Many commentators condemn the police action against the Zaman newspaper and Samanyolu TV channel as a clampdown on press freedom. Both are described as being close to Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, the spiritual leader of the Hizmet movement, whom Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses of running a "parallel state". Pro-government newspapers, however, defend the authorities' action. "Hitler also started like this," says opposition leftist daily Taraf. "A strike against democracy," exclaims pro-Gulen newspaper Bugun. "A raid meant to silence," declares Cumhuriyet. A commentary in the secular daily states that the administration led by President Erdogan "doesn't like anything that is associated with freedom of the press". "It is indisputable that this operation is aimed at strengthening RTE's [Recep Tayyip Erdogan's] authoritarianism and dictatorship," says the article. "Opposing the raid against Zaman and Samanyolu TV and the detentions does not mean defending their [the Gulen community's] opinions, beliefs and activities. What is at stake here is the freedom of press," argues centre-left daily Radikal. Zaman, the moderate, pro-Islamic and pro-Gulen daily whose editor in-chief Ekrem Dumanli was detained by the police, has replaced its blue and white masthead with black lettering. "Dark day for democracy," says the paper's headline. Zaman also runs an article by Mr Dumanli in which he condemns those "who want to turn the country into a spy state and a republic of fear, and want to govern it as if it was their own private fiefdom". "We have a duty to make sure this won't be the case," writes the arrested journalist. Turkish TV also aired criticism of the arrests. Privately-owned NTV and CNN-Turk showed footage of protesters in front of Zaman's headquarters in Istanbul, holding posters saying, ''We all need free press'' and ''Free media cannot be silenced." CNN Turk and NTV broadcast critical statements from Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). He condemned the police action as a "coup". Mr Kilicdaroglu was also seen on state TRT Haber TV saying that ''if this country's media are not free, then the people will not be free either''. Pro-government media have largely expressed strong support for the arrests. All the participants in a studio discussion on pro-Erdogan Kanal 24 TV backed the actions of the authorities, with one of the guests warning that "this is only the beginning", and that new measures were imminent against a "large gang'' made up of subversive elements in the police, the courts, the media and business circles. "Those who see this as an issue of media freedom know pretty well where the real problem lies," argues pro-government Yeni Safak. The paper states that no journalist should use his position "as a cover for other thingsâ€¦[to] turn journalism into a weapon and make it an extension of the struggle for power". Referring to last year's corruption allegations against Mr Erdogan, which he says were part of a plot to topple him, pro-government Sabah also points out that "it is time for those who made hundreds of people suffer with fake evidence to account for what they did".

Summary: The arrest of more than 20 people, many of them from Turkey's media, has ignited a war of words between pro-government and opposition press and TV outlets.


Ten Atlanta teachers have been jailed after investigators found wrong answers on test papers were erased and children told the right answers. The incentive - financial bonuses for good marks. Here are five more notorious examples of exam cheating. Red faces all round when allegations emerged in January that 34 US Air Force officers in charge of launching US nuclear missiles had cheated in proficiency tests. According to the US Air Force, some staff had sent answers by text message to others at the Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. It was a monthly test that all those dealing with nuclear missiles in the US must take. Other officers were accused of knowing about the cheating but failing to do anything about it. In Shaanxi province, 2,440 pharmacists were accused of cheating in a national licensing test according to China's state TV. The scam involved the use of earpieces last October. Fake candidates were sent into exams to get hold of the questions, the South China Morning Post reports. They then left the test centres early to find out the answers. Candidates who had paid the scammers the appropriate fee then received the correct answers through their earpieces. Several hundred people have been arrested in connection with mass school exam cheating in the Indian state of Bihar. Parents climbing school walls to pass the answers though windows may not be the most subtle method, but it's by no means the only one. Many students smuggled in textbooks and notes into the examination centres despite tight security. "Sports, Ethics and Religion" - the title of an undergraduate course at this US college in New Hampshire. The ethics element seems to have been a bit lost on some students though. Up to 64 were suspended for cheating in January, the Boston Globe reported. At issue were electronic hand-held clickers registered to individual students to answer questions in class. Some of these apparently fell into the wrong hands, enabling students to cheat. Some face a one-term suspension, the college says. Money seems to have been central to this one, according to the Cuban authorities. Eight people, five of them teachers, were arrested last year accused of selling university entrance exams. Thousands of of secondary school pupils in Havana were obliged to re-sit their exams, official newspaper Granma said.

Summary: Dubbed one of the biggest test cheating scandals in the US, more than 170 teachers and principals were found to have helped cheating in exams in 2009.


The long-term proposals for Hay Castle in Hay-on-Wye would allow it to open to the public for the first time. Hay Castle Trust has been awarded £528,600 to help develop the plans which include an arts centre. The castle was built in the late 12th Century by the powerful Norman Lord William de Braose. It was sacked the following century and rebuilt by Henry III. Castle House, the adjoining Jacobean mansion, was built in 1660 but was severely damaged by fire in 1939 and 1977. The castle has been owned by Richard Booth, the man credited with transforming Hay into a global attraction for second-hand book lovers, but was purchased in 2011 by the Hay Castle Trust. The Heritage Lottery Fund said the grant would help the trust to develop its plans. It eventually hopes to secure more than £4.8m to put towards proposals which include conserving the medieval and Jacobean buildings, and creating a new centre for arts and culture.

Summary: A medieval castle which stands over a Powys town is to receive more than £500,000 as part of plans to restore it.


Philip Moreton, 31, and Cheyrell Davie, 36, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court on a petition alleging the charge at the maximum security jail. They made no plea or declaration at a brief hearing in private. They were granted bail and the case against them was continued for further examination. A spokesman for the Crown Office confirmed that the couple face charges under the Prisons (Scotland) 1989 Act section 41, relating to the introduction of illicit items into the prison.

Summary: A couple have appeared in court accused of attempting to smuggle a mobile phone into Perth Prison by flying it over the security wall with a drone.


She met the country's Princess Stephanie and Prime Minister Xavier Bettel at the capital city's museum of modern art, Mudamon. The Duchess was given a guided tour of the exhibitions by British artists Sir Tony Cragg and Darren Almond. The treaty, signed in 1867, confirmed Luxembourg's independence and neutrality. On the trip Kate, who is a patron of the National Portrait Gallery, met people who worked in the arts and charitable sectors in Luxembourg. She also spoke to Oscar-winning director Laurent Witz, who won an academy award in 2014 for the Best Animated Short Film, Mr Hublot. Before leaving Luxembourg she was introduced to schoolchildren, aged five and six, from St George's International School. The UK's deputy ambassador to Luxembourg said: "We have a good strong bilateral relationship and always have with the Luxembourgers, they still very much recognise the role we had in liberating them during the war and we have a very strong relationship between the two financial centres particularly, and that's something we are very anxious to continue and maintain. "There are also close ties between the two royal families, with three generations of the Luxembourg royal family having been educated at our military academy at Sandhurst."

Summary: The Duchess of Cambridge has visited Luxembourg on her second solo trip, to mark 150 years of the Treaty of London.


A parade and service was held at Blandford Camp where thousands of sailors from the Collingwood Battalion trained. The Princess Royal attended the ceremony at the battalion's memorial. The service commemorated those who died during the Third Battle of Krithia on the Turkish peninsula. The battalion were almost totally destroyed during the eight-month campaign that was fought from 25 April 1915 to 9 January 1916. More than 100,000 troops were killed and hundreds of thousands more were wounded.

Summary: The centenary of the Gallipoli campaign - one of the bloodiest of World War One - has been marked with a memorial in Dorset.


The jet has been painted in the colours used at the time of the battle, which ran from July to September 1940. It also bears a red devil emblem in honour of the only RAF Fighter Command pilot awarded a Victoria Cross in the conflict. It was revealed during a ceremony at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. The Battle of Britain was the German air force's attempt to gain air superiority over the RAF. Their ultimate failure was one of the turning points of the Second World War and prevented Germany from invading Britain. During the unveiling ceremony, Wing Commander James Heald from RAF Coningsby, said: "What we've tried to do is recreate the paint job of the Hurricane flown by Flt Lt James Nicolson, who was the only Victoria Cross winner of the Battle of Britain. "He was damaged and wounded and was in the process of bailing out when an enemy aircraft appeared in front of him," he said. "So he climbed back in - shot down the enemy aircraft - then continued with his bail out." The commemorative Typhoon will fly alongside a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire at air shows during the summer. It will be flown by Flt Lt Ben Westoby-Brooks, who said: "It is a great privilege to fly this extraordinary aircraft in recognition of the sacrifices made by our predecessors 75 years ago. "Their task of securing the skies was critical in the summer of 1940 and it's an honour to pay tribute to those few brave airmen who gave their all when the stakes were so high."

Summary: A specially painted Eurofighter Typhoon commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain has been unveiled.


The tie-up could worsen the position for shoppers in local areas owing to a cut in quality, fewer promotions and store closures, an initial probe found. Poundland wants to buy its closest rival in an agreed deal worth £47.5m in cash and £7.5m in shares. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said this could hit 80 areas. These were where the companies, which have a combined network of 800 stores, currently overlap. There was a further 12 areas where they would be competitors in the near future. Following an initial investigation, the CMA said there was "a realistic prospect of substantial lessening of competition" in these areas. The authority said it would now move to a more in-depth investigation unless these concerns were addressed in a "clear-cut manner" by the companies.

Summary: Discount store Poundland's proposed purchase of rival 99p Stores for £55m faces an in-depth investigation by competition authorities.


Passengers were terrified as a gust of wind sent empty carriages swinging at the top of the 60m (198ft) Sky Swing at Cardiff's Winter Wonderland. Sayers Amusements, which operates it, said there was no fault with the ride. It said it shut down automatically - as it should - when the wind got too strong on Friday. The operator released a statement after it had investigated what happened on the towering ride. It said when the ride started the wind had not exceeded the ride's wind speed limit, which is 10m per second. However, when gusts picked up the ride shut down. "It took less than five minutes to get all gondolas unloaded," the operator said. "No one was hurt as the safety system was working correctly at all times, and a full explanation was given to everyone on the ride, and they were all given a full refund, and all stayed onsite for a while afterwards." It added that the ride re-opened after the wind eased. The Winter Wonderland is a Cardiff Council event and the authority said it has sought assurances steps have been taken to ensure there is not another incident.

Summary: An amusement ride which was shut down after its carriages crashed into each other in mid-air with people on board is safe, its operator says.


The trend in transport systems is towards growing automation. But it seems that plans for drivers to operate train carriage doors instead of guards can still cause industrial strife. Not so long ago, such a change would not have been possible. As recently as 2005, some Southern services were still using old-fashioned "slam-door" carriages, which could be opened at any time, even while the train was moving. These were phased out on safety grounds and replaced by sliding doors, which can be centrally locked. The question now is, who should do the locking? As far as the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union is concerned, safety is still an important issue, and one which also forms part of its separate dispute with Virgin East Coast, where workers have also just voted to go on strike. The RMT says that guards are needed on trains for more than just operating doors, and if that role is taken away from them, they will eventually disappear altogether, leaving no-one to protect passengers from robbery or physical attack. Southern's response is that no-one will lose their job as a result of the change. Guards will remain on trains, but they will become "on-board supervisors", making them more, not less responsive to passengers' needs. In the latest development, Southern has said it is prepared to have talks "any time, any place, anywhere" with the RMT in an effort to break the deadlock. The RMT, for its part, has accused the government of blocking a deal. Southern says 40% of its services already have "driver-only operation", while the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, part of the Department for Transport, says it has found "no evidence" that driver-only trains are unsafe. On the other hand, Southern has said that the change will allow trains to run without a guard in the event of staff shortages, reducing the number of cancelled services. This is a particular issue for the company, which has had to cancel large numbers of trains in recent months because of guards calling in sick. Southern says this amounts to "unofficial industrial action", while the RMT says Southern is not recruiting enough staff and that many of its members are suffering from work-related stress. Whatever the truth of the matter, it suggests that there is more to this dispute than a mere reallocation of roles. The RMT certainly thinks that the possibility of allowing trains to leave the station without a guard on board strengthens its argument that there will be job losses in future. So who is suffering most from this five-day strike? The RMT's members are certainly paying for their action, since they lose a week's pay, but that hardly seems to have dented their resolve. Even so, they have failed to bring the network to a standstill, since Southern has said roughly half its trains are operating as normal - and since that "normal" level actually refers to an emergency timetable that already involves hundreds of cancellations, hard-pressed commuters may feel that the service can scarcely get any worse. As for Southern, the system of

Summary: At a time when the driverless car is said to be just around the corner, the rail dispute that has brought five days of strike action to Southern trains seems to belong to another age.


Light installations have been placed at locations around the city including Piccadilly, Mayfair, King's Cross, Trafalgar Square and Westminster. Lumiere London runs from 18:30 GMT to 22:30 on Saturday and Sunday. The art installations include a life-size 3D elephant, human figures floating in the sky, giant fish, LED stickmen and stars. The festival has been developed by creative producers Artichoke.

Summary: London has been illuminated by its first festival of light, featuring 30 artists.


Eve Stratford, 22, who worked at London's Playboy club, was found with her throat slashed in her home in Leyton, east London, in March 1975. Six months later, Lynne Weedon, 16, died after being attacked and raped near her home in Hounslow, west London. A link was made in 2006 after matching DNA was found on the victims. Investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh said: "I firmly believe there is someone out there who has information about who carried out these murders. "It's inconceivable the killer of Eve and Lynne has kept the perfect secret for 40 years." Describing the guilt as a "heavy burden to carry", Mr McHugh appealed in particular to mental health professionals and prison officers who may have received disclosures from a patient or prisoner. He said that the killer "must have let details slip over the years - maybe to a partner, a friend, even a cellmate - and I would appeal to anyone with information to contact us." Ms Stratford, who was last seen walking home on 18 March 1975, was found dead with her hands tied by a scarf in the bedroom of her flat after her neck had been cut almost a dozen times. A neighbour had heard a conversation between a man and a woman coming from her flat, followed by a loud thud. On 3 September 1975, Lynne Weedon was hit over the head with a blunt instrument as she walked home. She was then thrown over a fence into the grounds of an electricity sub-station, where she was raped. She died a week later of her head injuries. Police have described the killer as a white male, aged between 17 and 30 in 1975. Now likely to be in his 60s or 70s, police say whoever killed Eve Stratford may have known her - as there was no sign of forced entry into her flat. The killer also would have had a clear link to both the Leyton and Hounslow areas, according to police. Eve's father, her last living relative, has since died without finding out who killed her or why. Lynne's parents, now both in their 80s, said they are still waiting for answers. Her mother, Margaret Weedon, described the murder as a "true life sentence" for the family. Making a "mother's plea" for anyone with information to come forward, she said: "We have missed out on so much; she missed out on life, no relationship or marriage, no career or children or even just travelling the world, all taken from her. "We are left 40 years on always wondering what it would have been like. "We are well aware that whoever murdered Lynne also murdered Eve Stratford. That young lady also had her life snubbed out. Her family have died now." Mrs Weedon said the pain of her daughter's death still sits "deep somewhere inside". She added: "There are so many questions. So many thoughts. So much heartache. "Please, please give us some sort of closure."

Summary: The Metropolitan Police has offered a £40,000 reward for information on the linked murders of a bunny girl and a teenager.


The 31-year-old joins former QPR team-mates Joey Barton and Clint Hill at Ibrox as he becomes Mark Warburton's sixth summer signing. Kranjcar, capped 81 times for his country, was a free agent following a spell with New York Cosmos. "We are delighted to secure a player of Niko's undoubted qualities," said manager Warburton. "Such a signing shows our desire to achieve a positive balance between young, hungry players and the undoubted necessity of experience and maturity. "In addition, I would like to thank the Cosmos for the highly professional manner in which they have conducted their business throughout this process. It has been a pleasure to deal with them." Kranjcar, who has not represented Croatia since 2013, had only been with Cosmos since March after being released by Dynamo Kiev. He revealed a three-hour dinner with Warburton in New York last month convinced him that coming to Scotland was the right move. "It was probably the most important thing," Kranjcar said. "We had a great, great talk where I found out how much I really wanted this deal to happen. "That was my first question - I hope the goal is to win the league. "I believe a club the size of Rangers, whatever situation it is in or was in the previous years, has to fight to win the league and to win it. "That is something you want to achieve when you come to a club the size of Rangers, you want to win the league and you want to fight for every title." Kranjcar previously had spells at Portsmouth, Tottenham and QPR in England after starting his career at Dinamo Zagreb in his native Croatia and then moving to Hajduk Split. As well as Barton and Hill, he joins ex-Liverpool youngster Jordan Rossiter and former Accrington duo Josh Windass and Matt Crooks as new arrivals at Ibrox. Former Burnley goalkeeper Matt Gilks could be the next, while Warburton is also looking for more cover at full-back and up front. "With his passing, creativity and top-level experience, a fully-fit and match sharp Kranjcar would be an asset to Rangers but where does he fit into the side? "He has never been a winger, even if he was often posted out wide during his spells at Portsmouth and Tottenham. By nature and talent, he is a classic number 10, a player to sit in the hole behind a main striker and orchestrate attacks without being concerned about defensive duties. "Rangers manager Mark Warburton has always tended to play 4-3-3 with a sitting midfielder, so Kranjcar would need to play in one of the advanced central midfield roles." Read more: 'Kranjcar can shine if rust is overcome' Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar has signed for Rangers on a two-year deal after completing a medical.


Average household income rose by 1.4% in 2015-16 after adjusting for inflation, new data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) shows. Working-age household incomes have been stagnant since 2007-08 compared with a 10% rise for pensioners. Yet, 14% of pensioners households are still on low incomes. The DWP figures also show that in 2015-16, rises in pensioner incomes stalled. A number of reports and previous data have shown that income growth has been faster among pensioners than working-age people since the financial crisis. This has led to widespread debate over the future of the triple-lock - a promise made to pensioners that the state pension will rise in line with prices, wages or 2.5%, whichever is highest. This latest set of figures shows that recently retired pensioners in the UK have seen their incomes rise compared with a decade ago. Average incomes among this group have risen from £314 in 2005-06 to £357 in the last financial year. The DWP figures show a regional split, with older people in the South East of England having much higher incomes than those living in Wales and the West Midlands. Steve Webb, a former pensions minister and now director of policy at Royal London, said: "While there are clearly some pensioners who enjoy good company pensions and have benefited from house price inflation, there are clearly also many who are not in such a fortunate position. "Any change to policy on state pensions need to take full account of the diversity of experience of pensioners in Britain today, and not simply assume that pensioner living standards will keep on rising." For all UK households, the median average income rose by £8 in a year to £481 a week before housing costs in 2015-16. This stood at £413 a week after taking housing costs into account, the DWP figures show. Agnes Norris Keiller, a research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), said: "Growth in household incomes in 2015-16 was modest but widespread, continuing the pattern seen in recent years. "The period since the recession has been defined not by sharp rises in inequality or poverty, but historically slow growth in average incomes - in 2015-16 average income for working-age adults was no higher than eight years previously." Official figures published on Wednesday showed that wage growth had slowed to 2.3% (excluding bonuses) in the three months to the end of January, from 2.6% in the previous three-month period.

Summary: A generational divide in UK households' income growth has been confirmed in the latest government figures - but incomes are little changed in the last year.


Seamus James Laverty, 58, of Deer Park Road in Toome, pleaded guilty to 16 counts of fraud by false representation at Antrim Crown Court. Laverty sold ordinary glass as fire safety glass between 2010 and 2013 when he worked on the factory floor of Glassworks Ireland. The fraud totalled £145,000. The glass was sold to the construction industry and later used in buildings across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and England. These include the Ulster Hospital, Strathearn School in east Belfast, Lisburn Road Methodist Church in Belfast, Magherafelt High School in County Londonderry, Carrickfergus Primary School in County Antrim, Tallaght Hospital in Dubin and Manchester University. A whistleblower, who was a competitor of Laverty, became suspicious of his company's cheap tenders and acquired a sample of fire safety glass from Glassworks Ireland. He discovered it was, in fact, ordinary laminate glass which had been stamped as fire resistant. The whistleblower alerted police and an investigation began. The court heard that Laverty had his own glass business but had gone bankrupt, so the company was taken over by his son under a new name. He was an employee of his son's business when the fraud occurred. A judge described the case as "chilling". Referring to potential harm to members of the public in a fire, he said: "By the grace of God it was avoided but that's no thanks to you." The judge added that because of the extreme financial pressures Laverty had been under and mental difficulties he had experienced because of those, he was prepared to "temper justice with mercy". Members of Laverty's family wept as he was sentenced to two years - one year to be served in prison and the other on licence. A police spokesperson said Laverty's actions were "absolutely reckless". They added: ""This was a fraud designed to make large amounts of money but which put lives, many of them vulnerable lives, at risk."

Summary: A County Antrim man has been jailed for a year for selling fake fire safety glass that was later installed at schools, universities and hospitals.


Wallspot - a website that helps people manage public space for art - has teamed up with Throwupgallery for the Sunnybank Park venture. The website has already established similar legal street art space in countries including in Spain, Switzerland and Sweden. Throwupgallery promotes arts and culture in Aberdeen and identified Sunnybank Park as an "ideal location". It said the timing was right, on the back of the success of the recent Nuart event in Aberdeen which saw images both large and small appear on city buildings.

Summary: A legal graffiti wall is being introduced in Aberdeen.


Dr Kate Parkins said, in the last 18 months, another five children in Greater Manchester have also suffered life-changing injuries as a result. She said the button-shaped batteries "look like sweets" to children but can cause severe internal bleeding which medics struggle to treat. Lithium batteries are found in items such as toys, keys and smartphones. Dr Parkins, a lead consultant for the region's Paediatric Intensive Care Transport Service, is calling for a national campaign to highlight the dangers. "They look innocent enough and therefore nobody thinks to put them out of reach from children," she said. One child died in May last year after a battery got lodged in the upper part of the feeding tube, she said. "It had been removed and then, about a week later, caused catastrophic bleeding which we couldn't control." The most serious cases are associated with Lithium button batteries larger than 20mm (the size of a 10 pence piece) which can cause severe injury within two hours. And they do not have to be damaged, crushed or chewed to cause serious harm. "It's not what's inside the battery," she explained. "The battery sets up an electrical current which causes a build-up of sodium hydroxide which is caustic soda. "That causes a burn through the oesophagus, the feeding tube, and that can then burn through into major blood vessels and that's why the bleeding is then pretty much impossible to control and stop." The consultant at Central Manchester University Hospital Trust also wants to raise medical awareness "because a lot of doctors are unaware that this can cause harm either". Dr Parkins said in the second fatal case, medics did not know if the three-year-old had swallowed a button battery. "She suffered catastrophic bleeding which again with all medical intervention we couldn't control. "She died because of severe haemorrhaging, severe blood loss." Children who have survived have been left with "severe life-changing injuries", she said. "Two deaths is too many as far as we're concerned. Two or three patients having severe injuries is too many when it's something potentially preventable." Central Manchester University Hospitals said the children treated after swallowing the batteries were aged between 12 months to six years old.

Summary: A leading paediatrician has warned of the dangers of lithium batteries after two children swallowed them and died.


The Â£14.8m scheme will transfer heating and hot water between the John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospitals. Officials have questioned whether officers should have been allowed to grant a licence for roadworks. The scheme is already in limbo after problems over planning permission. County councillors are demanding a review into the type of decisions officers are allowed to make. In December, Vital Energi started the project for Oxford University Hospitals Trust but work was halted in January when it emerged planning permission was needed. A retrospective application was ruled "invalid" by Oxford City Council. Oxfordshire County Council had granted a Section 50 street works licence but county councillors and residents were not consulted. The county's scrutiny committee, which met on Thursday, recommended a review of which decisions could be made by officers and which should be decided by councillors. The committee was told officers had not viewed the roadworks as a single project. Headington councillor Roz Smith said: "Some decisions do have to be made by officers... but when it's something as big as this, that's going to affect so many people... for officers to say it's not a significant decision is absolutely incredible." A report by Sue Scane, director for environment and economy at the council, said while county staff "acted within their powers and remits" the "exceptional nature" of the project and "level of disquiet expressed" meant the authority should consider reviewing its processes in future. The Hospital Energy Project is an 18-month scheme to install a 1.6 mile-long (2.2 km) pipeline in Woodlands Road, Sandfield Road, London Road, Latimer Road, All Saints Road, Stapleton Road, Old Road and Churchill Drive.

Summary: Oxfordshire's councillors are calling for a review into how decisions are made after the installation of a pipeline between two hospitals had to be halted.


The most profitable, in fact, looking at figures for last year. But for how much longer is the question occupying the minds not just of big pharma executives, but of health professionals and governments the world over. There are already signs of trouble ahead - thousands of job losses and widespread consolidation are hardly characteristics of an industry in rude health. But this is just the beginning of a process that could fundamentally change the pharmaceutical sector forever. For a start, big pharmaceutical companies are no longer providing the service they once did. "The system has served us well in terms of developing good new medicines, but in the past 10-20 years there has been very little breakthrough in innovation," says Dr Kees de Joncheere at the World Health Organisation. Of the 20 or 30 new drugs brought to the market each year, "many scientists say typically three are genuinely new, with the rest offering only marginal benefits," he says. This dearth of genuinely new potential blockbuster drugs is a grave problem for big pharmas, and of course society at large, particularly given the industry is falling off a patent cliff the like of which it has never seen. "Over the past three or four years, we have seen the biggest collection of patent expiries in history," says Stephen Whitehead, chief executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceuticals Industry (ABPI). "This has cost the industry some £150bn ($240bn)." Also weighing heavily on pharma companies is the process known as stratification. Scientific advances have led to a far better understanding of both genetics and disease, which means individual drugs can now be targeted far more directly at a much smaller number of patients. Whereas previously one drug would be used to treat different types of cancer, for example, now different strains can be treated with a specific medicine. The cost of developing these drugs remains high, typically $1.5bn-$2.5bn (£900m-£1.5bn), but the market for them is tiny - in some cases only 100-150 patients. This all means drugs are becoming increasingly expensive, and prohibitively so in some cases. Gilead's new hepatitis C drug Sovaldi - costing upwards of $100,000 for a full course - has caused quite a stir. "Increasingly questions are being asked," says Dr de Joncheere. "Are we getting a fair price? Are we getting enough transparency in research and development? "If France were to treat all its hepatitis C patients with Sovaldi, it would add €1.5bn ($1.9bn; £1.2bn) to the country's drugs bill. "[These kinds of drugs] are just not affordable any more." And particularly so when fragile economic growth and high debt levels are squeezing government budgets across the world. Even in the US, where free market pricing rules absolutely, Congress is becoming increasingly concerned about the price of some drugs. And it's not just the cost of the drugs that are being developed that is a big problem, but those that aren't. Big pharma companies are in the business to make money, so will generally develop those drugs that offer the greatest potential for profit. This means a

Summary: Pharmaceuticals is an extraordinarily profitable business.


Five windows, including door panels, were smashed at Strawletterdallon Orange hall, near Newtownstewart in an attack discovered on Wednesday night. Police described it as a sectarian hate crime. The Orange Order said more windows were smashed at about 19:00 GMT on Thursday. The same hall was damaged five years ago in an arson attack. The damage to the hall discovered on Wednesday is thought to have been caused during the previous night. Inspector David McIlwaine said that the damage was caused to the rear of the building. An Orange Order spokesman described those responsible as "mindless thugs intent on causing community division." He said: "This was an act of wanton vandalism with the clear intention to cause damage and destruction to Orange property. "However, the culprits are actually harming the wider community and groups who use the hall as a social hub and meeting place." The Orange Order said that last year nine halls were targeted.

Summary: An Orange hall in County Tyrone has been attacked for the second time in two days.


Pain is etched across her face, her body is stiff as she slowly eases herself into a seat. The Belfast woman appears to be in agony and a lot older than her years. "I have come out partially disabled. I went in able bodied and I have come out in crutches. I am mentally wrecked; I don't know what is going to happen down the line," she said. "I don't know what the diagnosis is, I don't know what the prognosis is, but I do know that if the pain keeps continuing on like this I am going to end up in a wheelchair." After a routine smear test, Susan was advised that she had a prolapse. This explained why she leaked urine every day. A vaginal prolapse is a condition in which structures, such as the uterus, rectum, bladder, urethra, small bowel or the vagina, itself may begin to prolapse, or fall out of their normal positions. Susan says she dreaded going out shopping and seeking the nearest public toilet when out and about became routine. "Everyday life was impossible. At times standing became unbearable, running and playing with my daughter impossible," she said According to Susan, while a consultant advised having an implant, she was never informed of the potential problems. "I was never advised, for instance, that it was actual mesh. I wasn't given any leaflets to say of the side effects or anything like that. "I did ask questions, I did ask about the side effects and was there anything I needed to worry about and I was told there wasn't." Susan's problems emerged almost immediately after the procedure. In fact she left hospital in tremendous pain and said during the past 12 months she has been passed round several specialists. She said part of the problem is convincing people that there is something wrong. The 51-year-old said she has been told by specialists not to be frightened of her pain and to try to live and work through it. As a result she is taking various medications that make her physically sick. "The pain changes day to day. It (the mesh) can cut into your groin where it is like barbed wire gripping you. I have had pain right down my legs. My hip often gives way when I am walking," she said Susan said she wants the mesh removed. Sitting close by is 58-year-old Yvonne McIntosh. She had vaginal mesh inserted four years ago to try and fix incontinence. While it was a success at the start, she said it now feels like it is starting to unravel inside her body. "I have been having excruciating pain. I have felt something within me is coming out and would have to go into the bathroom to push it up," she said. "My husband could also feel it when we were being intimate - he said he could feel something sharp." A mother of three, Yvonne said it feels like it is making its way out of her body and coming through her groin. Even while talking to

Summary: Susan McLarnon arrives on crutches to tell her story.


Mr Hofer, 45, won last month's first round but failed to avoid the run-off. If he wins on Sunday, Mr Hofer could become the EU's first far-right head of state, although Austria's president plays a largely ceremonial role. On Thursday, the two rivals traded accusations during a TV debate. Mr Van der Bellen, 72, accused Mr Hofer of wanting to dismiss any government that did not suit him. He was referring to the fact that, despite limited powers, the president can sack governments and also swears in chancellors. Mr Hofer countered that Mr Van der Bellen was the one who had refused to swear in a Freedom Party chancellor if the party won at the next general election in 2018. However, the debate was said to be less feisty than last Sunday's TV encounter, described by some commentators as a slugfest. In the first round of voting, Mr Hofer secured 35% of the votes, while Mr Van der Bellen, polled 21%. For the first time since World War Two, the candidates from Austria's two main parties - the Social Democrats and the People's Party - did not make it to the run-off. Both parties have governed Austria for decades - either alone or in coalition. This is a big shake-up in Austrian politics, as the country has had a president from the centre-left or centre-right since 1945. The victory in the first round of the far-right candidate reflects widespread discontent with the status quo, as well as concerns about immigration and the economy, correspondents say. Support for the Social Democrats and the People's Party has been falling in recent years. In the last general election in 2013, the two parties won just enough votes to govern in a "grand coalition". Incumbent President Heinz Fischer, 77, cannot run again after two terms in office.

Summary: Austria's far-right Freedom Party presidential candidate Norbert Hofer and his rival, Green-backed Alexander Van der Bellen, are holding final rallies ahead of a run-off vote.


The video clearly shows the car number plate, but it was a hire vehicle and Nottinghamshire Police said it cannot prove who was driving. Instead, a man who was eligible to drive the car has been fined Â£150 for failing to provide driver details. In a statement, the force said it was "disappointed" with the outcome. The incident happened on 15 November 2014 but the victim has now posted the video online to highlight what he feels is a lack of justice. "At the time there was an ongoing criminal investigation and I didn't want any footage that I released online to hamper that investigation," he said. Updates on this story and more from Nottinghamshire "It's left me feeling surprised at the injustice and the ability for criminals to get away with crimes so easily, especially those perpetrated against cyclists, and it's left the wider cycling community feeling totally betrayed. "It would never put me off cycling but it has made me very annoyed at the fact that cyclists are being let down time and time again when it comes to justice." He said he needed four months to recover from his injuries, with a further month of physiotherapy, having suffered a severe back injury and internal haemorrhaging. The video shows the Volvo being driven behind the cyclist around a roundabout in Nottingham city centre. The car follows the cyclist from a distance, but then suddenly accelerates and shunts the bicycle. The camera falls to the ground and the cyclist can be heard groaning and breathing heavily. Nottinghamshire Police said it had investigated the incident thoroughly. "While we share the victim's disappointment at the outcome, we feel the investigating police officer made every effort to ensure that the occupants of the car were found and brought before the courts," the force said in a statement.

Summary: Police say there is not enough evidence to prosecute a hit-and-run driver who accelerated into a cyclist - despite the incident being captured on video.


The UK's largest bakery chain said like-for-like sales - which excludes new store openings - for its third quarter ending 2 October rose 0.2%. Greggs said its breakfast bacon roll was now its best-selling sandwich. It is now adding more breakfast products, including croissants and pains au chocolat. The 0.2% rise in Greggs' sales for the third quarter was down from the 0.7% growth seen in the first half of its financial year. Greggs chief executive Ken McMeikan said: "As we expected, the trading environment has been tough and is likely to remain so, with consumer spending continuing to be constrained and inflationary pressures building for next year. "We anticipate that like-for-like sales in the final quarter will be broadly flat and therefore marginally positive over the year as a whole." He added that the company was keeping a "very tight focus" on costs. Greggs currently operates 1,451 shops. It said that its expansion programme was on track, having opened a net 32 new shops in the year to date.

Summary: Strong demand for its breakfast range has helped Greggs report a small rise in sales, despite "an increasingly challenging trading environment".


The Six Nations' annual start could move from February to April with bonus points and promotion and relegation being introduced. Davies says the current demands on players are "unsustainable", prompting talks over a "global season". He says the WRU held "discussions" with New Zealand in June over the issue. Recently installed World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said moving the Six Nations to April "could be a solution" in a global calendar. The idea was on the agenda in 2003 amid concerns over fixture overlaps and clashes between clubs and countries. In 2014 the Rugby Players' Association, representing players in England, urged changes to the playing calendar for the sake of player welfare. Davies witnessed Wales' 18-Test season ending in a 3-0 whitewash against the All Blacks in June, a year after preparations for the 2015 World Cup started. "The main reason for the global season is player welfare, to try to cut down the numbers of games players are playing," Davies told BBC Radio Wales. "Our guys were in New Zealand in June, July. They started training the first week of June the previous year. "The New Zealand guys couldn't get over it. These guys had been going for 13 months playing international rugby - that is not sustainable. "And it was a World Cup year and exceptional year etc, finishing with the New Zealand tour." For southern hemisphere teams, hosting rivals from the northern hemisphere also disrupts their Super Rugby domestic tournament calendar. Davies added: "Basically they want us to move a month or so so they can have a clear run-in. "I think we see it, just moving three or four weeks is not going to help the northern hemisphere with player welfare, for example. "So it is a bigger question than just the Six Nations. That is being looked at at the moment. "There's a Six Nations council meeting at the end of this month and this isn't to fuel speculation, it is an annual review of where the Six Nations sits. "So is it worth considering moving it? Do we look at bonus points, which is something that people have asked for to make it more exciting, scoring tries etc? "Do we look at 'is it a closed shop for Six Nations?' Do we open the gates to Georgia, Romania or anybody else who is deemed worthy and is capable of being in there? "So all those are up for grabs really. "Moving the Six Nations - I don't see it as a problem if it helps other things. "I don't think we need to move it for the sake of it because it does work where it is now - it gets huge following, huge TV audiences etc. "But if it were necessary to move it in order that it were a piece of the jigsaw that enabled northern and southern hemispheres to have a coherent global season, then it's worth doing." Wales' next international fixture is against Australia at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, 5 November. Throughout the season Warren Gatland's players and those of England,

Summary: Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chairman Gareth Davies believes a Six Nations revamp is "up for grabs" when tournament organisers meet this summer.


The Â£12.5bn deal brings together the UK's largest fixed-line business and the largest mobile telecoms business. The CMA said it was unlikely to harm competition as BT was "smaller in mobile" and EE a "minor player" in broadband. But rival Vodafone said it still had "wider market concerns". The deal creates a communications giant covering fixed-line phones, broadband, mobile and TV. John Wotton of the CMA said: "The evidence does not show that this merger is likely to cause significant harm to competition or the interests of consumers." BT chief executive Gavin Patterson said: "The combined BT and EE will be a digital champion for the UK, providing high levels of investment and driving innovation in a highly competitive market." BT has around 88,000 employees in 61 countries, with 72,000 of those working in the UK. It controls 31% of the UK fixed-broadband market, according to Ofcom, and has a 37.6% share of the market for UK home phone traffic. The deal would add EE's 33.8% mobile market share to BT's portfolio. It started in 2014, but now the reshaping of the UK's telecoms landscape is finally nearing completion. BT and EE, with 35 million customers between them, will be a formidable force across both the fixed and mobile broadband markets that are vital to Britain's economic wellbeing. Too powerful, said rivals, with a third of each of those markets - but the UK's Competition and Markets Authority did not agree. The other piece in the jigsaw is the planned takeover of O2 by Hutchison, owner of Three, which would leave the UK with three big mobile players. That is in the hands of Brussels, but the CMA has lobbied hard to have its voice heard - and it's hard to see why this deal would be blocked now that the BT/EE merger has gone through. But there is still one more opportunity for rival firms and consumer groups to halt this consolidation. The regulator Ofcom is nearing its decision on the shape of the whole UK telecoms market - including the key question of whether BT's Openreach division, which runs the broadband network, should be hived off. Ofcom's boss Sharon White has indicated that the status quo isn't her preferred option. Her decision was due by the end of January, but has now been put back until the end of February. Perhaps Ofcom still needs to work out whether this jigsaw is coming together to produce a pretty picture for consumers. BT's EE acquisition was originally announced in February last year, and the CMA provisionally approved the merger in October last year. Rivals TalkTalk and Vodafone at the time called for competition authorities to force BT to spin off its Openreach operation. Reacting to Friday's CMA announcement, Vodafone said: "We are reviewing the CMA's document in full. "As previously stated, we believe it is imperative that the wider market concerns relating to BT Openreach raised by a number of parties and recognised by the CMA, need to be thoroughly scrutinised by Ofcom in its Digital Communications Review." Openreach maintains the UK's

Summary: BT Group's takeover of mobile phone network EE has been given final clearance by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).


Mr Obama said his administration had struck "the right balance" between security and privacy. He also stressed US internet communications of US citizens and residents were not targeted. And he tried to reassure the US "nobody is listening to your phone calls". Mr Obama was commenting on revelations this week in the Guardian and Washington Post newspapers that the US National Security Agency (NSA) was collecting or tapping into vast amounts of telephone and internet communications data. The news accounts - subsequently confirmed by officials - roiled Washington DC, with privacy advocates criticising the surveillance as an unlawful intrusion and many in Congress defending the programmes as appropriate counter-terrorism tools. By Paul AdamsWashington, United States President Obama said he experienced some "healthy scepticism" about some of the national security operations he inherited when he took office. He's hardly the first American president to realise that it's easier to stick to your core principles outside the White House than inside. But after managing to keep words like Prism out of the public eye for one and a bit terms, he's having to grapple with how to explain some scary-sounding stuff to the American public. He still believes that he's successfully navigated between the requirements of security and the need to uphold the Constitution, even if he admits that there are "trade-offs." Those trade-offs have been the subject of rumour and speculation for years but are now glaringly apparent. Mr Obama says he welcomes the debate. On Wednesday night, the UK's Guardian newspaper reported a secret court had ordered phone company Verizon to hand over to the NSA millions of records on telephone call "metadata". That report was followed by revelations in both the Washington Post and Guardian that the NSA tapped directly into the servers of nine internet firms including Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo to track online communication in a programme known as Prism. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, said the press reports were "outrageous" and denied Facebook's participation in the programme. His statement echoed those of other internet companies, who said they had not given the government direct access to their servers. Mr Zuckerberg said: "We have never received a blanket request or court order from any government agency asking for information or metadata in bulk, like the one Verizon reportedly received. "And if we did, we would fight it aggressively. We hadn't even heard of Prism before yesterday." And on Friday, the Guardian reported that the UK's electronic surveillance agency, GCHQ, had been able to see user communications data from the American internet companies, because it had access to Prism. The Guardian reported that GCHQ had access to the system since June 2010 and information from Prism had contributed to 197 British intelligence reports last year. In California on Friday, Mr Obama noted both NSA programmes had been authorised repeatedly by Congress and were subject to continual oversight by congressional intelligence committees and by secret intelligence courts. The president said he had come into office with a "healthy scepticism" of both programmes, but after evaluating them and establishing further safeguards,

Summary: President Barack Obama has defended newly revealed US government phone and internet surveillance programmes, saying they are closely overseen by Congress and the courts.


A judge will now consider the deportation of Ethan Couch, 18. He and his mother were arrested in the resort town of Puerto Vallarta after a phone call for pizza tipped off police. Couch left Texas for Mexico after he allegedly broke probation. His lawyer had argued a privileged upbringing left him with no sense of responsibility. An arrest warrant was issued earlier this month for Couch after he failed to report to his probation officer. His disappearance came shortly after he had apparently been filmed at a party where people were consuming alcohol, police said. He could go to prison for up to 10 years if found to have violated his probation by drinking. His mother Tonya Crouch faces charges of hindering an apprehension. She and her son planned their disappearance and even held a going-away party, said police. It is not yet clear if she has also sought to delay her extradition. They were being held at immigration offices in Guadalajara and had been due to fly to Houston on Wednesday evening. Couch was on juvenile probation after killing four people in a 2013 drink-driving crash in 2013. He pleaded guilty and a judge sentenced him in juvenile court to 10 years' probation and a stint in rehab. A psychologist at his trial successfully argued that his privileged upbringing - an unrecognised condition known as "affluenza" - meant his parents had not taught him a sense of responsibility.

Summary: A fugitive who made headlines for using an "affluenza" defence after a fatal drink-driving crash has delayed his extradition from Mexico to the US.


Northern Constabulary have named the man as Daniel Maddox, 41, who was from Clackmannanshire. Emergency services were alerted to the incident at an "off-piste" skiing area in the Etive Glades on Saturday. Glencoe Mountain Resort said the experienced off-piste skier had been caught in a major avalanche. Northern Constabulary co-ordinated the search, with members of Glencoe and Lochaber rescue teams. Mr Maddox was found at about 12:00 on Sunday, in 18-20ft of snow. Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team said they would like to extend their thoughts to the family of the dead man. The searchers were assisted by an RAF Lossiemouth helicopter. John Grieve, leader of Glencoe Mountain Team, said the avalanche travelled about 1,000ft down the slope's rocky face. "The avalanche has actually gone into a gully, and in some places the snow is about 40ft deep," he said. There have been a number of serious incidents as a result of avalanches in Scotland this year. In January, four experienced climbers died on Bidean Nam Bian in Glencoe. Three people also died after an avalanche in the Cairngorms in February. Two of the climbers were off-duty members of the RAF Mountaineering Association. The third fatality was a student on a course at the Glenmore Lodge outdoor centre. In the same week there was a second fatal avalanche involving a hillwalker.

Summary: Searchers have found the body of a skier who went missing in an avalanche near Glencoe Ski Centre in the west Highlands.


8 August 2016 Last updated at 10:28 BST

Summary: The BBC's Dave Lee reports from the Def Con hacking conference in Las Vegas, where Hillary Clinton has gained some unlikely support from the hacking community.


Set 238 to win, Pakistan reached their target with 23 balls to spare thanks to Sarfraz Ahmed's unbeaten 101 in Adelaide. Ireland captain William Porterfield earlier made 107, but his wicket triggered a slide to 237 all out. The Irish finish fifth in Pool B, behind West Indies on net run-rate, while Pakistan go on to meet Australia in Adelaide in the last eight on Friday. Before the tournament, Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom said it would be a "failure" if Porterfield's side did not reach the quarter-finals. But for the third World Cup in succession, the Irish have acquitted themselves well, winning three games and beating two Test-playing sides in West Indies and Zimbabwe. England won only two matches, neither against Test nations. Indeed, Ireland could have reasonably expected to go through with six points, only for their elimination to come as a result of several factors. Heavy losses to South Africa and India damaged their net run rate, West Indies earned three big wins to boost theirs, while Pakistan recovered from two opening defeats to claim four successive victories. This latest win continues the improvement of Misbah-ul-Haq's men, echoing the Pakistan side that began poorly when the tournament was last held in Australia and New Zealand in 1992, only to go and lift the trophy. For Ireland, their creditable showing will be used as evidence by those who say the next World Cup should not be cut from its current 14-team format to only 10 sides. The Irish still have the chance to qualify for that tournament as well as the opportunity to earn Test status through the 2017 Intercontinental Cup. Victory over Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval would have seen them progress past the first round of the World Cup for the second time, but they were unable to take enough runs from a disciplined attack, then lacked the penetration and accuracy to make the chase uncomfortable. Plenty of the Ireland top order got starts, but there was not enough support for Porterfield, who pulled, clipped and drove his way to the highest score made by an associate captain in a World Cup match. However, the collective accuracy of the Pakistan pace attack was impressive and, when left-hander Porterfield miscued Sohail Khan to mid-on, the lower order was exposed. Despite the sluggish nature of the wicket, the Irish regularly found trouble playing the short ball, with the last six wickets falling for 55 runs. Ireland's collection of medium-pacers and spinners may have been able to use the conditions to their advantage, but regular width aided the Pakistan cause. Sarfraz, dropped by wicketkeeper Gary Wilson standing up to Kevin O'Brien on 37, shared an opening stand of 120 with Ahmed Shahzad, whose cut shots benefitted from Irish inaccuracy. When he skied Stuart Thompson to mid-on and Haris Sohail was run-out in a mix-up with Sarfraz, Irish hopes were revived. But Misbah arrived to steady in a stand of 82, taking two sixes over the leg side before treading on his stumps off Alex Cusack with 30 still required. That

Summary: Ireland were knocked out of the World Cup by Pakistan, who qualified for the quarter-finals with a seven-wicket win.


Media playback is not supported on this device Sean Geddes' two goals helped the Conference North side through at the expense of the League One Sky Blues, Cup winners in 1987. League Two Portsmouth, winners in 2008, left it late to draw 2-2 at home with Conference club Aldershot. Northern Premier Blyth Spartans beat Conference Altrincham 4-1 to take their place in the next round. Media playback is not supported on this device Worcester took full advantage after Coventry goalkeeper Lee Burge was sent off in the first half for lashing out at visiting striker Daniel Nti. Geddes scored the resulting penalty and added a second goal 10 minutes into the second half. Coventry's Reda Johnson missed a penalty before the break and, though he scored late on, Worcester held on. "We were the better side," Worcester manager Carl Heeley told BBC Sport. "We're nine games unbeaten now, so we're a good footballing side. But to come to a League One club and to beat them on their own patch - it's a brilliant day." Coventry boss Steven Pressley said: "This defeat ranks as one of the worst in the club's history." Blyth's Robbie Dale maintained his record of scoring in every round of this season's competition with two against Altrincham, while Danny Maguire also scored twice for team from the seventh tier of English football. Aldershot were nine minutes away from a famous win over their Hampshire rivals, but Danny Hollands' header earned the former Premier League side a replay. Bradford City came from behind against non-league opposition, overcoming an early FC Halifax Town goal to win 2-1 thanks to two goals in quick succession early in the second half. Two deflected goals from Gary McSheffrey were enough to give Scunthorpe United victory at Forest Green Rovers, while League One pair Chesterfield and Colchester put six past Braintree and Gosport Borough respectively. Maidstone United, of the Ryman Premier Division, held Stevenage of League Two to a 0-0 draw, while a lacklustre encounter between Notts County and Accrington Stanley ended in the same scoreline. Rob Ramshaw hit a hat-trick as Gateshead eased to a 4-0 win away at Norton United, while Wrexham are also into the second round after a 3-0 victory at home to fellow Conference side Woking. The second-round draw takes place on Monday at 19:00 GMT. You can watch it live on BBC Two and the BBC Sport website.

Summary: Worcester City beat Coventry City 2-1 to produce the biggest shock of Sunday's FA Cup first-round ties.


He was leading after the first run but was beaten by home favourite Marcel Hirscher to record the first podium of his career. It was the best result for just over 35 years, since Konrad Bartelski came second in a downhill in Italy in 1981. The 30-year-old had finished sixth and seventh already this season. He told BBC Sport: "The first run was just insane. I knew I had skied it clean, but couldn't believe it when I crossed the finish line. "In between runs I tried not to get the heart rate up or get stressed. I was trying to tell myself I wasn't the last one to go but it was tough. It was a mental battle with myself but I won the mental battle. "Hirscher skied so well, so coming second almost felt like a victory. It's crazy. I'm just really proud of what I've achieved." The Lancastrian races without UK Sport funding after it was withdrawn from the alpine programme in 2010 but does receive other sponsorship. Ryding, who learnt to ski on a dry slope at Pendle Ski Club, has been a member of the British ski team since 2006 and competed in the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, finishing 17th. He had a 0.29 seconds lead over Italy's Stefano Gross going into the second run with Hirscher 1.02 seconds behind. But the Austrian, who won the race in 2013 and has won the overall slalom title three times, had a storming second run to move from seventh to first, with Ryding ending up 0.76 seconds adrift. More than 60,000 spectators were watching and Ryding said the noise was deafening. "Kitzbuhel is like the FA Cup final in England. The downhill race is the number one but the slalom is also massive. The fans are incredible." The alpine ski World Cup was formed in 1967 and, in 50 years of racing, Ryding and Bartelski are the only British men to finish on the podium while Gina Hathorn (1967) and Divina Galica (1968) scored top three finishes on the women's circuit. When Bartelski did it in Val Gardena, Italy, it led a French commentator to say: "This is not possible, he is English!" In the pre-World Cup era, Britain's Gordon Cleaver won the combined race on the Kitzbuhel's Hahnenkamm course in 1931. While the alpine team are no longer funded by UK Sport, the Great British freestyle ski and snowboard team are. Following Jenny Jones' historic slopestyle bronze in Sochi, they will receive £4.9m for the four-year cycle leading to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. They have had numerous World Cup successes with Katie Ormerod becoming the first snowboarder to win a World Cup big air, while cousin Jamie Nicholls has won in slopestyle, Lesley McKenna and Rowan Cheshire in halfpipe and Zoe Gillings-Brier in snowboardcross. Skier James Woods has won three World Cup slopestyle events. Meanwhile in cross-country skiing, Briton Andrew Musgrave recorded his best World Cup result, when he came sixth in a 15km race in Sweden on Saturday.

Summary: Skier Dave Ryding matched Britain's best ever alpine World Cup result when he finished second in the Kitzbuhel slalom in Austria.


The former England international, who switched his allegiance to The Elephants ahead of their Nations Cup defence, came off the bench in Abu Dhabi to provide the perfect cross for Giovanni Sio who headed home a winner. An own-goal from Wilfried Kanon had put Sweden ahead, with Yao Serge Nguessan equalising on the stroke of half-time. 24-year-old Zaha was born in Ivory Coast but has two England caps having played against Sweden in November 2012 and Scotland the following year. As both were friendly matches, he was permitted to commit his international future to his country of birth. The Ivorians have been preparing for the Nations Cup in the United Arab Emirates. They will be heading to Gabon on Thursday and will play their opening Group C game on 16 January against Togo. In other friendly internationals this weekend, Algeria were 3-1 winners over Mauritania; Burkina Faso beat Mali 2-1; Uganda defeated Slovakia 3-1; Senegal were 2-1 winners over Libya and Egypt recorded a rare victory over North African rivals Tunisia, winning 1-0.

Summary: Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha provided the decisive cross on his Ivory Coast debut as the African champions beat Sweden 2-1 in an Africa Cup of Nations warm-up match on Sunday.


Staff shortages and weaknesses in consistency, accuracy and timeliness of inspection reports have all been flagged up as areas of "concern" by the Public Accounts Committee. Chairwoman Meg Hillier said there was an "alarming lack of attention to detail" when reports were prepared. The CQC - set up six years ago - said it was proceeding with improvements. The CQC's inspection programmes for hospitals, primary care and adult social care services in England are all behind schedule, the MPs' report said. It was concerned by the CQC's ability to respond quickly and effectively to information received from patients, staff and whistleblowers. On one occasion an NHS trust told the committee it found more than 200 errors in a draft CQC report, including data inaccuracies. "The fact these errors were picked up offers some reassurance but this is clearly unacceptable from a public body in which taxpayers are placing their trust," said Ms Hillier. The cross-party committee also said the regulator had "struggled to recruit inspectors and analysts" and as a result it was "not meeting the trajectory it set itself for completing inspections". By mid-April the vacancy rate was 34% for inspectors, 36% for senior analysts and 35% for managers. Staff turnover in 2014-15 was nearly 8%, which is higher than the CQC's 5% target. And the MPs warned that the CQC was not ready to assume new responsibilities for assessing the efficiency of hospitals in April 2016. "Recruitment at the commission is going too slowly, meaning too many members of the public don't have up-to-date independent information about the quality of services provided," Ms Hillier warned. "It is vital the public is clear on what the commission has actually inspected and when. If the commission is to properly fulfil its duty to taxpayers we must see improvements in the way it collects, acts upon and publishes information." The MPs did also acknowledge that the CQC had made "substantial progress" since its previous report into the regulator back in 2012. David Behan, chief executive of the CQC, said: "We have always maintained that there is more we have to do, in particular with regards to improving the timeliness of our reports and inspecting all health and adult social care services. "These are not new issues and we have been working hard to improve our performance. We have reported on our progress in public every month and we will continue to do so. "What is essential is that we do not take any shortcuts, which could compromise the quality of the important work that we do."

Summary: The Care Quality Commission, the health watchdog in England, is "not yet an effective regulator", MPs say.


Over the course of 43 years, WG (if you don't already know, the initials stand for William Gilbert) scored 54,211 first-class runs, including 124 centuries, and took 2,809 wickets and 876 catches. Friday marks the centenary of the death of the man they call 'the father of the game', the original 'beard that was feared'. WG Grace was born in Downend, near Bristol in 1848 and to many that play the game, he is known as "the greatest". Former England and Gloucestershire wicketkeeper Jack Russell is one who is well aware of the impact of Grace both locally and internationally. Media playback is not supported on this device "I don't think you realise until you delve into it what a big superstar he was," Russell told BBC Inside Out West. "In cricketing terms he was massive. Everything he achieved in those early days in the game set the platform for the history of the game. If you spoke to a lot of people outside of cricket who don't know a great deal about the sport, I'd be surprised if they hadn't at least heard of WG." Grace is widely credited with transforming cricket with his performances for both Gloucestershire and England and his legacy lives on at Nevil Road - 100 years after his death. "I remember playing as a youngster at the County Ground and we used to sleep in sleeping bags in the changing room," added Russell. "There was this room that was always locked but we knew it was full of old dusty memorabilia and in the middle of the night you could sometimes here footsteps and creaking floorboards. Our coach Graham Wiltshire used to say if you lot mess about, WG will come down and get you. I didn't see him but I heard him." Grace made his Test debut against Australia at The Oval in September 1880, scoring 152, and two years later was in the side which lost at the same ground, marking the birth of the Ashes. He made his highest Test score of 170 in 1886, again at The Oval, but in 1892 became the first England captain to surrender the Ashes urn when they were beaten 2-1. In 1895, at the age of 47, he scored 1,000 runs before the end of May, completed his 100th century and eventually totalled 2,336 runs that summer. His score of 318 not out against Yorkshire in 1876 stood as a Gloucestershire record for 128 years until it was beaten by Craig Spearman (341) in 2004. Piers Morgan, former editor of the Daily Mirror and lifelong cricket enthusiast, once nominated WG Grace as the greatest English player of all time. "Boxing gave us Muhammad Ali, football you would have Pele, and in cricket Grace was the greatest. Botham rolled into Flintoff rolled into John Bull," Morgan told BBC Radio 4's Great Lives in 2006. "He had everything. He was physically imposing, he was comfortably the best player of his generation, if not all time. Media playback is not supported on this device "He was there when cricket

Summary: For a man who played his cricket in an era of poor pitches and limited time for practice, WG Grace was nothing less than a phenomenon.


Rifleman William Aldridge of Bromyard, Herefordshire, was 18 when he died trying to save comrades in 2009. A plaque commemorating his sacrifice was unveiled in the town's St Peter's Church. It followed a campaign for a permanent memorial by William's mother, Lucy Aldridge. She said she was "absolutely delighted" that her son, killed by a bomb in Helmand province, had received "the recognition he deserved in his home town". The service on Saturday afternoon coincided with William's regiment, The Rifles, being given the freedom of Bromyard. A ceremony took place in Market Square, with a parade of service personnel through the town. Among them were representatives of William's 2nd Battalion, the Hereford company of 6th Battalion The Rifles, the Bromyard platoon of Hereford and Worcester Army Cadet Force, Herefordshire Light Infantry, and the King's Shropshire Light Infantry.

Summary: The youngest British soldier to be killed in Afghanistan has been honoured in his home town - seven years after he died.


Christopher Hales was found guilty of professional misconduct over property deals linked to MP Michelle Thomson. She was elected an SNP MP but withdrew the party whip after the case emerged. The Law Society found that claims staff might have deliberately halted progressing the case until after the election were "completely unfounded". Mr Hales had carried out work for M&F Property Solutions, a firm businesswoman Ms Thomson was a partner of. Following a hearing in May 2014, the Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal said Mr Hales failed to provide mortgage companies with key information used to prevent fraud and must have been aware that there was a possibility he was facilitating mortgage fraud, whether or not it occurred. The deals he was investigated for had been carried out on behalf of M&F Property Solutions, a firm businesswoman Ms Thomson was a partner of. She remains an MP at Westminster and has strenuously denied she did anything wrong. After the link between Mr Hales and Ms Thomson came to light, the Law Society undertook a review of its handling of the case. It concluded that; Christine McLintock, president of the Law Society, said: "We took swift action after identifying the issues at Christopher Hales' firm in 2011, which included rapidly suspending Mr Hales from practice and making a suspicious activity report. Following our investigation we prosecuted him before the the Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal (SSDT) , which resulted in him being struck off. "We said we would examine the issues raised as a result of this case to determine what lessons could be learned. "We have now identified where operational improvements can be made and are taking these forward in conjunction with other organisations. "This work will be overseen by the Society's Regulatory Committee, which comprises both solicitors and non-solicitors."

Summary: A review into the handling of a case involving a solicitor who was struck off has found no wrongdoing by Law Society of Scotland staff.


BAM Nuttall handed over the project two years late in August 2011. The council said it was left with £31m of defects on the St Ives to Cambridge route. It said while there were no safety concerns, the defects needed to be fixed. No-one from BAM Nuttall was available to comment. At a meeting of the general purposes committee, the council's technical advisers said the contractor should be held responsible for fixing problems including shallow foundations and inadequate drainage. Although these were not dangerous, "ride quality would deteriorate" over time. Councillors voted unanimously to begin legal action against BAM Nuttall. It is estimated the repairs could take three years to complete. The council originally paid BAM Nuttall £117.7m for its work. However, last August after an on-going legal battle over the late delivery of the project, the company paid back £33m of that, reducing the cost to £84.7m.

Summary: The company which built Cambridgeshire's guided busway is to be "held to account" for the cost of defects, the county council has agreed.


Alec Bedford later showed a video of the incident to colleagues at Daventry Police Station. A misconduct hearing in Northamptonshire concluded Special Sgt Bedford had been guilty of misconduct but not gross misconduct. The officer, aged 26, did not attend the hearing. For more on this and other stories, visit BBC Local Live: Northamptonshire Sgt Bedford had been called to a house in Daventry in July 2015. A 90-year-old man had refused to go to the police station after being arrested. The man, referred to at the hearing as JA, had been accused of threatening behaviour towards a neighbour and of pulling his wife - JMA - by the hair two weeks previously. The hearing heard Sgt Bedford had adopted a "confrontational approach". At one stage he had bodily moved JMA across the room and had then pushed her in to a chair. JMA had scratched his arm and he decided to arrest her. David Ring, a solicitor acting for the police force, said Sgt Bedford had acted unprofessionally by shouting at and "roughly handling" JMA. JA was eventually taken to Daventry Police Station. His wife was given bail. Sgt Bedford later showed video of the arrest to colleagues at Daventry Police Station. Mr Ring said the officer had "behaved unprofessionally by laughing" and his actions constituted "a very complacent attitude to confidentiality." Sgt Bedford pleaded guilty to charges relating to the use of excessive force, failing to act with courtesy and deliberately breaching confidentiality. The misconduct panel's independent chairman, Geoffrey Payne, said: "This was a deeply disturbing and entirely unacceptable matter."

Summary: A part-time volunteer police sergeant who pushed an 87-year-old woman and shouted in her face has been given a final written warning.


Gen Mejia, 80, is accused of ordering massacres in indigenous Maya villages during Guatemala's 1960-96 civil war. His lawyers say he recently suffered a stroke and is not physically or mentally capable of answering the charges. Prosecutors dispute this, saying he was under sedation at an initial hearing. Oscar Mejia was arrested in Guatemala City earlier this month after a warrant was issued against him on charges of genocide. He ruled Guatemala from 1983-86 after seizing power in a coup. He also served as an army general and defence minister during the long civil war, in which an estimated 200,000 people were killed as the army battled left-wing guerrillas. A UN-backed truth commission found that the security forces were responsible for the vast majority of killings. It also concluded that massacres of indigenous Maya communities accused of supporting the rebels amounted to acts of genocide. Few senior army commanders have ever faced trial for the atrocities, but in recent months the government of President Alvaro Colom has begun to try to bring suspected war criminals to justice. Another former general - Otto Perez Molina - is favourite to win the presidential election next month. President Colom is not allowed to stand for a second term.

Summary: Former Guatemalan military ruler Oscar Mejia Victores has been sent to hospital to see if he is well enough to stand trial on genocide charges.


It is alleged the attack happened on Friday night. The court heard the alleged victim told police she was out with friends and had consumed half a bottle of vodka and a quarter bottle of rum. The boy denies the charge. He was released on bail until May 23rd. Around 18:30 GMT on Friday evening she went for a walk with the accused and he started kissing her on the neck. A short time later he ripped her tights and they fell into bushes. She claims she was then raped by him. The detective constable told the court that the girl told the boy to stop and said she did not have the ability to fight him off. Two police officers later observed that she was upset and crying and in pain from the injuries she sustained. She had injuries to her back, buttocks and upper thighs and bruises on her arms. The police officer said these were consistent with attempts to hold her. The boy told police he had drank four bottles of beer but was not drunk and said the girl had been slurring her words but could walk and talk. He said he engaged in sexual activity with her but did not rape her. He claimed the girl "didn't say no." He said her injuries were from the fall. The detective constable told the court the injuries sustained by the girl supported her account. Her injuries were consistent said the detective with "no consent" being given. She said this was a case where the accused had "led a drunk girl off by herself to rape her." A defence solicitor said the accused, who was a student, had fully co-operated with police and had not attempted to flee. Despite objections from police the boy was released on bail. He must not take alcohol and be subjected to a curfew. He was also ordered not to have any contact with the injured party or any witnesses.

Summary: A 15-year-old boy has appeared at Londonderry Magistrates Court charged with raping a 17-year-old girl in the city.


16 March 2017 Last updated at 09:20 GMT Well Ricky has been speaking to 12-year-old Junior who loves to dance, but it made him very unpopular with bullies. He ignored them and has since gone on to become the UK's Freestyle Street Dance champion. And even got a chance to dance with singer Justin Bieber. Junior has been telling his story as a part of BBC's School Report News Day where young people get a chance to do just that and report with the BBC. Hundreds of schools all over the UK are turning their classrooms into newsrooms for a day. Take a look at Ricky's chat.

Summary: What would you do if something you loved made you a target for bullies?


The interim New Democracy leader, 61, represents the old way - serving for years in centre-right governments accused by the left of bringing painful austerity and institutionalised corruption. But after months of political strain, exhaustive bailout negotiations and continued economic despair, Greece is seemingly starting to regret its flirtation with the new. According to latest opinion polls, Mr Meimarakis is now challenging Alexis Tsipras, Greece's youngest prime minister in modern times, for first place in this month's elections. Commentators say he is a voice of economic stability, who has successfully unified his party to make a comeback. Born in Athens in 1953, Vangelis Meimarakis's family were from Crete and his father was an MP in the island's main city Heraklion. He trained as a lawyer at the University of Athens, and became involved in student politics while studying public administration at Panteion University. He was one of the founding members New Democracy's youth wing (ONNED). First elected as an MP in 1989, he was ND's chief whip from 1991 to 1992 and served as defence minister from 2006 to 2009. He is married to Joanna Kolokota, daughter of Greek actress Nitsa Marouda, and they have two daughters. Mr Meimarakis became speaker of the Greek parliament in 2012, briefly standing down that year amid a corruption scandal involving an inquiry into money laundering allegation. He strongly denied any wrongdoing and returned to his position soon after, remaining as speaker until early 2015. A strong supporter of keeping Greece in the eurozone, Mr Meimarakis was appointed interim leader of New Democracy in July 2015 after the resignation of Antonis Samaras. Mr Samaras stepped down after voters backed Mr Tsipras in a bailout referendum by a bigger-than-expected margin. New Democracy looked fragile - without the figurehead who had led the party for six years, and trailing Syriza by a wide margin in the opinion polls. But a few months later, its fortunes seem to have turned. Analysts say Mr Meimarakis has managed to unite ND in his short time at the top, sidelining some of its right-wing elements in an effort to woo centrist voters. And the polls are looking up too - Syriza and ND now appear to be neck-and-neck ahead of the snap election on 20 September. Mr Meimarakis has accused Mr Tsipras of mismanaging the economy and pushing the country towards another recession - a tactic that has boosted his approval ratings at his rival's expense. He has repeatedly painted the former PM as a "pampered child" - calling him "kiddo" and "a little liar" - while painting himself as a picture of experience and stability. But his association with the discredited old political elite continues to haunt him. During the first televised leaders' debate on Wednesday, Mr Meimarakis had a heated exchange with Independent Greeks head Panos Kammenos, who accused him of being embroiled in a suspicious submarine deal during his time as defence minister. The ND leader responded by accusing his opponent of acting as a proxy for Mr Tsipras, Mr Kammenos's one-time coalition partner. Occasionally criticised for being sharp-tongued,

Summary: Part of Greece's political establishment for decades, Vangelis Meimarakis is everything voters rejected when they backed Alexis Tsipras and his left-wing Syriza party in January's election.


In a report, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said there were "significant areas of concern" at the Widbrook Medical Centre in Trowbridge. Inspectors found issues with systems and processes, but said the level of care given to patients was "good". The medical centre has pledged to improve services. The health regulator inspected the practice in December and was told the booking and telephone systems made it difficult for patients to get an appointment that was suitable for them. Inspectors found staff were good at raising concerns and reporting incidents but there was no formal structure for "sharing any learning within the practice". Sufficient recruitment checks to verify that staff are "of good character and have the qualifications and competence" to carry out their jobs was also criticised. However, inspectors said the majority of patients "were treated with compassion, dignity and respect". A spokesman for the medical centre said an action plan to address the findings of the inspection was being put in place. He said: "We will continue to improve the service we provide to our patients so that our patients are confident they are receiving a quality general practice service and are reviewing our appointment system to support our patients."

Summary: A GP practice in Wiltshire has been placed in special measures after its overall quality of services was rated "inadequate".


You may want to choose another fantasy destination after the British Foreign Office told tourists to be aware that some political demonstrations in the capital, Male, have led to violence. It did add, though, that most trips there are trouble-free. At the end of last month the Maldives celebrated its birthday, 52 years since independence from Britain. But the festivities were marred when the government ordered troops to storm the country's parliament and prevent opposition MPs from entering. It was the latest dramatic attempt by President Abdulla Yameen to maintain his grip on power, and the latest twist in a tale of tropical intrigue worthy of a thriller. The story is certainly set against a suitably exotic backdrop. The Maldives is justifiably famous for its breathtakingly beautiful beaches and breathtakingly expensive luxury hotels. But while the water of the coral reefs that surround them may be crystal clear, politics in the so-called "island paradise" has always been very murky indeed. The political drama is centred, not on the beaches but on Male, the tiny, urbanised island where all of the Maldives' major institutions are based and which is one of the most densely populated cities on Earth. For 30 years the country was a corrupt autocracy, ruled with the proverbial "iron fist" by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. President Gayoom shrugged off numerous coup attempts during his three decades in power, but the wily tactician could not resist forever the growing demand for democratic reform. In 2008, a charismatic young progressive, Mohamed Nasheed, swept to power in the country's first democratic elections. He rolled back repressive laws, bolstered democratic institutions and captured the world's attention with an underwater cabinet meeting to highlight the risks of rising sea levels. But the Maldives' brief moment as a model Islamic democracy was not to last. Less than four years later, Mr Nasheed resigned following a mutiny by the police and weeks of demonstrations after the arrest of the chief justice, something he now calls a coup. In November 2013, Mr Yameen took office, but as he is Mr Gayoom's half-brother, it looked like a return to the old order. However, over the last year the two strongmen have had a spectacular falling out. So much so that Mr Gayoom, the grizzled old dictator, has thrown in his lot with the dashing young democrat, Mr Nasheed. To give you an idea of just how improbable this union is, you should know that Mr Nasheed was imprisoned and tortured during Mr Gayoom's rule. Nevertheless these unlikely allies have prospered and - bolstered by defections from the ruling party - the opposition has managed to gain a small majority in the Maldivian parliament. They had a plan - to stage a coup, but a democratic one. They tabled a no-confidence vote against the speaker of the country's parliament. The idea was to replace him and his deputy with opposition figures, who would lead an emergency government until elections early next year. It looked likely to work, until, that is, Mr Yameen literally called in the troops. They barred opposition MPs

Summary: Are you dreaming of a holiday in the Maldives?


The BBC understands the report suggests the number of UK workers unemployed due to non-EU immigration is well below the figure previously cited by ministers. No 10 denied claims the report had been suppressed, saying it was not ready. But it insisted it would be published in "due course", possibly within days. The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the row over the report reflected splits within the coalition over the benefits of immigration, with the Lib Dems refusing to back a Conservative commitment to reduce levels of net migration to below 100,000 by 2015. Home Secretary Theresa May has previously used research from 2012 by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), a group of independent academics, as a basis for saying that for every additional 100 immigrants from outside the EU, 23 British workers "would not be employed" as a consequence. But the new analysis by civil servants is much less pessimistic, estimating that the cost to existing British workers of new arrivals is much lower. Although the estimated figure for the so-called "displacement" of British workers has not been disclosed, Nick Robinson said he understood it was "virtually negligible". He said the two reports were not directly comparable since the 2012 research covered a specific period between 1995 and 2010 while the new findings analysed all the research available on the impact of immigration. But he said the row over the report's publication reflected fault lines within the coalition on the issue, with Mrs May keen to flag up evidence backing up her argument that migration has an economic "downside" while Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable sought to do the opposite. The BBC's Newsnight programme, which first reported the story, said it had been told by officials that No 10 had prevented publication of the report to avoid igniting controversy. By Nick RobinsonPolitical editor According to emails seen by Newsnight, the old research cited by Mrs May was not considered sufficiently "robust" by either the Treasury or the Department for Business. The new report, it argued, had been checked by external academics and agreed across all the departments with a hand in migration - including the Home Office. However, Newsnight said Home Office officials had protested that the new research, in parts, reflected an "institutional bias" in favour of migration among officials at the Treasury, Foreign Office and business department. For Labour, shadow immigration minister David Hanson said the report would help inform the highly charged debate about immigration. "The government's record on immigration is one of failing to meet their own net migration target and ramping up the rhetoric. Now they want to keep their own research hidden rather than scrutinised," he said. "We need an open, calm and fact-based debate on the impact of immigration and this should be facilitated by the government and not made harder." And economist Jonathan Portes, who questioned the validity of the 2012 research at the time, said there was no excuse not to release a report that was "purely analytical and is clearly of wide public interest". Lib Dem MP Martin Horwood

Summary: Labour has called for the immediate publication of a government report about the impact of immigration on the UK economy following suggestions that it has been withheld by Downing Street.


24 February 2015 Last updated at 14:27 GMT Animal experts say the creatures, who look like giant seals and are known as sea cows, went into the pipe seeking warmth before getting trapped. The rescue operation took the whole of Monday night. All mammals, including a mother and her baby calf were eventually pulled from the pipe and are safe and well.

Summary: More than a dozen manatees who got stuck in a pipe in Florida have been rescued by firefighters.


Sciver's single came from her first ball as England reached their target of 131 for the loss of six wickets. A partnership of 75 between Charlotte Edwards (28) and Sarah Taylor (51) was the backbone of England's innings. Katherine Brunt took 2-15 to help restrict New Zealand to 130-6, with Sophie Devine top scoring with 40.

Summary: Natalie Sciver hit the winning run off the final ball as England women beat New Zealand by four wickets in a warm-up game for the World Twenty20.


Thea Brookes (30 not out) and Paige Scholfield (38) shared a 69-run eighth-wicket partnership to leave the hosts needing eight runs from the final over. However, Hayley Matthews bowled Rebecca Grundy and then Beth Langston was caught, with Lightning all out for 158. Thunder had posted an imposing 164-8 after Amy Satterthwaite's half-century and Deandra Dottin's quickfire 42. A close run chase from Lightning had looked unlikely when captain Georgia Elwiss (20) was run out at the non-striker's end and the hosts slipped to 57-4. England spinner Sophie Ecclestone's 3-23 then reduced Loughborough to 88-7 but Brookes and Scholfield looked to counter-attack - striking eight fours and a six as they brought up their fifty partnership from only 28 balls. Despite Scholfield being reprieved on 36 when she was dropped by Nat Brown, she was bowled by Dottin off the next ball as the enthralling game swung one final time in Lancashire's favour. Both sides now have one victory and one defeat after their first two matches, but Lightning remain above Thunder thanks to their bonus-point win in the league's inaugural match on 30 July.

Summary: Lancashire Thunder edged to a nail-biting six-run victory over Loughborough Lightning at Haslegrave.


Beatrice Lovane, 22, from Rochdale, fell ill before 21:30 BST on 26 August. Returning a narrative verdict Heywood coroner Lisa Hashmi said she died of liver disease and damage caused by painkillers. North West Ambulance Service admitted errors and is staging another inquiry. Miss Lovane who was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, died in Fairfield General Hospital, Bury almost five hours after emergency services were called. At Rochdale Coroner's Court, Ms Hashmi said "timely steps were not taken to instigate emergency treatment and basic life support" and there were "delays in indentifying the cause of her sudden collapse". However, Ms Hashmi added it was "not possible to link the gross failure in care to the cause of death". The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) NHS Trust told the inquest, which concluded on Friday, it had identified a number of significant errors and omissions by the crew who attended. After the verdict a NWAS spokesperson said in a statement it had received a complaint from Miss Lovane's family in March and a "full and thorough" investigation was undertaken. The spokesperson added: "New evidence has recently been disclosed and as a result of this two paramedics and an emergency medical technician have been suspended from duty pending further investigation. "We fully accept that the level of care Miss Lovane received was below the standard we would expect."

Summary: Three ambulance crew members have been suspended after an inquest heard there were delays and "gross failure" to provide care to a woman who died from an adverse reaction to paracetamol.