the fastest and most talented drivers in the sport, competed in rallying from 2013-16 and has begun to explore a comeback to circuit racing. His comments, made in a statement by the Renault team, did not address whether he thought he was capable of returning to F1. So far, this has not been possible because the limited movement in his right arm had meant he was not able to turn a steering wheel sufficiently in the tight confines of an F1 cockpit to be able to drive on all the tracks on the calendar.

Summary: Robert Kubica said he had "mixed feelings" about his performance after his first test in a Formula 1 car since injury curtailed his career in 2011.


Igors Zunda, 33, died when Jurijs Zunda collided with a lorry on the A43 in Northamptonshire in 2012. Igors's son, who was two years old, was confined to a wheelchair as a result of the crash, the High Court heard. The undisclosed settlement for Igors' widow Marina Kruglova, 30, is to be paid by the Motor Insurers' Bureau. The bureau is the body which compensates victims of uninsured motorists. The Mazda 5 car, which had four passengers, collided with a DAF lorry at Duddington near Corby on 4 December 2012. Another passenger, Jevgenijs Draguns was also killed, while Julija Vonfelfende was injured. Jurijs Zunda was jailed for 18 months in 2013 after pleading guilty to a charge of causing death by driving while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured and he has since returned to Latvia. The terms of the settlement were not revealed in court. Interim compensation payments had already been paid to allow Ms Kruglova to adapt her home for her son, who is now five years old. She was living in Lincoln, but is now in Glenfield, Leicester. Judge Gary Burrell QC expressed his "admiration for her ability to come to terms with what has happened and to strive forward".

Summary: A mother is to get compensation after her husband was killed and young son left paralysed in a car crash in which her brother-in-law was driving.


Mehran Azami on Monday appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on multiple charges connected to the plot. Azami pleaded guilty to 19 charges of importing restricted goods, including knives and stun guns, local media said. A teenager from the UK has also admitted involvement in the plan which was targeting police at the parade. Police say they prevented the attack, planned for Melbourne, when Azami and others were arrested in anti-terrorism raids. A UK court has heard that several of the alleged plotters were supporters of the Islamic State militant group. Anzac Day, held on 25 April each year, commemorates the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps' World War One battle in Gallipoli, with this year marking its centenary. Azami was remanded in custody until October, said the Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC). He was 19 when he was arrested after police launched counter-terrorism raids in April. The Melbourne Magistrates Court had previously heard Azami had given some weapons to Harun Causevic and Sevdet Besim, who are charged with conspiring to plan the attack, reported The Australian. Defence lawyer Charles Atlas has previously said Azami was suffering from a mental illness and was being kept at a psychiatric facility. A teenager from Blackburn in the UK earlier this month pleaded guilty to one count of inciting terrorism by encouraging the murder of police officers during the parade. The 15-year-old appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from Manchester Crown Court, speaking only to enter his plea. He could not be named for legal reasons. The Old Bailey heard the boy, who was 14 at the time, sent thousands of instant messages to 18-year-old Besim in Australia over a 10-day period in March. The boy sent a message to the older teenager suggesting he got his "first taste of beheading," prosecutor Paul Greaney QC said, to which Besim replied that this seemed "risky". According to the Australia government, at least 100 Australians are fighting with terror groups in the Middle East, and another 150 people in Australia are known to be supporting such groups.

Summary: A man has pleaded guilty to supplying weapons for a foiled terror plot at an Anzac Day remembrance parade in Australia.


The owl was found on marshes at the former Bettisfield colliery in Bagillt. RSPCA inspector Jenny Anderton said the bird had no major injuries but was "extremely thin and just needs time to fully recuperate". The bird is now a rarely seen guest at the Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre - where just five of the owls have been treated in the last decade.

Summary: A "rare" short-eared owl found emaciated in Flintshire is now recuperating well, the RSPCA have said.


Margate's Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) hospital has rearranged rotas in anticipation of shortages. East Kent Hospitals fears locums will refuse work because of a drop in pay of 20% when tax and national insurance is deducted at source from Thursday. However, the NHS trust dismissed a claim it could partially close an A&E department to ease any shortage. The British Medical Association (BMA) could not comment on whether locums would turn up for work but said working conditions including unmanageable workloads were causing shortages across the health service. The Health Service Journal has described the NHS as being in a "Mexican standoff" with staff over the new tax rules, with other hospitals potentially affected. Live: More on this story and other news from Kent About 80% of Margate's Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) hospital's middle grade doctors in the emergency department are locums, according to a document seen by BBC South East. That compares to 35% at William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, it says. It suggests locums are planning to withdraw from shifts despite a 12% increase in their rate - to £75 an hour from about £65. The document outlines suggestions for coping with a staff shortage which include cancelling operations and drafting in other healthcare staff. The hospital is offering substantive staff £90 an hour to do extra shifts and cancelling annual leave but is doubtful this will solve the problem, the document says. It lists a range of possible coping measures including: In a statement, the trust said: "These suggestions were made by local staff. Only one option is being taken forward by the trust which is combining rotas across our two accident and emergency departments. "We have not considered and are not introducing any partial closures, temporary or otherwise, to the A&E department of the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital or the closure of Buckland Hospital. "As for paying more money, a new rate of £75 an hour has been mooted, an increase of more than 10%." The Deputy Chief Executive of East Kent hospitals said it was considering the locum rate but had not yet agreed one. Dr Mark Porter, BMA council chair, said: "We are seeing the result of years of poor workforce planning being borne out. Locums are an important part of the NHS workforce but cannot provide a solution to long-term gaps in the NHS workforce. "Hospitals are increasingly relying on locums as they are unable to attract staff to take up full-time posts, or cannot advertise for full-time positions due to funding pressures. "We need to urgently address the working conditions, including unmanageable workloads, which are causing staff shortages across the health service, particularly in areas such as emergency and acute medicine."

Summary: A hospital has planned for a possible lack of doctors as a result of tax changes, the BBC understands.


Storer will move to St Andrew's on a six-month deal, to start when the transfer window reopens in May. The 18-year-old will initially feature for Blues' development squad, having previously been part of the club's academy until Under-15 level. He became a Stevenage scholar in 2014, signing his first contract last year. Storer has made one first-team appearance for Stevenage, as a late substitute in their 3-0 league defeat at Leyton Orient last August. Meanwhile, fellow teenager David Popa, also 18, has become the latest Blues academy player to sign professional terms. The Romanian striker, who has scored three times in seven games on loan at Kettering Town in the Northern Premier League, follows the lead of free-scoring academy striker Ronan Hale in agreeing a new deal. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Birmingham City have signed promising teenage striker Jack Storer from League Two side Stevenage for an undisclosed five-figure fee.


The scheme, introduced by mayor George Ferguson, aims to reduce commuter parking in the city. Spike Island has become the 16th and final area to have parking restrictions introduced. The first one started in Kingsdown five years ago. The policy has led to protests and vandalism of some parking machines. Some business owners have said it has damaged trade. Mr Ferguson said: "The rollout has done what I hoped it would do, with most opposition fading once a scheme goes live, and the majority of residents and traders being pleasantly surprised. "The feedback we're getting is that parking becomes much easier in the residents' parking zones." He added that he would ask for the views of local councillors and neighbourhood partnerships before "reconsidering an extension to the scheme".

Summary: The final residents' parking zone (RPZ) has been introduced in Bristol.