That itself followed a 3-0 win for England the summer before, part of a run that has seen them win four consecutive Ashes series at home for the first time since the 19th century. To think Home and Away used to be so popular. Ashes cricket, supposedly the fiercest contest the sport can offer, is in danger of becoming dangerously predictable. Playing at home? You'll probably win. Playing away? Good luck. In the 14 years since Australia last won in England, only one of the eight Ashes series has been won by the touring side. It is a significant twist in the longest running rivalry in international cricket. In the 14 years and seven series before that, more than half were won by the away team. The long-term numbers back up that dramatic trend. Prior to 2002, according to Test Match Special statistician Andrew Samson, 117 Ashes Tests were won by the home team, 98 by the away team. That's a win/loss ratio, in games that saw a result, of 1.19. Since 2002, 25 Ashes Tests have been won by the hosts and seven by the visitors. That's a win/loss ratio of 3.57. A little of that reflects the decreasing number of draws as Test cricket has speeded up. Before 2002, draws accounted for 29% of Ashes contests; since then, only 18%. Much more it reflects more serious concerns: the inability of players, particularly batsmen, to adapt their game to the different conditions overseas; the lack of time and opportunity today's short tours give them to even try; the increasing temptation to win an advantage before a ball has even been bowled by producing pitches designed to favour your own skills rather than an even contest. "For me it is quite simple," says Graeme Swann, part of the only Ashes team in those 14 years to win an away series. "In England the wickets are getting slower so the batsmen are not being exposed to fast bouncy wickets. When they go to Australia it is a culture shock. They can't deal with these guys with raw pace on fast, bouncy wickets. "Then, when you come to England and the ball still swings, even the visiting batsmen that play county cricket don't face the highly skilled swing bowling they do in Tests. Batsmen don't like the ball moving laterally through the air. It is bad enough when it is jagging about off the pitch. "The Aussies come here and nick everything. We go there and get bumped out. That is it in a nutshell." Modern tours, designed to maximise revenue rather than ease players in, are shorter than ever before. Test series rattle past with back-to-back matches rather than pausing for other contests to allow players to refine and practise technique. This summer, Australia began with just two three-day matches, both against weakened Kent and Essex sides. Once the Tests began, a mere fortnight after their arrival, they then had only one more three-day match before the series was decided at Trent Bridge. In that tour match against Derbyshire only five players who

Summary: One of the wonders of England's 3-1 Ashes triumph this summer is that it emerged from such carnage: that ghastly 5-0 Pomnishambles in the preceding series 18 months ago, the second whitewash Australia had inflicted in three Ashes series down under.


The 30-year-old, who has scored five times in 16 international appearances, has struggled with injury this year but marked her return to action with two goals against Doncaster last month. Liverpool captain Gemma Bonner, 25, has also been included. Injured former captain Casey Stoney - who has 129 caps for England - and Fran Kirby have been left out of the squad. The Lionesses will face the Euro 2017 hosts in Tilburg at 18:00 GMT in their final friendly of 2016. England manager Mark Sampson said: "It's a unique chance to play at one of the stadiums where we will play in July and now that we know who we face at the Euros, the intensity and focus in our group will sharpen. "We are nine games unbeaten and will be fighting to make that 10, but we are expecting a tough game against a fellow contender for the Euros." The Euros begin on 16 July with Sampson's side opening their campaign against Scotland on 19 July before taking on Spain and Portugal in Group D. Goalkeepers: Karen Bardsley (Manchester City), Siobhan Chamberlain (Liverpool), Mary Earps (Reading) Defenders: Laura Bassett (Notts County), Gemma Bonner (Liverpool), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Gilly Flaherty (Chelsea), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Jo Potter (Notts County), Alex Scott (Arsenal), Demi Stokes (Manchester City) Midfielders: Isobel Christiansen (Manchester City), Jade Moore (Notts County), Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal), Jill Scott (Manchester City), Fara Williams (Arsenal) Forwards: Karen Carney (Chelsea), Danielle Carter (Arsenal), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash), Gemma Davison (Chelsea), Toni Duggan (Manchester City), Nikita Parris (Manchester City), Jodie Taylor (Arsenal)

Summary: Arsenal striker Jodie Taylor has been named in England's 23-woman squad to play the Netherlands on 29 November.


BBC Worldwide is expected to confirm the find at a press screening in London later this week. It follows weeks of speculation that some lost episodes had been located. A total of 106 episodes featuring the first two actors to play the Doctor, William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton, are currently missing. The BBC destroyed many of the sci-fi drama's original transmission tapes in the 1960s and 1970s. However, the majority of the episodes had been transferred on to film for foreign broadcasters. It is often these prints found in other countries that are the source of retrieved episodes. In 1991, all four instalments of the Patrick Troughton adventure The Tomb of the Cybermen were discovered in Hong Kong. The latest find comes as Doctor Who celebrates its 50th birthday. A special episode featuring the current Doctor Matt Smith and his predecessor David Tennant will be shown on the programme's anniversary on 23 November. A raft of other programming to celebrate the long-running drama was also recently announced by the BBC. Details of how fans will be able to watch the recovered episodes are also expected to be revealed later this week.

Summary: A number of early episodes of Doctor Who, which were believed to have been permanently lost, have been returned to the BBC.


South Yorkshire PC Lee Lucas, 39, of Prince of Wales Road, Sheffield, also sent "suggestive and flirtatious" messages to vulnerable women. He admitted eight counts of making indecent images and one of misconduct in a public office at a previous hearing at Sheffield Crown Court. Lucas shared thousands of messages with eight women during 2013. The women, some of which were also visited by Lucas, had contacted the force in relation to various incidents including harassment and domestic abuse, the court heard previously. Lucas, who has been a PC with the force since 2010 and was based at Rotherham Police Station, was found to have had "excessive and unexplained contact" with the women after an internal investigation. The inquiry also led police to discover he had 1,400 indecent images of children on his computer, the force said. He was suspended by the force in October following his conviction. Terry Mann, head of professional standards at South Yorkshire Police, said: "I would like to reassure the public that Lucas was the most serious case out of a very small number of officers who made improper contact with such victims. "They have all now been dealt with."

Summary: A police officer who admitted making 1,400 indecent images of children has been jailed for 12 months.


Media playback is not supported on this device Farrell, 25, is set to move past 500 international points this weekend against Fiji, and is second in the England all-time list behind Wilkinson. Asked whether Farrell could one day beat his record of 1,179 points, Wilkinson said: "I have no doubt. "I would be very surprised if Owen Farrell didn't go on to score way, way more," he told BBC Sport. "500 points for a guy who is 25 years old, you don't have to do the maths but if he plays until he is 35, he will be in a good place." Wilkinson has been involved in the England camp this year as a kicking and skills consultant, and says he can identify with the way Saracens fly-half Farrell approaches the game. "Sometimes when we are discussing things, you hear something that you definitely correspond with," said Wilkinson, who on Thursday became one of 12 new inductees into the World Rugby Hall of Fame. "[Working with England] is a really exciting opportunity," Wilkinson, who scored the winning drop goal in the 2003 World Cup final, continued. "But there is no telling or teaching, it's kind of a sharing, and therefore there has to be room in all of us to keep growing. I am also there to learn." Wilkinson has also compared the current midfield combination of Farrell, who has scored 497 points for England, and fly-half George Ford to his partnership with inside centres Will Greenwood or Mike Catt. "Both those guys were phenomenally important to me in my career, in the way they supported me, got the best out of me, and helped me to uncover more about myself," Wilkinson explained. "With Owen and George, they are both very, very open individuals, both very humble - but not because they have been taught what to say, but genuinely it's who they are. "There is not a script being followed here. They are following enthusiasm, passion and serious devotion. "It's very similar when you mention names like Mike Catt and Will Greenwood, it all makes perfect sense. It's just about having good people in there." You can hear more from Jonny Wilkinson on the Matt Dawson Rugby Show on BBC Radio 5 live from 19:30 GMT on Thursday, 17 November.

Summary: World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson has backed Owen Farrell to overtake his England points record.


Some youngsters fail to achieve the grades they need to get into university. Relatively few places are available to Scots through the clearing system which is designed to allocate "spare" places. Yet a week or so later, they may feel aggrieved to find places are available to applicants from other parts of the UK. The clearing system is a complex issue. It is far more subtle than a headline claiming a Scot is losing out to someone from England, Wales or Northern Ireland. It is the price of free tuition at Scottish university - a price the policy's supporters would say was worth paying. To put this in context though, the number of places at Scottish universities available to Scots is at an historic high. By this week the number of Scottish applicants accepted to Scottish institutions had reached 30,400 - 4% up on this time last year. However, this may be little consolation to those who have lost out on the course they actually wanted to do. Essentially there are now three groups of students at Scottish universities. This two tier system for Scottish and other UK students is the result of free tuition in Scotland. But universities strongly contend that comparing students in the different categories is like comparing apples with pears. They deny claims Scots are losing out to fee-paying students from elsewhere and say this shows a misunderstanding of the issue. Realistically the only way to end the distinction would be if tuition fees were re-introduced in Scotland or if free tuition was brought back in other parts of the UK. The former would mean Scottish universities would be free to take in as many Scots as they wanted. The latter could end the distinction in the clearing system. Either would probably mean that there was no hard and fast distinction between Scottish applicants and prospective students from other parts of Britain. Universities Scotland is calling for discussions with the government over the total number of places available to Scots. It would like to see the overall number grow to ensure that more people from disadvantaged areas can get a place without making it harder for others. But this is a distinct issue.

Summary: Every year the exam results bring disappointment as well as joy.


And concerns are growing that it could get much worse over the next two decades. Road use is expected to grow 25-30% by 2030, according to government figures. Which begs the question: what should the response be? There are no simple answers to the question, but one thing is clear, according to business secretary Vince Cable: "The idea that we can build our way out of the problem is no longer credible." The goal, therefore, will be to increase the capacity of the road network without increasing its physical footprint. "We'll need to be more intelligent in managing the road network and the vehicles that use it," Mr Cable says. The idea will be to bring together the motor industry, the telecoms sector, electronics companies and others to create an "intelligent mobility industry", Mr Cable explains. Its task would be to tackle congestion, enhance road safety, improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions. Moreover, Mr Cable insists, this "convergence of technology and transport" should create jobs and growth and bolster the UK economy. Cars that communicate both with their drivers and passengers and with other vehicles will make up a cornerstone of intelligent mobility, according to former Ford executive Richard Parry-Jones, who co-chairs the UK's Automotive Council with Mr Cable. "Designing cars that intelligently navigate their way through traffic is the kind of challenge that calls on the country's combined auto heritage and budding technological expertise," he says. "Networked vehicles under digital control are going to become the future of car manufacturing." Consequently, the UK's transport challenges should not be seen merely in terms of the costs of a necessary transition. Instead, it should be seen as an opportunity for Britain, Mr Cable insists. "Intelligent mobility could benefit the economy, allowing businesses to be more competitive, reducing logistics costs, giving more predictable journey times and reducing carbon dioxide emissions," he says. It could also provide a draw for foreign investors, adds Mr Parry-Jones, who believes it "represents a chance for the UK's auto industry to bring more research and development investment into the country". In turn, the government and industry figures envisage a future where UK companies will become exporters of techniques and technologies to help similar transport challenges elsewhere in the world. The eventual outcome, the Automotive Council predicts, could be the emergence of "an industry employing some 20,000 skilled workers and turning over some Â£5bn within a decade", on top of the economic benefits that would arise from better traffic flows. Mr Cable is exited about the opportunities. "What we're seeing," he says, "is the beginning of something that could become very, very important."

Summary: Traffic jams that waste time and money are a curse of modern life.


The decision ends six years of composting household waste at sites in Farington and Thornton with the loss of about 250 out of 330 jobs. The Labour-run council said it will no longer process food and green waste but store it for treatment elsewhere. Tory councillor Michael Green said it was "a failure of catastrophic proportions costing millions". Mr Green said, who represents Leyland South West, added: "We are being asked to believe it was the 'wrong kind of waste', which is what I have been told for the last six years. "Surely someone should have done due diligence on the kind of waste it would process." Lancashire County Council said the sites were no longer economical blaming changes in households attitudes and a drop in the amount of organic material to compost in the last 10 years. Cabinet member responsible for environmental services, councillor Marcus Johnstone, said: "What we are left with is a high cost, high liability and highly complicated plant." The two sites were built following a £2bn Private Finance Initiative (PFI) over 25 years with Global Renewables, an Australian-based company. Composting began in 2010 but annual costs of £12m a year forced the council to scrap the contract in 2014. On Friday 19 February, the council's executive decided that composting will stop immediately at Thornton with composting ending at Farington on 31 March. Council leader Jennifer Mein said: "Lancashire is in a much better position than a number of other local authorities which also invested in PFI-funded mechanical and biological treatment facilities because we successfully restructured the financing for the sites in 2014 to make an annual saving on the contract of £12m." A visitor and education centre at Farington will also close.

Summary: A £2bn waste treatment scheme has been shut down by a county council to save £8.5m per year.


Kayla Mueller was abducted when working in Aleppo, Syria and died last year. The woman charged - 25-year-old Nisreen Assad Ibrahim Bahar, known as Umm Sayyaf - is currently in Iraqi custody. Prosecutors say Sayyaf kept Ms Mueller captive, allowing her to be repeatedly raped by IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Nisreen Bahar's husband, Abu Sayyaf, is described in an affidavit as IS minister for oil and gas, reporting directly to Baghdadi. Abu Sayyaf died last May when his compound in Syria was raided by US special forces. His widow was handed over to the Iraqi authorities for prosecution. A US justice department statement said they supported the prosecution but would "continue to pursue justice for Kayla". "We will always be relentless in our efforts to identify, locate and arrest those who are responsible for the kidnappings and murders of American citizens," said the FBI's Assistant Director in Charge, Paul Abbate. Mueller had travelled to Syria as an aid worker when she was kidnapped in 2013.

Summary: The widow of a former senior leader in the Islamic State (IS) group has been charged with conspiracy in the death of a US hostage, US authorities said.


The New Zealand spinner fell two runs short of a century when he was stumped off Jack Leach, who also finished with career-best figures of 7-106. After bowling Warwickshire out for 324, Somerset then slumped to 9-3 as Keith Barker picked up three early wickets. Patel's devastating spell saw the hosts bowled out for 110 at Taunton before Warwickshire closed on 20-0. The 35-year-old's fine innings, which included eight fours and four sixes, took the visitors past an unlikely 300 after they were 120-7 at one stage on day two. After resuming on 180-7, the Bears' recovery was aided by Laurie Evans who made 73, sharing an eighth-wicket stand of 166 with Patel. On a third day pitch which had begun to turn, Patel had Jim Allenby caught at short leg, before Peter Trego and Luke Ronchi were both dismissed lbw. Lewis Gregory then could only pick out deep mid-wicket when he looked to launch the spinner over the boundary rope. Having edged his way to 26 Tom Cooper was bowled to give Patel his third first-class five-wicket haul of the season. Jamie Overton and Leach were both caught in the slips as Somerset were bowled out in just 34 overs, leaving Alfonso Thomas, in his final innings for the county, stranded on 13. Varun Chopra and Ian Westwood saw off the final hour before stumps without trouble to leave the Bears requiring another 205 for victory. Bears all-rounder Jeetan Patel told BBC WM: "It didn't bother me falling two short of a century because I don't really worry about stats like that. The partnership with Laurie Evans was more important because it got us back in the game. "The main thing is that it was a good day for the team. After seeing Jack Leach do so well for Somerset it was good for me to get some turn and take wickets. The ball is coming out well for me at the moment. "We still have a lot of work to do to win the game because 200 more will take some getting on that pitch. Hopefully we can be proactive from the start tomorrow and finish the season with a win." Somerset fast bowler Alfonso Thomas: "It was emotional for me walking out to bat in both innings on my last appearance for the club because I have had eight great years here. "There have been a lot of highlights. Taking four wickets in four balls in a Championship match was great for me personally, but there have been so many memorable times for the team while I have been here and a lot of great one-day occasions at Taunton. "I still think we can win this game. The pitch is aiding spin, rather than seam, but hopefully I can chip in and we can support Jack Leach. If that happens, it won't be easy for Warwickshire to get 200 more runs."

Summary: Jeetan Patel took a career-best 7-38 after hitting 98 as Warwickshire fought back against Somerset.


Stormont has so far not put in place changes to benefits that have been implemented in other parts of the UK. This has led to fines from the government. Justin Welby told BBC Radio Ulster that there should be extra help to assist people here out of poverty. "Should Northern Ireland itself be a special case?" he said. "Yes it probably should, although not as a basket case or a charity case, but as a recognition of what has gone wrong in the past." Secretary of State Theresa Villiers said the government continued to recognise Northern Ireland's special circumstances. "That is why public spending per head is 23% higher here than the UK average," she said. "When it comes to welfare reform Northern Ireland has much to gain from replacing a failed system that traps far too many people into dependency with a modern system that ensures work always pays." The Northern Ireland parties had agreed on a welfare reform deal in December but Sinn FÃ©in withdrew its support in March. Inter-party talks in Northern Ireland began in September in a bid to resolve the current political crisis at Stormont. The two key issues being discussed are the impasse over welfare reform and paramilitary activity.

Summary: The Archbishop of Canterbury has said he believes Northern Ireland should be treated as a special case when it comes to the issue of welfare reform.


Muhammadu Buhari said that if a credible Boko Haram leadership could be identified then he was prepared to talk with them without preconditions. But he said he had no intelligence on the girls' whereabouts or their health. Boko Haram seized the girls from their dormitories in the north-eastern town of Chibok in April 2014. "If a credible leader of Boko Haram can be established and they tell us where those girls are, we are prepared to negotiate with them, without any precondition," said Mr Buhari. Attempts to negotiate with Boko Haram during the rule of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan failed because officials were talking to the wrong people in the fragmented militant group. BBC Nigeria analyst Naziru Mikailu says Mr Buhari's offer to revive talks shows that Boko Haram remains a force, despite his claim last week that the group had been "technically" defeated. There is little prospect of Boko Haram agreeing to negotiate the release of the girls, he adds. The militants regard the girls as their most invaluable captives and their leader, Abubakar Shekau, said last year that most of them had converted to Islam and had been married off. Some Nigerians on social media expressed anger at the president for saying the government had no idea where the girls were being held, saying it indicated a failure of the intelligence services. Mr Buhari took office in May with a promise to defeat the group, and gave the military a deadline of the end of the year to end the six-year insurgency. Although Boko Haram has been driven out from most of the areas it controlled in north-eastern Nigeria, it has continued to carry out suicide bombings and raids into neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger. The military has managed to free hundreds of Boko Haram captives in recent months. However, they did not include any of the Chibok girls. Using football to tackle Boko Haram Why Boko Haram remains a threat

Summary: Nigeria's president has said he is prepared to negotiate with Boko Haram militants to secure the release of about 200 schoolgirls.


El Hadary, who has just turned 44, came off the bench in Tuesday's 0-0 draw with Mali when El Shenawy hurt himself. In doing so he beat the age record of 39-year-old compatriot Hossam Hassan. BBC Sport has learned El Shenawy is out of the finals with a hamstring tear and Ekramy is being treated for a hamstring strain, leaving Egypt with no back-up. Ekramy suffered his injury during training on 14 January and is undergoing intensive treatment in the hope he can recover to play if required. Despite the critical situation, BBC Sport has been told the Egyptian Football Association will not seek to call up another goalkeeper to the squad because it believes it is not permitted under the Confederation of African Football's tournament regulations. Caf's rules state that a replacement player cannot be called up later than 24 hours before a team's opening game of the tournament.

Summary: The oldest Africa Cup of Nations player Essam El Hadary is Egypt's only fit goalkeeper in Gabon after injuries to Ahmed El Shenawy and Sherif Ekramy.


In addition to the ban for single women, married women can only freeze their eggs in specific circumstances - for instance when they are to undergo chemotherapy, state media say. The ban is not new but caught attention after news that actress Xu Jinglei had gone to the US to have her eggs frozen. Many have ridiculed the ban and described it as sexist. The debate began in July, after Xu Jinglei, 41, said that she had frozen her ova, or egg cells, in the US in 2013. The 41-year-old, who is considered one of China's "Big Four" actresses, said she had taken the decision because she might want children in the future. Then on Sunday, state-run broadcaster CCTV ran a report on the subject, which highlighted some of the risks associated with the procedure and said the ban was "in accordance with family planning policies". The report triggered a barrage of criticism on Chinese social media, with close to 33,000 comments on CCTV's weibo (microblog) thread alone, and more than 11 million views for hashtags related to the subject. "We don't even have control over own own ovaries anymore!" user "Kitty is a Lace Lover" wrote. "Its meaning is that unmarried women don't have the right to reproduce," user Fish girl wrote. Many questioned why China allowed male sperm donors, but prevented women from freezing their eggs, while others mocked the ban as an attempt to force more women to marry and have children in a hurry. "This ban should help the men that no one wants!" one user wrote. There are fewer limitations on the storage of sperm in China. State media say the restrictions are designed to combat a black market in human eggs, and have stressed the possible health risks associated with the procedure. China introduced its one-child policy at the end of the 1970s to curb rapid population growth - but eased the policy in 2013 amid concerns over the country's ageing population.

Summary: There has been intense debate in China over a controversial ban on single women freezing their eggs.


BBC News takes a look at the men behind the audacious plot to steal precious metals, cash and jewels worth more than £14m. Date of Birth: 28.02.1939 Address: Dartford Road, Dartford, Kent Plea: Admitted conspiracy to burgle Reader, a career criminal known as "The Master" and "The Governor" by his fellow gang members, had stood trial in the 1980s accused of murdering a police officer. He was chosen to mastermind the Hatton Garden raid due to his involvement in the notorious Brinks Mat robbery of 1983. During that raid, gold bullion and diamonds worth £26m (about £78m in today's values) were taken from a warehouse near Heathrow Airport in what is still Britain's biggest gold robbery. Reader - and fellow criminal Kenneth Noye - were suspected of laundering the proceeds and placed under surveillance. When they found Det Con John Fordham spying on them in the grounds of Noye's home in Kent, Noye stabbed the detective 11 times in the back. Both men were placed on trial for murder but were acquitted after Noye claimed to have been acting in self defence. Police had found 11 gold bullion bars at Noye's home though and he and Reader were jailed for eight and 14 years respectively for conspiracy to handle stolen goods. Noye would later reach new levels of infamy for the road rage murder of Stephen Cameron and is currently serving a life sentence. Reader, who ran a used car dealership, pulled out of the Hatton Garden raid after the failed break-in attempt on the first night when the gang's drill broke. Call data records and police observation showed that he continued to meet up with the other ring leaders following the raid. The eldest of the group, he used somebody else's Freedom Pass to get a bus to Hatton Garden on the night of the raid. He was filmed on CCTV in the area wearing a distinctive red scarf later found at his Dartford home, where he was arrested on 19 May. When they searched his house detectives also found a book on the diamond underworld, a diamond tester, a diamond gauge and diamond magazines. D.O.B. 01.03.1955 Address: Park Avenue, Enfield, north London Plea: Admitted conspiracy to burgle An experienced criminal with convictions for burglary, attempted robbery and handling stolen goods dating back to 1975, Jones was convicted in 1982 of stealing items worth £92,000 from Ratner's jewellers. He was also described in court as "eccentric" and "mad". His friend Carl Wood told Woolwich Crown Court: "Danny is a very sensitive guy, a very funny man. Eccentric to extremes, everyone who knew Danny would say he was mad. He would go to bed in his mother's dressing gown with a fez on." The court heard Jones claimed to have fortune-telling powers, spoke to his dog Rocket as though it was human and was obsessed with the Army and keeping fit, often preferring a sleeping bag on the floor to a bed. One of the four ringleaders, he was arrested on 19 May along with two other conspirators after dropping off some

Summary: The Hatton Garden raiders were dubbed "Dad's Army" on account of their advanced age and many had extensive criminal records going back decades.


Thousands celebrated in the streets after hearing the final result was 61.3% "No", against 38.7% "Yes". But European officials warned that it could see the country ejected from the eurozone and the euro fell across the board in Asian markets on Monday. Greece's finance minister, who often clashed with creditors, has resigned. Yanis Varoufakis wrote on his blog that he had been "made aware of a certain preference by some Eurogroup participants, and assorted 'partners', for my... 'absence' from its meetings". Latest updates The prime minister had judged this to be "potentially helpful to him in reaching an agreement", he noted, adding: "I shall wear the creditors' loathing with pride." Greece's governing Syriza party had campaigned for a "No", saying that the bailout terms were humiliating. Mr Tsipras said late on Sunday that the Greeks had proved that "democracy won't be blackmailed." Speaking in a televised address, he said: "Given the unfavourable conditions last week, you have made a very brave choice.'' "But I am aware that the mandate you gave me is not a mandate for rupture.'' He said that Greece would go back to the negotiating table on Monday, adding that an International Monetary Fund (IMF) assessment published this week confirmed that restructuring Greek debt was necessary. But some European officials had already warned that creditors could take a "No" vote to mean that Greeks had rejected further talks. European leaders were varied in their openness to more talks with Greece after the vote. Germany's Deputy Chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, told local media that renewed negotiations with Greece were "difficult to imagine" and that Mr Tsipras had "torn down the bridges" between Greece and Europe. However, Italian and Belgian ministers were more conciliatory, with Belgium's finance minister saying that the door remained open to restart talks "literally, within hours". Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who heads the eurozone's group of finance ministers, said the referendum result was "very regrettable" for the future of Greece. Meanwhile, Martin Schulz, the president of the European Parliament, warned that Europe was entering "a very difficult and even dramatic time" unless the Greek government made "meaningful" proposals in the coming hours. Greece had been locked in negotiations with its creditors for months when the Greek government unexpectedly called a referendum on the terms it was being offered. The damoclean sword hanging over Greece is that the banks will run out of cash in just a few days. Which means that a decision on what kind of limited service the banks can provide, to be made by the Greek government, will hinge entirely on whether the European Central Bank's (ECB) governing council decides to freeze, cut or increase the provision of Emergency Liquidity Assistance, or emergency loans to Greece. As for the ECB, it does not wish to be seen as Greece's Judge Dredd. It will take its lead from any statement by eurozone government heads on whether there is a realistic chance of a new deal to rescue the finances of the ailing Greek state. So the fate of Greece lies firmly where it always did, in the lap

Summary: Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has said Greeks made a "brave choice" in voting to reject the terms of an international bailout in Sunday's referendum.


Police said 26-year-old Bamilola Kazim was allegedly assaulted by Mohammed Gafoor after a row on Wednesday Mr Kazim was treated for wounds at a local hospital and released. Last week a student from the Democratic Republic of Congo was beaten to death by a group of Indian men after an argument in Delhi. Two men have been arrested in connection with the killing of the Congolese man. Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted on Friday that Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj "had urgently sought report" on Wednesday's incident from the local government "and is monitoring the case". Police said Mr Kazim allegedly parked his car in front of Mr Gafoor's house, and was attacked with an iron rod by the latter after an altercation. "We have arrested the accused and the matter is now in court," Hyderabad police officer K Krishnaiah told BBC Hindi's Imran Qureshi. Gideon Omodowale of the local Nigerian Students Association said it was a "racial issue". "If he was a US citizen or an Indian, he wouldn't have been attacked. Later, some community people came and he [Mr Gafoor] apologised. We are ready to drop the case because we don't want it to affect other Africans," he told the BBC. There are more than 4,000 students from African countries in Hyderabad. Following last week's killing of an African student in Delhi, a group of African embassies had said they did not want to participate in Africa Day celebrations on Thursday because of repeated attacks on African students in India. They relented after Ms Swaraj promised to ensure the safety of African students in India. Mr Swarup said the Indian government had received news from its embassy in Kinshasa, the capital of Democratic Republic of Congo, that some "Indian establishments and shops were attacked on 23 and 25 May as a reaction perhaps to the killing of the Congolese national" in Delhi. "It has been reported that by Wednesday, things have calmed down," Mr Swarup was quoted as saying by The Hindu newspaper. Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have not yet commented on the remarks. In February, a Tanzanian student was assaulted and partially stripped by a mob in the southern city of Bangalore.

Summary: India's foreign ministry says it is looking into an alleged attack on a Nigerian student by a local man in the southern city of Hyderabad.


The rape investigation was launched after the 21-year-old woman was attacked in Union Terrace Gardens in the early hours of 28 January. Crimestoppers has offered the reward of up to £5,000 for information that leads to conviction in the case. The charity stressed the reward would only be paid if information was passed to Crimestoppers directly. Angela Parker, the Crimestoppers national manager for Scotland, said: "This attack was on a young woman in the heart of Aberdeen. "We are now offering a substantial reward for anyone with information to contact Crimestoppers anonymously. "By contacting Crimestoppers, via the phone (0800 555 111) or our anonymous online form, we don't ask for any personal details, you won't have to speak to the police, and you won't have to go to court. Just tell us what you know, not who you are."

Summary: A £5,000 reward has been offered for information after a young woman was raped in Aberdeen earlier this year.


Cranie, who joined the Terriers in July 2015 following his release by Barnsley, was set to be out of contract at the end of the season. The 30-year-old has made 50 appearances since signing for Town. "I am delighted that we have agreed a deal to keep Martin at the club, as he is a very important player in our squad," head coach David Wagner said. "I have always said that keeping our good players at the club is just as important as bringing new ones in, so I'm very happy." Meanwhile, Wagner has revealed that on-loan Chelsea forward Kasey Palmer will be out for eight weeks with a hamstring injury. The 20-year old suffered the injury in the first half of Town's 2-1 win over Leeds on 5 February.

Summary: Huddersfield right-back Martin Cranie has signed a new contract to stay with the Championship club until 2018.


The Ministry of Defence said the former dictator's complex in Mosul, north Iraq, was a "major" IS HQ and training centre for foreign recruits. RAF Tornados used guided bombs in what Defence Secretary Michael Fallon called "emphatic" airstrikes on Monday. Mosul, Iraq's second city, has been under IS control since June 2014. The UK is part of a US-led international coalition conducting airstrikes on IS targets in Syria and Iraq. Special report: Islamic State conflict Islamic State crisis in seven charts The Ministry of Defence has released details of a series of operations over the past week - including the bombing of a "safe house" for foreign fighters in Iraq, and IS "terrorist strongpoints" close to Syria's border with Turkey. Two Tornado jets dropped the largest guided bombs they use, the Enhanced Paveway III, on Saddam's palace, a statement said. "Extensive surveillance" of the complex, located next to the river Tigris, found the main palace building was being used as accommodation and a meeting venue for foreign IS recruits, while outbuildings were used for training, internal security and "repression", the MoD said. Seven nations were involved in the attack on the complex on Monday afternoon, with initial indications suggesting the mission was successful, it added. Details of the latest air strikes against IS, also known as Daesh, were given as the defence secretary visited the crews involved, who are based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Mr Fallon said: "Daesh has been losing followers and territory for months, and emphatic strikes like this show that we and the coalition will not waver. "Daesh fighters, both foreign and home-grown, can see that they are targets inside this cult." UK MPs approved UK air strikes in Iraq against IS in September 2014. Mr Fallon said at the time that the parliamentary vote followed a request for help from the UN by the Iraqi government. In December 2015, the UK also launched air strikes targeting IS in Syria after MPs voted for action.

Summary: A palace built by Saddam Hussein which was being used as a training centre for so-called Islamic State (IS) has been bombed by UK and coalition forces.


Defending her policy on migrants at the annual conference of her CDU party, Mrs Merkel said that Germany was standing by its humanitarian duties. But she said the flow of migrants would be reduced - a step that some members of the party have been calling for. More than one million migrants and refugees have come to Germany so far this year, officials there say. Profile: Angela Merkel Will Germans embrace or shun refugees? EU migration: Crisis in graphics Her decision to welcome refugees fleeing Syria's civil war has not been popular within her own party. Mrs Merkel told the conference in Karlsruhe that the influx would be "noticeably reduced" - the wording of a compromise agreement reached on Sunday with her CDU colleagues. Such a reduction was in the interest of Germany and in the interest of the migrants themselves, she told the conference. Mrs Merkel has rejected the idea of an upper limit on migrant numbers, sought by some in her own party and by the leader of the CDU's powerful Bavarian sister party, the CSU. Despite the tensions of the weekend's discussions, Mrs Merkel appeared relaxed and smiling as she arrived at the conference to address her party, and her speech was repeatedly interrupted by applause. She described 2015 as "an unbelievable year". The German leader said the decision by Germany and Austria to allow in migrants stranded in the Hungarian capital, after many started walking towards the border on 4 September, was a humanitarian imperative. "Something that was far away from us - that we have seen on television - is now literally at our front door," she said. "The war in Syria, the barrel bombings by (Syrian President Bashar al-) Assad, the spread of IS in Syria and Iraq, the fact that Libya has no functioning government, the situation in Afghanistan - all that is no longer far away but has come to us." Quoting her Finance Minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, Mrs Merkel said the migration crisis was Germany's "rendezvous with globalisation". Mrs Merkel, who has led Germany for 10 years, was named Time magazine's Person of the Year last week. The US news magazine cited her role in Europe's crises over migration and the Greek debt crisis, saying she had provided "steadfast moral leadership in a world where it is in short supply". Meanwhile, authorities in Greece have been struggling to cope with growing numbers of migrants in its capital, Athens, as Balkan countries block their route further north. An agreement to provide subsidised accommodation for migrants was due to be signed on Monday. The deal between the Greek government, the UN Refugee Agency and the European Commission will help to provide housing for 20,000 new arrivals in Athens. The UN agency will assist in paying rental costs in private, unoccupied flats. Another 80,000 migrants are due to be accommodated across Greece and the Balkans, mostly in heated tents.

Summary: The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has described the migrant crisis as a "historic test" for Europe.


Most of the big posts have gone to men but everyone in the team had to meet the test of "overcoming the divisions between right and left and embracing a progressive project", a spokesman said. The new cabinet includes a campaigning environmentalist and an Olympic fencing champion. And half the list of candidates for next month's parliamentary elections are figures from France's civil society. Like the president, he graduated from the elite ENA college for France's top civil servants. In 2002 he was actively involved in setting up the centre-right party led by Bordeaux Mayor Alain Juppé. For years he was seen as Mr Juppé's right-hand man, but left politics to take up a post in the private sector. In 2010, he won the race to be mayor of the northern port city of Le Havre. He backed Mr Juppé's unsuccessful bid to secure the centre-right presidential nomination last November. Ten years before, he co-wrote a political novel with Gilles Boyer, who went on to run the Juppé campaign. What has he said? "Who is Macron? For some, impressed by his seductive power and reformist rhetoric, he would be the natural son of (JF) Kennedy and (ex-French PM) Mendès France. That seems unlikely. The former had more charisma, the latter more principles. For others, he would be Brutus, Caesar's adoptive son." President Macron fulfilled a promise to balance his cabinet with as many women as men. Here are some of the key appointments. Bruno Le Maire, economy minister: A right-winger, aged 48, he was part of Nicolas Sarkozy's government and is said to have coveted the economy role for several years. He ran for the Republican presidential nomination but fared badly in the public vote. Another right-wing figure, Gérard Darmanin, gets the role of public accounts minister. François Bayrou, justice minister: At 66, this centrist is no stranger to government, having served twice as education minister several years ago. He ran for the presidency three times but dropped out this year to throw his weight behind the Macron campaign. His intervention was seen as a turning point in the presidential race. Gérard Collomb, interior minister: An early adopter of the new president, aged 69, Mr Collomb was part of the Socialist party for decades. He was seen as instrumental in bringing François Bayrou into the campaign. He is the mayor of Lyon and has one of the toughest jobs in government, with France still under a state of emergency. Jean-Yves Le Drian, foreign and Europe minister: Aged 69, he served President François Hollande loyally as defence minister and is one of only two survivors of the outgoing government. The other is radical leftist Annick Girardin. Mr Le Drian is regarded as quiet but effective. Nicolas Hulot, ecology minister: An environmentalist opposed to nuclear energy, he was heavily involved in the COP21 climate change conference in Paris. In some ways his appointment was a surprise as he has in the past criticised Mr Macron for seeing green policies as an afterthought to free trade. Sylvie Goulard, defence minister: At 52, she is a

Summary: France's new President, Emmanuel Macron, has picked his new government with a centre-right prime minister and a cabinet made up of 11 women and 11 men.


Yet, for many people, the choice remains complex and confusing and the way they vote may well be settled by gut and instinct. The Leave camp promises to regain control over borders and democracy. The Remain camp says staying in the EU and the single market is clearly in Britain's economic interest. But there is much that remains unknowable, including what would follow a vote to leave the EU. In the immediate aftermath of a win for Brexit, some political battles would have to be resolved first. Would the prime minister stay in office having lost a referendum? Some would want him out but others in the Leave campaign regard David Cameron as best placed to lead what would be difficult negotiations with Brussels. Secondly, the early days after the vote would be aimed at settling nervous financial markets. On the day after, nothing would have changed legally but the government and whoever was in charge of the negotiation would have to decide what strategy to adopt. Vote Leave sets out post-Brexit plans After the EU referendum: What happens next? EU referendum issues guide EU referendum: All you need to know The legal process for leaving the EU is set out in Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty. David Cameron or whoever was prime minister would have to notify the European Union of the UK's intention to leave. Once that application has been registered, the clock starts ticking; the negotiation has to be settled in two years. But Michael Gove, for the Leave campaign, has suggested negotiating a new deal would take at least four years. The two-year period can be extended but only if all the other 27 EU countries agree. During the negotiating period, the UK would stay in the EU and EU laws would remain in force. If there was no deal within the two year period then the UK would have to rely on World Trade Organisation rules. The Director General of the WTO says this would be far from straightforward. There would have to be negotiations between the UK and the WTO's 161 members. Catherine Barnard, professor of European Law at Cambridge University, says that without an agreement in those two years "we fall out of the EU, in probably a rather disorderly fashion". She points to the sheer number of issues that would need addressing. "Think of European migrants living here," she says. "What will be their rights going forward?" But nothing here is straightforward. Some in the Leave camp want to avoid Article 50 altogether; they would prefer to engage in inter-governmental negotiations. They do not want to be locked into a timetable. It is also uncertain how other European leaders and officials would respond to this. Their big fear is contagion; that other countries could follow the UK example. So, they could be inclined to make the UK sweat. As the President of the Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker said: "Deserters would not be treated kindly." However, there would be strong pressure from Europe's businesses to deal with the UK swiftly and perhaps enter into a

Summary: This week's referendum has been billed as a historic moment; a cross on the paper sketching out the country's future identity and its place in the world.


Wydad were 1-0 winners over 10-man Zanaco of Zambia to move top of the group, with record eight-time champions Al Ahly beating Cameroon's Coton Sport 3-1. That put Ahly level on points with Zanaco, and with identical head-to-heads, Ahly went through, above the Zambians, on goal difference. Zanaco knew a point in Casablanca would have been enough to put them into the last eight, but they were thwarted by a 68th-minute goal from Wydad's Achraf Bencharki in front of the 80,000-capacity stadium. Bencharki's goal came nine minutes after Zanaco defender Taonga Bwenbya was sent off having been yellow-carded a second time. It was the first Champions League loss suffered by Zanaco this season and only the third goal they had conceded after four wins and five draws in qualifying and group matches. Al Ahly, who began their match against Coton Sport knowing only a win would take them through to the knockout stage for the first time since 2013, suffered an early setback. They fell behind at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria after 12 minutes when veteran defender Ahmed Fathy conceded an own-goal. Amr Gamal came to Ahly's rescue with an equaliser and he also scored the third Ahly goal after Abdallah El Said had given the Cairo club a 2-1 half-time lead. It means four North African clubs have now reach the Champions League quarter-finals, with Esperance and Etoile Sahel of Tunisia already through. There will also be at least two quarter-finalists from southern Africa - defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Ferroviario Beira of Mozambique who went through after Al Hilal and Al Merreikh were disqualified following Sudan's global Fifa ban.

Summary: Al Ahly of Egypt and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco secured their place in the African Champions League quarter-finals on Saturday as North African clubs prevailed in the final Group D matches.


China's economy is slowing, but the government says this is all part of the plan as it moves from exports to domestic consumption. But is it doing enough to help people spend?

Summary: Asia Business Correspondent Karishma Vaswani is in Dalian, China, where the World Economic Forum is taking place later this week.


Crewe raised the bar in front of their new manager David Artell, taking a first-half lead through skipper Ryan Lowe's ninth goal of the season. Charlie Kirk should have done better when well placed on the left of the box early on, only to drag his finish past the far post, while Guthrie was also left to rue skying a close-range header over after getting on the end of a teasing free-kick from George Cooper. Crewe took a deserved lead in the 28th minute when Lowe was slipped clear by Alex Kiwomya, the 38-year-old veteran finding the far corner as he scored in the league for the first time since also netting against Luton at Kenilworth Road in October. But the impressive Marriott had Luton back on terms on the stroke of half-time, as the striker's shot from a tight angle managed to evade Garratt's clutches and slip in at the near post. Nathan Jones' side looked to be up against it when they were reduced to 10 men eight minutes after the break after full-back Alan Sheehan caught Danny Hollands to earn his second booking. But Crewe were undone when Marriott cut infield to force a save from Garratt and Danny Hylton kept the attack alive to pull the ball back from the by-line for Gray to sidefoot home the winner. Report supplied by the Press Association. Match ends, Crewe Alexandra 1, Luton Town 2. Second Half ends, Crewe Alexandra 1, Luton Town 2. Attempt missed. Callum Saunders (Crewe Alexandra) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high following a corner. Corner, Crewe Alexandra. Conceded by James Justin. Corner, Crewe Alexandra. Conceded by John Mullins. Corner, Crewe Alexandra. Conceded by Jack Senior. Attempt missed. Ryan Lowe (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Hand ball by Callum Saunders (Crewe Alexandra). Attempt missed. Alex Kiwomya (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Corner, Crewe Alexandra. Conceded by Jack Senior. Substitution, Luton Town. Isaac Vassell replaces Jack Marriott. Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. Ryan Wintle replaces Danny Hollands. Attempt missed. Callum Saunders (Crewe Alexandra) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Jon Guthrie. Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Alex Kiwomya. James Jones (Crewe Alexandra) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by James Jones. Pelly Ruddock (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by James Jones (Crewe Alexandra). Attempt saved. Jack Marriott (Luton Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Attempt missed. James Jones (Crewe Alexandra) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Substitution, Crewe Alexandra. Callum Saunders replaces Zoumana Bakayogo. Attempt missed. Danny Hollands (Crewe Alexandra) header from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the

Summary: Goals from Jack Marriott and Jake Gray earned 10-man Luton a 2-1 comeback win at Crewe.


Applying a small current to specific parts of the brain can increase its activity, making learning easier. Researchers from the University of Oxford have studied the changing structure of the brain in stroke patients and in healthy adults. Prof Heidi Johansen-Berg presented their findings at the British Science Festival in Bradford. The team at Oxford has been conducting research into how the structure of the brain changes in adulthood, and in particular what changes occur after a stroke. They have used an approach called functional MRI to monitor activity in the brain as stroke patients re-learn motor skills that were lost as a result of their illness. One of the major findings is that the brain is very flexible and can restructure itself, growing new connections and reassigning tasks to different areas, when damage occurs or a specific task is practised. As part of this research, they investigated the possibility of using non-invasive electric brain stimulation to improve the recovery of these motor skills; the short-term improvement in stroke patients had already been noted. But an unexpected result was found when the same brain stimulation was applied to healthy adults: their speed of learning was also significantly increased. To observe this effect, the team devised an experiment whereby volunteers memorised a sequence of buttons to press "like playing a tune on a piano". While they were doing this, they were fitted with a "trans-cranial current stimulation" device, in which two electrodes are placed in a specific position on the head. A very small current was passed between the electrodes in an arc through the brain and, depending on the direction of that current, either increased or decreased the activity of that part of the brain. Prof Johansen-Berg explained that "an increase in activity of the brain cells makes them more susceptible to the kinds of changes that occur during learning". The results of the button-pressing experiments showed the positive effects of just 10 minutes of the brain stimulation on learning, compared to a similar "placebo" setup in which the electrical stimulation was not used. "While the stimulation didn't improve the participant's best performance, the speed at which they reached their best was significantly increased," said Prof Johansen-Berg. Targeting the area of the brain that controls motor skills allows movement tasks to be learned more quickly, and the researchers envisage the technique could be used to help in the training of athletes. The experiments have explicitly shown that stimulating the motor cortex of the brain can increase the speed of learning motor skills. It is the hope of the researchers that the same method may be applied to other parts of the brain to improve educational learning, simply by positioning the electrodes in different locations so the current is focussed on the correct area. The relative simplicity, low price (around Â£2,000 per unit), and portability of the technology may mean that, following further research, a device could be designed to be automated for use at home. Looking to the future, Prof Johansen-Berg and her team plan to investigate the potential for increasing the

Summary: Electrically stimulating the brain can help to speed up the process of learning, scientists have shown.


The Resolution Foundation analysis shows the impact of the national living wage will vary considerably across Scotland. A national living wage of £7.20 an hour for workers aged 25 and over will be introduced in April. The UK government said millions of people will enjoy a pay rise. The study said 500,000 employees in Scotland will be affected overall. While one-third of employees in Clackmannanshire and Dumfries and Galloway will be affected, just 16% of employees working in Aberdeen are set to benefit. Edinburgh (17%), Dundee (18%) and Glasgow (19%) are also significantly lower. While strongly welcoming the new wage floor, the Foundation notes that implementing it will prove a greater challenge in lower-paying areas. It calls on the Scottish government, the Fair Work Convention, local leaders and businesses across the country to work together to minimise any job losses and ensure large groups of workers do not get stuck earning only the legal minimum. The Foundation also calls on employers to focus on boosting productivity in retail, hospitality, cleaning and care to ensure the national living wage is affordable for them. The group states the UK government's new pay structure is not actually a "living wage", and calls for an expansion to the voluntary living wage of £8.25 across the country. Conor D'Arcy, policy analyst at the Resolution Foundation, said: "The welcome new national living wage will have a huge impact on low pay, particularly towards 2020 as it approaches £9 an hour. "While our analysis suggests the pay rise should be affordable for most firms, implementing the new wage floor will be challenging for some employers. That's particularly true in areas where wages tend to be lower. "Politicians must work closely with employers to ensure that the national living wage is a success, particularly in low-paying sectors." A UK government spokesperson said: "The government is making sure Britain gets a pay rise and that businesses have the skills they need to succeed. We are already seeing record employment rates and real wages growing to levels not seen since the recession. "As the report itself highlights, workers in some cities will see even bigger benefits, reinforcing our drive to rebalance the economy through the northern powerhouse and the devolution of powers to local government and cities."

Summary: About one-third of workers in Clackmannanshire and Dumfries and Galloway will benefit from the national living wage, according to research.


The movie, which has six Academy Award nominations compared to The Revenant's 12, is all about upsetting the balance of power. The film focuses on a piece of groundbreaking journalism that rocked the foundations of the Catholic Church in 2002, when four reporters, the investigative Spotlight team of the Boston Globe newspaper, ran an expose on how the church had covered up sexual abuse by more than 70 priests in the Boston area. The story would lead, not only to the resignation of Boston's Cardinal, but to the uncovering of further abuse in 102 cities in the USA, and 105 dioceses worldwide. Stanley Tucci, who plays a lawyer representing victims of abuse, describes the script as "no fuss, no fat, no fluff - there's no love story or distraction from the purpose of the movie, which is to tell the story of the investigation". Spotlight is directed by actor and writer Tom McCarthy, best known for his part as Scott Templeton in The Wire. And Tucci is joined on the cast list by Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo, who play the Spotlight team. McCarthy, who is nominated for best director and best adapted screenplay, agrees that to focus on the journalists rather than the abuse itself was an unusual step, but points out the scale of their achievement. "It's extraordinary that this story was uncovered by a team of four local reporters, who put themselves against the might of one of the world's most powerful institutions," he says. "And the fact they uncovered the story was an achievement in itself. Even though these events took place 15 years ago, just before 9/11, we forget how much the world has changed. It was, effectively, a pre-digital world, and so much of their research was done meticulously in library basements, in courthouses, in poring over newspaper clippings. "This is an example of really strong local journalism that went on to have a national and then a global impact. It's important to remember when funding for this kind of investigative reporting has taken a huge hit." The investigation started in 2001 when a new editor of the Boston Globe, Marty Baron, ordered the Spotlight team to follow up on a small column in the paper about a local priest accused of sexually abusing children and teenagers over the course of 30 years. The Spotlight editor, Walter Robinson, along with reporters Michael Rezendes and Sacha Pfeiffer, began to research the case. Over the course of a year, they discovered a systematic establishment cover-up of the paedophile activities of scores of priests. Their reporting would lead the way for more exposes in more than 200 cities across the world. While many of the cast and crew, including Mark Ruffalo, have a Catholic background, Tucci believes seeing the film "as an attack, or a condemnation of Catholicism, would be wrong. "It's actually absolutely the opposite - it's a condemnation of corruption, especially the corruption of basic Christian tenets. It's a condemnation of the abuse of power, and people who abuse the real innocents in society. "The

Summary: Spotlight is the bookies' favourite to take best film at this year's Oscars, over Leonardo Di Caprio's western The Revenant.


The 32-year-old became Wales' first medallist at London 2012 when he won silver in the lightweight men's four after they missed out on gold to South Africa by less than a second. Bartley, from Wrexham, was part of the men's four at Rio, but the team missed out on the medals, finishing seventh. In 2010, Bartley won gold with the men's lightweight four at the World Rowing Championships in New Zealand. "I've had quite a long career. I've been involved in the sport internationally for more than 10 years," he told BBC Radio Wales. "I've got more than I ever thought that I would out of the sport and I thought it was the right time for me to call it a day."

Summary: Olympic silver medallist rower Chris Bartley has announced his retirement.


The academy, in Africa's biggest city, is the first of its kind on the continent. It is modelled on Barcelona's flagship La Masia Academy in Spain which has produced stars such as Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Xavi. Officially known as FCBEscola Lagos, the school is temporarily located at the multi-sports Teslim Balogun Stadium Complex in the sprawling Surulere suburb. A bright banner of the Spanish midfielder Iniesta greets you as you enter the main gate. Inside an assortment of big pictures of Barcelona star players Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar can be seen amongst commercial advertising boards. Imalashe Sulyman "Football is not only for boys...I want to become one of the famous football players and be as good as Messi" Children aged between five and 18 years old file into the stadium to get a football education the Barcelona way. About 400 fee-paying children are currently enrolled at the school, which costs $600 (Â£478) a year. They attend training sessions at the academy about once a week and all of them harbour hopes of making it to the big time at Barcelona's prestigious La Masia Academy in Spain. Among them is Imalashe Sulyman from Yaba in Lagos. She is one of just three girls at the academy. "I like being here because it is very friendly and fun to play," she says. "It doesn't bother me because football is not only for boys, it's for everyone to play. You shouldn't be treated differently anyhow because you are a girl. "I want to become one of the famous football players and be as good as Messi." The Lagos academy joins a growing list of other similar Barcelona football schools across Asia, the Americas and Europe. The Catalan club uses the schools to popularise its brand and transmit the club's philosophy and values to the rest of the world. The philosophy emphasise the importance of teamwork over the individual. Among the top 10 European clubs, it is the only one with a football academy on the African continent. Other top clubs such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus have so far not done the same. The academy has already started attracting children from in and outside Nigeria. "This is a Nigerian fountain that is going to sprout. Like they say about great oak trees, it starts from a little acorn and that's the acorn you are seeing right now," says Leslie Oghomienor, Barcelona's partner and the school's administrator. "We don't just have children from Nigeria here, we have some from Spain, Taiwan, India, Greece and other Asian people. "We are going to give them international exposure. We are going to Barcelona in April to play against other people so that they can see what we are doing. The world has to know there's something good coming out of Africa in Lagos, Nigeria." Bernat Gorriz, Barcelona Lagos academy's technical director "I don't know if ever we will see another player like Messi but of course we are going to teach these kids how to be like Messi" The Barcelona

Summary: One of the world's biggest and most successful clubs, Barcelona, is launching a football academy in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial hub.


The Shanghai Composite fell a further 1.7% to 3,663.00, having sunk 8.5% on Monday - its biggest drop in eight years. China has tried to calm investors by reassuring it will implement prudent monetary policy to stabilise markets. The country's central bank said it would inject 50bn yuan (Â£5.2bn; $8.05bn) into the money markets. The People's Bank of China also insisted that the country's main economic indicators were steadily improving. Monday's dramatic drop had been triggered by weak economic data on profits at Chinese industrial firms, and a disappointing survey of the manufacturing sector on Friday. The regulating authority, the China Securities Finance Corporation (CSFC), said there would be a crackdown on short selling. It warned that, "any malicious trading will be investigated and severely punished". In the wake of stocks tumbling more than 30% in June, the authority's rescue plan already included a crackdown on short-selling - betting on the decline of shares' values. But analysts were hesitant to take much confidence from those measures. Evan Lucas, market strategist with trading firm IG, said in a note that "clearly the Chinese markets are unable to support themselves". "The mountain of leverage and the risks of margin calls are hitting market stability." In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index went against the trend set on the mainland, rising 0.6% to 24,503.94. Elsewhere in Asia, stocks traded mixed, managing to withstand the downward pull from China. Asia's largest stock market, Japan's Nikkei 225 finished unchanged at 20,328.89 points, recovering from losses seen earlier in the day. Shares in camera maker Canon rose 0.5%. The increase came as a surprise after the firm cut its earnings outlook and reported a 16% fall in quarterly profit on Monday. Sales have been hit by consumers increasingly using their smartphones rather than compact cameras. In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi also ended flat at 2,039.08. Relief for stocks came from Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-Ahn declaring the end of the deadly outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers). Thirty six people died out of the 186 infected by the virus, following the first diagnosis on 20 May. The outbreak had been a major strain on the country's economy, affecting domestic consumption and tourism. The quarantine of the last suspected patient was lifted on Monday. Australia's ASX 200 share index closed down 0.2% at 5,580.50. China is Australia's main market and the dramatic volatility in Chinese stocks as well as the slowing growth indicators are expected to affect investors' confidence.

Summary: Shares in mainland China continued their slide on Tuesday, following a massive sell-off the previous day.


Wash Mussels Ltd will create five "limited" test areas on the bed of the River Stour where 500 tonnes of mussels would be laid each year. The RSPB is concerned about the impact of dredgers and farming on rare birds. A public consultation runs until October. In 2014, the company applied for a licence for a five-year trial, but objections were raised about a lack of studies on the effects on wildlife. The RSPB is worried about an adverse effect on the tens of thousands of birds, particularly goldeneye and red breasted merganser, which use the estuary, which has European Special Protection Area status. Mark Nowers, RSPB conservation officer, said: "Any development needs to show these important species are not affected." Peter Scott, solicitor for Wash Mussels, said: "There will be limited operations and no equipment in situ, because there will be no ropes or nets. "Noise from dredgers is pretty insignificant in terms of bird disturbance. "If the trial is successful, there will be significant employment in dredging and preparing the product for market." Mr Scott said it would not put buoys on the river or sink pots to catch crabs which feed on mussels. The Essex and Suffolk Wildlife Trusts said they would be reviewing the company's data as part of the public consultation which runs until 7 October. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it would consider the results of the consultation before deciding whether a licence should be granted.

Summary: Large scale mussel farming could deter rare birds feeding on a "tranquil" river estuary with protected status, wildlife groups have warned.


Some might see the claim by care home operators that there could be a "catastrophic collapse" because of the higher costs associated with the National Living Wage in such a light. The residential care providers might be accused in some quarters of crying wolf after their warnings that homes might close if ministers don't agree to fund increases in the bills paid by local authorities. They have written to the Chancellor George Osborne just weeks after a similarly worded missive from the UK Homecare Association, which represents providers of social care to people in their homes. And yet... There is a sense that the latest warning letter is reflecting deeper problems in the world of social care. Care home operators have complained for some time that their finances have been severely squeezed because of cuts in real terms in the fees paid by local authorities on behalf of elderly residents. Staff wages account for about 60% of their total costs, so any pay hike will have a significant impact on each business. Increases in costs, such as higher wages, can be passed on in the shape of higher fees to residents who pay for some or all of their care. But that's not possible for places wholly funded by local authorities - which account for nearly 40% of the total at the five care home companies which wrote the letter. The BBC has launched an online guide to the care system for the over-65s. The "care calculator" covers both residential care and the support provided in people's own homes, for tasks such as washing and dressing. Users can submit their postcode and find out how much each service costs where they live in the UK. There is also a dedicated BBC Cost of Care website with news stories, analysis and video. That has led to the operators' demand that central government should provide ring-fenced funding for councils to raise their fees. The backdrop to this argument is the ageing population and the changing role of residential care homes. A few decades ago they fulfilled the role of "retirement homes" with mostly healthy residents. Now with the prevalence of dementia and people living longer, often with multiple conditions, care homes have a more challenging role in society. How they are resourced is an important policy issue. The division between health, funded by central government, and social services run by local councils is widely regarded as out-dated and inappropriate for the 21st century. While NHS funding was a dominant issue in the election campaign, little was heard from national politicians about the state of social care. Labour criticised the coalition for cuts in social care funding in England over the last parliament but the argument did not seem to resonate in the same way as the repeated spats over "billions more for the NHS" pledges. Since polling day, a commitment to introduce reforms proposed by the commission headed by the economist Andrew Dilnot has been shelved until 2020. These included a lifetime cap on care costs, limiting an individual's liability and reducing the need

Summary: It is easy to be cynical about companies who do business with the public sector warning of dire consequences if their income is not increased.


The SNP government in Edinburgh wants the fleet removed from its base on the west coast of Scotland. At question time in the Senedd, Mr Jones suggested the nuclear deterrent could come to Pembrokeshire if forced to look for a home elsewhere. But the UK government said it had no plans to move from HM Naval Base Clyde. This week it awarded a £1.1bn contract for reactor cores. Britain has four Royal Navy Vanguard submarines, based at the Faslane naval base on the Clyde, which can deploy Trident ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads. Mr Jones, who will be in Scotland for a meeting of British and Irish ministers on Friday, was asked about the potential to invest in Welsh ports. He said: "I did notice the Scottish government no longer wishes to have the nuclear submarine base at Faslane, it no longer wishes to house the UK naval nuclear fleet. "There will be more than a welcome for that fleet and those jobs in Milford Haven." Milford Haven is a natural deep water port that handles around a fifth of the UK's energy through oil and gas imports. At the weekend the Scottish government said it was "firmly committed to the earliest possible withdrawal of Trident from Scotland". It said independence is the only constitutional option that would give it the power to remove Trident from Scottish waters. The Welsh government later said Mr Jones's comments had nothing to do with the SNP's referendum on Scottish independence and that he was a "staunch supporter" of the union. A spokesman said: "The first minister recognises the substantial economic benefits of relocating Britain's nuclear submarine to west Wales. "There would be more than a welcome in Wales for this kind of economic boost, which would bring thousands of high quality, well paid jobs to the area. "The first minister is of the view that he would be neglecting his duty to do what he can to boost the Welsh economy he were to dismiss the possibility of bringing these jobs to Wales." There was an angry response to his suggestion from Plaid Cymru politicians and activists. Writing on Twitter, Plaid AM Jonathan Edwards said: "This is a hugely significant development. "Milford is a huge energy portal. LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and nukes don't go together." The UK government insists a final decision on replacing the Trident nuclear deterrent will not be taken until 2016 - after the next general election. The Ministry of Defence says the £1.1bn reactor core contract announced recently secures 300 jobs at Rolls-Royce and will fund an 11-year refurbishment of its plant at Raynesway in Derby. In response to Mr Jones's suggestion to move the nuclear submarines to Wales, an MoD spokesperson said: "The government is clear that Scotland benefits from being part of the UK and the UK benefits from having Scotland within it. "No plans for independence are being made as the government is confident that people in Scotland will continue to support the UK in any referendum. "We are therefore not making plans to move the nuclear

Summary: Britain's nuclear-armed submarines would be "more than welcome" in Wales if they left Scotland, First Minister Carwyn Jones has said.


At the age of 32, Eames is the youngest full-time boss in the top four divisions of English football. "We support his playing style and our team responds positively to his philosophy," chairman Tony Kleanthous told the club's official website. Meanwhile, defender Bira Dembele, 29, and midfielder Tom Champion, 31, have left the League Two club. Dembele played 57 times having joined Barnet in 2015, while Champion scored once in 32 appearances last season. Eames took joint charge of the Bees in December when Martin Allen left to join Eastleigh, winning four of his 11 games alongside Henry Newman. He then won two of the final four games of the season after Kevin Nugent was sacked as head coach in April. Eames was previously a coach with the club's development and academy sides before working as Nugent's assistant. "For us this was the bold choice and the right time to finally allow Rossi to take sole control of our football destiny," said Kleanthous. Barnet finished 15th in League Two this season, 11 points above the relegation zone.

Summary: Barnet have appointed former interim manager and assistant first team coach Rossi Eames as their new head coach.


Shezanne Cassim and several friends who made and uploaded a comedy video to YouTube were eventually tried and convicted of endangering national security under the UAE's recently introduced cyber-crimes act. They were released just a few days before a high-profile BBC interview in January 2014 between Jon Sopel and the ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed al Maktoum. In that interview, Sheikh Mohammed acknowledged that mistakes had been made in the case. In March this year, Mr Cassim made an appeal directly to the president of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan. He also sent a copy to the UAE ambassador in Washington. There has been no reply. Mr Cassim says he is struggling to find work in the US as a result of being unable to declare a spent conviction for endangering national security in the UAE. He continues to profess his innocence. And whilst he was in jail, the case became high profile enough - in late 2013 - to feature on comedian Will Ferrell's Funny Or Die website. The Funny or Die film included pleas for Mr Cassim's release by several high-profile comedians. Mr Ferrell said: "We are submitting this in support of Shez and his eventual freeing from being wrongly jailed." And whilst Mr Cassim faced a potentially very long jail sentence, a few weeks after the #freeshez campaign which started around nine months after he was jailed - he was convicted and released for time already served. It's not the first time this has happened in the UAE on a high-profile story. Others include a road rage incident, in which a man was held under the cyber-crimes act for uploading a video of an apparent assault to YouTube. The uploader faced charges with a potential jail sentence twice as long as the maximum faced by the local citizen he had filmed repeatedly hitting an Indian van driver. Then there was an American who was jailed amid a dispute about sick leave. His alleged crime involved defamation of his employer, by commenting on the dispute on social media. In both those cases, all charges were eventually dropped. But not so for Mr Cassim. A spent conviction means no return to his home Dubai in the UAE - ever. After being released and deported to the US early last year, Mr Cassim and his family have chosen to speak for the first time on camera about the case to BBC News. He said: "Conditions in the jail were just terrible. There were around 130 inmates and only three toilets. And none of those toilets flushed." He added: "We gave our souls to that city, and to be treated this way is something that has been incredibly difficult to deal with." The impact on the family - who spent the majority of their lives working in Dubai - has been huge. Defending Mr Cassim has cost more than just their savings, said his mother Jean. "I can't remember a night that I had a good night's rest," she said. "For some

Summary: An American who says he was jailed in Dubai for several months without even knowing the charges against him is seeking a royal pardon from the city's ruler.


The bid, to be filmed for a TV show, involves laying 74 miles (119km) of track from Fort William to Inverness. Love Productions, the programme makers, hope the "slightly bonkers" undertaking will be as popular as its Great British Bake Off. Engineers and construction workers have also been sought for the project. Construction is planned for two weeks over the summer and is to be filmed for Channel 4. The working title for the show is The Biggest Little Railway in the World. Producer of the project, Charlotte Armstrong, told BBC Radio Scotland's Out of Doors programme the new show would celebrate British enthusiasm for model railways. She said: "It's massively ambitious. We want to bring together Britain's model railway enthusiasts and all the different skills they have, but also local volunteers, engineers and people with construction experience." The programme would also celebrate a Victorian era idea to build a full-scale, working railway through the Great Glen. The full interview with Ms Armstrong is to feature in Saturday's Out of Doors, which is broadcast on Radio Scotland from 06:30.

Summary: Model railway enthusiasts and volunteers are being sought for an ambitious plan to lay a model railway track along Scotland's Great Glen.


The Bridge of Carr at Carrbridge in the Cairngorms is also known as the coffin bridge due to its use by funeral parties to cross the Dulnain river. The local community is to hold a programme of events from 19-21 May. An exhibition of historic artefacts, a family ceilidh and live entertainment are planned. The arching stone bridge was built between May and November 1717. Among the reasons for its construction was the Dulnain had frequently been in spate in previous years. In the 1690s, deaths in the area rose because of famine. Mourners were prevented from reaching funerals at the Church of Duthil when the river was swollen. The bridge was built by John Niccelsone, a mason from Ballindaloch in Moray, at the behest of local landowner Brigadier-General Alexander Grant of Grant. Its parapets and side walls were badly damaged in the 18th Century and again in a flood in 1829.

Summary: Events are to be held to mark the 300th anniversary of the construction of what is thought to be the oldest bridge in the Highlands.


The Argentina and Barcelona forward was punished for directing "insulting words" at an assistant referee in Thursday's 1-0 win over Chile. Messi, who scored the only goal in the qualifier, was angered when he was flagged for a foul, waving and shouting at the assistant in response. The 29-year-old was also fined £8,100. He will miss his country's next four competitive fixtures. Argentina are third in South American qualifying, with the top four teams advancing to next summer's finals in Russia. There are five matches still to play.

Summary: Lionel Messi has been banned for four international matches - just five and a half hours before Argentina's World Cup qualifier against Bolivia kicks off.


Media playback is not supported on this device Riaz described England's middle order as "fragile" before the first Test at Lord's starting on Thursday. "It's the same before every series - you generally get a bit of trash talk," said Root, who will bat at three. "It's getting a bit like boxing now. We will have to wait and see how things develop and see if the plans work." Boxing is notorious for fighters' pre-match verbal contests aimed at intimidating opponents. James Vince, who has played only three Tests, and the recalled Gary Ballance will bat at four and five for England when the four-Test series gets under way. Former England captain Michael Vaughan said Vince should have been promoted to three to enable Root to stay at four. England vice-captain Root, 25, averages 50.36 in 21 innings at number four and only 28.71 in eight innings at three. Root, 25, said it is "a great opportunity to bat a bit longer" and that captain Alastair Cook, coach Trevor Bayliss and the selectors gave him time "to get my head around it". He added: "It's about taking that opportunity for responsibility as a senior member of the side, to lay some good foundations for us to make some big scores." Nick Compton batted at three for England in the 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka, but announced he was taking a break from cricket after scoring only 51 runs in five innings. Vince managed 54 runs batting at five against Sri Lanka, his debut Test series. Ballance has not played for England since being dropped last July, but made 132 for Yorkshire against Middlesex this month in his most recent first-class game. Root said Vince and Ballance had a "great opportunity" to prove Riaz wrong, adding: "Gary's in fine form - he's just got a hundred for Yorkshire. "Vincey's a brilliant player. He made his first innings for England in the one-day series against Sri Lanka - he made a brilliant fifty. So they'll take confidence." Pakistan pace bowler Mohammad Amir will play his first Test since serving a five-year ban and three-month prison sentence for spot-fixing at Lord's in 2010. England captain Alastair Cook has warned the 24-year-old, who took four wickets in Pakistan's opening tour game against Somerset, to expect a "reaction" from the crowd this week. But Riaz said: "Mentally he's very strong, and he's very eager to perform. "The place where it all began, he will perform at that place and make sure his name is reborn."

Summary: England batsman Joe Root said cricket is becoming like boxing as he dismissed Pakistan bowler Wahab Riaz's "trash talk".


Pinewood Group's two biggest shareholders have tentatively agreed to sell the famous film and television studios to a property investor. The deal depends on Aermont, which runs property investment funds, securing financing in the next four weeks. Pinewood's 007 stage is one of the world's largest and was used to film parts of Spectre and Skyfall. Some of Star Wars: The Force Awakens was also filmed at Pinewood in Buckinghamshire. However, Harrison Ford, the actor who plays Han Solo, was injured when the door of the Millennium Falcon closed on him and broke his leg. Goodweather Investment Management, which is owned by property investors Peel Holdings, and Warren James Holdings, owner of the eponymous jewellery chain, together control 65% of Pinewood Group and have agreed to the cash sale providing the buyer secures financing. The prospective new owner intends to keep the existing management in place, led by chief executive Ivan Dunleavy. The company has film and TV studios all over the world including in the US, Canada, Malaysia and the Dominican Republic. Earlier this year, Pinewood Group retained investment bank Rothschild to examine its strategic options. In the past, it had been constrained from raising additional funding for investment via the stock exchange. Shares in Pinewood were down 4.8% at 552.1p in afternoon trading.

Summary: Pinewood film studios - home to the James Bond movies - are set to be sold for £323.3m.


The teenager told police that two men abducted her from an isolated spot near her home in Lakhisarai district and brutally raped her on Saturday. They later took her to a railway station and boarded a train where three others joined them and also raped her. Police told the BBC that she was being treated for serious injuries. One suspect has been arrested so far. The men boarded the train at Chanan railway station and threw her out near Kiul. Some people found her near the tracks and took her to a local hospital. She was then transferred to a government hospital in the state capital, Patna. She has reportedly suffered fractures and serious injuries. Senior police officer SK Singhal said at least two of the men knew the victim and lived in her neighbourhood. Scrutiny of sexual violence in India has grown since the 2012 gang rape and murder of a student on a Delhi bus. However, brutal sexual attacks against women and children continue to be reported from across the country.

Summary: A 16-year-old girl was allegedly gang raped and thrown from a train in the northern state of Bihar, police say.


English is one of the advantages India has which are said to be propelling it to economic superpower status. There are all those Indians who speak excellent English. It's the mother tongue of the elite and effectively the official language of the central government. Then there is the growing number of parents who now aspire to give their children an education through the medium of that language. But is the craze for English an unmixed blessing? Back in the sixties the British regarded Indian English as something of a joke. The comic actor Peter Sellers had mocked it so comprehensively that I found it well nigh impossible to get the BBC to allow anyone with even the faintest Indian accent on the air. In India, we native English speakers laughed at quaint phrases like "please do the necessary and oblige", or more simply "please do the needful", and "it is suggested that the meeting be preponed", which appeared regularly in Indian official correspondence. A senior British diplomat once suggested that his PA should find some less geographically specific way of answering the telephone when he couldn't take the call than saying, "Sahib is not on his seat". Much to the diplomat's dismay a colleague told him that his PA had misunderstood the instruction and been even more specific. He'd told the colleague, "Sahib is in the lavatory." Now with Indian writers carrying off the major literary awards, and Westerners in the IT and BPO industries talking of being "bangalored" when they are replaced by English-speaking Indians, Indian English is anything but a joke. But could the very success of English in India "bangalore" India's own languages? The linguist Professor David Crystal speaking in Delhi said: "A language is dying every two weeks somewhere in the world today. Half the world's languages will no longer be spoken in another century. This is an extremely serious concern, and English has to share the blame." Others put it less politely, describing English as a killer language. But should India worry if English kills off some of its 22 officially recognised and hundreds of its not-so-official languages? Perhaps the answer is no. In his book comparing the future of India, China, and Japan, the former editor of The Economist, Bill Emmott, said India fell short of China in almost every measure except the ability to speak English. So why shouldn't India build on its one advantage? One practical reason is because, looking back over the history of India since it became independent in 1947, it is clear that any threat to Indian languages has the potential to provoke a violent backlash. Mark Tully is a writer and former BBC India correspondent. This is an edited extract from his new book, Non Stop India, published by Penguin Books, India

Summary: Whether the government, the private sector or NGOs should deliver development is a question which will not have much relevance unless India's wealth continues to grow to pay for that development.


The comment by the public services minister led Plaid Cymru to vote against the Public Health Bill, which included a partial ban on e-cigarettes. One Plaid AM has called Mr Andrews' attitude "wholly offensive". But Carwyn Jones said it was a joke and that Plaid had not acted maturely and "people say things in the chamber". Meanwhile, doctors and nursing unions have called on political parties "not to play games with the health of the nation". Mr Jones told S4C's Newyddion 9: "People say things and if they had their time again they would say things differently. But to react in this way... that is not a mature response." "If Leighton had his time again I know he would say something different. He said Mr Andrews had "offered to apologise, but no". "Plaid Cymru said they would vote against this no matter what happens with any sort of apology," he said. As well as a ban on e-cigarette use in some public places, the bill aimed to create a compulsory licensing system for tattooists, ban intimate piercing of children under 16 and require councils to produce a local toilets strategy. Plaid originally planned a free vote and some of its AMs were expected to support the bill on Wednesday evening, although a greater number were in opposition. But the party's last minute decision to vote against it as a group meant the assembly was tied 26-26 and the legislation failed. But Dafydd Elis-Thomas told BBC News he was not informed about Plaid's decision. He had made arrangements to cancel his assembly vote. "I did not imagine that by not being present I would have helped to lose a piece of important Welsh legislation," Lord Elis-Thomas said. "I've experienced many low points in this fourth assembly in my relationship with the party, but this is the lowest." He said he and party leader Leanne Wood, who was against the ban, agreed to not attend the vote - known as pairing - meaning their absences would cancel each other out from the tally. A Plaid Cymru spokeswoman said: "Dafydd Elis-Thomas had asked to be paired so that he could be in the House of Lords. "Therefore he wasn't in the group meeting [Wednesday] afternoon when the unanimous decision was taken."

Summary: Leighton Andrews would not repeat a jibe about a "cheap date" if he had another opportunity, the first minister has said.


One pilot died and another jumped clear as the helicopter crashed during an aerobatic display by the elite Berkut squadron in the Ryazan region, about 170km (105 miles) south-east of Moscow. The Russian military has blamed the crash on a hydraulics failure. There have been six other Russian air force crashes in recent weeks. The two-seat gunship was performing stunts and firing flares with three other helicopters. It then began to spin rapidly, before falling to the ground and bursting into flames. Its pilot Lt Col Igor Butenko was killed. His son told Russian media that the accident was not due to pilot error. "There are situations when it's impossible to survive no matter how well-trained the pilot is," he told Lifenews. The Russian defence ministry says the condition of the other pilot's condition is "satisfactory". There were no injuries to spectators at the air show. An investigation has been launched into the cause of the crash, although the surviving pilot has said that a hydraulic failure was the cause. The country's fleet of Mi-28s will remain grounded until the investigation is completed. The Mi-28 is an attack helicopter widely used in Russia, as well as countries such as Iraq and Kenya. At least five people have been killed in recent military aviation crashes. In the past few years, the air force has received hundreds of new helicopter and planes as part of a programme to modernise and reequip Russia's military.

Summary: The Russian defence ministry has grounded its fleet of Mi-28 attack helicopters after a fatal accident at an air show on Sunday.


The deal means viewers will be able to watch every Olympic sport live for the duration of the summer games through their TV sets. Previously, the BBC had only planned to broadcast the streams online. It will be the first time viewers have been given the opportunity to follow one particular sport throughout the day. The services will be in addition to coverage on BBC One and BBC Three, which will air all of the key moments from the Olympics, as well as other platforms including Radio 5 live. Together, this coverage will deliver around 2,500 hours of live sport coverage through the various BBC platforms during the Games. "These are the first truly digital Olympics, where we'll offer more choice than ever before,"said Roger Mosey, the BBC's director of London 2012, on his blog. The BBC's home of 2012: Latest Olympic news, sport, culture, torch relay, video and audio "You'll be able to watch sport from every venue from first thing in the morning to last thing at night... Hockey fans can watch live uninterrupted hockey, and table tennis fans can stick all day with their sport too." Mr Mosey said the BBC had agreed with Sky and Freesat to show the live streams across 24 channels, with more announcements from other providers expected soon. "The aim is that you'd be able to pick from watching BBC Olympics 1 right through to BBC Olympics 24 with full programme guides and the ability to record your favourite sports," he said. However Mr Mosey added: "Not every platform will be able to accommodate such a huge technical offer, which amounts to 48 channels in total if you count 24 SD (Standard Definition) plus 24 HD." Freeview users will have access to two additional channels available through the BBC Red Button, providing up to four channels at peak times.

Summary: The BBC is to make 24 live HD Olympic streams available to cable and satellite providers.