The teenager was a passenger in a Fiat Punto which crashed with a Mini Cooper near Cockermouth. The 18-year-old driver of the Punto and the 23-year-old Mini driver are both in a serious condition in hospital, Cumbria Police said. The road between Tallentire and Gilcrux was closed from 17:15 GMT until midnight.

Summary: A 17-year-old girl has died and two men were seriously injured after a Christmas Eve car crash in Cumbria.


The six-week mission comes in the face of competing claims from other countries, including Russia. Two ice-breakers are setting out from Newfoundland to collect data from an undersea ridge that starts near Ellesmere Island and runs to the Pole. The region is believed to include large oil and gas reserves. Last December Canada filed an application with the UN seeking to vastly expand its Atlantic sea boundary. Russia and Denmark have also made competing claims on a vast area of Arctic seabed around the Lomonosov Ridge. All three countries are seeking scientific proof that the ridge is an underwater extension of their continental shelf. The area is estimated to hold 13% of the world's undiscovered oil and up to 30% of its hidden natural gas reserves. A Canadian government statement said the first icebreaker had left St John's, Newfoundland, on Friday and the second would depart on Saturday. "Our government is securing our sovereignty while expanding our economic and scientific opportunities by defining Canada's last frontier," said Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq. "This is important to Canadians, especially those in the north, as this is their future and prosperity at stake." Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, a coastal nation can claim exclusive economic rights to natural resources on or beneath the sea floor up to 200 nautical miles (370km) beyond their land territory. But if the continental shelf extends beyond that distance, the country must provide evidence to a UN commission which will then make recommendations about establishing an outer limit.

Summary: Canada has launched a mission to map the Arctic seabed to support its bid to extend its territory up to the North Pole.


Holden, 36, will work alongside fellow coaches Neil Cutler and John Ward. He was first given a coaching role at Walsall by then boss Dean Smith before leaving in November 2014 to become first-team coach at Oldham. After a spell as caretaker manager last season, Holden left the club in January when manager David Dunn was sacked. "It's been an interesting time since I was last here," said Holden. "I went to Oldham as first-team coach and quickly became interim manager and then I was assistant manager up to when I left. "It was a fantastic experience for a young coach like myself and I'm coming back much more experienced. But to say I'm happy to be back here would be an understatement. It's simply about coming in and trying to add whatever I can to help us get over the line." Whitney said: "As soon as this position became available, I earmarked Dean as someone who could possibly help me out. The most important thing for me, whether they're a player or a staff member, is that they fit in with the group - and this is a great appointment for us." After three straight wins since Whitney took over in the wake of Sean O'Driscoll's sacking, Walsall currently lie third in League One, level on points with second-placed Wigan Athletic, going into the Easter weekend, when the Saddlers are inactive because of international calls. Saturday's scheduled trip to fourth-placed Gillingham was postponed (until Tuesday, 12 April) as a result of Romaine Sawyers (St Kitts & Nevis), Neil Etheridge (Philippines) and Jason Demetriou (Cyprus) all being called up. Demetriou was due to be back to allow the home game with Shrewsbury Town to go ahead on Easter Monday. But the subsequent call-up for striker Tom Bradshaw by Wales meant that the Shrewsbury game was called off too. It is the second time this season that Bradshaw's meeting with his old club has been postponed as a result of him receiving an international call. The derby game with Shrewsbury is now set for Tuesday, 26 April.

Summary: League One promotion hopefuls Walsall have brought back their former defender Dean Holden to join the club's coaching team under interim boss Jon Whitney.


Three armed and masked men entered a house in Donaghbrook Drive at 21:40 BST on Monday. The man, who was in his 70s, was hit on the head by one of the gang. After tying the couple up, the gang left with a what has been described as a substantial sum of money in a car. The man managed to break free and released his wife who went to a neighbour's house. Her husband was treated in hospital but has since been discharged. Det Con Brennan said: "There were also reports of shots fired coming from the Ballybrakes area around this time and I am appealing to anyone who may have heard a sound like shots, to contact us. "We are also appealing to anyone that may have witnessed any suspicious activity or vehicles in the area to contact detectives." The North Antrim DUP MLA, Mervyn Storey, described the incident as "extremely disturbing and worrying". "Those responsible are creating a sense of fear and I utterly condemn their behaviour," he said. "This incident was undoubtedly a frightening experience for the family involved and I unreservedly condemn this attack on a local family."

Summary: A husband and wife have been tied to chairs with cable ties during an aggravated burglary in Ballymoney, County Antrim.


They had to come from behind after Shay McCartan pounced on a defensive error and rounded Bobby Olejnik to score. Matt Oakley created Exeter's quickfire equaliser with a through ball that Tom Nicholls dispatched. McCartan then struck a post, but the Grecians won it when substitute Christian Ribeiro bundled in a corner. Promotion-chasing Stanley stayed sixth, while Exeter moved within five points of the play-off places in 13th.

Summary: Exeter City shrugged off their midweek FA Cup defeat by Liverpool to beat Accrington Stanley and record back-to-back League Two victories.


Members of the RMT and TSSA unions backed industrial action following a similar vote by drivers. Workers in these unions will now join a planned 24-hour walkout by members of the drivers' union Aslef, which begins at 21:30 BST on 8 July. Talks aimed at averting a strike are being held at the conciliation service Acas. The RMT union and TSSA said its workers planned to begin striking at 18:30 BST. The unions are in dispute with London Underground over pay and conditions for the new all-night Tube, which is due to start at weekends from mid-September, on sections of the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines. The RMT said its members voted by 91% in favour of strikes and 96% for other forms of industrial action. The union is also in dispute over a series of other issues including jobs and safety. RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: "The industrial relations situation on the Tube has sunk to an almost unprecedented low with all four unions united and balloting for action over pay and working arrangements due to be ushered in under the guise of the mayor's 'night Tube' vanity project in just 10 weeks' time." TSSA General Secretary Manuel Cortes said: "We hope that this result will show Boris Johnson just how angry our members are at his plans to try and rush the start of the night Tube without any detailed agreement on manning levels." Among TSSA members, the vote in support of strikes was 76%, with 88% backing other forms of action in a turnout of 44%. London Underground's chief operating officer Steve Griffiths said: "Londoners and businesses overwhelmingly back the Night Tube. "It will make life easier for everyone, cut journey times, create jobs and boost the economy. "No-one is being asked to work more hours," he added. "In return, we are offering a realistic pay increase this year and next, as well as an additional payment for Night Tube working. "

Summary: More London Underground workers have voted to strike in a dispute over the new all-night Tube service.


It's tough. It doesn't tear. You can spill beer on it, put it through the washing machine and it will survive to buy another round. But one thing it turns out it's not, is fat-free. Because it turns out the plastic polymer it's made from also contains small amounts of tallow, derived from animal waste products - and some vegetarians are not happy. Familiar to previous generations as the base for every day staples such as soap and candles, tallow is traditionally derived from beef or mutton (but sometimes pork) at the slaughterhouse or later in the food production process. Vegans and vegetarians faced with this revelation have taken to social media to voice their concern and over 40,000 people have signed a petition calling for the contents of the notes to be changed. "We demand that you cease to use animal products in the production of currency that we have to use," the petition reads. On Twitter annoyed vegetarians and vegans have said it's "not cool" and "disgusting" and asking whether their rights have been considered. However others have responded with rather more tongue-in-cheek approach, suggesting an "essence of bacon" is desirable in the UK's currency, speculating how many calories a fiver now contains and offering to relieve any affronted vegetarians of their unwanted notes. Some British Hindu leaders said they would discuss a possible ban on new five pound notes from temples. Cows are considered sacred by Hindus, many of whom don't wear shoes or carry bags made from the skin of cattle that has been slaughtered. Jewish leaders, whose religion also embraces several restrictions on the use of animal products, are less concerned about the new banknotes. A spokesman for the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Simon Round, told the BBC: "The five pound notes wouldn't cause any problem to Jews unless they try to eat them. "Jews are not allowed to consume tallow but are permitted to handle it." The Bank of England so far has adopted a sanguine approach to the furore: "We can confirm that the polymer pellet from which the base substrate is made contains a trace of a substance known as tallow," it said in a statement. But, so far, it has no plans to draw up a new recipe.

Summary: The UK's new fiver has won many fans since it was launched in September.


The men spent over an hour dragging the 368lb (167kg) beast on board the boat off the coast of Cornwall on Sunday. One of the men, Nick Lane, said they had submitted a record application after the Shark Trust calculated the weight based on the shark's dimensions. "I was jumping up and down like a little school girl", Mr Lane said. "All hell broke loose." Thresher Shark latest "Suddenly the rods took off, they were absolutely screaming," he said. Mr Lane, a garage owner from Washford in Somerset, said when they got the shark on board they measured it and took photographs before letting it back into the water. John Richardson, Shark Trust conservation officer, praised the anglers for putting the shark back into the sea. He said: "Here in the Northeast Atlantic Threshers are listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. "The Shark Trust applauds the anglers for returning the shark alive to the water, especially as it may well have been a potential record." Mr Richardson said normally anglers would need to bring a shark to shore to be formally verified for a record, although sometimes informal records can be recognised. To be the largest shark caught in British waters it will need to break the previous record set in 1982 by a 323lb (147kg) thresher shark. Nick Simmonds, secretary of the British Record Fish Committee (BRFC), said he had been unable to verify if a claim had been formally made yet. Mr Richardson said he did have a record of their catch but the Shark Trust did not confirm or verify catch records.

Summary: A group of amateur fishermen have landed what they believe to be a record-breaking thresher shark.


The 20-year-old has managed the injury for about 18 months, but has now been forced to arrange an operation. "I'm not looking forward to this, but it has to be done if I want to continue my career in the best possible way," Clayton told BBC Radio Jersey. "I probably missed five events with it, so it will help in the long run." Clayton - who, along with James Connelly, - first suffered the injury at the Under-18 British Championships in 2012, an event he went on to win. He had painkilling injections in his shoulder, but the problem flared up again during pre-season and after his first tournament of the year, he has decided to follow medical advice and have the operation. Media playback is not supported on this device "My specialist said the rehab programme was really good and I've been doing the right things. I built up the muscles well and it's down to that that I kept playing for so long. "But my serve was really affected by it in the tournament I just played and I was struggling to generate pace. The serve is one of, if not the, biggest part of the game so I really need to sort it out," he said. "I'm still young and I don't have points to defend until the end of the year really, so it's the best time to do it, even though there's never a good time to have it happen. "I'm in a better place than I was this time last year mentally, physically and in terms of my playing ability, so I'm going into it with the right frame of mind and I just need to get it sorted." ."

Summary: Jersey tennis player Scott Clayton faces up to six months out of the sport as he prepares to undergo surgery on a longstanding shoulder injury.


The 1912 painting was purchased by the London gallery in early February. The museum paid Â£15.6m ($25.5m) for the artwork. The money will go towards operating costs at Randolph College in Virginia, which owns the Maier Museum. AAMD, which represents 236 directors of leading US art museums, called upon the college "to stop this practice". The Association was it was "deeply disturbed to learn of Randolph College's continuing sale of works of art from the collection of its Maier Museum of Art to provide general operating funds for the College". "The prohibition against the sale of works of art from museum collections for such purposes is a violation of one of the most fundamental professional principles of the art museum field," a statement said. 'Other solutions' The AAMD said it initially contacted Randolph College in 2007 when its intention to sell off works from the college-owned Maier Museum was first made public. The Association said it offered help by investigating other means by which the college could tackle its financial shortfall. But in 2008 the college sold a Rufino Tamayo painting, Trovador, prompting the AAMD to censure the Maier Museum "to signal its objection to this action" and "discourage" further sales from the collection. Following last month's Bellows sale, it once again sought "to encourage the College to find other solutions" to support their operating costs. The college's unwillingness to alter their course led to the announcement of sanctions, which calls on all AAMD member museums to suspend loans to the Maier Museum and refuse collaboration on joint exhibitions. "We appreciate both the College's decision to sell Men of the Docks to a public institution, thus ensuring that this work will remain in the public domain, and the educational exchange that the College and the purchaser of the painting, the National Gallery of Art in London, are launching," the statement continued. "Nevertheless, these steps - however laudable they may be - do not mitigate the fact that the funds realised from this sale will be utilised for a purpose that we believe will, ultimately, be damaging to our field," it added. The Bellows purchase marked the National Gallery's first major acquisition of a painting by an American artist. "We feel proud that an international audience will now become more aware of Randolph and our long stewardship of Men of the Docks," college president Bradley W Bateman said at the time of the sale. The painting, the final in a series depicting workers gathered on an icy day on the New York waterfront, will hang alongside Impressionists like Monet and Pissarro in the London gallery.

Summary: The Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) has sanctioned the Maier Museum of Art for selling George Bellows' Men of the Docks to the National Gallery.


The city is quiet, with no reports of helicopter gunships in the sky or tanks on the streets but shops remained shut. President Salva Kiir and his rival, Vice-President Riek Machar, announced a ceasefire which came into force on Monday at 15:00 GMT. Clashes between troops loyal to the two men had threatened a recent peace deal. South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011 but its short history has been marred by civil war. Mr Kiir and Mr Machar are under intense diplomatic pressure to end the violence. The UN said about 42,000 people had fled their homes during the fighting, with 7,000 of them taking refuge at its compounds. The US, Kenya and Uganda said they were preparing to evacuate their citizens from South Sudan. The UN called for an immediate arms embargo, as well as attack helicopters to strengthen its 13,000-strong peacekeeping force. Two Chinese UN peacekeepers and one South Sudanese UN worker were among those killed in the fighting. US National Security Adviser Susan Rice said: "This senseless and inexcusable violence - undertaken by those who yet again are putting self-interest above the well-being of their country and people - puts at risk everything the South Sudanese people have aspired to over the past five years." BBC Sudan analyst James Copnall says the latest clashes have traumatised Juba and shredded a peace deal between Mr Kiir and Mr Machar, agreed last August. He said there were also doubts over how far both men were in command of their forces. The UN refugee agency has urged neighbouring states to keep their borders open for a possible influx of asylum-seekers. Uganda has tightened security along its border with South Sudan, making it difficult for people to cross, it added. At least 16 Kenyan truck drivers and six others from Uganda were killed in crossfire in in Juba, an official of a truck driver's association in Kenya said. Tens of thousands of Ugandans and Kenyans moved to South Sudan after its independence to take advantage of business opportunities, and trade links between the three neighbouring states are strong. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: "Yet again, the leaders of South Sudan have failed their people. Rarely has a country's conduct squandered so much promise so quickly." Mr Ban said an "immediate" arms embargo should be imposed on South Sudan, political and military leaders blocking the peace deal should face sanctions and the UN mission to the country should be fortified. It seems a disagreement at a checkpoint between rival soldiers led to a shootout on Thursday night in which five soldiers died. This quickly escalated into serious fighting from Friday onwards. Tensions have been high since April, when Mr Machar returned to Juba under a peace deal following a two-year civil war. He took a 1,300-strong protection force with him and they were supposed to start joint patrols with forces loyal to President Kiir. But a lack of trust between the two sides means the patrols have not begun. There are concerns that what we are seeing is a repeat of what

Summary: A ceasefire appears to be holding in South Sudan's capital, Juba, after four days of heavy fighting between rival forces left more than 270 people dead.


After a fourth day of searches, 384 people have been rescued from the Annapurna trail, 216 of them foreigners, in the country's worst-ever trekking disaster. Helicopters have been searching parts of the trail high as 5,790m (19,000ft) for survivors. The government said the priority was to rescue 22 stranded hikers. The trekkers are stranded at Thorung La pass, and face a shortage of food and water. Army helicopters tried to rescue them but failed after being unable to land. The BBC's Andrew North in Nepal says that it is still unclear which climbers have been accounted for and which are still missing. The task of the authorities is made more complicated because there are thousands of climbers in Nepal at this time of the year. Army helicopters tried unsuccessfully to rescue them on Saturday between the Mustang and Dolpa districts, government rescue coordinator Suresh Acharya said. Twenty bodies have been recovered but 19 bodies are still in the snow and a rescue team will be deployed on Sunday to dig them out and retrieve them by air, he said. One of the main trekking routes - the Thorung La pass, the high point of the Annapurna Circuit - is now "relatively safe" after the army cleared snow, he said earlier. Rescuers have only limited resources and most of the missing and dead are believed to be at the maximum heights that helicopters can reach. Nepalese, Japanese, Israeli, Canadian, Indian, Slovak, Vietnamese and Polish trekkers are said to be among the dead. Many survivors have been left with severe frostbite and will have to have limbs amputated. Nepal earns huge revenues from the tens of thousands of trekkers and climbers who flock to the Himalayas every year. However, it remains a very poor country and the authorities here have struggled to cope with the scale of this disaster, our correspondent says. This has been a particularly deadly year for Nepal's trekking and mountaineering industry. An avalanche on Mount Everest in April killed 16 Sherpa guides and resulted in a significant drop in the number of expeditions to the world's highest peak. The latest disaster comes at the height of the trekking period. Nepal blizzards: Survival guide

Summary: Snowstorms and avalanches have killed 39 trekkers on a popular hiking route in the Himalayas, Nepali officials say.


The 19-year-old, who joined from Monaco on transfer deadline day, scored twice in Sunday's 3-2 win over Southampton as United moved to second in the table. The Frenchman now has three goals from his first two Premier League games. "He's been absolutely magnificent. They could not have hoped for any more," former Arsenal and England defender Keown told Match of the Day 3. "There was a huge transfer fee on his head, but it doesn't seem to bother him. Every time he is in front of goal he seems to be at his happiest." Martial became the most expensive teenager ever when he moved to Old Trafford, and the signing was met with surprise by some commentators in the media. Already an established France Under-21 international, he had just been called up to the senior national team when he joined Louis van Gaal's side at the beginning of September. And with team-mate Wayne Rooney having yet to score in the league this season, Martial has already proved vital to United. "I thought they would take him off at 3-1 and they do need to manage him well. He's only a young boy really," said Keown. "But he looks very powerful and mature and he's well beyond the age he played at on Sunday."

Summary: Manchester United forward Anthony Martial has been unfazed by his "huge" £36m transfer fee, says Martin Keown.


Four men wearing masks entered the property on the Boleran Road in Garvagh about 20:00 BST on Thursday. Two of the men, armed with a screwdriver and poker, held the couple in the kitchen while the others ransacked the house. The gang left a short time later but police said it was unclear at this stage if anything was taken. The couple, a man in his 90s and a woman in her 70s, were not physically harmed during the incident, but were treated for shock. Police have appealed for anyone who saw a white coloured pick-up type vehicle being driven on the Boleran Road or in the general Garvagh area on Thursday to contact them. DUP MLA for East Londonderry, Adrian McQuillan, said: "I totally condemn those responsible for this barbaric act of burglary and appeal to anyone with information to bring it forward to the PSNI."

Summary: An elderly couple have been held by a gang armed with a poker at their home in County Londonderry.


Heritage, tourism, climate change and innovation projects will be backed. North and west Wales and south-east Ireland stand to benefit the most. Finance Minister Jane Hutt said the Ireland-Wales Co-operation Programme was "a unique partnership" and the cash would build on "our shared aspirations for economic growth and job creation".

Summary: A plan to spend £80m enhancing economic links between Wales and Ireland has been approved by the European Commission.


The £21m road, which will link the west and east of the town, was supposed to be finished by March. However, last winter's heavy rain meant contractors could not start building a bridge over the River Tone and the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal. Richard Needs, from Somerset County Council, said it had also encountered other challenges during the project. He said work to lift an existing bridge over Station Road had to be delayed as workers had found the ground conditions softer than expected. "It's not a question of moving the bridge, it's working out what are the best foundations for the new bridge to be," Mr Needs said. "As with all construction projects there are very difficult times and there are happy times... it changes from day-to-day but overall we're making good progress and we're getting there eventually." The one-mile-long (1.6km) road is designed to divert traffic around the north of the town and will run from Priory Bridge Road, over the river and canal, alongside the railway to Staplegrove Road. It is hoped the new road will divert traffic away from the town centre and Priorswood Road and help with the regeneration of the Firepool area.

Summary: The completion date for a new road in Taunton has been delayed.


The Travel Photographer of the Year Awards is staging the outdoor exhibition at Princes Dock Street. The show is part of the second season of Hull's year as UK City of Culture. Entitled Roots and Routes, it aims to celebrate Hull's role as a major port and its international connections. The awards began in 2003 and accept entries from amateurs, semi-professionals and professionals. Read more about this and other stories from Hull and East Yorkshire See some of the winning entries The photographs on display include a selection of winning entries from the 2016 competition. Entrants from more than 120 countries entered the competition and photographers from 21 countries featured among the winners. Martin Green, chief executive and director of Hull UK City of Culture 2017, said: "Our Roots and Routes season is all about celebrating Hull's global connections and its place in the wider world. "This exhibition will give people in Hull the opportunity to see unique images of some of the planet's most famous and recognisable places along with exposing them to some far-flung and unfamiliar locations and sights." The photographs will remain on show until 30 June.

Summary: A free showing of award-winning travel photographs has opened in Hull.


Ahead of the vote, here are seven things you need to know about the West African country - once hailed as a model of stability. The economy has boomed in recent years and Ivory Coast is the world's biggest exporter of cocoa, producing around 40% of the planet's beans used to manufacture chocolate. But this year, it also overtook India as the leading exporter of cashew nuts. Cocoa transformed Ivory Coast into the "Paris of Africa" as it was called in the 1970s and 1980s, until a slump in cocoa prices dampened the "Ivorian miracle". President Alassane Ouattara, who took office in May 2011, wanted to diversify the economy. Agriculture is still the backbone, but it includes bananas, rubber and palm oil too. The last elections in 2010 sparked five months of violence when former President Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down. More than 3,000 people were killed in some of the most brutal violence the country has ever seen. President Ouattara has been accused of one-sided justice after hundreds of Mr Gbagbo's supporters were imprisoned but very few from his side were even arrested - despite the UN and international human rights organisations saying both sides committed atrocities. No more "nids de poules" on the country's major roads. The French call potholes "chicken nests". The government says it has built 1,000km (620 miles) of new roads since it has been in power and rehabilitated another 20,000km throughout Ivory Coast. It is promising to build 1,200km more if re-elected. There were 10, now there are seven. A former finance minister, Mamadou Koulibaly, and former foreign minister, Amara Essy, dropped out saying the elections would not be free and fair. The latest, former prime minister Charles Konan Banny, pulled out on Friday, with the same complaint. That leaves another former prime minister - Pascal Affi N'Guessan, leader of Laurent Gbagbo's former party - as Mr Ouattara's main rival. Mr Ouattara is the eldest at 73, while independent candidate Claire Jacqueline Kouangoua, one of only two women running, is the youngest at 44. Mr Affi N'Guessan, the main opposition candidate, is using the same slogan that France's Francois Hollande did in his last campaign , "Le changement maintenant", meaning "Change now", which is ironic considering how unpopular Mr Hollande is now in France. Mr Ouattara, known to his supporters as "Ado" because of his initials, has chosen to use "Avec Ado, reussir ensemble", meaning "With Ado, succeed together". This is also interesting because one of the main criticisms of President Ouattara has been his lack of focus on reconciliation since the crisis. The campaign theme of "togetherness" is clearly supposed to address this. Music has always played a role in Ivory Coast politics. Alpha Blondy, the country's undisputed king of reggae, began singing about war and fighting in the country as early as 1998. In 2010, he openly backed former President Laurent Gbagbo, giving a free concert in Abidjan. His main reggae rival, Tiken Jah Fakoly who sang anti-Gbagbo songs, had to go into exile and has decided to stay in Mali. And this

Summary: Ivory Coast is holding its first elections this weekend since a civil war sparked by polls in 2010.


He was treated in hospital for injuries to his arm, back and face after being bitten by the dogs in Buttershaw Drive, Bradford, at about 07.30 BST. West Yorkshire Police said armed officers secured the dogs in a garden following reports of the attack. Sgt Richard Sheard said two men have been questioned in connection with the incident. He said both dogs were taken away by specialist officers along with a third dog, a red nosed pit bull.

Summary: A man suffered serious injuries when he was attacked in the street by two American pit bulls, police said.


The Pakistani, widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, went five and a half years without losing between 1981 and 1986. Rod Gilmour, co-author of 'Jahangir Khan: 555', said: "We believe that it could be significantly lower." However, ex-world number one Jahangir, 52, reckons the tally "could be more". He added: "The 555 figure should only be my tournament matches. I played invitational, exhibition and challenge matches. "It could be between 600 to 700 matches if you include the others. Because I wasn't losing those either." Jahangir won the World Open six times and the British Open Championship 10 times in succession between 1982 and 1991. Gilmour and Alan Thatcher have researched record books, annuals, magazines and newspaper reports in writing their book. "I grew up reading reports of Jahangir Khan and even then he seemed a mythical, magical figure to me," said Gilmour. "There were no statisticians at the time chronicling his matches and not once has the figure been highlighted in press reports of the time." Jahangir, whose winning run was ended by Ross Norman in the 1986 World Championship, retired in 1993. The authors do not dispute the timeframe, but Thatcher said they "wanted to solve for accuracy's sake" the final tally. He added: "The real figure? It's hard to say. "But it could be lower than 500, which would mean that Dutch wheelchair tennis great Esther Vergeer could lay claim to the record." Vergeer, who won her fourth consecutive Paralympic singles gold in London in 2012, went unbeaten for 10 years, winning 470 matches before retiring in 2013.

Summary: Squash legend Jahangir Khan's winning run of 555 matches - a record in any sport - has been questioned in a new book.


The building suffers from flooding, has outdated electrical and drainage infrastructure, is full of asbestos and has fire safety issues. One of the options being considered will involve both the Commons and the Lords sitting in another location while the Palace is refurbished. The work, unlikely to begin before 2018 at the earliest, may cost about £1.5bn. A recent report concluded the cost of maintenance is such that if the Palace was a commercial building of no historical significance it would be considered cost-effective to demolish it and rebuild using modern construction techniques. A contract to examine the feasibility, costs and benefits of three different renovation options was put out to tender on 15 May. The successful bidder will advise the parliamentary authorities whether to carry on repairing the building piecemeal as now, attempt a full renovation while Parliament is still sitting in the Palace, or find another venue for Parliament to sit in while the empty Palace is renovated. Once the contractor is appointed, it will be expected to report within a year. A report commissioned by the parliamentary authorities in 2012 highlighted the poor state of repair of Britain's seat of government. Amongst the issues raised were steam leaks which risked distributing asbestos around the Palace and leaking roofs, water pipes and toilets making flooding a "common occurrence". The building lacks a fire sprinkler system or the sort of fire doors which keep fire contained in a single area, which are common in other commercial buildings. Parliamentary authorities have received advice that some of the cast-iron roofs are in danger of partial collapse if nothing is done. The report also said that the basements and air-vents are full of electrical and mechanical infrastructure, which is in an uncertain condition. This is because the Palace has been added to on an ad-hoc basis throughout its existence. The majority of the historic building was built as a replacement for a previous amalgamation of buildings which burnt down in 1834. The Commons chamber was destroyed in the blitz in 1941 and after some debate it was decided that it should be rebuilt in exactly the same style after the war.

Summary: Parliament has begun a tender process for the renovation of the historic Palace of Westminster.


Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard said the Â£45m investment project would deliver a modernised ticketing system which would "transform travel" and lead to more people using public transport. Almost 300 new ticketing machines will be installed at bus stops and train halts. The scheme is expected to be put in place in 2018. Mr Hazzard said the new programme for government envisages increasing the number of people using public transport. "A high quality public transport infrastructure is fundamental to encouraging people to use our buses and trains," said Mr Hazzard. This innovative ticketing system will deliver long term benefits and transform how we access public transport across the region," he said. "The current ticketing system was introduced 15 years ago and serves around 80 million passenger journeys every year. "This programme will deliver a modern, efficient and convenient ticketing system that will benefit passengers and lead to greater efficiencies. It will improve the passenger experience." The minister added it was expected the scheme would begin to be implemented in 2018 with the new Bus Rapid Transit System. "In 2019 we plan to introduce contactless payments for Metro and Ulsterbus services and customers will enjoy further technology enhancements as we phase in this new era in Translink ticketing which will attract more people to use the bus and train as travel options," he said.

Summary: A new smartcard is to be introduced to make buying bus and train tickets quicker and easier in Northern Ireland.


The research found that catastrophic collisions would likely occur every five to nine years at the altitudes used principally to observe the Earth. And the scientists who did the work say their results are optimistic - the real outcome would probably be far worse. To date, there have been just a handful of major collisions in the space age. The study was conducted for the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee. This is the global forum through which world governments discuss the issue of "space junk" - abandoned rocket stages, defunct satellites and their exploded fragments. The space agencies of Europe, the US, Italy, the UK, Japan and India all contributed to the latest research, each one using their own experts and methodology to model the future space environment. They were most concerned with low-Earth orbit (that is, below 2,000km in altitude). This is where the majority of missions returning critical Earth-observation data tend to operate. All six modelling groups came out with broadly the same finding - a steady increase in the numbers of objects 10cm and bigger over the 200-year period. This growth was driven mostly by collisions between objects at altitudes between 700km and 1,000km. The low-end projection was for a 19% increase; the high-end forecast was for a 36% rise. Taken together, the growth was 30%. These are averages of hundreds of simulations. For the cumulative number of catastrophic collisions over the period, the range went from just over 20 to just under 40. Somewhat worryingly, the forecasting work made some optimistic assumptions. One was a 90% compliance with the "25-year rule". This is a best-practice time-limit adopted by the world's space agencies for the removal of their equipment from orbit once it has completed its mission. The other was the idea that there would be no more explosions from half-empty fuel and pressure tanks, and from old batteries - a significant cause of debris fragments to date. "We're certainly not at 90% compliance with the 25-year rule yet, and we see explosion events on average about three times a year," explained Dr Hugh Lewis, who detailed the research findings at the 6th European Conference on Space Debris in Darmstadt, Germany, on Monday. "It is fair to say this is an optimistic look forward, and the situation will be worse than what we presented in the study," the UK Space Agency delegate to the IADC told BBC News. "So one message from our study is that we need to do better with these debris-mitigation measures, but even with that we need to consider other approaches as well. One of the options obviously is active debris removal." Research groups around the world are devising strategies to catch old rocket bodies and satellites, to pull them out of orbit. Previous modelling work has indicated that removing just a few key items each year could have a significant limiting effect on the growth of debris. Most ideas include attaching a propulsion module to a redundant body, perhaps via a hook or robotic clamp. One UK concept under development is a harpoon. This

Summary: Unless space debris is actively tackled, some satellite orbits will become extremely hazardous over the next 200 years, a new study suggests.


The United Airlines pilots, aged 35 and 45, were held in the cockpit by police ahead of the 09:00 flight on Saturday. Their jet, which was headed for Newark Airport, had started boarding its 141 passengers. It eventually took off at 19:15 with a new flight crew on board. The men are expected to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court on Monday. Police Scotland said the pilots were arrested in connection with alleged offences under the Railways and Transport/Safety Act 2003 (Section 93). This covers "carrying out pilot function or activity while exceeding the prescribed limit of alcohol". United Airlines said the pilots, both believed to be US citizens, had been removed from service and their flying duties pending an investigation. A spokesman said the safety of customers and crew "is their highest priority". Two Canadian pilots appeared in court earlier in July after being arrested at Glasgow Airport on suspicion of being impaired through alcohol. Captain Jean-Francois Perreault, aged 39, and Imran Zafar Syed, who is 37, were due to fly an Air Transat plane with 345 passengers and nine crew on board. They were released on bail and are due to return to court at a later date.

Summary: Two airline pilots were arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol as they prepared to fly from Glasgow Airport to New York.


Coral "bleaching" has led to widespread coral decline and habitat loss on the world's largest coral reef system. Surveys show that 29% of corals died in 2016, greater than the figure of 22% projected in mid-2016. The worst-hit area was near Port Douglas, where 70% of shallow water corals died, but there was a recovery of corals in the south of the reef. The latest results come from surveys carried out by the Marine Park Authority, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Australian Institute of Marine Science and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority chairman Russell Reichelt said: "As has been the case with reefs across the world, the Great Barrier Reef has experienced significant and widespread impacts over the last two years. "We're very concerned about what this means for the Great Barrier Reef itself and what it means for the communities and industries that depend on it." According to newpaper reports, a meeting over the reef's future was recently told that the federal and Queensland government's long-term plan to protect the reef, announced in 2015, was no longer achievable. Bleaching occurs when the algae living on coral is expelled due to stress caused by extreme, sustained changes in temperature. This turns the coral white. In 2017, further coral die-offs are expected from the second year of bleaching in a row, and the impacts of tropical cyclone Debbie, the officials said. Researchers say that climate change is a significant driver behind the coral loss and experts have said the window is closing fast to cut the greenhouse gas emissions pushing up temperatures and harming the reef.

Summary: Australia's Great Barrier Reef lost nearly a third of its corals in the past year, officials have said.


It is fair to say Cameron McGeehan was not your average 10-year-old footballer. Dreams did not turn into glory at Stamford Bridge, but a decade later, and playing first-team football every week in League Two with Luton Town, the Football League's Young Player of the Month award for February proves McGeehan is making strides back towards the top of the game. Looking back, the midfielder, still only 20, takes a mature view of why he, like many other youngsters, failed to make the grade at Chelsea. "At 13 or 14 you become more aware of your surroundings," he told BBC Sport. "You start to think about it more, you get a bit of an ego and that's what naturally happens. "There are a lot of players at Chelsea like that, with egos, and I don't think it's the best thing for young players. "It can be damaging, you forget why you're there, why you're trying to work hard every day." In an era when young players can move for multi-million pound transfer fees and earn tens of thousands of pounds per week, it is almost impossible for teenage footballers not to get carried away with the potential riches on offer and the fame that will inevitably come with being a Premier League star. "When you're playing for a top team and you're going to school, all your mates keep saying 'oh you're play for Chelsea, that's cool'," said McGeehan. "Social media amplifies things even more, to the point where it's very damaging for young players. "The money is now getting a bit ridiculous for youngsters who haven't even stepped foot on a first-team pitch." The pivotal moment in McGeehan's youth career came with a move to Norwich City. An honest chat with academy manager Neil Bath highlighted former Chelsea youngster Andy King - now on the verge of a Premier League title with Leicester City - as an individual who had been in a similar position and chose to continue his career elsewhere. "Neil said I might be better off going somewhere else and finding my way rather than staying," McGeehan said. "He said I might get a contract [at Chelsea] but I might get lost." McGeehan's decision to continue his football education with the Canaries paid off, as he helped them lift the FA Youth Cup in 2013 - scoring in both legs of the final against his former side. "I wanted to go to Norwich, play and learn the game that way and get away from London to find myself," he explained. "It was a bit like when an 18-year-old goes to university to find themselves. The university of football for me was at 16. It was a big decision but I'm very glad I did it." Despite his success at youth level with Norwich, McGeehan once against tasted disappointment as he failed to break into their first team. After loan spells at Luton and Cambridge, a permanent move to Kenilworth Road gave him a chance of the regular senior football he craved to showcase his abilities. McGeehan scored three

Summary: Signed for £80,000, and joining a club in the process of winning back-to-back Premier League titles, with Jose Mourinho, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard to provide inspiration.


The instinct to swim, panic and thrash about increases the chances of water getting in the lungs and puts a strain on the heart. The RNLI's Ross Macleod said practising floating was a "survival skill". Latest figures from the charity show 162 people lost their lives on the UK coast in 2016. The RNLI's advice is to float for about 60-to-90 seconds if you fall in water - the time it takes for the effects of the cold shock to pass and to regain control of breathing. Sudden immersion in water any temperature below 15C puts people at severe risk of cold water shock. The recommended floating position is to lean back in the water and keep your airway clear while keeping calm to maintain breathing levels. Only 3% of respondents in the Dorset-based charity's research said they would try and float as the first action they would take if they fell in to cold water unexpectedly, while 40% said their immediate reaction would be to swim. RNLI coastal safety manager Ross Macleod said it was important to "fight your instincts". "We're asking the public to remember this lifesaving advice, share with others and practice the survival skill of floating - it could be the difference between life and death.' Of the 162 people who lost their lives on UK coasts in 2016. Three quarters were men and 44% didn't intend to enter the water.

Summary: Floating after falling into the sea rather than trying to swim, is more likely to ensure your survival, a new RNLI campaign says.


The Battle of Stamford Bridge saw an army led by the Saxon King Harold defeat a group of Viking invaders. Villagers are holding a re-enactment of the fighting with a descendant of King Harald of Norway who was killed by the Saxons. Guests at the event include the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu, who was given a tour of the battlefield. Chris Rock, chairman of the Battle of Stamford Bridge Society, said the battles in Yorkshire had been overshadowed by King Harold's death at the hands of William of Normandy a few days later at Hastings. "What happened here decided the outcome at Hastings, which is the battle that everyone remembers," he said. "Without him being here he would have been on the south coast waiting for William. He would have pushed him back into the sea. We'd have a Saxon line of kings now, maybe." As well as the re-enactment, villagers are working on a Bayeux-style tapestry depicting the battle. The weekend's events will culminate with the burning of Viking boat at sunset on Sunday.

Summary: An East Yorkshire village has been commemorating the 950th anniversary of a historic battle.


Dozens were also injured during the event, in Rapoosal, in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The sport, known as jallikattu, was banned by India's Supreme Court in 2014. But on Saturday the central government temporarily lifted the ban, after large-scale protests. Several villages and towns in Tamil Nadu then held events on Sunday attracting huge crowds. Subduing angry bulls has long been practised in the state as a sport and is a key part of the harvest festival. The court had banned jallikattu on the grounds that it was cruel to animals. Animal rights activists say the spectacle causes unnecessary stress to the bulls who are released into a crowd and forced to fend off people trying to ride them. Many in Tamil Nadu, however, are against the ban as they see jallikattu as an important part of their cultural heritage, and also say it ensures the preservation of native breeds of bulls. In recent days large demonstrations have been staged in the state capital Chennai (Madras) calling for the practice to be fully re-legalised. Most ministers in the state government including Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, as well as Tamil celebrities such as Oscar-winning composer A R Rahman, support jallikattu.

Summary: Two men have been gored to death in a bull-wrestling festival, as a fierce debate rages over the controversial sport.


Kyle Bradley was pronounced dead by the side of the railway line in Wrenthorpe near Wakefield on Saturday. Another boy aged 16 and a woman aged 18 were left with non-life threatening injuries. Local residents said there had been problems with young people playing near to the track before.

Summary: An inquest into the death of a 16-year-old boy who climbed on to a train and touched overhead power lines has been opened and adjourned in Wakefield.


The England Under-19 international, who has not played a Premier League game for the Gunners, will move to the Estadio da Luz on a five-year deal. Willock, 19, had been offered a new deal at Arsenal, but his move to Lisbon has been revealed via Benfica's Twitter feed. Manchester City had also been linked with the attacker, whose contract expires on 1 July. "I hope I can show what I can do on the pitch. I think we have a great team and we can achieve great things in the future," Willock said on the Benfica website. Willock had been with Arsenal since 2003 with his younger brother, Joe, remaining in the Gunners youth set-up. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

Summary: Arsenal forward Chris Willock is to join Benfica when his contract expires.


Five Fables won best app at the first day of prize ceremonies at the festival in Inverness. Heaney drew on the work of 15th Century Scottish poet Robert Henryson for the five morality tales. They were adapted for a TV animation by Northern Ireland's Flickerpix which was narrated by Connolly. Among Five Fables is The Two Mice, a story about a town mouse and a mouse from the countryside. Heaney, who died in 2013 at the age of 74, was acclaimed by many as the best Irish poet since WB Yeats. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1995 "for works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth, which exalt everyday miracles and the living past". David Cumming, of Waddell Media which runs the Flickerpix, collected the festival accolade on Wednesday on behalf of the animation studio and Touch Press. He said: "It's very exciting to win this award. "I think the whole Celtic media industry is really unusual, because it's very diverse and very eclectic. "It's one of the last places in television where not everything is absolutely ratings-fixated, and that you can still get commissions to do quite strange, out-there stuff, which I think really encourages creativity." Dolores Keane: A Storm in the Heart by RTE/Scratch Films won the arts award and The Hunchback in the Park by BBC Cymru Wales took the animation prize. Independent production company Move on Up's Katie Morag was named best children's television series. Adapted from Mairi Hedderwick's books of the same name, episodes of Katie Morag have been shown on CBeebies, CBBC and BBC Alba. The books tell of the adventures of a feisty, independent, red-haired girl who lives with her family on the fictional Scottish island of Struay. Cherry Campbell from Glasgow plays Katie Morag in the TV series. Winner of the entertainment category was Welsh comedy series Dim Byd, which is produced by S4C and Cwmni Da. TG4 and Touchline Media won the sports award for Arkle. The documentary tells the story of Arkle, the Irish horse named after a mountain in Sutherland that became the greatest steeplechaser in history. A statute in the horse's honour stands at Cheltenham race course. On day two of the awards on Thursday, BBC Two Scotland's documentary Being Sixteen about 16 and 17-year-olds voting in the Scottish independence referendum won the young people's category in the festival's awards for excellence.

Summary: An app based on an TV project involving Scots comic Billy Connolly and the late Irish poet Seamus Heaney has been honoured at the Celtic Media Festival.


Police said they were called to Peterhead Academy following an incident involving two boys on Monday afternoon. The teenager was charged in connection with both possession of a knife and the assault. He has been reported to the youth justice management unit.

Summary: A 14-year-old boy has been charged after allegedly being found with a knife at an Aberdeenshire school after an assault.


The 29-year-old turned down a new deal at beaten League Two play-off finalists Exeter to join the third-tier Pilgrims. "Not everyone will understand my reasoning but those who do, hopefully they understand," he told BBC Devon. "The club offered me a deal which we tried to negotiate and it just didn't end probably the way it could've." Grant joined Exeter on a two-year contract in August 2015 after the club's fans raised £30,000 towards his wages. He has not played for Jamaica since May 2016 when he scored in a friendly victory over Chile. "I wouldn't tell any lies, I thoroughly enjoyed my time [at Exeter] and was very close to staying, but it's football," Grant added. "I made the decision to join Plymouth and now I look forward to the challenge. "It's [the move] definitely something I had to think about, but I'm delighted to be here now and hopefully I can have a good start."

Summary: Jamaica international forward Joel Grant says he came "very close" to staying with Exeter City before joining their Devon rivals Plymouth Argyle.


Chevron said the Alder project has already created hundreds of jobs across the UK, including in Aberdeen and Invergordon. Gas produced from the field will be sent via a 17-mile (28km) pipeline to the ConocoPhillips-operated Britannia platform. The Alder field was discovered in 1975. Chevron said development was originally considered impossible due to the challenges of the field's reservoir, lying 14,700ft (4,480m) beneath the seabed. The company said it was now viable due to the "right combination of technology, infrastructure for processing and export, and commercial conditions". Chevron Upstream Europe managing director Greta Lydecker said: "First gas at Alder represents a significant milestone for Chevron and highlights our commitment to investing and developing resources in the UK. "Alder supports our goal of helping maximize the economic recovery of the UK, adds significant production to our portfolio, and helps extend the field life of Britannia, an important asset to Chevron in the North Sea." Deirdre Michie, chief executive of industry body Oil and Gas UK, said: "It shows the opportunities that are still out there." She called for a "stable fiscal regime" to help boost investor confidence in North Sea exploration and production.

Summary: Gas production has started from a North Sea field first discovered more than 40 years ago when its development was considered "impossible".


Pompey are third with 10 games to play, and have a four-point lead over fourth-placed Stevenage. "When you are where we are, you hold all the cards," Cook told BBC Radio Solent. "But, it's a very difficult league, it's unforgiving." Portsmouth host play-off chasing Grimsby at Fratton Park on Tuesday. Back-to-back wins over Crawley Town and Colchester United, coupled with a slump in form by Carlisle United, have put Portsmouth back in the driving seat for a top-three finish. "The reality is I don't think third this season will be as high a points tally that's it's been in recent years," Cook said. "Teams have come from nowhere to be in the running this season and there's plenty of them knocking on the door of the play-offs who want to get in there. "Every fixture from now until the end of the season is littered with games from something on them. Every team will have an agenda to try and get as many points as they can."

Summary: Portsmouth manager Paul Cook believes a lower than average number of points will seal the third automatic promotion place in League Two this season.


The oil firm boss is a Conservative party donor and also made donations to the EU Remain campaign. He also gave Â£500,000 to the Better Together campaign ahead of the Scottish independence referendum. He featured on a list leaked to the Sunday Times newspaper. But he has written to both Mr Cameron and his successor Theresa May asking for his name to be withdrawn from the list "if indeed I was being considered". In a statement, Mr Taylor, the chief executive of Vitol, said: "In recent days, speculation in the media has suggested that I may be recognised in the forthcoming resignation honours list. "This has been accompanied by seriously inaccurate comments about the company I lead. "In these circumstances, I think it is right I request that my name does not go forward, if indeed I was being considered for an honour. "I will, of course, be continuing to participate actively in all the causes that I and my family passionately believe in, notably broadening access to the arts for everyone." The Sunday Times newspaper said the ex-PM had chosen to reward cabinet colleagues, donors and staff. Mr Taylor, whose wealth was estimated at about Â£175m in 2015 in the Sunday Times Rich List, backed the Better Together campaign for Scotland to remain part of the UK in the 2014 referendum with Â£500,000. The then first minister, Alex Salmond, called for the money to be paid back due to controversy about Vitol. The firm was heavily fined by a New York court in 2007 after admitting making payments to the national oil company in Saddam Hussein's Iraq which were outside the remit of the UN's oil for food programme. It was also reported to have paid $1m to a Serbian paramilitary group as part of an oil deal in the 1990s, although the company said it had not acted illegally.

Summary: Businessman Ian Taylor, who was reportedly in line for a knighthood in David Cameron's resignation honours list, has said he does not want his name to go forward.


The 21-year-old had already been absent earlier this season with a knee problem that had limited him to just one first-grade appearance. The Warriors have also lost prop Tony Clubb for an indeterminate spell while he undergoes an routine operation. Clubb, 29, has a medical condition but is expected to make a full recovery. He has played nine games this season, including the World Club Challenge success against NRL premiers Cronulla Sharks in February. "Unfortunately sport can be cruel and this is definitely the case for both Tony and Jake," rugby director Kris Radlinski said. "It's a tough pill to swallow but we will give them all of our support, as I'm sure will the Wigan fans and we look forward to seeing them back out on the field playing for Wigan."

Summary: Wigan Warriors half-back Jake Shorrocks is likely to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury sustained in non-contact training.


It proved far harder than anyone in the Treasury thought at the time. The reasons were myriad. The banks themselves were in far more of a financial mess than thought, the economic downturn was deeper than expected, the full extent of the appalling misconduct within banking (and the subsequent multi-billion pound fines) had yet to be revealed, and the Liberal Democrat side of the Coalition was far less keen on a sale than George Osborne. All these factors came together to slow progress. For Mr Osborne, many of those hurdles have now been removed, or at least reduced in size. First, the economy is in better shape, a fact that particularly helps domestic-focused banks like RBS that lend to consumers and businesses. Second, misconduct issues are slowly working their way through the system. Yes, RBS is still facing a multi-billion pound fine from the US Department of Justice for its involvement in the American sub-prime mortgage market. But investors believe that once that has been announced, possibly later this year, other misconduct problems (the European Commission inquiry into the manipulation of the foreign exchange markets and a legal challenge over the £12bn rights issue in 2008, to name two) will have less of an impact. And, frankly, a major bank without any risk issues over bad behaviour is as rare as a hen's tooth. Which tells us plenty about the depressing state of much of the banking system. Finally, the Chancellor no longer has to consider the opinions of Vince Cable, the former Liberal Democrat business minister who was far less keen on selling RBS and wondered if it could actually be turned into a state-backed lender. Mr Cable also felt badly burnt over the controversial sale of part of the government's stake in the Royal Mail. Following the election, Mr Osborne is chancellor in a Conservative majority government. And the RBS stake sale is back on. In tonight's Mansion House speech it is expected that Mr Osborne will give the first details of how the government's 80% ownership of RBS will be unwound. City sources tell me that Mr Osborne wants to take a two-stage approach. First, an inquiry into the options for a sale and a major study on how it will be done. Second, a timetable for when the sale will take place. Options for how the bank stake could be sold include a "Tell Sid" British Gas-style retail offer to the public. Or, more likely initially at least, a sale to institutions such as pension funds of a limited tranche of the shares. With a market capitalisation of £40bn, RBS is simply too big to sell in one go. What is important about the inquiry for the government is that it will give political cover and, banking sources believe, will be done by an independent individual advised by an investment bank. It will look at the vexed question of the price at which the government could sell its shares and legitimately claim that taxpayers are making a profit on the £46bn bailout provided by the state for RBS

Summary: In 2010, the new Chancellor of the Exchequer was confident that in the first five years of government he would be able to trumpet what he considered a notable achievement - the sale back to the public markets of the state's stakes in both Lloyds Banking Group and The Royal Bank of Scotland.


The Oscar winner is in Edinburgh to speak at the Scottish Business Awards at the EICC. DiCaprio visited Home, a restaurant in Queensferry Street which gives its profits to the homeless. Hundreds of fans were waiting for his arrival. Many had queued in the rain for hours. Last year George Clooney visited Social Bite in Rose Street. Clooney's visit was arranged by entrepreneurs Tom Hunter and Josh Littlejohn, the co-founder of Home and Social Bite, ventures that help the homeless community by allowing customers to pay for food and drink for the vulnerable. Home provides training and employment programmes for members of the Social Bite Academy, a four-year paid course for homeless people. DiCaprio made no comment to the waiting media as he shook hands with Mr Littlejohn and went inside the building. Elise Lovell, 45, was the winner of a competition to have lunch with Hollywood star. She said she had bought eight tickets and felt like she had won the Lottery. Ms Lovell said Di Caprio was "absolutely charming". She said they talked about his films and his work with director Martin Scorsese, his environmental work and the election of Donald Trump as US president. Ms Lovell said: "He said it was definitely a shock." Fan Carol Honeyman left her house in Larbert at 05:00 to see DiCaprio. She carried a large canvas of a scene from The Departed, which the movie star signed. She said: "I don't really know why I do these things but it was so worth it. "I got this canvas signed before by Ray Winstone, and now it's complete with Leo's. "I've actually met him before when I went down to the Baftas in London but it's just nicer to say I've seen him closer to home. He's a star." Sonny Murray, 37, who works at Social Bite, met DiCaprio at Home. He said: "I caught him checking himself out in the mirror." Maria Luisa, 65, from Edinburgh, said she was probably the oldest fan there. She said DiCaprio shook her hand, adding: "He didn't spend long enough with crowd." Home is a not-for-profit venture opened in September, with a menu of French and Scottish cuisine. Diners are encouraged to "pay forward" meals for the homeless, who can attend a special service for those sleeping rough every Monday between 15:00 and 17:00. Leonardo DiCaprio won his first Oscar earlier this year for survival epic, The Revenant. The star of Titanic and the Wolf of Wall Street had been nominated six times.

Summary: Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio has signed autographs outside an Edinburgh restaurant in what is thought to be his first visit to Scotland.


The ark was built by Christians who said they believe the biblical story was a historical event. Critics have said the attraction should not have received tax incentives as it contradicts science education. The ark is based on a biblical story of a man who received an apocalyptic warning from God about a massive flood. Answers in Genesis, the ministry that built the ark, said the ship's dimensions are based on those described in the Bible. The ark is also 85ft (26m) wide and 51ft (15m) high, according to the group. The ark, which is about 40 miles (64km) south of Cincinnati, Ohio, in Williamstown, features displays of animals in cages as well as exhibits on the group's theories on the world's existence. The group believes that God created everything, including dinosaurs, about 6,000 years ago. Scientists have said the dinosaurs became extinct about 65m years before man appeared. Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis, said the total cost of the ark is more than $100m (Â£77m). The attraction has been at the centre of controversy in Kentucky, where it was awarded a tax incentive in 2014 worth up to $18m (about Â£14m). The incentive allowed the park to recoup taxes on money made from visitors. The tax break was then revoked after it was revealed that Answers in Genesis would only hire Christian staff members. However, the group sued and won. Opponents of the theme park told the AP it is a violation of separation of church and state. "Basically, this boat is a church raising scientifically illiterate children and lying to them about science," said Jim Helton, who lives about a half-hour from the ark. One of the park's biggest critics is science advocate and former television personality Bill Nye "the Science Guy". Nye debated Mr Ham on evolution in 2014, attracting millions of viewers online. The video of the debate posted on YouTube by Answers in Genesis has more than five million views. Following the debate, Mr Ham announced that a bond offering from Williamstown had raised $62m (about Â£48m) for the project, allowing the group to break ground on the site a few months later. Answers in Genesis estimates that the theme park, which debuted to the public on Thursday, will draw about two million visitors in its first year.

Summary: A theme park in the US state of Kentucky has unveiled a 510-foot-long (155 metre-long) wooden model of Noah's Ark.


The H5N8 strain of the infection was confirmed in chickens and ducks in the Pontyberem area on Tuesday, after the birds were culled. It is the same strain of the virus found in an infected wild duck in Llanelli and turkeys in Lincolnshire. An avian flu prevention zone has now been extended to all of Wales. The Cabinet Secretary for the Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths made the announcement on Wednesday based on "expert advice." The prevention zone was originally introduced on 6 December 2016 and will be in place until 28 February 2017. It aims to protect poultry flocks and other domestic birds from the disease with enhanced biosecurity measures, such as a requirement for all keepers of poultry and other captive birds to keep their birds indoors or separate from wild birds. Ms Griffiths said: "My message to bird owners, including to back yard flock keepers, is to adhere to the requirements set out in the prevention zone, remain vigilant for signs of disease and practice good biosecurity at all times." The outbreak has also forced the National Welsh Poultry Weekend event in Pembrokeshire to be cancelled. Speaking on Wednesday, chief veterinary officer Prof Christianne Glossop said: "It's disappointing that the infection, which we first of all found in wild birds in Wales, has seemed to have spilt over into a domestic flock, but it's not surprising. "What we need people to do is to be really vigilant - and we are very grateful to the owners of these birds, that they noticed signs of disease and they called a vet." Prof Glossop said the Pontyberem birds had "quite severe" symptoms. "We know that we are dealing with highly pathogenic flu in the birds in Lincolnshire - so yes - it is quite a virulent stain of the virus," she told BBC Radio's Good Morning Wales programme. The chief vet said bird owners should get veterinary advice if they see symptoms such as their birds: Members of the public have been encouraged to report dead wild waterfowl or gulls, or five or more dead wild birds of other species in the same location. Public Health Wales has said the risk to public health was "very low" with the Food Standards Agency having also said avian flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers. Thoroughly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat. Dr Hazel Wright, senior policy officer at the Farmers' Union of Wales, said: "This is a worry for our poultry farmers and anyone who keeps chickens, ducks and other poultry in a small or private capacity. "I urge those who keep birds to follow the official guidelines provided by the chief veterinary officer and practise the highest level of biosecurity."

Summary: The chief vet for Wales has urged poultry and bird owners to remain vigilant following the outbreak of avian flu in Carmarthenshire.


The shogi set is thought to be rare because it is believed to have been made by a porcelain factory, when most shogi games were made of wood. London's Horniman Museum has lent it to the Novium in Chichester. It is thought it was made in the 1800s. The game is believed to have developed in Japan in the 10th or 11th centuries.

Summary: A 200-year-old Japanese board game that is similar to chess with its kings, generals and foot soldiers has gone on display at a Sussex museum.


The woman, known as the Lady of Cao, belonged to the Moche culture in northern Peru and died 1,700 years ago. Her preserved remains were found in 2006 at a mud-brick ruined pyramid known Huaca Cao Viejo, near Trujillo. Scientists were able to replicate her face after analysing her skull structure and remains. The Lady of Cao was buried with a crown, and gold and copper items. The grave also contained a number of weapons, including two massive war clubs and 23 spear throwers. A modern autopsy revealed she had been in her 20s when she died, probably of childbirth or pregnancy complications. Her feet, legs and face were tattooed with magic symbols of serpents and spiders. The richness of her burial site suggests she might have been a priestess or even a political ruler. The discovery challenged the belief that only men held high positions in ancient Moche society. Peru's minister of Culture, Salvador del Solar, said the reconstruction had revealed an oval face with high cheekbones, which many Peruvians shared and would recognise. "We are privileged to announce this strange combination of the future and the past: technology has allowed us to see the face of a political and religious leader from a culture from the past." Oval face and high cheekbones - a close-up of the replicated face

Summary: Scientists in Peru have managed to reconstruct the face of a powerful ancient female leader using 3D printing.


Minister for Crime Prevention James Brokenshire wrote to festival organisers asking them to warn people how such substances could be dangerous. He also said drug laws would be changed so temporary bans could be introduced on "emerging substances" while scientific advice is sought. Letters were also sent to councils and police forces in festival areas. Mr Brokenshire said: "During the festival season we know that people may be tempted to try potentially dangerous new drugs, particularly when they are advertised as 'legal' or 'herbal'. "That is why we are asking festival organisers and police to work with us to send out the message that these substances may not be safe and could contain illegal drugs. "We are going to change our drug laws so we can respond quickly to emerging substances by introducing a temporary ban while we seek full scientific advice." Some drugs previously sold as "legal highs" have now been banned, including mephedrone, now a Class B drug. The Home Office said that the drug naphyrone is branded as NRG1 and sold as "plant food" or "bath salts", but may contain one or more illegal drugs. The government said it will not permanently ban a substance without receiving full advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. In the letter sent to festival organisers, Mr Brokenshire said: "As part of your preparations for this year's event I ask you to review the measures you have put in place to ensure that your festival is as safe an environment as possible, to help protect the public, especially young people from the potential harms and risks of all drugs." The government's advice has been welcomed by Melvin Benn, managing director of Festival Republic, which stages the Latitude, Big Chill and Reading and Leeds Festivals. He said: "I can confirm that we do not allow legal high traders to trade at any Festival Republic festival and fully support the minister's view."

Summary: Organisers of this summer's music festivals have been asked by the government to warn about "legal highs".


The Scottish Chambers of Commerce's (SCC) quarterly business survey found firms were still performing strongly. But a number cited continued difficulties in the eurozone and world economies as a challenge to growth. SCC said the "exceptional" performance of the second quarter would be hard to replicate in the final quarter of 2014. However, it added that stability was "returning to the Scottish economy". The business survey, carried out in conjunction with the Fraser of Allander Institute of Strathclyde University, drew responses from more than 420 firms across five major sectors - construction, financial and business services, manufacturing, retail and wholesale and tourism. It found international events such as the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles boosted tourism performance, with average room rates increasing for the sixth consecutive quarter. But in the retail and wholesale sector, more firms reported a fall in sales revenue than a rise. SCC said that trend was expected to remain largely unchanged in the next quarter. Orders/sales grew in the third quarter for the construction and manufacturing sectors, but at a lower rate than the previous quarter. Sales revenue growth was broadly unchanged for financial and business services firms. Recruitment difficulties were still a concern for businesses, particularly in the construction sector, where almost half of firms that recruited said they had experienced difficulties. SCC chief executive Liz Cameron said: "The construction sector and manufacturing sectors are still performing well but face ongoing challenges as both sectors experienced lower sales growth compared with the previous high performing quarter. "Businesses have indicated that employment trends remain promising and are expected to grow, as more firms report increased levels of hiring. "In particular, the retail sector reported its highest increase in employment for 10 years. "As business looks to hire more people, continued challenges exist, as key sectors are often unable to find the right talent to employ, potentially slowing down the pace of economic growth."

Summary: The Scottish economy continued to grow in the last quarter but at a slower pace than the previous three months, according to a report.


Current mayor Norma Redfearn said she wanted to give residents a "voice" on how the borough is run when she was appointed the post in 2013. Voters will be asked whether the current system should be replaced by committees of councillors. Ms Redfearn said she welcomed the poll after "promising" residents they would be given the opportunity to decide. Councillors approved plans for the referendum on Thursday. It will take place on the 5 May - the same date as the Police and Crime Commissioner elections. The council said if the results call for a change, this will take effect at the end of Ms Redfearn's current term of office in May 2017. If the outcome is to support the current system, the next mayoral election will take place in May 2017.

Summary: People in North Tyneside are being given the chance to vote on whether they want a directly elected mayor.


The excess expressed milk is sold through specialist websites and social media groups. The Queen Mary University of London team claimed the milk was unpasteurised and could carry dangerous germs. They said claims that the milk boosted the immune system were misleading and could be dangerous to cancer patients. It is unclear how much of the product - often called "liquid gold" - is being traded, as it is always an arrangement between two parties. Dr Sarah Steele, from Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, told the BBC News website the market had "shown consistent growth around the world". She is one of the authors of a report in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. It says 93% of breast milk sold online contains detectable levels of bacteria, as non-sterile equipment is used to express or store the milk. Threats include hepatitis B and C, HIV and syphilis. The trade started to help women who were not producing enough breast milk themselves. However, it is also bought for its supposed health benefits such as building muscle, by fetishists and even some "foodies". But Dr Steele said breast milk did not have the same rigorous safety standards as anything sold as food. She was particularly worried about the milk being marketed at cancer patients. She added: "For cancer patients and other immuno-compromised people, the immune system is not functioning the same as in a healthy adult. "It is advertised with an immune benefit, but actually it poses real risks, and you're exposing yourself to bacteria and viruses that could complicate the medical condition in a dangerous way." One of the websites that facilitates its sale, onlythebreast.com, told the BBC it advised all milk be pasteurised before use and that most onlythebreast.com members were honest and "simply looking to provide safe milk for babies in need". A representative added: "Those conducting the study did not follow our posted safety guidelines, [which] potentially skewed the results of the study."

Summary: Human breast milk being bought online by fetishists, bodybuilders and cancer patients is a danger to health, UK researchers say.


Ikechi Anya's breakaway goal after 10 minutes, reminiscent of his strike in Dortmund against Germany, proved to be the decisive moment in Prague. Scotland might have had a second had Alan Hutton been awarded what looked like a clear-cut second-half penalty. But Gordon Strachan's preparations for the World Cup qualifiers began with only a second-ever win over the Czechs. They return home to face Denmark in another friendly at Hampden Park on Tuesday, with further matches in June against Italy and France before they begin World Cup qualifying against Malta in September. Scotland manager Strachan spoke before the match of having picked difficult friendly opposition to help his players develop ahead of more meaningful fixtures. The Czechs certainly provided a stern test, reinforcing their status as winners of a tough group in the Euro qualifiers. They bombarded Allan McGregor's goal in the opening 20 minutes, only for the Hull goalkeeper to produce a string of saves to deny them. He palmed Tomas Sivok's header round the post after Borek Dockal had smashed a free-kick off the bar. A diving save to tip away Martin Frydek's rasping shot was the other highlight after Anya had bemused the home supporters by slotting Scotland in front. The Watford man raced onto Ross McCormack's through ball down the left flank and finished strongly, first time, with his left foot. The Scots' first-half display was littered with slack passes and a lack of concentration. But they began to get the Czechs' measure and became more composed as the match progressed. A flurry of substitutions on both sides also had a disruptive effect but Scotland looked assured in the second period and might have gone further ahead when substitute Matt Phillips saw his header from a Robert Snodgrass cross saved by Tomas Koubek. But McGregor was called upon once more to make another top-class intervention, turning an effort by Lukas Marecek round the post. Although the Scotland management team had stressed this was not an exercise in experimentation, Strachan took the opportunity to give Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean a debut. Playing just behind McCormack, McLean found possession hard to come by in what was a tough introduction to international football, which lasted 57 minutes. McCormack, given a rare chance in his first cap for two years, also lacked service but played a crucial role in Anya's goal, showing great strength and weight of pass to play the winger through. There were late debuts too for striker Tony Watt and defender Paul Caddis, which would have told the manager little about their ability to handle this level of football, but offered them a moment to savour. Match ends, Czech Republic 0, Scotland 1. Second Half ends, Czech Republic 0, Scotland 1. Corner, Scotland. Conceded by Pavel Kaderábek. Attempt missed. Matej Vydra (Czech Republic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Lukás Marecek. Foul by Daniel Pudil (Czech Republic). Paul Caddis (Scotland) wins a free kick on the right wing. Substitution, Scotland. Paul Caddis replaces Ikechi Anya. Substitution,

Summary: Scotland withstood heavy early pressure to record an impressive friendly win over Euro 2016-bound Czech Republic.


The world champion, who faced being banned for the Games after missing three drugs tests, finished fifth. Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten went to hospital with severe concussion and three small fractures in her lower back after crashing as she led the race. Team-mate Anna van der Breggen won gold, ahead of Sweden's Emma Johansson and Italy's Elisa Longo Borghini. Van Vleuten later tweeted to say she was "fine" but "super disappointed after best race of my career". Watch: Follow the winding descent of the women's road race London 2012 silver medallist Armitstead, 27, was cleared to compete at Rio after a successful appeal and was in contention until the final stages. Van der Breggen won the 141km race in a time of three hours 51 minutes 27 seconds, ahead of Johansson and Longo Borghini, who took bronze. However, the race was marred by Van Vleuten's crash. The 33-year-old had sped off from the pack when she came off her bike on the descent of the steep Vista Chinesa, where several men - including Britain's Geraint Thomas - crashed on Saturday. Van Vleuten was taken to hospital where Dutch cycling officials later said she would spend the next 24 hours in intensive care. British former Olympic champion Chris Boardman, working as an expert analyst for BBC Sport, believes the Rio course was "too dangerous". "I'm actually quite angry because I looked at the road furniture and thought nobody can crash here and get up," he said. "This was way past technical, this was dangerous." Cycling's governing body, the UCI, defended the course, saying it "was carefully designed and extensively tested. It added: "We do our utmost to design safe, challenging courses but unfortunately crashes do sometimes occur due to a combination of factors." Van der Breggen, 26, said Van Vleuten's crash made her more determined to win gold for the Dutch. She won the sprint to the line along the Copacabana, holding off Johansson and Longo Borghini as the trio overtook American Mara Abbott on the straight. "I was pretty shocked about it, I think she crashed hard," said Van der Breggen. "I realised I was first in the team and had to chase. We knew we had to do it." Armitstead, the world and Commonwealth champion, was one of the pre-race favourites. But the Yorkshire rider's preparations were hampered by the possibility of a ban for missing three drugs tests - and the increased scrutiny she faced when the news emerged. She avoided a suspension of up to two years by winning a Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) appeal. Not only did Armitstead face questions about her mental focus as she lined up, many wondered whether she had the physical capability to cope with the mountainous course in Rio. She responded with a gutsy performance on a course she described as "brutal", but ultimately missing out on a second Olympic medal. Armitstead was part of a group that wiped out a gap of over a minute between themselves and the breakaway as they climbed Vista Chinesa. "I felt a little

Summary: Britain's Lizzie Armitstead missed out on an Olympic medal in a women's road race marred by a horrific crash.


Costa, who holds Brazilian and Spanish passports, has written to the Brazilian Football Confederation stating he wants to represent the world champions. Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said recently he planned to select the 25-year-old for friendlies in November. Costa played for Brazil in March - but only in friendly matches, and so could switch allegiances. In a statement, the Spanish Football Federation said that the player has stated "his desire to be at the disposition of the Spanish national team manager Vicente del Bosque" in a signed letter addressed to Julio Cesar Avelleda, secretary general of the Brazilian Football Confederation. This season, Costa has been in superb form for Atletico - the club he has been with since 2007 - and is the top scorer in La Liga with 11 goals after 10 matches. "I hope people understand and respect my decision because it has been very difficult," he said. "It was very difficult to choose between the country where you were born and the country that has given you everything. "I looked at everything and saw that it was right and best to play for Spain because this is where I have done everything. All that I have in my life was given to me by this country." "I hope people understand because it is not something against Brazil," he added. "I have family in Brazil and it is the country where I was born. I hope that God allows me to live there again in the future." Should he be selected, he could make his Spain debut on 19 November in a friendly against South Africa.

Summary: Atletico Madrid's Brazil-born forward Diego Costa has confirmed his intention to play for Spain.


Lewis White, Michael Jones, Rebecca Redfern, Ellie Robinson and Zara Mullooly are all in the 25-strong team. Bethany Firth, Jonathan Fox and Steph Slater, who missed last summer's World Championships because of injury, return to the international scene. The competition takes place from 30 April-8 May in Funchal, Madeira. The GB team also includes Paralympic champions Ollie Hynd, Jessica-Jane Applegate and Josef Craig, as well as world champions Tully Kearney and Hannah Russell. However, a number of GB swimmers, including Ellie Simmonds and Sascha Kindred, have not been included as the event comes straight after the Rio Paralympic trials, which take place in Glasgow from 23-27 April. GB team: Josef Craig, James Crisp, Jonathan Fox, Thomas Hamer, Ollie Hynd, Michael Jones, Andrew Mullen, Scott Quin, Lewis White, Matthew Wylie, Jessica-Jane Applegate, Claire Cashmore, Bethany Firth, Charlotte Henshaw, Tully Kearney, Harriet Lee, Amy Marren, Stephanie Millward, Zara Mullooly, Rebecca Redfern, Eleanor Robinson, Susie Rodgers, Hannah Russell, Stephanie Slater, Alice Tai.

Summary: Five Para-swimmers will make their senior Great Britain debuts in April's IPC Swimming Open European Championships.


The game on 5 November is outside World Rugby's Test window and English clubs do not have to release players for it. Gloucester flanker Ross Moriarty has said he expects to miss the match. "As it stands, George will not be available for that game," Saints team manager Paul Shields said. He told BBC Radio Northampton: "I know discussions are ongoing with the WRU and the [English clubs'] chairmen but I'm not privy to those conversations." The decision to release England-based Wales internationals is now in the hands of Premier Rugby, the umbrella organisation for England's top-tier clubs. Following the match against Australia, Wales face Argentina, Japan and South Africa later in the month - those Tests fall inside World Rugby's international window, which mean clubs must release their players. The decision by Premiership clubs on whether to release players for the first match will also have ramifications for Harlequins centre Jamie Roberts and Bath's injured number eight Taulupe Faletau. Earlier this week, Wales coach Rob Howley appeared to suggest North, Roberts and Faletau had special dispensation to play against the Wallabies. However, Shields said: "George is no different than any other non-English player. There's no side letter that exists or anything in his contract that says we will release George to play. "We're governed by Premier Rugby, who as a company will not release players outside the international window." Meanwhile, Moriarty has said: "For the games after [Australia], I'll hope to be involved and have a good chance to play again." Following fine performances for Wales during their summer tour in New Zealand, Moriarty has continued that form with Gloucester and received another call-up. "Sometimes I've been left with my head in my hands worrying [about a call-up] but I had a conversation a couple of weeks ago and it was a pretty big hint," he told BBC Radio Gloucestershire. "It's been on my mind for a while now. But as long as I can keep on performing and doing the best I can to help the team then that's what I'll keep on doing."

Summary: Wing George North is not currently available for Wales' Test against Australia but talks between the Welsh Rugby Union and English clubs are ongoing, his club Northampton says.


Wishaw General in North Lanarkshire experienced the power cut between 08:45 and 16:00. It meant one emergency patient was redirected to Hairmyres Hospital. NHS Lanarkshire said IT systems were also affected. The hospital was powered by back-up generators until mains power was restored. NHS Lanarkshire chief executive Calum Campbell said: "In the interest of patient safety and as a precautionary measure, we took the decision to reschedule a small number of surgical procedures based on clinical priority. "The power interruption impacted on our diagnostic and IT systems, which have now been fully restored. "As a result, some outpatient clinics have been affected and one emergency patient was redirected to Hairmyres Hospital. "This is in line with our business and emergency continuity plans which worked to good effect." He added: "All patients affected by the interruption have been rescheduled and we would like to apologise for any inconvenience this will have caused."

Summary: A hospital was forced to reschedule operations after losing power for more than seven hours.


The reboot of the classic Rudyard Kipling adaptation has reaped $684.8m (£468.5m) globally since its release last month. The Huntsman: Winter's War managed takings of only $9.4m (£6.4m) in its second week of release. Feline action comedy Keanu took third slot with a modest $9.35m (£6.39m). Comedy Mother's Day had a weak debut, with takings of $8.3m (£5.6m), despite featuring stars including Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston and Kate Hudson. All eyes are on the release of Captain America: Civil War, which opens next week in the US and has already done good business elsewhere. Civil War opened in 37 territories over the weekend, taking in an estimated $200.2m (£136.9m). That included record openings in Mexico, Brazil and the Philippines for the film which many believe could be this year's biggest hit.

Summary: Disney's The Jungle Book has topped the North American box office for the third consecutive week, taking $42.4m (£29m) according to early estimates.


Spencer White, from the Witterings area of Chichester, absconded from HMP Ford in West Sussex in July 1999. The 39-year-old, who was convicted of kidnapping an adult, disappeared eight months into a three-year sentence. After being recognised at Lanzarote Airport on 19 September he was stopped, detained and flown back to the UK. At Chichester Crown Court on 23 October he admitted escaping lawful custody. He was sentenced to 16 months, to be served on top of the two years and four months he had remaining on his original sentence. Police believe White had been living in the Republic of Ireland and was intending to take a short break in the Canary Islands. Sussex Police confirmed White had not been returned to HMP Ford, a jail which accommodates up to 557 inmates with less than two years left to serve. In November 2013, police found there were a number of absconders whose cases had not been regularly reviewed. A dedicated team was set up to review each case and in September 2014 Sussex Police said there were 83 Ford prisoners on the run. PC Lewis Dines, from the investigation team, said: "Spencer White has been a priority to locate from the moment he absconded but he evaded immediate capture and disappeared [from] our radar. "Within the last year we received information about his possible location and were able to secure a European Arrest Warrant so he could be arrested if found outside the UK. "His capture and additional sentence send a message that we will not give up seeking absconders and when we put them back in front of the court they can expect further punishment."

Summary: A man who fled from an open prison 16 years ago is back in custody after he was caught trying to take a holiday in Lanzarote, police have said.


Kevin Thomas said he would be scattering the ashes of the 20-year-old, from Chorley, in Lancashire, at the Isle of Man TT races in June. "That is what he wanted me to do - he lived for racing," said Thomas. "He had taken to the roads, the crowds had taken to him. He was a petrol head and just wanted to go faster." Mitchell-Thomas had been racing at the North West 200 for the first time, having signed for the Cookstown BE Racing team. He crashed during the Supertwins race at Saturday's road races. "I want to thank the paramedics for trying to save him at the roadside and the organisers for the way they helped me when things went wrong," Thomas added. Media playback is not supported on this device "It was a great event, but saddened by his loss. "I have lost my best friend - I have lost my son, but he died doing what he wanted to do. "He did not have a bad bone in his body and nobody had a bad word to say about him. "He had been doing great things. We did not come here as a big business with a big bank account. "We came here through hard grit, determination and mostly a desire to win races. I have never seen desire like he had." Mitchell-Thomas and his father had been living in a small caravan at the back of the North West 200 paddock area. Thomas said his son had been loving the event and could not wait for the racing to start. Mitchell-Thomas finished fourth in Saturday's opening Supersport race. Thomas said he did not agree with people who wanted road racing banned because of the dangers. "There are risks in everything you do," he said. "Mal got knocked off his bike by a car when he was six - he could have been killed then. "Yes, it is a dangerous sport, but so are other forms of motorsport. So is horse racing. "I will continue to be involved in the sport because that is what Mal would have wanted me to do." Cookstown BE Racing owner John Burrows said the team was "devastated" by the loss of its rider. "Everyone is in a state of shock. Enthusiasm just bubbled out of him and he was a joy to be around," he added. Jim Gracey, group sports editor of the Belfast Telegraph, described Mitchell-Thomas as "one of the brightest shining young stars who has appeared in motorcycle racing for many, many years". Gracey added: "He was an absolutely lovely lad. "Many people here were saying he was going to be the next Guy Martin. He wouldn't have any of it. He said to me: 'I'm the first Malachi Mitchell-Thomas.' "He told me racing was his be all and end all." First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have expressed their condolences to Thomas's family. Foster said: "It was with great sadness I learned of the death of Malachi Mitchell-Thomas following a tragic accident at Saturday's North West 200.

Summary: Malachi Mitchell-Thomas, who died at the North West 200 races on Saturday, was a rider of incredible grit and determination, his father said.