Just a day after Mr Trump gave a speech on immigration and national security that included sweeping condemnations of Mr Obama's policies, the president responded with some of his harshest criticisms to date. "Where does this stop?" Mr Obama asked. "The Orlando killer, one of the San Bernardino killers, the Fort Hood killer - they were all US citizens. Are we going to start treating all Muslim-Americans differently? Are we going to start subjecting them to special surveillance? Are we going to start to discriminate [against] them, because of their faith?" Such views, Mr Obama said, are "not the America we want". As the Obama-Trump clash heats up, here are three things to keep in mind. Donald Trump and Barack Obama have a history that predates the current election cycle. In early 2011 Mr Trump repeatedly circulated conspiracy theories about the authenticity of the president's birth certificate and whether he was actually born in the US. Later that year, at a black-tie Washington event, Mr Obama relentlessly mocked Mr Trump while the New Yorker sat stone-faced in the audience - a performance the New Yorker's Adam Gopnik said helped motivate Mr Trump to eventually run for president. Over the past year Mr Trump has questioned Mr Obama's competence and openly speculated about his allegiances in what he labels the war on radical Islam. As recently as Sunday, he cryptically noted that Mr Obama was either "tough, not smart, or he's got something else in mind". Mr Obama has criticised Mr Trump in the past, but his remarks on Tuesday were the sharpest, most direct of this political season. His tone was stern, his language blunt. A few hours later, Mr Trump shot back, effectively accusing Mr Obama of treason. The president, he said in an email to the Associated Press, "continues to prioritise our enemy over our allies, and for that matter, the American people". The president clearly does not like the presumptive Republican nominee - and the feeling appears to be mutual. There's very little precedent in modern US political history for a sitting president to directly and sharply criticise the opposing party's standard-bearer in the run-up to a general election. In part that's because there simply haven't been many two-term presidents in recent memory - George W Bush, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and Dwight Eisenhower are the only ones since World War 2. And of those, only Reagan and Eisenhower left office with high approval and largely free from scandal. Mr Obama is currently above 50% in most opinion polls and has been trending upward, so he is in a position to be an active and eager participant in the campaign fray. Because he's not the nominee, he has a free hand in what he can say, and he can bring the full weight of the presidency to bear on Mr Trump. The Republican nominee will be effectively campaigning against two candidates - Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama. And, at least for now, Mr Trump can only count on the tepid support of many of his fellow Republicans. Following Mr

Summary: The political battle between President Barack Obama and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump is now fully joined.


It comes after police in Shandong announced last month they had arrested a mother and her daughter accused of buying and selling vaccines illegally. The estimated $88m (Â£61m) worth of vaccines were not properly refrigerated or transported. The illegal vaccine ring, said to have been in operation since 2011, has sparked widespread anger in China. The scandal has led to a crackdown, with checks ordered on vaccine makers, wholesalers and buyers. The vaccines were bought from a variety of sources, both licensed and unlicensed, then sold on to both illegal agents and legal local disease control and prevention centres at inflated prices, reported the Xinhua news agency. The ring is alleged to have involved hundreds of people across 20 provinces, it said. Though authorities had known about it since April last year, they only made the news public late on Friday when they issued a call demanding that suppliers come forward to help them trace potential victims. The delay has angered many people in China who questioned why the authorities had not alerted the public earlier. Local authorities have now been given a deadline of Friday to identify who bought the medicines. Three pharmaceutical companies are being investigated, Xinhua reports, citing people handling the case. One, Shandong Zhaoxin Bio-tech Co, has been ordered to suspend operations, it added. The China office of the World Health Organization (WHO) said vaccines needed to be handled properly or they can become less effective. But it stressed that improperly kept vaccines did not in themselves present much danger. "It is important to note, however, that improperly stored or expired vaccine seldom if ever causes a toxic reaction. Therefore there is likely to be minimal safety risk in this particular situation,'' the WHO said.

Summary: Thirty-seven people have been arrested in eastern China over a huge vaccine scandal, state media report.


The incident happened in Arcadia Street, in the city's Bridgeton area, at about 03:00 on Tuesday. The officer and dog were hurt as the vehicle made off. Both received treatment for non-serious injuries. A Police Scotland spokeswoman said inquiries into the incident were ongoing and officers remained at the scene in Arcadia Street.

Summary: A police officer and police dog have been injured while responding to a report of a stolen car in Glasgow.


Southgate effectively used a three-man defence in the 1-0 friendly loss in Germany on Wednesday. It is the same system used to good effect by Premier League leaders Chelsea and Italian champions Juventus. "If he [Southgate] feels that's the right way to go, I think it's a really good way of playing," former England player Scholes told BBC's Sportsweek. "Over the past few years we seem to copy whoever is doing well, whether it's Spain or Germany. There was a spell when academies were copying what even Belgium were trying to do. "I think it's about time now that Gareth and his staff brought an identity to English football and the national team that we can be proud of. "It's going to be difficult and it will take a little bit of time, but if he's playing this way and England are being successful then that's what it's all about." Media playback is not supported on this device England's defeat in Germany was their first in four games under Southgate, who was made permanent boss last November after having taken over on a temporary basis following the departure of Sam Allardyce. Southgate, who represented England as a player, was previously manager of the under-21 side, after having led Middlesbrough from 2006 to 2009. "I really liked Gareth when I played with him," said Scholes. "He was good with the young lads... he's been successful with England which not many players have been, getting to the semi-finals of Euro 96." Scholes said that Southgate maybe hadn't fully "earned his stripes" at domestic club or European level, but added: "We've been down the route of so-called super coaches who haven't worked. "Now we've got a passionate man in charge, he likes to play young players which is good," added the ex-Manchester United midfielder. "Hopefully the future is bright under him." In Germany, England were without captain Wayne Rooney, who will also be missing for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Lithuania on Sunday as he recovers from a leg injury. The 31-year-old has struggled to claim a starting place for Manchester United this season but former team-mate Scholes still feels he has "a part to play" for both club and country. "He's got great experience and he can pass knowledge on to young players," said Scholes. Rooney has been linked with a return to his first club Everton this summer, but Scholes believes staying and reclaiming his place in the United side would aid his England chances. "I don't want him to go to another English club, I hope he gets back in the United team," he added. "If he gets back in the United team then he is straight back into the England side."

Summary: England boss Gareth Southgate must establish an identity for the national side, says Paul Scholes.


Although it was goalless at the break, the Villagers responded to four defeats in-a-row by taking the game to the hosts. Thompson shot just wide from Taron Hare's cross, and Danny Clarke forced Sam Johnson into a good save. It was no surprise when Thompson gave North Ferriby the advantage in the 49th minute. The deadline-day signing marked his first goal for the Grange Lane club by rounding the goalkeeper and slotting in from a tight angle. Gus Mafuta's late strike almost levelled the scores, but North Ferriby held on for the win. Report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Gateshead 0, North Ferriby United 1. Second Half ends, Gateshead 0, North Ferriby United 1. Connor Oliver (North Ferriby United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Substitution, North Ferriby United. Ryan Fallowfield replaces Connor Robinson. Mitch Brundle (Gateshead) is shown the yellow card. Substitution, Gateshead. Adam Wrightson replaces James Bolton. Substitution, North Ferriby United. Ryan Kendall replaces Reece Thompson. Substitution, North Ferriby United. Danny Emerton replaces Jake Skelton. Goal! Gateshead 0, North Ferriby United 1. Reece Thompson (North Ferriby United). Substitution, Gateshead. Gus Mafuta replaces Rhys Oates. Substitution, Gateshead. Danny Johnson replaces Sam Jones. Second Half begins Gateshead 0, North Ferriby United 0. First Half ends, Gateshead 0, North Ferriby United 0. Patrick McLaughlin (Gateshead) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Sam Jones (Gateshead) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. First Half begins. Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Summary: Reece Thompson's second-half goal handed North Ferriby their first ever away win in the fifth tier as they beat struggling Gateshead.


England manager Sam Allardyce has backed the idea of a British team at future Olympics, but the Football Association of Wales fears it could damage Wales' position as an independent footballing nation. Team GB entered men's and women's sides at London 2012, but not at Rio 2016. "For us, no. I don't agree with that," said Coleman. "Anything that could put what we've got here, what we've built here, in jeopardy, we would not be for that. "We've always had a stance that we don't agree with it, and that hasn't changed. "Why should we say go on, take [our players] - and we know they're only going to take two or three of ours. "It should be called the England Olympic team really because that's what it will be. But they'll cherry-pick [Gareth] Bale or Rambo [Aaron Ramsey] maybe - why should we give them up, say water them down, take the best out of them and then throw them back to us when you finish with them? "I don't think that's fair at all. I think they have enough football." After taking part at London 2012, the four national football associations could not agree on sending a British women's team to the Rio Games. A place was earned by the England women's side finishing third in the 2015 World Cup. England's Football Association had put forward the idea of sending Great Britain teams to the Olympics, but Fifa said it would need the agreement of the ruling bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, who were against it. Those three home nations fear such a move could affect their independent status within the sport's world governing body, Fifa, and at international tournaments such as the World Cup. "One thing we've got surrounding us at the minute - and you can smell it on us - is the players we have got, there's an identity there," said Coleman. "They put the jersey on and they wear it with pride. That's all our nation has ever wanted really. "Of course they want success, they want to see a team on the pitch that when they walk on the pitch they're emptying it for the jersey, for the badge, for the honour. That's what we've got, so no need for us to mess about with that." Coleman added that competing at the Olympics would add to players' already busy schedule. "Our boys have a lot of football, what they don't need is another [tournament]," he said. "It's not just the football... it's being in camp, being away every day, there's more pressure, there's more preparation. "That's the last thing any of our top players need and I'm talking about the England players as well."

Summary: Wales boss Chris Coleman has dismissed the idea of Wales being part of a Team GB football side at the 2020 Olympics.


The remains were discovered by a quarry worker at Mepal on 16 May. The man, aged between 30 and 50, could have died as long ago as the 1960s, but it is more likely his death occurred "about 10 years ago", police said. It is thought the head came from a site 40 miles away in Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire. Detectives have been working with specialists from the Natural History Museum and an odontologist (forensic dentist) to try to identify the remains since the discovery at the Block Fen Drove site. The man's identity and cause of death are still not known. The National Crime Agency's DNA database has failed to come up with a match for the remains. However, detectives are looking at the possibility he was hit by a train in Bedfordshire in "a tragic accident". "We believe the head may have been lodged somewhere along the structure of the bridge in Sharnbrook, and as part of the recent cleaning process, has been dislodged, found its way into the skip and deposited at the quarry in Mepal," Det Insp Jerry Waite said. The Mepal site where the head was found is used for landfill and recycling, as well as the supply of aggregates such as limestone and gravel, and mixing concrete.

Summary: A severed head found in a Cambridgeshire quarry last month has been identified as male, but his identity remains a mystery.


Media playback is not supported on this device Donnelly popped up at the back post to net a downward header from Martin Donnelly's cross in the 33rd minute. The Reds stay eight points behind their north Belfast rivals at the summit thanks to their ninth consecutive victory over Ronnie McFall's side. The Ports have now lost their last six Premiership outings and remain eighth. Ronnie McFall's side have failed to score a goal in each of their nine defeats at the hands of the Reds. Early in the game, Philip Lowry had a clear sight of goal but his weak shot was easily gathered by home goalkeeper Conor Devlin. At the other end, David Miskelly made fine saves from Chris Curran and a Jay Donnelly header. Donnelly's strike proved to be the winner, although both sides had chances after the interval. Lowry's weak header was saved by Devlin, while Martin Donnelly shot tamely at Miskelly, who also denied Curran's curling effort. Cliftonville manager Gerard Lyttle: "The aims were to get a win and keep a clean sheet and we achieved both. We controlled most of the game and I'm happy with the three points. "You are always wary of a 1-0 lead and I was disappointed that we passed up a couple of second-half chances, but I'd take that result for the remainder of the season, no problem." Portadown assistant manager Kieran Harding: "I thought we were outstanding today and unfortunate not to get a draw. Defensively we had a good shape about us and created some clearcut chances on the break which we would have taken on another day."

Summary: Jay Donnelly scored the only goal as Cliftonville extended their unbeaten league run to six matches and kept up their pursuit of leaders Crusaders.


Five foreign cadets based at Bassingbourn Barracks, near Cambridge, were jailed last year for attacks in the city committed in 2014. They were based in the UK as part of a British Government agreement to train Libyan troops. The MoD confirmed it was considering compensation claims. The first claimant is understood to be the male victim of Moktar Ali Saad Mahmoud, 33, and Ibrahim Abugtila, 23. They were both jailed for 12 years for rape after a court heard they acted like "hunting dogs" as they sexually assaulted him in central Cambridge in October 2014. Mahmoud and Abugtila denied attacking the man, who had earlier been at a wedding, but were caught on CCTV leading him to the park. At least one more claim has been submitted by one of three women assaulted on the same night in separate attacks. Khaled El Azibi, 19, Naji El Maarfi, 21, and Mohammed Abdalsalam, 28, were jailed after they admitted a range of charges relating to the female victims. Their attacks included trying to kiss a woman without consent and then sexually assaulting her. It is understood one victim is making her claim on the basis of negligence and breach of human rights In the aftermath, the MoD sent 300 soldiers back to Libya early, ending an agreement to put 2,000 soldiers through basic infantry and junior command training. An MoD spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that compensation claims have been received by the department. "As the claims are ongoing we are unable to comment further."

Summary: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has received legal claims from victims raped and sexually assaulted by Libyan soldiers training in the UK.


Up to 25 people are being held, a top official told the BBC. Police are also reportedly hunting several students. Espousing separatism is illegal in Sri Lanka. Suspects can be held without charge for 18 months. The detentions come at a time of rising political tensions in the north. Last week security forces and students clashed at Jaffna University in the worst political disturbances since the civil war ended in 2009. Students had tried to mark "Martyrs' Day", which commemorates dead Tamil Tiger fighters. Officials gave differing accounts of the number of arrests made by anti-terrorist police in the latest raids. Police spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said that 10 men had been detained on Wednesday in the Jaffna area, all of them accused of "terrorist activities" with the Tamil Tigers or LTTE before 2009. Mr Jayakody said that none those being held had completed a government rehabilitation course for LTTE suspects and none had surrendered to the police or army at the end of the war. "They were arrested at different places on the Jaffna peninsula and are now in Vavuniya," he said. "All the families have been informed." He said that police were guided to the suspects by intelligence reports. But the head of the police's Terrorist Investigation Division, Chandra Wakista, told the BBC that as many as 20 to 25 had been detained. "No arrests have been made without procedure, all of them were made officially," he said. The police say families have been given official documents relating to the arrests. But the BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says that some relatives have apparently been kept in the dark - one family told a newspaper they only got official information on their son's arrest a long time after he disappeared, and only after they informed the official human rights body. Rights workers are also mindful of the fact that a year ago two young campaigners disappeared in Jaffna, where tensions have continued since the end of the war in May 2009. Separately, sources in Jaffna University say the police have given them a list of 10 students they want to arrest. Three students already being held are said to be suspects in a petrol-bombing and in putting up pro-LTTE posters.

Summary: Police in northern Sri Lanka have made a series of arrests which they say are linked to combating terrorism, three years after the separatist Tamil Tigers were defeated.


Government figures show the resort has the most pregnant smokers per head of population. Blackpool Council said smoking levels in the town had fallen from 33% five years ago to 27.2% now. In 2013, it won an award for its work tackling the issue of smoking by expectant mothers. Current NHS data shows the rate of smoking throughout pregnancy in Blackpool was more than 10 times that in Westminster (2.1%). Blackpool Councillor Eddie Collett, the Cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: "In Blackpool, smoking in pregnancy numbers are falling. We have seen significant improvement since 2010." He said they needed to continue the positive work to ensure mothers and babies were protected from harm caused by smoking. "There is still a way to go," he added. "However, I am pleased that we are moving in the right direction." He said there were close links between maternity services and support services. Two years ago Blackpool received an award on smoking cessation from the Clear Partnership, which works with local authorities and is supported by charities such as Action on Smoking and Health (Ash). Hazel Cheeseman, director of policy at Ash, said the data came from the government's Smoking at the Time of Delivery data. She said it was unfair to single out Blackpool as they have done some "great work" and one of the reasons the figures may seem higher is because they are so good at recording the data and "not every other part of the country is quite as scrupulous." She added there are lower rates of smoking in more affluent areas and higher in areas that are less affluent, and although Blackpool has invested a lot they "have such a mountain to climb," At the time of the award, Cancer Research UK's Tobacco Control lead, Alison Cox, said: "Blackpool's excellent work will ensure that more pregnant women get the help they need."

Summary: A councillor in Blackpool, which has England's highest smoking rate among pregnant women, has defended the town's record.


Chelsea Manning, whose sentence was commuted by the outgoing president, thanked him "for giving me a chance". The 29-year-old transgender soldier, born Bradley Manning, gave embarrassing documents to Wikileaks in 2010. At President Obama's final press conference on Wednesday, he declared that "justice has been served". She will be freed from the Fort Leavenworth military prison in May - 29 years ahead of her scheduled release in 2045. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange weighed in on Thursday, insisting that he would stand by his offer to be extradited to the US as long as his rights were protected. Mr Assange, who agreed to be extradited to the US if Mr Obama granted clemency to Manning, has been holed up at the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012. The Australian national sought refuge there to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning in relation to an alleged sex offence. "I stand by everything I said including the offer to go to the United States if Chelsea Manning's sentence was commuted," he said in a live online audio news conference on Thursday. "It's not going to be commuted (until) May. We can have many discussions to that point," he added. The White House said Manning's commutation had not been influenced in any way by Mr Assange's offer, and the US justice department has not indicted Mr Assange nor publicly sought his extradition. Obama says justice is served Viewpoint: Obama got it right Mr Obama's last-minute commutation quickly drew criticism from Republican circles. A spokesman for president-elect Donald Trump said he "is troubled by this action. It's disappointing and it sends a very troubling message when it comes to the handling of classified information". Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan called the decision "outrageous". "Chelsea Manning's treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation's most sensitive secrets," Mr Ryan said. Manning does not have access to the internet, as part of the condition of her imprisonment. However despite that, she has been tweeting from @xychelsea since April 2015. In a handwritten letter she released to explain her social media use, she told how she calls a friend on the phone who transcribes what she says "verbatim". Her thank you was addressed to @BarackObama, rather than the President's official @POTUS Twitter account, which Mr Obama will hand over to Mr Trump on Friday when he officially becomes the nation's 45th president.

Summary: The US army private serving a 35-year prison sentence for leaking classified documents has thanked President Barack Obama for shortening her sentence.


It comes after similar concerns about pressure on bed availability at the Borders General. NHS Dumfries and Galloway said an upsurge in demand for services was being seen across Scotland. It said work was ongoing to improve "patient flow" to deal with the increase in hospital admissions. Infection control manager Elaine Ross said flu and other respiratory viruses were circulating in communities across the region. She urged everyone to play their part in tackling the issue. "Currently, the demand on our local hospital is extreme," she said. "Patients are arriving at our emergency department and via GP referrals with flu-like symptoms and persistent coughs that may be compounded by underlying conditions. "The flu vaccine is effective but won't protect against other viruses that are going round." She asked anyone with symptoms to take lots of fluid and paracetamol and to stay indoors and rest until they felt better. "We are also urging people to not visit relatives in the hospital if they are showing any symptoms," she said. "It is vital that we stop the spread of infection." Interim general manager Gail Meier said staff were "working round the clock" to assess patients and determine the need for admissions. She said they aimed to ensure that people were "seen, treated and either discharged or admitted in a timely manner". "It is a very demanding time for the health service and I take the opportunity to urge everyone to consider the use of emergency services as it is a finite resource," she said. "Community pharmacies and NHS 24 offer help and advice as an alternative to attending hospital. "I would like to thank everyone for their commitment over the past few weeks and 365 days of the year for that matter. It does not go unnoticed."

Summary: Health chiefs have warned Dumfries Infirmary is facing "extreme" demand from people with flu-like symptoms and persistent coughs.


The car was stopped in Duncrue Street in Belfast on Wednesday evening at 20.15 GMT. Police seized suspected herbal cannabis and cocaine thought to be worth a substantial amount. The men, aged 28 and 31, have both been arrested for possession and supply-of-drug offences. Det Insp Tom McClure from the PSNI's Reactive and Organised Crime Branch said: "I believe that this intervention has struck a blow to the activities of an organised gang involved in serious drug criminality."

Summary: Police say the arrests of two men following the seizure of drugs from a car in Belfast have dealt a blow to organised crime.


Root, 25, made his Notts debut in 2016 and his breakthrough came this season when he made 107 from 93 balls against Warwickshire in the One-Day Cup. Bowler Luke Fletcher has also signed a new two-year deal at Trent Bridge. Fletcher, 28, was struck on the head while bowling at Edgbaston in July - an injury that ended his season. Before the incident, he took 36 wickets at 22.44 to help Notts move clear at the top of County Championship Division Two. "It's a well-deserved contract for Luke because of what he has done in the last 12 months," said Notts head coach Peter Moores. "He's gone away and looked quite hard at what he can do to get himself into the team. "We have seen the results of that in the way he bowled in the first part of the County Championship." Root came through the Yorkshire Academy before being released in 2011 and joining the MCC Young Cricketers. He is now a regular in white-ball cricket for Notts and Moores wants him to push for a place in the four-day team. "He's been an effective player for us, particularly in one-day cricket," Moores continued. "We're looking for him to now push on in both white and red-ball cricket after working very hard for this opportunity."

Summary: Billy Root, the younger brother of England captain Joe, has signed his first professional contract, agreeing a two-year deal with Nottinghamshire.


The office building had been owned by the Royal London Mutual Insurance Society but was put on the market for £40m in October. The Grade I listed property has the two famous Liver Birds on its roof. Along with the Cunard and Port of Liverpool Buildings, it is one of the Three Graces on the city's waterfront. The 330,000 sq ft (31,000 sq m) building is currently home to companies including ITV and HSBC. Thomas Landschreiber, chief investment officer of Corestate, said the company is looking to "invest significant funds to maintain and strengthen this city-building office building in the long term". "As a new owner of this emblematic building, we appreciate its heritage and its importance to the people of Liverpool," he added. Source: Museum of Liverpool

Summary: Liverpool's iconic Royal Liver Building has been sold for £48m to Luxembourg-based real estate investment manager Corestate Capital Holding.


Mr Potts, who started his Tesco career at age 16 and rose to become retail director in the UK and chief executive of its Irish businesses, will take the helm on 16 March. He takes over from Dalton Philips, who said in January he would leave the troubled supermarket after five years in charge. The chain is battling falling sales. It has been criticised for being slow in moving into the convenience store sector and setting up an online operation. Current Morrisons chairman Andrew Higginson was previously the finance director at Tesco and worked with Mr Potts there for 15 years. He said was "delighted" by the appointment. "David is the best retailer I have worked with in 25 years in the industry. Having worked alongside him for 15 years, I know he will bring to Morrisons a focus on the customer, a track record of delivery, flair, talent, and immense energy to his new role," he added. Morrisons is being squeezed between the higher end of the market and the discount supermarkets chains. The Bradford-based company reported a 3.1% drop in like-for-like sales in the six weeks to 4 January, and said it would close 10 loss-making stores this year. Mr Potts will be tasked with returning the company to growth. He said it "was an honour to have been selected".

Summary: Morrisons has named former Tesco director David Potts as its new chief executive.


The Queensferry Crossing had been expected to open at the end of 2016 but there are fears that adverse weather conditions may delay its completion. Transport Scotland said the contractor was working to ensure the Â£1.35bn bridge was open "as soon as possible". The Scottish Conservatives said any delay would be of "serious concern" to commuters. In February, the national transport agency said the project was scheduled to finish "on time and under budget". But in the wake of newspaper reports that the opening of the bridge could be delayed, they would not name a completion date. Nicola Sturgeon is to field a question on the matter on Thursday, with Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton lodging a query about the opening date at first minister's questions. A Transport Scotland spokesman said: "As previously stated the contractor, Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors, is making every effort to open the bridge as soon as possible, despite the challenge that the weather presents." Alex Johnstone, transport spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said the government "needs to be open" so commuters know when the bridge will open. "Ministers weren't slow to celebrate the bridge coming in under budget, and have said for some time that it is on schedule," he said. "The public will expect them to be equally open when things aren't going to plan."

Summary: The Scottish government has been urged to confirm when the new Forth bridge will open.


Barclay suffered a shoulder injury in Scotland's 22-16 defeat by France on 12 February and came back to his Welsh region for a medical appraisal. Pivac said the signs were promising after a scan on the injury. "It was a good scan. He's getting treatment so fingers crossed he will be right for the Welsh Test," said Pivac. "He goes back to Scotland now and they will be in charge of his recovery from here. It will be their call. "But certainly it was nowhere near as serious as first thought." Scotland are already without captain Greig Laidlaw (ankle) and number eight Josh Strauss (kidney) who have both been ruled out of the tournament. There are also concerns over flanker John Hardie and hooker Fraser Brown who both suffered blows to the head in Paris. And wing Sean Maitland was injured on Friday evening in Saracens' defeat by Gloucester in the Aviva Premiership. A Welsh player who could be involved in Murrayfield - wing Steff Evans - scored the Scarlets' opening try in their 42-7 Pro12 win against Zebre. Evans has not featured for Wales so far in the Six Nations, and impressed Pivac with his commitment against the Italian side. "Steff was itching to get a run and he got his hands on the ball out there. He will be better for that," added Pivac. "Tonight's game was important for him, to get a blow-out. "He has been in camp and training well and really enjoying it by all accounts. "He will be happy with that 80 minutes under his belt."

Summary: Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac is hopeful John Barclay will be fit to play for Scotland against Wales in the Six Nations on 25 February.


Inmates Donnie Russell Row and Ricky Dubose are suspected of overpowering the guards while being transported by bus to another facility. Police say the men, who are both serving time for armed robbery at Baldwin State Prison, hijacked the prison transport bus. They later commandeered another car, and are considered armed and dangerous. The first call to police came shortly after 07:00 local time (11:00 GMT), once the men had apparently taken control of the prison bus on Highway 16 between the towns of Sparta and Eatonton. Officials have shut down roadways in the region, about 65 miles (104km) from Atlanta, to conduct a search and secure the 31 other inmates that had also been aboard the bus. The US Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the FBI, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are investigating. According to police, the incident occurred around 05:45 local time near the town of Eatonton. Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said the inmates are "dangerous beyond description", adding that investigators are reviewing surveillance footage from on board the bus to determine how the inmates were able to attack the guards. "They were inside the caged area of the bus," Sheriff Sills said at a press conference. "How they got through the locks and things up to that area I do not know." The prisoners "overpowered" the guards and "they then disarmed them and one of the subjects shot and killed both guards", according to a bulletin issued by the Putnam County Sheriff's office. Correctional officers Christopher Monica, 42 and Curtis Billue, 58, were both killed, the Georgia Department of Corrections confirmed. "Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of two of our officers, who are our family, and our priority is to locate these fugitives and bring them to justice for this heinous act against those working to protect the public," said Corrections Commissioner Gregory Dozier. "Obviously it's a tragic day for the family of corrections and the loved ones of these two officers. My heart is still in the soles of my shoes," Mr Dozier added. The inmates are thought to be travelling in a 2004 green Honda Civic, which they carjacked. They were armed with the officers' .40 calibre Glock pistols, officials say. Nearly six hours after the escape, police in the city of Madison, Georgia, reported that a home had been broken into and clothing had been stolen. The suspects left prison uniforms, and the stolen car has not yet been recovered. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal said: "Our heartbreak is matched only in our resolve to bring their murderers to justice. "No effort will be spared in pursuit of the killers, and no state resources required in this endeavor will be spared." Both men had been serving life sentences.

Summary: Two prison officers were shot and killed during an escape on Tuesday morning in the US state of Georgia.


Robert Dick was born in Tullibody, in 1811 and was apprenticed to a local baker after leaving school, aged 13. But he began to study in his spare time, eventually becoming a world-renowned expert on the botany and geology of Caithness. His achievements are being marked by the Tullibody History Group. The group said the event would look at the legacy of a "remarkable, entirely self-taught man". Despite a relatively humble upbringing - the son of an excise officer - his achievements were noted by some of the most prominent scientists of the day. Sir Roderick Murchison of the British Association of Scientists was said to have remarked about him: "I found to my humiliation that this baker knew more of botanical science - aye - 10 times more than I did." And the well-known naturalist Hugh Miller, who received many fossils from Dick, wrote that "he has robbed himself to do me service". In 1863, Dick had to sell part of his geological collection, which is now in the National Museums Scotland. He continued his research, but in August 1866 he collapsed while gathering specimens in a quarry. He never recovered fully and died four months later. The only memorial to him is in Thurso Cemetery, the Tullibody History Group said. Members of the group hope to erect a new memorial to the man to mark the bicentenary of his birth this year, as well as publishing a book about his life. An event on 27 August at the Tullibody Heritage centre would give a "fascinating insight into an unusual man", the group added.

Summary: The life of a 19th Century Clackmannanshire baker who went on to become a world authority on botany is to be celebrated.


That was better than the 3% pace that economists had been expecting and follows the 4.6% growth rate recorded in the April-June quarter. Strong export growth and higher government spending helped to boost growth in the third quarter. In a sign of confidence in the US recovery, on Wednesday the Federal Reserve ended its stimulus scheme. The fall in the unemployment rate to a six-year low has helped to boost that confidence. "Today's number represents a return to a healthy-looking trend. The most recent IMF forecasts suggest the US economy will grow 3.1% next year and 3.0% in 2016, and these could be revised further upwards in the coming months," said Ben Brettell, senior economist at Hargreaves Lansdown stockbrokers. The report was the first of three estimates of gross domestic product, so the figure could be revised up or down, over the coming months. Growth was lifted in the third quarter by a sharp increase in government spending, which itself was boosted by a surge in defence expenditure. Exports were another area of strength, they rose at an annual rate of 7.8%. But there will be a question over whether that pace can be maintained as important export markets for the US are struggling. Growth in many European countries is stagnant and the Chinese economy is slowing down. Consumption growth was relatively weak in the third quarter, running at an annual rate of 1.8%, but economists expect that to improve. "Conditions are in place for a pick-up in the pace of consumption growth," said Paul Ashworth, chief US economist at Capital Economics. "Real personal disposable incomes increased by a healthy 2.7% in the third quarter and, with the prospect of further big gains in employment and the impact of the slump in energy prices, real incomes should enjoy an even bigger gain in the fourth quarter." Overall it has been a volatile year for US growth data. In the first quarter the economy contracted at an annual rate of 2.1% after severe weather hampered economic activity. But the second quarter saw a rebound, growing at an annual pace of 4.6%. Taken together the latest two quarters are the strongest consecutive quarters of growth since the second half of 2003. On Wednesday the US Federal Reserve announced the end of its quantitative easing (QE) stimulus programme. QE started in November 2008 amid the financial crisis and fears that the US, and the rest of the world, might be facing another great depression. Since then the Fed has bought $3.5 trillion of US government debt and bonds created out of home loans or mortgages. It began to phase out the scheme last year and a fall in unemployment to 5.9% has encouraged the Fed to end it altogether. However, interest rates will remain at a record low for a "considerable time" according to the US central bank.

Summary: The US economy grew at an annual rate of 3.5% in the July-September quarter, the Commerce Department has said.


They've been shipped from one of dozens of fish farms in the sea lochs of Scotland's north-west coast, where they swam earlier on Sunday in a large cage, machine fed for up to three years, growing as big as 8kg. Mallaig is on a picturesque promontory looking over the sea to Skye. Its harbour used to heave with herring boats: its bracing fresh air mingled with the potent tang of smoking kippers. The wild catch at Mallaig quayside is now langoustine, scallops and lobster. Many of the shellfish are bound for markets in Spain and France, trucked live and swiftly for premium prices. The bigger fish business in the west Highlands is the farming of Atlantic salmon. From the fishing boat they are vacuumed through a pipe into the ice house, slaughtered, packed and driven along the winding road through the Lochaber region to a processing plant at Fort William. They are gutted and despatched to markets around the world. By Thursday, some of the bigger fish are being served in China's best restaurants. Beijing first allowed imports of Scottish salmon in 2011. Last year, more than 11,000 tonnes were exported to the Far East, with a value of Â£73m ($94m). It is 25 years since Scottish salmon became the first non-French food to win the Label Rouge designation. Based on taste and appearance, that has been a valuable asset in France, the biggest European market for salmon, and an important calling card in other countries. Salmon is now by far the biggest food export from Scotland. In 2014, it beat confectionery to become the UK's biggest food export. Demand is led by the EU, which imported 35,000 tonnes of Scottish salmon last year, and the US, which imported nearly 26,000 tonnes. While the UK has less than a tenth of global production, Scotland offers a premium product, at about 10% above the world price. Scottish salmon is typically fed better quality feed, and farming can be less intensive - fewer fish in a cage mean they swim further, and develop more muscle. Loch Duart set out in 1999 to carve a niche within that Scottish niche. Farming in the sea lochs of Sutherland and the Outer Hebrides, it charges a premium of 20-25% over other salmon producers, selling to wholesalers whose high-end client chefs require that extra assurance of quality and reliability. "We've got to have an authentic message, a clear set of farming principles that the customer can buy into, that can be verified. We were the first to have RSPCA welfare standards," says sales director Andy Bing. Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of industry body the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO), points out that fresh fish is hard to differentiate, except on its look. "The good quality flesh of the fish [is] particularly firm and less fatty. And that works in the sushi and sashimi market in particular," he says. The journey for Scottish salmon began nearly 50 years ago. Unilever was the pioneer, spotting the potential for farmed salmon, which at that time was only caught wild and eaten

Summary: Past midnight on Monday in Mallaig: a boat docks with a cargo of live salmon.


Media playback is not supported on this device Phaedra Al Majid, a former international media officer for Qatar 2022, said she wanted to exact revenge after losing her campaign job. She decided to go public after she said her "lies had gone too far". Al Majid has now signed a legal affidavit retracting the allegations. Fifa has also confirmed that it has received an email from Al Majid withdrawing the allegations. "Fifa can confirm receipt of an email from a person claiming to have made allegations related to the Qatar 2022 bid process and now retracting these allegations," said a statement. My intentions were to make a few headlines, I never expected that my lies would be carried on and discussed in parliament Originally made anonymously to journalists, Al Majid's claims became the subject of an inquiry by the parliamentary select committee for culture, media and sport. She says she is deeply sorry for the trouble she has caused World Cup officials in Qatar and the three Fifa executive committee members she accused of accepting bribes. "I was very upset after I left the bid and wanted to basically hurt the bid back," she said. "My intentions were to make a few headlines, I never expected that my lies would be carried on and discussed in parliament. "It just went too far. I never expected it to come to this point. There was never anything suspicious or any wrongdoing on Qatar's part. "I cannot tell you how sorry I am. I have hurt reputations of three members of the Fifa exco, I have hurt their reputation, and more importantly I have hurt my colleagues on the Qatar bid." Al Majid originally said African Football Confederation president Issa Hayatou, Ivory Coast Fifa member Jacques Anomua and Nigeria's suspended exco official Amos Adamu were paid $1.5m to vote for Qatar. The allegations were denied by all three men but were made public under parliamentary privilege when the Sunday Times submitted evidence from their investigation into Fifa to the select committee in May. She was then invited to back up her claims in a meeting with Fifa president Sepp Blatter. But no meeting ever took place. Al Majid also says she "tampered" with a Qatar 2022 bid strategy document which she then leaked to journalists. She insists she was placed under no pressure or paid any money by Qatar 2022 to change her story. Officials on a new supreme committee for the World Cup, now overseeing preparations for the tournament, have told the BBC Al Majid first made contact with them on 5 June and that they didn't place her under any pressure or pay her to retract her story. However, it must be stated that the BBC only interviewed Al Majid after being put in touch with her by Qatar bid officials, during research for a special report on the Qatar 2022 World Cup due to be broadcast on BBC2's Newsnight on Monday. Her decision to retract her story could be embarrassing for the select committee who last week published a report on the

Summary: The "whistleblower" behind a series of corruption allegations involving Fifa executive committee members and Qatar's 2022 World Cup bid has told the BBC she fabricated the claims.


The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations have their spending level dictated by the Barnett formula. Under it, extra funding or cuts for England has an affect on the other nations, dependent on their population size and the powers devolved to them. Stormont's finance committee says parts of the formula could be more open. That could include requiring the Treasury to publish data upon which Barnett-related decisions are based. As an example, the committee pointed to the initial Treasury decision to classify infrastructure spending on the London Olympics as having UK-wide rather than England-only benefits. That meant there were was no so-called consequential spending for the devolved governments. The devolved nations did eventually get extra spending, but only about Â£30m rather than the Â£330m they thought they were due. Some expert witnesses suggested that an independent body, such as the Office for Budget Responsibility, should be given an oversight role. Prof Gerry Holtham, who produced a report on funding and financing in Wales, told the committee that Northern Ireland would benefit from the formula "being put on a proper statutory basis with an element of independence from Treasury introduced". The committee also said that the executive should take "pre-emptive measures" for the event that the government decides to dispense with or alter the Barnett formula. It said this could include piloting a new needs-based formula and developing a "fully considered position" on what arrangements will be in Northern Ireland's best interests.

Summary: The finance ministers of the devolved UK administrations should present joint proposals for improving the way they are funded, a Stormont committee says.


Her department suggested schools could withdraw places offered to children if their families were found to be living in the country illegally. The Home Office also wanted schools to carry out immigration checks. Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said the plan was "disgusting". 'Not government policy' Chief Inspector of schools Sir Michael Wilshaw said he was "amazed and shocked" by the claim - while Liberal Democrat education spokesman John Pugh dismissed it as "a grubby little idea". But immigration minister Robert Goodwill insisted that deprioritising school places for children of people in the UK illegally is "not the policy of the government". The government said it would not comment on leaked documents, but added that it was right that a range of options would be considered before ministers made a final decision. By law, children under 16 have a right to an education whatever their parents' circumstances. But the documents suggested the Home Office wanted schools to ask to see passports before accepting new pupils. In summer 2015, Theresa May wanted Whitehall departments to contribute to the government's ambition to reduce immigration to the tens of thousands. One source says every department was to have its hands "dipped in blood". But the letters reveal there was a "disquiet among our own ministers about the potential for inflammatory comparisons" by using schools as part of the immigration system, punishing the children of illegal immigrants by putting them to the bottom of the list for school places. After discussions at a cabinet committee, Nicky Morgan, then education secretary, wrote twice to the then Prime Minister David Cameron with "profound concerns" about the Home Office's plan for schools. It is not clear how wide-ranging the plans were, but the Department of Education is only responsible for schools in England. In her letter, Ms Morgan wrote: "I have concerns about the practical and presentational issues of applying our strong position on illegal migrants to the emotive issue of children's education. "These cover deprioritising illegal migrants in the schools admissions process, and carrying out immigration checks through schools." The Department of Education was also concerned about how immigration checks would disrupt the school admissions process. Ms Morgan wrote that "the checks would need to be processed and verified in time to make any changes (ie withdrawing a place from an illegal migrant and giving that place to another child) before the start of the school term. "This would destabilise the admissions process - already the subject of considerable media scrutiny and political pressure - for example delaying schools from being able to confirm British and legal migrants' children's place in good time before the start of the school year." The education department was also worried about the measure worsening segregation, suggesting: "The overall effect of a deprioritisation measure would be to concentrate children of illegal migrants in the least popular schools in any area, jeopardising our increasingly important focus on tackling both segregation and extremism, and with consequent impacts on the children of British nationals who attend the schools. "Aside from the impact on ordinary parents, there

Summary: Leaked cabinet letters suggest that the Home Office - when it was being run by Theresa May - wanted the children of illegal immigrants to go to the bottom of the list for school places.


The Stagecoach 585 service and the 4x4 crashed near the Rowan Tree restaurant, north of Ardrossan, at about 14:15. The Scottish Ambulance Service has declared the scene a major incident. Two air ambulances attended, along with specialist trauma teams. The road was closed while emergency crews dealt with the crash. Police Scotland said: "At around 1415 hours on Monday 21 March, police and emergency services responded to reports of a serious road traffic collision between a service bus and a 4x4 vehicle on the A78, north of Ardrossan, close to the Rowan Tree Restaurant. "There have been 12 people injured as a result of this incident. One person has been pronounced dead at the scene of the incident. "Two people have been taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital by air and by road ambulance. Nine others have been treated at the scene or transferred to Crosshouse Hospital for observations." A spokesman for the ambulance service said: "There are 11 casualties, several of whom are in a critical condition." A spokeswoman for Stagecoach confirmed that the 585 service from Ayr to Greenock had been "involved in a serious incident...on the A78 near Ardrossan". She said: "Our first thoughts are with those affected by this incident. "The safety of our passengers and staff is our highest priority and we are assisting the police fully with their investigation into the circumstances." A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "Our crews are at the scene of a serious road collision on the A78. "We received a call from the ambulance service at 2.15pm today and firefighters reached the incident three minutes later. "There were six appliances at the scene and firefighters worked alongside police and paramedics to assist those involved."

Summary: One person has died and 11 others have been injured - two of them critically - after a bus and 4x4 vehicle collided on the A78 in North Ayrshire.


The 21-year-old scored twice for the non-league team in their FA Cup first-round defeat by Carlisle in November. Morais has previously played in the Football League for Wycombe. "He has scored some great goals already this season for St Albans, and we are pleased to have secured his signature," said Posh boss Grant McCann. Media playback is not supported on this device

Summary: Peterborough United have signed striker Junior Morias from National League South side St Albans for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half year deal.


Ian Brunner, 47, and John-Mark Duffy were both part of Bedford's "town centre drinking community", Luton Crown Court heard. Brunner admitted murdering Mr Duffy, 39, at a flat in Byron Crescent, Bedford, in January. Judge Richard Foster said Brunner must serve at least 12-and-a-half years before becoming eligible for parole. The court heard both men had ended up in the flat with a third man, Steve Matthews. Anne Evans, prosecuting, said: "At some point Mr Matthews remembers Mr Duffy asking Ian to make a joint. It seems he couldn't find any and Mr Duffy started to get agitated." Brunner and Mr Duffy argued in the hallway before returning to the living room, grappling one another, the court heard. Mr Duffy lifted his shirt and told Mr Matthews he had been stabbed. Brunner left the flat and Mr Duffy died at the scene. Brunner told police Mr Duffy had been his friend and he had not intended to kill him.

Summary: A man who stabbed his friend to death in an argument about a cannabis joint has been jailed for life.


It is the latest development in efforts to solve the mystery of the aircraft, which went missing in March 2014. The plane, flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, had 239 people on board when it vanished. It is presumed to have crashed into the sea after veering off course. Three ships are searching a 120,000 sq km area of the southern Indian Ocean but have so far found no trace of the plane. Five pieces of debris have been confirmed as definitely or probably from the plane. Each was found thousands of miles from the search zone, though within the area models of ocean currents have indicated debris could wash up. 1. A section of wing called a flaperon, found on Reunion Island in July 2015 - confirmed as debris in September 2015 2. Horizontal stabilizer from tail section, found in Mozambique in December 2015 3. Stabilizer panel with "No Step" stencil, found in Mozambique in February 2016 4. Engine cowling bearing Rolls-Royce logo, found in March 2016 in Mossel Bay, South Africa 5. Fragment of interior door panel found in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius in March 2016 All the debris is being examined in Australia by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and other experts. They use manufacturing marks on the pieces as well as samples of marine ecology like barnacles to help confirm whether they are likely to have come from the missing Boeing 777. Speaking on Thursday, Malaysia's Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the team had "confirmed that both pieces of debris from South Africa and Rodrigues Island are almost certainly from MH370". The ATSB also said both sections were "almost certainly" from 9M-MRO, which is the plane's registration. No other 777 has ever crashed in the southern hemisphere, and none has reported missing pieces. The ocean search, involving Australia, Malaysia and China, has scoured more than 105,000 sq km of seafloor so far, much of it areas which have never been explored before. But the countries have agreed that in the absence of "credible new information" the search will end by the middle of the year.

Summary: Two pieces of aircraft debris found on beaches in Mauritius and South Africa almost certainly came from Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, say Malaysian and Australian officials.


Maxime Colin deflected Romaine Sawyers' second-half shot past replacement keeper Ivan Lucic to win a game high on chances but low on quality finishing. Bees' top scorer Scott Hogan had three great chances to put his side ahead. Tammy Abraham could have given City the lead, but he hit the bar early in the second half before missing a one-on-one when it was easier to score. The win moves Brentford one place and one point above City into 14th position in the Championship. City were indebted to goalkeeper Frank Fielding who made two great saves as Hogan twice broke through in the first period, before the former England Under-21 international was forced off with a hip injury. Abraham also had two good chances before the break, but his best efforts came after the restart as the 13-goal Chelsea loanee opted for power and crashed a shot against the bar when a composed finish might have given the Robins the lead. Lucic denied Hogan's third one-on-one before Abraham had one of his own, but his chipped finish over Daniel Bentley was wide of the mark. Colin secured the win, although it is doubtful he knew much about it, as Sawyers' long range effort deflected off his legs to wrong-foot Lucic. Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson: "I'm very disappointed by the result but okay with the performance because on another night we would have scored three or four goals. "The game has hinged on us not taking our chances. Tammy Abraham played well and got into some good areas, but he just couldn't finish. "He is a young player and will come again. It's a time to put an arm around him, not take out a big stick. "I was much more concerned with how we played at Huddersfield on Saturday. Tonight it seemed as though one of us had run over a black cat." Brentford manager Dean Smith: "I think the ball went in off Maxime Colin's backside. Sometimes you need a bit of luck to record victories in the Championship and he will want the goal, even though it was a fantastic strike by Romaine. "It was a tough night for us. The game was end to end with chances for both sides. "A draw would have been a fair result, but we managed to get over the line. "Strangely, both team's main goalscorers couldn't finish on the night. Scott Hogan for us and Tammy Abraham for them had numerous chances, mainly due to mistakes, and couldn't capitalise." Match ends, Bristol City 0, Brentford 1. Second Half ends, Bristol City 0, Brentford 1. Attempt missed. Josh McEachran (Brentford) left footed shot from more than 40 yards on the left wing misses to the right. Assisted by Daniel Bentley following a fast break. Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by John Egan. Attempt blocked. Lee Tomlin (Bristol City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Offside, Bristol City. Lee Tomlin tries a through ball, but Gustav Engvall is caught offside. Korey Smith (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card for a bad

Summary: Brentford won successive games for the second time in the Championship this season as they edged past Bristol City.


The Florida-based Scot finished The Barclays event on the PGA Tour in New York with a one-under-par 70, leaving him four over for the tournament. That was only good enough for a tie for 60th, 13 shots behind winner Patrick Reed, leaving Knox 10th on the World Points list for Ryder Cup rankings. Meanwhile back in Europe, fellow wildcard contender Thomas Pieters of Belgium, who narrowly missed out on automatic selection after finishing ninth on the European Points list and 11th on the World Points list, stated his case for a captain's pick by winning the Made in Denmark title. That victory came two weeks after the 24-year-old finished fourth at the Rio Olympic Games, and a week after a runner-up finish at the Czech Masters. It is now out of their hands, leaving Knox waiting for a phone call from Clarke before the Northern Irishman confirms his three captain's choices at 12:30 BST on Tuesday. Frustratingly for the 31-year-old, he sits just outside the nine automatic qualifiers, knowing that had he been a European Tour member when he won the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai last November, he would already have had the points necessary to make his Ryder Cup debut. Instead the Invernesian is vying with Ryder Cup veterans such as Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell for a place in Clarke's team for the biennial clash from 30 September-2 October at Hazeltine, Minnesota. Like the in-form Pieters, Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen and Ireland's Shane Lowry, Knox would be a sixth rookie - with Clarke expected to favour experience in his wildcard picks. While US captain Davis Love III has a couple more weeks to mull over his options, what Clarke says is the toughest part of his job is nearly over. "There is a huge amount of interest in our three remaining wildcards and whoever they are, they will be three fantastic additions to the nine guys we already have," said the Northern Irishman. Michael McEwan, of Scottish golf magazine Bunkered, told BBC Scotland that while he hopes Knox will feature, he fears the weekend's results may have swung things away from the Scot. "The way the team is shaping up at the moment, it's very rookie heavy so I think he's going to want to add in some experience and on that basis I would suggest Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer are probably two of his three picks. "Thereafter it is between Thomas Pieters and Russell Knox I would imagine. Until yesterday Russell was looking most likely to get it, but Pieters winning as he did in Denmark, allied to being second the week before and a strong Olympic performance, I think unfortunately he's just got the nod on Russell. "I'd be amazed if he got picked at this stage." Given the lack of Ryder Cup experience in some of the candidates, the fact Knox is based in Florida and plays on the PGA Tour could be seen as beneficial, but McEwan believes form will the most important factor in Clarke's three wildcard picks. "I'd love to think

Summary: It was a final chance to catch the eye of European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke before he confirms his three wildcard picks on Tuesday, but things did not quite go as planned for Russell Knox.


The scrapping of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (Hefcw) was announced in January. A white paper has now been published inviting views on the proposed Tertiary Education and Research Commission. It aims to make sure Wales has "the skills needed to succeed in an increasingly competitive economy". The new organisation will manage funding for universities, further education colleges, research and skills. It will also seek to improve links between higher and further education and Welsh business. Publishing the white paper on Tuesday, Education Secretary Kirsty Williams said the aim was to make it "easier for people to learn and acquire skills throughout their careers". "Our lives and economy are undergoing huge technological change," she said, adding: "Our national mission does not stop at the school gates. "We need to ensure that those leaving our schools progress into a post-compulsory system which provides genuine parity of esteem for vocational and academic routes and which equips them with the skills required for sustainable and rewarding careers. "Such a workforce will allow our economy to be more productive and competitive and our people more prosperous and secure."

Summary: Academic and workplace skills will be "equally valued" under plans to replace the university funding body, the Welsh Government has said.


A total of 177 roads have been lined up to be reconstructed this financial year, Surrey County Council said. The remaining roads in the Â£100m project will be dealt with over the following two financial years. Each of the roads will have "better, longer-lasting surfaces" and will be guaranteed to last 10 years. Work planned for this year includes the Godstone and Farnham bypasses, the Scilly Isles roundabout in Esher, West Street in Dorking, and Staines Road West in Sunbury Common.

Summary: More than 800 roads in Surrey are to be given "pothole proof" coatings over the next three years in an initiative to overhaul more than 300 miles of road.


A criminal investigation has begun into Pyotr Pavlensky's actions at the Kremlin wall on Sunday, the interior ministry told news agencies in Moscow. Pavlensky was arrested but released the following day and placed under travel restrictions. However, the 29-year-old now faces the charge of hooliganism. The hooliganism charge is used to prosecute perceived breaches of public order. It is the same charge used to jail members of the punk band Pussy Riot, and to prosecute activists from the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise. The St Petersburg performance artist had reportedly sat for an hour and a half on the square on Sunday afternoon, with a nail driven through his genitals into the ground. His "fixation" act, he said, was a metaphor for apathy in Russia. Critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin accuse the veteran leader of presiding over a crackdown on dissent since his re-election in March last year. A police source told Interfax news agency that the article under which Pavlensky was being charged carried a wide range of penalties. starting with a fine and going up to a five-year prison sentence. His graphic act outside the Lenin Mausoleum was recorded on video which was put online. Timing his act to coincide with Police Day, Pavlensky said in a statement published on Sunday: "When the authorities turn the country into one big prison, openly robbing the populace and channelling funds to increase and enrich the police and other security agencies, society accepts arbitrariness and, having forgotten its advantage in numbers, brings the triumph of the police state closer through its inaction." Pavlensky previously attracted attention by sewing his lips together in July of last year and demonstrating outside St Petersburg's Kazan Cathedral in support of the imprisoned Pussy Riot protesters. In May of this year, he wrapped his naked body in a "cocoon" of barbed wire outside the city's parliament. Fellow figures from the Russian arts world praised his Red Square act in comments on grani.ru, with one calling it a "powerful gesture of absolute despair" and another, "a manifesto of powerlessness".

Summary: A naked performance artist who nailed his scrotum to Red Square as a political protest may face up to five years in prison, Russian media report.


Planned work at Saltdean Lido was halted last month after it was found an old substation had been removed. Campaigners asked Brighton council to lend them £70,000 for a new one but the council said it would lend £10,000. Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company (CIC) had wanted to avoid fundraising delays to the work, but is now selling bricks for a Wall of Fame. People can pay to adopt bricks which will feature their message or name on the wall to be built early next year. Spokeswoman Bridget Fishleigh said the old substation had mysteriously vanished and no-one could account for its disappearance. She said campaigners could find no photographs to prove it was ever there but they did find cables. They have said the lido will remain a building site until money is found. The CIC has raised £2.8m in grants and is working on a £4.8m lottery bid but Ms Fishleigh said allocated funds could not be reallocated under grant procedures. "We're reaching out to our supporters to help us with this because without power we wouldn't be able to test the pool and we certainly wouldn't be able to run it," she said. The Wall of Fame will have 2,500 bricks and campaigners are urging people to buy them as Christmas presents.

Summary: A fundraising campaign has begun to try to revive plans to restore a Grade II* listed lido.


In the 1960s, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. Today it's Asia's fourth largest economy and one of the world's most advanced. That progress is largely thanks to the performance of its chaebols: massive family run conglomerates. But now businesses are being criticised for holding South Korea back. Many people I spoke to said it's time for change. Youth unemployment is at record highs, close to 10%. Young people say that the system is unfairly stacked against them, and that the economy is dominated by the chaebols, which basically own South Korea's economy. That has effectively left little or no room for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which are usually the life-blood of an economy, and typically help to create jobs. Also, given that chaebols are so dominant, young people end up wanting to work in them. And that means even if there were jobs to fill at SMEs, there'd be few takers. The calls for chaebol-reform aren't new, but they do appear to have gained more momentum than in previous years. Here's why chaebols are becoming ever more powerful in the economy. Revenues from the top five chaebols make up more than half of South Korea's GDP. Samsung, which is the country's largest, makes up a fifth of the economy. It's true that in the past chaebols were job-creators, but now most of their business is derived from overseas markets. So they're hiring less at home, and are not bringing all of those profits back. The money-for-influence scandal is what brought down the previous President Park Geun-hye. Many Koreans believe the cosy relationship between business and government has created a class system where the elites constantly succeed and those who don't have access to power are left behind. In particular there's been a lot of resentment of the "chaebol-children" - the next generation in these family-run businesses. They're seen as spoiled, privileged and out of touch. The bribery trial of Samsung's de facto head Lee Jae-yong - son of the current chief executive and grandson of the firm's founder, has underlined those concerns Think of South Korea's chaebols and immediately Samsung, LG and Hyundai come to mind. They've all invested heavily in research and development to try and come up with products that beat their competitors. South Korea invests more of its GDP in R&D than most other Asian nations, according to the OECD. The attractiveness of working in a chaebol means few young people are prepared to take a risk and start a company of their own, a trend that stifles ideas and creativity. Also for those who do take the leap and set up on their own, the biggest customers are invariably chaebols. They are criticised for unfairly controlling prices and squeezing profits for start-ups, effectively putting them out of business. All of this is coming at a time when South Korea's preeminent position in the world of the technology and innovation is being challenged by China. Chinese manufacturers like TCL and Xiaomi are now making flat screen televisions and mobile phones, and at

Summary: For all the talk of North Korea and the controversial THAAD anti-missile system, my recent trip to South Korea left me in no doubt that for most voters, top of their minds going into the country's presidential elections is something far less headline-grabbing: the economy.


The King Charles spaniel was found on the A38 near Kennford service station in Devon on Thursday afternoon. The owners of the dog, which suffered two suspected broken legs, have now been traced. CCTV footage is being reviewed by police "to shed light" on the incident. Devon and Cornwall Police said: "We are currently working under the impression that the dog had escaped from its home and ran across the road and sustained its injuries this way."

Summary: An injured dog which was first thought to have been thrown from a car on a busy dual carriageway had probably escaped from home and run across the road, police say.


The 59-year-old actor and presenter has launched a petition to prevent buildings being demolished to make way for a new station. A planned Crossrail 2 connection at Tottenham Court Road will see two new access points built in Soho. Fry, who is chairman of Save Soho, warned the area "could change dramatically". He said the group did not oppose Crossrail 2. But he said: "Soho is not just a metropolitan enclave... it is a focus, a magnet for the young, creative and open-minded around the country. "The new threat to Soho's authentic soul coming from Crossrail 2 is a real and urgent issue." London Mayor Sadiq Khan has warned that London's transport network will grind to a halt due to overcrowding unless the government backs Crossrail 2. Construction could start in the early 2020s and the railway could be open by 2033. A preferred route for a proposed Â£20bn Crossrail 2 scheme, running north-south through London was approved in 2014. Crossrail 2 bosses say improvements will reduce crowding on the busiest part of the Northern line during peak periods by approximately 30%.

Summary: Stephen Fry has said Crossrail 2 poses a threat to Soho's "authentic soul".


Gail O'Rorke, 43, of Kilclare Gardens, has denied assisting the suicide of Bernadette Forde on 6 June 2011. Ms Forde died at her home in Dublin on 6 June 2011 after being denied travel to a clinic in Switzerland. Ms O'Rorke told police it was agreed that another friend of the deceased, Mary Lundy, would be present. The deceased was diagnosed in 2001 with progressive multiple sclerosis and her condition was compounded by a car accident in 2008 that left her using a wheelchair. In the police interviews, Ms O Rorke said Ms Forde had arranged for her to stay in a hotel in County Kilkenny so she would be out of the way and not be implicated in the suicide. She said after Ms Forde's death, Ms Lundy had told her what had happened at Ms Forde's home on the evening of 5 June 2011 when she took a lethal dose of medication bought on the internet. She said Ms Lundy had sobbed and told her it was the hardest thing she had ever done. She told her she had left the house when Ms Forde was close to death. Ms O'Rorke told police that she and other family members and friends knew about Ms Forde's plan. Ms Forde had received a number of visitors on the morning of 5 June and it was known that she planned to take a lethal dose of medication later that day, she said. In her interviews after Ms Forde's death Ms O'Rorke said she, Ms Forde and Ms Lundy had "sobbed" after she broke the news to Ms Forde that police had intervened to prevent her travelling to Zurich to avail of the services of the organisation Dignitas. Ms O'Rorke told police that she was personally relieved, but that relief later turned to guilt because her friend's life was falling apart. After this, she said Ms Lundy researched other options for Ms Forde. "I took a step back and Mary took a step forward." She said she did make a money transfer to Mexico but was unaware what it was for the medication that Ms Forde later used to take her life with. She said she only later found out what the package contained. The prosecution evidence in the case has now ended. The case is expected to last for another week.

Summary: A Dublin woman on trial for assisting a suicide told police she was not present when her friend took a lethal dose of medication, but another friend was.


Mobile phone footage taken by a visitor to Marwell Zoo in Winchester showed the moment one of the Sulawesi macaques ran into a food shop. Visitors took to social media to say they were locked inside shops while keepers tried to locate the pair at about 12:40 BST. The monkeys were returned to their home within 30 minutes and no one was hurt. Kevin O'Donnell posted on Twitter calling it a "great escape" and recorded one of the monkeys running around the zoo. One visitor posted: "Monkeys have escaped at Marwell Zoo currently hiding out with the giraffes". Another said Marwell staff acted "quickly and professionally". A spokesperson for the zoo said guests and staff were asked to remain indoors while keepers dealt with the situation, which took about 30 minutes. "We are grateful for the way in which our guests cooperated and thank them for their understanding," the spokesperson said. "Our thanks to our animal management team who responded swiftly and carried out a model response. "The two macaques have rejoined the rest of the family and all five will remain in the indoor part of their enclosure until a full investigation has been carried out. "Our vet team has carried out checks and we are happy to report that the animals came to no harm. The zoo remains open as usual."

Summary: A zoo was put on lockdown after two adult monkeys escaped from their enclosure in Hampshire.


Mhairi Black won the Paisley and Renfrewshire South seat for the SNP in last month's general election. The 20-year-old sat her final exam on Scottish politics shortly after being elected. She graduated along with the rest of her class in a ceremony at the university on Friday. Ms Black posted a photograph of herself in her gown on Twitter. She wrote: "Overwhelmed by all the messages of support. They're really appreciated. It's been a great day for everyone involved." Her graduation came seven weeks after being elected MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South. The student had yet to sit her final exam when she ousted Labour's Douglas Alexander to become the youngest member at Westminster since the Reform Act of 1832. She won her seat by 5,500 votes after overturning former Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander's 16,000 vote majority. The MP admitted recently that it was "quite bizarre" returning to university after being elected an MP. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, she said: "It was a brass neck walking into a room with people I've been studying with for years and they're all pulling their hair out applying for a million and one jobs and I'm like, 'Hi guys, how's it going?'." A spokesman for the University of Glasgow said: "We would like to congratulate Mhairi Black, as we would all of our students who are graduating this summer. "They have all worked extremely hard to earn their degrees and we wish them the very best for their future careers."

Summary: The youngest MP in the House of Commons has graduated with a first class honours degree in politics from Glasgow University.


A woman died and 19 people were injured when a car rammed a crowd of people opposing a far-right rally there. The FBI has opened a civil rights investigation into the incident. Earlier, street brawls erupted between white nationalists and counter-protesters. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said "the violence and deaths in Charlottesville strike at the heart of American law and justice. "When such actions arise from racial bigotry and hatred, they betray our core values and cannot be tolerated," Twenty-year-old James Fields from Ohio, the alleged driver of the car, is in detention on suspicion of second-degree murder, In addition to those injured in the car incident, the Charlottesville Police Department said 15 were wounded in other violence related to the far-right march. Late in the afternoon, a Virginia State Police helicopter crashed in woodland south-west of the city, killing two people. There has been no sign that this was linked to the violence, however. The "Unite the Right" march was called to protest against plans to remove a statue of General Robert E Lee, who had fought for the pro-slavery Confederacy during the US Civil War. Mr McAuliffe told a press conference: "I have a message for all the white supremacists, and the Nazis who came into Charlottesville today. Our message is plain and simple: Go home. You are not wanted in this great commonwealth. Shame on you. You pretend that you're patriots, but you are anything but a patriot. "You came here today to hurt people. And you did hurt people. But my message is clear: We are stronger than you." The governor, who is a Democrat, said he had spoken to President Trump, and twice urged him to begin a movement to bring people together. He thanked the police and law enforcement officials, who he said had prevented "a much worse day", and praised the emergency services who helped the wounded. The violence in Charlottesville - a liberal college town - is a stark demonstration of the growing political divide in the US, which has intensified since President Trump's election last year. Right-wing blogger Jason Kessler had called for a "pro-white" rally, and white nationalists promoted the gathering widely. Oren Segal, director of the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism, said several "white power" groups were present - including neo-Nazis and factions of the Ku Klux Klan. The New York Times reports that some were chanting "You will not replace us," and "Jew will not replace us." Anti-racism organisations such as Black Lives Matter held protests at the scene. On Friday, the white nationalists held lit torches and chanted "White lives matter" as they marched through the University of Virginia in the city. President Donald Trump condemned "in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence on many sides". "The hate and the division must stop right now," he told reporters, speaking in New Jersey, where he is on a working holiday. "We have to come together as Americans with love for our nation." Democrats and Republicans alike took issue with his choice of words, noting

Summary: The governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, has said that his only message for the white supremacists who brought chaos to the city of Charlottesville is "Go home".


The hosts were closest to scoring in a cagey first half as Peter Whittingham's thunderous long-range shot hit the bar. Gunnarsson won it for Cardiff with a swerving first-time effort from 25 yards, though Apostolos Vellios almost equalised but also hit the woodwork. Forest drop to 21st place in the Championship table, just one point above the bottom three. Cardiff, meanwhile, climb up to 13th after a third successive home win. A significant day at the foot of the Championship saw four of Forest's relegation rivals taking each other on, with Blackburn hosting Bristol City and Birmingham at home to Burton. Perhaps mindful of how tight things were in the bottom half, Mark Warburton's side started a little apprehensively against Cardiff, who were the first to threaten with Whittingham's booming 30-yard shot which crashed against the crossbar. Other than that and a powerful long-range effort from Forest's Mustapha Carayol, there was precious little in terms of scoring opportunities in the first half. There was more entertainment near the dugout, where Cardiff assistant manager Kevin Blackwell and his opposite number David Weir had to be separated after frayed tempers almost led to a scuffle. Forest appeared to harness that emotion at half-time, emerging after the restart with renewed vigour and attacking intent. Carayol looked their likeliest source of a goal, unnerving the home defence with his direct and quick running. Despite the visitors' improvement, it was Cardiff who made the breakthrough as Kadeem Harris' cross was only half-cleared, leaving the ball to bobble invitingly into the path of Gunnarsson, who unleashed a fierce first-time shot which swerved beyond Jordan Smith and into the far corner. Forest rallied, with substitutes Vellios and Britt Assombalonga threatening - but the former wasted their best opportunity as his looping header bounced on to the bar, stretching their winless run away from home to 11 league games. Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock: "Gunnar normally whacks the pigeon off the top of the stand with those strikes. It was like a missile going into the top corner. "I watched it all the way in and the goalkeeper had no chance. It was a cracking finish. I think he can do more in attack and should be pushing for 10 goals a season, but I'm delighted. "I know people have said we've got nothing to play for, but we wanted to have a real go and I think we did that." Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton: "We created some good chances to score, but I'm disappointed we conceded a goal from 25 yards because I thought we did more than enough to get a point. "We are where we are and I'm not getting away from that. But if we play like we did today and show the desire and work ethic we did, then we'll be okay. I hope the supporters saw that in our performance because this is a very tough place to come. "We have to concentrate on ourselves now because if you don't do that in this league, you pay the price." Match ends, Cardiff City

Summary: Nottingham Forest were plunged deeper into relegation trouble as Aron Gunnarsson gave Cardiff victory.


The 37-year-old was detained following a joint investigation between Lancashire Police and the RSPCA. A member of the public filmed the dog being punched at about 15:15 GMT on 10 December in Hendon Road, Nelson. The RSPCA said the dog - an adult female Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross - has been checked over by a vet and is now in the charity's care. RSPCA Inspector Charlotte Booker thanked people for their response to an appeal and said: "It has been absolutely huge over the last 48 hours and we are very grateful for the scale and quality of this response. "The same name came forward various times so we were able to verify information quickly. I'd also like to thank Lancashire Police for their help in this joint operation."

Summary: A man has been arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty after a dog was attacked on a Lancashire street.


Petersen, 35, who has spent the last two years with Lancashire, is charged with multiple breaches of Cricket South Africa's (CSA) anti-corruption code. In January, as part of the same investigation, former Proteas spinner Gulam Bodi was banned for 20 years after admitting charges of contriving or attempting to fix matches. Then in August, CSA banned former wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile for 12 years for his part in the scandal, while Pumelela Matshikwe, Ethy Mbhalati and Jean Symes received lesser bans for accepting money from Bodi. Petersen, who has 14 days to respond, has been charged with: Born in Port Elizabeth, Petersen featured in 36 Tests, 21 one-day internationals and two Twenty20 internationals for South Africa. He previously played for English county sides Glamorgan, Essex and Somerset, before joining Lancashire as a non-overseas player under the Kolpak ruling after he retired from internationals. Petersen said in September that he might not return to Lancashire for 2017 for family reasons.

Summary: Ex-South Africa batsman Alviro Petersen has been charged with match-fixing, following a lengthy investigation into the domestic Ram Slam T20 Challenge Series competition in 2015.


Luke Mallaband, 23, was caught after a woman at the University of East Anglia (UEA)'s library in Norwich realised she was being recorded and reported it. Mallaband admitted six voyeurism offences at an earlier hearing. He was given the three-year ban and a six-month curfew at Norwich Magistrates' Court. Mallaband, formerly of Norwich but now of Yew Tree Road, Walsall, was found to be at "high risk of posing serious harm to females", a probation report found. Prosecuting, Louise Mantell-Sayer told the court a woman noticed a plastic bag in the gender-neutral toilet cubicle in UEA's library. The bag had a hole in it which lined up with a hole in a box inside containing an iPhone set to record video. The woman said she felt "disgusted" and "violated" by what happened. In defence, Dave Foulkes said Mallaband had no previous convictions and had referred himself to a mental health team in the Midlands. Police found 38 voyeurism videos on his phone filmed between July 2013 and February this year. He will also carry out a three-year community order, a 200-hour sex offending behaviour programme and was told to pay Â£170 in costs at Norwich Magistrates' Court.

Summary: A former student who secretly filmed women using showers and toilets has been banned from entering female and gender-neutral loos.


An astronomy lecturer told the BBC the "little old rock" was not to blame. Rocks are poor conductors of heat and although they cause fireballs when they streak through the Earth's atmosphere from space, even recent large meteor falls have not started fires. The Bowie Volunteer Fire Department apologised and said the Twitter post "should have never been made". The blaze took 15 firefighters four hours to put out and left a crater 12-15 ft (3.7-4.6m) wide and 5-6 ft deep. Afterwards, a tweet was sent out from the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department account showing a photograph of a crater and a rock, calling it a "possible meteorite strike". But Greg Redfern, an astronomy lecturer and Nasa ambassador, told the BBC a rock could not be called a meteorite before it is tested by a specialist laboratory. And, he said, people's perceptions of meteorites were not quite right. "People have this vision that a meteorite is going to be hot and flaming and it is such a wrong notion," he said. "When a meteorite has come through the atmosphere it is cooled off way up high. I can't give you a temperature but it would be cool to touch, maybe even cold." Three years ago, space rocks fell over Russia, injuring nearly 1,000 people but there was no ground fire. Rocks that enter the Earth's atmosphere from space partially burn up in the air but when they hit the ground they are cold. Mr Redfern said: "The bottom line is that the fire in Maryland was not caused by that little old rock." Jonathan Howard of the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department promised in a statement that measures would be taken to ensure there was no repeat of the mistaken report.

Summary: Firefighters in Maryland have had to backtrack after blaming a meteorite for a brush fire.


There's a growing impatience within the EU about the lack of clarity and lack of sense of urgency from the British cabinet. A European commissioner has warned the British government that it needs to make a strategic choice - whether it wants to stay inside the single market or not. Valdis Dombrovskis, commissioner for the euro, told the BBC there had been mixed messages from Mrs May's government - on the one hand wanting to stay in the internal market, on the other had not respecting freedom of movement. Mrs May has made it clear she wants some curbs on immigration from the EU. But Mr Dombrovskis told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend there can't be cherry picking, and the commission is waiting for a formal notification of what the UK wants. He was speaking at a conference in Italy organised by an Italian think tank called the European House - Ambrosetti. It is like a European Davos, a gathering of business leaders and bankers, politicians past and present - in short, the European elite. Most of the sessions are private but we spoke to a number of senior figures on the record. Former Irish Taoiseach John Bruton expressed incredulity that Mrs May doesn't want to start negotiations until next year. "There's a lot of surprise in European capitals that a party that had promised a referendum in its manifesto hadn't decided in advance what it would look for if people voted to leave," he said. "One would have thought they would have prepared, but they don't appear to have done that." Former head of the European Central Bank Jean-Claude Trichet told us there would be a period of uncertainty. "I would call for this period to be as short as possible, and for the position of the British government to be as clear as possible, as soon as possible," he said. Greek Economy Minister Giorgos Stathakis told us: "The hard part of the story is that the EU is quite strict - free trade means free movement, it is difficult to find a compromise." I asked him if he would back such a compromise. "We wouldn't - whatever compromises take place will include reduction in access to trade," he said. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, leading plans for Brexit alongside Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande, has let it be known that he hopes the UK can become the EU's "best friend". But he's warned the split-up should happen as soon as possible - and it will be impossible for the UK to keep all the advantages of membership. Former Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti told me that if Britain was given concessions over free movement it would mean the end of the free market. He said he would swear on oath that other countries would also want to cherry pick, and that would be devastating and lead to the collapse of the single market. He also said there could be one positive outcome from the "disgraceful" Brexit - other leaders may be warned off attacking the EU to strengthen

Summary: The view from the calm shores of Italy's Lake Como is clear - Mrs May needs to hurry up and make it plain what Brexit means, apart from Brexit.


The hospital, which serves more than 200,000 people in Weston-super-Mare, will close between 22:00 and 08:00 BST. Those with serious and life-threatening emergencies are being told to dial 999 and ambulances will take them to Bristol or Taunton. The Trust said the the temporary move was necessary until it can guarantee safe levels of staffing overnight. It comes after a health watchdog rated its emergency care as "inadequate". What is happening to A&E services in England? A Care Quality Commission (CQC) report warned "significant improvements" must be made. Medical director Dr Peter Collins described the move as "a very difficult decision" but added "it is our ability to recruit that is our challenge, not our ability to care". But the public sector workers' union Unison warned every night the department is closed "is a risk to the people of Weston". Christine Cook, of Unison, said the nearest alternatives were in Bristol or Taunton - some 27 miles away - would leave "sick people a long way from help and putting more strain on health staff at other hospitals". "I'm concerned that behind the lack of answers from the trust is a government plan to further downgrade Weston Hospital. "A similar closure in Lincolnshire has been extended to over a year. If that happens here, related departments like the intensive care unit will be affected too."

Summary: Weston General Hospital's A&E department closes overnight later because it cannot be staffed safely.


The size of the change has come as a big surprise and several insurers have warned their profits will be dented. However, the change has been welcomed by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL). They said it was "long overdue" after lobbying for a change in the formula for several years. APIL said the decision of Liz Truss, the Lord Chancellor, was in the best interests of injury victims who might require life-long care, and that the claim that insurance premiums must now rise "beggared belief". The reaction of the insurance industry has been overwhelmingly negative, with insurers' share prices dropping in the aftermath of a flurry of emergency stock exchange announcements. The change in the compensation formula will come into effect from 20 March this year. The discount rate that underpins it - the assumed rate of return on investing the lump sums - has not been reviewed since 2001. The apparently sudden change was prompted by a renewed threat late last year from APIL. It revived a judicial review against the government's reluctance to change the formula, which the lawyers had argued was long out of date. "People who suffer severe life-changing injuries can now be assured that the compensation needed to look after them is calculated correctly and is sufficient to provide care for the rest of their lives," said APIL. "Meanwhile insurance companies, which have saved millions of pounds in unpaid compensation, have been aware that a decision to change the discount rate has been on the cards for six years, since APIL first began judicial review proceedings on the issue." Andrew Tyrie, chairman of the Treasury Committee, said the Lord Chancellor appeared to have had little choice but to reduce the discount rate from 2.5% to minus 0.75%, but that it needed to be re-thought. "The principle that people should receive full compensation for the losses that they have suffered is a reasonable one," Mr Tyrie said. "But implementing it in this way is probably not, and has a look of absurdity about it." The Lord Chancellor appeared to acknowledge that the whole business of changing the discount rate had been unsatisfactory. She will now hold a consultation before Easter on how the compensation formula should be reviewed in the future, including the possibility of using an independent body to make the decision on any alteration. The consultation will also look at the frequency of changes to the formula and the validity of basing it entirely on the returns to be made from investing in index-linked government bonds. "I recognise the impacts this decision will have on the insurance industry," Liz Truss said. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said the government's approach was not good enough and demanded an immediate change in the law to abolish the current formula. It argued that in fact there was no legal obligation on the government to make a change at all. "To make such a significant change to the rate using a broken formula is reckless in the extreme, and shows an utter disregard for the impact this

Summary: The decision to radically alter the formula for calculating lump sum personal injury payments has shocked the insurance industry.